Ridiculous History

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

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Wilmer Valderrama is joined by actors Adam Rodriguez, Stephanie Beatriz, and Overcomfort Podcast host Jenicka Lopez for a heartfelt and insightful conversation on Latinidad. Listen as the group share their memories on growing up in a Latino household, their experiences with learning (and not learning) Spanish, and how they ended up choosing their career paths. They also talk about the importance of traditions, better representation, and what advice they have for the next generation of Latinos.

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Hi, Ridiculous History fans! Listen to McCartney: A Life in Lyrics hosted by Paul McCartney! A new masterclass podcast that dives into an improvised journey with one of the most beloved figures in popular music. Each episode is centered on one song in McCartney’s catalog – from early Beatles to his solo work. Don't just take our word for it, check out the trailer to decide for yourself!

About McCartney: A Life in Lyrics: McCartney: A Life in Lyrics is a master class, a memoir, and an improvised journey with one of the most beloved figures in popular music: Paul McCartney. Each episode is centered on one song in McCartney’s catalog – from early Beatles to his solo work. Over the course of the podcast, listeners sit in on conversations between McCartney and the poet Paul Muldoon about the people, experiences, and art that inspired McCartney’s songwriting. The stories are richly interwoven with music and sounds contemporary to each song, providing a revelatory, entertaining window into a truly iconic creative genius. The first season is 24 episodes, but there is a treasure trove of tapes of more than 150 of McCartney’s songs.

Listen to McCartney: A Life in Lyrics on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

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In the newest installment of this continuing series on weird royal deaths, Ben, Noel and Max explore intensely ...crappy... stories of royals who, despite all their worldly power, died on the toilet. Tune in to hear what may be the lads' classiest podcast yet.

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Pi itself is pretty ridiculous. This number -- the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle -- appears to continue into infinity, with no predictable pattern. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore something even more ridiculous: that time in 1897 when an amateur mathematician named Edward J. Goodwin almost persuaded the state of Indiana to legally change the meaning of Pi. Tune in to hear how he would have got away with it, were it not for the accidental intervention of another guy who just happened to be in the room.

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The boys hit the road, traveling to Las Vegas and recording live. In this special episode, Ben, Noel, Max and guest producer Paul Dechant explore the evolution of Labor Day, from its origin to the strange -- and, let's be honest, ridiculous -- tradition of avoiding white clothing. With a special shout out to Max's snazzy Wedding White Pants.

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It's true! At least, to some. For decades various people have claimed Michigan has its own area of intense paranormal activity -- UFOs, ghosts, disappearances, you name it -- and they've mapped out something called "the Michigan Triangle." In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max look through the evidence to determine whether these stories are true, or... you know. Ridiculous.

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As James Naismith's new sport became increasingly popular, more and more people looked for ways to evolve, adjust, or flat-out change Naismith's original rules. In the second part of this series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how basketball continued to change over time -- and how some kids at Yale found a loophole to "pass the ball to themselves."

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These days basketball is a billion dollar cultural phenomenon -- but where did it come from? In the first part of this week's series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origins of basketball, starting with the moment a young James Naismith was asked to distract a bunch of "incorrigible" students during the winter months. 

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John Tyler was the president of the United States from 1841 to 1845 -- and, while some historians may not remember him as the best of presidents, he has another claim to fame: one of his grandchildren is alive today. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the life and times of President Tyler, from his childhood in Virginia through the strange circumstances that led him to the presidency, his marriages, children, and more.

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