Rephonic
Artwork for SNAFU with Ed Helms

SNAFU with Ed Helms

iHeartPodcasts
Prohibition
FBI
Vietnam War
J. Edgar Hoover
COINTELPRO
World War I
New York City
SNAFU
Mabel Walker Willebrandt
U.S. Government
Palmer Raids
Cold War
Fox News
Alcohol
United States
2000 Presidential Election
Civil Rights Movement
Organized Crime
Great Molasses Flood
Boardwalk Empire

SNAFU with Ed Helms, America’s favorite podcast about history’s greatest screwups, returns for Season 4 with even more SNAFUs - one per episode, to be precise. And this time around, Ed ropes in a cavalcade of smart, hilarious guests to help unpack what these blunders, fiascos and faceplants say about who we are (spoiler: we’re basically just toddlers with nukes). Think of it as part history less... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes76Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedyHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for SNAFU with Ed Helms

Latest Episodes

Bowen Yang is an unwitting student of Dutch Economics. This week, Bowen joins Ed on a journey to 17th century Netherlands, where they help burst one of history's first ever economic bubbles, known today as Tulip-Mania. You thought NFT's were crazy, b... more

Welcome to another Bonus Episode of SNAFU! On Season 2, we discovered an eerie plot to poison the nation's alcohol; the government's last ditch effort to quell consumption and protect Prohibition. For color commentary, Ed brought in the preeminent pr... more

Trailer Description: What’s the best way to rob a bank? How do you fake your own death? Can you deploy a swarm of bees to get rid of the cops? And if so, how (theoretically) would one do that? All of these questions and more are answered on CRIMELESS... more

Jad Abumrad is the definition of inquisitive. As the creator of hit shows RadioLab and Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, Jad has the innate ability to calculate idionsyncrasies, question the peculiar, and posit grand deductions. Perfect for this week's Murder ... more

YouTube

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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

CrimeLess
CrimeLessiHeartPodcasts and Smartless Media
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts

Recent Guests

Terence Winter
Creator, writer, and executive producer of Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) / Scorsese collaboration
Episode: Revisiting the Prohibition Era (Ext. Interview with Terence Winter of Boardwalk Empire)
Jad Abumrad
Founder/host of RadioLab and audio storyteller
RadioLab, Jad Abumrad Productions
Episode: Jad Abumrad and the Charles Francis Hall Whodunnit
Bob Crawford
Bassist and founding member of The Avett Brothers; historian and author
The Avett Brothers; author of America's Founding Son
Episode: Bob Crawford and Lord Dunmore's Folly
Tig Notaro
Comedian, actor, writer, podcast host
Episode: Live at LA Talks with Tig Notaro
Rory Scovel
Comedian, actor, writer, and podcast host
Crimeless (co-host) and SNAFU guest
Episode: Rory Scovel and Arbitrage on Wall Street
Chelsea Handler
Comedian, author, and host of Dear Chelsea
Author and entertainer
Episode: Chelsea Handler and The Hindenburg
Adam Scott
Award-winning actor
Parks and Recreation; Severance; Taylor-made guest on SNAFU
Episode: Adam Scott and Air Transat Flight 236
Lizzie Bassett
Co-host of What Went Wrong podcast; writer/director/producer
What Went Wrong
Episode: Chris Winterbauer & Lizzie Bassett - Starfish Prime
Chris Winterbauer
Co-host of What Went Wrong podcast; writer/director/producer
What Went Wrong
Episode: Chris Winterbauer & Lizzie Bassett - Starfish Prime

Host

Ed Helms
Comedian and actor known for his work in film and television, bringing a humorous yet insightful perspective to discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.6k ratings
  • Huge fan with critique

    I love the show and have been listening to it since the beginning. While your newest season’s format is fun especially because of the guests, what I thought made the show great was how in depth you went into the previous topics. It was what I thought set you apart from other historical podcasts.

    Just a suggestion.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Just Any Guy
    United States16 days ago
  • More of the lousy celeb-with-podcast genre

    Ed Helms is such a smart, likable, and funny guy, he should be doing something far more worthy of his talents.

    There are already oceans of podcasts that are clearly cut-and-pasted from the podcast networks’ thin cookbook, and this is just another one… to wit: Big-name personality reads a Wikipedia page (or some copy written by the podcast “network”’s unpaid interns or a chat bot) while joking around with some guest celebrity (who hosts their own version of the same podcast); far too many ads; p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    That guy in the hat
    United States20 days ago
  • I tried.

