History For Weirdos31 Mar 2025

Episode 149: Potbelly - the Infamous Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt

In this week's episode of History For Weirdos, Andrew and Stephanie journey back to ancient Egypt to explore the bizarre yet captivating story of the infamous pharaoh affectionately—or perhaps mockingly—nicknamed "Potbelly." Known formally as Pharaoh Ptolemy VIII Physcon, his moniker literally translates to "fat belly," but his strange nickname pales in comparison to the disturbing reality of his reign. While undeniably intelligent, displaying strategic political savvy and a keen understanding of governance, his intelligence was overshadowed by his ruthless cruelty and utter lack of charm. Potbelly's rule was marred by scandal, betrayal, and a penchant for violence that made him deeply unpopular among his subjects and contemporaries. From poisoning family members to publicly humiliating rivals, his despotic actions plunged Egypt into turmoil, undermining the very kingdom he sought to control. Yet, his keen mind managed to secure his power repeatedly, displaying a twisted genius in statecraft that kept historians both fascinated and repulsed. Join us as we unpack the enigmatic life of one of ancient Egypt’s most paradoxical rulers. Was Pharaoh Potbelly merely a victim of historical exaggeration, or was he truly as vile and despised as records suggest? Tune in to find out why this despicable pharaoh remains one of history's most intriguingly unpleasant figures - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇 Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos Website: historyforweirdos.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(174)

The Last Episode

We answer some questions, we read hometown histories and we say our goodbyes. This is it, thank you to all you Weirdos who made this show so special. Until next time, adios! - Get History For Weirdo...

27 Jul 1h 21min

Episode 163: A History of Witches

The witch didn't appear out of nowhere like a Halloween monster invented to scare children. She was assembled, piece by piece, over centuries - by theologians, illustrators, and frightened communities...

29 Jun 1h 4min

Episode 162: Crossing the Rubicon - Julius Caesar's Path to Glory

Julius Caesar didn’t appear out of nowhere like a Roman superhero dropped into history to “end the Republic.” He was raised inside a system already cracking under the weight of its own success. An emp...

24 Feb 2h 35min

Episode 161: The Kingfish vs. Oligarchs - Huey Long’s War for the Working Class

He paved roads, blew up tolls, handed kids free textbooks, and told the oil barons to get lost. Huey “The Kingfish” Long wasn’t just a politician; he was a one-man jailbreak for Louisiana’s poor. In t...

6 Okt 20251h 11min

Episode 160: The Beverly Hills Stabbing - Lana Turner, Johnny Stompanato & a Studio System on Trial

In April 1958, Hollywood’s ice-queen glamour cracked. Lana Turner’s mob-linked boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, lay dead on her Beverly Hills bedroom floor, felled by a single knife wound, and her 14-yea...

22 Sep 20251h 12min

Episode 159: Plato, Syracuse and the Tyrant

A philosopher walks into a palace—no, really. This week on History For Weirdos, we follow Plato from the Academy to the armored court of Syracuse, where his friend (and insider) Dion bets that good id...

25 Aug 20251h 27min

Episode 158: Consuelo Vanderbilt & the Gilded Age Dollar Princesses

In this week’s episode we crack open the glittering shell of HBO’s The Gilded Age to meet the real women who inspired its most delicious plotline: America’s “dollar princesses.” When cash-poor British...

11 Aug 202555min

Episode 157: General George S Patton - Blood, Guts & Conspiracies (Collab w/ The Rabbit Hole)

In this special collab episode, Andrew dives deep into the fascinating life and military career of one of America's most legendary—and controversial—generals, George S. Patton. From his early exploits...

21 Jul 20251h 40min