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Half-Arsed History

Half-Arsed History

By Riley Knight

Welcome along to Half-Arsed History! It's a weekly podcast highlighting absurd and entertaining stories from history. For around half an hour a week, it also makes your host Riley Knight feel as though his useless history degree has some kind of real-world relevance.
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Episode 243: Mutiny on the Hermione

Half-Arsed HistoryFeb 19, 2023

00:00
42:14
Episode 243: Mutiny on the Hermione

Episode 243: Mutiny on the Hermione

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy the tale of the bloodiest mutiny in British naval history, the mutiny on the Hermione, and the daring operation undertaken to return it to British hands. 

Feb 19, 202342:14
Episode 242: The Race to the North Pole

Episode 242: The Race to the North Pole

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out who won the race to the North Pole, and hear about all the controversies and disputes involved with various attempts that were made to be the first to reach it.

Feb 12, 202344:09
Episode 241: History's Weirdest Deaths, Part 3

Episode 241: History's Weirdest Deaths, Part 3

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get across ten more ridiculous stories that led to some of the weirdest deaths in history.

Feb 05, 202340:32
Episode 240: The Federation of Australia

Episode 240: The Federation of Australia

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover how the Commonwealth of Australia was created through federation, bringing six separate colonies together as one new nation.

Jan 29, 202355:08
Episode 239: The Colonisation of Australia

Episode 239: The Colonisation of Australia

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn why Australia Day, the 26th of January, isn't a date worth celebrating while uncovering the full story of the colonisation of Australia.

Jan 22, 202354:57
Episode 238: Hatshepsut

Episode 238: Hatshepsut

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of one of ancient Egypt's most successful and famous pharaohs: Hatshepsut, whose great buildings are still standing today.

Jan 15, 202344:11
Episode 237: The Funniest Art Heists in History

Episode 237: The Funniest Art Heists in History

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy some of the ridiculous stories involved with when famous pieces of artwork have been stolen: the funniest art heists in history.

Jan 08, 202348:57
Episode 236: The Gregorian Calendar

Episode 236: The Gregorian Calendar

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, begin the new year by learning about the history of the date-keeping system that almost the entire world uses today: the Gregorian calendar.

Jan 01, 202358:02
Episode 235: Frederick Douglass, Part 2

Episode 235: Frederick Douglass, Part 2

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second part of the life story of Frederick Douglass, and the influence he had on the progress of US history as a speaker, writer, abolitionist, and statesman.

Dec 25, 202239:25
Episode 234: Frederick Douglass, Part 1

Episode 234: Frederick Douglass, Part 1

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the first part of the life story of Frederick Douglass, a remarkable man who began life enslaved before making a daring and dangerous escape to a life of freedom as an author, speaker, statesman, and political activist.

Dec 18, 202237:10
Episode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup

Episode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the most ridiculous World Cup in soccer's history - which also happens to be the first one ever held, the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

Dec 11, 202250:57
Episode 232: Tokugawa Ieyasu

Episode 232: Tokugawa Ieyasu

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, listen to the conclusion of the story of Japan's great unifiers, with the tale of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who forged the mighty Tokugawa Shogunate. 

Dec 04, 202246:58
Episode 231: Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Episode 231: Toyotomi Hideyoshi

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, continue the tale of the unification of Japan with the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the second of the great unifiers.

Nov 27, 202247:17
Episode 230: Oda Nobunaga

Episode 230: Oda Nobunaga

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the life story of Oda Nobunaga, known as the first great unifier, a man whose actions changed the course of Japanese history.

Nov 20, 202239:32
Episode 229: The World’s Smallest Nations

Episode 229: The World’s Smallest Nations

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the histories of the six smallest nations on Earth: Liechtenstein, San Marino, Tuvalu, Nauru, Monaco, and the Vatican City.

Nov 13, 202242:25
Episode 228: Benedict Arnold

Episode 228: Benedict Arnold

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the famous traitor Benedict Arnold, who betrayed the rebellious Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and fought instead for the British.

