# Half-Arsed History Half-Arsed History's second book, The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, is now available for pre-order: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9 Welcome along to Half-Arsed History! It's a weekly podcast highlighting absurd and entertaining stories from history. Twice a week, it helps host Riley Knight feel as though his useless history degree has some kind of real-world relevance. Get in touch: halfarsedhistory@gmail.com Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/halfarsedhistory… Page: Feed: --- ## [Episode 425: The Capture of the USS Chesapeake](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/episode-425-the-capture-of-the-uss-chesapeake) _2026-08-28_ In this week's episode, learn all about the capture of the USS Chesapeake, a fascinating duel that took place between two frigates during the War of 1812. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings: AU/NZ (affiliate… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a90dd63248eff970bbcb8f4/media.mp3) ## [Week 33: The Bermuda Gunpowder Heist](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/week-33-the-bermuda-gunpowder-heist) _2026-08-26_ This week in history we’ve got the birth of a great friend of the show, we’ve got a marvel of modern engineering, we’ve got armies mobilising to cut down a tree - and we’ve got an audacious heist of gunpowder which was instrumental to the American Revolution. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a8e58513e4ed0e7c2561470/media.mp3) ## [Episode 424: Vincent van Gogh, the Tortured Artist](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/episode-424-vincent-van-gogh-the-tortured-artist) _2026-08-24_ In this week's episode, meet Vincent van Gogh, the famous Dutch painter whose colourful and vivid paintings stood in sharp contrast to his difficult and troubled life. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings: AU/NZ… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a8bab4e49367c27e2c68ca1/media.mp3) ## [Week 32: Lt. General Patton Slaps a Soldier... Again](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/week-32-lt-general-patton-slaps-a-soldier-again) _2026-08-19_ This week in history we’ve got the defeat of a great Spanish fleet, we’ve got the construction of a famous but slightly wobbly Italian landmark, we’ve got the infamous end of a US presidency - and we’ve got the time a US general slapped one of his soldiers, again. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a85222da835875d377cc7c2/media.mp3) ## [Episode 423: The Plague of Athens](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/episode-423-the-plague-of-athens) _2026-08-09_ In this week's episode, hear all about the deadly horrors of the Plague of Athens, and tackle the question - what was the plague itself, in the first place? The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings: AU/NZ (affiliate… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a785810769f96ab4524cb19/media.mp3) ## [Week 31: The Hammer and Feather on the Moon](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/week-31-the-hammer-and-feather-on-the-moon) _2026-07-29_ This week in history we’ve got ancient Romans slaughtered by the thousand, we’ve got champagne not getting invented, we’ve got the disaster that was the first transatlantic telegraph cable, and we’ve got a famous physics demonstration held on the Moon. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a68e43b0ee147a1249e96f4/media.mp3) ## [Episode 422: Athens vs. Sparta - the Peloponnesian War](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/episode-422-athens-vs-sparta-the-peloponnesian-war) _2026-07-26_ In this week's episode, learn all about one of the most important and iconic conflicts from the history of Ancient Greece: the Peloponnesian War, when the rivalry between Athens and Sparta was settled once and for all. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region.… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a66358c614bacdacef2a9ab/media.mp3) ## [Apologies to Apple Podcasts Subscribers](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/apologies-to-apple-podcasts-subscribers) _2026-07-26_ I can't log into my Apple Podcasts account - the 2FA code thing isn't working while I'm overseas (despite me setting it up with my overseas number before I left), so ads might be playing on what should be ad-free episodes for Apple Podcasts subscribers. I'm really, really sorry; I'm still trying to fix it, worst case scenario is I'll (hopefully) be able to back in Australia. In the meantime,… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a6636a7a51cbd54e2156fda/media.mp3) ## [Week 30: Tobacco Comes to England](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/week-30-tobacco-comes-to-england) _2026-07-25_ This week in history we’ve got skulls being made into drinkware, we’ve got German nobles drowning in sewage, we’ve got the death of the last Sapa Inca, and we’ve got the official introduction of tobacco to England, thanks to the efforts of the famous Sir Walter Raleigh. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a64925d614bacdace83d8b3/media.mp3) ## [Episode 421: The Successful Failure of Apollo 13](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/episode-421-the-successful-failure-of-apollo-13) _2026-07-21_ In this week's episode, learn all about the disasters that beset the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon, and how the astronauts aboard and the ground team on Earth worked tirelessly to stave off a terrible catastrophe. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a5f33d2f491b820dbdcef8f/media.mp3) ## [Meet Claude, an AI assistant (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/1WtTu9uvO9T7) _2026-07-21 · **Sponsored**_ Chat with Claude at claude.ai — a conversational AI assistant. ## [Week 29: The Football War](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/week-29-the-football-war) _2026-07-15_ This week in history we’ve got the birth of a famous conqueror, we’ve got the dawn of the atomic age, we’ve got a giant leap for mankind - and we’ve got the story of a brief but bloody war sparked by a series of soccer matches in Central America. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a4f2cbd2b60482dd22a06a6/media.mp3) ## [Episode 420: The History of Cannabis](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/episode-420-the-history-of-cannabis) _2026-07-12_ In this week's episode, explore the history of the cannabis plant, including its role in historical and modern textile industries, as well as its medicinal, religious, and recreational uses. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a4f2c742b60482dd229f7e2/media.mp3) ## [Week 28: The First Ascent of the Matterhorn](https://shows.acast.com/halfarsedhistory/episodes/week-28-the-first-ascent-of-the-matterhorn) _2026-07-08_ This week in history we’ve got an iconic moment from the French revolution, we’ve got a famous historical duel, we’ve got someone trying to get to the North Pole in a balloon - and we’ve got the tale of the first expedition to summit the Matterhorn, and the tragedy that struck afterwards. The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65a47774968ba8001771f445/e/6a4a6aad04fac73b247ac750/media.mp3)