53. Is Nazi Medicine Used Today?
Japan and the Samurai will be back next week. On an unrelated note. How real was the medical science of the third reich? And is it still in use?
Episodes
Historical Hysteria
Come explore the wacky and weird side of history. Push aside the myths and misunderstandings of popular history and gaze at the unvarnished and unapologetic insanity that is real history.
Episodes
52. The Myth of Bushido, Japan Part 2
The honourable, inscrutable, mysterious, and honourable bushido born on a windswept mountain in.... San Francisco?
51. The Many Myths of Japan Part 1
Everything you know about Japan comes from Edo period propoganda
50. The Myth of the Great Wall of China
From being visible from space to being a wall there are a many myths and legends about the greatest defensive structure ever built
49. The Myth of the Throwing Knife
Did throwing knives exist? Not really, but kind of.
48. Did Mao invent Traditonal Chinese Medicine?
Did Mao invent TCM? Kind of... but it's more complex than that.
47. Fake Quotes
"Most quotes you see on the internet are fake" George Washington 1912
46. 5 Law Enforcement Myths you Believe thanks to TV and Movies
From DNA to bite marks, how much of modern law enforcement can you really trust? Spoiler: I don't really know but don't worry neither does anyone else! Explicit language
45. 5 Facts About Cannabis 'the Man' Doesn't Want you to Know
Stick it to the man by listening to this episode about the surprisingly fascinating history of cannabis *Disclaimer - HH cannot guarantee any vague concept of "the man" will care if you listen to this episode
44. The Weird History of Credit Scores
PI's and department stores the history of the credit score is as strange as it is stupid. Thank god we didn't let the same people who invented credit scoring seize control of the economy by constructing a spiraling system of debt and growth based on arbitrary superstition.
43. How Many Countries Are There?
There are 193 UN Members. That was easy. How complex a question could this be?
42. 5. Things You Know About the Dark Ages (That are total myths)
Everything you know about the Dark Ages is probably wrong. But don't kick yourself, because everyone from William Shakespeare to Hollywood has getting the dark ages wrong for ever.
41. 5 Biggest Hamilton! Myths
Hamilton! The musical has reignited the story of Alexander Hamilton to popular fame around the world. And with the musical have come just a whole raft of myths. From Hamilton the abolition to Hamilton the tactical genius, there are some big myths about Hamilton.
40. Ye Olde Myth of Ye Olde Shoppes
Ye Olde Shoppes are Ye Olde Myth
39. 5 Women in History Who'd Kick Your Ass
It is sometimes claimed that because of the patriarchy women didn't make history. These 5 women would like a word with whoever created this idea.
38. The Vault of Lost Episode, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and do my Research
This is a slightly different episode than usual, it answers a question I've been getting, how I do my research, and has some fun tidbits from the vault of lost episodes, including the surprisingly sexy history of pineapples and John Quincy Adams and the Mole Men. Warning Some Explicit Language
37. What Happened to the Caliphs of Islam?
The Caliphs of Islam the successors of Muhammad as political and spiritual leaders of Islam existed from 632 CE to 1924 CE. So what happened to them? Edit: In this episode the 'Federated Islamic State of Anatolia' is referred to as "thinly veiled neo-nazis". I realise this could imply a political connection between the group and neo-nazi's. Which there isn't, the term 'thinly veiled neo-nazis' was a meant as a figure of speech not a literal description. Though the group is a far right, ant...
36. Alan Smithee, the Worst Director in History
Who was the worst director in history?
35. Is Eldorado, the Lost City of Gold Real?
Want to know where El dorado is? Listen to find out!
34. Why Does Putin Claim Ukraine is Russian?
According to Putin, Ukraine "has no historical tradition of statehood". And Ukraine and Russia are the same country split in two by social engineering communists So is Ukraine a country? What is Ukrainian culture and language? And what on earth is going on in Eastern Europe? This episode goes back 1000 years to the foundation myths of the Russian Empire, and the very bedrock of the Russian state. So super easy to wrap up in 30 minutes.
33. The First Circumnavigation of the World
Join us this week for the long and tragic story of Magellan and the first circumnavigation of the world.
32. Ocotopi, Octopodes, or Octopuses?
Is the plural of Octopus, Ocotopi, Octopodes, or Octopuses? And what has that got to do with an ox cart? Well... it's complicated
31. The Myth of Robert Liston
Robert Liston, the fastest knife in the west. Who was he? Why did he kill so many people? What was his record 300% mortality? Listen to find out!
A quick update
Happy New Year. HH will be returning soon
30. The Dark Ages 2: The Darker Ages
Dark Ages 2: the darkening. Did you know that a lot of people in the world aren't from Europe?
29. The Dark Ages Didn't Exist
Did the dark ages exist? No not really
28. 5 Most Insane Historical Poison Antidotes
From undigested sh*t to literal poison our ancestors had some funny ideas. But then maybe they aren't the only ones
27. 5 Most Insane US Presidents
There are a lot of... interesting personalities in politics. Edit: There are some historical errors in the Andrew Jackson entry which I am working on revising
26. How Cardboard Shoes Won the Eritrean War of Independence
In 1962 Ethiopia annexed Eritrea and things only went downhill from there
25. What's the Deal with Daylight Savings?
Does it work? Why do we do it? Did Benjamin Franklin invent it?