Episodes

Ever wondered what happens when the history books close and the microphones stay on? In this special episode, Kate and Bradley pull back the curtain on the History Buffoons podcast, sharing the triumphs, challenges, and occas...

Fear and opportunism collide in this fascinating dive into one of history's strangest mass panics. When scientists discovered cyanogen gas in Halley's Comet's tail before its 1910 arrival, what should have been a minor scient...

History often reduces Marie Antoinette to a single misattributed quote about cake and a guillotine blade, but the real woman behind the myth was far more complex and tragic. Born an Austrian archduchess and sent to France at ...

The story of how a future president became an unlikely war hero starts with a wooden boat cut in half by a Japanese destroyer in the pitch-black waters of the South Pacific. Despite having a bad back that should have kept him...

Words can be strange little time capsules. Take idioms - those peculiar phrases we use without questioning how bizarre they actually sound. "Jump the shark"? "Close to the chest"? "More than one way to skin a cat"? Who came up with these, and why do we still use them? In this linguistic adventure, …

Charles Lightoller wasn't merely present for some of the 20th century's most significant maritime events – he survived them all with an almost supernatural resilience. Born into humble beginnings in Lancashire, England in 1874, Lightoller's life story reads like an adventure novel too extraordinary…

Fascinators, mint juleps, and a centuries-old tradition that nearly collapsed—the Kentucky Derby's rich history goes far beyond the track. How did a 24-year-old architect's twin spires design become an American icon? What cat...

What happens when a pathologist steals the brain of one of history's greatest geniuses? In one of the most bizarre tales from scientific history, we dive into the unauthorized removal of Albert Einstein's brain during his 195...

A warm January day suddenly plunged into lethal chaos across the American prairie. One moment, children were enjoying their first day back at school after weeks of bitter cold; the next, they were fighting for their lives in ...

"You're not a qualified person." With these dismissive words, the Canadian government repeatedly denied women access to the Senate based on a narrow interpretation of constitutional language. But in 1927, five determined wome...

Did you know a murder mystery novel once helped solve a real-life poisoning case? Agatha Christie's meticulous research and personal experience created stories so scientifically accurate they've saved actual lives. Join us as...

The fascinating case of Lizzie Cyr begins with a simple arrest for "vagrancy" in 1917 Calgary and transforms into a landmark legal battle that would permanently alter women's rights in Canada. When Lizzie Cyr, a 29-year-old w...

The deadly attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics stands as one of the most shocking moments in sports history - a terrorist operation that transformed what should have been a global celebration into a horrifi...

A mysterious blue-green glow emanated from the wounds of soldiers on the Shiloh battlefield in April 1862. Those with glowing injuries seemed to survive at higher rates than their comrades, earning the phenomenon the name "An...

When history remembers Elizabeth Bathory, it recalls a monster - the "Blood Countess" who allegedly murdered 650 young women and bathed in their blood to preserve her youth. But what if the most notorious female serial killer...

The name Elizabeth Bathory evokes images of horror and blood-soaked legends, but behind the macabre reputation lies a fascinating historical figure shaped by the tumultuous forces of Renaissance Europe. Born in 1560 to a powe...

The shocking story of how simply washing hands could have saved countless women's lives—and why doctors refused to do it. Meet Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician working in Vienna in the 1840s who made a disturbing obser...

When a fashion trend becomes a target for violence, what does that reveal about a society? In wartime Los Angeles 1943, young Mexican-Americans who wore zoot suits—characterized by their distinctive wide-legged, tapered pants...

Annie Oakley, the legendary sharpshooter, defied all odds to become one of the most recognized figures in American history. This episode reveals how the young girl from Ohio, burdened by personal tragedy, transformed her life...

Dive into the whimsical world of the 'Whiskey War,' where Canada and Denmark engaged in an unusual territorial dispute over a tiny patch of rock known as Hans Island. This episode reveals how a small island, approximately 1.3...

What happens when a Carbliss tequila cocktail tastes more like cleaning products? Kate has the answer, and it involves a trusty backup plan involving a classic Modelo. Meanwhile, Bradley finds summer in a can with his newfoun...

Ever botched a brewery's name right in front of the brewer? We did, and it set the stage for a hilarious and heartwarming adventure at Cool City Brewing Company in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Join us as we meet Ryan, the brewer, a...

Ever wondered how people managed to wake up on time before the invention of reliable alarm clocks? Join us as we promise a journey through the quirky world of Victorian-era professions, where the "knocker uppers" reigned supr...

What happens when napping becomes an Olympic sport, and BeatBox beverages take center stage? Tune in to our latest episode where Kate and I explore the art of napping, with a humorous twist that might just inspire you to perf...