Half-Arsed History

Week 15: The Invention of Cornflakes

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got maritime disasters caused by iceberg and by toilet, we’ve got the death of a president and the birth of a mother of kings, and we’ve got the invention of a bland breakfast cereal alongside a certain rumour that goes with it.

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Episode 406: The East India Company - Part 6: Legacies and Lessons

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, explore the historical and contemporary legacies of the British East India Company, examined through nationalist, political, economic, and moral lenses.

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Week 14: The Rescue of Poon Lim

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got volcanic eruptions and famous statues, we’ve got the birthdays of royals, representatives, and root rats, and we’ve got a bloke catching seagulls and killing sharks in a months-long ordeal of lonely maritime survival.

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Episode 405: The East India Company - Part 5: Downfall and Dissolution

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, discover how and why the British East India Company, an immensely powerful and wealthy imperial institution, came crashing down after a slow and steady decline.

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Week 13: The Spaghetti Tree Hoax

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got the origin of gerrymandering, the renaming of Constantinople, we’ve got the birthdays of composers and scientists and painters, and we’ve got the time the BBC convinced half of Britain that spaghetti grew on trees.

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Episode 404: The East India Company - Part 4 Expansion and Empire

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear about the phase of conquest and expansion that transformed the British East India Company into one of the largest and most powerful imperial institutions on Earth.

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Week 12: England Loses the 1966 World Cup

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got monuments both finished and unfinished, we’ve got great escapes, we’ve got the birthdays of clockmakers, filmmakers, and musicmakers, and we’ve got the time that England lost the World Cup in 1966.

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Episode 403: The East India Company - Part 3: Conquest and Corruption

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:00:06 GMT

In this week's episode, get across how the British East India Company transformed from a purely commercial enterprise to a sovereign entity exercising colonial authority over a growing part of the Indian subcontinent.

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Week 11: The Assassination of Julius Caesar

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got the death of a saint, the discovery of a planet, and the theft of half a billion dollars of art, we’ve got the birthdays of scientists and explorers, and beware the Ides of March, we’ve got the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Selene's Fun Animal Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LMIgPToyL63jhxRKddc0a?si=3a181b5c586449b3

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Episode 402: The East India Company - Part 2: Footholds and Factories

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear about the early history of the English East India Company, and how it moved away from the Indonesian spice trade and instead gained a foothold on the Indian subcontinent under the Mughal Empire.

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Week 10: The 13 Original Rules of Golf

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got the foundation of the French Foreign Legion and frozen food, we’ve got the birthdays of explorers and artists and activists, and we’ve got the establishment of the original and sometimes very amusing rules of the game of golf.

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Episode 401: The East India Company - Part 1: Spices and Stocks

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, learn about the global 16th century trading conditions that ultimately led to the formation of the East India Company, an institution that would eventually grow to effectively rule as a nation in its own right.

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Week 9: The Great Fire of Meireki

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got the first Europeans in Australia, we’ve got the first Sherlock Holmes stories, we’ve got famous composers and an even famouser crook, and we’ve got the time the city that would go on to become Tokyo burnt to the ground.

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Episode 400: What Half-Arsed History Could Have Been

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get a taste of what this show might have sounded like if it had begun as a podcast of a different genre.

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Week 8: Three Presidents in One Hour

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got monuments, calendars, and the disastrous premiere of a popular opera, we’ve got the birthdays of astronomers and diarists and presidents, and we’ve got that time that Mexico got through three presidents in a single hour.

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Episode 399: Nicolaus Copernicus and Copernican Heliocentrism

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know Nicolaus Copernicus, the 15th-century astronomer who brought about a historical paradigm shift with his radical proposal that the Sun, not the Earth, is at the centre of the solar system.

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Week 7: The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got famous martyrdoms, global car races, and the discovery of former planets, we’ve got the birthdays of scientists and leaders and activists, and we’ve also got the story of an infamous Chicago bloodbath.

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Episode 398: The Foundation of Modern Singapore

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, discover how, why, and perhaps most importantly where modern Singapore was founded, back in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles.

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Week 6: The Sack of Baghdad

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got riots and treaties, we’ve got the discovery of the world’s biggest gold nugget, we’ve got the birthday of a famous Victorian author, and of course, the end of the Islamic Golden Age with the Sack of Baghdad.

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Episode 397: Catherine the Great, the Enlightened Empress

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Catherine the Great, the empress who successfully ruled Russia for almost 35 years despite usurping a throne she had no claim to.

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Week 5: The Day the Music Died

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

This week in history we’ve got the execution of a famous traitor, a tale of revenge served cold, we’ve got the birthdays of conquerors and explorers and activists, and we’ve got the story behind the Day the Music Died.

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Episode 396: The Horrors of Sarah Island

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, become acquainted with Macquarie Harbour Penal Station, known as Sarah Island, which was one of the cruellest and most brutal convict settlements in Australia's history.

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Week 4: When Some Ships Sailed from Botany Bay to Port Jackson

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:00:00 GMT

This week in history: the publishing of Pride and Prejudice, the first-ever cans of beer, the birthdays of pirates, kings, and composers, and... that time some ships sailed from Botany Bay to Port Jackson.

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Episode 395: The Raft of the Medusa

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, head the gruesome and tragic tale of the Raft of the Medusa, when almost 150 people were set adrift and abandoned on a rickety raft, resorting to murder and cannibalism to survive.

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Week 3: The Miracle on the Hudson

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

This week in history: inaugurations, executions, and people drowning in hot molasses, the birthdays of famous founding fathers, and the Miracle on the Hudson, when a passenger plane was safely landed in the middle of a river.

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Episode 394: Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Great Engineer

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 13:00:51 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the famous and immensely influential engineer, whose work encompassed bridges, tunnels, railways, ships, and much more besides.

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Week 2: Caesar Crosses the Rubicon

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:00:58 GMT

This week in history: rioting sports fans in sixth-century Constantinople, the first-ever meeting of the UN General Assembly, the birthdays of famous musicians, and a pivotal moment in world history as Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon.

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Episode 393: Operation Just Cause

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:00:47 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the story of Operation Just Cause, when the US staged an invasion of Panama in 1989, capturing and airlifting its leader back to the US to face drug-related charges.

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Week 1: The Introduction of the Euro

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:00:25 GMT

This week in history: the establishment of calendars and international timekeeping systems, the federation of Australia, the birthdays of several prominent authors, and the introduction of the euro as a currency.

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Update: Half-Arsed History in 2026

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:01:25 GMT

Changes are coming to Half-Arsed History in 2026! Some positive, some negative - here is the TL;DL:

• There will now only be two episodes released each week: the usual full-length episode and a new series called This Week in History, replacing QAH

• I'm pulling back a little bit to try to bring my unsustainable workload back under control, reduce burnout, and find better balance

• Half-Arsed History's second book is coming later in 2026, the manuscript is currently being written and edited

• A brand-new Half-Arsed History card game is in the works, and you can be involved with playtesting and illustration

• The show's merch will undergo a full and proper refresh later in the year - artists are encouraged to submit portfolios

• A big goal for the show in 2026 is growth, so please tell your friends, enemies, and people about whom you feel largely ambivalent about Half-Arsed History

List of historical figures likely to appear in the card game: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KEsNw2oTfuXZOn-dU3-dtVhHJAvY0dt0DNbzhIVBbMY

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QAH Episode 143: William McGonagall, History's Worst Poet

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:00:33 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of William McGonagall, widely considered to be the worst English-language poet that history has ever seen.

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Episode 392: Jean de Carrouges and the Last Duel

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 13:00:19 GMT

In this episode, hear the tale of Jean de Carrouges, who fought a duel to the death to seek justice for his wife Marguerite.

WARNING: this episode contains content that may be distressing and is not appropriate for younger listeners.

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Inventions Episode 52: The Smartphone

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:00:23 GMT

The smartphone is an invention that is currently bringing about a technological transformation of human civilisation - and an invitation to think about how other inventions from history have similarly impacted peoples' lives.

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QAH Episode 142: The Principality of Sealand

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:00:55 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the very amusing history of Sealand, an unrecognised micronation located on an abandoned military fort off the coast of Britain.

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Episode 391: History's Weirdest Epithets - Part 2

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 13:00:13 GMT

In this week's episode, meet five more historical figures with strange epithets: Æthelred the Unready, Constantine V Koprónymos, Louis Do-Nothing, Malcolm the Maiden, and Piero the Unfortunate.

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Inventions Episode 51: The Internet

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:00:01 GMT

The internet is not something you just dump something on. It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes.

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QAH Episode 141: The Stone of Scone

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:00:35 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the Stone of Scone, a block of sandstone upon which Scottish, English, and then British kings and queens have been coronated for well over a thousand years.

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Episode 390: The Miracle Landing of the Gimli Glider

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 13:00:44 GMT

In this week's episode, hear the incredible tale of Air Canada Flight 143, when a Boeing 767 ran out of fuel mid-flight and so had to be flown and landed as a glider on a not-quite-abandoned airfield in the Canadian town of Gimli.

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Inventions Episode 50: The Global Positioning System

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:00:42 GMT

The Global Positioning System began as top-secret military technology, before a series of interesting (and some tragic) events opened up a world of convenience and logistical optimisation to the world at large.

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QAH Episode 140: A Brief History of Morse Code

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:00:06 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of Morse code, an encoding and transmission system that helped to transform long-distance communication in the mid 19th-century.

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Episode 389: The First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:00:28 GMT

In this week's episode, hear about the series of ridiculous setbacks and disasters that took place as part of the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable, a revolutionary step forward in global communications.

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Inventions Episode 49: The Personal Computer

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:00:26 GMT

The personal computer is an invention that defines the modern information age, a deeply entrenched part of daily life for billions of people all around the world.

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QAH Episode 139: The SS Princess Alice Disaster

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:00:19 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the SS Princess Alice Disaster, when hundreds of people drowned in raw sewage after two ships collided on the River Thames.

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Episode 388: Beatrix Potter, the Enterprising Author

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:00:34 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know the remarkable Beatrix Potter, whose historical legacy goes a lot further than just the authorship of an immensely successful series of children's books.

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Inventions Episode 48: The Pill

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:00:03 GMT

The pill brought about a huge shift in the history of human civilisation, revolutionising the role of women in society, culture, politics, and economics.

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QAH Episode 138: The Mad Trapper of Rat River

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:00:18 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of the Mad Trapper of Rat River, a mysterious figure who led the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a month-long manhunt through the frozen wilderness.

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Episode 387: Nations Named After People

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 13:00:20 GMT

In this week's episode, hear about the history behind the names of five nations, all named after real historical figures.

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Inventions Episode 47: Velcro

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:00:51 GMT

Velcro - or, officially, the hook-and-loop fastener - is a useful little invention that we all still use today, and one that was popularised after helping us get to the Moon.

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QAH Episode 137: W.G. Grace, the Great Cricketer

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:00:28 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of W.G. Grace, one of the most famous cricketers from the 19th century, famous for his immense skill which helped to revolutionise the game.

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Episode 386: The History of the Ashes

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 13:00:06 GMT

In this episode, get across the origin and history of a fierce century-and-a-half sporting rivalry, brought to life whenever Australia face off against England in Test cricket: the Ashes.

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Inventions Episode 46: The Microwave Oven

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:00:07 GMT

The microwave oven came about due to a very lucky accident involving an electrical engineer and chocolate bar, and today is found in billions of homes worldwide.

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QAH Episode 136: The Petrov Affair

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Petrov Affair, when two Soviet spies caused a major political upheaval by defecting to Australia in the 1950s.

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Episode 385: The 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear the story of the Dismissal: the 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis, when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was turfed out by the governor-general.

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Inventions Episode 45: The Ballpoint Pen

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The ballpoint pen may not have ushered in a technological revolution as so many other inventions in this series did, but it nonetheless played a significant role in making everyday writing simple, cheap, and relatively smudge-free.

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QAH Episode 135: Robert Curthose, the Mutinous Elder Brother

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of Robert Curthose, who managed to cause all sorts of headaches for his two kingly brothers, despite being older than both of them.

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Episode 384: History’s Problematic Princes

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 13:00:29 GMT

In this week's episode, apropos of nothing, meet three historical younger-born princes who nothing but a royal pain in the arse for their older brothers.

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Inventions Episode 44: Penicillin

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Penicillin was a miraculous, marvellous discovery that revolutionised modern medicine and saved millions upon millions of lives, ushering in the age of antibiotics, where a little scratch doesn't result in amputation or death.

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QAH Episode 134: The Venus de Milo

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the Venus de Milo, the most famous ancient statue in the world, and perhaps second-most famous artwork in the Louvre.

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Episode 383: That Time the Mona Lisa Was Stolen from the Louvre

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:00:55 GMT

In this week's episode, learn about the Louvre's most infamous heist: the time that the Mona Lisa itself was stolen by an Italian carpenter named Vincenzo Peruggia.

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Inventions Episode 43: Plastic

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Plastic is everywhere - these days, it's impossible to live a completely plastic-free life; but that's not necessarily entirely a bad thing, as even with all its environmental ills, plastic has nonetheless ushered in an age of material abundance.

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QAH Episode 133: The Lake Nyos Disaster

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Lake Nyos Disaster, when over 1,700 people living around Lake Nyos mysteriously perished one night in 1986.

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Episode 382: The Tichborne Claimant

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get stuck into the mystery of the Tichborne Claimant, when a butcher from Wagga Wagga claimed to be the long-lost heir to a British noble family's fortune.

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Inventions Episode 42: The Aeroplane

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The aeroplane completely transformed human civilisation across the 20th century, bringing immense change to travel, transport, logistics, and military affairs.

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QAH Episode 132: Roy Sullivan, the Human Lightning Rod

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of Roy Sullivan, a US National Park Ranger who was hit by lightning on seven separate occasions, surviving each time to tell the tale.

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Episode 381: Matthew Flinders, the Man Who Named Australia

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know Matthew Flinders, the explorer and navigator who was the first person to circumnavigate Australia - and later popularised the name we all use to refer to it today.

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Inventions Episode 41: Radio

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Radio brought about a revolution in communications technology, allowing widespread wireless communication across great distances and bringing about an age of broadcast entertainment, while forever changing international commercial, industrial, and military affairs.

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QAH Episode 131: Australia's Silliest Laws - Part 2

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: more of the silliest laws still in effect in Tasmania, Western Australia, and South Australia including posing an an architect, challenging someone to a duel, and getting stuck in a fridge.

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Episode 380: History’s Biggest Misconceptions - Part 3

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, uncover the truth behind five more historical misconceptions: what Roman vomitoriums were used for, mediaeval life expectancies, Dom Perignon inventing champagne, Mussolini making the trains run on time, and chloroform knocking you out instantly.

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Inventions Episode 40: Aspirin

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Aspirin was one of the very first mass-produced pharmaceuticals, and its invention and development has a very interesting backstory filled with disagreement and uncertainty.

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QAH Episode 130: Australia's Silliest Laws - Part 1

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the silliest laws still on the books in Victoria, NSW, and Queensland - including prohibitions against corresponding with pirates, riding bikes backwards, and keeping rabbits as pets.

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Episode 379: Matilda of Tuscany, the Great Countess

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Matilda of Tuscany, also known as the "Great Countess", a woman who played a very important role in the politics of the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire at the outset of the Investiture Controversy.

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Inventions Episode 39: The X-Ray Machine

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The X-ray machine changed medicine forever, enabling an easy and (eventually) safe way to see inside the human body non-invasively for diagnosis and treatment.

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QAH Episode 129: Britain's Silliest Laws

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief summary of some of the most absurd laws that are, technically speaking, still in force across the UK - including suspiciously handling a fish, carrying a ladder down the street, and including getting drunk in a pub.

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Episode 378: Dick Turpin, the Infamous Highwayman

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Dick Turpin, an 18th-century highwayman who passed into English folklore for his daring predations as a violent criminal.

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Inventions Episode 38: The Automobile

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The automobile is one of the most transformative inventions in human history, completely changing the way transportation, society, culture, business, industry, and so much more work within modern human civilisation.

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QAH Episode 128: The Death of Allan Pinkerton

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the death of Allan Pinkerton, a story that is completely and totally distinct from the one cut from History's Strangest Deaths for legal reasons.

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Episode 377: Krum the Fearsome, Bane of Emperors

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know Khan Krum the Fearsome, a 9th-century leader of the Bulgarian Empire who is famous for, amongst other things, drinking from the skulls of his enemies.

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Inventions Episode 37: The Light Bulb

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The light bulb is something found in more or less every room in our homes, today - and while its form and function hasn't changed too much, it has undergone countless improvements and updates across more than a century.

