Badass of the Week

El Cid: The Baddest Knight in Spain

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:51:17 -0700

Medieval Spain was a chaotic battlefield of rival Christian kingdoms, powerful Muslim emirs, shifting alliances, and nonstop war - and in the middle of it all rode Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the legendary warrior history remembers as El Cid.

Exiled by his own king, El Cid didn’t disappear quietly into the margins of history. Instead, he built an unstoppable reputation as a battlefield genius and mercenary commander, fighting for whoever would hire him and defeating just about everyone who stood in his way. His campaigns reshaped the balance of power in Iberia, culminating in the stunning conquest of the great city of Valencia, where he ruled as a warlord-king.

In this episode Ben Thompson and Dr. Patricia Larash explore the life of one of the most legendary knights of the Middle Ages—a warrior whose story includes exile, epic sieges, brutal battlefield victories, and one final act so wild that even death couldn’t stop him from leading his army to victory.

Kondo Isami: Last Samurai Standing

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:16:00 -0800

The samurai weren’t supposed to go quietly.

This week, host Ben Thompson is joined by guest Mike Primavera to tell the story of Kondo Isami the peasant-born swordsman who rose to command the most feared killers in Kyoto: the Shinsengumi.

As Japan cracked open under pressure from Western powers and internal rebellion, Kondo and his men became the iron fist of the collapsing shogunate — hunting assassins, cutting down rebels, and enforcing order with cold steel in the streets.

But when civil war erupted and the emperor’s modern army marched forward with rifles and artillery, Kondo faced an impossible choice: adapt… or die defending a dying world.

He chose the sword.

This is loyalty pushed to its breaking point. An era ending in blood. And a man who stood firm while history moved past him.

Josephine Baker: The Most Dangerous Woman in Paris

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:06:54 -0800

In the 1920s, she scandalized Europe in a banana skirt and became the most famous entertainer in the world. But when war came, Josephine Baker traded applause for espionage—smuggling secrets for the French Resistance, hiding messages in sheet music, and risking execution by the Nazis

In today's episode, Host Ben Thompson is joined by historian Taylor Cassidy to break down the astonishing life of a woman who refused to be boxed in - by racism, by borders, or by history itself. From the stages of Paris to the front lines of World War II and the steps of the March on Washington, this is the story of a performer who turned celebrity into a weapon.

Feathers. Freedom. Fire. This is Josephine Baker at full volume.

George Washington: Ice-Cold and Unkillable

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:46:18 -0800

Wooden teeth? No. Cherry tree? Probably not. Absolute unit of a leader? Undeniably.

Ben Thompson welcomes EpicLLOYD from Epic Rap Battles of History for a Presidents’ Day breakdown George Washington — the six-foot-two surveyor who became the most dangerous man in the British Empire.

Outnumbered. Undersupplied. Outgunned. Washington lost more battles than he won, but he never lost the war. From the frozen gamble at Trenton to resigning his commission when he didn’t have to, he pulled off something rarer than victory: he gave power back.

If monarchy was the expectation, Washington was the plot twist.

Fridtjof Nansen: North of Insanity

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:57:05 -0800

Ice. Starvation. Total darkness. And somewhere out there — a polar bear that would very much like to eat you.

On this episode, Ben Thompson is joined by producer Andrew Jacobs to break down the life of Fridtjof Nansen — Arctic explorer, record-setting skier, neuroscientist, diplomat, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the only man in history to drift across the polar ice cap on purpose.

Nansen didn’t just explore the Arctic — he weaponized it. He froze his own ship into the pack ice to prove a scientific theory. He skied farther north than any human had ever gone. And when he was done conquering the planet’s most hostile environment, he turned around and saved hundreds of thousands of refugees.

This one has frostbite, philosophy, and a man who genuinely believed the only way out… was further in.

Olympias: Snakes, Curses, and the Birth of an Empire

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:10:22 -0800

Empires don’t begin with heroes — they begin with mothers who refuse to lose.

Olympias ruled from the shadows using fear, religion, and assassination, making sure history remembered her son as a god and forgot anyone who stood in his way. If Alexander conquered the world with a sword, Olympias conquered history with snakes, curses, and a body count. Hosted by Ben Thompson, with co-host Dr. Patricia Larash, this episode unpacks how power really worked in ancient Macedonia — and why Olympias may have been the most dangerous person in the room.

Marguerite de la Rocque: Alone on the Island of Demons

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:00:14 -0800

In 1542, a teenage French noblewoman is marooned on a frozen island off the coast of Newfoundland - deliberately abandoned by her own family, left with a failing matchlock gun, a handful of supplies, and no hope of rescue. Over the next two years, Marguerite de la Rocque watches everyone she loves die, survives brutal winters, hunts seals, and kills polar bears with a weapon that takes minutes to reload - knowing one mistake means death.

This week on Badass of the Week, Ben Thompson is joined by New York Times bestselling author Allegra Goodman, whose novel Isola resurrects one of the most insane survival stories in history: a woman written off as dead who endured the Island of Demons - and came back changed forever.

Gilgamesh: Immortal Power, Very Mortal Consequences

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:04:25 -0800

Five thousand years before Batman brooded, before Achilles sulked, before Hercules punched a god in the mouth, there was Epic of Gilgamesh - the original badass origin story. Gilgamesh starts as a tyrant king with godlike strength, a legendary temper, and absolutely zero chill, until the gods drop another unstoppable force into his life: Enkidu. What follows is a saga of monster-slaying, divine beef, catastrophic hubris, and one of the earliest -and most brutal - lessons ever recorded about friendship, loss, and mortality.

Host Ben Thompson is joined by mythologist and storyteller Dr. John Bucher, Executive Director of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, to break down how Gilgamesh isn’t just the first epic hero - but the blueprint for every action movie, superhero arc, and hero’s journey that followed. It’s a story about conquering everything… except death - and why that realization still hits just as hard 5,000 years later.

Butch Cassidy: The West’s Smoothest Criminal

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:43:10 -0800

Outlaws don’t usually get remembered for being smart—but Butch Cassidy was something different. He robbed banks and trains with minimal bloodshed, outwitted the Pinkertons for years, and built a criminal crew that operated more like a well-run business than a gang of desperados.

This week on Badass of the Week, we’re joined by Todd Weiser, co-host of the Heist Club podcast, to break down what made Cassidy’s robberies so effective, why charm was his most dangerous weapon, and how one outlaw managed to turn crime into legend. And then there’s the ending—because depending on who you believe, Butch Cassidy either died in Bolivia… or pulled off the cleanest escape of his life.

Daniel Morgan: 499 Problems, the Crown Ain’t One

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:31:05 -0800

Powdered wigs didn’t win the American Revolution... scarred knuckles did.

Host Ben Thompson is joined by David Schmidt, director of The American Revolution with Ken Burns, to tell the story of Daniel Morgan - a frontier brawler who survived 500 lashes, took a musket ball through the face, and learned to fight the British in ways they couldn’t understand or stop. Morgan didn’t look like a Founding Father and he didn’t fight like a gentleman. He hunted officers from the treeline, turned militia panic into strategy, and delivered one of the most decisive victories of the war at Cowpens.

This episode strips the American Revolution down to its rawest form: mud, blood, rifle smoke, and a man with 499 reasons to never surrender.

Petty Officer Robert J Thomas: The Last Bullet Is His.

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:13:55 -0800

During a brutal Vietnam firefight that spiraled into a forty-five-minute running battle, Robert J. Thomas was shot, shredded by shrapnel, and left barely able to stand. Instead of evacuating, he crawled forward, emptied his pistol into enemy positions, then climbed onto the door gun of a helicopter that had already been hit more than a hundred times.

On this episode, host Ben Thompson is joined by Matt Fratus of Late Night History to break down Thomas’s stand - a fight that saved multiple wounded teammates, kept the helicopter in the air, and only ended when the aircraft physically had to leave. Thomas later woke up in a medevac hospital with his face wired back together.

Despite being nominated twice for the Medal of Honor, Thomas received the Navy Cross, returned to Vietnam to finish his tour, and went on to help create the Navy SEAL sniper program that shaped modern special operations. This is a story about refusing extraction, precision under fire, and a man who never stopped fighting when everyone else was already out.

St. Moses the Black: From Outlaw to Saint

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:46:03 -0800

History doesn’t usually leave room for men like St. Moses the Black - a violent outlaw, gang leader, and feared killer who somehow became one of the most respected monks of the early Christian world. His life wasn’t a gentle conversion story. It was brutal, uncomfortable, and earned the hard way through discipline, humility, and blood-soaked consequences.

Joining the show is Matti Leshem, co-creator of Fox Nation's The Saints, to break down why Moses’s transformation still matters and why this might be the most intense Christmas story you’ve never heard. This is a holiday episode about redemption that doesn’t come wrapped in a bow — it comes with scars.

The Trưng Sisters: When Sisters Ruled an Empire

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:39:43 -0800

History doesn’t usually begin with two sisters on war elephants — but this one does. In 40 AD, the Trưng Sisters ignited a violent break from Han Dynasty rule, led armies commanded by women, seized more than sixty citadels, and ruled Vietnam as queens for three hard-fought years.

In today's episode Ben is joined by Dr. Pat Larish to chart the rise, rule, and last stand of the women who turned occupation into identity — and became the blueprint for two thousand years of Vietnamese resistance.

The Taiping Rebellion: The Cult Leader Who Nearly Toppled an Empire

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:10:33 -0800

A failed civil-service exam. A month-long fever dream. And a man who woke up convinced he was Jesus Christ’s Chinese younger brother... This week, Ben teams up with historian and History on Fire host Daniele Bolelli to tell one of the wildest, bloodiest, most unbelievable stories in human history: the Taiping Rebellion, the second-deadliest war the world has ever seen.

What begins as one man’s psychotic break spirals into a doomsday-level holy war that engulfs 17 provinces, kills tens of millions, topples cities, shatters dynasties, draws in Western empires, and sets China on a collision course with its modern future.

Strap in — this one goes way off the rails.

Pearl Harbor: The Cook, the Drunks, and the Battleship That Wouldn’t Die

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:59:54 -0800

On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was hit with fire, chaos, and a surprise attack that should have shattered the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Instead, it produced some of the wildest, most unlikely heroes in American history.

