Long before they graced our screens as mindless, brain-eating monsters, zombies were rooted in Haitian folklore. Rumors of a zombie potion made their way to 1980s Boston, where an ethnobotanist hoping to uncover the concoction found himself enmeshed in a secret society and face-to-face with a real zombie.
Keep up with us this spooky season on Instagram @the ... Show More
Jun 3
The Guardian Tape: UFO Caught on Camera, or Hoax?
In 1992, UFO researcher Bob Oeschler received a strange package in the mail. It contained documents, purportedly stolen from some top-secret Canadian project, alleging a vast alien cover-up. The envelope contained something else: a VHS tape. The sender – identified only as “Guard ... Show More
47m 37s
May 27
The Marconi Mystery: 22 Scientists Die Mysterious Deaths in Britain
In 1986, two young British defense scientists died under mysterious circumstances, sparking theories of foul play. Not only because both specialized in underwater defense systems; they also worked for the same company, Marconi Electronic Systems. Which was one of several defense ... Show More
45m 14s
May 20
Peter Bergmann, the Mystery Man of Sligo
On June 16th, 2009, a dead body washes ashore on Rosses Point beach, Ireland. The Irish police force learns the deceased’s name is Peter Bergmann. Or is it? Because everything “Peter” did while alive seemed shrouded in secrecy. He gave his hotel a fake name, a fake address, and h ... Show More
41m 45s
Sep 2025
The Truth About "Zombies"
As summer turns and fall begins, Ridiculous History officially enters the most wonderful time of the year. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the legend of a specific kind of 'living dead' -- the zombie. According to the stories, a zombie is a cadaver reanimated thro ... Show More
50m 17s
Oct 2024
Irish Origins of Halloween
<p>Pumpkins, trick or treating and ghost stories are what we associate with Halloween, but what about turnips, fairies and a fortune-telling cake? Anthony and Maddy are joined by historian Dan Snow, and host of sister podcast Dan Snow’s History Hit. They go in search of the origi ... Show More
49m 27s
Oct 2024
88: Halloween Horror Folklore: The Scary Origin of Jack O' Lanterns, The Real Story Behind The Headless Horseman, and All Hallow's Eve Folklore
Let's look into the legends, folklore, and history of the Halloween holiday. What does the devil have to do with jack o' lanterns? Who is the real headless horseman and where is he buried? And what stories were told around a fire at an All Hallow's Eve celebration thousands of ye ... Show More
35m 56s
Sep 2025
The Pentagon's Secret ZOMBIE Plan (And Why It's Not a Joke)
What if I told you that the Pentagon has a detailed, declassified, and deadly serious plan to fight a full-blown zombie apocalypse? No, this is not a joke.In this episode, we are opening the file on CONPLAN 8888, the U.S. military's real-life zombie survival guide. We'll break do ... Show More
43m 50s