Half-Arsed History

byRiley Knight

ComedyHistorySocietyCulture

Half-Arsed History's first book, History's Strangest Deaths, is now available: https://www.booktopia.com.au/history-s-strangest-deaths-riley-knight/book/9781761472589.htmlWelcome 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.comSupport the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/halfarsedhistorySubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/halfarsedhistoryBuy Half-Arsed History merch: https://halfarsedhistory.theprintbar.comIf you've just discovered the show and aren't sure which of the 350+ episodes to start with, here are some...

Episodes(40 episodes)

Episode 394: Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Great Engineer

In this week's episode, meet Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the famous and immensely influential engineer, whose work encompassed bridges, tunnels, railways, ships, and much more besides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Jan 11, 2026Duration: 1h 5m 29s

Week 2: Caesar Crosses the Rubicon

This week in history: rioting sports fans in sixth-century Constantinople, the first-ever meeting of the UN General Assembly, the birthdays of famous musicians, and a pivotal moment in world history as Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Jan 7, 2026Duration: 32m 15s

Episode 393: Operation Just Cause

In this week's episode, get across the story of Operation Just Cause, when the US staged an invasion of Panama in 1989, capturing and airlifting its leader back to the US to face drug-related charges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Jan 4, 2026Duration: 52m 8s

Week 1: The Introduction of the Euro

This week in history: the establishment of calendars and international timekeeping systems, the federation of Australia, the birthdays of several prominent authors, and the introduction of the euro as a currency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 31, 2025Duration: 38m 4s

Update: Half-Arsed History in 2026

Changes are coming to Half-Arsed History in 2026! Some positive, some negative - here is the TL;DL:• There will now only be two episodes released each week: the usual full-length episode and a new series called This Week in History, replacing QAH• I'm pulling back a little bit to try to bring my unsustainable workload back under control, reduce burnout, and find better balance• Half-Arsed History's second book is coming later in 2026, the manuscript is currently being written and edited• A brand-new Half-Arsed History card game is in the works, and you...

Published: Dec 31, 2025Duration: 1h 5m 3s

QAH Episode 143: William McGonagall, History's Worst Poet

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of William McGonagall, widely considered to be the worst English-language poet that history has ever seen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 31, 2025Duration: 29m 12s

Episode 392: Jean de Carrouges and the Last Duel

In this episode, hear the tale of Jean de Carrouges, who fought a duel to the death to seek justice for his wife Marguerite.WARNING: this episode contains content that may be distressing and is not appropriate for younger listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 28, 2025Duration: 51m 7s

Inventions Episode 52: The Smartphone

The smartphone is an invention that is currently bringing about a technological transformation of human civilisation - and an invitation to think about how other inventions from history have similarly impacted peoples' lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 26, 2025Duration: 32m 46s

QAH Episode 142: The Principality of Sealand

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the very amusing history of Sealand, an unrecognised micronation located on an abandoned military fort off the coast of Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 24, 2025Duration: 25m 31s

Episode 391: History's Weirdest Epithets - Part 2

In this week's episode, meet five more historical figures with strange epithets: Æthelred the Unready, Constantine V Koprónymos, Louis Do-Nothing, Malcolm the Maiden, and Piero the Unfortunate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 21, 2025Duration: 42m 56s

Inventions Episode 51: The Internet

The internet is not something you just dump something on. It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 19, 2025Duration: 34m 19s

QAH Episode 141: The Stone of Scone

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the Stone of Scone, a block of sandstone upon which Scottish, English, and then British kings and queens have been coronated for well over a thousand years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 17, 2025Duration: 26m 52s

Episode 390: The Miracle Landing of the Gimli Glider

In this week's episode, hear the incredible tale of Air Canada Flight 143, when a Boeing 767 ran out of fuel mid-flight and so had to be flown and landed as a glider on a not-quite-abandoned airfield in the Canadian town of Gimli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 14, 2025Duration: 1h 0m 48s

Inventions Episode 50: The Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System began as top-secret military technology, before a series of interesting (and some tragic) events opened up a world of convenience and logistical optimisation to the world at large. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 12, 2025Duration: 31m 39s

QAH Episode 140: A Brief History of Morse Code

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of Morse code, an encoding and transmission system that helped to transform long-distance communication in the mid 19th-century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 10, 2025Duration: 35m 55s

Episode 389: The First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable

In this week's episode, hear about the series of ridiculous setbacks and disasters that took place as part of the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable, a revolutionary step forward in global communications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 7, 2025Duration: 1h 8m 46s

Inventions Episode 49: The Personal Computer

The personal computer is an invention that defines the modern information age, a deeply entrenched part of daily life for billions of people all around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 5, 2025Duration: 33m 16s

QAH Episode 139: The SS Princess Alice Disaster

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the SS Princess Alice Disaster, when hundreds of people drowned in raw sewage after two ships collided on the River Thames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 3, 2025Duration: 24m 20s

Update: On Recent Episodes Being Late and a Few Other Things Too

TL;DL: No episodes for the next week or so. I'm a little bit burnt out after a huge year, so I've been struggling to get episodes out on time. Solutions for 2026 forthcoming; apologies for the disruptions in the meantime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Dec 2, 2025Duration: 12m 19s

Episode 388: Beatrix Potter, the Enterprising Author

In this week's episode, get to know the remarkable Beatrix Potter, whose historical legacy goes a lot further than just the authorship of an immensely successful series of children's books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: Nov 30, 2025Duration: 51m 13s