In this episode, Ben Thompson is joined by Navy veteran and comedian Rob Mayfield to break down the stories of the men who refused to fold - from mess attendant Doris “Dorie” Miller dropping enemy planes with a .50-cal he’d never been trained to fire, to two hungover fighter pilots who rolled out of bed, ignored every order, and took on the entire Japanese strike force, to the boatswain who literally dove into the harbor to keep a battleship from going down.

It’s Pearl Harbor like you’ve never heard it - intense, unbelievable, and absolutely badass.

Alan Shepard: The Original Space Cowboy

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 20:54:21 -0800

America’s first astronaut wasn’t just a spaceman — he was a fighter pilot, a rule-breaker, and a straight-up menace to anyone who underestimated him. This week, Ben is joined by space historian Brandon Fibbs to dig into the wild life of Alan Shepard, the hotshot naval aviator who went from strafing enemy ships in WWII to strapping himself into a tin can perched on top of a barely-tested rocket. Together they unpack how Shepard muscled his way into the Mercury 7, stared down NASA bureaucracy, battled an inner-ear condition that nearly ended his career, and still came back swinging — all the way to hitting a damn golf ball on the surface of the Moon. It’s the story of a man who never stopped pushing higher, harder, and further than anyone thought possible.

Majorian: The Roman Emperor Who Said “Not on My Watch”

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 21:20:32 -0800

History remembers the fall of Rome as inevitable... but buried in the chaos is one man who almost flipped the script. In today's episode, Ben is joined by Matthew and Matteo of the Lost Roman Heroes Podcast to talk about Majorian. He wasn’t a pampered emperor; he was a frontline warrior who carved his way through enemies and politics alike, determined to rebuild an empire everyone else had already written off. He reformed corrupt systems, rallied shattered armies, and launched one of the boldest comeback attempts in Roman history. And just when it looked like he might actually pull it off… well, that’s where things get wild. This is the story of the last emperor who truly tried to save Rome - and the brutal twist that changed everything.

Staff Sgt. Drew Dennis Dix: Welcome to Hell, I’ll Be Your Tour Guide

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:43:53 -0800

In honor of Veterans Day, Ben Thompson and Producer Andrew Jacobs tell the story of Drew Dennis Dix. History is full of stories about impossible odds—but few come close to what Dix pulled off in Vietnam. In the middle of the massive Viet Cong Tet offensive, Dix—an enlisted Green Beret—went in alone to rescue civilians trapped in a city under siege. Over two harrowing days, he led a one-man mission through enemy territory, dodging sniper fire, clearing buildings, saving dozens of hostages, and turning the tide of the battle. This is the story of calm under fire, raw guts, and the first enlisted Special Forces soldier ever awarded the Medal of Honor.

Guy Fawkes: The Powder, the Plot, and the Punishment

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:41:46 -0800

History remembers Guy Fawkes as the man who tried—and failed—to blow up Parliament. But the real story is bigger, bloodier, and far more explosive. In this Bonfire Night episode, Ben Thompson is joined by Samuel Datta to tell the tale of a soldier turned saboteur, a plot fueled by faith and fury, and how one man’s failure became one of the most famous nights in British history.

Remember, remember the 5th of November...

Ted Williams: The Slugger Who Became a Fighter

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 20:02:59 -0700

It's World Series time! So let's talk some badass baseball. In today's episode, Ben is joined by TimeGhost historian and baseball enthusiast Indy Neidell to tell the story of Ted Williams. Williams wasn’t just one of the greatest hitters in baseball history — he was a fighter pilot, a war hero, and a man who could stare down both a fastball and enemy fire without blinking. He lost five prime years of his career to two wars, came back swinging like he never missed a pitch, and still finished with one of the highest batting averages of all time. This is the story of a man who refused to do anything halfway — whether it was baseball, battle, or telling the world exactly where it could stick a curveball.

Martha Gellhorn: Bylines and Bombshells

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 20:42:28 -0700

In today's episode Ben Thompson is joined by Shaina Steinberg to tell the story of Martha Gellhorn, the trailblazing war correspondent who smuggled herself into war zones, broke every rule that needed breaking, and filed some of the most powerful eyewitness accounts of the 20th century. From the Spanish Civil War to D-Day to the jungles of Vietnam, Gellhorn refused to stay home, refused to stay silent, and refused to be known for anything other than her own words. This is the story of the woman who saw history being made—and made damn sure the world saw it too.

The Viking Who Invented Dublin and the Saint Who Invented Petty Violence

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:48:27 -0700

This week, Ben and Pat are heading to Ireland for a double dose of destruction, divinity, and a surprisingly violent debate over a book. First up: Turgesius the Devil, a Viking warlord who didn’t just raid Ireland—he built cities, crowned himself king, and let his witch queen turn cathedrals into goat-sacrificing prophecy hubs. Then it’s Saint Colum Cille, the one-man holy army who got so mad about copyright law and a dead hurling player that he started an actual war and maybe (definitely) punched the Loch Ness Monster in the face. It’s the saint and the devil, two chaotic legends, and a whole lot of very Irish badassery.

REPLAY -- Milo of Croton: All Muscle, No Chill.

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:51:11 -0700

To follow up our episode with The Smashing Machine, Mark Kerr - we're diving into the archive to replay our deeper dive into the story of Milo of Croton.

-- --

Step into the arena with Milo of Croton, the ancient Greek strongman whose feats of strength turned him into a living legend. In this episode, Ben and Pat explore how Milo went from an Olympic champion to a battlefield hero, carrying entire armies on his back—literally. From wrestling lions to tearing trees apart with his bare hands, Milo’s life was a nonstop display of raw power and unmatched swagger. Join us as we uncover the epic tale of history’s ultimate flex and the man who redefined what it meant to be strong.

Mark Kerr: The Smashing Machine (with special guest Mark Kerr)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:31:27 -0700

In the savage early days of MMA, before the bright lights and billion-dollar paydays, there was one man who fought like a force of nature. Mark Kerr wasn’t just a wrestler — he was a six-foot-one, 250-pound experiment in human willpower. A world champion who walked into underground Brazilian cage fights, broke his hand mid-match, and kept fighting with his head. They called him The Smashing Machine. In today's episode, Ben and Mark go blow-by-blow through the glory, the pain, and the redemption of one of combat sports’ most feared and fascinating pioneers.

Xenophon: The March Through Madness

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:28:56 -0700

Xenophon was a philosophy student, a Socratic thinker, and a pampered Athenian aristocrat who signed up for a mercenary road trip into Persia and accidentally became one of the greatest battlefield leaders in Greek history. When his army’s generals were betrayed and slaughtered, Xenophon—who had never commanded a single soldier—rallied 10,000 stranded warriors and led them on a 4,000-mile retreat through enemy territory, across deserts, mountains, and hostile kingdoms, surviving ambushes, starvation, and snowblindness. This is the story of how a student of Socrates marched his way into legend—and inspired everyone from Alexander the Great to the creators of cult classic movie The Warriors. Can you dig it?!

Paddy Mayne: When in doubt, just strap a machine gun to it!

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:56:31 -0700

Before he was smashing Nazi airfields and punching his way through the deserts of North Africa, Lieutenant Colonel Blair “Paddy” Mayne was an amateur boxing champion, a rugby international, and the kind of guy who could drink you under the table, flip the table, and then win the bar fight that followed. This week, Ben and Andrew dive into the myth and madness of one of the founding members of the Special Air Service—an Irish warrior-poet with a short fuse and a long list of enemies. From brawling with commanding officers to rewriting the playbook on guerrilla warfare, Mayne was chaos incarnate… and one of the most decorated soldiers of World War II.

Baron Frederick von der Trenck: Get in Loser, We’re Escaping Prussia

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:33:25 -0700

In today's episode, Ben and Pat dive into the outrageous, swashbuckling life of Baron Frederick von der Trenck -- a Prussian nobleman, cavalry officer, prison escape artist, sword-fighting heartthrob, and the original “most interesting man in the world.” Born into military aristocracy, Trenck risked it all for love, dueled his way across Europe, got imprisoned (twice) by a furious Frederick the Great, and escaped in ways that feel ripped straight from a Dumas novel. From secret affairs with royalty to hand-digging escape tunnels with broken shackles, this is the true story of a man too bold to break—and too badass to disappear quietly.

Dr. Hawa Abdi: A Sanctuary in Hell

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:10:31 -0700

In the middle of Somalia’s civil war, when the world was falling apart, Dr. Hawa Abdi started building. On her family’s land outside Mogadishu, she created a hospital, a school, a legal aid clinic, and eventually a sanctuary for tens of thousands of people fleeing violence and famine. Armed militias tried to take it. She told them to get off her front lawn. And they did. This is the story of a doctor who held the line when no one else could, and turned one patch of earth into a beacon of hope for an entire nation.

Potemkin: This Ship Runs on Rage, Not Borscht

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:44:39 -0700

In 1905, a Russian battleship crew said “enough.” Starving, abused, and fed up with maggot-ridden meat and brutal officers, the sailors aboard the Potemkin launched one of the most famous mutinies in naval history—an act of defiance that sent shockwaves through the Russian Empire. What followed was a chaotic, bloody standoff that played out across the Black Sea and the port of Odessa, inspiring revolutionaries and terrifying the Tsar. In today's episode Ben and Andrew tell the story of how one battleship became a symbol of resistance, rebellion, and revolutionary firepower.

Buried Alive: The 33 Who Refused to Die

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:13:17 -0700

August 2010. Deep beneath the Atacama Desert, thirty-three Chilean miners are buried alive under thousands of tons of rock—half a mile underground. With only two days of food, no light, and no way out, their survival seems impossible. On the surface, desperate families build a city of hope, engineers and drillers from around the world converge, and NASA lends a hand. In today's episode Ben and Pat tell a story of leadership, faith, and pure badass perseverance, as the world unites to pull off one of the most daring rescues in history.

