Alle afleveringen
1.083 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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CLASSIC: How Santa Anna Lost His Leg Twice, and Held a Funeral for It
30 november 2024 · 43 min
Often called "The Napoleon of the West", mainly by himself, Santa Anna was a legendary, larger-than-life politician, general and exile. While hundreds of stories have been told about this man, one in particular stood out to Ben and Noel: Santa Anna lost his leg not once, but twice to enemy forces. And, once upon a time, he held an elaborate funeral for his fallen leg. Learn more about this bizarre, true story in this week's Classic episode. Lees meer
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The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part Two: A World-Class Show
28 november 2024 · 46 min
What began with marching bands all those decades ago has evolved past all expectations - and even if you don't particularly follow football, you'll probably tune in for the Super Bowl Halftime show. In the second part of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore some of the most iconic -- and controversial -- halftime performances in the history of football. Lees meer
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The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part One: From Marching Bands to Celebrities
26 november 2024 · 49 min
Whether or not you consider yourself a die-hard football fan, you've almost certainly watched a halftime show. Over the past few decades, these performances have almost become their own entertainment entity, featuring some of the world's most notable (and, at times, controversial) celebrities. In the first part of this special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the origin story of the world famous Super Bowl Halftime show. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: That Time Chewbacca Needed Bodyguards
23 november 2024 · 41 min
Inarguably the most well-known Wookie in the Star Wars universe, Chewbacca also bears a strong resemblance to another popular creature in American culture -- the towering, hirsute cryptid known as Bigfoot. So much so, in fact, that during filming the studio (allegedly) became very concerned for the safety of Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca onscreen. While filming Return of the Jedi in the forests of the California redwoods, guards accompanied the costumed Peter Mayhew so that Bigfoot hunters wouldn't shoot him. So what's the big deal with California and Bigfoot? Tune in to find out. Lees meer
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How Emergency Call Lines Became A Thing
21 november 2024 · 52 min
In most of the modern world, the average person has an astonishing resource for any disastrous situation: you find a phone, then dial 3 numbers to be immediately connected with someone who can call police, EMTs, fire fighters or other first responders. It's a fantastic concept, and though it remains a work in progress, these resources inarguably save lives. But how did we get here? Join Ben, Noel and Max as they delve into the suprising evolution of emergency call lines -- along with some hilarious examples of calls gone wrong, especially when callers have their own definitions of "emergency." Lees meer
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Are the Vikings to Blame for Cats?
19 november 2024 · 31 min
House cats are astonishing, fascinating, and at-times frustrating little creatures -- yet they've made a comfortable home with humans, spreading in step with every civilization they join. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore an intriguing theory that busts more than a few stereotypes: What if Vikings were responsible for spreading cats even farther around the world? Lees meer
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CLASSIC: Napoleon Bonaparte Was Attacked by Bunnies -- And Lost
16 november 2024 · 36 min
Born in Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte rose from obscurity during the French Revolution, crowning himself Emperor of France in 1804. This brilliant, ruthless tactician changed the course of French history. Despite his meteoric rise and bloodied fall, Bonaparte still needed to grab lunch once in a while. That's when the rabbits got him. Lees meer
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The Most Ridiculous Weather of Baseball
14 november 2024 · 41 min
We've been going through a bit of a sports phase here on Ridiculous History, and of course we can't talk sports without talking baseball. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into some of the strangest weather events to ever grace -- or curse -- an otherwise ordinary game of ball. Note - we don't talk about just how many people got struck by lightning on the field, but... there are a lot. Lees meer
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Bhutan Grades Itself On Happiness
12 november 2024 · 45 min
Most people never get the chance to travel to Bhutan. Nestled high in the Himalayan mountains, this ancient kingdom is unique on multiple levels. It's the only Vajrayana Buddhist nation on the planet -- and it's also the only nation that measures its success in terms of happiness rather than money. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the history of Bhutan and the inspiring idea of GNH - Gross National Happiness. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: California Was Named for a Fictional Island Ruled by a Black Amazon Queen
9 november 2024 · 32 min
California was admitted to the United States as the 31st state in 1850, but it acquired its unique name much, much earlier. Join Ben and Noel as they trace the strange story behind California's name, from the fiction that inspired it to the loss and rediscovery of the story and, of course, adventures on a legendary Amazonian island. Tune in to learn more in this week's Classic episode. Lees meer
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The World's Weirdest Sports, Part Two: Literal Murderball
8 november 2024 · 43 min
