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Artwork for Ridiculous History

Ridiculous History

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Fad Diets
Father's Day
Cold War
Napoleonic Wars
Fantasy Sports
Kentucky Meat Shower
Ice Cream Sundae
Tree That Owns Itself
Morse Code
Samuel Morse
Diets
Gambling
Zombies
Elvis Presley
Nuclear Weapons
Atari
Prohibition
Coca-Cola
H.P. Lovecraft

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1050Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Ridiculous History

Latest Episodes

In this week's Classic episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore how a misunderstanding of the geography of the Great Lakes started a feud, known as the Toledo War, between the state of Ohio and a territory called Michigan. Tune in to Ridiculous History to ... more

Today a great many people in the United States take free toilets for granted. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in the first part of this two-part episode, there was a long -- and ridiculous -- road from the origin of public toilets to the free faci... more

Have you ever been so broke that you ended up creating your own currency? It may sound like a crazy idea today, but during the Great Depression multiple communities actually created and circulated their own forms of local currency. And this wasn't a ... more

Despite the misleading name, the U.S. "Civil War" was anything but. As North fought South, this short-lived, bloody conflict fundamentally shifted the course of the country. Yet if you go just a bit further west to Missouri, you'll encounter a story ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Max Williams
Beachhead Williams, guest contributor
Ridiculous History
Episode: The Ridiculous History of Saturday Morning Cartoons, Part One: A Golden Age
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
Jabari Davis
Research associate who led the research brief for this episode
Ridiculous History
Episode: A Samurai Walks Into The White House
Miles Gray
Co-host of The Daily Zeitgeist
The Daily Zeitgeist
Episode: CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
Jack O'Brien
Co-host of The Daily Zeitgeist
The Daily Zeitgeist
Episode: CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
Jordan Runtagh
Music journalist, writer, executive producer
IHeart / Ridiculous History
Episode: The Bizarre Life of Elvis, Part One: From Poverty to Pop Stardom
Matt Frederick
Returning guest, expert on pirate history
Episode: The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter Two: History's Most Successful Pirate Was A Woman
AJ Bahamas
Guest (puzzler)
Episode: Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?

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
  • 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 States3 months ago
  • Are you sure?

    If you like commercials, tangents and boring banter, this is for you. Their best resource is Google.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LBo153
    Canada4 months ago
  • Ziz guy iz a ***! ****!!!! ******!

    Jerk of 🔫🙋🏻‍♂️🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hitler :)
    United States4 months ago
  • Money Much?

    Your puns are lame and you obviously don’t care who hand you ad money or why. Irresponsible.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    portokalopita
    United States4 months ago
  • Less Bias/ More History

    Was hoping to just hear some fun history, instead more anti-American rhetoric from those who benefit from living in America. It’s getting old. Just share “ridiculous history”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jestate22
    United States4 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.

Spotify
#50
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#52
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#63
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#147
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#89
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#33
Philippines/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
Q: How do you feel about your kids reading Roald Dahl?
It's complicated because I see no outright bigotry in the text, though it's concerning due to Dahl's controversial views.
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
Q: Do you have a favorite Roald Dahl book?
I love Matilda, but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is another favorite from my childhood.
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
Q: What drew you to Roald Dahl in particular, out of all the people that you could have done a deep dive on?
Roald Dahl shaped many childhoods, but nobody knows much about his life, leading to an obsession with his noisy past.
Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, with Tom Freston
Q: What advice would you give yourself if you could travel in time?
Freston encouraged young people to take risks, travel, and gather experiences rather than conforming to traditional career paths right after school.

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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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 1050 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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What guests have appeared on Ridiculous History?

Recent guests on Ridiculous History include:

1. Max Williams
2. Christopher Haciotus
3. Christopher Haciotis
4. Jabari Davis
5. Miles Gray
6. Jack O'Brien
7. Jordan Runtagh
8. Matt Frederick

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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