Nikephoros Phokas: Pale Death of the Saracens

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:55:01 -0700

In today's episode Ben and Pat are joined by Robin Pierson, host of The History of Byzantium to discuss Nikephoros Phokas was a man who didn’t look like he belonged on a battlefield—balding, pale, with a face better suited to an icon in a monastery. But when he put on his armor, he became the Byzantine Empire’s ultimate nightmare machine. Known as the “Pale Death of the Saracens,” he crushed enemy armies, reclaimed lost lands, and rode his warhorse straight into the history books. Along the way, he outwitted rivals, seized the throne, and married into the imperial family. But in the scheming, backstabbing world of Constantinople, victories on the battlefield didn’t guarantee survival in the palace—and Nikephoros would learn the hard way that the sharpest daggers aren’t always carried by soldiers.

Bare-Handed Beastmaster: The Wild Life of Carl Akeley

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 22:20:47 -0700

Carl Akeley was an artist, scientist, inventor, conservationist, and the godfather of modern taxidermy—but don’t let the job title fool you. This dude once fist-fought a full-grown leopard with one hand, got body-slammed by an elephant and survived, invented a concrete-blasting cannon, and crossed a crocodile-infested river using a dead crocodile as a raft. All in the name of conservation. Alongside guest Michael Alm, Ben Thompson dives into the insane, inspiring, and occasionally insane-again life of the man who literally shaped how the world saw nature—and who wasn’t about to let a little thing like being gored, clawed, or trampled stop him.

Jack Johnson: The Galveston Giant

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:23:00 -0700

In today's episode Mike Primavera talk about legendary boxer Jack Johnson.

In the early 1900s, Jack Johnson became the first Black heavyweight boxing champion of the world—then spent the next decade daring America to do something about it. He fought with style, laughed in the ring, knocked out legends, and lived large in gold suits and bright yellow hot rods. While the press raged, the cops threatened, and politicians tried to shut him down, Johnson just kept winning. He taunted the so-called “Great White Hope” into the ring on the Fourth of July, then beat him so badly the crowd went silent. This is the story of the most dangerous thing you could be in Jim Crow America: free, Black, and unapologetically unbeatable.

Rome Vs The Etruscans Part II: Ride or Die

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 20:22:34 -0700

In this episode Ben and Pat continue the story of Rome versus the Etruscans.... The siege is over—but the danger is just getting started. With Rome teetering between freedom and destruction, a group of young hostages is handed over to an enemy king as part of a fragile truce. But when one of them—Chloelia—leads a daring escape across the Tiber River, all hell breaks loose.

This is the story of Rome’s fiercest teenage heroine, a hostage ambush, a horse that may or may not swim, and the moment when a king realizes he’s fighting a city that just won’t die. Featuring backstabbing monarchs, accidental diplomacy, and the most badass statue in early Roman history.

Rome VS The Etruscans Part 1: Before the Republic, There Was Blood

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:02:59 -0700

Rome is cornered. The monarchy has fallen, the Republic is barely standing, and an Etruscan warlord is marching toward the gates with an army at his back and a puppet king in his pocket. The Romans are outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of time. So they do what Romans do best: they get dangerous.

In this episode, Ben and Pat tell the stories of Rome and two unlikely heroes step into history. One makes a last stand on a crumbling wooden bridge. The other slips behind enemy lines with a blade, a disguise, and a plan that does not go as expected.

What they do won’t just save the city, it’ll define it.

Abd al-Rahman: Prince of Blood, Lord of the South

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 23:23:09 -0700

Abd al-Rahman was supposed to die with the rest of his family. When the Abbasid Caliphate overthrew the Umayyads in a brutal coup, they made sure to slaughter every last male heir—except one. Abd al-Rahman, barely twenty, escaped across the Middle East and North Africa with assassins hot on his trail. He swam rivers, crossed deserts, and vanished into legend. And just when the world thought his dynasty was gone, he returned—on horseback, sword in hand, to conquer a new kingdom at the edge of the known world. In tody's episode Ben and Pat tell the true story of the prince who fled a massacre and became a king. Of the founder of Muslim Spain. Of a man who turned exile into empire—and earned his name as The Falcon of Al-Andalus.

Banastre Tarleton: The Butcherous British Bastard of the American Revolution

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:15:34 -0700

They called him The Butcher. A young, cocky British officer with a flair for showmanship and a taste for brutality, Banastre Tarleton tore through the American South on horseback, leading a feared legion of dragoons who left fire and blood in their wake. He was ruthless, relentless, and exactly the kind of guy you build a revolution against. In this special 4th of July episode - Ben and Andrew dive into the chaotic rise of Tarleton: from aristocratic brat to the most hated man in the colonies—and the American heroes who finally brought his rampage to a halt.

Nuno Álvares Pereira: Portugal’s Holy Hammer

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 20:33:46 -0700

He was the undefeated general who saved Portugal from foreign conquest, crushed armies five times his size, and changed the course of European warfare—then gave it all up to become a barefoot monk. This week Ben and Pat tell the story of Nuno Álvares Pereira: battlefield genius, national hero, and the only medieval warlord to end up canonized as a Catholic saint.

Crowned & Dangerous: The Legend of Eleanor of Aquitaine

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:16:56 -0700

She was the most eligible bachelorette in Europe, the Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, and the queen of not one but two different countries. In today's episode, Ben and special guest author Shaina Steinberg tell the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine who outmaneuvered kings, went on Crusade, survived imprisonment, and spent decades pulling the strings of empires and rebellions alike. She was a medieval power broker, royal schemer, and all-around badass centuries ahead of her time — and she did it all while dodging murder plots, papal judgments, and the world’s most dysfunctional family.

Conquistador? Conquista-Dead: Magellan, Lapu Lapu, and the Worst Beach Day Ever

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:32:39 -0700

Ferdinand Magellan was a glory-hungry Portuguese explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, out to prove he could circle the globe, convert entire civilizations, and maybe pick up a few spice islands along the way. But after months of storms, mutinies, and bad decisions, Magellan washed up in the Philippines thinking he could win a war with fifty guys, a translator, and the power of God. What he got instead was Lapu Lapu—a chieftain with no interest in foreign gods, foreign kings, or foreign bullshit. In today's episode, Ben and Andrew tell the story of an egomaniac’s world tour gone sideways, and the man who sent him home in a box. Well, he would’ve, if Magellan’s crew had ever gone back to get the body.

Spitfire: Fast, Furious, and In Your Nazi Face

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:06:20 -0700

It was fast. It was beautiful. And when the fate of the world was hanging by a thread, it helped save civilization. The Supermarine Spitfire wasn’t just a plane — it was a symbol of defiance, precision engineering, and sheer guts. In the skies over Britain, outnumbered RAF pilots climbed into these sleek warbirds and took on the full might of Hitler’s Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. Join Ben and special guest David Fairhead for the story of the plane that made the phrase “the few” legendary — and the men who flew it into history.

Justinian II: Seriously dead this time

Wed, 28 May 2025 10:26:39 -0700

After clawing his way back to the Byzantine throne, Justinian II ruled like a man possessed—merciless, paranoid, and hell-bent on vengeance. But his enemies weren’t done with him yet. In the western city of Ravenna, a revolt brews that will bring down the emperor once and for all. This is the story of how the man who came back from the dead was finally taken out—by priests, rebels, and his own shattered empire. No one cheats death twice.

Justinian II: No nose. No mercy.

Tue, 20 May 2025 22:06:04 -0700

They cut off his nose, exiled him to the edge of the empire, and left him for dead. But Justinian II didn’t stay gone. This is the story of a Byzantine emperor who clawed his way back to the throne with a mutilated face and a murderous grudge. A tale of gold noses, broken alliances, double-crosses, and the bloodiest comeback in imperial history—when Justinian returned, it wasn’t just to rule. It was to get even.

Admiral Yi: One Man. One Fleet. Zero Mercy

Tue, 13 May 2025 16:16:32 -0700

When Japan invaded Korea in 1592, one man stood defiantly against impossible odds: Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Outnumbered, betrayed by jealous rivals, and stripped of command, Yi clawed his way back from ruin, inventing the legendary “Turtle Ships” to wreak havoc on enemy fleets. Using unmatched tactics and sheer audacity, Yi crushed Japan’s armada again and again, earning victory even when it seemed hopeless. Join Ben and Andrew as they dive into the life of history’s most badass naval commander—a warrior whose courage, cunning, and stubborn refusal to quit turned certain defeat into eternal glory.

Chuck Yeager: One Hand on the Stick, One Finger to Death

Tue, 06 May 2025 19:24:59 -0700

He broke the sound barrier with two broken ribs and a broom handle jammed into the cockpit of an experimental jet. Chuck Yeager wasn’t just the first man to fly faster than Mach 1—he was the embodiment of American grit, guts, and go-for-broke test pilot bravado. In today's episode, Ben and guest Brandon Fibbs dive into the wild life of a World War II ace who dogfought Nazis, cheated death more times than he could count, and then strapped himself into rocket-powered death traps just to see what they could do. Before astronauts were heroes, Chuck Yeager was already a legend.

Handsome Mingyan: Too Fast Too Furious

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:01:44 -0700

Continuing the epic story of Handsome Mingyan, the loyal warrior of King Jengar as he’s tasked with the impossible: Capture the King of the Western lands, Mighty Kerman Kahn . Mingyan must travel vast distances, face three crazy trials, and somehow, someway, sneak into King Kerman’s castle, avoiding 16,000 soldiers, and a bear and leopard duo ready to throw him down into the depths of hell. With his trusted and brilliant steed Golden Sharga by his side, how can he fail?

Black Agnes: Throwing Shade, Throwing Rocks and Throwing Down for Scotland.

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:48:10 -0700

When the English army came knocking at the gates of Dunbar Castle in 1338, they expected an easy victory. What they got instead was Black Agnes — a Scottish noblewoman with a sharp tongue, a fearless spirit, and absolutely zero patience for invaders. With a handful of loyal soldiers, Agnes of Dunbar held off siege engines, taunted her enemies, and turned one of the most embarrassing failures in English military history into her personal highlight reel. In today's episode Ben and special guest bestselling author Rebecca Cantrel tell the story of how one woman, armed with grit, wit, and a heavy dose of sarcasm, made the mighty tremble.