OK, imagine this: you've been captured by a neighboring civilization, hauled off to an unfamiliar city, and your captors tell you: "Hold up, we're not going to kill you yet. In fact, if you can win this game in front of our audience, we will let you live." In part two of our continuing series the world's weirdest sports, Ben, Noel and Max explore the brutal, bloody, and often lethal Mesoamerican sport loosely known as "the Ball Game," a religious event wherein losing the match often meant losing your life. Lees meer
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The World's Weirdest Sports, Part One: Buzkashī is Where You Fight Over A Dead Goat
5 november 2024 · 52 min
Regardless of everyone's differences in this wide, wide world, it's safe to say every culture loves some kind of sport. Often these sports can seem strange to outsiders -- but before we cast proverbial stones, let's remember almost every sport looks bizarre to people who don't know the rules! In the first episode of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max explore Buzkashī, the national sport of Afghanistan. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: Ancient Mayan Ritual Alcohol Enemas
2 november 2024 · 50 min
Like many ancient cultures, the civilizations of Mesoamerica had a vast and rich history of unique cultural practices, spiritual beliefs and ceremonies, some of which may seem bizarre to people in the modern day. In this episode, the guys examine a common practice from ancient Mayan culture: the ritual alcohol enema. Lees meer
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One Guy Was So Good At Violin That People Thought He Worshipped Satan
31 oktober 2024 · 54 min
There's no denying Niccolò Paganini was a virtuoso -- in his heyday, this violinist was an international rock star, wowing crowds across Europe with his rollicking, frenetic performances. He was, in fact, so good that people were at a loss to explain exactly how he got so talented. As the years went on, people started claiming his musical gifts were the result of an infernal pact, and that Paganini had made a deal with the Devil. Lees meer
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Credit Scores are Absolutely Ridiculous
29 oktober 2024 · 49 min
In theory, the concept of credit scores is simple, and makes a lot of sense: lenders need to know they can trust someone to pay back their debts, and debtors need a way to prove they're trustworthy. In practice, however, credit scores are intensely confusing, often ridiculous, and a heck of a pain in the keister for pretty much everyone involved. So how did this system come about in the first place? Join Ben, Noel and Max as they dive into the ridiculous history of credit scores. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: That Time Vermont Was an Independent Republic
26 oktober 2024 · 45 min
Today Vermont is known for its progressive politics, beautiful forestry, Bernie Sanders and Ben and Jerry's. It's not a state you'll hear much about outside of the US and, for many Vermont natives, that's just fine. But once upon a time, Vermont was a very different place -- in fact, for a number of years, it was an independent Republic. How did this come about? How did it become part of the modern United States? Tune in to find out. Lees meer
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Spontaneous Generation, Part Two: "Broth Science"
24 oktober 2024 · 35 min
Who could have guessed a series of broth experiments revolutionized humanity's understanding of life? Spoiler, not us. In part two of this week's two part episode, Ben, Noel and Max continue their exploration of the once widely-accepted concept of spontaneous generation: the idea that certain nonliving objects could, for one reason or another, suddenly produce living things. Lees meer
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Spontaneous Generation, Part One: Mice and Grain
22 oktober 2024 · 40 min
Today the idea sounds silly. Why would anyone think nonliving substances can suddenly generate living things? Yet for much of human history, the concept of spontaneous generation was widely accepted. In the first part of this week's two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the ridiculous theory of spontaneous generation. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: The Capture of Guam Was Bloodless and Quick, All Due to a Misunderstanding
19 oktober 2024 · 39 min
Located about 1500 miles to the east of the Phillipines in Micronesia, Guam is a small US territory with a tiny population, beautiful beaches and an incredibly complicated history. For almost four centuries it was a colonial possession of Spain -- but that all changed in 1898, when Guam, in a strange series of misunderstandings, became a possession of the American government. So what exactly happened? Join Ben and Noel as they explore the bloodless, somewhat ridiculous, capture of Guam. Lees meer
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Ridiculous Royal Deaths, Part 5: A Blind and Bloody Finale (For Now)
17 oktober 2024 · 39 min
Whether we're talking mysterious nosebleeds, drowning in full armor, or charging literally blind into battle, history is chock-full of ridiculous royal deaths. In the fifth -- and for now, final -- installment of this series, Ben, Max and Noel dive deep into more morbid tales of rulers who met with untimely ends. Lees meer
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Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart was Darn Near Unkillable
15 oktober 2024 · 38 min
Born to an aristocratic Belgian family, Adrian Carton de Wiart could have lived the easy life, with a plum job in government or law. Instead, however, he embarked on a bloody, hyperviolent career across multiple wars and decades. He was shot repeatedly, lost an eye, survived wounds that would kill an orindary man and, when doctor refused to remove his shattered fingers, Carton de Wiart ripped them off himself. Join Ben, Noel and Max as they learn more about this unkillable soldier. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: Are All US Presidents Actually Related?
