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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
U.S. Government
Mabel Walker Willebrandt
Palmer Raids
Cold War
Fox News
Alcohol
United States
Civil Rights Movement
2000 Presidential Election
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes83Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryComedy

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Artwork for SNAFU with Ed Helms

Latest Episodes

A NASA space probe that lost roughly $25 million because of a… math era? Classic SNAFU! On this week’s special bonus, we revisit a favorite space-related chapters from my book, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screw-ups. Just in time... more

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark are True Crime Royalty. They join Ed to unravel the mystery of William Morgan - one of the earliest American missing persons cases with massive political ramifications. Was it a case of bribery or... murder?? Lis... more

YouTube

Pete Holmes is Weird. In a good way! He's also a New England native, and perfectly attuned to today's Martha's Vineyard-set SNAFU involving the youngest Kennedy brother, Ted. What happened on the small island of Chappaquiddick, and why did it potenti... more

YouTube

Robert Evans of the Behind the Bastards Podcast is back for Round 2 of the Iran-Contra Scandal. Robert and Ed tee up the uncanny conclusion to this epic saga including some questionable offers of immunity, and unveil whether accountability comes to f... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Pete Holmes
Stand-up comedian, podcast host, and actor
Pete Holmes (guest)
Episode: Chappaquiddick & The Real Reason Ted Kennedy Never Became President (with Pete Holmes)
Robert Evans
Host of Behind the Bastards
Behind the Bastards
Episode: Behind the Bastards' Robert Evans & The Iran-Contra Arms Dealing Scandal (Part II)
Kevin Roose
New York Times tech reporter, Hard Fork co-host
New York Times
Episode: Cambridge Analytica: Facebook's Big Data Scandal - Part II (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Casey Newton
Tech journalist covering on The Verge, Hard Fork co-host
The Verge
Episode: Cambridge Analytica: Facebook's Big Data Scandal - Part II (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Bowen Yang
Actor/Comedian, co-host of Los Culturistas
Los Culturistas
Episode: Tulip Mania: The World's First Financial Bubble (with Bowen Yang)
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: Who Killed Charles Francis Hall? The Polaris Expedition's Arctic Whodunnit (with Jad Abumrad)
Bob Crawford
Bassist and founding member of The Avett Brothers; historian and author
The Avett Brothers; author of America's Founding Son
Episode: Lord Dunmore and the Proclamation That Ignited Revolution (with Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers)
Tig Notaro
Comedian, actor, writer, podcast host
Episode: Live at LA Talks with Tig Notaro

Host

Ed Helms
Host of the show and central interviewer

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.6k ratings
  • Good show, but obnoxiously liberal

    The content is good! -ish. Ed Helms is your typical rich actor, very liberal dude. The story telling is good but the undertones are all against any person that’s ever been republican, from Nixon to current. I guess his millions of dollars make him the perfect victim to talk about the current situations. God bless Ed!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    kyjellybutton
    United Statesa month ago
  • Awesome Show

    What a Great Show. The Stories are amazing and interesting, and the idiocy of Our Government and ineptitude. It so Great how you are able to see the truth and the whole picture and be able to say “Gotcha”. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

    Mahalo and Aloha

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ohiapo001
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love this podcast!

    Great stuff, Ed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sharkie1968
    United Statesa month ago
  • no more ai endorsements please :)

    i love the podcast, ed. lots of fun to listen to. but i would hope you could reconsider your pov on ai… i’d like my future kid to be able to have clean drinking water.. :)

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sophia🤷🏻‍♀️
    United Statesa month ago
  • James Hughes

    ED, I love the podcast I’m a huge fan but to be honest I don’t like the new set up. I really don’t like having the guest but I’m sure that’s just me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    drumminjaye
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Quality and appeal depend on guests and punchy storytelling more than pure research.
Listener sentiment varies with format; some fans want deeper historical focus over celebrity banter.
The show blends history with humor and strong guest dynamics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#97
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#130
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#230
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#76
Denmark/History
Apple Podcasts
#121
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#141
Mexico/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cambridge Analytica: Facebook's Big Data Scandal - Part II (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Q: What lasting impact did the Cambridge Analytica scandal have on Facebook and its leadership?
It pushed Facebook deeper into the political arena, damaged trust, and led to regulatory fines and restructuring, though some critics argue the industry's behavior continued similarly afterward.
Cambridge Analytica: Facebook's Big Data Scandal - Part II (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Q: Was Zuckerberg's congressional testimony effective in addressing the core issues?
The hosts feel it largely did not accomplish meaningful reform, with lawmakers prioritizing dramatic clips over real policy changes.
Cambridge Analytica, Part I (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Q: What was the moment like when the scale of Cambridge Analytica's impact started to become clear?
Roose and Newton recount feeling the gravity of the revelations as whistleblower information and major media coverage exploded, underscoring how the firm's data practices reshaped public discourse and political campaigning.
Cambridge Analytica, Part I (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Q: Were you guys friends before Hard Fork, or did you come together as a business collaboration?
They describe a long-standing friendship that evolved into a close professional collaboration, built on shared reporting and mutual respect rather than a simple business arrangement.
Who Killed Charles Francis Hall? The Polaris Expedition's Arctic Whodunnit (with Jad Abumrad)
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About SNAFU with Ed Helms

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

A history-focused interview show that blends deep dives with humor, spotlighting notable historical missteps, political controversies, and cultural curiosities. Episodes feature a mix of investigative journalists, tech commentators, historians, actors, comedians, and creators who help unpack how blunders shaped events, institutions, and public perception. A recurring thread is how storytelling, narrative framing, and pop culture humor illuminate complex moments from the past, making them accessible and entertaining. The show often pairs sharp analysis with witty banter, and Season 4 leans into celebrity guest dynamics while maintaining a storytelling spine around screw-ups big and small. For potential listeners, expect engaging history told... more

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

1. SmartLess
2. CrimeLess
3. Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)
4. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
5. Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers

How many episodes of SNAFU with Ed Helms are there?

SNAFU with Ed Helms launched 4 years ago and published 83 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on SNAFU with Ed Helms?

Recent guests on SNAFU with Ed Helms include:

1. Pete Holmes
2. Robert Evans
3. Kevin Roose
4. Casey Newton
5. Bowen Yang
6. Terence Winter
7. Jad Abumrad
8. Bob Crawford

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