Doc Holliday: Death's Favorite Dentist - Part 2

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 03:11:00 -0700

The tuberculosis-stricken dentist is about to become a legend. In Part 2 of our Doc Holliday saga, Ben and Andrew ride into Tombstone—where Doc teams up with the Earp brothers, drinks like a dying man, and walks into the most famous 30 seconds in the history of the Wild West. We’ll break down the myth and the mayhem of the O.K. Corral, trace Doc’s final years on the run, and separate fact from frontier fiction.

Doc Holliday: Death's Favorite Dentist - Part 1

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:24:56 -0700

Before he was the sharp-tongued, quick-drawing legend of Tombstone, John Henry “Doc” Holliday was a Southern aristocrat, a brilliant dentist, and a man marked by tragedy. In today's episode Ben and Producer Andrew trace the surprising early life of the West’s most infamous gambler-gunslinger—from his genteel Georgia upbringing to a tuberculosis diagnosis that sent him spiraling into saloons, showdowns, and the seedier corners of the American frontier. Along the way, we unpack how Val Kilmer’s unforgettable performance in Tombstone helped turn Holliday into a pop culture icon—and why the real man was even more complicated, charming, and dangerous than the movie made him out to be.

Hell Planet: The Soviet War with Venus

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:53:22 -0700

The surface of Venus is a nightmare: 900 degrees Fahrenheit, 90 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure, and rain made of acid. It’s the most hostile place in the solar system—and the Soviet Union was insane enough to send probes there. Again. And again. And again. In this episode, Ben and guest Erik Slader (Epik Fails of History) dive into the Soviet Venera Program: a two-decade war against a planet that melts metal, crushes steel, and kills spacecraft in minutes. Most of these missions failed. A few didn’t. And the ones that made it didn’t just survive—they made history.

April Fools Part 2: Ridiculous History

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 02:30:00 -0700

As Europe increasingly freaks out about the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, a ragtag crew of guys who ordinarily hate each other band together for common cause and GUESS WHAT -- it goes cartoonishly wrong. In the second part of this two-part series, Ben hangs with the Ridiculous History guys and breaks down the most ridiculous friendly-fire incident in all of human history. (Also, side note: Ben recorded this on his birthday, and he's still younger than Joseph II.)

April Fools! Ridiculous History Crossover...

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:38:50 -0700

It's April Fools day which means we want to talk about one of the dumbest battles in World History...

War has always been a chaotic, messy endeavor -- and, sometimes, it's downright ridiculous. In this week's special two-part series Ben joins the badass dudes from Ridiculous History to talk about the bizarre turn of events that led to the Battle of Karánsebes. In part one, Ben introduces the gang to the legendary 'enlightened despot,' Joseph II, a guy who, diplomatically put, took self-confidence to a whole new (and possibly undeserved) level.

Leo Major: Why Send an Army When One Canadian Will Do?

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 21:12:06 -0700

Some soldiers fight wars. Leo Major won them—single-handedly—while rocking a Canadian flag.

This one-eyed, French-Canadian unstoppable force of nature took on the Nazis solo, liberated an entire Dutch city by himself, and casually shrugged off wounds that would’ve ended lesser men. Whether it was sneaking through occupied territory like a moose in stealth mode, capturing dozens of enemy soldiers alone, or just deciding that war wasn’t over until he said so, Leo Major was a walking Canadian legend. And just in case WWII wasn’t enough, he came back for another war just to flex on history one more time.

Strap as Ben and producer Andrew discuss Canada’s hardest-hitting, war-winning, maple syrup-fueled madman.

100 EPISODES: Blood, Guts, and Questionable Pronunciations

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:10:10 -0700

100 episodes. Hundreds of badass stories. Countless questionable pronunciation attempts.

This week, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of Badass of the Week with a look back at the wildest, craziest, and most ridiculous moments from our journey so far. From legendary warriors to historical madmen, unsung heroes to absolute lunatics, we’ve covered it all—and we’re not stopping anytime soon. Join us for a victory lap filled with favorite episodes, behind-the-scenes chaos, and a heartfelt (but not too heartfelt) thank-you to everyone who’s been along for the ride.

This episode is published as part of Podcasthon, an incredible and fast-growing non-profit initiative that unites over a thousand podcasters globally, once a year to support charitable causes. We've chosen to support Building Homes for Heroes (www.buildinghomesforheroes.org) a great charity that helps build and modify mortgage-free homes for veterans.

Mickey Rooney: The Star Who Stood with Soldiers

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:16:01 -0700

You know Mickey Rooney as a Hollywood legend, but did you know he also served in World War II? At the height of his fame, Rooney traded red carpets for the Army, entertaining the troops and boosting morale across war zones. While he wasn’t storming beaches, he was on the front lines of entertainment, giving performances to soldiers who needed a reason to laugh in the middle of chaos. In this episode Ben is joined by writer Robert O'Connor, we look at how one of Hollywood’s biggest stars used his talent to serve his country and keep the troops’ spirits high when they needed it most.

Oracle of Delphi: Ancient Greece’s Hotline to the Gods

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:47:01 -0800

Step into the smoke-filled temple of Apollo and meet the Oracle of Delphi, the most mysterious and feared fortune-teller in the ancient world. Kings, generals, and philosophers all climbed Mount Parnassus to hear her cryptic prophecies—some of which shaped the course of history. But was the Oracle really channeling the gods, or just really high on volcanic fumes? In today's episode Ben and Pat unravel the truth behind ancient Greece’s most powerful mystic, the riddles that baffled empires, and the wildest predictions that actually came true.

Robert Smalls: The Confederate Ship Heist

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:19:12 -0800

Robert Smalls wasn’t just a man—he was a one-man revolution. Smalls was slave who stole a Confederate warship, sailed his way to freedom, and then went back to kick the Confederacy’s ass. Born into slavery, Smalls pulled off one of the greatest heists in American history, disguising himself as a Confederate captain and delivering a stolen ship to the Union. But he didn’t stop there—he went on to become a Union naval officer, a U.S. Congressman, and a major force in Reconstruction. In this episode Ben and Producer Andrew Jacobs tell the story of a man who refused to be anyone’s prisoner and made history on his own terms.

Erik the Red: The Madman Who Made Greenland a Thing

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:32:59 -0800

Before the Vikings had maps, they had Erik the Red—a hot-tempered, ax-swinging explorer who turned exile into empire. In this episode, Ben and Pat follow the fiery outlaw who got kicked out of Norway, then Iceland, and instead of learning his lesson, discovered Greenland and made it his own. With a reputation for both brutality and brilliance, Erik carved his way into history as the ultimate Viking troublemaker. Get ready for a tale of blood feuds, icy frontiers, and the man who made Greenland sound way better than it actually was.

Zheng Yi Sao: The Most Ruthless Pirate You Never Heard Of

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 12:30:02 -0800

In this episode Ben and Brandon set sail for a high-seas adventure with Zheng Yi Sao, the most powerful pirate you've never heard of. This legendary Chinese pirate queen commanded a fleet of over 70,000 ruthless outlaws, outmaneuvered imperial navies, and built a criminal empire that made the British and Portuguese think twice before messing with her. We'll dive into how she rose from a life in the shadows to ruling the South China Sea with an iron fist—and then pulled off one of history’s greatest retirement plans. Forget Blackbeard—Zheng Yi Sao was the real queen of piracy

Winged Hussars: The Armored Angels of War

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:56:05 -0800

Get ready for the thunder of hooves and the clash of steel as Ben and Pat charge into the epic saga of the Winged Hussars, the cavalry that didn’t just ride into battle—they exploded onto the scene. In this episode, we’ll uncover how these armored juggernauts, with wings strapped to their backs and lances aimed for glory, shattered enemy lines and rewrote the rules of warfare. From the Siege of Vienna to battles where they turned the tide against impossible odds, the Winged Hussars weren’t just warriors—they were a freaking force of nature. Saddle up for a story of speed, power, and wings that brought empires to their knees.

Nancy Wake: The White Mouse Strikes Back

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:51:34 -0800

Meet Nancy Wake, the WWII spy, saboteur, and all-around badass who became one of the Allies’ most decorated agents. In this episode, Ben and Pat dive into her fearless exploits: smuggling resistance fighters, outsmarting the Gestapo, and leading guerrilla raids deep behind enemy lines. Known as "The White Mouse" for her uncanny ability to evade capture, Nancy Wake didn’t just fight Nazis—she made it look stylish. Get ready for a wild ride through the life of a woman who redefined courage and left a trail of chaos in her wake (pun intended!)

Milo of Croton: All Muscle, No Chill

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:00:35 -0800

Saladin: Crusader Crusher Extraordinaire

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:55:03 -0800

Meet Saladin, the crusader-crushing legend who outsmarted Europe’s toughest knights while keeping his cool. In this episode, Ben and Mike break down how this unstoppable tactician reclaimed Jerusalem, united rival factions, and earned respect from both allies and enemies. With brains, brawn, and a surprising dose of chivalry, Saladin proved that being a badass doesn’t mean you can’t also be a class act. Get ready for the epic tale of the warrior who fought with honor and ruled with heart!

Odin and the Wild Hunt: A Frosty Feast of Fury

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 19:22:28 -0800

This Christmastime, we’re diving into the frosty, ferocious legend of Odin and the Wild Hunt, the ghostly procession that storms through winter skies. In this episode Ben and Pat uncover how the all-father of Norse mythology became the centerpiece of this eerie Yuletide tradition, leading a spectral pack of warriors, wolves, and spirits in a hunt that blurs the lines between the living and the dead. From its ties to Viking lore to its echoes in modern holiday traditions, the Wild Hunt is a tale of power, mystery, and wintery chaos. So grab some mead, cozy up, and join us for a ride with the wildest Christmas legend you’ve never heard of!

Lyle Bouck: Blitzkreig? Not on His Watch

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:45:07 -0800

When the Nazi blitz came roaring into Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, 22-year-old Lyle Bouck and his tiny unit of 18 men decided they weren’t moving an inch. Outnumbered by a German force 500 times their size, Bouck and his squad held their ground at Lanzerath Ridge, turning the Nazi blitzkrieg into a slow crawl. In this episode Ben and producer Andrew Jacobs unpack the grit, ingenuity, and sheer defiance of one of WWII’s most underdog stands—where a handful of American soldiers gave Hitler’s army one hell of a bad day. It’s a story of impossible odds, frozen battlefields, and the young officer who told the blitz to back off.

