Podcasts by That Was Genius - A Funny History Podcast

A Stephen Hawking-Shaped Adult Toy (Swearing week) - That Was Genius Episode 134 from 2022-03-31T04:31:58

Fellow historians. It's our last EVER episode. What a blast we've had. And we're going out with a ruddy big bang - our rudest episode yet (by far)!

Sam kicks us off with a tour of medieva...

A Jacket Made of Condoms and Geese (Stock Market Week) - That Was Genius Episode 133 from 2022-02-26T11:39:32

It's time to lean back and take stock(market), as we look at all things boom and bust.

Tom kicks us off with a look at the Drunk Oil Trading Incident, and the Great Comic Book Bubble. Mea...

The Artful Todger (medical procedures and men behaving badly week) - That Was Genius Episode 131 from 2022-02-06T12:28:35

We got confused! It's medical procedures week, but Sam jumped the gun and did a man behaving badly. Doh.

Tom kicks us off with a look at the early 20th century obsession with grafting bit...

260 Menopausal Librarians (Trains week) - That Was Genius episode 129 from 2022-01-19T21:37:15

Choo choo, steaming in two months late, we're back!

This week it's all about trains. Sam kicks us off with a look at the Australian 'Afghan' or 'Ghan' camel trains of the 19th century.  Listen

We‘re taking a break - but we‘ll be back! from 2021-11-03T23:11:21

Hi everyone, 

We've taken the decision to give ourselves a few weeks break from the podcast to reset and get ourselves sorted out. Sam's daughter has just started nursery so is perenniall...

Tom‘s Ping-Pong Canary Show (Traditions week) - That Was Genius Episode 127 from 2021-10-21T02:49:52

Like carving a pumpkin at Halloween, sprouts at Christmas, and burning policemen in giant wicker cages, this week it's all about traditions!

Sam kicks us off this week with a look at the ...

Minor Lion-Based Surgery (Feats of Survival week) - That Was Genius Episode 125 from 2021-10-07T04:29:15

Well we nearly didn't make this one (Tom's mic broke). But we survived and we're back with an episode all about feats of survival!

Tom's up first this week, with the parallel tales of H.M...

The Misadventures of Florida Man (Internet week) - That Was Genius Episode 123 from 2021-09-16T10:00:57

It's internet week (Beep beep, boop boop, modem screeching noises)!

Sam starts us off with a look at project CyberSyn, a 1970s attempt by communist Chile to let a computer with a milliont...

We‘re Bim Bam Bina Back (Italy week) - That Was Genius Episode 121 from 2021-09-03T09:01:11

It's been... A While. But we're back, tanned, and ready to go!

This week it's all about Italy. Tom has been looking at operation Mincemeat, the allied attempts to thwart Axis intelligence...

That Was Genius Episode 119 - The Many Follies of Heidi Klum (Gardening week Patron exclusive!) from 2021-08-04T02:08:05

This episode was a patron exclusive, which we're releasing to the public as we're taking a short summer break. Want to join and get more than two dozen exclusive episodes? Find us at

Sam kicks us off with a (tenuously connected to the theme) look at the Great Moon Hoax of 1835, in which a New York newspaper's s...

Poop On The Desk To Get The Job (Rivalries week) - That Was Genius Episode 116 from 2021-07-07T20:50:22

Edison and Tesla. Hunt and Louda. Tom and Sam. This week we're exploring rivalries!

Apologies for Sam's iffy sound quality this week, not sure what happened there. Normal service will res...

That Was Genius Episode 114 - A Rowdy Witches Hen Party (Canada week) from 2021-06-25T19:44:50

Maple syrup. Tim Hortons. Burning down the White House. This week we're celebrating all things Canadian!

Sam kicks us off with a look at The Great Antonio - Montreal-based strongman, wres...

Yeast and Ship-Slime, PI (Medicine week) - That Was Genius Episode 112 from 2021-06-03T23:18:29

Doctor Doctor, I feel like a history podcast!

Well you're in luck, it's medicine week! Tom kicks us off with a look at the Ebers Papyri, a very, very long ancient Egyptian scroll full of ...

Prick It, Twist It, Feck It (Slippery Situations week) - That Was Genius Episode 110 from 2021-05-20T23:14:44

Like an eel on a bobsleigh track, we're ploughing headfirst into a slippery situation this week!

Sam's up first this week with a look at the cursed (but very successful) life of Adolphe S...

The Sound of Something Trapped in the Ice-Cream Truck (Farming week) - That Was Genius Episode 108 from 2021-05-05T18:08:01

Ooh Arr, it's farming week!

Tom starts us off with a look at Fritz Haber, the German chemist who, on the one hand, revolutionised farming and fed the world. On the other hand, he also led...