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QAH Episode 127: HAH Live Q&A from Maroochydore

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: highlights from the Q&A sessions from the live show in Maroochydore, including questions on the research that went into the book, how future historians will reflect on Covid, the strongest influences on Half-Arsed History's development, and a whole bunch of silly nonsense at the end.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

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Episode 376: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Maroochydore

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get the best kind of advice - unsolicited advice - as to how to bring your creative endeavours to life (there are also a couple of chapters from the book at the end of the episode as well, don't worry).

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

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Inventions Episode 36: The Telephone

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The telephone completely changed the way we communicate with one another, making it possible to have an instant back-and-forth conversation across vast distances.

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QAH Episode 126: HAH Live Q&A from Sydney & Brisbane

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: highlights from the Q&A sessions from the live shows in Sydney and Brisbane, including questions on the book's cover, the next white whale, video content, and whether pancakes are better than waffles (they're not).

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 375: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Brisbane

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, enjoy a series of shameful confessions about the mistakes - both those that were found and missed - in History's Strangest Deaths, and listen to a sneaky chapter or two at the end.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 35: The Internal Combustion Engine

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The internal combustion engine is an invention that has completely and irreversibly changed human civilisation and the way we live our lives, unlocking personal transportation, powering global trade networks, and making us reliant on fossil fuels.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 125: The Death of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the death of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, a glaring omission from History's Strangest deaths - the shah sentenced two servants to death but then delayed the execution by one day, and in the meantime they killed him instead.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 374: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Melbourne

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear all about the editing and proofreading process that History's Strangest Deaths underwent, as well as a painful confession about one of the mistakes that slipped through the cracks.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 34: Barbed Wire

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Barbed wire has had a surprisingly large impact on human civilisation, completely changing the agricultural industry across much of the world, while also becoming an unpleasant symbol of oppression through its use in military affairs and incarceration.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 124: Emperor Caracalla’s Wedding Massacre

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the massacre carried out after Caracalla proposed wedding between himself and the daughter of the Parthian emperor, just time for another real-world wedding that is taking place this week.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 373: The Book Tour 2025 - LIVE in Sydney

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the behind-the-scenes details when it came to drafting and pitching process for History's Strangest Deaths, as well as a few preview chapters from the book itself.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 33: The Lift

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The lift has played a very important role in modern building design and construction, sending skyscrapers higher and higher into the air and transforming the layout and densities of cities all around the world.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 123: The Mayerling Incident

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tragic and gruesome story of the Mayerling Incident, a murder-suicide pact involving the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 372: The French Revolution - Part 6: The Legacy

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, wrap up this six-part mini-series on the French Revolution with its most important legacies - political, social, cultural, and historical.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, is now available! Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 32: The Refrigerator

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The refrigerator changed so much about how we store and eat perishable food - it opened up global food markets with refrigerated transport, improved food safety with cold storage, and transformed our diets and nutrition with new food availability.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 5th of August across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 122: The Festival of the Supreme Being

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Festival of the Supreme Being, the unhinged religious festival put on by Maxilimilien Robespierre as he attempted to establish the ludicrous brand-new religion he'd invented.

History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 5th of August across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Buy your copy from Booktopia or A&U:

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History's Strangest Deaths is Out Now!

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Half-Arsed History's first book, History's Strangest Deaths, is now available at all good bookstores, and probably some bad ones as well. You can buy a paper version, an ebook version, or an audiobook version (or all three, if you feel like it).

AU/NZ: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 371: The French Revolution - Part 5: The Directory

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the final chapter in the tale of the French Revolution: the broad political failure that was the French Directory, the collapse of which represented the end of the revolution itself.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 31: The Sewing Machine

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The sewing machine is a piece of technology that has had an outsized historical influence - not just on the textile industry, but on society, culture, and history as well.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 121: A Brief History of the Guillotine

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of the guillotine, a device popularised during the French Revolution, responsible for the deaths of countless thousands during the Reign of Terror.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 370: The French Revolution - Part 4: The Terror

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the darkest and bloodiest chapter in French revolutionary history: the Reign of Terror, which saw tens of thousands of people killed by political violence.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 30: The Friction Match

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The friction match and its subsequent developments helped to democratise fire - matches have made it possible for anyone, at any time, to make use of one of humanity's most important tools, fire.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tickets for the 2025 Book Tour are now available!

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 22:00:47 GMT

Join me in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Maroochydore as I go through some of the stories from History's Strangest Deaths, and share juicy behind-the-scenes details about how the book was made. Don't delay - these tickets are limited and will likely run out pretty swiftly.

Sydney - 6:00pm 7th August at the Chauvel Cinema, tickets $20: https://www.dymocks.com.au/events/details/index/id/NTAyMA~~
Melbourne SOLD OUT - 6:00pm 8th August at Readings Emporium: https://www.readings.com.au/events/riley-knight-in-conversation
Brisbane SOLD OUT - 6:00pm 14th August at the Brisbane Square Library: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/meet-riley-knight-brisbane-square-library-tickets-1451216099419
Maroochydore SOLD OUT - 6:00pm 15th August at Harry Hartog: https://events.humanitix.com/q-and-a-and-signing-with-riley-knight

I'll stick around after each show for a Q&A and signings. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 120: The Man in the Iron Mask

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Man in the Iron Mask, a mysterious prisoner of the French king Louis XIV, who was imprisoned for 34 years without anyone ever learning his true identity.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 369: The French Revolution - Part 3: The Constitution

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, understand some of the most important legacies of the French Revolution as it worked to establish a constitutional monarchy, before the ultimate abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a republic in 1792.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 29: The Camera

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The camera is everywhere, today - we carry them around with us in our pockets - but it has a two-hundred year history that has brought us to this point, filled with groundbreaking, revolutionary technological advancements.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 119: Charles Boycott and the Boycott Affair

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of Charles Boycott, whose immense unpopularity as a landlord let to the term "boycott" being coined.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 368: The French Revolution - Part 2: The Revolution

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the story of the opening days of the French Revolution - the public protests and disorder which culminated in the legendarily famous Storming of the Bastille.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 28: The Bicycle

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The bicycle is a truly marvellous invention, not only unlocking an all-new form of personal transportation and mobility, but also offering humanity the greatest gift of all: speed.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 118: Run Like Pheidippides - A Half-Arsed History Couch to 5K

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: of all things, this week, a guide to how you could try your hand at long-distance running by giving a Couch to 5K a crack.

Hi-res version of the Couch to 5K template: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16B3Gd4lUfIcYKrdUmWGknB9izho20SbJ/view

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 367: The French Revolution - Part 1: The Crisis

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, learn about the leadup to and origins of the French Revolution, culminating in the breakdown of the Estates-General and the Tennis Court Oath in 1789.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 27: The Stethoscope

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The stethoscope has provided doctors with an efficient and non-invasive way to assess and diagnose patients, while also helping to advance our understanding of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 117: The Canadian Caper

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Canadian Caper, when the Canadian government smuggled six US diplomats out of Tehran during the Iran Hostage Crisis using a CIA-backed fake film.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 366: How Iran and the West Became Enemies

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, unravel the long and complicated geopolitical history that turned Iran from one of the West's staunchest regional allies in the Middle East into one of its bitterest foes.

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 26: Canned Food

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Canned food has revolutionised the way we eat - by making food last for longer than ever before, it has helped to increase food safety and security for billions of people across hundreds of years.

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 at Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 116: Chevaliere d’Eon, the Spy Who Defied Gender

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Chevaliere d’Eon, a spy, soldier, and swashbuckler who blackmailed King Louis XV and lived life as both as man and a woman across the years.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 365: Sir Francis Drake, the Dragon of the Seas - Part 2

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, finish off the story of the famed Sir Francis Drake, and hear about his later campaigns agains the Spanish - both successful and unsuccessful.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 25: Railways

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Railways revolutionised the world of transport, enabling people and goods to be transported great distances at great speed, more cheaply and efficiently than ever before.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 115: The St Scholastica Day Riot

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the St Scholastica Day Riot, when the English university town of Oxford was thrown into the midst of a three-day riot over a disagreement about the quality of some wine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 364: Sir Francis Drake, the Dragon of the Seas - Part 1

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Sir Francis Drake, whose lifelong vendetta against the Spanish led to a life of high adventure - including the circumnavigation of the globe.

Pre-order History's Strangest Deaths and get 17% off: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inventions Episode 24: The Steam Engine

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The steam engine is a foundational modern technology that underpins today's industrialised world; it also tended to explode and helped to precipitate a climate crisis. So there's that.

Pre-order History's Strangest Deaths and get 17% off: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 114: The Legend of Lasseter’s Reef

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the legend of Lasseter's Reef, a supposed immense fortune in gold that is lost somewhere out in the Australian desert.

Pre-order History's Strangest Deaths and get 17% off: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 363: The Mystery of the Dyatlov Pass Incident

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 13:00:05 GMT

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.

Inventions Episode 23: The Thermometer

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

Announcing: History's Strangest Deaths, the first Half-Arsed History book

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:00:00 GMT

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.html

International: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Riley-Knight-History's-Strangest-Deaths-9781761472589

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QAH Episode 113: Mad Jack Mytton, the Regency Rake

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

Episode 362: The Sacred Band of Thebes

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

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Inventions Episode 22: The Microscope

Fri, 30 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

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QAH Episode 112: Elmer McCurdy, the Mummified Outlaw

Wed, 28 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

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Episode 361: The Funniest Art Heists in History - Part 2

Sun, 25 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

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Inventions Episode 21: The Telescope

Fri, 23 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

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QAH Episode 111: The Egon Kisch Affair

Wed, 21 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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.

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Episode 360: The Knights Templar

Sun, 18 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, learn all about the Knights Templar - who they were, why they were founded, what they did, and what led to their ultimate downfall.

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Inventions Episode 20: The Flushing Toilet

Fri, 16 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The flushing toilet not only represents a very important development in the history of human sanitation and health, but is also a lot of fun to talk about on a tinpot history podcast.

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QAH Episode 110: The Mary Celeste - Remastered

Wed, 14 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the mysterious tale of the Mary Celeste - an abandoned, derelict ship that was discovered floating in the middle of the Atlantic, with no sign of what had happened to its crew.

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Episode 359: History’s Longest Unfought Wars

Sun, 11 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear about some of the longest wars that were never actually fought - four different conflicts where war was declared before being ignored or just plain forgotten about, in some cases for several centuries.

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Inventions Episode 19: The Printing Press

Fri, 09 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The printing press is one of or perhaps the most important invention in human history, inspiring revolutions across science, religion, society, culture, and politics by making information more accessible than ever before.

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QAH Episode 109: The Cadaver Synod - Remastered

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Cadaver Synod, the time a dead pope was dug up out of the ground and put on trial as a corpse.

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Episode 358: History’s Weirdest Papal Conclaves

Sun, 04 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear about five of the most ridiculous stories to emerge from the history of papal conclaves - from foul-mouthed brawling, to papier-mache crowns, to the time there were four popes in a single year.

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Inventions Episode 18: The Mechanical Clock

Fri, 02 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Clocks are everywhere - we are more or less always surrounded by timekeeping devices of all different kinds, but it was the mechanical clock, specifically, that ushered in an era of accurate, reliable horology.

Marshall Sutcliffe from Wristwatch Revival working on the watches I wear:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJFNcfT-7HQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5ziU2-9yOo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eQp4VAjZ00

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QAH Episode 108: The Defenestrations of Prague - Remastered

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Defenestrations of Prague, an account of the multiple time that angry Bohemian Protestants have hurled Catholics out of windows as acts of political protest.

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Episode 357: The History of the Papal Conclave

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, learn all about the papal conclave: what preceded it, its origins, its centuries of history, and all that we know about how it elects popes today, in the 21st century.

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Inventions Episode 17: Eyeglasses

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Eyeglasses, as a very important invention, have evolved from an expensive and somewhat unreliable piece of specialist equipment to something that half the world's population makes daily use of.

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QAH Episode 107: Lord Timothy Dexter, the Whacko Entrepreneur - Remastered

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the (somewhat unverified) tale of Timothy Dexter, who amassed a vast fortune by making some of the most ludicrous business decisions you'll ever hear.

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Episode 356: A Guide to Australian Elections

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, learn all about Australian elections - how they originated, how they've changed, how they work today, and how their results lead to parliamentary governments being formed.

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Inventions Episode 16: The Compass

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The compass has been used as a navigational tool for a thousand years, guiding ships and aeroplanes around the world - but for a thousand years before that, it served a different (and slightly less useful) role.

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QAH Episode 106: Jeanne de Clisson, Lioness of Brittany - Remastered

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History present: the tale of the 14th-century noblewoman Jeanne de Clisson, who, after the execution of her husband at the hands of the French king, turned to a life of piracy and terrorised French shipping in the English Channel.

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Episode 355: The Jacobite Risings and the Battle of Culloden

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get stuck into another tragic chapter in Scottish history with the stories of the Jacobite Risings and the famous Battle of Culloden.

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Inventions Episode 15: Gunpowder

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Gunpowder revolutionised human warfare, ushering in a new chapter in the history of our species as we left behind swords and shields to fire guns and cannons instead.

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QAH Episode 105: The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand - Remastered

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of the event that triggered the First World War - the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, complete with all the ludicrous misadventure that came with it.

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Episode 354: The Buried Treasure of William Kidd

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Captain William Kidd, the only pirate in history known to have actually buried treasure - something that gave rise to one of the most common and popular pirate-themed tropes.

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Inventions Episode 14: The Toothbrush

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The toothbrush is yet another simple but very important invention that has been a part of everyday life for people for over a thousand years, helping in keeping our choppers clean and in good health.

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QAH Episode 104: The War of the Oaken Bucket - Remastered

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: another telling of the War of the Oaken Bucket, one of the shortest episode topics ever covered by this tinpot history podcast.

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Episode 353: The Historic Origins of Popular Sayings - Part 3, Nautical Edition

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, learn the origins of five sayings that all have a nautical origin: logbook, not enough room to swing a cat, grog, three sheets to the wind, and average.

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Inventions Episode 13: Toilet Paper

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Toilet paper is something we have been wiping our bums with it for almost 1,500 years - an old invention with quite a few interesting details in its story.

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QAH Episode 103: The Affair of the Diamond Necklace - Remastered

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a retelling of the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, when a French con woman scammed a rich cardinal in a truly scandalous manner.

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Episode 352: The History of NATO

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode, learn all about the origin and history of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and the uncertain future it faces in the current global political landscape.

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Inventions Episode 12: The Stirrup

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The stirrup is an invention that transformed warfare by making mounted cavalry more effective than ever before - which may have had profound social, not just military, consequences across the centuries.

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QAH Episode 102: D.B. Cooper - Remastered

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: D.B. Cooper, a man who hijacked a plane, extracted a US$200,000 ransom, and skydived away, never to be seen again.

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Episode 351: Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know the real Saint Patrick, whose true life story is often overshadowed by the myths and legends associated with him.

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Inventions Episode 11: The Wheelbarrow

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The wheelbarrow has played a huge role across the last two thousands years in making humans work more efficiently, quickly, and safely, boosting our productivity immensely.

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QAH Episode 101: Olga of Kyiv - Remastered

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a retelling of the story of Olga of Kyiv, first featured in episode four (get across it) - a tale that involves plenty of blood, guts, and 'orrible murder for all to enjoy.

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Episode 350: Frederick the Great - Remastered

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet the Prussian king Frederick the Great for the second time in this podcast's history, with a "remastered" version of the first episode ever released.

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Inventions Episode 10: Paper

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Paper has spent the last two thousand years becoming more and more popular and important to us as a civilisation - and the "paperless" world they say we're heading into is, in fact, anything but.

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QAH Episode 100: Ask Me Anything

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the podcast's first-ever Ask Me Anything episode, featuring answers to questions sent in by alert listeners about everything from how the podcast is produced to embarrassing anecdotes.

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Episode 349: The Writing of Niccolo Machiavelli

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Niccolo Machiavelli, the father of political science, and learn how his writing helped to shape today's global political landscape.

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Inventions Episode 9: The Arch

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The Arch was a crucially important architectural innovation that unlocked all new buildings and forms, allowing buildings to be built larger and taller than ever before.

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QAH Episode 99: Victor Lustig, the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of Victor Lustig, a conman who managed to scam someone into buying the Eiffel Tower - potentially more than once.