12 oktober 2024 · 32 min
In 2012 a student in Salinas, California, startled genealogists when she claimed that all Presidents save one were actually related. Could it be true? Join Ben and Noel in today's classic episode as they dive into this strange claim, separating fact from fiction while tackling what it means, exactly, to be related to someone. (It's all relative.) Lees meer
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Post-Presidential Careers, Part Two: Adams, Taft, And More
10 oktober 2024 · 43 min
George W. Bush is super into painting. Barak Obama loves making playlists. Taft decided to join the Supreme Court. In the part two of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the astonishing post-Presidential careers of numerous former US Presidents. Spoiler: some are weirder than others. Lees meer
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Post-Presidential Careers, Part One: Happy Birthday, Jimmy!
8 oktober 2024 · 37 min
Over here in the US, there's one dream job so exclusive that only 45 people have held it so far: President of the United States of America, not to be confused with the band bearing a similar name. In the first part of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the astonishing post-Presidential career of Georgia's own James Carter, often lauded as the best human being to hold the office -- even if he wasn't the best actual President. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: What's the deal with two-dollar bills?
5 oktober 2024 · 59 min
Despite being pretty rare in comparison to other denominations, the U.S. two-dollar bill is one of the most storied notes in American folklore. So why do some people think it's lucky? Why do others think it's bad luck? Join Ben and Noel as they explore the bizarre evolution of the two-dollar bill in this week's Classic episode. Lees meer
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Mark Twain Was a Terrible Investor, Part Two: Typesetters, Steam Pulleys and Tesla
3 oktober 2024 · 43 min
Well, Ridiculous Historians, as our pal Mark Twain settled into a life of literary fame, he still couldn't help himself from making huge investments in terrible ideas -- sometimes, at an enormous emotional cost to his family. In the second part of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore some of Twain's most infamous bad investments, from a bizarre nutritional powder to his own board game, his deep friendship with Nikola Tesla, and more. Lees meer
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Mark Twain Was a Terrible Investor, Part One: The Legend of "Josh"
1 oktober 2024 · 43 min
Today, Mark Twain is widely thought of as one of America's greatest authors -- but he was also, get this, a terrible investor. Inspired by his father's unfailing (and unsuccessful) efforts to become a business tycoon, Twain spent loads of time and money backing inventions that either didn't work... or were outright scams. In part one of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Twain's early life experiences set him on this path -- and how he originally had a different pen name. Also, this is our Connecticut series. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: How James Bond Created a Mexican Dia de los Muertos Tradition
28 september 2024 · 27 min
The Day of the Dead is a longstanding traditional celebration in Mexico, and currently hundreds of thousands of people associate it with a gigantic parade -- you know, like the one they saw in the James Bond film "Spectre". There's just one strange twist about that parade: before the movie, the procession didn't exist. Join Ben and Noel as they trace the weird evolution of this event from fiction to the real world in this week's Classic episode. Lees meer
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What is Karaoke? Part Two: Going Global; Careful What You Sing
26 september 2024 · 35 min
As the karaoke phenomenon became a global pastime, it likewise transformed to adapt to cultures outside of Japan. In the second part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the expansion of karaoke as both technology and culture as well as the troubling ethical nature of AI, arriving their own interpretations along the way. Lees meer
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What is Karaoke? Part One: An Origin Story
24 september 2024 · 35 min
Nowadays most people are at least generally familiar with the concept of karaoke -- technology allows you to sing along with your favorite songs, often to the delight of your friends and fellow amateur vocalists. It's a global phenomenon, and has created countless karaoke-based communities wherein, if only for a moment, anyone can be a star. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max delve into the origin story of karaoke, which may have began all because one Japanese guy was mad at his coworkers. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: Did Richard Nixon Unwittingly Smuggle Drugs for Louis Armstrong?