    I tried listening and even listened to many episodes but your TDS and attacks on our current President while complaining about past politics without calling out those involved became more than I could stomach…..and I have a big stomach. If you are a liberal this podcast might be good for you, but my brain can’t deal with this nonsense anymore.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Andy Stapp
    United States24 days ago
  • I prefer the long-format early seasons…

    …But I can understand the amount of research required for them was probably much too much. I do love the single topic per episode but sometimes they just don’t “scratch that itch” well enough for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KMonk821
    United Statesa month ago
  • Fan-freaking-tastic!

    Just finished season 1 and it was incredible! Geeky and historical and full of all the dad jokes you could want from Ed Helms, who has the perfect voice for this. Seriously, please narrate some audiobooks so I can listen to you tell me other cool stuff!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    krismus
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the humorous take on historical events, finding the blend of education and entertainment engaging.
Overall, the vibrant discussions and unique themes resonate well, but recent changes have left some longtime fans wanting more depth.
Comments indicate that while the early seasons were well-received, some recent episodes have sparked frustration over perceived political slants.
The transition to more guest-centered formats has received mixed reviews, with some loving the new approach and others preferring earlier styles.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#67
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#84
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#108
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#69
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#143
Philippines/History
Apple Podcasts
#174
Singapore/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jad Abumrad and the Charles Francis Hall Whodunnit
Q: What is it in human nature that we are so captivated by bold adventurers and explorers?
The hosts discuss that the allure lies in wanderlust and the drive to test boundaries; it reflects a duality where bravery and risk reveal deeper aspects of human nature, including ego, ambition, and the fantasy of conquering the unknown.
Live at LA Talks with Tig Notaro
Q: What spawned your interest in this type of history project in the first place?
Ed explains that the format evolved from wanting to tell fresh, lesser-known historical stories through a humorous lens, using SNAFUs as a vehicle to explore big ideas without getting weighed down by heavy narrative.
Chelsea Handler and The Hindenburg
Q: What was their reasoning for using hydrogen instead of helium?
Helium was scarce and tightly controlled, so they used hydrogen to gain lift, accepting the higher risk.
Chris Winterbauer & Lizzie Bassett - Starfish Prime
Q: What were the visible effects, and how did people react at the time?
Eyewitness accounts describe a dramatic sky show seen hundreds of miles away, with aurora-like lights, and a mix of awe, fear, and disquiet about the unknown consequences.
Chris Winterbauer & Lizzie Bassett - Starfish Prime
Q: Why did they choose to detonate a bomb in space at such a high altitude?
The hosts explain it was driven by Cold War impulse to test nuclear capabilities and to explore the strategic effects of high-altitude detonations, even though the exact benefits were unclear and the risks turned out to be far larger than anticipated.

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 SNAFU with Ed Helms

What is SNAFU with Ed Helms about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on humorous explorations of historical missteps, this podcast unpacks various fascinating screw-ups throughout history, tying them to modern-day implications and human experiences. Each episode features engaging discussions with a diverse range of guests, who help delve into different events, creating a blend of education and entertainment. A unique aspect of this show is its light-hearted yet genuine take on serious topics, allowing listeners to learn about complex historical narratives while enjoying witty banter. Its accessible format and comedic slant likely appeal to those interested in history, humor, and social commentary.

Where can I find podcast stats for SNAFU with Ed Helms?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for SNAFU with Ed Helms. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to SNAFU with Ed Helms and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does SNAFU with Ed Helms get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for SNAFU with Ed Helms, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for SNAFU with Ed Helms?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for SNAFU with Ed Helms, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does SNAFU with Ed Helms have?

To see how many followers or subscribers SNAFU with Ed Helms 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 SNAFU with Ed Helms?

These podcasts share a similar audience with SNAFU with Ed Helms:

1. Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)
2. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
3. CrimeLess
4. Stuff You Should Know
5. Here We Go Again With Kal Penn

How many episodes of SNAFU with Ed Helms are there?

SNAFU with Ed Helms launched 4 years ago and published 76 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 SNAFU with Ed Helms?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for SNAFU with Ed Helms?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for SNAFU with Ed Helms from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for SNAFU with Ed Helms?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of SNAFU with Ed Helms. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on SNAFU with Ed Helms?

Recent guests on SNAFU with Ed Helms include:

1. Terence Winter
2. Jad Abumrad
3. Bob Crawford
4. Tig Notaro
5. Rory Scovel
6. Chelsea Handler
7. Adam Scott
8. Lizzie Bassett

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days