Nov 06, 202245:59
Episode 227: Isabella I of Castile

Episode 227: Isabella I of Castile

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the tale of Isabella I of Castile, a remarkably important figure in both Spanish and world history, who oversaw the unification of the Spanish Kingdom and the creation of the Spanish Empire.

Oct 30, 202241:09
Episode 226: Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui

Episode 226: Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story behind the formation of the Inca Empire, and the man behind its creation: Pachacuti Inca, who built one of the most remarkable empires the world has seen.

Oct 23, 202237:57
Episode 225: Frederick Barbarossa

Episode 225: Frederick Barbarossa

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of one of the great mediaeval leaders, Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire, who spent his entire reign fighting to keep his realm together. 

Oct 16, 202249:25
Episode 224: Jan Zizka

Episode 224: Jan Zizka

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the Czech general and national hero, Jan Zizka, who used a combination of military innovation and strategic genius while fighting in the Hussite Wars.

Oct 09, 202238:24
Episode 223: The Hundred Years’ War

Episode 223: The Hundred Years’ War

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of the Hundred Years’ War, a famous mediaeval conflict that saw five generations of English and French kings fight over claims to the French throne for over a hundred years.

Oct 02, 202249:05
Episode 222: The Fall of Constantinople

Episode 222: The Fall of Constantinople

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the moment in history generally considered to be the end of the mediaeval period: the Fall of Constaninople, when a 21-year-old Ottoman Sultan captured the ancient city of Constantinople.

Sep 25, 202240:08
Episode 221: King Charles I of England

Episode 221: King Charles I of England

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of King Charles I of England, one of the worst monarchs in English and British history, who ended up so unpopular that he ended up having his head chopped off. 

Sep 18, 202239:35
Episode 220: Mahatma Gandhi, Part 2

Episode 220: Mahatma Gandhi, Part 2

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the second half of the life story of Mahatma Gandhi, who led India towards its ultimate independence with satyagraha, his political philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

Sep 11, 202243:47
Episode 219: Mahatma Gandhi, Part 1

Episode 219: Mahatma Gandhi, Part 1

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the story of Mahatma Gandhi, who started off a painfully shy law student before fighting against racial discrimination in South Africa, and for political independence in India. 

Sep 04, 202242:24
Episode 218: Amelia Earhart

Episode 218: Amelia Earhart

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the tale of a pioneering aviator, Amelia Earhart, who set countless records as a talented aviator and determined adventurer.

https://halfarsedhistory.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/218-amelia-earhart.mp3

Aug 28, 202244:28
Episode 217: Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press

Episode 217: Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story behind a device that changed the world forever, and the man who invented it: Johannes Gutenberg, and the monumentally important printing press.

Aug 21, 202241:30
Episode 216: Isaac Newton

Episode 216: Isaac Newton

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the tale of Isaac Newton, one of the most important figures in scientific history, who produced incredible, groundbreaking work that laid bare some of the fundamental laws of the universe. 

Aug 14, 202248:13
Episode 215: Hammurabi, the Lawmaker

Episode 215: Hammurabi, the Lawmaker

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, listen to the tale of Hammurabi, an ancient Mesopotamian king who instituted one of the most important and influential code of laws in human history.

Aug 07, 202241:12
Episode 214: Sargon of Akkad

Episode 214: Sargon of Akkad

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the life story of the man who forged history's first-ever empire, Sargon of Akkad, and his efforts to maintain and develop it across his time as emperor.

Jul 31, 202239:51
Episode 213: Simon Bolivar, El Libertador

Episode 213: Simon Bolivar, El Libertador

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the life story of the Venezuelan freedom fighter and revolutionary hero, Simon Bolivar, who liberated half a continent from Spanish colonial rule. 

Jul 24, 202249:50
Episode 212: Napoleon Bonaparte, Part 2

Episode 212: Napoleon Bonaparte, Part 2

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the second half of the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, including his domestic reforms that would influence the entire world, and his eventual downfall, brief return, and final exile.

Jul 17, 202244:20
Episode 211: Napoleon Bonaparte, Part 1

Episode 211: Napoleon Bonaparte, Part 1

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the first half of the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French commander and emperor, who forged the French Empire by conquering half of the European continent. 

