logo
episode-header-image
Oct 7
48m 25s

The Ridiculously Disturbing History of N...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

As one of the most isolated countries on the planet, it's no surprise the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains mysterious in the modern day. So, how did it become a thing? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the bizarre origin story of the "Hermit Kingdom," a totalitarian regime that is somehow both Communist and an absolute theocracy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Jan 22
A Ridiculous Love Letter to Atari, Part Two: a Rise, a Fall, and a Legacy
Oof! Atari! As our producer Max likes to say, 'it was a thing.' In the second part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the pioneering rise of Atari, corporate overtake, and the final words of its founder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
41m 4s
Jan 20
A Ridiculous Love Letter to Atari, Part One: From Pings to Pongs
Nowadays most people either play video games, or know someone who does -- yet this wasn't always the case. As civilization skyrockets toward gaming experiences that feel increasingly immersive (and, in some cases, inseperable from reality), Ben, Noel and Max pay homage to the cre ... Show More
42m 27s
Jan 17
CLASSIC: How Admiral Horatio Nelson Ended Up Dead in a Barrel of Brandy
Naval legend Admiral Nelson died on October 21st, 1805 shortly after being shot by a French sniper while standing on the deck his ship, Victory. Following the British victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, the survivors of the conflict were left with a dilemma -- how could they pres ... Show More
34m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
172. The Birth of North Korea
Whilst we know the Korean Peninsula is split into two quite separate countries, North Korea and South Korea, that has not always been been the case. Korea was an independent, singular nation until the Japanese colonised it at the start of the 20th century. This collapsed after th ... Show More
46m 58s
Jul 2025
Escaping North Korea
North Korea is considered one of the most secretive countries in the world. It is officially an atheist state. The ruling party sees religion as a threat to its authority. Instead North Koreans are expected to show complete devotion to the ruling Kim family, who many view as godl ... Show More
26m 30s
May 2025
Part Three: The Pol Pot Episodes: How A Nice, Quiet Kid Murdered His Country
Pol Pot and his friends are now in charge of Cambodia and in a remarkably short period of time they manage to kill two million people. Including a leftist academic from the UK who thought the Khmer Rouge was rad. Here's how!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
1h 29m
Jan 2025
9. North Korea’s CIA: Inside Kim’s Crime Family (Ep 1)
How did a group of North Korean cyber criminals manage to pull off the biggest bank heist in history? Did Kim Jong Un really orchestrate the murder of his own brother? And what does it take to keep an authoritarian state afloat?  A seemingly innocuous spearfishing email lands in ... Show More
42m 53s
Jul 2024
Part One: The Reichstag Fire Was Not An Inside Job
Margaret tells Karl Kasarda the story of Marinus van der Lubbe, the council communist who tried to spark a civil war against the Nazis and failed spectacularly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
53m 28s
Nov 2024
The Troubled Border of Myanmar, Chapter One: A Peaceful History. A Terrifying Present.
Most people in the global west aren't too familiar with Myanmar. Formerly known as Burma, the Southeast Asian country has a deep history as a cultural and geographical crossroads -- and this has become both a gift and a curse. In the first part of this special two-part episode, B ... Show More
49m 33s
Jul 2018
Part One: The Film Directing Playboy King Who Handed His Country to Pol Pot
Pol Pot is an evil bastard who had half his country killed, but he isn’t an interesting bastard, that title belongs to the man who enabled him, King Norodom Sihanouk. In Episode 10, Robert is joined by comedian, Caitlin Gill and they discuss the monarch who destroyed half of Camb ... Show More
1h 4m
Apr 2025
Kim Philby: Greatest Liar of All Time?
British MI6 agent Kim Philby was a spy for the Soviet Union and one of the great liars in human history, right up until his retirement in Moscow where he lived out his days as a national hero.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
49m 32s
Jan 2024
Venezuela Versus Guyana
The current president of Venezuela made global headlines when he seemed on the cusp of invading the neighboring country of Guyana -- why would a country already in the grip of domestic chaos aim to start a war? In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the disturbing histo ... Show More
52m 38s
Jan 2025
As the Worm Turns: Dennis Rodman Goes to North Korea
What do you get when the Supreme Leader of North Korea has a sports crush on Michael Jordan but can't get the NBA great to come see him? Well, you settle for Jordan teammate, Dennis Rodman. And before you know it that one choice leads to international hijinks, political intrigue, ... Show More
54m 43s