Ridiculous History

While most people today already know the inspiring story of Rosa Parks and her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Riots, a lot of folks still don't know the story of Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old arrested nine months before Rosa Parks for the exact same reason: refusing to give up her seat on the bus in segregated Alabama. In today's special interview, Ben, Noel and Max explore this story with the one and only Nimene Wureh, the host of Historical Records, an family friendly, explosive blend of history and hip-hop. Spoiler: listen to the very end -- there's a surprise!

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If you're like most English speakers, the first thing you think of when you hear the name "Fido" is, of course, a dog. But why? Join Ben and Noel as they delve into the story of Abraham Lincoln's favorite pooch, and how this little yellow pup became one of the first dog memes. (Also, please send us photos of your pooches. We're super into it.)

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In the great pantheon of fast food mascots, one iconic figure stands separate from the rest: a crooning, crescent moon-faced musician named Mac Tonight. Originally part of an ambitious campaign to advertise McDonald's as a place for adults as well as kids, Mac experienced skyrocketing -- yet short-lived -- viral fame. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into Mac's origin story to discover exactly what happened to this once-beloved, world famous Moon Man.

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Whether or not you yourself celebrate Christmas, there's no denying it's one of the world's most well'known holidays -- in fact, this commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ may be the most famous birthday in the Western world. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in this holiday episode, experts still don't know when Jesus was actually born. Humans didn't really celebrate Christ's birthday as December 25th until centuries after his death... which means one of the world's most famous birthdays was also one of the absolute latest birthday parties ever.

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Almost 48 years ago, Pirates pitcher and notorious party animal Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter while under the influence of LSD. How did this man accomplish one of the rarest feats in baseball history while, by his own admission, tripping balls? Join the Ben and Noel as they dive into the story of that legendary afternoon -- along with the parts of Dock's legacy that are too often forgotten in the modern day.

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Still reeling from a tragic loss in the greatest of games, Ben, Noel and Max square off with Jonathan Strickland AKA The Quizster in one last battle of wits before wiping the slate clean in 2025. Jonathan shares several important announcements, and the guys provide reminisce about the Ridiculous History of their (surprisingly long) careers in podcasting.

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After going off the grid for the better part of a year, Jonathan Strickland AKA The Quizster returns at the end of 2024, with several bones to pick. As he regales -- and/or tortures -- Ben, Noel and Max with a new quiz and an (apparently) in-depth exploration of vikings, the guys do their best to solve his devious puzzles. Spoiler: this one ends on a cliffhanger.

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On the first listen, Maryland's old state song sounds pretty innocuous. There's the usual lauding of the state, a refrain based on "O Tannenbaum" and so on. Yet the lyrics of this song refer to "Northern scum" and call for out and out war with various oppressors. So what gives? Join Ben and Noel as they dive into the strange origin story of "Maryland, My Maryland" in this week's Classic episode.

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How did the English alphabet -- a strange agglomeration of curved and straight-lined symbols -- become a thing? In the second part of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the messy evolution of modern English, with a special shoutout to each letter of the current alphabet and a more than a little speculation about the future of written communication. ProTip: this is going to be hilarious a century or so from when we record it.

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Stuffed crust pizza. Grilled cheese burritos. How did so much cheese get into so many things? On today's episode, we peel back the curtain on the Dairy Industrial Complex — AKA Big Parma. 

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VERY SPECIAL CREDITS
On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. 

Today’s Episode Was Written and Hosted by Very Special Guest Stars Ben Bowlin and Alex French

Producer is Josh Fisher

Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs

Additional Editing by Mary Dooe

Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier

Original Music by Elise McCoy 

Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla  

Executive Producer is Jason English

Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach the show at [email protected]. 

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