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
Feb 18
Did the Pope Cover Up His Son's Murder?
When Juan Borgia died in 1497, his father, Pope Alexander VI, swore he’d find the killer. But just two weeks later, the Pope suddenly closed the case – without naming or punishing the murderer. The Pope might have covered up the killer’s identity for political reasons… or because ... Show More
47m 14s
Feb 11
The Spymaster and the Exiled Queen: Was Mary Queen of Scots Framed?
By the time she was 25, Mary, Queen of Scots had lost her thrones in two countries, France and Scotland. And officially, she was executed for conspiring to take a third throne: England’s. But was Mary naive enough to get caught committing treason? Or was she a shrewd politician w ... Show More
54m 37s
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