Steve Irwin: Crocodile Hunter and Hater of Parrots

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:18:09 -0800

This week, Ben and producer Andrew Jacobs are diving into the wild world of Steve Irwin, the legendary “Crocodile Hunter” who turned animal conservation into an action-packed adventure. From wrestling crocs to cuddling snakes, Steve’s fearless love for wildlife inspired millions while breaking down the barriers between humans and nature. In this episode, we’ll celebrate his incredible legacy, his passion for protecting endangered species, and the boundless enthusiasm that made him a global icon. Crikey, you won’t want to miss this tribute to a man who lived life so wildly!

Agustina de Aragón: The Cannon Queen

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:04:01 -0800

This week, Ben and Pat light the fuse on the story of Agustina de Aragón, the unstoppable Spanish heroine who faced down Napoleon’s army with grit, guts, and a cannon. During the Siege of Zaragoza, when all seemed lost, Agustina stepped up, lit the fuse, and became a legend. In this episode, we unpack how this fearless woman turned the tide of battle and inspired a nation with her explosive courage. Get ready for the fiery tale of the “Artillery Queen” who proved that one person—and one well-aimed cannonball—can change history

Colonel Sanders: Fried Chicken’s Founding Father

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:53:07 -0800

It’s Thanksgiving week, so what better time to talk about a man who put comfort food on the map—Colonel Sanders. In this episode, Ben and guest Jason Cavanagh dig into the spicy, crispy, and downright legendary life of the chicken kingpin who turned a roadside recipe into a global empire. From his humble beginnings to building a fried food legacy, Colonel Sanders proved that success can come at any age—with just the right blend of herbs, spices, and persistence. Grab a drumstick and settle in for the story of the man behind the bucket, served hot and extra crispy!

Pine Leaf: Battle-Tested, Legend Approved

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:57:10 -0800

Meet Pine Leaf, the extraordinary Crow warrior woman whose bravery and battle skills became the stuff of legend on the Great Plains. In this episode, Ben and Pat explore how Pine Leaf defied expectations, leading war parties and earning a reputation as a fierce protector of her people. With unmatched cunning and courage, she became a symbol of resilience and strength in a time when survival demanded both. Join us as we uncover the life and legacy of the warrior who fought like ten men and inspired generations.

Spartacus: The Gladiator Who Defied Rome

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:11:40 -0800

In today's episode Ben, Pat and special guest Mike Primavera step into the arena with Spartacus, the fearless gladiator who rose from slavery to lead a rebellion that rocked the Roman Empire. They trace how Spartacus transformed from a warrior-forced gladiator into the commander of an unstoppable army of rebels. With courage, strategy, and unbreakable resolve, he waged war against Rome, turning the arena’s bloodshed into a full-scale revolution. Join us as we uncover the epic story of the gladiator who dared to defy an empire and became a symbol of freedom against all odds.

Hannibal: Rome’s Greatest Enemy

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 03:05:00 -0800

Get ready to march with Hannibal, the brilliant and fearless Carthaginian who took on Rome with elephants, audacity, and a battle plan for the ages. In this episode, we’ll follow Hannibal’s wild journey over the Alps, his jaw-dropping victories, and his knack for outsmarting every Roman general in his path. With a mix of courage and cunning, Hannibal became the ultimate thorn in Rome’s side, proving he was a force they couldn’t ignore. Strap in for the thrilling saga of history’s boldest general and his epic clash with an empire!

Bass Reeves: Lawman with a Loaded Reputation

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:45:20 -0700

Saddle up with Ben and guest Brandon Fibbs for the untold story of Bass Reeves, the most fearless lawman the Wild West ever saw. In today's episode, we follow Reeves as he tracks down over 3,000 outlaws, armed with nothing but grit, a badge, and a sharp shot. A former slave turned U.S. Marshal, Reeves rewrote the rules of justice with his relentless pursuit of criminals—whether riding through storms, swapping disguises, or staring down gunslingers. Get ready for a wild ride through the legend of the man who brought order to chaos and became one of the greatest lawmen in American history.

Camazotz: The Bat God of Death

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 21:33:57 -0700

In today's episode Ben and Pat take flight into the dark heart of Mayan mythology with Camazotz, the fearsome bat god of death and guardian of the underworld. In this spine-chilling episode, we explore how Camazotz became a symbol of chaos, blood, and transformation, stalking both mortal heroes and spirits alike. From his role in the trials of Xibalba to his influence over ancient rituals, Camazotz’s legend embodies the thin line between life and death. Get ready for a journey into the shadows with one of the most terrifying figures in Mesoamerican lore.

John Keller: A Category 5 Badass.

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 12:43:17 -0700

In Today's episode, Ben is joined by Producer Andrew Jacobs to tell the tale of John Keller a former Marine, who when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, took matters into his own hands. Keller battled flood waters, bandits, heat, starvation, and probably gators to help countless people survive the devastating aftermath of the hurricane. Because when the flood waters rose, so did he.

Rasputin: The Mad Monk of Russia

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 22:32:35 -0700

In today's episode Ben and producer Andrew Jacobs enter the dark and mysterious world of Rasputin the "mad monk", the mystic who wielded unearthly influence over the Russian royal family and became one of history’s most infamous figures. Rasputin's rise from a Siberian peasant to the confidant of the Romanovs shocked the Russian Empire and fueled countless rumors of sorcery, scandal, and seduction, all leading up to the dramatic plot to end his life—if only he’d stay dead. Brace yourself for a tale of faith, power, and the collapse of an empire, centered around the man who seemed to defy fate itself.

Mithradates VI: The Poison King

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:38:41 -0700

In today's doozy of an episode Ben and Pat take you on a journey into the world of Mithradates VI, the "Poison King," who waged relentless war against the mighty Roman Empire for decades. Known for his unmatched cunning, resilience, and immunity to poison, Mithradates forged one of the most impressive resistance campaigns in ancient history. As a master of survival, he outwitted assassins, built alliances, and led his people through brutal wars, becoming Rome's most enduring adversary.

William Wallace, nuff said

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 02:46:00 -0700

In today's episode Ben is joined by producer Andrew Jacobs to discuss the legendary braveheart - William Wallace. Famously portrayed by Mel Gibson, William Wallace is a Scottish warrior and hero who showed led his people in an uprising against the tyrannical English until he got beheaded, drawn and quartered, inspiring an even bigger uprising!! This episode is dedicated to: "FREEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!"

King Minos: The Tyrant of the Labyrinth

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 10:35:35 -0700

In today's episode Ben and Pat step into the mythic halls of power as we unravel the legend of King Minos of Crete, the ruler with a legacy steeped in both glory and terror. Known for his connection to the infamous Minotaur and the labyrinth, Minos’s reign was marked by cunning, ambition, and iron-fisted control over the Mediterranean. In this episode, we'll dive into the myths and realities surrounding Minos, exploring how he shaped Crete into a dominant force and became a central figure in one of history’s most iconic legends. Discover the truth behind the king who ruled not just a kingdom, but the darkest corners of mythology

Alva Nuñez Cabeza De Vaca: Epic Survival

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 10:49:17 -0700

In today's episode Ben and Pat are joined by author and podcast host Erik Slader from Epik Fails of History to talk about Alva Nuñe Cabeza De Vaca, a Spanish explorer who defied all odds to survive a harrowing trek across the Americas. Shipwrecked, enslaved, and wandering through unknown lands, Cabeza de Vaca's tale is one of resilience, resourcefulness, and unyielding determination. From enduring brutal hardships to becoming a healer and diplomat among indigenous tribes, his journey redefined what it meant to be an explorer.

Eddie "Firestorm" Loder

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:04:35 -0700

In today's episode, Ben and Pat are joined by Matt the host of the Late Night History podcast to chat about one of Boston's Bravest, Eddie Loder, a firefighter who made some of the most daring rescues in Fire Fighting history.

Eugene James Bullard: The Black Swallow of Death

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:16:37 -0700

In today's episode, Ben is joined by Brandon Fibbs to tell the story of Eugene James Bullard, an unsung American war hero who was one of the first African American Military Pilots who flew for France in WWI, and then fought the Germans again in WWII.

Captain James Macrae: The Buccaneer's Bane

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 11:39:13 -0700

In today's episode Ben Thompson and producer Andrew Jacobs tell the story of Captain James Macrae, a blue-collar ship captain for the British East India Company who managed to fight off two ships full of bloodthirsty pirates and lived to tell the tale.

Jim Thorpe: Path Lit By Great Flash of Lightning

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:33:00 -0700

In today's episode, and in honor of the Olympics, historian Ben Thompson and producer Andrew Jacobs talk about possibly the greatest athlete of all time - Wa-Tho-Huk - AKA Jim Thorpe. Thorpe, a Native American from the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma not only dominated multiple Olympic events with scant experience in them, but put professional football on the map.

Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri: The Iron Sheik

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 10:36:52 -0700

In today's episode Ben Thompson and guest Dr. Brad Balukjian step into the ring with the Iron Sheik, the larger-than-life wrestling icon who captivated audiences with his unmatched charisma and fierce persona. In this hard-hitting episode we delve into the incredible journey of Khosrow Vaziri, from his early days in Iran to becoming the Iron Sheik, a wrestling legend and pop culture phenomenon. Explore his rise to fame, his legendary rivalries, and the indomitable spirit that made him a household name. Get ready for a no-holds-barred look at the Iron Sheik’s legacy of one of wrestling’s most unforgettable characters.

The Night Witches

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 02:41:00 -0700

You've seen TV shows like Masters of Air and movies like Memphis Belle. Incredible stories of American boys fighting Nazis for dominance of the skies in WWII. But what you haven't heard of is the Soviet 588th Night Bomber Regiment... an all women bomber squadron that flew under the cover of darkness in bare-bones plywood biplanes that dropped more than 23,000 tons of bombs on Nazi targets. Join Ben Thompson and Brandon Fibbs in today's episode to hear more!

