Half-Arsed History's second book, The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, is out now! Buy your copy: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9 Welcome along to Half-Arsed History! It's a weekly podcast highlighting absurd and entertaining stories from history. Twice a week, it helps host Riley Knight feel as though his useless history degree has some kind of real-world relevance. Get in touch: halfarsedhistory@gmail.com Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/halfarsedhistory Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/halfarsedhistory Buy Half-Arsed History merch: https://halfarsedhistory.theprintbar.com If you've just discovered the show and aren't sure which of the 400+ episodes to start with, here are some suggestions: Episode 139: The History of the Toilet - https://sptfy.com/PK3J • https://apple.co/3Giftt3 Episode 75: The Great Emu War - https://sptfy.com/PK3K • https://apple.co/4jKCvr7 Episode 197: The History of Nuclear Weapons - https://sptfy.com/PK3L • https://apple.co/4jygYlc Episode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup - https://sptfy.com/PK3M • https://apple.co/4iltL9P Episode 106: The First Circumnavigation - https://sptfy.com/PK3N • https://apple.co/4jewsLj No AI is knowingly used in the creation of this podcast. Half-Arsed History acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) Land on which the podcast is written and recorded, and pays respect to First Nations Elders past, present, and emerging. Indigenous sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was, and always will be, Aboriginal Land. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest episodes

Episode 429: The Viking Age - Part 4: Society

October 4, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

In this week's episode, explore the everyday lives of the Vikings, learning about how their society was organised, what they wore, what they ate, what they did for fun, and how their religion changed over time. The Most Interesting People…
Second Book Available Now & Live Show Tickets Running Out

September 29, 2026 · 4 min

Half-Arsed History's second book, The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, is available now at all good bookshops (and probably some bad ones, too). Alternatively, you can snag your copy at one of the upcoming live shows, but…
Week 37: The Execution of “Martin Guerre”

September 27, 2026 · 26 min

This week in history we’ve got a a turning point in an ancient war, we’ve got a turning point in evolutionary biology, we’ve got a turning point in very stupid decision-making - and we’ve got an intriguing tale of fraud and deception, with…
Episode 428: The Viking Age - Part 3: Expansion

September 25, 2026 · 52 min

In this week's episode, learn all about the far-reaching regions to which the Vikings expanded, including Ireland, Iceland, Central and Eastern Europe, and beyond. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed…
Week 36: The End of the Western Roman Empire

September 23, 2026 · 24 min

This week in history we’ve got a battle that defined the history of ancient Rome, we’ve got a famous abolitionist breaking his chains, we’ve got the extinction of an Australian marsupial - and we’ve got the event that marked the downfall…
Episode 427: The Viking Age - Part 2: Conquest

September 22, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

In this week's episode, continue discovering the story of the Viking Age, including learning why Vikings transitioned from raiding to conquest and settlement, and the consequent establishment of the Danelaw and Normandy. The Most…
Week 35: The Origin of Stockholm Syndrome

September 18, 2026 · 29 min

This week in history we’ve got London destroyed by a fire, we’ve got the shortest war in history, we’ve got an Olympic marathon won by a bloke in a car - and we’ve got the interesting but somewhat dubious psychological origin of the term…
Episode 426: The Viking Age - Part 1: Raids

September 17, 2026 · 57 min

In this week's episode, begin an exploration of the Viking Age, beginning with its origins by getting into how and why Norse raiders spread across the seas from Scandinavia, looting and pillaging as they went. The Most Interesting People…