The Dubious Book of Famous Deeds

Comedian Clare Blackwood joins me for the thrilling tale of Lord Admiral Nelson: commander of the Royal Navy, hero of the Napoleonic Wars, deadbeat husband. Listen to the story of a man who left everything on the field, including an arm, most of his teeth and an eyebrow.

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If you’re tracing the roots of America’s gun culture, you’ll surely stumble across Samuel Colt, inventor of the Colt Pistol, revolutionary in firearm manufacture and marketing, and total gun nut by anyone’s standards. Guests Rhys Waters and Jesse Harley (‘Canadian Politics is Boring’) come for the weaponry and stay for the pyromania as we explore the life of a man who had a singular appetite for destruction.

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Comedian Brandon Hackett is here for the story of Walter Raleigh, namesake of Raleigh, North Carolina: a great explorer, so we’re told, but really – did he get a single thing right? Or was he really famous because Queen Elizabeth I had the hots for him? Learn all about the man whose missteps and screw-ups landed him in the Tower of London so many times, they’ve still got his room set up.

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In a surprisingly horny episode, comedian Ashley Botting (Second City, Because News) is here for the story of Sir Henry Holland: physician to the wealthy, confidante to the elite, and – to spread a rumour we can in no way substantiate – hot lover to them all?

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Comedian Alastair Forbes is here for stories about lighthouses! Specifically, stories about the destruction of said lighthouses. We’ll also hear a bit about John Smeaton, the first ever civil engineer… but mainly we’re talking lighthouses failing. You know what they say: tragedy plus time equals good podcast content.

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Allana Reoch is here to learn all the strange, tragic and uncomfortably public details about legendary poet John Milton, all against the backdrop of the English Civil War. The guy was a major pill but will Allana come around on him? Does she have a soft spot for broken things?? Or is John Milton just *that* charming??? (He isn’t.)

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Welcome to season 2! The Dubious Book returns with an extremely funny episode about Queen Victoria’s favourite painter, Edwin Landseer. Tim Baltz (Righteous Gemstones, Shrink) and Marty Adams (Second City) join the podcast to – let’s be honest – absolutely devastate this long dead artist whose main gig was painting pictures of dogs. Find the artwork we discuss at my IG account @famous.deeds, or at this episode’s page on www.thesonarnetwork.com!

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Hi friends! Been a long time. But I’m happy to tell you that more episodes are just around the corner. Season 2 arrives May 3rd with with more great guests, obscure names and fun stories.

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It’s the season finale! Comedian Lisa Brooke is here for the rags to riches tale of Edward Baines, the newspaperman who had the distinction of being burned in effigy by his fellow citizens not once, but twice. Come for the accusations of bastardy… stay for the silliest name in British history since Ralph Roister Doister.

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Just before slavery was abolished in the USA, tens of millions of Russian serfs also received their liberty. But was there a catch? Yes, of course there was! Actor/comedian Anand Rajaram is here for a tale about the high cost of freedom, especially when the nobility pulls the strings.

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