The Bulgar Slayer

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 02:05:00 -0700

In today's episode Ben and Pat dive into Basil II also known as The Bulgar Slayer a super hardcore dude from Byzantine history who took on Krum the Horrible. No this is not a Conan the Barbarian movie. This is real life and just goes to show we need way better nicknames for our leaders these days.

Edith Garrud + Mary Church Terrell: Fist Fighting for the right to vote

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:10:00 -0700

On today's episode Ben and Pat dive into the stories of two very different women: Edith Garrud and Mary Church Terrell. They both fought valiantly for civil rights and women's suffrage, but only one them did so with jiu jitsu!

Apollo 11: One Badass Leap for Mankind

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:16:13 -0700

Today we blast off with Apollo 11 as Ben and special guest Brandon Fibbs (9 Days in July) celebrate the audacious mission that put humanity on the moon. Learn about how Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins defied the odds, overcame incredible challenges, and made history.

Ernest Shackleton: Ice Capades Commando

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:05:00 -0700

In today's episode we follow Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition to the Antarctic where he led his crew through relentless ice, treacherous seas, and brutal conditions. This is one of the greatest survival stories ever told as Shackleton and his men defy death at every turn.

Wolf the Quarrelsome

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 02:36:00 -0700

He's barely mentioned in history, except for once each in two separate books - but what they do mention - is the sort of utter mayhem that simply must be told and retold. Tune into to find out what makes Wolf the Quarrelsome so freaking badass.

John Paul Jones: Admiral of Anarchy

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:05:00 -0700

In today's swashbuckling episode, Ben and Pat set sail on an adrenaline-fueled adventure with John Paul Jones, the fearless naval commander who gave the British navy a run for their money. Here we'll chart the daring exploits of the man who declared, "I have not yet begun to fight," and meant every word. From his legendary sea battles to his relentless pursuit of victory, Jones's story is a tidal wave of audacious heroics and nautical badassery. Prepare to hoist the anchor and dive into the epic saga of John Paul Jones, the pirate patriot who rocked the high seas.

Roy Benavidez : Rumble in the Jungle

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:27:38 -0700

Ben Thompson is joined by Producer Andrew Jacobs in today's episode as they discuss the epic tale of Roy Benavidez, a human hurricane who tore through the jungles of Vietnam with unstoppable force. In this action-packed episode, witness how Roy transformed into a one-man army, rescuing comrades and defying death like it was just another day at the office. From brushing off land-mines, dodging bullets to taking down enemy fighters, his story is a whirlwind of bravery. Get ready to be blown away (pun intended) by the legend of Roy Benavidez.

Constitutional Badasses with special guest A.J. Jacobs

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 10:12:41 -0700

New York Times best-selling author A.J. Jacobs (author of the new book The Year of Living Constitutionally) joins Ben and Dr. Pat to talk about some of the unexpected people who have led to changes in the U.S. Constitution over the years.

Handsome Mingyan: The man who stole 10,000 horses

Tue, 28 May 2024 02:01:00 -0700

On this week's episode Ben and Dr. Pat chat about "Handsome" Mingyan a mythological character from the Jangar Epic, a group of stories that comprise what some might call the Mongolian King Arthur. He was a minor character in our previous episode about the Scarlet Khongor - today he takes center stage.

Gus March-Philips and the real Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Tue, 21 May 2024 02:01:00 -0700

In today's episode Ben Thompson and Producer Andrew Jacobs talk about the true story behind the new movie The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. And you won't be surprised to know that Operation Postmaster and those behind it were even more badass than portrayed in the movie!

Ten Tsewang: The Sherpa Who Raced to Tell the World Everest Had Been Climbed

Tue, 14 May 2024 02:01:00 -0700

On today's episode Ben Thompson is joined by journalist and host of Outside Podcast Peter Frick-Wright to tell the story of Ten Tswewang who ran a grueling 200 mile race from Everest to Kathmandu to tell the world that Everest had finally been summited. Along the way they'll chat about Sherpas and Everest and how gnarly it really gets up there.

Ridiculous History: Ben joins Noel and Ben of Ridiculous History

Tue, 07 May 2024 02:01:00 -0700

Badass listeners: This week we're sharing Ben's recent appearance on the Ridiculous History Podcast where they chat about Le Maupin. We'll resume our regular scheduled programming next week!

REPLAY: La Maupin and the Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Swordfighting Adventurerers of the French Revolution

Wed, 01 May 2024 10:51:00 -0700

Hello regular listeners and new listeners - here's a replay of Le Maupin for those joining us from Ridiculous History.

If you are in to badass swordfights, debauchery, classical music, big fancy hats, and a couple unlikely heroes face-stabbing their way to success against seemingly-impossible odds, then this is the episode for you. Julie D'Aubigny and Joseph Boulogne -- better known as La Maupin and the Chevalier de Saint-Georges to the adoring hordes of onlookers cheering them on in battle and on the musical stage -- were two of the most badass swordfighters in the history of Early Modern France. Pat and Ben discuss both of these colorful heroes and detail their adventures kicking-ass and taking names across 18th century Europe.

Ignacio Zaragoza: The Hero of Cinco de Mayo

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:20:00 -0700

With Cinco De Mayo coming up this weekend, Ben and producer Andrew Jacobs talk about Ignacio Zaragoza who led Mexican forces to victory over French Invaders way back in 1862, leading to the holiday so many of us love to celebrate with chips, guac and a cerveza!

Benvenuto Cellini: Maestro of Mischief - with guest Daniele Bolleli

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 02:01:00 -0700

Known for his masterful sculptures and fiery temper, Benvenuto Cellini’s escapades ranged from dueling in the streets to making audacious escapes from papal prisons. Join Ben and Daniele as they unfurl Cellini's wild stories and scandalous life.

King Kamehameha: The Hawaiian Hero

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 02:01:00 -0700

King Kamehameha was the original Hawaiian superhero—legend says he was born with a comet lighting up the sky, hinting at his future badassery. He turned his warrior’s spirit into action, unifying Hawaii with clever tactics and serious muscle, like literally pushing his enemies off cliffs. He didn’t just fight with spears; he was all about upgrading to the latest tech—hello, Western firearms! His epic victory at the Battle of Nuʻuanu was the stuff of legends, making him the undisputed boss of the Hawaiian Islands. Kamehameha wasn’t just a king; he was a legend who built a kingdom to last.

Anita Garibaldi - Part II: Brazilian Boogaloo

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 02:01:00 -0700

Here comes part II (that's 2 in roman numerals for you animals out there!) of the Anita Garibaldi story!

Tune in. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Leave us a review. Stay Badass.

The Badass Brazilian Anita Garibaldi - Part 1

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:01:00 -0700

In this episode Ben and Pat dive into the story of Anita Garibaldi the Badass Brazilian revolutionary who, alongside with her husband Giuseppe Garibaldi AKA "The George Washington of Italy", fought through the jungles and mountains and more for equality and independence of the Brazilian people.

Bonus Episode: Damnatio Memoria

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 02:01:00 -0700

Back with another fun bonus episode, Ben and Pat dive into the original cancel culture. Except this was way more extreme, and maybe even a bit worthwhile, as complete d**kwads would be completely erased from history, ensuring that they couldn't even be remember, hatefully.

Medea: The Mythological Maddest Sorceress Queen

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 02:01:00 -0700

There are few characters quite as angry and dangerous in greek mythology as Medea. Over the course, Medea's life she dismembered her own brother, murdered her sons, and burned her husband's lover alive. Basically, don't F with her...

Australia: Land of Hugh Jackman and Huge-a** crocodiles.

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 02:01:00 -0700

Way down under at the bottom of the globe is a deadly land named AUSTRALIA, where the entire the place is designed to kill you. It's a legit thunderdome, full snakes, spiders, crocs, jellyfish, trees, ants and people descended from criminals. And that's what makes it so badass! Tune in this week as Ben is joined by guest host (and Badass of the Week producer) Andrew Jacobs talk about how to survive a trip to Sydney.

Bishnu Shrestha and Gurkhas Gone Wild

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 11:37:00 -0700

Bishnu Shrestha wasn't looking for a fight on the evening of 2 September 2010, but a fight found him. Unfortunately for his opponents, Shrestha was a Gurkha, a soldier hailing from an elite Nepalese unit of the British Army. Their motto: "It is better to die, than be a coward." Join Pat and Ben as they dive into the history of the Gurkhas and Shrestha's serious badassitude on todays episode!

Bonus Episode: Medieval Tinder + Civil War Linkedin

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 02:01:00 -0800

Ben has been marooned in Brazil without a working computer this week so we're delivering a bonus episode! Our regularly scheduled programming will return next week! But first - a couple stories about finding love and jobs way back when...

Heinrich Schliemann: The Man Who Discovered Troy

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 02:01:00 -0800

This week, Ben and Pat discuss the fantastical life of Heinrich Schliemann. His life was full of far travels, great riches, bold lies, and even bolder thievery. What was real about the man and what was his own imagination? Perhaps one of the founding father's of archeology, he discovered the ancient city of Troy, and then sort of blew it up. A badass at the time, in retrospect, a bit of a mixed bag! Take a listen...

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Ramesses II: Ramses Harder

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 02:01:00 -0800

Every now and then, the sequel is better than the original. In today's episode, Ben and Pat discuss just one of those rare occasions. In fact, Ramesses II was so badass, they made Ramesses III through X. Tune in to find out why!

And if you're enjoying the podcast, be sure to tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell the weird dude at work who looks like he's up to something shady. And be sure to rate and leave comment for us!

Henry Johnson and The Harlem Hellfighters

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:36:00 -0800

Today Ben and Pat tell the story of the 396th Infantry Regiment - an all African American unit that spent 191 days in combat in WWI, more than any other unit, they fought so ferociously, the Germans called them the "Hollenkampfer" aka Hellfighters. Tune in to find to hear more...

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Marie Curie: Radioactive and totally rad.

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 02:01:00 -0800

This week Ben and Pat dive into the story behind the scientist - Marie Curie - the first woman to win the Nobel prize. From the battlefield to the laboratory, she put herself in harm's way (dodging bullets and not really dodging gamma rays) to make the world a better place. Her work led to chemotherapy and also nuclear weapons. Listen now!