21 september 2024 · 38 min
It's become one of the strangest anecdotes in modern American history -- numerous sources will swear to you that, in a last-minute panic before reaching customs, legendary musician Louis Armstrong had Richard Nixon's unwitting assistance smuggling a hefty amount of marijuana through US customs. It's bizarre (and pretty hilarious) if true... but how true is it? Tune in as the guys get to the bottom of this bizarre American fable in this week's Classic episode. Lees meer
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The Nebraska Episode
19 september 2024 · 32 min
Let's be honest: when many Americans think of Nebraska, we immediately think of corn. Yet there's much more to the Cornhusker State than a single crop. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into several ridiculous bits of Nebraska history, from an epic barn move to the surprising, silly origin story of how Lincoln, Nebraska ended up with its name. Lees meer
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Occupy Alcatraz!
17 september 2024 · 40 min
Alcatraz! For a lot of us, this former island prison occupies an iconic space in the American zeitgeist. It's been home to some of the country's most notorious criminals, and has been the inspiration for tons of top-notch works of fiction and cinema. Yet in today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn this supposedly-impenetrable place was not once, but multiple times invaded and occupied by Native American activists in the modern day. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: 3 Times Society Refused to Accept New Books on Science
14 september 2024 · 51 min
Progress versus preservation: It's one of the eternal dilemmas found throughout every instance of human civilization. Should we embrace disruptive thoughts and science that challenges our beliefs, or should we cling to the comfort of the status quo? Join Ben and Noel in this week's Classic episode as they explore the tragic and inspiring stories of books that were banned not for racy, fictional scenes -- but for furthering our understanding of the universe and our place within it. Lees meer
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The Ridiculous, Murky Origins of Pasta, Part Two: From Myth to the Modern Day
12 september 2024 · 37 min
Today pasta is a worldwide phenomena, and the story of pasta's spread is, in a very real way, also a study of global trade and civilization. Tune in to part two of this week's two-part series as Ben, Noel and Max explore the continuing evolution of pasta. (Spoiler: people are still inventing new shapes!) Lees meer
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The Ridiculous, Murky Origins of Pasta, Part One: Basic Ingredients, Delicious Results
10 september 2024 · 33 min
Pasta is amazing. But where does the concept come from? In part one of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max delve into the origin of a simple series of ingredients -- and discover there's a lot more to the story. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: That Time We Erased a (HUGE) Waterfall
7 september 2024 · 29 min
It's often been said that "the art of losing isn't hard to master", and humanity overall seems to have a knack for losing everything from car keys to entire civilizations. Join Ben and Noel as they travel (vicariously) to South America and delve into the story of two nations who, eventually, lost an entire waterfall in this week's Classic episode. Lees meer
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Patents Are Absolutely Bonkers: An Origin Story
5 september 2024 · 49 min
Have you ever had a good idea -- like, a brilliant idea? If so, you may have immediately started trying to figure out the cartoonishly complicated, labyrinthine world of patents. In today's episode, the guys dive into the strange history of the concept and process of patents. Lees meer
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That Time a Swedish Queen Became So Enlightened, She Quit Being the Queen
3 september 2024 · 44 min
Christina wasn't your average monarch of her day -- while many rulers sought to subjugate and terrorize their kingdoms, she sought to acquire knowledge, and to empower the public with information. Often called the "Minerva of the North," this ruler skillfully navigated treacherous geopolitical waters while also seeking to establish Stockholm as an international center of intellectual and philosophical thought. Eventually, she quit the job altogether. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: The Poetic Justice of Death by Molten Gold
31 augustus 2024 · 33 min
It's a grisly death familiar to many fans of fiction and fantasy -- a hapless, greedy villain meets their end by having molten metal, often lead or gold, poured upon them or down their throats. But was this morbid means of execution ever used in real life? Join the guys as they dive into the deadly science of real-life murder by molten gold in this week's Classic episode. Lees meer
