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Artwork for Ridiculous History

Ridiculous History

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Fad Diets
Father's Day
Napoleonic Wars
Fantasy Sports
Kentucky Meat Shower
Ice Cream Sundae
Tree That Owns Itself
Morse Code
Samuel Morse
Diets
Gambling
Zombies
Elvis Presley
Atari
H.P. Lovecraft
United States
Victorian Era
Dr. Seuss
Pac Man

History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1068Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Ridiculous History

Latest Episodes

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the world's most well-known, storied (ha) architects. Several of his works are official UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and he has undeniably influenced countless architects in the modern day. However, as Ben, Noel, and Max ... more

Has anyone ever told you you resemble a celebrity? Have you ever thought of making this resemblance your job? In today’s Classic episode, Ben, Noel and Casey explore real-life stories of body doubles, from World War II to surprisingly recent events. more

Back in seventeenth century England, William Lilly was a big deal. As the preeminent astrologer of his day, pretty much everyone followed his research, predictions, and writing. Yet as Ben, Noel and Max discover in today's episode, Lilly was also an ... more

Love it or hate it, every American recognizes the Star-Spangled Banner. The lyrics come from a poem written by a lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, based on his experience watching an attack of Baltimore's Fort McHenry. The story itself ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Paul Mission Control Decken t
Guest super producer, previously on Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
iHeartRadio
Episode: CLASSIC: The Duke of Edinburgh is Literally a God in Vanuatu
Paul Mission Control Decker
Guest producer
Ridiculous History
Episode: CLASSIC: The Honorary Citizens of the United States
AJ Bahamas Jacobs
The puzzler
Episode: Who was the real John Henry?
Alex Williams
Creator of Ephemeral, podcaster
Ephemeral
Episode: CLASSIC: The Nature of Ephemera, with Alex Williams
Pat Larash
Returning guest, co-host of The Actual Facts Badass of the Week podcast
Badass of the Week / The Actual Facts
Episode: Badass of the Week Returns, Part Two: Chesapeake Capes
Jonathan Strickland
The Quister, guest on the show
Ridiculous History (guest)
Episode: The Ridiculously Inspiring Story of Free Public Restrooms, Part Two: The Rise of CEPTIA
Christopher Haciotus
Guest Historian who filled in on the episode
Ridiculous History / guest historian
Episode: CLASSIC: Marie Antoinette and the Diamond Necklace Hoax
Christopher Haciotis
Returning special guest
Ridiculous Historians community / guest on the episode
Episode: CLASSIC: How the Black Death Came To Norway On A Ghost Ship
Christopher Hassiotis
Friend of the show, returning guest
Independent researcher/podcaster
Episode: CLASSIC: Susanna Caroline Matilda: The Colonial Grifter Princess

Hosts

Ben Bowlin
Host of Ridiculous History
Noel Brown
Co-host of Ridiculous History

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 7.2k ratings
  • Has become unlistenable

    Before the anti-Americanism, the leftist political spewing, I liked thi podcast.

    It has become unlistenable. It’s kinda ironic that country based off capitalism has allowed you to put this podcast out there and profit from it is something you wish to destroy. I’m done.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    friocat
    United Statesa month ago
  • I like it

    Just a note though, “the ____ you’ve never heard of” comes across as really condescending towards your listeners.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kaydoggo
    United Statesa month ago
  • Gud

    5/5, definitely a podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Potator the magnificent
    United States2 months ago
  • First Timer

    I asked AI for a list of quirky history podcasts and, well, a somewhat lighthearted take on the Taiping Rebellion certainly fit the bill. Will definitely be adding to my pod playlist.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ZenRugger
    United States3 months ago
  • Gen Z ex-gf

    Dude sounds really sour about being dumped - also, it is super millennial to say “we contain multitudes,” you’re just going to have to accept that. Only old people reference Bob Dylan and Walt Whitman in the same conversation. Finally, it’s kinda mean to diss someone you dated publicly on a podcast so… sounds like she dodged a bullet 🤣 —fellow millennial

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    itsvickyt33
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the entertaining history storytelling and banter, but some note excessive ads and strong personal views at times.
Ad-heavy episodes are a common complaint among certain listeners.
Critics mention bias and off-topic tangents, but many still enjoy the host dynamics and guest insights.
The show is praised for turning long historical narratives into digestible, humorous content with vivid anecdotes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#60
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#73
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#165
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#80
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#243
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#21
South Korea/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mastodons and 'Murica, with Lauren Vogelbaum, Part One: American Degeneracy
Q: What role did Ben Franklin play in early mastodon studies?
Franklin received mastodon fossils and used them to compare dental structures with those of elephants, illustrating how new evidence could challenge prevailing beliefs about animal form and origin.
Mastodons and 'Murica, with Lauren Vogelbaum, Part One: American Degeneracy
Q: Why did early naturalists think American animals were degenerate?
They blamed climate and biome differences, extrapolating from limited observations to claim that the Americas produced smaller, lesser life forms, a narrative Buffon popularized that later faced pushback from American scientists.
Mastodons and 'Murica, with Lauren Vogelbaum, Part Two: A Grudge Match with the French
Q: What ultimately happened to the famous moose that Jefferson sent to Buffon?
The moose was a dead, ex-antlered carcass sent to Paris, not a living animal, and Jefferson apologized for its condition while Buffon reportedly intended to publish a correction before his death.
Mastodons and 'Murica, with Lauren Vogelbaum, Part Two: A Grudge Match with the French
Q: Did they have a trunk on the Mastodon model Jefferson discussed?
The model was a fossil reconstruction, not a flesh-and-blood specimen, and there was no trunk represented in the earlier mounted display.
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, with Aaron Tracy, Part Two: the Man Behind the Author
Q: What do we hope our listeners take away from The Secret World of Roald Dahl?
I hope people gain insight into Dahl's interesting life and understand the tragedies and contradictions of his character, inspiring sympathy despite his flaws.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ridiculous History

What is Ridiculous History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show blends history with humor, exploring strange, surprising, and often ridiculous episodes from the past. Episodes frequently mix deep-dive context with witty banter, bringing in guests and collaborators to illuminate odd social customs, dramatic historical anecdotes, and cultural quirks. A notable strength is its ability to pair entertaining storytelling with accessible historical detail, making complex moments feel relatable. Listeners likely enjoy curious, entertaining takes on history, pop culture crossovers, and the occasional provocative take from the hosts. The format's mix of guest perspectives, rapid-fire banter, and memorable anecdotes can be especially engaging for those who like history served with personality and humor, ... more

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How many listeners does Ridiculous History get?

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How many subscribers and views does Ridiculous History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ridiculous History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ridiculous History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ridiculous History:

1. Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
2. Stuff To Blow Your Mind
3. Stuff You Should Know
4. Stuff You Missed in History Class
5. Useless Information Podcast

How many episodes of Ridiculous History are there?

Ridiculous History launched 9 years ago and published 1068 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ridiculous History?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ridiculous History?

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What guests have appeared on Ridiculous History?

Recent guests on Ridiculous History include:

1. Paul Mission Control Decken t
2. Paul Mission Control Decker
3. AJ Bahamas Jacobs
4. Alex Williams
5. Pat Larash
6. Jonathan Strickland
7. Christopher Haciotus
8. Christopher Haciotis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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