Ridiculous History

"For such a popular, well-known language, English is full of strange, seemingly arbitrary rules. Most people just accept these various idiosyncrasies... but Benjamin Franklin was not most people. In today's classic, listen as Ben and Noel explore Franklin's strange quest to revise the English language by cutting out old letters (and inventing new ones)."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays Christmas is a globally-recognized holiday celebrated by millions of people, but in the past this wasn't the case. In fact, some groups of Christians detested the holiday, going so far as to ban it completely. So what led Puritans to ban one of the most prominent celebrations in the Christian faith? In today's classic episode, the gang revisits the breakaway Christians that genuinely found Christmas un-Christian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year at the end of October, countless children (and adults) don costumes and head into the night, going door to door with the same ritual cry: Trick or Treat! But where did this odd practice come from? In today's special Halloween episode, the guys explore the ancient predecessors of this tradition... as well as the more extreme versions, where there's way more emphasis on tricks than on treats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben, Noel and super producer Casey Pegram dive back into the weeds of the surprisingly ancient (and ridiculous) art of trimming flora into bizarre and elaborate shapes. It’s a practice that had a habit of falling in and out of fashion depending on the whims of whoever was in power. Were topiaries simply an elaborate flex for the super rich or something that could be appreciated by everyone? Or maybe both?! Find out in this second part of the history of topiaries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever looked at a bush and thought "this would be way cooler if it was shaped like a rabbit," then you're part of a long line of topiary enthusiasts throughout history. This ancient art of shaping, training and trimming plants and trees into fanicful, decorative shapes dates back into antiquity. In this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Casey dive into the origin story of twisting, tangled origin story of topiary (and how it's way weird than you might think).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, scientists are treated with respect (for the most part), but this wasn't always the case. In the first part of this recurring series, Ben, Noel and Casey explore the ridiculous, at-times tragic stories of scientists who were persecuted for their discoveries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has been trying to figure out where to put all its poop. While it's easy to take your average flushing commode for granted, it turns out thousands of years of research went into creating the toilets we use today. Tune in as Ben, Noel, and Casey dive into the bizarre history of modern restrooms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second part of this series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Burr's struggle to acquire political power seemed to lead him, again and again, into conflict with his frenemey Alexander Hamilton -- a rivalry that would ultimately culminate in a fatal duel. Spoiler: Aaron Burr survives. His career does not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks in large part to the musical Hamilton, Aaron Burr has re-entered the public zeitgeist. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the rise of Aaron Burr, from his unfortunate early life through his heroic exploits through the American Revolution into his ...mixed experience with US politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, Ridiculous History fans! Listen to McCartney: A Life in Lyrics hosted by Paul McCartney! A new masterclass podcast that dives into an improvised journey with one of the most beloved figures in popular music. Each episode is centered on one song in McCartney’s catalog – from early Beatles to his solo work. Don't just take our word for it, check out the trailer to decide for yourself!   About McCartney: A Life in Lyrics: McCartney: A Life in Lyrics is a master class, a memoir, and an improvised journey with one of the most beloved figures in popular music: Paul McCartney. Each episode is centered on one song in McCartney’s catalog – from early Beatles to his solo work. Over the course of the podcast, listeners sit in on conversations between McCartney and the poet Paul Muldoon about the people, experiences, and art that inspired McCartney’s songwriting. The stories are richly interwoven with music and sounds contemporary to each song, providing a revelatory, entertaining window into a truly iconic creative genius. The first season is 24 episodes, but there is a treasure trove of tapes of more than 150 of McCartney’s songs.   Listen to McCartney: A Life in Lyrics on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.