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
Aug 31, 2025 • 38min
Episode 375: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Brisbane
In this week's episode, enjoy a series of shameful confessions about the mistakes - both those that were found and missed - in History's Strangest Deaths, and listen to a sneaky chapter or two 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.
Aug 27, 2025 • 22min
QAH Episode 125: The Death of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the death of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, a glaring omission from History's Strangest deaths - the shah sentenced two servants to death but then delayed the execution by one day, and in the meantime they killed him instead. 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.
Aug 24, 2025 • 38min
Episode 374: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Melbourne
In this week's episode, hear all about the editing and proofreading process that History's Strangest Deaths underwent, as well as a painful confession about one of the mistakes that slipped through the cracks. 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.
Aug 20, 2025 • 17min
QAH Episode 124: Emperor Caracalla’s Wedding Massacre
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the massacre carried out after Caracalla proposed wedding between himself and the daughter of the Parthian emperor, just time for another real-world wedding that is taking place this week. 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.
Aug 17, 2025 • 39min
Episode 373: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Sydney
In this week's episode, get across the behind-the-scenes details when it came to drafting and pitching process for History's Strangest Deaths, as well as a few preview chapters from the book itself. 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.
Aug 15, 2025 • 30min
Inventions Episode 33: The Lift
The lift has played a very important role in modern building design and construction, sending skyscrapers higher and higher into the air and transforming the layout and densities of cities all around the world. 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.
Aug 13, 2025 • 22min
QAH Episode 123: The Mayerling Incident
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tragic and gruesome story of the Mayerling Incident, a murder-suicide pact involving the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. 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.
Aug 10, 2025 • 1h 16min
Episode 372: The French Revolution - Part 6: The Legacy
In this week's episode, wrap up this six-part mini-series on the French Revolution with its most important legacies - political, social, cultural, and historical. 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.
Aug 8, 2025 • 30min
Inventions Episode 32: The Refrigerator
The refrigerator changed so much about how we store and eat perishable food - it opened up global food markets with refrigerated transport, improved food safety with cold storage, and transformed our diets and nutrition with new food availability. History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 5th of August across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. 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.
Aug 6, 2025 • 20min
QAH Episode 122: The Festival of the Supreme Being
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Festival of the Supreme Being, the unhinged religious festival put on by Maxilimilien Robespierre as he attempted to establish the ludicrous brand-new religion he'd invented.History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 5th of August across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. 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.
