logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
38m 25s

When was Jesus actually born? Chapter Tw...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Why is the Western world's most famous birthday celebrated on a seemingly-arbitrary date? As Ben, Matt and Noel discover in the second chapter of this special two-part holiday series, the power structures of ancient empires experienced a progression of conspiracies, geopolitical subterfuge and good, old-fashioned numerical miscalculation in their quest to give the global public a specific birthday for Jesus Christ. (Spoiler: they all knew December 25th was not Jesus's actual birthday, and created a fiction that continues today.)

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Strange News: Farsi Numbers Stations, a New 9/11(?), Afroman, a Missing Major General and More
In this week's Strange News segment, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the following: As the Iran conflict ramps up, a mysterious numbers station begins transmitting ominous codes in Farsi -- raising speculation about a possible conspiracy afoot. Legendary MC Afroman wins a bizarre cour ... Show More
1h 2m
Yesterday
The Looming Hunger Crisis
Have you ever been starving? Ben, Noel and Dylan hope the answer is "no" -- however, as the guy's learn in tonight's episode, the world is currently on the precipice of a massive hunger crisis. As conflicts ratchet up, government programs close down and the climate becomes increa ... Show More
52m 13s
Mar 19
CLASSIC: What on Earth is happening to Britney Spears?
World famous pop icon Britney Spears has sold millions of records, performed countless times, and regardless of whether you care for her music, you've certainly heard her hits. She also has an enormous, fiercely loyal fanbase that's convinced something is amiss, behind the scenes ... Show More
1h 10m
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
The First Recorded Christmas Was The Latest Birthday Party Ever
Whether or not you yourself celebrate Christmas, there's no denying it's one of the world's most well'known holidays -- in fact, this commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ may be the most famous birthday in the Western world. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in this holida ... Show More
36m 9s
Aug 2025
The World of Non-Gregorian Calendars: What Day Is It, Really?
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 ow ... Show More
39m 29s
Aug 2025
The Ridiculous Origin of the Modern Calendar
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, ... Show More
39m 30s
Sep 2024
CLASSIC: How James Bond Created a Mexican Dia de los Muertos Tradition
The Day of the Dead is a longstanding traditional celebration in Mexico, and currently hundreds of thousands of people associate it with a gigantic parade -- you know, like the one they saw in the James Bond film "Spectre". There's just one strange twist about that parade: before ... Show More
27m 28s
Dec 2024
Roman Saturnalia
<p>Episode 1 in our 'Origins of Christmas' series. This Roman winter festival laid the foundations for many of our Christmas customs today- feasting, gift-giving and revelry. During Saturnalia, Emperors held elaborate games at the Colosseum while others gave gag gifts. Meanwhile, ... Show More
22m 33s
Dec 2013
108 – The Christmas Special
Ever since I was a kid in Catholic school, I’ve been somewhat fascinated by the date of Christmas. I often wondered where it came from, given that it doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible, and (as the feast is celebrating the birth of Jesus) it seemed rather odd to set the date so ... Show More
17m 7s
Sep 2025
The Bone Wars
October 4, 1915. President Woodrow Wilson designates Dinosaur National Monument as a national historic site. That’s a big deal, right? There must’ve been a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, maybe even a parade. But no. In 1915, nobody really cares about dinosaurs. But that is all ab ... Show More
35m 11s
Sep 2025
Part Six: How Heinrich Himmler Went From Nerdy Boy To Master of the SS
Ever wondered how the SS celebrated Christmas? This, and Heinrich Himmler's war on Christmas in our conclusion to Heinrich Himmler's life from birth up to the start of WW2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
1h 23m