And if you're enjoying the show, rate us, leave a comment, and grab your neighbor's phone to make them subscribe!

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Toussaint L’Ouverture: The Haitian Hero

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 02:01:00 -0800

In today's ep, Ben and Pat discuss Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Haitian Hero. Born a slave, L'Ouverture eventually turned into rebel and later a leader, in the Haitian Revolution before eventually becoming the Govenor-General of the whole island. He beat the French, the Spanish and even British, while liberating his people. Not too shabby.

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SKULD: Viking Zombies vs Bear Berserkers

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0800

In today's episode Ben and Pat pull from the world of Norse legend a vengeful, pitiless necromancer sorceress. We're talking bear massacres, viking zombies (hell yeah!) and general epic bloody battles. Even her name is awesome: Skuld!

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King Naresuan and the Elephant Duel

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 02:01:00 -0800

King Naresuan was a badass warlord who, while he was the reigning King of Thailand, won freedom for his people and fought off a foreign invasion by battling a tyrannical enemy king in a swordfight fought on the back of two rampaging elephants. That's right, an elephant duel with swords.

And if you liked this and or previous episodes, tell your friends, tell your enemies, give us a rating and definitely give us a comment!

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Killer Chick: Kim Campbell and the A-10 Warthog

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 02:01:00 -0800

The A-10 Warthog is a big, slow, heavily armed flying machine equipped with enough explosives to blast the Moon into about eight billion tiny inedible cheese wheels. And Ben and Pat are going to chat all about it today. But also, one it's more famous pilot's Kim Campbell who flew the warthog over Iraq in the early 2000's.

If you liked this episode, please rate us, leave a comment, and share this show with your friends!

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Bonus Episode: Spain and Gain

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 02:01:00 -0800

Happy new year! In 2024 we're going to be rolling out some new fun things. Today we wanted to give you a preview of one of them: Bonus episodes. We'll be rolling these out occasionally to deliver fun stories that don't quite fit into the regular Badass of the Week mold.

Take a listen. And if you're reading this: scroll on down and like, rate and share this show with your friends!

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Klondike Joe Boyle: The Kick-ass Canadian

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 02:01:00 -0800

Klondike Joe Boyle was a Yukon Lumberjack Commando Secret Agent who managed a Stanley Cup hockey team, outfitted a World War I machine gun company, received astronomically high military honors from England, Canada, France, Romania, and Russia, stole the Romanian crown jewels from a vault in Moscow, hijacked a train, probably romanced European royalty, and once fought a shark in hand-to-hand combat armed with nothing more than a hunting knife.

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Alcibiades: The Biggest Jerk of the Classical Age

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0800

One of the most colorful and hilariously-narcissistic figures in all of history, Alcibiades was a hard-partying, self-obsessed Athenian nobleman who caused mischief anywhere he went, shifted alliances as it suited him, and routinely found himself fleeing from people who wanted to murder him. But he also happened to be a genius military commander who won huge battles in the Peloponnesian War... while leading armies on both sides of the conflict.

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The Smuggler Librarians of Timbuktu

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 02:01:00 -0800

In this episode Ben and Pat dive into the story of Abdel Kader Haidara and his librarians who, in 2011, formed a secret plot to smuggle hundreds of thousands of ancient and priceless books and texts out of Timbuktu and away from the book-burning jerkwads known as Al Qaeda.

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Peter the Great: The Rock Star Tsar

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:01:00 -0800

Tsar Peter Romanov was a strong leader who overcame difficult odds to seize the throne of Russia, then forge his dominion into a dominant Empire that became a powerful force in European politics for years to come, but he was also possibly the hardest-partying world leader in all of human history. Ben and Pat discuss Peter the Great's lifelong fight... for the right... to party!

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Mad Jack Churchill

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:01:00 -0800

Colonel Jack Churchill was a British military Commando who went into World War II armed with a claymore sword, an English longbow, and a set of bagpipes, and led all his cover special ops operations by pointing his sword at the enemy and screaming the word "COMMMMANNDOOOOO!!!!" as loudly as possible. He was a model, an actor, a war hero, and a world-traveling adventurer who fought the Nazis with weaponry that had been obsolete for over a century, was continually awarded with medals of bravery for overcoming impossible odds, escaped two different concentration camps, and spent the twilight years of his life as a surfing and skydiving instructor. Strap in for this one folks, because this one is a non-stop adrenaline ride.

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Ataturk: The Father of All Turks

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:01:00 -0800

The Father of All Turks, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a revolutionary, a hardcore military commander, a bulwark against Fascism, a reformer, a humanitarian, and a man who worked to rebuild bridges with the peoples he had warred against. The United Nations declared him a humanitarian hero, the Australians built a statue for him even though he'd fought against them in war, and it's actually illegal in Turkiye to say anything bad about him in public. Not just anybody gets that sort of treatment.

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How Scarlet Lion Khongor Defeated Khan Iron Head Mangna

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:01:00 -0800

If you're not familiar with the mythology of ancient Mongolia, strap in for this one. Pat recounts one of the great stories from the epic Jangar Cycle of heroic myths, a series of bone-crushing sagas detailing the exploits and adventures of the Kalmyk peoples. In this story, Scarlet Lion Khongor single-handedly attempts to avenge the honor of his Lord against the massive unyielding armies of Khan Iron Head Mangna!

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La Maupin and the Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Swordfighting Adventurerers of the French Revolution

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 00:01:00 -0800

If you are in to badass swordfights, debauchery, classical music, big fancy hats, and a couple unlikely heroes face-stabbing their way to success against seemingly-impossible odds, then this is the episode for you. Julie D'Aubigny and Joseph Boulogne -- better known as La Maupin and the Chevalier de Saint-Georges to the adoring hordes of onlookers cheering them on in battle and on the musical stage -- were two of the most badass swordfighters in the history of Early Modern France. Pat and Ben discuss both of these colorful heroes and detail their adventures kicking-ass and taking names across 18th century Europe.

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Halloween Special: Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:01:00 -0700

Ben and Pat are joined on a special Halloween episode by Tani Caesar (Unhinged History) to talk about a couple of infamous (and spoooooky) Eastern European nobles -- Elizabeth Bathory, the terrifying Blood Countess of Hungary, and th equally-notorious Vlad III of Wallachia, better known outside of his native Romania as Vlad the Impaler (or, if you prefer, Vlad Dracula). This one is going to be gruesome and unhinged, but luckily we'll have Tani here to help us get through it.

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Zenobia and Amaniraneas: The Queens that defied Rome

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:01:00 -0700

Ben and Pat discuss two warrior queens from the fringes of the Roman Empire who stood against impossible odds and defied the Caesars with their military might: Amaniraneas, the Kandake of Sudan, who led war elephants into battle against the armies of Emperor Augustus; and Zenobia, a Syrian Queen who conquered Roman Egypt and squared off against the legions of Aurelian.

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Julia Agrippina and Locusta: Poison Pals

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:01:00 -0700

Two of Imperial Rome's most infamous women come together for this episode, as Pat and Ben discuss Locusta the Poisoner -- perhaps the most prolific and deadliest assassin of the Ancient World -- and the woman who gave her the majority of her most notorious missions: Julia Agrippina. Caligula's sister. Nero's mom. If you like political intrigues, murder mystery, amateur botany, cutthroat diplomacy, and the idea of two women who never met a problem that couldn't be solved with a syringe of cyanide and a bag of Death Cap Mushrooms, then you really can't afford to miss this one.

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St. Olha of Kyiv: Viking Warrior Princess

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:01:00 -0700

St. Olha of Kyiv was a Viking Warrior Princess who unleashed a dump truck of bloody vengeance on all who opposed her, cleansed the countryside of her enemies in a sea of unquenchable flames, conquered hordes of vicious barbarians, pissed off a Byzantine Emperor so hard he kicked her out of Constantinople, successfully outwitted two foreign kings who tried to marry her, saved her people during in the Siege of Kyiv with nothing more than her own fearlessness, instituted the first taxation system in Eastern Europe, built the first stone structure , buried 20 foreign dignitaries alive, and still somehow managed to be Sainted by the Orthodox Church for her work almost single-handedly turning present-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus into Christian countries.

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Teddy Roosevelt (with special guest Greg Jackson)

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 00:01:00 -0700

This week we talk about America's most badass president! Professor Greg Jackson of History That Doesn't Suck joins the show to talk about the rough-riding cowboy, amateur boxer, former NYPD commissioner, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Medal of Honor Recipient who once declared war on Spain without any authority to do so and once gave an 80-minute campaign speech with a .38 caliber bullet in his chest.

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George S. Patton: Old Blood and Guts

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 00:01:00 -0700

America's most famous commander from the Second World War, "Old Blood and Guts" was a bombastic leader who fought hard, swore harder, and thought that defending his flanks was for cowards and losers. We follow the complicated, intense, and action-packed life of George S. Patton from an Olympic athlete to his adventures fighting Pancho Villa, to his career as one of America's founding fathers of armored warfare, and across the raging battlefields of North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany during the height of World War II.

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Laskarina Bouboulina: Greek Naval Heroine

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:01:00 -0700

Born in an Ottoman prison and raised on the high seas, 19th century Greek revolutionary admiral Laskarina Boubolina build a shipping empire that spanned the Mediterranean, defended it against pirates, rival companies, and corrupt politicians, and then led a fleet of warships into battle to liberate her country from Ottoman rule. In this episode, Ben and Pat talk about the Greek heroine, her role in the Revolution, and her own personal naval war against the Turks.

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Miyamoto Musashi: Sword Saint of Feudal Japan - Part 2

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 00:01:00 -0700

In part 2, Pat and Ben continue the story of Miyamoto Musashi, who has now drawn the rage of the Yoshioka Clan of sword instructors. They swear vengeance upon the strange wandering ronin, set a trap for him, and hope to ensnare Feudal Japan's greatest swordsman in a massive ambush. Musashi may be a peerless fighter, without equal, but with the enemy outnumbering him so heavily, it will be a struggle for even the greatest warriors to survive.

