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
Jun 8, 2025 • 54min
Episode 363: The Mystery of the Dyatlov Pass Incident
In this week's episode, uncover the details of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, when something caused nine Soviet hikers to abandon their mountainside tent and perish in the middle of a freezing night - for reasons that have never been conclusively determined. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 6, 2025 • 26min
Inventions Episode 23: The Thermometer
The thermometer has had a huge impact on many aspects of modern life, none more important than in the field of medicine - where it has helped in revolutionising diagnosis and patient monitoring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 4, 2025 • 5min
Announcing: History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book
History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 5th of August across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order 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-9781761472589 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 4, 2025 • 23min
QAH Episode 113: Mad Jack Mytton, the Regency Rake
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of Mad Jack Mytton, a wild and eccentric character who wasted a colossal fortune away living a life of unbridled, reckless hedonism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 1, 2025 • 55min
Episode 362: The Sacred Band of Thebes
In this week's episode, meet the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite heavy infantry unit, made up of 150 pairs of lovers, that took part in immensely important ancient battles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 30, 2025 • 27min
Inventions Episode 22: The Microscope
The microscope has unlocked whole new worlds for us to explore, over the centuries - but the question of who actually invented it remains unresolved, even today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 28, 2025 • 26min
QAH Episode 112: Elmer McCurdy, the Mummified Outlaw
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of Elmer McCurdy, whose brief career as an unsuccessful criminal was overshadowed by a much longer posthumour career as a sideshow attraction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 25, 2025 • 59min
Episode 361: The Funniest Art Heists in History - Part 2
In this week's episode, get across a few more of the funniest art heists in history - including, unusually, an update on something featured in a previous episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 23, 2025 • 24min
Inventions Episode 21: The Telescope
The telescope is a device that, for the last four hundred years, has helped us unlock the mysteries and secrets of our solar system, galaxy, and indeed universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 21, 2025 • 24min
QAH Episode 111: The Egon Kisch Affair
Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Egon Kisch Affair, when the Australian government went to ludicrous and ultimately unsuccessful lengths to block an anti-Nazi campaigner from entering the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
