It's no coincidence that the bird we eat for Thanksgiving and a Middle Eastern country are both called Turkey. One was named after the other, and it all has to do with a 500-year-old story of emerging global trade, mistaken identity, foreign language...
Today
Andrew Mellon Nearly Ended Big Government Forever. FDR Destroyed Him For It
When Andrew Mellon arrived in Marion, Ohio, for his interview with President-elect Warren Harding in December 1920, nobody met him at the train station. The third-richest man in America picked up his worn leather valise and his cane and walked a mile down the road to Harding's ho ... Show More
46m 4s
Oct 27
Amazon Won’t Destroy Bookshops Because 600 Years of Disruptions Haven’t Either
In 1784, a young German immigrant named Bernard Quaritch walked into the London office of Henry George Bohn, one of the largest booksellers in England, and told him: "Mr Bohn, you are the first bookseller in England. I mean to become the first bookseller in Europe." Bohn hired hi ... Show More
46m 55s
Nov 2022
How A Massive Turkey Screw-up Created TV Dinners
Hey, it's us, your pals Ben, Noel and Max from Ridiculous History. We figured the holidays can be stressful for everyone, and we're pretty sure you've heard the history of Thanksgiving countless times. So instead of telling you that story, we decided to celebrate by exploring the ... Show More
53m 26s
Nov 2020
Turkey, Family, and Murder, Oh My!
On today's episode the girls chat about the murderous beginnings of one of our favorite traditions, Thanksgiving! The pilgrims were trash but the turkey be so good. Find out which girl collects plates on Thanksgiving, who starts the political arguments at dinner, and get the answ ... Show More
38m 9s
Nov 2021
From the Vault: Turkey, Wishbones and Gravy
In recognition of Thanksgiving, Robert and Joe devote this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind to the very topics that might float through your head at the dinner table: What is a wishbone, why do we pull it apart and what does it have to do with dinosaurs? Are turkeys mes ... Show More
1h 15m