Half-Arsed History
Riley Knight
Half-Arsed History's first book, History's Strangest Deaths, is now available: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.htmlWelcome along to Half-Arsed History! It's a weekly podcast highlighting absurd and entertaining stories from history. Three times a week, it helps host Riley Knight feel as though his useless history degree has some kind of real-world relevance.Get in touch: halfarsedhistory@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/halfarsedhistorySubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/halfarsedhistoryBuy Half-Arsed History merch: https://halfarsedhistory.theprintbar.comIf you've just discovered the show and aren't sure which of the 350+ episodes to start with, here are some suggestions:Episode 139: The History of the Toilet - https://sptfy.com/PK3J • https://apple.co/3Giftt3Episode 75: The Great Emu War - https://sptfy.com/PK3K • https://apple.co/4jKCvr7Episode 197: The History of Nuclear Weapons - https://sptfy.com/PK3L • https://apple.co/4jygYlcEpisode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup - https://sptfy.com/PK3M • https://apple.co/4iltL9PEpisode 106: The First Circumnavigation - https://sptfy.com/PK3N • https://apple.co/4jewsLjHalf-Arsed History acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) Land on which the podcast is written and recorded, and pays respect to First Nations Elders past, present, and emerging. Indigenous sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was, and always will be, Aboriginal Land. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 19, 2025 • 40min
Inventions Episode 38: The Automobile
The automobile is one of the most transformative inventions in human history, completely changing the way transportation, society, culture, business, industry, and so much more work within modern human civilisation. Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2025 • 20min
QAH Episode 128: The Death of Allan Pinkerton
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the death of Allan Pinkerton, a story that is completely and totally distinct from the one cut from History's Strangest Deaths for legal reasons. Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 14, 2025 • 47min
Episode 377: Krum the Fearsome, Bane of Emperors
In this week's episode, get to know Khan Krum the Fearsome, a 9th-century leader of the Bulgarian Empire who is famous for, amongst other things, drinking from the skulls of his enemies. Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 12, 2025 • 24min
Inventions Episode 37: The Light Bulb
The light bulb is something found in more or less every room in our homes, today - and while its form and function hasn't changed too much, it has undergone countless improvements and updates across more than a century. Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 11, 2025 • 28min
Inventions Episode 36: The Telephone
The telephone completely changed the way we communicate with one another, making it possible to have an instant back-and-forth conversation across vast distances.Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 10, 2025 • 26min
QAH Episode 127: HAH Live Q&A from Maroochydore
Quarter-Arsed History presents: highlights from the Q&A sessions from the live show in Maroochydore, including questions on the research that went into the book, how future historians will reflect on Covid, the strongest influences on Half-Arsed History's development, and a whole bunch of silly nonsense at the end. History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.htmlInternational: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 10, 2025 • 25min
Inventions Episode 35: The Internal Combustion Engine
The internal combustion engine is an invention that has completely and irreversibly changed human civilisation and the way we live our lives, unlocking personal transportation, powering global trade networks, and making us reliant on fossil fuels. Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 7, 2025 • 32min
Episode 376: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Maroochydore
In this week's episode, get the best kind of advice - unsolicited advice - as to how to bring your creative endeavours to life (there are also a couple of chapters from the book at the end of the episode as well, don't worry). History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.htmlInternational: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 5, 2025 • 20min
Inventions Episode 34: Barbed Wire
Barbed wire has had a surprisingly large impact on human civilisation, completely changing the agricultural industry across much of the world, while also becoming an unpleasant symbol of oppression through its use in military affairs and incarceration.Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 3, 2025 • 28min
QAH Episode 126: HAH Live Q&A from Sydney & Brisbane
Quarter-Arsed History presents: highlights from the Q&A sessions from the live shows in Sydney and Brisbane, including questions on the book's cover, the next white whale, video content, and whether pancakes are better than waffles (they're not).History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.htmlInternational: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589Half Arsed History: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/halfarsed Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
