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Ridiculous History

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Victorian Era
Fad Diets
Japan
Cold War
Roman Empire
Father's Day
World War I
Napoleonic Wars
Fantasy Sports
Kentucky Meat Shower
Ice Cream Sundae
Tree That Owns Itself
Morse Code
Samuel Morse
Sexual Repression
Diets
Gambling
Zombies
Nuclear Weapons

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1016Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Latest Episodes

Fellow Ridiculous Historians, we just returned from the beautiful Baha Mar resort, and we're going through a pirate phase. So, naturally, we have to share an hilarious Classic episode: the so-called Golden Age of Piracy was a time of lawless, terrify... more

Live from the beautiful Baha Mar resort, Ben, Noel, Max and returning guest Matt dive into popular misconceptions about pirates. First, piracy was by no means restricted to the Caribbean. Second, not all successful pirates were dudes. In fact, as the... more

Fellow Ridiculous Historians, Ben, Noel and Max are back on their pirate obsession. In this special two-part series live from the legendary Baha Mar, the guys welcome returning guest Matt Frederick for a fascinating exploration of some of history's m... more

In recent years the public has become increasingly aware of the long-term dangers posed by sports injuries -- but at the turn of the 20th century this wasn't the case. Football players didn't wear protective gear, and in 1905 alone more than 15 playe... more

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Recent Guests

Matt Frederick
Special guest, co-creator of Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Ridiculous History
Episode: The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter One: The Caribbean
AJ Bahamas
Guest (puzzler)
Episode: Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?
Jacob the Puzzler
Guest (puzzler)
Episode: Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?
Elizabeth Zarin
Ridiculous Crime contributor
Episode: Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?
Chris Rossiotis
Guest (thank you in closing credits)
Episode: Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?
Max Williams
Guest joining episode
Episode: CLASSIC: California Schoolchildren and the Great Squirrel War
Rowan Newbie
Host of Pitches, friend of the show
Pitches
Episode: CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part I: What's in a word?
Frank Mulherin
Friend of the show, contributor to idioms segment
Independent
Episode: CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part I: What's in a word?
Aaron Tracy
Award-winning writer and founder of Parallax, also the creator of The Secret World of Roald Dahl
Parallax
Episode: The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, with Aaron Tracy, Part Two: the Man Behind the Author

Hosts

Ben Bowlin
Host of Ridiculous History with a focus on engaging storytelling and humor; active researcher and co-host in most episodes.
Noel Brown
Co-host and researcher known for presenting with wit and contributing to the show's banter and historical narratives.
Max Williams
Producer and research support, instrumental in shaping episode structure and ensuring content accuracy.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 7.1k 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 Statesa month 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
    Canadaa month ago
  • Ziz guy iz a ***! ****!!!! ******!

    Jerk of 🔫🙋🏻‍♂️🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hitler :)
    United States2 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 States2 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 States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many enjoy the wide range of quirky topics and the entertaining storytelling.
Feedback is mixed on pacing and ads, with some wishing for tighter content and fewer interruptions.
Listeners appreciate the banter and humor that make history approachable.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#51
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#61
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#114
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#70
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#186
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#195
France/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?

A humor-inflected history show that explores strange, surprising, and often ridiculous chapters from the past. Episodes blend storytelling, etymology, quirky anecdotes, and skeptical perspectives to reveal how language, culture, and historical events intersect in unexpected ways. Highlights include explorations of idioms, spiritualism, national anthems, and famous symbols, all delivered with banter, pop-culture nods, and light-hearted curiosity. The format often features a mix of hosts and guests who contribute research, wit, and different angles on how history sneaks into everyday life. It's likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy learning oddball facts, accessible storytelling, and playful debates about cultural myths.

Noteworthy strengt... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Ridiculous History?

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How many listeners does Ridiculous History get?

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What are the audience demographics for Ridiculous History?

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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 1016 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. Matt Frederick
2. AJ Bahamas
3. Jacob the Puzzler
4. Elizabeth Zarin
5. Chris Rossiotis
6. Max Williams
7. Rowan Newbie
8. Frank Mulherin

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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