Best Badass History High Five Content Podcasts (2025)

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Drew Dennis Dix: Welcome to Hell, I’ll Be Your Tour Guide 44:41

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1h ago44:41

44:41

In honor of Veterans Day, Ben Thompson and Producer Andrew Jacobs tell the story of Drew Dennis Dix. History is full of stories about impossible odds—but few come close to what Dix pulled off in Vietnam. In the middle of the massive Viet Cong Tet offensive, Dix—an enlisted Green Beret—went in alone to rescue civilians trapped in a city under siege.…

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Guy Fawkes: The Powder, the Plot, and the Punishment 1:07:40

7d ago1:07:40

1:07:40

History remembers Guy Fawkes as the man who tried—and failed—to blow up Parliament. But the real story is bigger, bloodier, and far more explosive. In this Bonfire Night episode, Ben Thompson is joined by Samuel Datta to tell the tale of a soldier turned saboteur, a plot fueled by faith and fury, and how one man’s failure became one of the most fam…

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Ted Williams: The Slugger Who Became a Fighter 1:05:04

17d ago1:05:04

1:05:04

It's World Series time! So let's talk some badass baseball. In today's episode, Ben is joined by TimeGhost historian and baseball enthusiast Indy Neidell to tell the story of Ted Williams. Williams wasn’t just one of the greatest hitters in baseball history — he was a fighter pilot, a war hero, and a man who could stare down both a fastball and ene…

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Martha Gellhorn: Bylines and Bombshells 1:02:13

21d ago1:02:13

1:02:13

In today's episode Ben Thompson is joined by Shaina Steinberg to tell the story of Martha Gellhorn, the trailblazing war correspondent who smuggled herself into war zones, broke every rule that needed breaking, and filed some of the most powerful eyewitness accounts of the 20th century. From the Spanish Civil War to D-Day to the jungles of Vietnam,…

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The Viking Who Invented Dublin and the Saint Who Invented Petty Violence 53:22

28d ago53:22

53:22

This week, Ben and Pat are heading to Ireland for a double dose of destruction, divinity, and a surprisingly violent debate over a book. First up: Turgesius the Devil, a Viking warlord who didn’t just raid Ireland—he built cities, crowned himself king, and let his witch queen turn cathedrals into goat-sacrificing prophecy hubs. Then it’s Saint Colu…

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REPLAY -- Milo of Croton: All Muscle, No Chill. 1:07:58

1M ago1:07:58

1:07:58

To follow up our episode with The Smashing Machine, Mark Kerr - we're diving into the archive to replay our deeper dive into the story of Milo of Croton. -- -- Step into the arena with Milo of Croton, the ancient Greek strongman whose feats of strength turned him into a living legend. In this episode, Ben and Pat explore how Milo went from an Olymp…

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Mark Kerr: The Smashing Machine (with special guest Mark Kerr) 51:58

1M ago51:58

51:58

In the savage early days of MMA, before the bright lights and billion-dollar paydays, there was one man who fought like a force of nature. Mark Kerr wasn’t just a wrestler — he was a six-foot-one, 250-pound experiment in human willpower. A world champion who walked into underground Brazilian cage fights, broke his hand mid-match, and kept fighting …

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Xenophon: The March Through Madness 1:03:33

1M ago1:03:33

1:03:33

Xenophon was a philosophy student, a Socratic thinker, and a pampered Athenian aristocrat who signed up for a mercenary road trip into Persia and accidentally became one of the greatest battlefield leaders in Greek history. When his army’s generals were betrayed and slaughtered, Xenophon—who had never commanded a single soldier—rallied 10,000 stran…

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Paddy Mayne: When in doubt, just strap a machine gun to it! 43:09

2M ago43:09

43:09

Before he was smashing Nazi airfields and punching his way through the deserts of North Africa, Lieutenant Colonel Blair “Paddy” Mayne was an amateur boxing champion, a rugby international, and the kind of guy who could drink you under the table, flip the table, and then win the bar fight that followed. This week, Ben and Andrew dive into the myth …

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Baron Frederick von der Trenck: Get in Loser, We’re Escaping Prussia 1:02:55

