Ridiculous History

Media pundits love to say America is 'divided as never before' -- but how true is that? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into multiple Congressional debacles, from that time a civil war almost happened (before the actual civil war) to that time one guy literally assaulted another dude with a cane, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Turing, a legendary scientist persecuted by the UK, turned the tide of WWII. The podcast explores his role in breaking the German code, his contributions to computer development, and his mistreatment due to his homosexuality. It also covers his work in artificial life and his mysterious death, as well as the persecution faced by Turing and his subsequent recognition and apologies received.

Explore the origins of oddly-named diseases like rickets and scurvy, and the importance of a balanced diet. Learn about the history and etymology of rickets, including its existence in pre-industrial Europe. Discover the controversy surrounding vaccinations, personal experiences, and misleading names of medical conditions. Conclude with gratitude and advertisements.

In this podcast, the hosts explore the etymology of strangely-named diseases like dropsy, discuss preserved seafood and tinned fish, delve into the treatments and etymology of dropsy, and talk about hand foot and mouth disease and the origins of Cockstackie virus. They also touch on rats as carriers of diseases like the black death.

Famous author James Joyce's personal correspondence unveils his depraved side, eclipsing the racy scenes in his novels. The hosts explore Joyce's life and writing, highlighting the complexity of his work and the controversy surrounding his novel Ulysses. They discuss the explicit content and secret life of this literary figure.

It's Thanksgiving in the United States -- and Thanksgiving is weird! In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore some of the big questions about Thanksgiving: How did the parade become a thing? Why do the Cowboys and the Lions always play? How on Earth did turkey become the traditional main dish?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that politics can often have a dark side -- smoky backrooms, corruption and graft have always had their place in American history. And, amid all the corruption, few institutions are as infamous as Tammany Hall. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the origin, growth, and ultimate collapse of this thoroughly American, thoroughly corrupt, and thoroughly ridiculous political machine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the railroads tried and failed to control flooding in the Salton Sink, state and federal leaders realized America needed a bigger solution. With the Great Depression in full swing, workers from across the country traveled to Vegas in hopes of working on the Hoover Dam. In the second part of this week's two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the construction of this modern marvel -- and bust some of the most popular Hoover myths along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next time you're in Vegas, rent a car and spend a day at the Hoover Dam. This towering, larger-than-life marvel of human engineering has fundamentally shaped the United States. But building it was far from easy. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max recount the guys' adventure exploring the Dam in person... and the sheer, ridiculous audacity of the thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The podcast explores the fascinating world of honey and its use as a weapon in warfare, including the historical massacres involving hallucinogenic mead. It also delves into the medicinal uses of hallucinogenic honey, the unique lifestyle of gurong people in Nepal, and the legal status of the honey in Turkey. The hosts wrap up the episode with some ads and promotions.