Best Learn Japanese With BIZARRE stories Podcasts (2025)

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CLASSIC: The Great London Beer Flood of 1814 25:58

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14h ago25:58

25:58

In 1814, a poor neighborhood in London fell victim to a strange, tragic and boozy disaster -- this calamity would eventually leave eight people dead. So what exactly happened? How could an entire neighborhood flood with a deadly deluge of beer? Join Ben, Noel and Max for a bizarre bit of boozy history in this week's Classic episode. See omnystudio.…

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The True Story of Pac Man -- and a Ton of Weird Theories 37:56

3d ago37:56

37:56

As one of the most iconic games in all of arcade history, Pac Man is recognized across the planet. But how did it get here -- and why are there so many in-depth fan theories about what it means? Is Pac Man a Sisyphean immortal cursed with endless toil? Is he underwater, stealing errant Pong balls? Is he himself a ghost, or on drugs? In today's epis…

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The Ridiculous Origin of the the Word "Ridiculous" 38:54

4d ago38:54

38:54

With nearly one thousand episodes out in the world over the years, Ben, Noel and Max realized they've never asked about the origin of the word "ridiculous." In this rollicking, cartoonishly meta episode, the gang learns the history of this specific word -- and why, since before the dawn of recorded history, humans have always been all about a good …

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CLASSIC: Dr. Seuss Wrote His Most Famous Book On A Bet 34:57

8d ago34:57

34:57

What are your favorite children's books? In this Classic episode, Ben and the gang acknowledge Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known writers on the planet. "Green Eggs and Ham", one of his most successful books, sold over 8 million copies by 2016 -- but would you believe he wrote it based entirely on a bet? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

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The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part Two: The Rise of the Chamber Divers 46:53

9d ago46:53

46:53

As Axis powers swarm across Europe in the lead-up to D-Day, a small group of scientists refuse to leave their lab, throwing a fair amount of modern ethics out the window (or the sub, if you like) as they race to complete vital experiments in hyperbaric chambers -- the results of which may just change the course of the war. Tune in for part two of t…

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The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part One: The Return of Dr. Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance 43:16

11d ago43:16

43:16

Years after their initial conversation with the world's foremost expert on underwater explosions, Ben still sings the praises of Dr. Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance. In the first part of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max welcome Dr. Lance back to learn more about the phenomenal -- and, frankly, inspiring -- story of a ragtag crew of rogue …

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CLASSIC: Feral Children and the True Story Behind The Jungle Book 29:37

15d ago29:37

29:37

Now, let's be honest. Rudyard Kipling was a cartoonishly problematic guy. Yet his work made a permanent impression on global literature -- and, to a surprising degree, he based a lot of his writing on real-world events. In today's Classic episode, Ben and Noel ask: What inspired Rudyard Kipling to write The Jungle Book? Join the guys as they explor…

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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Colossus of Rhodes 28:37

17d ago28:37

28:37

Imagine you're an ancient traveler, visiting Rhodes for the first time in 280 BCE. As you approach the famed city, a singular object dominates the horizon: a huge statue of the Greek sun god Helios, popularly known as the "Colossus of Rhodes." In the fourth part of this series on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Ben, Noel and Max explore how…

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Unlucky Numbers Across The Globe -- And Why They Are Ridiculous 41:13

18d ago41:13

41:13

Do you have a number you love, or a number you hate? As Ben, Noel and Max discover in today's episode, people have always assigned symbolic meaning to the everpresent existence of math -- and created some frankly ridiculous associations along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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CLASSIC: The Ridiculously Laxative-laden Journey of Lewis and Clark 31:17

22d ago31:17

31:17

In today's Classic episode, Ben and Noel reluctantly sing the praises of poop research. You see, folks, before Lewis and Clark set out to explore the western side of the continent, they tried to prepare for every possible contingency — including medical conditions like constipation. Join the guys as they explore how a dangerous laxative didn’t just…