2M ago1:02:55

1:02:55

In today's episode, Ben and Pat dive into the outrageous, swashbuckling life of Baron Frederick von der Trenck -- a Prussian nobleman, cavalry officer, prison escape artist, sword-fighting heartthrob, and the original “most interesting man in the world.” Born into military aristocracy, Trenck risked it all for love, dueled his way across Europe, go…

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Dr. Hawa Abdi: A Sanctuary in Hell 1:08:27

2M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

In the middle of Somalia’s civil war, when the world was falling apart, Dr. Hawa Abdi started building. On her family’s land outside Mogadishu, she created a hospital, a school, a legal aid clinic, and eventually a sanctuary for tens of thousands of people fleeing violence and famine. Armed militias tried to take it. She told them to get off her fr…

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Potemkin: This Ship Runs on Rage, Not Borscht 43:21

3M ago43:21

43:21

In 1905, a Russian battleship crew said “enough.” Starving, abused, and fed up with maggot-ridden meat and brutal officers, the sailors aboard the Potemkin launched one of the most famous mutinies in naval history—an act of defiance that sent shockwaves through the Russian Empire. What followed was a chaotic, bloody standoff that played out across …

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Buried Alive: The 33 Who Refused to Die 54:24

3M ago54:24

54:24

August 2010. Deep beneath the Atacama Desert, thirty-three Chilean miners are buried alive under thousands of tons of rock—half a mile underground. With only two days of food, no light, and no way out, their survival seems impossible. On the surface, desperate families build a city of hope, engineers and drillers from around the world converge, and…

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Nikephoros Phokas: Pale Death of the Saracens 1:20:52

3M ago1:20:52

1:20:52

In today's episode Ben and Pat are joined by Robin Pierson, host of The History of Byzantium to discuss Nikephoros Phokas was a man who didn’t look like he belonged on a battlefield—balding, pale, with a face better suited to an icon in a monastery. But when he put on his armor, he became the Byzantine Empire’s ultimate nightmare machine. Known as …

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Bare-Handed Beastmaster: The Wild Life of Carl Akeley 1:10:10

3M ago1:10:10

1:10:10

Carl Akeley was an artist, scientist, inventor, conservationist, and the godfather of modern taxidermy—but don’t let the job title fool you. This dude once fist-fought a full-grown leopard with one hand, got body-slammed by an elephant and survived, invented a concrete-blasting cannon, and crossed a crocodile-infested river using a dead crocodile a…

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Jack Johnson: The Galveston Giant 1:03:58

4M ago1:03:58

1:03:58

In today's episode Mike Primavera talk about legendary boxer Jack Johnson. In the early 1900s, Jack Johnson became the first Black heavyweight boxing champion of the world—then spent the next decade daring America to do something about it. He fought with style, laughed in the ring, knocked out legends, and lived large in gold suits and bright yello…

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Rome Vs The Etruscans Part II: Ride or Die 35:04

4M ago35:04

35:04

In this episode Ben and Pat continue the story of Rome versus the Etruscans.... The siege is over—but the danger is just getting started. With Rome teetering between freedom and destruction, a group of young hostages is handed over to an enemy king as part of a fragile truce. But when one of them—Chloelia—leads a daring escape across the Tiber Rive…

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Rome VS The Etruscans Part 1: Before the Republic, There Was Blood 1:07:40

4M ago1:07:40

1:07:40

Rome is cornered. The monarchy has fallen, the Republic is barely standing, and an Etruscan warlord is marching toward the gates with an army at his back and a puppet king in his pocket. The Romans are outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of time. So they do what Romans do best: they get dangerous. In this episode, Ben and Pat tell the stories …

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Abd al-Rahman: Prince of Blood, Lord of the South 1:04:19

4M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Abd al-Rahman was supposed to die with the rest of his family. When the Abbasid Caliphate overthrew the Umayyads in a brutal coup, they made sure to slaughter every last male heir—except one. Abd al-Rahman, barely twenty, escaped across the Middle East and North Africa with assassins hot on his trail. He swam rivers, crossed deserts, and vanished i…

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Banastre Tarleton: The Butcherous British Bastard of the American Revolution 56:58

4M ago56:58

56:58

They called him The Butcher. A young, cocky British officer with a flair for showmanship and a taste for brutality, Banastre Tarleton tore through the American South on horseback, leading a feared legion of dragoons who left fire and blood in their wake. He was ruthless, relentless, and exactly the kind of guy you build a revolution against. In thi…

