Podcast
Half-Arsed History
Hosted by Riley Knight · EN
Half-Arsed History's second book, The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, is now available for pre-order: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9
Welcome along to Half-Arsed History! It's a weekly podcast highlighting absurd and entertaining stories from history. Twice a week, it helps host Riley Knight feel as though his useless history degree has some kind of real-world relevance.
Get in touch: halfarsedhistory@gmail.com
Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/halfarsedhistory
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/halfarsedhistory
Buy Half-Arsed History merch: https://halfarsedhistory.theprintbar.com
If you've just discovered the show and aren't sure which of the 350+ episodes to start with, here are some suggestions:
Episode 139: The History of the Toilet - https://sptfy.com/PK3J • https://apple.co/3Giftt3
Episode 75: The Great Emu War - https://sptfy.com/PK3K • https://apple.co/4jKCvr7
Episode 197: The History of Nuclear Weapons - https://sptfy.com/PK3L • https://apple.co/4jygYlc
Episode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup - https://sptfy.com/PK3M • https://apple.co/4iltL9P
Episode 106: The First Circumnavigation - https://sptfy.com/PK3N • https://apple.co/4jewsLj
Half-Arsed History acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) Land on which the podcast is written and recorded, and pays respect to First Nations Elders past, present, and emerging. Indigenous sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was, and always will be, Aboriginal Land.
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59episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 420: The History of Cannabis
1w ago01:00:35Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode, explore the history of the cannabis plant, including its role in historical and modern textile industries, as well as its medicinal, religious, and recreational uses. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Week 28: The First Ascent of the Matterhorn
2w ago00:24:17Tap to summarizeThis week in history we’ve got an iconic moment from the French revolution, we’ve got a famous historical duel, we’ve got someone trying to get to the North Pole in a balloon - and we’ve got the tale of the first expedition to summit the Matterhorn, and the tragedy that struck afterwards.The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode 419: Mata Hari, the Seductress-Turned-Spy
2w ago01:02:35Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode, meet Mata Hari, the internationally-renowned exotic dancer who became a spy for... someone... during the First World War. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Week 27: Oxford University’s 500-Year Grudge
3w ago00:23:41Tap to summarizeThis week in history we’ve got the origin of Independence Day, we’ve got a slightly-bungled assassination, we’ve got a bloke who used to surgically attach goat’s testicles to people - and we’ve got the grudge that the University of Oxford held for over 500 years without knowing why.The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Announcing: The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book
3w ago00:09:46Tap to summarizeThe Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode 418: The Stonewall Riots, the Origin of Pride
3w ago00:50:09Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode, learn about the Stonewall Riots, which took place in the wake of a police raid on a NYC gay bar and catalysed the growing gay rights movement. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Week 26: The Tunguska Event
4w ago00:29:09Tap to summarizeThis week in history we’ve got the battle that unified Japan, we’ve got the death of a famous detective, we’ve got the event that kicked off the First World War - and we’ve got the time a mysterious Siberian fireball left scientists baffled for decades.The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode 417: The History of the FIFA World Cup - Part 3
Jun 2101:07:58Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode, conclude the tour of World Cup history with the details of the tournaments from 1990 onwards - all the highlights and lowlights, including persistent issues surrounding bribery and corruption. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Week 25: The Hand of God
Jun 1800:30:19Tap to summarizeThis week in history we’ve got decisive battles for the East India Company and for friend of the show Napoleon, we’ve got a river of burning whiskey flowing through Dublin, and we’ve got the infamous Hand of God, from the 1986 World Cup.The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode 416: The History of the FIFA World Cup - Part 2
Jun 1401:02:03Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode, continue to discover the story of the FIFA Men's World Cup, from the postwar return of the tournament in 1950, across years of development and controversy, to the end of the 1980s, as the modern event took shape. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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