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Episode 348: The World Series Cricket Crisis

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get across a crisis that posed a potentially existential threat to official international cricket in the 1970s, when media mogul Kerry Packer established a private, unofficial cricketing competition known as World Series Cricket.

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Inventions Episode 8: Coinage

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Coinage has supported local, regional, and global economies for millennia, ever since we figured out that having a convenient way to store and transfer value was actually a pretty good idea.

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QAH Episode 98: A Brief History of Seafaring

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief (and woefully inadequate) overview of humanity's maritime history - from prehistoric wooden canoes to mighty oceangoing container ships.

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Episode 347: Xerxes the Great, King of Kings

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know Xerxes I of the Achaemenid Empire, and think about why his historical legacy is perceived in the way that it is today.

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Inventions Episode 7: Concrete

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 13:00:07 GMT

Concrete is, unbelivably, the second-most-used substance in the world - second only to water - and has a truly fascinating history, its secrets lost to time for a millennia or so before re-emerging in the modern era.

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QAH Episode 97: Humanity’s Mastery of Fire

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of how humanity mastered fire, and the many ways in which this changed us as a species - technologically, culturally, and even biologically.

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Episode 346: Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Harriet Tubman, the US activist and abolitionist who aided countless enslaved people in securing their freedom before she went on to take part in the American Civil War.

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Inventions Episode 6: Rubber

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Rubber has a history that is a lot longer than you might expect - it dates back over 3,500 years, to ancient Mesopotamia, and has had a long and interesting journey to become the commonplace material it is today.

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QAH Episode 96: A Brief History of Stone Tools

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of stone tools, one of if not the oldest pieces of technology in history - so old, in fact, they predate humanity itself.

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Episode 345: The History of Greenland

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, become familiar with 4,500 years of Greenlandic history, from the settlement of pre-Inuit, Norse, and Inuit peoples, through to the current importance it has in global affairs.

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Inventions Episode 5: Glass

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Glass, technically, may be a naturally-occuring material, but the way that humans have learn to create, shape, and change it over the millennia has had a strong influence on the way we live our lives - an influence that we take for granted.

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QAH Episode 95: The War of Jenkins’ Ear

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief account of how a relatively minor colonial spat between Britain and Spain became known by one of the silliest names in history - the War of Jenkins' Ear.

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Episode 344: The Mutiny on the Wager

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear the tale of the mutiny on the Wager, when a group of sailors stranded off the South American coast rose up against their stubborn captain, leaving him for dead.

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Inventions Episode 4: Soap

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Soap has been used by humans for thousands and thousands of years to keep our things clean, and for hundreds and hundreds of years to keep our bodies clean. By most people, anyway.

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QAH Episode 94: Samuel Pepys’ Account of the Great Fire of London

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the biggest cop-out episode in this podcast's entire history, one that involves Riley just reading out a week of entries from Samuel Pepys' diary. More like Eighth-Arsed History tbh

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Episode 343: The Great Fire of London

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, learn all about the Great Fire of London, which ripped through the city in 1666, turning it into a smoking ruin.

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Inventions Episode 3: Writing

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Writing is a transformative invention, enabling human development and advancement by offering language persistence and durability, creating a collective memory for humankind and transmitting meaning across time.

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QAH Episode 93: Kubla Khan, Coleridge’s Opium-Induced Masterpiece

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the supposed tale behind the creation of the poem Kubla Khan, one of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's most famous works.

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Episode 342: The Travels of Marco Polo

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Marco Polo, the famous Italian explorer, and learn all about his travels to the Far East.

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Inventions Episode 2: The Plough

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The plough is a humble and ancient invention that revolutionised agriculture around the world, helping to generate food surpluses that in turn enabled human development and technological advancement.

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QAH Episode 92: Ubre Blanca, Fidel Castro’s Favourite Cow

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:00:53 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of Ubre Blanca, a cow that rose to become a national icon in Cuba, a favourite of the Cuban leader at the time, Fidel Castro.

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Episode 341: The History of Cricket - Part 2

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 13:00:42 GMT

In this week's episode, continue to learn the history of cricket, from its rise as an international sporting competition across the late 19th century to the popular, professional sport it is today.

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Inventions Episode 1: The Wheel

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The wheel was and still is a revolutionary invention, transforming transportation, agriculture, and industry, while laying a technological foundation for countless other immensely significant innovations.

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QAH Episode 91: The 1868 Indigenous Australian Tour of England

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 13:00:10 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of Australia's first-ever international sporting tour, when in 1868 a group of indigenous Australians travelled all the way to England to play cricket.

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Episode 340: The History of Cricket - Part 1

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:00:38 GMT

In this week's episode, learn about the early origins of cricket, and its development from an informal childrens' game to a major sport played across the world, throughout the British Empire.

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Monuments: the Appendix

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:01:08 GMT

Here is a brief retrospective on the Monuments series, including the reasoning behind the exclusion of some monuments, what went into making the series, and the biggest challenges in putting episodes together.

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Monuments Episode 52: The Sydney Opera House

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:00:27 GMT

This week's monument is the Sydney Opera House, one of the most famous and instantly-recognisable Australian landmarks, one that has graced the Sydney skyline since 1973.

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QAH Episode 90: A Brief History of Santa Claus

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 13:00:42 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of Santa Claus, and how he has emerged and developed as a central part of modern Christmas celebrations, with a multifaceted origin story that goes back centuries.

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Episode 339: The History of Christmas

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 13:00:42 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the history of Christmas, from its emergence as an early Christian festival co-opting existing celebrations, to the massive, worldwide event it is today.

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Monuments Episode 51: The Berlin Wall

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:00:47 GMT

This week's monument is the Berlin Wall, an enormous, 155 kilometre-long wall that once divided the city of Berlin in two before its eventual fall in 1989.

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QAH Episode 89: Frank Shackleton and the Irish Crown Jewels

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:00:53 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Frank Shackleton and his potential connection with the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels - never conclusively proven, but nonetheless involving quite a few controversial and scandalous details.

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Episode 338: Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 13:00:54 GMT

In this week's episode, meet the famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who led the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition into the Antarctic.

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Monuments Episode 50: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 13:00:33 GMT

This week's monument is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the semi-ruined remains of the only building to survive in the immediate vicinity of the atomic bomb that was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in August 1945.

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QAH Episode 88: A Brief History of Pigeon Post

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:00:21 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of Pigeon Post, how humans have used homing pigeons to facilitate speedy, long-distance communication for thousands and thousands of years.

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Episode 337: Famous Wartime Animals

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 13:00:22 GMT

In this week's episode, meet five famous animals who have all served in the military: Cher Ami the pigeon, Wojtek the bear, Simon the cat, Reckless the pony, and William the goat.

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Monuments Episode 49: Mount Rushmore

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:00:26 GMT

This week's monument is Mount Rushmore, also known as Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe - a mountainside in the US state of South Dakota that features colossal sculptures of four notable US presidents.

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QAH Episode 87: Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Adventurer from Adelaide

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:00:04 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of Sir Hubert Wilkins, a photographer, pilot, war hero, explorer, and ornithologist who led a truly remarkable life.

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Update: They Gave This Man a Book Deal

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 01:00:45 GMT

We did it - they gave this man a book deal! "History's Strangest Deaths" will be published by Allen & Unwin next year, with more information coming in a few months. Thank you so much to everyone for all the encouragement and support - it is so exciting to think that the first Half-Arsed History book is coming in 2025!

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Episode 336: Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 13:00:02 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know the US civil rights activise Rosa Parks, who made a stand for justice when she refused to give up her seat on a racially-segregated bus.

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Monuments Episode 48: The Golden Gate Bridge

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 13:00:33 GMT

This week's monument is the Golden Gate Bridge, an (allegedly) orange suspension bridge that spans the entrance to the San Francisco Bay in the US.

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QAH Episode 86: The Reign of Caracalla and Geta

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:00:10 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the reign of Caracalla and Geta, two murderous brothers who served - very briefly - as co-emperors of the Roman Empire.

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Episode 335: The History of the Gladiators

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 13:00:11 GMT

In this week's episode, learn all about the history of ancient Roman gladiators: who they were, how they trained and fought, and what happened to them when they won or lost.

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Monuments Episode 47: The Sydney Harbour Bridge

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:00:44 GMT

This week's monument is the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an icon not just of Sydney but of Australia more broadly - as painful as that may be for a Victorian to admit.

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QAH Episode 85: The 1981 Underarm Bowling Scandal

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:00:08 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the 1981 Underarm Bowling Scandal, when the Australian ODI cricket team scored a controversial victory over the Kiwis with the use of a disgracefully unsporting bowling technique.

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Episode 334: Sir Donald Bradman, the Greatest Sportsman in History

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:00:31 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Sir Donald Bradman, who was undoubtedly the best cricketer in history and might just be the best sportsperson to have lived.

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Monuments Episode 46: Christ the Redeemer

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:00:33 GMT

This week's monument is Christ the Redeemer, a colossal mountaintop statue of Jesus that overlooks the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

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QAH Episode 84: The First Airborne Crossing of the English Channel

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the first airborne crossing of the English Channel, where two men had to come up with a very inventive and very funny way to drop weight from their balloon.

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Episode 333: The Worst US Presidents in History

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 13:00:05 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know four of the worst president in the history of the United States of America: John Tyler, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, and Warren G. Harding.

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Monuments Episode 45: The Hollywood Sign

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 13:00:39 GMT

This week's monument is the Hollywood sign, an icon of the US city of Los Angeles and a symbol of the mighty US film industry.

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QAH Episode 83: The Death of William Henry Harrison

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 13:00:38 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the untimely death of William Henry Harrison, whose 31-day presidency remains the shortest in US history.

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Episode 332: The Most Controversial US Presidential Elections in History

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 13:00:35 GMT

In this week's episode, learn about three of the most controversial presidential elections in US history and the root cause behind them: the broken Electoral College system.

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Monuments Episode 44: Chateau Frontenac

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:00:48 GMT

This week's monument is Chateau Frontenac, a beautiful palace-like building perched on a hill overlooking Quebec City in Canada.

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QAH Episode 82: The Melbourne Cup

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:00:01 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Melbourne Cup, a famous horse race held each year in Melbourne, Victoria, which has generated a few interesting stories across its long history.

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Episode 331: Alves Reis and the Portuguese Banknote Crisis

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:00:28 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know Artur Virgilio Alves Reis and hear about the incredible fraud he undertook in 1924, scamming his way into 100 million Portuguese escudos.

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Monuments Episode 43: The Eiffel Tower

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 13:00:06 GMT

This week's episode is the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the best-known monument on the face of the planet, an iconic part of the French capital, Paris.

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QAH Episode 81: The Dancing Plague of 1518

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:00:30 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Dancing Plague of 1518, a bizarre, unexplained phenomenon that saw the citizens of Strasbourg take to the streets and dance unceasingly for weeks on end.

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Episode 330: Johann Strauss II, the Waltz King

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 13:00:31 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Johann Strauss II, a brilliant composer from the Romantic period, famous for his lively and joyful waltzes.

Strauss playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/195Ic94w6sCRNi19f0G1UP?si=54adb35532604621

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Monuments Episode 42: The Statue of Liberty

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:00:05 GMT

This week's monument is the Statue of Liberty, an instantly-recognisable symbol of the United States of America that has a thoroughly non-American origin story.

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QAH Episode 80: Carlos Kaiser, Soccer's Greatest Conman

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:00:27 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Carlos Kaiser, a conman who managed to build a 13-year career as a star soccer player, without ever actually taking to the pitch and playing a game.

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Episode 329: The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, hear the true story of the Great Escape, when Allied prisoners of war made a daring attempt at a mass breakout from a Nazi prison camp.

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Monuments Episode 41: Neuschwanstein Castle

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:00:10 GMT

This week's monument is Neuschwanstein Castle, a spectacularly beautiful castle perched atop a mountain ridge in the German Alps.

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QAH Episode 79: The French Revolution, According to AI

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:00:10 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the French Revolution, with a dazzling AI-generated script that is astonishingly true to life, utterly indistinguishable from the real thing.

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Episode 328: The Crusades - Part 2

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 13:00:08 GMT

In this week's episode, conclude the story of the Crusades, with a collection of ridiculous tales from the five later campaigns waged by Christians seeking to conquer Jerusalem.

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Monuments Episode 40: The Sagrada Familia

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:00:21 GMT

This week's monument is the Sagrada Familia, a huge and very unusually designed church in Barcelona, Spain - that after 140 years, still hasn't been finished.

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QAH Episode 78: The Flemish Revolution

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 13:00:25 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Flemish Revolution, usually known by the name the Flemish Peasant Revolt of 1323-1328, which saw angry Flemish villagers take up arms against their hated feudal lord.

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Episode 327: The Crusades - Part 1

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 13:00:55 GMT

In this week's episode, learn about the first three of the crusades undertaken by armed Christian pilgrims, seeking to bring the Holy Land under Christian rule.

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Monuments Episode 39: The Palace of Westminster & Big Ben

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:00:34 GMT

This week's monument is the Palace of Westminster, the home of the British Parliament, and its famous clock tower, often (incorrectly) referred to as Big Ben.

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QAH Episode 77: The Six O'Clock Swill

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:00:24 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Six O'Clock Swill, a name given to the backfired attempt that temperance laws made to curb Aussie and Kiwi alcohol consumption.

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Episode 326: The History of Melbourne LIVE

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 13:00:57 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the history of the Australian city of Melbourne, recorded live at the Alex Theatre in Melbourne itself.

Here is a PDF of the slides used during the show: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CAi-OaBkp8SKreGQyBpawg3YyHvgrT-R/view

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Monuments Episode 38: The Arc de Triomphe

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:00:06 GMT

This week's monument is the Arc de Triomphe, yet another truly iconic Parisian landmark - one that celebrates the revolutionary and Napoleonic periods of French history.

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QAH Episode 76: The Sydney Riot of 1879

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:00:19 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Sydney Riot of 1879, when a riot erupted on during a cricket match between England and NSW due a dodgy umpiring decision.

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Episode 325: The History of Sydney LIVE

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 13:00:33 GMT

In this week's episode, get across the history of the Australian city of Sydney, recorded live at the Factory Theatre in Sydney itself.

Here is a PDF of the slides used during the show: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19mUubwXufZeVjq9Z_uRnqF1kdBUDG3Jj/view

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Monuments Episode 37: The Brandenburg Gate

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:00:58 GMT

This week's monument is the Brandenburg Gate, one of Germany's most famous national icons and a monument that I have visited I don't know how many hundreds of times when I used to work in Berlin as a tour guide.

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QAH Episode 75: Project Habakkuk

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:00:22 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Project Habakkuk, the time when - in all seriousness - the Allies tried to build a massive aircraft carrier out of ice.

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Episode 324: The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 13:00:58 GMT

In this week's episode, hear the tale of the Battle of the Teutoberg Forest, and understand why it such a monumentally important event in human history.

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Monuments Episode 36: The Grand Palace

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:00:49 GMT

This week's monument is the Grand Palace complex, found in the Thai capital of Bangkok, which has been the official residence of the Thai roayl family since the last 18th century.

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QAH Episode 74: John Dee, Queen Elizabeth's Pet Wizard

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:00:57 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: John Dee, the royal astronomer at Queen Elizabeth's court, whose longstanding interest in the mystical and the occult resulted in him... honestly, just listen to the episode, you really won't believe what ended up happening.

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Episode 323: Elizabeth I, the Golden Age Queen

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 13:00:22 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Elizabeth I, one of the most famous and important monarchs in English and British history, whose legacy helped to build modern English culture, language, and politics.

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Monuments Episode 35: Buckingham Palace

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:00:53 GMT

This week's monument is Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British royal family and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the British capital of London.

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QAH Episode 73: Emmerich Juettner, the Terrible Forger

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 13:00:24 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Emmerich Juettner, a forger who was both completely terrible at forging banknotes, but very good at not getting caught.

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Episode 322: The Panama Canal

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 13:00:59 GMT

In this week's episode, hear the history of the construction of the Panama Canal, which links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans across Central America.

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Monuments Episode 34: The Palace of Versailles

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 13:00:53 GMT

This week's monument is the Palace of Versailles, a beautiful palace on the outskirts of Paris that served as the residence for the French royal family across the 18th century.

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QAH Episode 72: The Origin of the Teddy Bear

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:00:10 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the origin of the teddy bear, the children's stuffed toy which got its name after a presidential hunting trip in 1902, when Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear.

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Episode 321: Theodore Roosevelt, America's Greatest President - Part 2

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 13:00:38 GMT

In this week's episode, continue to get to know Theodore Roosevelt by hearing all about his foreign policy and evaluate his lasting legacy as president of the US.

