How the Kentucky Derby Became a Thing
We’ve all been there, right? You wake up one day, and you say: “You know what? Forget work! It’s so nice outside. I want to put on a fancy hat, watch a bunch of horses run around in a circle, and gamb...
25 Sep 202537min
The Ridiculous History of the 90s and Low Culture, with Ross Benes
The 1990s were a time of chaos, aspiration, and, above all, ridiculous things. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max welcome returning guest Ross Benes, the author of 1999, for an in-depth exploration...
23 Sep 202543min
CLASSIC: The Great London Beer Flood of 1814
In 1814, a poor neighborhood in London fell victim to a strange, tragic and boozy disaster -- this calamity would eventually leave eight people dead. So what exactly happened? How could an entire neig...
20 Sep 202525min
The True Story of Pac Man -- and a Ton of Weird Theories
As one of the most iconic games in all of arcade history, Pac Man is recognized across the planet. But how did it get here -- and why are there so many in-depth fan theories about what it means? Is Pa...
18 Sep 202537min
The Ridiculous Origin of the the Word "Ridiculous"
With nearly one thousand episodes out in the world over the years, Ben, Noel and Max realized they've never asked about the origin of the word "ridiculous." In this rollicking, cartoonishly meta episo...
16 Sep 202538min
CLASSIC: Dr. Seuss Wrote His Most Famous Book On A Bet
What are your favorite children's books? In this Classic episode, Ben and the gang acknowledge Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known writers on the planet. "Green Eggs and Ham", one of his most succ...
13 Sep 202534min
The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part Two: The Rise of the Chamber Divers
As Axis powers swarm across Europe in the lead-up to D-Day, a small group of scientists refuse to leave their lab, throwing a fair amount of modern ethics out the window (or the sub, if you like) as t...
11 Sep 202546min
The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part One: The Return of Dr. Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance
Years after their initial conversation with the world's foremost expert on underwater explosions, Ben still sings the praises of Dr. Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance. In the first part of this special two-p...
9 Sep 202543min