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Moon Rock Heists, Part Two: The Romantic Misadventures of Thad Roberts 40:27

24d ago40:27

40:27

Let's say you're a love-struck NASA intern -- your professional career holds a lot of promise, but your family life back home is in shambles... and you fall in love with a fellow intern. How can you impress your new paramour? Forget flowers, chocolates and all those other silly earth-bound romantic gestures: this is the story of Thad Roberts. From …

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Moon Rock Heists, Part One: Lunatic Heists and Space Law 49:32

25d ago49:32

49:32

Is it legal to own a moon rock? Well... that depends. If it's a piece of the moon that made it to Earth naturally, then all good. If, however, it's a sample retrieved on purpose by NASA's Apollo program, you can get in some serious trouble for trying to snag it. In part one of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore what happens when powerf…

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CLASSIC: The Strange and Spectacularly Disgusting Story of the Great Kentucky Meat Shower 35:55

29d ago35:55

35:55

On March 3rd, 1876, residents of Bath County, Kentucky were startled to see what appeared to be chunks and flakes of meat falling from the clear, cloudless sky. The rain, which only lasted a few minutes, captured national attention. People across the country proposed various theories explaining the deluge. In today's Classic episode, the guys belie…

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The Ridiculously Energetic History of Energy Drinks! 47:01

29d ago47:01

47:01

This episode is brought to you by our favorite cohost: coffee. These days, if you stroll into any convenience store across the planet, you're going to run into a selection of energy drinks -- whether we're talking Red Bull, NOS, Monster, or our favorite pal, the humble cup of joe, one thing's for certain: people love this stuff... even if it's not …

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Japan is Overrun By Raccoons Entirely Due to a Single Cartoon 40:57

1M ago40:57

40:57

While the legendary Japanese raccoon dog -- or tanuki -- may look like a raccoon, it's a very different beast. However, these days Japan is home to actual raccoons: they're considered an invasive species, wreaking havoc across the country as they destroy temples, consume crops, and threaten indigenous wildlife. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max…

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CLASSIC: The Bizarre Origin of the Oxford English Dictionary 44:44

1M ago44:44

44:44

With 600,000 words and 3 million quotations, the Oxford English Dictionary is a massive tome. Work began on the dictionary in 1857, but the first edition wasn't published until 1884. Compiling the dictionary was a Herculean task, and James Murray, the editor of the dictionary, put out a call for assistance. This early crowdsourcing strategy worked …

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Hoax! With Dana Schwartz and Lizzie Logan 47:00

1M ago47:00

47:00

Did you know England's first newspaper was fake? Or that King Arthur is more or less completely made up? The deeper we look into human history, the more we see that civilization is utterly riddled with bizarre hoaxes -- some of which are laughable, and some of which are downright dangerous. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max welcome the legendar…

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Fabergé Eggs Are Ridiculous (And Fascinating) 45:19

1M ago45:19

45:19

Imagine you are beyond wealthy. You no longer dream of the average "rich people" flexes -- you've got all the diamonds, all the mansions, all the ordinary baubles of the elite. How can you distinguish yourself? What can you buy when you can buy literally anything? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the astonishing, ridiculous origin stor…

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The World of Non-Gregorian Calendars: What Day Is It, Really? 39:29

1M ago39:29

39:29

Human civilization is far from perfect. Still, it's pretty cool humanity overall agreed on how to measure time (for now). In today's follow-up to an earlier exploration of the Gregorian calendar, Ben, Noel and Max admire the many alternative, non-Gregorian calendars with their own ancient provenance, all of which exist in the modern day. Or modern …

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The Ridiculous Origin of the Modern Calendar 39:30

2M ago39:30

39:30

The calendar is... ridiculous. Since the earliest days of civilization, humanity has tried to measure the passage of time on Earth through any number of systems. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max discover how millennia of trial and error led to the modern Gregorian calendar, which we all still just pretend is a normal thing in the modern day. S…

