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 18, 2019 • 32min
Episode 60: Alexander the Great’s Siege of Tyre
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn how Alexander the Great besieged Tyre, with hundreds of ships and a human-made causeway, altering not only the course of world history but also the course of world geography. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 11, 2019 • 42min
Episode 59: Neutral Moresnet
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of Neutral Moresnet, a fascinatingly unique geographical and political anomaly in 19th-century Europe, famous for zinc mining, smuggling, gambling, and Esperanto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 4, 2019 • 34min
Episode 58: Elagabalus, Rome’s Salacious Emperor
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be shocked at the debauchery of Elagabalus, who ruled Rome as emperor during the third century with some and gained an outrageous reputation for salaciousness and promiscuity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 28, 2019 • 42min
Episode 57: Stede Bonnet, Gentleman Pirate
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy the life story of the gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet, who left behind a life of comfortable wealth to take to the seas as a pirate in the Golden Age of Piracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 21, 2019 • 42min
Episode 56: Robert Smalls, War Hero and Congressman
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the incredible life of Robert Smalls, who went from being born into slavery to becoming a war hero and a congressman, securing his freedom by stealing a Confederate gunboat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 14, 2019 • 45min
Episode 55: Gregor MacGregor, the Poyaisian Con Man - Part 2
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at one of the most brazen and audacious confidence tricks in history - the Poyais Scheme, run by Gregor MacGregor, who invented an entire country and swindled people into investing in and emigrating to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 7, 2019 • 44min
Episode 54: Gregor MacGregor, the Poyaisian Con Man - Part 1
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the wild soldiering career of the famous swindler Gregor MacGregor, who talked his way into (and out of) all sorts of wild adventures while fighting for various Latin American independence movements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 30, 2019 • 33min
Episode 53: La Maupin, Operatic Swashbuckler
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be entertained by the wild life story of Julie d'Aubigny - better known as La Maupin - who was a swordfighting, convent-burning, and incredibly amorous opera singer in seventeenth century France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 23, 2019 • 41min
Episode 52: Arkipov and Petrov, the Men Who Saved the World
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be shocked at just how close we've come to a nuclear apocalypse, and how the actions of brave individuals such as Vasiliy Arkhipov and Stanislav Petrov mean that we're still around today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 16, 2019 • 31min
Episode 51: William Buckley, Escaped Convict
In this episode of Half-Arsed History, explore the story of William Buckley, a convict who was transported to Australia only to make a daring escape and live amongst the local indigenous population for decades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