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You Auto-go to the Drive-in, Part Two: Driving In and Out of History
29 augustus 2024 · 45 min
What made drive-in theatres so iconic? What led to their demise? In the second part of this week's two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max investigate the rise and fall of the old-school drive-in. Lees meer
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You Auto-go to the Drive-in, Part One: Cars Meet Cinema
27 augustus 2024 · 35 min
Have you ever visited a drive-in theatre? These fascinating outfits are increasingly rare in 2024, but not too long ago they were all the rage. In the first part of this week's two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the origin story of the iconic drive-in cinema. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: Japan, Baseball and the Curse of the Colonel
24 augustus 2024 · 38 min
First things first: You may think Kentucky Fried Chicken is popular in the States, but we've got nothing on Japan. Join the guys as they delve into a story involving baseball, fried chicken, superstition, curses and drunken revelry in today's episode on the Hanshin Tigers and the infamous Curse of the Colonel in today's Classic episode. Lees meer
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The Disturbing History of Last Meals, Part Two: Famous Final Snacks
22 augustus 2024 · 39 min
Now that we know the origin of last meals, it's time to dive into the reality of this somewhat disturbing practice. In the second part of this special two-part episode, Ben and Noel don't just walk explore the final suppers of criminals, presidents, and celebrities -- they also give you the inside scoop on some of your favorite podcasters' last meals. Lees meer
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The Disturbing History of Last Meals, Part One: A Creepy Origin Story
20 augustus 2024 · 36 min
It's a classic trope of crime stories and folklore across the planet: a criminal due for execution is granted one last meal as a send-off to the afterlife. But where exactly does this strange practice come from? The Biblical Last Supper is by far the most famous example of a last meal in the Western world -- but, as Ben and Noel learn in this special two-part episode, this is far from the first example of this bizarre, at-times ghoulish practice. Tune in to learn more. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: That Time the US Built a Flying Aircraft Carrier
17 augustus 2024 · 33 min
Nowadays airships are seen as historical relics or novelties meant to fly overhead during sports games. However, not so long ago, the US military thought airships might be the future of warfare. Today the guys delve into the strange history of the USS Akron, an airship designed not just to carry human beings -- but to carry planes as well. Learn more about the construction of the Akron -- and why it's not aloft today -- in today's Classic episode. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: Yes, Those are Corpses in the Diorama
15 augustus 2024 · 39 min
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is one of the most storied institutions of its kind in the United States, and it's chockful of priceless objects from across the span of history and the globe. However... investigators recently discovered a grisly secret hidden within one of the dioramas. Join Ben and Noel as they explore the macabre secret of the Carnegie Museum in today's Classic episode. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: Weird People Who Built Weird Things
13 augustus 2024 · 36 min
Simeon Ellerton spent years building a house out of stones he found and carried home, one by one. Rejected by his one true love, Edward Leeskalnin spent decades erecting a bizarre monument for her, built of giant coral stones in Florida. But what exactly motivated these guys? How did they stick with their strange obsessions, and what mysteries surround them in the modern day? Tune in to learn more. Lees meer
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CLASSIC: What was the West Point Eggnog Riot?
10 augustus 2024 · 44 min
Today the United States Military Academy at West Point is known as one the country's top-notch training institutions, but back in 1826 it was home to a night of pure egg-nog-fueled pandemonium. Join Ben and Noel as they retrace the drunken, crazed steps of cooped-up cadets who decided to fight the power one Christmas in today's Classic episode. Lees meer
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The Noble -- and Kind of Ridiculous -- History of Butlers
8 augustus 2024 · 38 min
Are you a millionaire, billionaire or aristocrat too busy to manage the day-to-day affairs of palatial estate? If so, you may have already secured the last word in personal service: the butler. In today's episode, inspired by strange memories of the sitcom Mr. Belvedere, Ben, Noel and Max explore the real history of butlerdom, from supervising jugs of booze all the way to the bespoke managerial services of the modern day. Lees meer
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