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Ridiculous History

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Victorian Era
Fad Diets
Cold War
Father's Day
Japan
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
Elvis Presley
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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1034Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

History is often taught as a series of discrete, unrelated events -- and that could not be further from the truth. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore a fascinating Venn diagram of historical events... and learn that, technically, yes! A sa... more

One thing about the United States -- we'll throw a party for anything. As a result, it's no surprise that back in 1994, a group of well-meaning pranksters in San Francisco decided to don Santa Claus costumes in a whimsical protest against capitalism.... more

While the phrase 'weird flex' may be relatively recent, it turns out that this phenomenon is as old as human civilization. Join the guys with special guests Miles and Jack from The Daily Zeitgeist as they explore some of the strangest (and most petty... more

Do you know anyone who decided to show off in a weird way? While the phrase 'weird flex' may be relatively recent, it turns out that this phenomenon is as old as human civilization. Join the guys with special guests Miles and Jack from The Daily Zeit... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jack O'Brien
Co-host of The Daily Zeitgeist
The Daily Zeitgeist
Episode: CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
Miles Gray
Co-host of The Daily Zeitgeist
The Daily Zeitgeist
Episode: CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
Jonathan Strickland
Jonathan Strickland, AK. The Quister
The Quister / HowStuffWorks
Episode: CLASSIC: How Robert "The Fastest Knife In The West End" Liston Conducted A Surgery With A 300% Mortality Rate
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
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
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?
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?

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 7.2k 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 States2 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
    Canada3 months ago
  • Ziz guy iz a ***! ****!!!! ******!

    Jerk of 🔫🙋🏻‍♂️🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hitler :)
    United States3 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 States3 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 States3 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.

Spotify
#50
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#48
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#52
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#138
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#80
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#231
Philippines/Top Podcasts

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

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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 1034 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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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ridiculous History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Ridiculous History?

Recent guests on Ridiculous History include:

1. Jack O'Brien
2. Miles Gray
3. Jonathan Strickland
4. Jordan Runtagh
5. Matt Frederick
6. Elizabeth Zarin
7. Chris Rossiotis
8. AJ Bahamas

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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