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CLASSIC: George Carlin Gets Quoted in the Supreme Court: Ridiculous Stand-up Stories with Wayne Federman 26:04

2M ago26:04

26:04

In the second part of this two-part series, special guest Wayne Federman explores the strange, curse-word-riddled stand-up bit that resulted in George Carlin setting a legal precedent with the Supreme Court. Listen in to learn how curse words changed the world and sparked a debate that continues today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform…

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The Ridiculous History of Fantasy Sports, Part Two 35:20

2M ago35:20

35:20

As local fantasy sports initiatives grew into larger, more organized pursuits, technology improved as well. Access to online statistics made it much easier for casual sports fans to enter the realm of fantasy playing -- and also, arguably, made it easier to gamble on sports as well. In the second part of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and M…

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The Ridiculous History of Fantasy Sports, Part One 32:24

2M ago32:24

32:24

To outsiders, fantasy sports and fantasy leagues may sound like a bizarre proposition: you get together with a bunch of friends and leverage statistics to predict outcomes in your favorite sports, but it's not... gambling? In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origins of fantasy leagues, and how they grew into a b…

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CLASSIC: The People vs. Lenny Bruce: Ridiculous Stand-up Stories with Wayne Federman 33:10

2M ago33:10

33:10

Lenny Bruce is a legend in the history of stand-up comedy, and while his use of explicit language thrilled audience members, it didn't win him any friends in law enforcement. In fact, Bruce was arrested multiple times for his use of 'obscenities', sparking a larger, continuing debate about the nature of free speech. Join the guys as they learn more…

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First Ladies Who Weren't Wives, Part Two, Part Two: Some Folks Didn't Want The Job 27:48

2M ago27:48

27:48

Imagine one of your family members attains the highest political position in American history -- your uncle or sibling becomes the President of the United States! And, as Ben, Noel and Max learn in today's episode: many people were called to play the role of First Lady. Turns out: several people genuinely didn't want the job. See omnystudio.com/lis…

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First Ladies Who Weren't Wives, Part Two, Part One: James "The Bachelor" Buchanan 33:31

2M ago33:31

33:31

Ben here. I know, I know: it's confusing that we split our First Ladies sequel episode into two separate episodes. The title is literally ridiculous. However, as you'll hear, we delved deep into a bit of Presidential history that touches on so many things -- so many, in fact, that we had to dedicate an entire show to Buchanan and his fascinating Fi…

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CLASSIC: The Life and Times of Ol' Knife Hand 28:17

2M ago28:17

28:17

A necropolis in what is now Northern Italy holds a strange and, at first glance, terrifying corpse. A Lombard man, aged somewhere between 40 and 50 years old, lost his right arm in a brutal accident. Normally this sort of wound would be a death sentence, but in this case the guy didn't just survive -- he created a prosthetic limb from a sword and o…

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Batman, or Bat-Man? A Ridiculously Comical Feud For The Ages 45:31

2M ago45:31

45:31

The Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader. The terror of all criminals and ne'er-do-wells in Gotham... that's right, folks: today's episode is all about Batman. As Ben and Noel discover in today's episode, this superhero's origin story is a surprising tale of beef, ego, conflict and controversy: for decades, two men claimed to have created Batman... and …

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Three Ridiculous Histories of "Bloody Mary" 47:01

2M ago47:01

47:01

A frightening children's game. An intensely divisive, boozy drink. A real-life Royal. As Ben and Noel discover in today's episode, "Bloody Mary" alludes to several ridiculous -- and, at times -- disturbing things. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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CLASSIC: The Ridiculous Story of the World’s First (Documented) Serial Killer 35:31

2M ago35:31

35:31

Locusta of Gaul, also known as Locusta The Poisoner, was one of the most infamous criminals of ancient times. Alternately sponsored and betrayed by the noble class, she committed crimes with impunity for years — even, at one point, opening an academy to teach her poisoning skills to others. Tune in to learn more about the rise and fall of what may …