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Monuments Episode 33: Potala Palace

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 13:00:28 GMT

This week's monument is Potala Palace, a huge, fortress-like palace complex in the Tibetan city of Lhasa.

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QAH Episode 71: The Leicester Balloon Riot

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:00:46 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Leicester Balloon Riot, an incident that saw tens of thousands of angry people cause a ruckus because they thought a hot air balloon wasn't as big as they were hoping it would be.

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Episode 320: Theodore Roosevelt, America's Greatest President - Part 1

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 13:00:43 GMT

In this episode, meet Theodore Roosevelt, and hear about his rise to the office of US president as well as his administration's overwhelmingly positive domestic legacy.

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Monuments Episode 32: The Taj Mahal

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:00:27 GMT

This week's monument is the Taj Mahal, a huge, opulent mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I as a resting place for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

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QAH Episode 70: The 1968 Olympic Protest Salute

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:00:26 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents:the 1968 Olympic protest salute, when two African-American athletes staged a political protest on a medal podium at the Mexico City Olympics.

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Episode 319: The Modern Olympic Games - Part 2

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 13:00:47 GMT

In this week's episode, conclude the history of the modern Olympic Games, covering their story from the beginning of the post-war period through to the present day.

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Monuments Episode 31: The Blue Mosque

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 13:00:19 GMT

This week's monument is the Blue Mosque, found in the Turkish city of Istanbul, one of the most beautiful and magnificent examples of classical Ottoman architecture.

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QAH Episode 69: Jim Thorpe, the Great Athlete

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 13:00:07 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Jim Thorpe, an immensely talented athlete and sportsman who won Olympic gold in mismatched shoes, only to have his medals stripped from him.

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Episode 318: The Modern Olympic Games - Part 1

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 13:00:50 GMT

In this week's episode, discover the first half of the history of the Modern Olympic Games, from its inception as a brainchild of Pierre de Coubertin to the interruptions the Games experienced as a result of the Second World War.

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Monuments Episode 30: Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:00:28 GMT

This week's monument is Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, an incredible building that stands on a tidal island in a bay in Normandy, France.

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QAH Episode 68: Pepsi’s Soviet Warships

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:00:33 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: that time when Pepsi came into possession of a giant fleet of Soviet warships, after brokering a deal to sell Pepsi in the USSR.

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Episode 317: Assassination Attempts on US Presidents

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 13:00:04 GMT

In this week's episode, hear about all the major assassination attempts that have been made on presidents of the United States, both successful and unsuccessful.

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Monuments Episode 29: Red Square

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 13:00:28 GMT

This week's monument is Red Square, found in the centre of the Moscow, the Russian capital, a public plaza surrounded by famous buildings such as St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin.

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QAH Episode 67: A Brief History of the Necktie

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:00:37 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of the necktie, from its origin as a fashion accessory for Croatian mercenaries to an everyday piece of formal or business clothing.

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Episode 316: History’s Biggest Misconceptions - Part 2

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 13:00:42 GMT

In this week's episode, learn the truth behind five more commonly-held historical misonceptions: the colour of classical statues, things erroneously associated with Julius Caesar, the existence of the iron maiden, Napoleon's height, and NASA's million-dollar space pen.

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Monuments Episode 28: St Peter's Basilica & the Sistine Chapel

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:00:51 GMT

This week's monuments are St Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, and the Sistine Chapel, with its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo, both found in the Vatican City in Rome.

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QAH Episode 66: The Dublin Whiskey Fire

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:00:55 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Dublin Whiskey Fire, when torrents of flaming whiskey flooded through Dublin resulting in the loss of 13 lives - none of them to the fire itself, however, all instead to alcohol poisoning.

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Episode 315: The Rosetta Stone

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 13:00:57 GMT

In this week's episode, discover the story of the Rosetta Stone, a series of 2,000-year-old texts written that became the key to our modern understanding of the Ancient Egyptian language.

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Monuments Episode 27: Machu Picchu

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:00:21 GMT

This week's monument is Machu Picchu, a mountaintop citadel found in Peru, which served as an imperial retreat during the heyday of the Inca Empire.

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QAH Episode 65: Edward Dando, the Oyster Thief

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Edward Dando, a bloke who became infamous in 1830s London for eating vast quantities of oysters, without ever paying for them.

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Announcing: Half-Arsed History LIVE!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 21:00:18 GMT

Half-Arsed History is taking to the stage this August, in Melbourne and Sydney! We'll have a great time getting across the histories of these two cities, and there's plenty of other stuff planned - Q&As, meet and greets, tour merch, a song or two, all sorts of things. Hope to see you there!

Tickets are available now: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=HALFHIST24

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Episode 314: Frederic Chopin, the Virtuosic Pianist

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 13:00:05 GMT

In this week's episode, meet Frédéric Chopin, one of the most famous and celebrated composers and pianists of the Romantic Era, and learn about his life, work, and relationships.

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Monuments Episode 26: The Forbidden City

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 13:00:36 GMT

This week's monument is the Forbidden City, a huge palace complex in central Beijing, China, which served as the imperial seat of government for over 500 years.

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QAH Episode 64: The Ball of the Burning Men

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 13:00:16 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Ball of the Burning Men, a wedding celebration at which the reigning French king, Charles the Mad, was almost burnt to a crisp.

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Episode 313: Alan Turing and the Enigma Machine

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 13:00:43 GMT

In this week's episode, learn the incredible story of Alan Turing - a man who not only laid the foundations of modern computer science, but also had an immense impact on the Second World War due to his work in deciphering the Enigma code.

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Monuments Episode 25: Kinkaku-ji

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 13:00:58 GMT

This week's monument is Kinkaku-ji, also known as Rokuon-ji, a Buddhist temple in the Japanese city of Kyoto, famous for the fact that much of its exterior is completely covered in gold.

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QAH Episode 63: Mark Thatcher and the Paris-Dakar Rally

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:00:16 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the time Mark Thatcher, the son of a sitting UK prime minister, decided he wanted to be a racecar driver and got stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

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Episode 312: Christina of Sweden, Minerva of the North

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:00:57 GMT

In this week's episode, get to know Christina of Sweden, the keenly intelligent and fiercely independent queen of Sweden, who is remembered today for her passion of learning and knowledge.

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Monuments Episode 24: The Great Mosque of Djenne

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:00:49 GMT

This week's monument is the Great Mosque of Djenné, found in Mali, which to this day remains the largest mud brick building on the planet.

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QAH Episode 62: Legio IX Hispana, the Lost Legion

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:00:01 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of Legio IX Hispana, also know as the Lost Legion, an ancient Roman military unit that one day just disappeared from recorded history.

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Episode 311: Emperor Trajan, Optimus Princeps

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 13:00:53 GMT

In this week's episode, discover the story of one of the greatest Roman emperors ever to have lived: Trajan, who brought the empire to its largest territorial extent in 117 CE.

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Monuments Episode 23: Himeji Castle

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:00:27 GMT

This week's monument is Himeji Castle, a complex in Japan that is perhaps the finest and most magnificent example of Japanese castle-building.

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QAH Episode 61: A Brief History of the State of Origin

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:00:34 GMT

Quarter Arsed History presents: a brief history of the State of Origin, an very popular rugby league series that sees representatives from Queensland and New South Wales face off every year.

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Episode 310: Oscar Wilde, the Brilliant Playwright

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 13:00:57 GMT

In this week's episode, learn all about Oscar Wilde, the famous Anglo-Irish playwright who is still remembered for his dazzling wit, and hear the tragic tale of his downfall due to the harsh social attitudes of the time.

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Monuments Episode 22: Moai

Fri, 31 May 2024 13:00:40 GMT

This week's monument is the Moai, huge monolithic statues carved from volcanic rock and transported all across Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the remote south Pacific Ocean.

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QAH Episode 60: The Nottingham Cheese Riot

Wed, 29 May 2024 13:00:59 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Nottingham Cheese Riot of 1766, when the English town of Nottingham was thrown into civil unrest due to... well, as you probably guessed, cheese.

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Episode 309: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Sun, 26 May 2024 13:00:05 GMT

In this week's episode, listen to the tale of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, when actor John Wilkes Booth shot the sitting US president in Ford's Theatre.

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Monuments Episode 21: The Alhambra

Fri, 24 May 2024 13:00:06 GMT

This week's monument is the Alhambra, a mediaeval hilltop citadel overlooking the Spanish city of Granada, that is one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the entire world.

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QAH Episode 59: Ten Cent Beer Night

Wed, 22 May 2024 13:00:48 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Ten Cent Beer Night, a baseball game at which beer was sold at ten cents a cup, leading to streakers, missiles pelting the players on the field, and eventually a full-blown riot.

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Episode 308: The History of the United States - Part 4: Cold War and Global Hegemony

Sun, 19 May 2024 13:00:08 GMT

In this week's episode, conclude an overview of US history with the last of a four-part series, this week getting across the radical changes that took place in post-war USA, with things like the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the War on Terror, and more.

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Monuments Episode 20: The Louvre Palace

Fri, 17 May 2024 13:00:15 GMT

This week's monument is the Louvre Palace, a building in Paris, France that is today home to what is today the world's most famous art museum, but used to be a royal residence for French kings.

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QAH Episode 58: The Harlem Hellfighters

Wed, 15 May 2024 13:00:54 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Harlem Hellfighters, the nickname given to the US 369th Infantry Regiment, a unit of mostly African-American soldiers sent over to Europe to fight in the First World War.

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Episode 307: The History of the United States - Part 3: Reconstruction and World War

Sun, 12 May 2024 13:00:29 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get stuck into the third of four episodes covering the history of the United States of America, this time covering the Reconstruction and Progressive Eras, the World Wars, Great Depression, and New Deal.

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Monuments Episode 19: Notre-Dame de Paris

Fri, 10 May 2024 13:00:16 GMT

This week's monument is Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the most famous Gothic-style cathedrals on the face of the planet.

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QAH Episode 57: Ea-Nasir, the Fine Copper Merchant

Wed, 08 May 2024 13:00:26 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of Ea-Nasir, a copper merchant whose reputation as a shonky businessman has lasted almost 3,800 years.

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Episode 306: The History of the United States - Part 2: Expansion and Civil War

Sun, 05 May 2024 13:00:49 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, continue an overview of US history, focussing on the first half of the 19th century: foreign policy, westward expansion, slavery, and the American Civil War.

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Monuments Episode 18: Angkor Wat

Fri, 03 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

This week's monument is Angkor Wat, an enormous Buddhist temple complex found in Cambodia that is said to be the largest religious structure in the world.

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QAH Episode 56: The Day John Sattler Broke His Jaw

Wed, 01 May 2024 13:00:59 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the day John Sattler broke his jaw, when during the 1970 NSWRFL grand final, the South Sydney played through the entire match even after having his jaw broken in three places.

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Episode 305: The History of the United States - Part 1: Colonisation and Independence

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 13:00:14 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first of a four-part series on the history of the United States of America, including its indigenous peoples, the colonisation process, the American Revolutionary War, and its immediate consequences.

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Monuments Episode 17: Great Zimbabwe

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:00:03 GMT

This week's monument is Great Zimbabwe, a mediaeval city in Zimbabwe that generated great wealth and prosperity before ultimately falling into decline and ruin in the 15h century.

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QAH Episode 55: Simpson and His Donkey

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:08 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Simpson and his donkey, the tale of the brave Anzac John Simpson who rescued his wounded comrades from the battlefields of Gallipoli with the help of a donkey.

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Episode 304: The ANZAC Campaign in Gallipoli

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 13:00:58 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out about the ill-fated Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War and the role the ANZACs played in it, resulting in the yearly observance of Anzac Day.

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Monuments Episode 16: The Tower of London

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:00:44 GMT

This week's monument is the Tower of London, a castle complex in the UK capital that dates back almost a thousand years - and was a lot more than just a prison.

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QAH Episode 54: The Rebecca Riots

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:00:19 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Rebecca riots, when hordes of Welsh farmers staged violent protests across the country... in drag.

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Episode 303: Owain Glyndwr and the Welsh Revolt

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 13:00:28 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Owain Glyndŵr, a Welsh nobleman who led a rebellion against the English in the 14th century.

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Monuments Episode 15: Chichen Itza

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 13:00:57 GMT

This week's monument is Chichen Itza, an old Maya city found in today's Mexico that grew to become one of the largest and most powerful cities in Mesoamerica.

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QAH Episode 53: The Extinction of the Thylacine

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 13:00:11 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the extinction of the thylacine, a carnivorous marsupial that died out in 1936 after decades of being maligned and hunted.

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Episode 302: The Extinction of the Dodo

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 13:00:44 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tragic tale of the dodo, and how it was driven to extinction by humans after we landed on the island of Mauritius.

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Monuments Episode 14: Borobudur

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:00:43 GMT

This week's monument is Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the entire world, found on the Indonesian island of Java.

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QAH Episode 52: The 1932 Kimberley Rescue

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:00:01 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the 1932 Kimberley Rescue, when two German aviators got lost in the Australian wilderness before being rescued by indigenous trackers.

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Episode 301: The Historic Origins of Popular Sayings - Part 2

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:00:44 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the historical origins behind five popular sayings: "mad as a hatter", "bite the bullet", "crocodile tears", "I have a bridge to sell you", and "baker's dozen".

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Monuments Episode 13: The Dome of the Rock

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 13:00:31 GMT

This week's monument is the Dome of the Rock, the oldest example of Islamic architecture in the world, found atop Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel.

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QAH Episode 51: Herodotus, the Father of History

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:00:41 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Herodotus, the ancient Greek traveller, writer, and orator whose seminal work Histories established history as an academic discipline.

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Episode 300: The History of History

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 13:00:35 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get across a history of history itself, exploring the way we have recorded our own history over the millennia, how our relationship with history has changed, and how it has changed us.

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Monuments Episode 12: Skellig Michael

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 13:00:46 GMT

This week's monument is the monastery on Skellig Michael, built on a tiny island to the southwest of Ireland, which was famously featured in the most recent Star Wars films.

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QAH Episode 50: Miyamoto Musashi, the Great Duelist

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:00:06 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Miyamoto Musashi, one of the greatest duellists history has ever seen, with an incredible record of 61 victories - one of them with an oar.

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Episode 299: William Adams and the Real-Life History of Shogun

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 13:00:29 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the true story of William Adams, the inspiration behind the popular TV show Shogun and his fictional counterpart, John Blackthorne.

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Monuments Episode 11: The Hagia Sophia

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:00:30 GMT

This week's monument is the Hagia Sophia, a beautiful and iconic building in Istanbul that has served as a Christian church, Islamic mosque, and secular museum.

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QAH Episode: 49 Project Hajile

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:00:39 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Project Hajile, where British military engineers attempted to create a rocket-powered landing system for heavy airdrops during the Second World War.

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Episode 298: Grace O’Malley, the Irish Rebel Pirate

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 13:00:43 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Irish noblewoman, rebel, and pirate, Grace O'Malley, known in Irish as Gráinne Ní Mháille.

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Monuments Episode 10: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:00:08 GMT

This week's monument is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a church found in Jerusalem that is considered to be the holiest place in the Christian faith, and one that has some very amusing stories attached to it.

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QAH Episode 48: Johan de Witt, the Cannibalised Statesman

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:00:35 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Johan de Witt, a Dutch political leader who led the Dutch Republic through the closing years of its golden age, before being killed and eaten by his people.

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Episode 297: The History of Chess

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 13:00:48 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, go on a journey through the history of chess, from its origins as an Indian board game called chaturanga, through its development in Persia and the Middle East, to become the international game it is today.

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Monuments Episode 9: The Colosseum

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:00:00 GMT

This week's monument is the Colosseum, found in the Italian capital of Rome, which played host to bloody spectacles for hundreds of years during the height of the Roman Empire.

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QAH Episode 47: The Fine Cotton Affair

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:00:21 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Fine Cotton Affair, when a horse racing syndicate made a farcical attempt at a "ring-in", involving hair dye, spray paint, and ultimately, multiple jail terms for those involved.

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Episode 296: Vasco da Gama, the Explorer Who Shrank the World

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 13:00:43 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, whose mixed historical legacy includes being in command of the first successful sea voyage from Europe to Asia.

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Monuments Episode 8: The Western Wall

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:00:49 GMT

This week's monument is the Western Wall, which in the Jewish faith is one of the holiest places in the world, but was originally built as a retaining wall for the expansion of the Second Temple on Temple Mount.

