Episodes

  • Paul Is Dead, Part One: The Beatles versus MI5
    Apr 15 2025

    It's one of the greatest conspiracy theories in all of modern music -- what if, at the height of their success, the world famous Beatles suddenly lost Paul McCartney? As the theory goes, Paul Prime actually died in a car accident in November of 1966. With millions of fans -- and dollars! -- on the line, the remaining Beatles and MI5 conspired to cover the whole thing up, replacing Paul Prime with a body double to avoid public chaos. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in part one of this bizarre, twisting tale, The Beatles may have harbored deep regrets... and began hiding clues to the truth in their music. Strap in, folks: this one goes deep.

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    51 mins
  • CLASSIC: The Cock Lane Ghost: Haunting, Hoax, Hysteria… or Hilarious?
    Apr 12 2025

    In 1762, crowds from across London gathered in hopes of seeing something the papers called "The Cock Lane Ghost". This alleged spirit was known to communicate in knocks and scratches, reacting to yes or no questions and, according to some observers, seeking justice from beyond the grave. But who was this spirit, exactly? What did this poltergeist have to do with William Kent and his ongoing dispute with landlord Richard Parsons? In today's classic episode, join the guys as they delve into the strange, strange story of the Cock Lane ghost.

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    40 mins
  • CLASSIC: Roland the Farter and the Weird World of Professional Flatulence
    Apr 10 2025

    Regardless of what polite societies often want us to believe, everyone farts. And we fart often! And, believe it or not, a few rare individuals have been able to turn this embarrassing bodily function into a full-time job. Join Ben and Noel as they explore the weird, weird world of professional flatulence.

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    35 mins
  • CLASSIC: Gregor MacGregor Invented a Country and Convinced People to Invest in It
    Apr 8 2025

    When His Serene Highness Gregor the First, Sovereign Prince of the State of Poyais and its Dependencies, and Cacique of the Poyer nation visited London, he made a huge impression. Hundreds of people jumped at the chance to buy land in his remote, Central American paradise. There was only one problem -- the Cacique, whose real name was Gregor Macgregor, made the entire nation up out of thin air in one of history's largest, most audacious (and most ridiculous) scams. This is the Classic episode so ridiculous we made a t-shirt out of it.

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    57 mins
  • CLASSIC: Angry Feds and Deadly Booze: The Story of the Chemists' War
    Apr 5 2025

    From 1920 to 1933, the U.S. government attempted to ban (recreational) alcohol throughout the nation. In a stunning -- we're being sarcastic here -- turn of events, people circumvented the law and found ways to keep drinking and organized crime blossomed in cities across the country. Listen in to learn just how far Uncle Sam was willing to go to stem the flood of illegal booze in this week's Classic episode.

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    29 mins
  • We're Late for the April Fools' Episode
    Apr 3 2025

    Have you ever fallen for an April Fools' Day gag? Across the world, millions of people pull (hopefully wholesome) pranks on each other every April 1st in a celebration of practical jokes and trickery. But where did this holiday actually come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into this surprisingly murky history of April Fools' Day.

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    43 mins
  • The Ridiculous History of Vending Machines
    Apr 1 2025

    Pretty much everyone in the developed world is familiar with vending machines these days -- you see them in all sorts of places, selling all sorts of things. But where did they come from? What's the weirdest stuff sold via vending machine? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the surprisingly ancient concept of automated product dispensers.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • CLASSIC: Fanny and Stella: The Cross-Dressing Scandal of Victorian England
    Mar 29 2025

    In April of 1870, a shocking court case captivated Victorian England: Fanny and Stella, also known as Frederick Park and Ernest Boulton, were arrested after attending a play at The Strand (in what was then considered inappropriate dress) and held on suspicion of violating the moral codes of the time. Listen in to learn more about the absurd legal war England waged against these two twenty-somethings, and the consequences of this ill-informed crusade.

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    36 mins