Jul 10, 202248:01
Episode 210: Galileo Galilei, Part 2

Episode 210: Galileo Galilei, Part 2

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the later stages of Galileo Galilei's career, and how the legendary scientist ran afoul of the Catholic Church due to his far-sighted genius. 

Jul 03, 202240:04
Episode 209: Galileo Galilei, Part 1

Episode 209: Galileo Galilei, Part 1

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the life story of Galileo Galilei, one of the most important and influential scientists in human history, who made far-sighted, ground-breaking scientific discoveries that changed our understanding of the universe. 

Jun 26, 202239:58
Episode 208: Queen Victoria

Episode 208: Queen Victoria

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the tale of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, who was in her time the longest-reigning monarch in British history. 

Jun 19, 202252:28
Episode 207: Genghis Khan, Part 2

Episode 207: Genghis Khan, Part 2

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second half of the life story of Genghis Khan, the man who created the Mongolian Empire and led it to early greatness as it expanded across Asia and into Europe. 

Jun 12, 202234:33
Episode 206 Genghis Khan, Part 1

Episode 206 Genghis Khan, Part 1

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the first half of the life story of Genghis Khan, the man who forged the largest contiguous empire that history has ever seen. 

Jun 05, 202239:08
Episode 205: Julius Caesar

Episode 205: Julius Caesar

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the famous Roman general and statesman, Julius Caesar, who played an instrumental role in the transition between the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.

May 29, 202250:43
Episode 204: Leonardo da Vinci

Episode 204: Leonardo da Vinci

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the life and times of the famous Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci, whose genius encompassed everything from art to engineering, anatomy to aerodynamics, and much more besides.

May 22, 202242:07
Episode 203: William Shakespeare

Episode 203: William Shakespeare

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of one of the most important literary figures in human history: William Shakespeare, who changed the English language forever with his poems and plays.

May 15, 202245:08
Episode 202 Alexander the Great

Episode 202 Alexander the Great

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever seen: Alexander the Great, who in his short life forged a huge empire that spanned from Egypt to India.

May 08, 202246:45
Episode 201: Saladin

Episode 201: Saladin

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the mighty Saladin, the Kurdish sultan who united much of the 12th century Muslim world and recaptured Jerusalem, triggering the Third Crusade.

May 01, 202242:22
Episode 200: Six More Short Stories

Episode 200: Six More Short Stories

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the disastrous Battle of Karansebes, the speedy surgeon Robert Liston, the Pig War (which hardly features any pigs at all), the submarine H.L. Henley which was very good at half its job, the broadsword-wielding Fighting Jack Churchill, and the fraternal rivalry that led to the establishment of both Adidas and Puma.

Apr 24, 202245:47
Episode 199: Tamar the Great

Episode 199: Tamar the Great

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the story of one of Georgia's greatest monarchs: the female king, Tamar the Great.

Apr 17, 202239:43
Episode 198: The Cuban Missile Crisis

Episode 198: The Cuban Missile Crisis

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Cuban Missile Crisis, one of the closest points humanity ever came to global thermonuclear war.

Apr 10, 202249:11
Episode 197: History of Nuclear Weapons

Episode 197: History of Nuclear Weapons

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the history of one of the 20th century's most important technological developments that would go on to shape history and modern current affairs: nuclear weapons.

Apr 03, 202254:58
Episode 196: Bartholomew Roberts, Part 2

Episode 196: Bartholomew Roberts, Part 2

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second half of the tale of Bartholomew Roberts and his ultimate downfall and death, and learn about the role of things like the Jolly Roger during the Golden Age of Piracy.

Mar 27, 202240:58
Episode 195: Bartholomew Roberts, Part 1

Episode 195: Bartholomew Roberts, Part 1

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the first half of the tale of Bartholomew Roberts, one of history's most successful pirates, and learn about other pirate-related topics such as various Pirate Codes that once governed different pirate ships.

Mar 20, 202246:10
Episode 194: Ludwig van Beethoven

Episode 194: Ludwig van Beethoven

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the greatest composers in history who created some of the most acclaimed and celebrated musical works, while suffering from debilitating hearing loss.

Mar 13, 202248:56