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QAH Episode 46: The White Ship Disaster

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:00:32 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the White Ship Disaster, a shipwreck that saw the heir to the English throne die, directly leading to the outbreak of a prolonged civil war known as the Anarchy.

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Episode 295: King Stephen, Empress Matilda, and the Anarchy

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 13:00:14 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn all about the Anarchy, a devastating civil war that took place in 12th-century England in the wake of a succession crisis.

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Monuments Episode 7: The Pantheon

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:00:45 GMT

This week's monument is the Pantheon, found in the Italian capital city of Rome - an ancient Roman temple built almost a thousand years ago, the exquisitely-decorated Pantheon is still in use today as a Catholic church.

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QAH Episode 45: Louis Edward Curdes, the Friendly Fire Pilot

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:00:40 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Edward Louis Curdes, an American flying ace from the Second World War, who not only deliberately shot down an American plane, but was awarded a medal for it.

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Episode 294: The Lost Secret of Greek Fire

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 13:00:56 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the mystery of a forgotten technology, an incendiary weapon that burnt even after being doused with water: Greek Fire.

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Monuments Episode 6: Mahabodhi Temple

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 13:00:23 GMT

This week's monument is Mahabodhi Temple, an ancient and exquisite place of worship found in northeast India, said to be where the Buddhist faith was founded.

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QAH Episode 44: Michael Howe, the Vandemonian Bushranger

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Michael Howe, a fearsomely cruel bushranger who terrorised the people of Van Diemen's Land - colonial Tasmania - in the early 19th century.

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Episode 293: The Treaty of Waitangi

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 01:00:34 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear all about the Treaty of Waitangi - how and why it was written, translated, and signed, as well as the many important consequences it had for Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Monuments Episode 5: Petra

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 01:00:14 GMT

This week's monument is Petra, an ancient city built thousands of years ago in what is today Jordan, with many of its most famous buildings exquisitely carved out of rock faces.

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QAH Episode 43: Hongi Hika, the Great Rangatira

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 13:00:42 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Hongi Hika, a Māori chieftain and warleader who played a huge part in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand in the early 19th century.

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Episode 292: The Settlement of Aotearoa New Zealand

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 13:00:51 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the original inhabitants of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Māori, and how their way of lives changed and developed as they settled their homeland before encountering visitors from across the seas.

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Monuments Episode 4: The Acropolis of Athens

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 13:00:54 GMT

This week's monument is the Acropolis of Athens, a hilltop citadel dating back almost two and a half thousand years that features some of the most incredible examples of ancient Greek architectural and cultural output.

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QAH Episode 42: The 1914 Newfoundland Sealing Disaster

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:00:24 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the 1914 Newfoundland Sealing Disaster, a tragic tale of death on the ice as completely avoidable communication issues saw two ship captains believe a lost crew was aboard the other's vessel.

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Episode 291: Florence Nightingale, the Lady with the Lamp

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 13:00:44 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the incredible tale of Florence Nightingale, the founder of the modern profession of nursing.

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Monuments Episode 3: The Nazca Lines

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 13:00:05 GMT

This week's monument is the Nazca Lines, a remarkable and mysterious series of enormous shapes and patterns "drawn" into the Peru's Nazca Desert, that can only be seen properly from high in the air.

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QAH Episode 41: Yoshie Shiratori, the Prison Escape Artist

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 13:00:47 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Yoshie Shiratori, a bloke who escaped four different times in four different ways from four different prisons - and then went back to prison of his own accord.

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Update: More Growth, More Ads, and Even More Content

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 04:00:11 GMT

More change is coming to Half-Arsed History: as the show has experienced unprecedented growth over the last twelve months, I want to talk about the big plans I have for the future, how I'm working to make them a reality, and what is supporting these plans - namely, for the first time, host-read ads. I'm posting this update to be as transparent as possible, and to seek your understanding by explaining how I see the incoming changes as being a net positive.

As ever, I appreciate any and all feedback - head over to halfarsedhistory.net and use the contact form to get in touch.

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Episode 290: The History of Tennis

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, go on a journey through the history of tennis, one of the modern world's most popular professional sports and one that dates back almost a thousand years.

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Monuments Episode 2: The Great Wall of China

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMT

This week's monument is the Great Wall of China, a series of defensive fortifications that has helped to secure the northern borders of various Chinese realms for over two and a half thousand years, with its most famous and iconic sections being built from the 14th century onwards.

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QAH Episode 40: HMS Diamond Rock and the Stone Frigates

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: HMS Diamond Rock, an island that the British Royal Navy once commissioned as a ship, leading to a tradition of creating "stone frigates" - areas of land that were, as far as the Royal Navy was concerned, actual ships.

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Episode 289: The Democratic Peace Theory

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the history of an international relations theory known as the Democratic Peace Theory, which argues that democracies never go to war with one another.

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Monuments Episode 1: Stonehenge

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMT

This week's monument is Stonehenge, a prehistoric stone circle found in the United Kingdom that dates back to around 2500 BCE. While we don't know for certain why Stonehenge was built, the way it was built is truly remarkable, and millennia later it remains a place of great cultural significance.

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QAH Episode 39: Jenny Diver, Master Pickpocket

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Jenny Diver, a notorious and infamous pickpocket who terrorised London's wealthy classes in the early 18th century with all sorts of very inventive schemes.

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Episode 288: Charlemagne, Emperor of Europe

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the emperor Charlemagne, who had a foundational influence on the creation and development of modern Europe.

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QAH Episode 38: The Bombing of the Rainbow Warrior

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, an act of state terrorism carried out by France against a Greenpeace ship in a Kiwi harbour in 1985.

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Episode 287: Charles Darwin, Evolutionary Revolutionary

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the tale of one of the most important scientific figures in human history: Charles Darwin, and his revolutionary theory on evolution.

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QAH Episode 37: The Christmas Truce

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Christmas Truce, an unofficial and unauthorised ceasefire between soldiers fighting the First World War over Christmas in 1914.

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Episode 286: Pedro II of Brazil, the Magnanimous Emperor

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the life story of one of the greatest monarchs ever to have lived: Brazil's Pedro II the Magnanimous.

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QAH Episode 36: Alfred Nobel, Merchant of Death

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Alfred Nobel, a man who may have attempted to cover up his legacy as the inventor of dynamite by instituting the world-famous Nobel Prizes.

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Episode 285: The Elgin Marbles

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the story behind one a longstanding diplomatic stoush between Greece and Britain, and the items that caused it: the Elgin Marbles.

NOTE: Sincere apologies for my frustratingly incorrect pronunciation of "Elgin". I should have looked it up before I started recording, oops!

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QAH Episode 35: The Principality of Hutt River

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the Principality of Hutt River, an unrecognised micronation whose chief exports were wheat, shonky passports, and tax evasion.

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Episode 284: The Mughal Empire

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get across a condensed history of one of the richest and most powerful empires of the early modern period: the Mughal Empire.

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QAH Episode 34: A Brief History of Powdered Wigs

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of powdered wigs, from why and how they emerged as an essential fashion accessory for western men in the 18th century to their eventual decline and downfall.

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Episode 283: The Prophecies of Nostradamus

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the life story of the the celebrated French seer Nostradamus, and examine some of his more famous prophecies in more detail.

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QAH Episode 33: Operation Cowboy

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Operation Cowboy, when an unlikely group of allies came together in the closing stages of the Second World War in Europe to rescue a herd of prize horses.

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Episode 282: Johann Sebastian Bach, the Famed Baroque Composer

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the life story of the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach while listening to some of his most enduring works - most of which you are already probably familiar with, even if you don't realise it.

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QAH Episode 32: Adolphe Sax, Inventor of the Saxophone

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Adolphe Sax, who not only invented the saxophone but also defied death on eight different occasions as a small child.

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Episode 281: Kate Sheppard, the Tenacious Suffragette

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the remarkable tale of Kate Sheppard, who was instrumental in making Aotearoa New Zealand the first self-governing place on Earth to offer universal women's suffrage to its populace.

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QAH Episode 31: The Loudun Possessions

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Loudun Possessions, an affair that saw a horny French priest executed for the possession of some nuns during over a dispute about the demolition of Loudun's town walls.

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Episode 280: History’s Longest Reigns

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, count down through the five longest-reigning sovereign monarchs in history, from ancient Maya city states to modern 21st-century kingdoms.

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QAH Episode 30: Sayyida al Hurra, the Moroccan Corsair

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Sayyida al Hurra, a Moroccan noblewoman who ruled the city-state of Tétouan with a powerful pirate fleet that terrorised the Mediterranean.

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Episode 279: The History of Halloween

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the history of the celebration today known as Halloween, from its origin as a Christian festival for saints and martyrs to its modern Samhain-influenced incarnation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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QAH Episode 29: Al Capone, Chicago's Notorious Gangster

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Al Capone, the infamous Mafia boss whose legendary fame during the Prohibition era has had a huge influence on the popular conception of gangsters to this day.

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Episode 278: The Sicilian Mafia

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the history of the Sicilian Mafia, the most famous criminal organisation in history, and hear about its spread from the island of Sicily across the world.

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QAH Episode 28 George Mallory, Lost on Everest

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: George Mallory, the British mountaineer who lost his life while making an attempt on the summit of Mount Everest back in 1924.

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Episode 277: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first two people to be confirmed to have made it to the peak of the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest.

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QAH Episode 27: The Astor Place Riot

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Astor Place Riot, a deadly riot that erupted on the streets of New York after a longstanding disagreement over who was the best Shakespearean actor of the time.

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Episode 276: The People on Australian Money

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out about all the famous Australians represented on Australian banknotes: Banjo Paterson and Dame Mary Gilmore, Mary Reibey and John Flynn, David Ngunaitponi and Edith Cowan, and Dame Nellie Melba and Sir John Monash.

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QAH Episode 26: Bir Tawil, Earth’s Last Unclaimed Land

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Bir Tawil, the only sizeable area of land outside of Antarctica that remains unclaimed, as Egypt and Sudan both fight for the other nation's claim to it.

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Episode 275: The Anarchy at Samarra, the Setting for Assassin's Creed Mirage

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn more about the historical setting for the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage: a tumultuous and chaotic time in Islamic history known as the Anarchy at Samarra.

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QAH Episode 25: Samuel Bellamy, Forbes’ Top-Earning Pirate

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy, whose short career as a pirate captain was enough to see him named by Forbes magazine as history's top-earning pirate.

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Episode 274: Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, the Fearsome Pirate

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, who has gone on to become perhaps the most famous and well-known pirate in history.

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QAH Episode 24: The 1944 Bombay Explosion

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the 1944 Bombay Explosion, when a huge explosion ripped through the city's docks because of some truly idiotic mistakes when it came to loading cargo aboard a ship.

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Episode 273: A History of Australian Referendums

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn everything you need to know about Australian referendums - what they are, how they work, and what was involved with the most famous and important ones in Australian history.

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QAH Episode 23: The TRUTH about the Bermuda Triangle

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the TRUTH about the Bermuda Triangle, the truth that THEY don't want you to know about all the MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES of planes and ships and people in this ONE SPECIFIC PART of the Atlantic Ocean.

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Episode 272: Catherine de' Medici, Ruler of France

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the tale of Catherine de' Medici, an Italian noblewoman who rose to become the ruler of France during one of the most tumultuous periods in French history.

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QAH Episode 22: Benedict IX, the Profligate Pope

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Pope Benedict IX, infamous not only for being the only person to have multiple "terms" as pope and for once selling the papacy to someone, but also for apparently having great big orgies in the papal residency.

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Episode 271: History’s Weirdest Deaths - Part 4

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy another ten stories surrounding some of the most ridiculous and amusing deaths in history.

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QAH Episode 21: The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, the famous event that saw the city of Pompeii destroyed and preserved under metres of volcanic material.

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Episode 270: The Eruptions of Mount Tambora and Krakatoa

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the stories behind the two deadliest volcanic eruptions in human history: the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora, and the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.

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QAH Episode 20: The Berners Street Hoax

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: The Berners Street Hoax, an incident in 1810 that saw a street in central London jammed with tradespeople, merchants, deliverymen, doctors, lawyers, and countless others, all inexplicably trying to access one particular address on the same day.

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Episode 269: The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the monumental impact Henry VIII had on English history as a result of his many marriages, culminating in the establishment of the Church of England.

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QAH Episode 19: Jumbo the Elephant

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Jumbo the Elephant, who became the world's most famous elephant after a lifetime as a star attraction in zoos and circuses across Europe and North America.

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Episode 268: The Vasa, Sweden's Mighty Warship

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Vasa, a heavily-armed 17th century Swedish warship that sank just minutes into its maiden voyage, but is today the best-preserved warship from that period.

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QAH Episode 18: The Great Molasses Flood

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Great Molasses Flood, a disaster where a reservoir burst and wiped out half a neighbourhood with a sticky, sugary, eight-metre high wave of molasses.

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Episode 267: History's Biggest Misconceptions

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out the truth about five of the biggest misconceptions in history, including the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the visibility of the Great Wall of China from space, what ninja and vikings used to wear, and historical beliefs about the Earth being flat.

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QAH Episode 17: Bertha Benz and the First Test Drive

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Bertha Benz, an automotive pioneer who undertook the world's first-ever long-distance test drive of a car, when she drove the Benz Model III over 100km from Mannheim to Pforzheim.

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Episode 266: The History of Artificial Light

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn how artificial light has helped to create and shape human civilisation, and how it has changed over the millennia - from fire to gas to electricity.

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QAH Episode 16: The Demon Core

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Demon Core,a six-kilogram lump of plutonium that caused the first-ever lethal criticality accident, and then a second one when some reckless US scientists went back for a second helping of radiation poisoning.

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Episode 265: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Destroyer of Worlds

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the true story of the life and career of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist principally responsible for bringing nuclear weapons into the world.

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QAH Episode 15: Bat Bombs

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Bat Bombs, an actual, factual US military project run by a dentist, the goal of which was to drop incendiary bats on Tokyo during the Second World War.

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Episode 264: History's Weirdest Epithets

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover five historical figures with some of the strangest epithets you'll ever come across: Mithridates the Poison King, Charles the Bald, Ivaylo the Cabbage, Selim the Drunk, and Robert the Cuckhold.

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QAH Episode 14: Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese Holdout

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese guerilla fighter who continued to fight the Second World War on behalf of Japan for almost three decades after it finished.

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Episode 263: Harald Hardrada, the Last Great Viking

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of one of the most famous vikings in history: Harald Hardrada, who attempted to reforge the North Sea Empire after spending his younger years in exile.

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QAH Episode 13: Harald Bluetooth, the Viking King

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Harald Bluetooth, a famed viking king who unified Denmark before going after Norway and the Holy Roman Empire, and whose name is now synonymous with connecting electronic devices wirelessly.

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Episode 262: King Cnut of the North Sea Empire

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Cnut the Great, who unified the thrones of Denmark, Norway, and England to create what is known to history as the North Sea Empire.

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QAH Episode 12: Violet Jessop, the Unsinkable Woman

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Violet Jessop, who not only survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, but also the sinking of its sister ship the HMHS Brittanic, as well as surviving a collision aboard the RMS Olympic.

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Episode 261: The Sinking of the RMS Titanic

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the full story of the famous ship RMS Titanic - a ship that was touted as being "unsinkable", right up until it sank on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic.

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QAH Episode 11: Operation Plumbbob

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Operation Plumbbob, a series of nuclear tests that were carried out in the US in 1957, that involved test subjects such as buildings, aircraft, pigs, living servicemen - as well as creating what was at the time the fastest-moving human-made object in history.

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Episode 260: Captain Cook’s Second and Third Voyages

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the second and third voyages of Captain James Cook, as he sailed in search of Terra Australis Incognita and the Northwest Passage.

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QAH Episode 10: Blas de Lezo, Naval Genius

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Blas de Lezo, the Spanish naval officer who lost a leg, arm, and an eye and still managed to be one of the greatest naval commanders Spain ever produced.

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Episode 259: Captain Cook’s First Voyage

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the first voyage undertaken by Captain James Cook, the first recorded instance of European contact with the east coast of Australia.

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QAH Episode 9: Iron Mike Malloy

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Iron Mike Malloy, a seemingly indestructible Irishman who survived several murder attempts as people attempted to cash in on his life insurance policies.

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Episode 258: The Nika Riots

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the time that a chariot race sparked a deadly revolt which almost brought down an emperor: the Nika Riots.

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QAH Episode 8: The Crash at Crush

Wed, 31 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Crash at Crush, an infamous publicity stunt where two trains were deliberately crashed into one another at high speed, with fatal results.