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A Ridiculous History of "Fad Diets" 43:40

2M ago43:40

43:40

Everyone in the developed world knows someone who's tried a 'fad diet' -- these are the so-called miracle practices that promise to help people lose weight and keep it off, through any number of potentially dubious methods. But where did they come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and guest producer Dylan dive deep into the Victorian era of tapew…

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A Titanic Disaster: That Time An Entire Production Crew Tripped Off Bad Chowder 44:30

2M ago44:30

44:30

James Cameron's Titanic was, by all accounts, a blockbuster success. And, like so many other masterpieces, the story of its creation is a tale all its own. In today's episode, Ben and Noel dive deep into a little-known disaster that struck the already-tense production: someone laced the chowder with PCP, sending a small army of crew and cast alike …

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CLASSIC: Back When the Rich Ate Corpses 36:21

3M ago36:21

36:21

Nowadays it's safe to say that cannibalism isn't a widely-accepted practice, but not so long ago it was considered the bleeding edge (get it?) in medicine throughout Western Europe. Join Ben and Noel as they explore the odd practice of consuming human body parts in hopes of curring all one's ills, through everything such as the King's drops to band…

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A Ridiculous History of Sex, with Ross Benes 48:34

3M ago48:34

48:34

Heads-up, folks: this is a PG-13 episode. Ben and the legendary guest producer, also Ben, welcome author and journalist Ross Benes for a wide-ranging discussion on the ridiculous ways in which sex has altered the course of human civilization. We're talking about the origin story of the vibrator, the way the US military accidentally made San Francis…

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CLASSIC: The Mummies of Guanajuato 30:15

3M ago30:15

30:15

When the city of Guanajuato instituted a grave tax, they included some harsh penalties for those who couldn't pay -- if you went more than three years without paying the tax on your loved one's resting place, the body would be disinterred and taken from its grave. As gravediggers began removing corpses, they discovered something bizarre: Many of th…

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A Ridiculous History of Brain Science, with Jorge Cham 56:06

3M ago56:06

56:06

Today, we all generally understand that the brain is responsible for what we call personality and thought -- yet this wasn't always the case. Once humans figured out the brain was more than a weird lump in the skull, it took centuries of trial and error, along with quack science, to really understand how it works. In today's episode, the guys welco…

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Jorge Cham Teaches Us The Universe: Big Bangs and Quantum Hangs 53:01

3M ago53:01

53:01

What is the universe? Where did it come from, and what happens to it in the future? Humanity has wrestled with these questions since the dawn of civilization -- and though we've made a lot of progress, there's still much more to learn. In today's episode, the guys join special guest Jorge Cham, the polymath, engineer, author, cartoonist, and creato…

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CLASSIC: The Curious Rise of SPAM 47:03

3M ago47:03

47:03

Nowadays the iconic 'SPAM' logo is recognized around the world -- whether you're traveling in the US state of Minnesota or Busan, Korea, you'll more often than not run into a couple of Spam cans in the local grocery store. But what made this particular processed meat so popular? Join Ben, Noel and special guest, Savor cohost Anney Reese as they exp…

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The Ridiclulous Hsitory of Typos 38:58

3M ago38:58

38:58

Ah, the bane of authors, students and copywriters the world round: the infamous typo! Something as small as a single misplaced letter can call the entire credibility of a book, text, or essay into question. Usually readers can still "get the gist," but every so often an innocent typo sows chaos, hilarity, scandal and disaster. In today's episode, B…

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Come For the Palooka, Stay For the Farts! 47:13

3M ago47:13

47:13

What on Earth is a "palooka"? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max embark on a bizarre journey -- inspired by a single, fascinating word, they discover one of the weirdest, life-long beefs between two cartoonist legends of yesteryear. We don't want to spoil it, so please tune in! Also, the guys once again crack on James Joyce. See omnystudio.com/l…