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Nuno Álvares Pereira: Portugal’s Holy Hammer 1:21:36

5M ago1:21:36

1:21:36

He was the undefeated general who saved Portugal from foreign conquest, crushed armies five times his size, and changed the course of European warfare—then gave it all up to become a barefoot monk. This week Ben and Pat tell the story of Nuno Álvares Pereira: battlefield genius, national hero, and the only medieval warlord to end up canonized as a …

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Crowned & Dangerous: The Legend of Eleanor of Aquitaine 1:07:13

5M ago1:07:13

1:07:13

She was the most eligible bachelorette in Europe, the Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, and the queen of not one but two different countries. In today's episode, Ben and special guest author Shaina Steinberg tell the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine who outmaneuvered kings, went on Crusade, survived imprisonment, and spent decades pulling the str…

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Conquistador? Conquista-Dead: Magellan, Lapu Lapu, and the Worst Beach Day Ever 49:02

5M ago49:02

49:02

Ferdinand Magellan was a glory-hungry Portuguese explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, out to prove he could circle the globe, convert entire civilizations, and maybe pick up a few spice islands along the way. But after months of storms, mutinies, and bad decisions, Magellan washed up in the Philippines thinking he could win a war with fifty guy…

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Spitfire: Fast, Furious, and In Your Nazi Face 1:05:38

5M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

It was fast. It was beautiful. And when the fate of the world was hanging by a thread, it helped save civilization. The Supermarine Spitfire wasn’t just a plane — it was a symbol of defiance, precision engineering, and sheer guts. In the skies over Britain, outnumbered RAF pilots climbed into these sleek warbirds and took on the full might of Hitle…

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Justinian II: Seriously dead this time 55:22

6M ago55:22

55:22

After clawing his way back to the Byzantine throne, Justinian II ruled like a man possessed—merciless, paranoid, and hell-bent on vengeance. But his enemies weren’t done with him yet. In the western city of Ravenna, a revolt brews that will bring down the emperor once and for all. This is the story of how the man who came back from the dead was fin…

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Justinian II: No nose. No mercy. 49:48

6M ago49:48

49:48

They cut off his nose, exiled him to the edge of the empire, and left him for dead. But Justinian II didn’t stay gone. This is the story of a Byzantine emperor who clawed his way back to the throne with a mutilated face and a murderous grudge. A tale of gold noses, broken alliances, double-crosses, and the bloodiest comeback in imperial history—whe…

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Admiral Yi: One Man. One Fleet. Zero Mercy 55:05

6M ago55:05

55:05

When Japan invaded Korea in 1592, one man stood defiantly against impossible odds: Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Outnumbered, betrayed by jealous rivals, and stripped of command, Yi clawed his way back from ruin, inventing the legendary “Turtle Ships” to wreak havoc on enemy fleets. Using unmatched tactics and sheer audacity, Yi crushed Japan’s armada again …

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Chuck Yeager: One Hand on the Stick, One Finger to Death 1:01:33

6M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

He broke the sound barrier with two broken ribs and a broom handle jammed into the cockpit of an experimental jet. Chuck Yeager wasn’t just the first man to fly faster than Mach 1—he was the embodiment of American grit, guts, and go-for-broke test pilot bravado. In today's episode, Ben and guest Brandon Fibbs dive into the wild life of a World War …

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Handsome Mingyan: Too Fast Too Furious 1:10:15

7M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

Continuing the epic story of Handsome Mingyan, the loyal warrior of King Jengar as he’s tasked with the impossible: Capture the King of the Western lands, Mighty Kerman Kahn . Mingyan must travel vast distances, face three crazy trials, and somehow, someway, sneak into King Kerman’s castle, avoiding 16,000 soldiers, and a bear and leopard duo ready…

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Black Agnes: Throwing Shade, Throwing Rocks and Throwing Down for Scotland. 57:11

7M ago57:11

57:11

When the English army came knocking at the gates of Dunbar Castle in 1338, they expected an easy victory. What they got instead was Black Agnes — a Scottish noblewoman with a sharp tongue, a fearless spirit, and absolutely zero patience for invaders. With a handful of loyal soldiers, Agnes of Dunbar held off siege engines, taunted her enemies, and …