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Episode 257: Hurrem Sultan, Ottoman Empress

Sun, 28 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life story of Hurrem Sultan, one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history and someone who paved the way for generations of women to play a huge role in the Ottoman Empire's history.

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QAH Episode 7: Emperor Houfei, the Murderous Teenager

Wed, 24 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Emperor Houfei, the ancient Chinese emperor who, as a teenager, made the fatal mistake of using his general's belly for target practice.

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Episode 256: Henry Every, Pirate King

Sun, 21 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the pirate Henry Every, who pulled off what is perhaps the biggest and most profitable act of piracy in history - and got away with it.

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QAH Episode 6: Fart Proudly, by Benjamin Franklin

Wed, 17 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Fart Proudly, by Benjamin Franklin, a grand scientific proposal laying out a bright future wherein we could all openly fart in polite company.

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Episode 255: Benjamin Franklin, American Polymath

Sun, 14 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life story of one of the US's most famous founding fathers - the writer, scientist, inventor, diplomat, statesman, and flatulence enthusiast, Benjamin Franklin.

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QAH Episode 5: Khosrow’s Better Antioch

Wed, 10 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Khosrow’s Better Antioch, an entire copy of the city of Antioch built by the Sassanid king Khosrow I after he destroyed the original.

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Episode 254: The Roman Empire

Sun, 07 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Roman Empire - one of the most important and influential realms in human history that spanned from western Europe across the Middle East before its decline and ultimate collapse.

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QAH Episode 4: The Capture of the Den Helder Fleet

Wed, 03 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Capture of the Den Helder Fleet, the only time in history that a fleet of ships has been captured, unbelievably, by cavalry.

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Episode 253: The Roman Republic

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story of the Roman Republic - from its origins as a city-state, to its rise and expansion as a republic, through to its transition to an empire.

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QAH Episode 3: The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the famous Italian landmark that has a four-degree lean thanks to a critical oversight in its original design.

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Episode 252: The Satsuma Rebellion

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about the last stand of the samurai in the Satsuma Rebellion, an enormously important turning point in Japanese history.

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QAH Episode 2: “Typhoid” Mary Mallon

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents “Typhoid” Mary Mallon, an Irish cook who, as an asymptomatic carrier, unwittingly infected a great number of people with typhoid fever.

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Episode 251: The Western Schism

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy the story of the time the Catholic Church ended up with three concurrent popes all vying for power: the Western Schism.

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QAH Episode 1: Roland the Farter

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Quarter-Arsed History presents Roland the Farter, a 12th-century English flatulist that was so good at farting that King Henry II granted him a rich and expansive estate.

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Episode 250: Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the full story behind one of the most famous political conspiracies in history: the Gunpowder Plot, and its most famous conspirator, Guy Fawkes.

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Episode 249: The History of Flight - Part 3

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the third part of the history of flight: how the Second World War changed aviation forever, the breaking of the sound barrier, the development of the jet engine, and more.

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Episode 248: The History of Flight - Part 2

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the second part of the history of flight: the lead-up to successful heavier-than-air flight, how it was first achieved, and how it spread and changed in the early 20th century.

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Episode 247: The History of Flight - Part 1

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the first part of the history of flight: the origins of humanity's attempts to take to the skies, with wings, ornithopters, hot air balloons, and airships.

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Episode 246: Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Eleven-Time President

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the ridiculous tale of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who served as the president of Mexico eleven times, and did a pretty terrible job at it.

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Episode 245: The Salem Witch Trials

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the truth behind the famous Salem Witch Trials, a defining moment in American colonial history.

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Update: Growth, Ads, and More Content

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 23:57:00 GMT

Change is coming to Half-Arsed History: in the coming weeks, you'll start to hear ads on the show, but there will also be more weekly content offerings as the show transitions from a hobby to a profession. This quick update should bring you up to speed with what's changing with the podcast - I'm trying to be open and transparent about things, and I hope you can understand why I've made the decisions I've made.

As ever, I appreciate any and all feedback - head over to halfarsedhistory.net and use the contact form to get in touch.

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Episode 244: Fritz Haber, the Man Who Fed the World

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story of Fritz Haber, a man whose monumental scientific breakthrough prevented a global catastrophe, and how he sabotaged his own legacy with enthusiasm for war and death.

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Episode 243: Mutiny on the Hermione

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy the tale of the bloodiest mutiny in British naval history, the mutiny on the Hermione, and the daring operation undertaken to return the ship to British hands.

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Episode 242: The Race to the North Pole

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 13:01:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out who won the race to the North Pole, and hear about all the controversies and disputes involved with various attempts that were made to be the first to reach it.

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Episode 241: History's Weirdest Deaths - Part 3

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get across ten more ridiculous stories that led to some of the weirdest deaths in history.

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Episode 240: The Federation of Australia

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover how the Commonwealth of Australia was created through federation, bringing six separate colonies together as one new nation.

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Episode 239: The Colonisation of Australia

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn why Australia Day, the 26th of January, isn't a date worth celebrating while uncovering the full story of the colonisation of Australia.

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Episode 238: Hatshepsut, the Builder Queen

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of one of ancient Egypt's most successful and famous pharaohs: Hatshepsut, whose great buildings are still standing today.

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Episode 237: The Funniest Art Heists in History - Part 1

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy some of the ridiculous stories involved with when famous pieces of artwork have been stolen: the funniest art heists in history.

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Episode 236: The Gregorian Calendar

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, begin the new year by learning about the history of the date-keeping system that almost the entire world uses today: the Gregorian calendar.

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Episode 235: Frederick Douglass, the Voice of Abolitionism - Part 2

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second part of the life story of Frederick Douglass, and the influence he had on the progress of US history as a speaker, writer, abolitionist, and statesman.

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Episode 234: Frederick Douglass, the Voice of Abolitionism - Part 1

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the first part of the life story of Frederick Douglass, a remarkable man who began life enslaved before making a daring and dangerous escape to a life of freedom as an author, speaker, statesman, and political activist.

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Episode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the most ridiculous World Cup in soccer's history - which also happens to be the first one ever held, the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

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Episode 232: Tokugawa Ieyasu, First of the Last Shoguns

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, listen to the conclusion of the story of Japan's great unifiers, with the tale of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who forged the mighty Tokugawa Shogunate.

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Episode 231: Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Lowborn Conqueror

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, continue the tale of the unification of Japan with the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the second of the great unifiers.

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Episode 230: Oda Nobunaga, the Great Unifier

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the life story of Oda Nobunaga, known as the first great unifier, a man whose actions changed the course of Japanese history.

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Episode 229: The World’s Smallest Nations

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the histories of the six smallest nations on Earth: Liechtenstein, San Marino, Tuvalu, Nauru, Monaco, and the Vatican City.

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Episode 228: Benedict Arnold, Traitor to America

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the famous traitor Benedict Arnold, who betrayed the rebellious Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and fought instead for the British.

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Episode 227: Isabella I of Castile, Catholic Queen

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the tale of Isabella I of Castile, a remarkably important figure in both Spanish and world history, who oversaw the unification of the Spanish Kingdom and the creation of the Spanish Empire.

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Episode 226: Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, Inca Founder

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story behind the formation of the Inca Empire, and the man behind its creation: Pachacuti Inca, who built one of the most remarkable empires the world has seen.

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Episode 225: Frederick Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of one of the great mediaeval leaders, Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire, who spent his entire reign fighting to keep his realm together.

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Episode 224: Jan Zizka, the Undefeated Innovator

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the Czech general and national hero, Jan Zizka, who used a combination of military innovation and strategic genius while fighting in the Hussite Wars.

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Episode 223: The Hundred Years’ War

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of the Hundred Years’ War, a famous mediaeval conflict that saw five generations of English and French kings fight over claims to the French throne for over a hundred years.

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Episode 222: The Fall of Constantinople

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the moment in history generally considered to be the end of the mediaeval period: the Fall of Constaninople, when a 21-year-old Ottoman Sultan captured the ancient city of Constantinople.

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Episode 221: Charles I of England, the Beheaded King

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of King Charles I of England, one of the worst monarchs in English and British history, who ended up so unpopular that he ended up having his head chopped off.

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Episode 220: Mahatma Gandhi, the Revolutionary Pacifist - Part 2

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the second half of the life story of Mahatma Gandhi, who led India towards its ultimate independence with satyagraha, his political philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

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Episode 219: Mahatma Gandhi, the Revolutionary Pacifist - Part 1

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the story of Mahatma Gandhi, who started off a painfully shy law student before fighting against racial discrimination in South Africa, and for political independence in India.

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Episode 218: Amelia Earhart, Aviation Pioneer

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the tale of a pioneering aviator, Amelia Earhart, who set countless records as a talented aviator and determined adventurer.

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Episode 217: Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story behind a device that changed the world forever, and the man who invented it: Johannes Gutenberg, and the monumentally important printing press.

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Episode 216: Isaac Newton, a Genius without Equal

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the tale of Isaac Newton, one of the most important figures in scientific history, who produced incredible, groundbreaking work that laid bare some of the fundamental laws of the universe.

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Episode 215: Hammurabi, the Ancient Lawmaker

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 08:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, listen to the tale of Hammurabi, an ancient Mesopotamian king who instituted one of the most important and influential code of laws in human history.

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Episode 214: Sargon of Akkad, the First Emperor

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the life story of the man who forged history's first-ever empire, Sargon of Akkad, and his efforts to maintain and develop it across his time as emperor.

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Episode 213: Simon Bolivar, El Libertador

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the life story of the Venezuelan freedom fighter and revolutionary hero, Simon Bolivar, who liberated half a continent from Spanish colonial rule.

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Episode 212: Napoleon Bonaparte, Conqueror of Europe - Part 2

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the second half of the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, including his domestic reforms that would influence the entire world, and his eventual downfall, brief return, and final exile.

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Episode 211: Napoleon Bonaparte, Conqueror of Europe - Part 1

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the first half of the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French commander and emperor, who forged the French Empire by conquering half of the European continent.

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Episode 210: Galileo Galilei, Heretical Genius - Part 2

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the later stages of Galileo Galilei's career, and how the legendary scientist ran afoul of the Catholic Church due to his far-sighted genius.

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Episode 209: Galileo Galilei, Heretical Genius - Part 1

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the life story of Galileo Galilei, one of the most important and influential scientists in human history, who made far-sighted, ground-breaking scientific discoveries that changed our understanding of the universe.

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Episode 208: Queen Victoria, the Queen Who Defined an Era

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the tale of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, who was in her time the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

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Episode 207: Genghis Khan, the Unstoppable Conqueror - Part 2

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second half of the life story of Genghis Khan, the man who created the Mongolian Empire and led it to early greatness as it expanded across Asia and into Europe.

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Episode 206: Genghis Khan, the Unstoppable Conqueror - Part 1

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the first half of the life story of Genghis Khan, the man who forged the largest contiguous empire that history has ever seen.

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Episode 205: Julius Caesar, the Populist Dictator

Sun, 29 May 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the famous Roman general and statesman, Julius Caesar, who played an instrumental role in the transition between the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.

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Episode 204: Leonardo da Vinci, Legendary Polymath

Sun, 22 May 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the life and times of the famous Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci, whose genius encompassed everything from art to engineering, anatomy to aerodynamics, and much more besides.

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Episode 203: William Shakespeare, the Great Poet

Sun, 15 May 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of one of the most important literary figures in human history: William Shakespeare, who changed the English language forever with his poems and plays.

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Episode 202 Alexander the Great, the Real-World Achilles

Sun, 08 May 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever seen: Alexander the Great, who in his short life forged a huge empire that spanned from Egypt to India.

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Episode 201: Saladin, Defender of the Holy Land

Sun, 01 May 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the mighty Saladin, the Kurdish sultan who united much of the 12th century Muslim world and recaptured Jerusalem, triggering the Third Crusade.

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Episode 200: Six More Short Stories

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 13:00:25 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the disastrous Battle of Karansebes, the speedy surgeon Robert Liston, the Pig War (which hardly features any pigs at all), the submarine H.L. Henley which was very good at half its job, the broadsword-wielding Fighting Jack Churchill, and the fraternal rivalry that led to the establishment of both Adidas and Puma.

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Episode 199: Tamar, Georgia's Golden Age Queen

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of one of Georgia's greatest monarchs: the female king, Tamar the Great.

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Episode 198: The Cuban Missile Crisis

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Cuban Missile Crisis, one of the closest points humanity ever came to global thermonuclear war.

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Episode 197: The History of Nuclear Weapons

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the history of one of the 20th century's most important technological developments that would go on to shape history and modern current affairs: nuclear weapons.

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Episode 196: Bartholomew Roberts, the Great Pirate - Part 2

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second half of the tale of Bartholomew Roberts and his ultimate downfall and death, and learn about the role of things like the Jolly Roger during the Golden Age of Piracy.

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Episode 195: Bartholomew Roberts, the Great Pirate - Part 1

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the tale of Bartholomew Roberts, one of history's most successful pirates, and learn about other pirate-related topics such as various Pirate Codes that once governed different pirate ships.

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Episode 194: Ludwig van Beethoven, the Musical Innovator

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the greatest composers in history who created some of the most acclaimed and celebrated musical works, while suffering from debilitating hearing loss.

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Episode 193: The History of Ukraine

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, go on a tour of the history of the land we today call Ukraine and the people that call it home, from Neolithic tribes to Slavic migrants, from Cossack freedom fighters to those subjugated by the Russian Empire, and discover some of the historical context to the horrendous and needless conflict taking place in Ukraine right now.

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Episode 192: Le Loi and the Lam Son Uprising

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the tale of Le Loi, the Vietnamese national hero who delivered his people from the invading colonial Ming dynasty.

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Episode 191: Cleopatra, Egypt's Last Queen - Part 2

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, continue to learn about the life and times of Cleopatra VII Philopator, who played a significant role in not only the governance of Egypt but also the fall of the Roman Republic and rise of the Roman Empire.

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Episode 190: Cleopatra, Egypt's Last Queen - Part 1

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get to know one of the most famous figures from ancient history, Cleopatra VII Philopator, and learn how in her younger days she secured her crown against her enemies and became close to Julius Caesar.

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Episode 189: The Capture of Guam

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the hilarious and unbelievable story of the Capture of Guam, when a heavily-armed US naval convoy took control of the island of Guam from Spain - without shedding a single drop of blood.

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Episode 188: Operation Mincemeat

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the incredible story of Operation Mincemeat, one of the most elaborate and unbelievable intelligence ruses in history.

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Episode 187: The Great Train Robbery

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Great Train Robbery, when in 1963 a group of gang members held up and robbed a mail train in England, before fleeing to their hideout and playing Monopoly with their ill-gotten gains.

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Episode 186: The Battles of Salamis and Plataea

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn what happened during the decisive battles of Salamis and Plataea, when the Greeks finally gained the upper hand in the Greco-Persian Wars, and how these battles went on to affect the overall outcome of the war.

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Episode 185: The Battle of Thermopylae

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Battle of Thermopylae, when a small force of Greek hoplites held off and fought a brave last stand against an overwhelmingly large Persian army as part of the Greco-Persian Wars.

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Episode 184: The Battle of Marathon

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of the Battle of Marathon, a battle of immense importance not just in ancient history, but modern world history as well - and learn the true tale of the origin of the modern running race.

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Episode 183: The 1908 New York to Paris Race

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the ridiculous story of the 1908 New York to Paris Race, which involved everything from plans to drive across the sea, blatant and outright cheating, and one team even selling their racecar en route.

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Episode 182: The Nine Years’ War and the End of Gaelic Ireland

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, begin to understand an important chapter in Ireland's tragic and complicated history: the Nine Years' War, which effectively brought about the end of an autonomous Gaelic Ireland.

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Episode 181: Caravaggio, the Brawling Painter

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the incredible life story of Caravaggio, one of the most famous painters in history - he wasn't just a masterful artist, however, but a lifelong street brawler who got into all sorts of trouble for it throughout his entire life.

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Episode 180: Fritz Duquesne, Vengeful Adventurer

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Fritz Duquesne, a South African who throughout his adventure-filled life was a hunter, soldier, spy, writer, and... film publicist? whose lifelong hatred of the British saw him spy against them in both world wars.

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Episode 179: The Rum Rebellion

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story behind Australia's first (and only) military coup, when William Bligh was overthrown as governor of New South Wales - the Rum Rebellion.

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Episode 178: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Legendary Composer - Part 2

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the rest of the life story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, how he set himself up as a successful performer and composer in Vienna, and discover his lifelong love of scatological humour.