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CLASSIC: The Origins Of, and Backlash Against, Father's Day 42:44

3M ago42:44

42:44

With another Father's Day in the books, Ben, Noel and Max hit the new studio for the first time, exploring the history of this paternal partner to the slightly-more famous Mother's Day. Featuring a cameo from the one and only Matt in this week's Classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Father's Day, Around the World 36:08

3M ago36:08

36:08

In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max discover stunning commonalities between Father's Day celebrations across culture, community, and time. We wrote that first sentence knowing our Dads will not read the rest, and we genuinely believe we have some good jokes with this one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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The History of Morning Routines, Part Two: All Hail The Toothbrush! And Deodorant! 42:11

3M ago42:11

42:11

For most of us -- hopefully! -- dental care is a fundamental piece of the morning routine. There are few things quite as refreshing as starting the day with a fresh, minty smile. Then, of course, deodorant (please)! In the second part of the History of Morning Routines, Ben, Noel and Max give massive thanks to the many inventors of yesteryear who w…

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CLASSIC: The Smooth-talking Takeover of Tabor Bridge: "Yes And-ing" Your Way To Victory 31:21

4M ago31:21

31:21

In 1805, two French Marshals found themselves in quite a pickle -- Jean Lannes and Joachim Murat needed to cross the Danube at the Tabor bridge (a series of three bridges, actually) to reach Vienna. However, Austrian forces held the bridges and were prepared to destroy them before allowing the French to cross. With a brilliant talent for improvisat…

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CLASSIC: History's Coolest (Non-Human) Political Candidates, Part I 54:51

4M ago54:51

54:51

It's no secret that politics can be a minefield of quirky events, and strange things happen in the lead up to elections. But just how strange can it get? Join the guys and returning guest Christopher Hassiotis as they explore bizarre tales of non-human politicians in this special Classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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The History of Morning Routines, Part One: Thank Goodness People Learned to Wash Themselves 34:35

4M ago34:35

34:35

Regardless of culture or country, most people have some sort of morning routine. This could be a simple as a shower, a shave and brushing one's teeth -- on the other hand, some morning routines are elaborate affairs requiring an hour or more of careful grooming, mousiturizing, meditation, and more. So where do these rituals come from? In the first …

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CLASSIC: Attack of the Aswang: How the CIA Used Vampires as Weapons of War 31:26

4M ago31:26

31:26

Horror fans can tell you there's more than one type of vampire -- in fact, there are hundreds of vampire-like fiends in cultures around the world. In most cases these are dismissed as spooky stories for children or ancient myths, but when the CIA needed to oust a group of Communist rebels in the Philippines, they decided to make the myth of the Asw…

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The Ridiculous -- and Surprisingly Dangerous -- History of Hair Dye 45:18

4M ago45:18

45:18

Whether we're talking jet black, stunning platinum or fire engine red, there's just something fascinating about hair as a fashion statement. And, of course, forms of hair dye have been used since antiquity to help people maintain a youthful appearance... even when the ingredients caused tremendous physical harm. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Ma…

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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: That Super Humble Statue of Zeus 35:07

4M ago35:07

35:07

Statues are sort of a big deal. Even today, most folks you meet don't have a statue of themselves. So it comes as no surprise that back in the day, one statue in particular became a wonder of the ancient world. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the story of Zeus. (Ben here: I need everyone to know we are not talking about the origins of…

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CLASSIC: Who are the Hartlepudlian Monkey Hangers? 34:21

4M ago34:21

34:21

Years ago, if you wanted to start a fight in Hartlepool in north eastern England, all you'd have to do is start calling people 'monkey hangers'. But why? Join the guys as they explore how the Napoleonic War, a terrified village and one incredibly unlucky monkey collided -- allegedly -- in one of the most ridiculous events of its time. See omnystudi…

Learn Japanese With BIZARRE Stories Podcasts