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Doc Holliday: Death's Favorite Dentist - Part 2 39:55

7M ago39:55

39:55

The tuberculosis-stricken dentist is about to become a legend. In Part 2 of our Doc Holliday saga, Ben and Andrew ride into Tombstone—where Doc teams up with the Earp brothers, drinks like a dying man, and walks into the most famous 30 seconds in the history of the Wild West. We’ll break down the myth and the mayhem of the O.K. Corral, trace Doc’s …

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Doc Holliday: Death's Favorite Dentist - Part 1 40:00

7M ago40:00

40:00

Before he was the sharp-tongued, quick-drawing legend of Tombstone, John Henry “Doc” Holliday was a Southern aristocrat, a brilliant dentist, and a man marked by tragedy. In today's episode Ben and Producer Andrew trace the surprising early life of the West’s most infamous gambler-gunslinger—from his genteel Georgia upbringing to a tuberculosis dia…

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Hell Planet: The Soviet War with Venus 1:17:50

7M ago1:17:50

1:17:50

The surface of Venus is a nightmare: 900 degrees Fahrenheit, 90 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure, and rain made of acid. It’s the most hostile place in the solar system—and the Soviet Union was insane enough to send probes there. Again. And again. And again. In this episode, Ben and guest Erik Slader (Epik Fails of History) dive into the Soviet V…

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April Fools Part 2: Ridiculous History 42:56

7M ago42:56

42:56

As Europe increasingly freaks out about the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, a ragtag crew of guys who ordinarily hate each other band together for common cause and GUESS WHAT -- it goes cartoonishly wrong. In the second part of this two-part series, Ben hangs with the Ridiculous History guys and breaks down the most ridiculous friendly-fire incide…

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April Fools! Ridiculous History Crossover... 36:12

7M ago36:12

36:12

It's April Fools day which means we want to talk about one of the dumbest battles in World History... War has always been a chaotic, messy endeavor -- and, sometimes, it's downright ridiculous. In this week's special two-part series Ben joins the badass dudes from Ridiculous History to talk about the bizarre turn of events that led to the Battle of…

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Leo Major: Why Send an Army When One Canadian Will Do? 46:07

8M ago46:07

46:07

Some soldiers fight wars. Leo Major won them—single-handedly—while rocking a Canadian flag. This one-eyed, French-Canadian unstoppable force of nature took on the Nazis solo, liberated an entire Dutch city by himself, and casually shrugged off wounds that would’ve ended lesser men. Whether it was sneaking through occupied territory like a moose in …

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100 EPISODES: Blood, Guts, and Questionable Pronunciations 47:37

8M ago47:37

47:37

100 episodes. Hundreds of badass stories. Countless questionable pronunciation attempts. This week, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of Badass of the Week with a look back at the wildest, craziest, and most ridiculous moments from our journey so far. From legendary warriors to historical madmen, unsung heroes to absolute lunatics, we’ve covered it al…

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Mickey Rooney: The Star Who Stood with Soldiers 58:39

8M ago58:39

58:39

You know Mickey Rooney as a Hollywood legend, but did you know he also served in World War II? At the height of his fame, Rooney traded red carpets for the Army, entertaining the troops and boosting morale across war zones. While he wasn’t storming beaches, he was on the front lines of entertainment, giving performances to soldiers who needed a rea…

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Oracle of Delphi: Ancient Greece’s Hotline to the Gods 1:16:31

8M ago1:16:31

1:16:31

Step into the smoke-filled temple of Apollo and meet the Oracle of Delphi, the most mysterious and feared fortune-teller in the ancient world. Kings, generals, and philosophers all climbed Mount Parnassus to hear her cryptic prophecies—some of which shaped the course of history. But was the Oracle really channeling the gods, or just really high on …

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Robert Smalls: The Confederate Ship Heist 48:06

9M ago48:06

48:06

Robert Smalls wasn’t just a man—he was a one-man revolution. Smalls was slave who stole a Confederate warship, sailed his way to freedom, and then went back to kick the Confederacy’s ass. Born into slavery, Smalls pulled off one of the greatest heists in American history, disguising himself as a Confederate captain and delivering a stolen ship to t…

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Erik the Red: The Madman Who Made Greenland a Thing 1:07:11