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Episode 177: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Legendary Composer - Part 1

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the life story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his adventures as a child and young man as he travelled Europe, performing as a child virtuoso and honing his craft as a legendary composer.

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Episode 176: Zoe and Theodora Porphyrogenita

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the story of Zoe and Theodora Porphyrogenita, two sisters who rose to power in the ruthless, cutthroat world of Byzantine politics.

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Episode 175: Marcus Licinius Crassus, Roman Oligarch

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the richest man in ancient Rome, who was a real nasty piece of work: Marcus Licinius Crassus.

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Episode 174: History’s Weirdest Deaths - Part 2

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be entertained with some morbid comedy with the stories of ten more weird and ridiculous deaths from across history.

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Episode 173: Famous Last Words

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the very entertaining last words of four figures from throughout history: Marie Antoinette, John Segwick, James W. Rodgers, and Ian Fleming.

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Episode 172: The Erfurt Latrine Disaster

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the comedic tragedy - or is it the tragic comedy - of the Erfurt Latrine Disaster, when a huge group of mediaeval German lords plunged into a cesspit in the middle of meeting with a king.

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Episode 171: Atahualpa and the Massacre of Cajamarca

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story behind Sapa Inca Atahualpa and the Massacre of Cajamarca, the defining moment in the collapse of the mighty Inca Empire.

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Episode 170: King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, the Warrior King

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out about King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka Zulu, a man who went from a common soldier to a tribal chieftain to one of southern Africa's most powerful warrior-kings.

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Episode 169: Attila the Hun, Breaker of Rome

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 16:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Attila the Hun, one of history's most fearsome and bloodthirsty warriors, who rampaged across both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.

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Episode 168: Jadwiga of Poland, the Peacekeeper

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life story of Jadwiga of Poland, a monarch who guided her realm through a turbulent and difficult period while maintaining peace and prosperity for her people.

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Episode 167: Jeanne Baret, the First Woman to Circumnavigate Earth

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the first woman known to history to have circumnavigated the globe, Jeanne Baret, who went from being an impoverished peasant to a widely-travelled botanist and entrepreneur who made history with her voyages.

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Episode 166: Charles Ponzi, the Famous Con Artist

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life story of one of history's most famous con men, Charles Ponzi, whose name is still attached to the swindle he pulled off (but didn't invent!) in 1920, when he fleeced millions from people in the US.

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Episode 165: Wild Bill Hickok, the Frontier Lawman

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the extraordinary tale of Wild Bill Hickok, a famous gunslinger and lawman from the American Old West, who - amongst much else - once shot a man dead over a gold pocketwatch.

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Episode 164: The Time of Troubles

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the Time of Troubles, a period of Russian history brought about by a succession crisis that involved chaos, invasions, lawlessness, and three different blokes pretending to be a long-lost heir who had come back from the dead.

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Episode 163: Moondyne Joe, the Jailbreaking Bushranger

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Moondyne Joe, a convict sent to Western Australia who became infamous for his many attempts to break out of jail there, and the adventures he had along the way.

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Episode 162: The History of the Bicycle

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the history of the bicycle, and how it went from being a wooden-wheeled, bone-shaking daredevil's plaything to a wonderful machine that influenced historical political movements and changed the way we travel.

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Episode 161: The Ancient Olympic Games

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the history of the ancient Olympic Games, which featured everything from naked foot races to bloodsports, and became the precursor to the modern Olympic Games we all know so well today.

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Episode 160: The Watergate Scandal

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the full story of one of the biggest political scandals in recent memory - the Watergate Scandal, which brought low an entire presidential administration after a series of failed cover-ups.

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Episode 159: Hudson’s Bay Company

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the long and surprisingly involved history of the Hudson's Bay Company - today a chain of department stores, but previously a fur trading company that became a foundationally important part of Canada.

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Episode 158: The History of the Castle

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the history of the structures that became mediaeval Europe's military, political, economic, and administrative focal points: the castle, a fortified home for wealthy ruling nobles.

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Episode 157: El Cid, the Iberian Warlord

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known to history as El Cid, a famous Spanish knight who fought for and against both Christians and Muslims in mediaeval Iberia.

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Episode 156: Brunhilda and Fredegund, Feuding Queens

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the bloody, decades-long feud between two rival Frankish queens from the Early Middle Ages, Brunhilda and Fredegund.

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Episode 155: The Battle of Castle Itter

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at the ridiculous story of the Battle of Castle Itter, the only recorded time when American and German soldiers fought side-by-side in the Second World War.

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Episode 154: Afonso I, the Father of Portugal

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the origin story of the modern state of Portugal, and the tale of the man who wrought its independence: Afonso I of Portugal.

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Episode 153: The Forty-Seven Ronin

Sun, 30 May 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of the Forty-Seven Ronin, a group of ex-samurai who hatched a two-year-long plot to avenge the death of their fallen lord and reclaim his lost honour.

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Episode 152: The Eureka Rebellion

Sun, 23 May 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Eureka Rebellion, the closest Australian colonists ever came to a full-scale political uprising after a harsh tax led gold miners to take up arms against the government.

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Episode 151: The History of Penicillin

Sun, 16 May 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn how the most significant medical breakthrough in human history - the discovery of penicillin - resulted in a revolution in human health thanks to the work of some talented and dedicated scientists.

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Episode 150: The Apollo Program

Sun, 09 May 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the full story of the Apollo Program, the monumental scientific endeavour that successfully landed humans on the Moon for the first time in history.

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Episode 149: William and Caroline Herschel, Stargazing Siblings

Sun, 02 May 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about the lives and the discoveries made by William and Caroline Herschel, a pair of siblings who were enormously influential on the science of astronomy.

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Episode 148: Ashurbanipal, King of the Universe

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 17:00:43 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the ancient tale of Ashurbanipal, who styled himself king of the universe, and how his legacy remains alive today almost three millennia after his death.

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Episode 147: The Servile Wars

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 17:00:58 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the stories of the Servile Wars, three slave revolts from ancient Rome that led to the emergence of legendary figures such as Spartacus.

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Episode 146: The Final Voyage of the Whaleship Essex

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 17:00:30 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tragic tale of the whaleship Essex, the real-life inspiration for Herman Melville's Moby-Dick - a story of what happened when a giant whale attacked a ship in the middle of the Pacific.

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Episode 145: The Suez Canal

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 17:00:14 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the long and very interesting history of one of the world's most important waterways, the Suez Canal, and hear about just how many times it's been blocked up over the years.

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Episode 144: Assassination Attempts on Fidel Castro

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about all the ridiculous stories behind the times the CIA tried - and failed - to assassinate Fidel Castro, the president of Cuba.

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Episode 143: The Four Great Inventions

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the stories of the Four Great Inventions from ancient China, and how they've impacted the modern world: the compass, papermaking, woodblock printing, and gunpowder.

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Episode 142: Marie Sklodowska Curie, Radiation Pioneer

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of Marie Sklodowska Curie, a brilliant pioneering scientist who faced significant challenges both inside and outside the lab - but one who still managed to be the first person ever to win two Nobel Prizes.

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Episode 141: Alcibiades, the Ancient Greek Playboy

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Alcibiades: general, diplomat, politician, traitor and turncoat (more than a few times), and an absolute lothario, who influenced the course of the famous Peloponnesian War.

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Episode 140: The Lafitte Brothers, the Roguish Pirates

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the history of the infamous Lafitte Brothers, who were privateers, smugglers, political operatives, businessmen, spies, and all around rogues who made an unlikely alliance with the US to save New Orleans.

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Episode 139: The History of the Toilet

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 18:00:50 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the history of the humble toilet, and hear how it has developed over the years from a rudimentary necessity to something that has bolstered both public health and a lot of very highbrow humour.

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Episode 138: The Order of Assassins

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 18:00:50 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the true story of the Order of Assassins, also known as the Nizari Ismaili, as they pursued their political and religious goals with fanatically loyal, murderous agents.

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Episode 137: Alexander Selkirk, the Real-World Crusoe

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of Alexander Selkirk, a castaway whose incredible tale was one of the real-life inspirations for the famous novel Robinson Crusoe.

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Episode 136: King Ludwig II, the Fairytale King

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 18:00:11 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the tale of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who was responsible for securing a great cultural legacy for his kingdom - including the construction of the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle.

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Episode 135: The History of Football

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 18:00:28 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the history of football, from its origins as an anarchic, violent game played by hundreds to the many various codes that have developed over the years.

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Episode 134: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Grandmother of Europe

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 18:00:28 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the richest and most powerful women in mediaeval Europe, and learn how she helped to shape the history of both England and France as the queen of both nations.

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Episode 133: The First-Term Achievements of Every Single US President

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 18:00:09 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, test the claim made earlier this week that the outgoing US presidency represents the "greatest first term ever" by examining every single first term of every single US president in history.

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Episode 132: History’s Shortest Reigns

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 18:00:59 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the rulers throughout history that had the shortest reigns - although not all of them are accepted, even the disputed ones make for some great stories.

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Episode 131: The Mongol Invasions of Japan

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 18:00:59 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Mongol Invasions of Japan, and the unlikely way in which the invasions ultimately failed.

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Episode 130: The Historic Origins of Popular Sayings

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 18:00:53 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the origins of four commonly-used modern sayings: "beyond the pale", "fiddling while Rome burns", "red herring", and "hoist with his own petard".

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Episode 129: The White Australia Policy

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 18:00:23 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about an often (and perhaps readily) overlooked part of Australia's history - the racist immigration laws it upheld for much of its history that became known as the White Australia Policy.

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Episode 128: Moctezuma II and the Fall of the Aztecs

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 18:00:16 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear how the Aztec Empire was destroyed by Spanish invaders led by Hernan Cortes, and the tale of the emperor who was there when it fell, Moctezuma II.

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Episode 127: Moctezuma I and the Rise of the Aztecs

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 18:00:13 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Mesoamerican Triple Alliance - better known to history as the Aztec Empire - and meet one of the men instrumental in its rise, Moctezuma I.

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Episode 126: History’s Weirdest Deaths

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 18:00:39 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get across some of the weirdest and most ridiculous stories of how people have died, spanning from Ancient Greece to the modern era.

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Episode 125: Burke and Hare, Murderous Bodysnatchers

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be shocked at the murderous crimes of two profiteering maniacs, Burke and Hare, who killed their victims just to sell their corpses to anatomists.

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Episode 124: History of Birth Control

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 18:00:23 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the way that birth control has changed over the years, from Ancient Egyptian crocodile turds to the contraceptive pill of the modern era.

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Episode 123: The Lancashire Witch Trials

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of one of history's best recorded witch trials, the Lancashire Witch Trials of 1612.

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Episode 122: The Great Stink

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 18:00:15 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn of the time that raw sewage turned central London and the River Thames into a mephitic, malodorous hellscape - a time known as the Great Stink.

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Episode 121: Giacomo Casanova, the Famous Philanderer - Part 2

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second half of the life story of history's most famous philanderer - Giacomo Casanova.

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Episode 120: Giacomo Casanova, the Famous Philanderer - Part 1

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at the adventures and misadventures that during place during the early life of history's best-known philanderer - Giacomo Casanova.

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Episode 119: Bonnie and Clyde, the Bank-Robbing Couple

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the true story of two of the USA's most notorious and romanticised criminals: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.

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Episode 118: Franklin’s Lost Expedition

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 17:00:32 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be mystified at the tale of Franklin's Lost Expedition, when two ships attempted to find their way through the Northwest Passage only to be lost forever.

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Episode 117: Hasekura Tsunenaga, First Diplomat to Europe

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 17:00:59 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of the disgraced samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga, who attempted to reclaim his family's honour by becoming the first ever Japanese ambassador to Europe.

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Episode 116: The Battle of Kadesh

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 17:00:24 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the incredible tale of the Battle of Kadesh, and its direct consequence - the oldest peace treaty known to history.

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Episode 115: The History of Gunpowder

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 17:00:51 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the history of gunpowder, an invention that changed the nature of human conflict forever, influencing warfare and military technology for centuries.

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Episode 114: Joan of Arc, the Saviour of France

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of Joan of Arc, the famous French hero who changed the course of the Hundred Years War and went on to become a national symbol of France.

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Episode 113: History’s Shortest Wars

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 17:00:12 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about five of the shortest wars ever fought: The Serbo-Bulgarian War, the War of the Stray Dog, the Six-Day War, the Football War, and the Anglo-Zanzibar War.

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Episode 112: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - Part 2

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about four of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Statue of Zeus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

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Episode 111: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - Part 1

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

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Episode 110: The History of Money

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:00:27 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the long and very interesting history of money, from its beginnings as commodity money, through coinage, paper money, fiat money, all the way to the digital money of the 21st century.

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Episode 109: Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 17:00:23 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the true story of the very famous Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland and his role in the First War of Scottish Independence.

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Episode 108: The Shark Arm Murder

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 17:00:10 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be entertained with the story of the Shark Arm Murder, a tale of a murder investigation that was brought about when a captive tiger shark spewed up a tattooed human arm in 1930s Sydney.

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Episode 107: The Münster Rebellion

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 17:00:20 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the ridiculous story of the Münster Rebellion, which had everything from a crazed self-proclaimed prophet, to forced polygamy, to good old-fashioned blood and guts and 'orrible murder.

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Episode 106: The First Circumnavigation of the Earth

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 17:00:50 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the adventures and misadventures involved with the very first circumnavigation of the Earth, a story closely associated with Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

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Episode 105: Alexander Hamilton vs. Aaron Burr

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the real story behind the famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr - how their careers intertwined, how their rivalry developed, and what fatal consequences therefore resulted.

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Episode 104: Joseph Bologne, Virtuosic Swordsman

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 17:00:38 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the life story of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges - who was born to an African slave but went on to become a musician, composer, swordsman, abolitionist, soldier, and revolutionary.

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Episode 103: The Insurrection Act of 1807

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 05:00:57 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the mixed legacy of the Insurrection Act of 1807, a two-hundred-year-old piece of American legislation that has been used in the pursuit of both fair-minded justice and horrific oppression, firmly consigning those who invoked it either to the right or the wrong side of history.

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Episode 102: The History of Clocks - Part 2

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, explore the more recent history of timekeeping and clocks, including John Harrison's marine chronometer, how wristwatches eclipsed pocketwatches, and finally how quartz and atomic watches brought us into the twenty-first century.

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Episode 101: The History of Clocks - Part 1

Sun, 31 May 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the first half of the very interesting history of the humble clock, from its origins as a sundial and water clock, through to the technological developments that led to the first mechanical clocks, pendulum clocks, and pocket watches.

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Episode 100: Seven Short Stories

Sun, 24 May 2020 17:00:33 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about Liechtenstein's weird involvement in the Austro-Prussian War, the mysterious Voynich Manuscript, the doomed romance of Peter I and Ines de Castro, Wilhelm Voigt's audacious heist, the untold riches of Mansa Musa I, the women in charge of Sydney's Razor Gangs, and the death-defying adventure of Alan Magee.

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Episode 99: The History of Coffee

Sun, 17 May 2020 17:00:13 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of coffee, one of the most popular drinks in the world, and hear how it was spread and popularised while influencing politics, history, economics, and of course culture.

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Episode 98: Ching Shih, Pirate Queen

Sun, 10 May 2020 17:00:06 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of Ching Shih, one of the most powerful pirates the world has ever seen, who at her peak led a fleet of hundreds and a crew of tens of thousands.

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Episode 97: Colonel Blood, Thief of Crowns

Sun, 03 May 2020 17:00:36 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed by the incredible exploits of "Colonel" Thomas Blood, a thief, kidnapper, con man, turncoat, impersonator, traitor, and rogue who attempted the heist of the century when he tried to steal the Crown Jewels of England.

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Episode 96: The Bone Wars

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 17:00:15 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, explore the bitter rivalry between Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, two palaeontologists whose undying hatred for one another resulted in the Bone Wars.

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Episode 95: The Mechanical Turk

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 17:00:45 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the Mechanical Turk, a chess-playing automaton from over 250 years ago that stunned and mystified with its chess-playing skill and fiercely-guarded secrets.

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Episode 94: The March of the Ten Thousand

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the Ten Thousand: "an epic tale of marooned Greek mercenaries in enemy territory, with betrayal and beheadings, a Persian brotherly blood feud, and a foot bridge made of slaughtered animal herds."

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Episode 93: The Cod Wars

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 17:00:20 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, explore an interesting and overlooked bit of Cold War history - the Cod Wars, which helped to shape 20th century politics, geography, and British haute cuisine.

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Episode 92: The History of the Potato

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 17:00:05 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the surprisingly interesting history of the humble potato, and how it has strongly influenced the course of history and made the world into what it is today.