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Miyamoto Musashi: Sword Saint of Feudal Japan - Part 1

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:01:00 -0700

There is a term in Japan: kensei. Sword Saints. The peerless warriors bestowed with this honorific title were such hardcore blade-swinging warriors that they were actually believed to have possessed otherworldly abilities with their weapon of choice. Fierce fighters, perfectly-tuned machines who had ascended to a plane where they had become one with the sword. Their movements were precise, their reactions instinctive, their form as flawless and graceful as it was deadly. At the forefront of this pantheon of warrior-gods stands one legendary man: Miyamoto Musashi.

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Ikkyu Sojun: Zen Buddhist Party Animal (with special guest Daniele Bolelli of History on Fire)

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:01:00 -0700

In this episode, Ben and Pat are joined by special guest Daniele Bolelli (History on Fire, the Drunken Taoist) to discuss his favorite badass of all time -- Japanese Zen Buddhist monk Ikkyu Sojun, an extremely unlikely character more well-known for his wild parties and drunken carousing than his ability to slaughter his foes on the battlefield. Daniele discusses the strange, mystical, and genuinely-hilarious life of one of Japan's most eccentric weirdoes.

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Simo Hayha: The White Death

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 01:01:00 -0700

"The White Death," Simo Hayha was just an ordinary Finnish farmer that somehow ended up recording more confirmed kills than any other sniper in military history. In this episode Ben and Pat discuss how this ordinary dude from Finland became the deadliest soldier ever recorded.

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Olaf Crowbone: The Bloodthirsty Viking who Brought Christianity to Norway

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 03:01:00 -0700

The most revered of all the sword-swinging Viking rulers, the legendary Olaf Crowbone, baptized the Vikings the only way he knew how — with extreme violence. Pat and Ben talk about the national hero of Norway, a guy who consistently dealt with all possible foes by planting them on the point of his sword. This episode has action, adventure, death, destruction, Viking longships, epic battles, and just the slightest hint of religious philosophy thrown in for good measure.

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How to build a Dynasty: Emperor Vespasian

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 03:01:00 -0700

A Kingdom isn't cool. A Dyansty is cool. Or so said Roman Emperor Vespasian's Justin Timberlake look-alike friend over drinks at the club. And so that's what Vespasian built: a dynasty. In this episode, Ben and Pat talk about a man who saved the Roman Empire, built the Roman Coliseum and so much more.

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Annie Oakley and Stagecoach Mary: Wild West Gunslingers

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 03:01:00 -0700

Up until her death in 1914 at the age of 82, Old West badass "Stagecoach" Mary Fields had a standing bet at her local saloon: Five bucks and a glass of whiskey said she could knock out any cowboy in Cascade, Montana with a single punch. After the third or fourth fool tried to take her up on it, nobody ever had the guts to do it again.

In this week's episode author Ben Thompson and professor of history Dr. Patricia Larash talk about Stagecoach Mary and Annie Oakley, two of the fastest guns in the old west.

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Boudica: The Celtic Warrior Queen

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 03:01:00 -0700

When Roman Legions of Emperor Nero attacked her home, disrespected her people, and attacked her family, Celtic warrior queen Boudicca swore revenge -- and she left nothing but scorched earth in her wake as she rampaged across Briton, destroying all who stood in her way.

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Bruce Lee: The Little Dragon

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 03:01:00 -0700

We've all seen Enter the Dragon and Fists of Fury, but how well do we know the man behind those films? In this episode author Ben Thompson and Professor of History Dr. Patricia Larash discuss Bruce Lee, a man who was more than just a real-life martial arts badass, he was also a groundbreaking pioneer, who paved the way for the next generation of actors and changed action cinema forever.

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Benedict Arnold: America’s Most Infamous Soldier

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:01:00 -0700

Before his name became synonymous with treason, Benedict Arnold may have been the most heroic and badass general of the American Revolution. In this episode author Ben Thompson and Professor of History Dr. Pat Larash discuss General Arnold's incredible military career, and the decisions that ultimately led him to become the most infamous soldier in American history.

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Aaron Burr: The Dueling Vice President

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 05:04:00 -0700

On the 219th anniversary of the infamous duel, Author Ben Thompson and Professor of History Dr. Pat Larash discuss Aaron Burr, the American Vice President who was surprisingly quite a bit more badass than most people like to give him credit for.

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The Great Locomotive Chase

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:01:00 -0700

In honor of the 4th of July, Badass of the Week author Ben Thompson and Professor Pat Larash talk about some of America's first Medal of Honor recipients -- Union soldier John Alfred Wilson, hero of the Great Locomotive Chase, and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman to ever receive the nation's highest award for battlefield bravery.

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North Sentinel Island

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:01:00 -0700

Author Ben Thompson and Dr. Pat Larash discuss one of the few places left on Earth about which we still know next to nothing, the people of North Sentinel Island remain almost completley untouched by the outside world. Surrounded by unapproachable reefs, and covered in dense jungle, this tiny island in the Indian Ocean is home to a civilization that is almost completely unobservable, even with modern drones and satellites. More curiously, the people who live there have no interest in communication or interaction with the outside world -- the North Sentinelese have repeatedly responded to all attempts at communication with violence.

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The Amazons and Valkyries

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:01:00 -0700

Author Ben Thompson and Professor of History Dr. Pat Larash compare and contrast two of the most well-known sisterhoods of heavily-armed mythological warrior women -- the Amazons of ancient Greece, and the Valkyries of Viking legend. In addition to recounting the myths, epic legends, and heroic battles that have enthralled audiences for centuries, they also look into the possible historicity of their stories, and what these badass women represent on a more significant cultural level.

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The Ghost Camaro of Bosnia

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 03:01:00 -0700

On this episode, Author Ben Thompson and Professor of History Dr. Patricia Larash discuss some badass vehicles that hauled ass into warzones to try and bring humanitarian aid to people who needed help. It's the story of Helge Meyer and his Ghost Camaro, an armor-plated muscle car that burned rubber through the war-torn streets of Sarajevo to bring food and medical aid to children, as well as the story of Big Wind, a heavily-modified T-34 tank fitted with MiG jet engines that was used to help put out Kuwaiti oil field fires during the aftermath of Desert Storm.

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Marco Polo - Part 2

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 03:01:00 -0700

Professor of History Dr. Pat Larash and author Ben Thompson continue the story of Marco Polo, who now embarks on his own expedition to the Far East. His adventures take him to the ends of the known world, and find him constantly embroiled in the intrigues of the Mongol Khans, marching with armies, negotiating with kings, and sailing waters uncharted on any European maps. He returns home only to find himself imprisoned in a tower -- and his story is only told to the outside world thanks to an unlikely encounter with a fellow prisoner.

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Marco Polo - Part 1

Tue, 30 May 2023 03:01:00 -0700

Author Ben Thompson and Professor of History Dr. Pat Larash discuss one of the most famous explorers in history, Marco Polo, who traveled to the edges of the earth and brought back amazing stories of unbelievable lands that inspired all of Europe to seek out trade, exploration, and travel for the decades to come. But his story begins with the travels of his father and his uncle -- two Venetian traders who left home in search of treasure, and ended up in the middle of Byzantine politics, a Mongol civil war, and even into the court of the Emperor of China himself.

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Episode 007 - Christopher Lee and Virginia Hall

Tue, 23 May 2023 03:01:00 -0700

In Episode 007, Professor of History Dr. Pat Larash and author Ben Thompson cover the stories of a couple real-life inspirations for James Bond -- the multi-talented actor (and WWII Special Operations Executive soldier) Christopher Lee, and American super-spy Virginia Hall, the notorious "Limping Lady", who made life hard for the Nazis in occupied France.

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Galvarino: The Handless Warrior

Tue, 16 May 2023 03:01:00 -0700

Author Ben Thompson and professor of history Dr. Patricia Larash discuss Galvarino, an indigenous Mapuche warrior from the Andes mountains who continued leading a heroic resistance against the Conquistadors even after they severed both of his hands -- according to some versions of the story, he even strapped swords to his forearms and led his men charging into battle. Ben and Pat also discuss the Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a warrior-queen from 19th century India who led a fierce resistance against the British Empire, fighting with a sword in each hand and her infant son strapped to her back.

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Stanislav Petrov: The man who saved the world from nuclear obliteration.

Tue, 09 May 2023 03:01:00 -0700

In this episode, Badass of the week website creator Ben and professor of history Dr. Pat Larash discuss two badasses who were put in massively-stressful life-threatening situations and proved their badassitude by resolutely resolving to do... nothing. The RCSG Resolute, an antarctic icebreaker faced with seizure by the flagship destroyer of the Venezuelan Navy, and Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov of the USSR's early-warning nuclear detection service each faced their own unique crises, and each was forced to remain steadfast even in the face of almost certain death.

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Robert Howard: A one man army.

Tue, 02 May 2023 03:01:00 -0700

Author Ben Thompson and Professor of History Dr. Pat Larash discuss the most-decorated American soldier of the Vietnam War, First Sergeant Robert Howard, a one-man army who survived 14 wounds and was nominated for the Medal of Honor three different times. His story might not be as well known as those of Sergeant York or Audie Murphy, but his unbelievable exploits battling for his life deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia are no less heroic.

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Mary Read and Anne Bonny: Real Pirates of The Caribbean

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:01:00 -0700

Author Ben Thompson and professor of history Dr. Pat Larash discuss two of the most notorious pirate women in history, Anne Bonny and Mary Read terrorized the Caribbean aboard the warship Revenge -- but their lives and adventures go far beyond just the high-seas infamy for which they are now known.

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Voytek the Soldier Bear

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 21:03:00 -0700

Author Ben Thompson and professor of history Dr. Pat Larash discuss a selection of war hero animals both furry and feathered, including the incredible tale of Voytek the Soldier Bear -- a massive beer-drinking Syrian brown bear who helped Polish artillery fight Nazis in World War II.

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Hercules and The Virginia Hercules

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 21:01:00 -0700

In the first-ever episode of the Badass of the Week podcast, Badass of the Week website founder Ben Thompson and professor of history Dr. Pat Larash discuss the mythical Greek strongman Hercules, who had brains to go with his brawn, as well as Revolutionary War hero Peter Francisco, the "Virginia Hercules", a one-man army who backed his brawn up with even more brawn.

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Introducing: Badass of the Week

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 22:01:00 -0700

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