9M ago1:07:11

1:07:11

Before the Vikings had maps, they had Erik the Red—a hot-tempered, ax-swinging explorer who turned exile into empire. In this episode, Ben and Pat follow the fiery outlaw who got kicked out of Norway, then Iceland, and instead of learning his lesson, discovered Greenland and made it his own. With a reputation for both brutality and brilliance, Erik…

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Zheng Yi Sao: The Most Ruthless Pirate You Never Heard Of 41:29

9M ago41:29

41:29

In this episode Ben and Brandon set sail for a high-seas adventure with Zheng Yi Sao, the most powerful pirate you've never heard of. This legendary Chinese pirate queen commanded a fleet of over 70,000 ruthless outlaws, outmaneuvered imperial navies, and built a criminal empire that made the British and Portuguese think twice before messing with h…

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Winged Hussars: The Armored Angels of War 1:06:58

9M ago1:06:58

1:06:58

Get ready for the thunder of hooves and the clash of steel as Ben and Pat charge into the epic saga of the Winged Hussars, the cavalry that didn’t just ride into battle—they exploded onto the scene. In this episode, we’ll uncover how these armored juggernauts, with wings strapped to their backs and lances aimed for glory, shattered enemy lines and …

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Nancy Wake: The White Mouse Strikes Back 56:41

10M ago56:41

56:41

Meet Nancy Wake, the WWII spy, saboteur, and all-around badass who became one of the Allies’ most decorated agents. In this episode, Ben and Pat dive into her fearless exploits: smuggling resistance fighters, outsmarting the Gestapo, and leading guerrilla raids deep behind enemy lines. Known as "The White Mouse" for her uncanny ability to evade cap…

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Milo of Croton: All Muscle, No Chill 1:07:58

10M ago1:07:58

1:07:58

Step into the arena with Milo of Croton, the ancient Greek strongman whose feats of strength turned him into a living legend. In this episode, Ben and Pat explore how Milo went from an Olympic champion to a battlefield hero, carrying entire armies on his back—literally. From wrestling lions to tearing trees apart with his bare hands, Milo’s life wa…

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Saladin: Crusader Crusher Extraordinaire 1:19:50

10M ago1:19:50

1:19:50

Meet Saladin, the crusader-crushing legend who outsmarted Europe’s toughest knights while keeping his cool. In this episode, Ben and Mike break down how this unstoppable tactician reclaimed Jerusalem, united rival factions, and earned respect from both allies and enemies. With brains, brawn, and a surprising dose of chivalry, Saladin proved that be…

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Odin and the Wild Hunt: A Frosty Feast of Fury 57:47

11M ago57:47

57:47

This Christmastime, we’re diving into the frosty, ferocious legend of Odin and the Wild Hunt, the ghostly procession that storms through winter skies. In this episode Ben and Pat uncover how the all-father of Norse mythology became the centerpiece of this eerie Yuletide tradition, leading a spectral pack of warriors, wolves, and spirits in a hunt t…

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Lyle Bouck: Blitzkreig? Not on His Watch 1:01:45

11M ago1:01:45

1:01:45

When the Nazi blitz came roaring into Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, 22-year-old Lyle Bouck and his tiny unit of 18 men decided they weren’t moving an inch. Outnumbered by a German force 500 times their size, Bouck and his squad held their ground at Lanzerath Ridge, turning the Nazi blitzkrieg into a slow crawl. In this episode Ben and pro…

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Steve Irwin: Crocodile Hunter and Hater of Parrots 44:39

11M ago44:39

44:39

This week, Ben and producer Andrew Jacobs are diving into the wild world of Steve Irwin, the legendary “Crocodile Hunter” who turned animal conservation into an action-packed adventure. From wrestling crocs to cuddling snakes, Steve’s fearless love for wildlife inspired millions while breaking down the barriers between humans and nature. In this ep…

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Agustina de Aragón: The Cannon Queen 55:06

11M ago55:06

55:06

This week, Ben and Pat light the fuse on the story of Agustina de Aragón, the unstoppable Spanish heroine who faced down Napoleon’s army with grit, guts, and a cannon. During the Siege of Zaragoza, when all seemed lost, Agustina stepped up, lit the fuse, and became a legend. In this episode, we unpack how this fearless woman turned the tide of batt…