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Episode 91: The Tragedy of Ignaz Semmelweis

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 18:00:11 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tragic story of Ignaz Semmelweis, a man whose pioneering medical work has saved millions of lives over the years - as well as being especially relevant today.

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Episode 90: The Black Death

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 18:00:27 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about one of the most devastating diseases the world has ever seen - the Black Death, which killed countless millions of people and reduced Europe's population by up to sixty percent.

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Episode 89: Diogenes, the Hardcore Cynic

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life and times of Diogenes the Cynic, a famous Ancient Greek philosopher who was known for living in a jar, making a mockery of the establishment, and relieving himself in public.

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Episode 88: The English Longbow

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 18:00:50 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn all about the English longbow, which played a decisive role in the military history of western Europe between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, and hear the stories of the battles in which it played a key role.

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Episode 87: Edward Jenner, Father of the Vaccine

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 18:00:28 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life of Edward Jenner, a man who perhaps saved more lives than any other human in the history of our species by developing a vaccine for smallpox.

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Episode 86: Irene, Byzantine Empress

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 18:00:56 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of Irene of Athens, who rose to rule the Byzantine Empire in her own right through a combination of political cleverness and brutal and bloody authority.

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Episode 85: Peter Tordenskjold, Norway’s Han Solo

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 18:00:34 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the incredible exploits of the brazen sea captain Peter Tordenskjold, who fought for Denmark-Norway against the Swedish during the Great Northern War.

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Episode 84: Black Agnes and the Siege of Dunbar

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 18:00:20 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the ridiculous story of the Siege of Dunbar, where a Scottish noblewoman known as Black Agnes thoroughly humiliated her English foes as they laid siege to her castle.

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Episode 83: Johann Friedrich Struensee, Paramour of Queens

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the tale of Johann Friedrich Struensee, who took control of the Kingdom of Denmark in the eighteenth century, by winning over the king and sleeping with the queen.

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Episode 82: Norwegian Heavy Water Sabotage

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 18:00:55 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the remarkable tale of the Norwegian and Allied saboteurs who fought a secret and dangerous war against the Nazi nuclear weapons program during the Second World War.

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Episode 81: The Beast of Gévaudan

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 18:00:53 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the remarkable true story of the Beast of Gévaudan, a monstrosity that plagued and terrorised the French countryside in the 1760s.

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Episode 80: Tycho Brahe, the Brass-Nosed Astronomer

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 18:00:58 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life of Tycho Brahe, who balanced his astronomic and scientific genius with, like, just a whole bunch of really weird stuff.

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Episode 79: Operation Pastorius - Part 2

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second half of the story of Operation Pastorius, when eight Nazi saboteurs were sent across the Atlantic in submarines to attempt to wreak havoc within the US.

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Episode 78: Operation Pastorius - Part 1

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the story of Operation Pastorius, when eight Nazi saboteurs were sent across the Atlantic in submarines to attempt to wreak havoc within the US.

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Episode 77: Artemisia and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 18:00:37 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the origin of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the woman who was behind its construction, Artemisia II of Caria.

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Episode 76: The Norman Conquest of England

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 18:00:44 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the Norman Conquest of England, an event which put a new line of kings on the throne of England and forever changed the course of world history.

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Episode 75: The Great Emu War

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 18:00:50 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover one of the most humiliating defeats ever suffered by the Australian Army - the Great Emu War, when artillerymen and machine guns from the Australian Army were deployed to fight tens of thousands of emus, and lost.

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Episode 74: Mutiny on the Batavia

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 18:00:51 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the Mutiny on the Batavia, when a Dutch ship ran aground off the coast of Western Australia and ended up with a murderous psychopath in charge, resulting in treachery, betrayal, and of course 'orrible murder.

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Episode 73: USS William D. Porter, History’s Unluckiest Ship

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 18:00:45 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the hilarious and near-world-changing story of the USS William D. Porter, a ship whose crew almost accidentally killed US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt before suffering the weirdest kamikaze attack in history.

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Episode 72: Bowie, Crockett, and the Battle of the Alamo

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 18:00:33 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out the truth about the famous Battle of the Alamo and its role in securing Texan independence, as well as the stories of some of the famous men who were there, including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett.

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Episode 71: Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 18:00:47 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the tale of Queen Nzinga, who spent a lifetime fighting against the Portuguese colonisation of Angola - and in doing so, united two kingdoms and made a name for herself as a clever, pragmatic, and ruthless leader.

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Episode 70: Four Generations of the Dumas Family

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:00:34 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the incredible story of the Dumas family, who for four consecutive generations produced a succession of "distinguished men" - a revolutionary general, a celebrated author, a talented playwright, and an Olympic double-gold medallist.

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Episode 69: The Eighty Years’ War - Part 2

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear more of the ridiculous stories that came out of the Eighty Years' War, including a sixteenth-century Trojan Horse story, the establishment of the Dutch East India Company, and the only time in history a Spanish treasure fleet was ever captured.

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Episode 68: The Eighty Years’ War - Part 1

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear some of the ridiculous stories that came out of the Eighty Years' War, including the surfing pirates of the Siege of Leiden, the tens of thousands left dead after the Spanish Fury, and William the Silent paying for his assassin's pistols.

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Episode 67: Josephine Baker, the Singing Spy

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the incredible life story of Josephine Baker, who went from the slums of St. Louis to international stardom as a singer, while also working as a spy during the Second World War and a civil rights activist in the years afterwards.

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Episode 66: Juan Pujol García, the Self-Made Spy

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at the incredible exploits of Juan Pujol García, who went from being a Spanish chicken farmer to one of the most important double agents during the Second World War.

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Episode 65: Tarrare, the Eating Machine

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 17:00:56 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the amusing and tragic adventures of Tarrare, a French man who had perhaps the most voracious appetite the world has ever seen, eating everything from his own bodyweight in meat to wood and rocks.

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Episode 64: John Paul Jones, Father of the US Navy

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 17:00:25 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story of John Paul Jones, a daring naval commander whose early victories against the British during the American Revolutionary War earnt him the title "Father of the US Navy".

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Episode 63: Admiral Yi Sun-Sin, the Great Admiral

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the tale of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin, one of the greatest naval strategists the world has ever seen, who never lost a battle or even a ship at sea throughout his entire career.

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Episode 62: James Lind and the Cure for Scurvy

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 17:00:52 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy the uplifting story of James Lind, a medical visionary who was ahead of his time in helping to cure scurvy and conducting what might have been the world's first clinical trial.

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Episode 61: John R. Brinkley, the Goat Testicle Quack

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:00:54 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, try to contain your bewilderment as you hear the story of John R. Brinkley, a man who made his fortune by transplanting goat testicles into humans after marketing them as a miracle cure-all.

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Episode 60: Alexander the Great’s Siege of Tyre

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 17:00:00 GMT

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.

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Episode 59: Neutral Moresnet

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 17:00:08 GMT

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.

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Episode 58: Elagabalus, Rome’s Salacious Emperor

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 17:00:13 GMT

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.

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Episode 57: Stede Bonnet, Gentleman Pirate

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 17:00:50 GMT

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.

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Episode 56: Robert Smalls, War Hero and Congressman

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 17:00:00 GMT

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.

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Episode 55: Gregor MacGregor, the Poyaisian Con Man - Part 2

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 17:00:00 GMT

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.

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Episode 54: Gregor MacGregor, the Poyaisian Con Man - Part 1

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 17:00:00 GMT

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.

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Episode 53: La Maupin, Operatic Swashbuckler

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 17:00:35 GMT

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.

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Episode 52: Arkipov and Petrov, the Men Who Saved the World

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 17:00:00 GMT

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.

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Episode 51: William Buckley, Escaped Convict

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 17:00:33 GMT

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.

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Episode 50: The Darien Scheme

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at an untold piece of Scottish History: the Darien Scheme, when Scotland attempted to start a colony in Central America, in the hopes of bridging the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

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Episode 49: Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 17:00:18 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the swashbuckling lives of Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read, three famous pirates that caused all sorts of havoc and mayhem at the end of the Golden Age of Piracy.

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Episode 48: The 1904 Olympic Marathon

Sun, 26 May 2019 17:00:44 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at the total lunacy that surrounded the 1904 Olympic Marathon, which featured people coughing up blood, getting attacked by dogs, stopping for naps, taking rat poison as a performance-enhancing drug, and even taking cars to the finish line.

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Episode 47: Mutiny on the Bounty - Part 2

Sun, 19 May 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the consequences of the famous Mutiny on the Bounty, and the fates of both the loyalists and the mutineers after the ship was seized.

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Episode 46: Mutiny on the Bounty - Part 1

Sun, 12 May 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about the leadup to and execution of the famous Mutiny on the Bounty, when malcontent British sailors seized control of a British vessel from their captain, William Bligh.

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Episode 45: The Second Pacific Squadron

Sun, 05 May 2019 17:00:12 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the adventures and misadventures of the Russian Second Pacific Squadron, which sailed 29,000km to fight in the Russo-Japanese War.

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Episode 44: Qin Shi Huang, China's First Emperor

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the amazing - and utterly ridiculous - life and times of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.

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Episode 43: Korean Axe Murder Incident

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 17:00:36 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover one of the most ridiculous military operations in history - when the US mobilised over ten thousand troops to cut down a single tree.

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Episode 42: Boudica, the Rebel Queen

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 17:00:43 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed by the bloodthirsty butchery perpetrated by the Britonnic queen Boudica, when she campaigned against the Romans in the first century.

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Episode 41: Hannibal Barca, the Great Tactician - Part 2

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover what happened when Hannibal Barca attacked the Roman Republic after crossing the Alps, including the famous Battle of Cannae.

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Episode 40: Hannibal Barca, the Great Tactician - Part 1

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the legendary Hannibal Barca and his crossing of the Alps to stage a land invasion of the Roman Republic.

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Episode 39: Le Gentil and the Transits of Venus

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 18:00:16 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life of Guillaume Le Gentil, who was fraught with unbelievably bad luck while attempting to observe the Transits of Venus in 1761 and 1769.

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Episode 38: The Great Race of Mercy

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 18:00:14 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about the Great Race of Mercy, where twenty courageous dog sledders attempted to prevent a deadly epidemic from wiping out the remote Alaskan town of Nome.

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Episode 37: Burke and Wills, Australian Pioneers

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, relive the Burke and Wills Expedition, one of the first attempts to cross the inland of Australia from south to north.

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Episode 36: Queen Zenobia, the Palmyrene Empress

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life of Queen Zenobia, who forged an empire to rival Rome almost two thousand years ago.

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Episode 35: The Spanish Armada

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 18:00:54 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story surrounding the famous Spanish Armada - what it was, what it was trying to do, and just how catastrophically it failed.

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Episode 34: Mary Anning, the Prolific Palaeontologist

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about an extraordinary figure from early palaeontology, whose fossil discoveries forever changed our understanding of the prehistoric world - Mary Anning.

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Episode 33: Caligula, the Mad Roman Emperor

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 18:00:24 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life and times of Caligula, a short-lived Roman emperor known throughout history for his pants-on-head insanity.

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Episode 32: Andree's Arctic Balloon Expedition

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed by the foolish optimism of Salomon Andree and his attempt to reach the North Pole - by hot-air balloon.

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Episode 31: Thomas Midgley, the Walking Environmental Disaster

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the enormous environmental damage done by one of the most terrible inventors in the history of our civilisation: Thomas Midgley, Jr.

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Episode 30: Vlad Dracula, the Impaler

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, separate the truth from the fiction when it comes to the legacy of the brutal Vlad the Impaler, who is known for the harsh cruelty he showed to his foes.

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Episode 29: The Mary Celeste

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 18:00:45 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be mystified at the tale of the Mary Celeste, a ship that was discovered in the middle of the Atlantic, abandoned by its crew with all its cargo untouched.

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Episode 28: Wu Zetian, Empress of China

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 18:00:02 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, explore the life of the only female ruler of China, known for ruthless and strong leadership, the empress Wu Zetian.

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Episode 27: Wilhelm II, the Last German Emperor

Sun, 30 Dec 2018 18:00:45 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, explore the absolute lunacy of the last emperor of Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm II.

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Episode 26: The Cadaver Synod

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 18:00:37 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about the utter insanity involved in the Cadaver Synod, where a pope was dug up to be put on trial months after he'd actually died.

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Episode 25: The Defenestrations of Prague

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 18:00:33 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about how a group of angry Bohemians chucked some blokes out of a window to trigger a religious war - and then did it again two hundred years later.

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Episode 24: Lord Timothy Dexter, the Whacko Entrepreneur

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 18:00:58 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the insane economic genius of "Lord" Timothy Dexter, the original cashed-up bogan who built his fortune through ridiculous business decisions.

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Episode 23: Georg Elser and his Plot to Kill Hitler

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:00:33 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of an unsung German hero, Georg Elser, who attempted to kill Hitler all by himself just after the outbreak of the Second World War.

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Episode 22: Jeanne de Clisson, Lioness of Brittany

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:00:05 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the incredible life of Jeanne de Clisson, who became known as the Lioness of Brittany after a brutal career from boring noblewoman to bloodthirsty pirate.

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Episode 21: Ned Kelly, Australia's Famous Outlaw - Part 2

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the final years of the Ned Kelly and his gang, including bank robberies, murders, and of course the legendary Siege of Glenrowan.

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Episode 20: Ned Kelly, Australia's Famous Outlaw - Part 1

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at the ridiculous nonsense that went on during the early life of Ned Kelly, before he became the notorious bushranger and outlaw.

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Episode 19: Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 18:00:20 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the complicated and tragic relationship between the cousins, rivals, and queens: Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I.

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Episode 18: Léo Major, the Québécois Rambo

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 18:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed by the story of Leo Major, a Canadian soldier who single-handedly (and single-eyededly) liberated a Dutch town.

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Episode 17: The Mongol Conquest of Khwarezmia

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, witness the ruthless brutality of the early Mongol Empire as they engaged in the Mongol Conquest of Khwarezmia.

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Episode 16: Deborah Sampson, American Revolutionary

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out about Deborah Sampson, a woman disguised herself as a man so she could fight in the American Revolution.

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Episode 15: The Battle of Tours - Part 2

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get amongst what happened during the Battle of Tours, and the ongoing debate about its significance in world history.

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Episode 14: The Battle of Tours - Part 1

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get a sense of the lead-up to an event that is said to have changed the course of world history - the Battle of Tours.

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Episode 13: The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 17:00:58 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get more information about a hugely significant event in world history: The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

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Episode 12: British K-Class Submarines

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 17:00:57 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, be amazed at the sheer magnitude of idiotic disasters that were involved with the British K-Class Submarines.

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Episode 11: The War of the Oaken Bucket

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 17:00:35 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the battle with the most ludicrous casus belli you've ever seen - the War of the Oaken Bucket.

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Episode 10: The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 17:00:10 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, where Marie Antoinette suffered at the hands of a daring con artist, Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy.

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Episode 9: The Battle of New Orleans

Sun, 26 Aug 2018 17:00:02 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear of the stupidly unlikely outcome of the Battle of New Orleans, the final conflict of the War of 1812.

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Episode 8: The War of 1812

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 17:00:11 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get stuck into the insane stories that emerged from the War of 1812, an often-overlooked piece of history.

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Episode 7: D.B. Cooper, the Mystery Hijacker

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about the sky pirate D.B. Cooper and his clean getaway after skydiving away with over a million bucks.

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Episode 6: The Fenian Raids

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out about the absolute lunacy that was the Fenian Raids, where a group of Irish nationalists invaded Canada to secure freedom for the Emerald Isle.

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Episode 5: The Fourth Crusade

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:00:40 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about one of the most colossal stuff-ups in history, wherein an army of Crusaders managed to sack not one, but two Christian cities: the Fourth Crusade.

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Episode 4: Olga of Kyiv, the Merciless Queen

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about how Olga of Kyiv took brutal vengeance for her husband's murder by burning down a city and burying her enemies alive.

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Episode 3: The Assassination of James A. Garfield

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 17:00:22 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out about how the 20th President of the United States, poor old James A Garfield, got gunned down by an absolute lunatic named Charles Guiteau.

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Episode 2: The Terra Nova Expedition

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 17:00:40 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out about the first losers in the race to the South Pole - the Terra Nova expedition, let by Robert Falcon Scott.

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Episode 1: Frederick the Great

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 17:00:39 GMT

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, explore the life of the red-hot pistol that was Frederick the Great, the most famous of the Prussian kings.

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