A Yurt-Juggling Sensation (Whacky Races week) - That Was Genius Episode 106 from 2021-04-21T19:15:59

And we're off, on a look into some of the most bizarre races ever to have taken place.

Sam starts off with a look at the 1907 Peking to Paris rally, and the trials of adventurer, conman a...

A 30-Year Genital Drawing Apprenticeship (Cartoons week) -That Was Genius Episode 104 from 2021-03-31T22:09:06

It's a comedy wild west gunfight this week, as we take ten paces and draw (yes, it's cartoons week)!

Sam kicks us off with a look at the Illustrated Police News, the world's first tabloid...

A Little Claggy Lump of Independence (Small week) - That Was Genius Episode 102 from 2021-03-17T09:03:35

Oh go on, just one wafer thin episode... It's small things week!

Tom starts off with the British bantams, the pint-sized soldiers who were small in size, but large in grit, number, and ab...

That Was Genius EPISODE 100 - The Terrible Sperma of Terra Firma (100 week) from 2021-03-03T09:45:54

100 ruddy episodes, we did it!

To celebrate, we're taking a look at the number 100 in history, which is a surprisingly difficult topic, actually.

Sam kicks us off with a look at Ts...

A Boyscout at Terminal Velocity (Seas week) - That Was Genius Episode 99 from 2021-02-25T01:47:25

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside... We're celebrating all things aquatic today!

Which basically means shipwrecks, sorry (not sorry, they are great). Sam starts us off with an honoura...

Freemasons in Comedy Breasts (Coups week) - That Was Genius Episode 97 from 2021-02-03T21:12:33

It's coups week! Which was a lot harder to research and less funny than we were anticipating, to be honest. But we made it work!

Tom kicks us off with the overthrow of King Wanda, who wok...

A Risky Night at the Zoo Brothel (Tyrants week) - That Was Genius Episode 95 from 2021-01-20T21:19:40

This isn't a democracy, you can't tell us what to do! Apart from the audience member who told us to do tyrants and despots, which is exactly what we've done this week.

Sam starts us off ...

A Risky Night at the Zoo Brothel (Tyrants week) - That Was Genius Episode 95 from 2021-01-20T21:19:40

This isn't a democracy, you can't tell us what to do! Apart from the audience member who told us to do tyrants and despots, which is exactly what we've done this week.

Sam starts us off t...

Give 'em the Old Razzle Dazzle (Weapons week) - That Was Genius Episode 93 from 2021-01-07T05:49

Boom! It's weapons week. And our first episode of 2021!

Tom starts the year off with a bang, with a look at the first ever military submarine, the Turtle of 1776. He also gives an honorab...

That Was Genius Christmas Quiz 2020 from 2020-12-23T23:44

What a year! And how better to say goodbye to it than reminding ourselves how things were crappy in the olden days, too.

So, here we have our end of year quiz, with audience suggestions t...

Seven Times on the Knob (Best Friends week) - That Was Genius Episode 91 from 2020-12-10T04:52

It's best friends week!

Tom kicks us off with a look at the origin of 'Whipping Boys', along with a trip to the land of the Groom of the Stool, and court eunuchs.

Next, Sam takes ...

A Dwarf in Crotchless Underwear (Hangovers week) - That Was Genius Episode 89 from 2020-11-25T09:42

Waking up the next day full of regret and with a splitting headache: Just one of the side effects of listening to this podcast. Especially in hangovers week!

Well, to be honest, we've bot...

Milking the Billy Goat (Cars week) - That Was Genius Episode 87 from 2020-11-11T22:13

Here in my car, I've got lots of podcasts, all about stuff that happened way in the past. It's Cars!

Yes, the humble automobile is the topic this week. Tom's been looking at the amazing o...

Rocky Balboa F*sting Horses (Naturalists week) - That Was Genius Episode 85 from 2020-10-28T21:50

Nudists or animal lovers? It's anyone's guess this week as we mangle the line between naturalists and naturists.

Tom takes a look at Nazi nudists, because he got confused about the topic....

Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Truman? (Civil Wars week) - That Was Genius Episode 83 from 2020-10-14T20:50

There's nothing civil about That Was Genius. Except this week's theme, civil wars.

Sam starts off with a look at the Battle of Bamber Bridge, a WW2 attempt to segregate US troops statione...

A Long Wait for 15 Seconds of Action (Things that never happened week) - That Was Genius Episode 81 from 2020-09-30T03:56

I don't believe it! This week we're looking at things that never happened.

Tom kicks us off with a look at some of the ridiculous flying saints in the Catholic church; some more recent th...

Jib all Over the Place (Ships week) - That Was Genius Episode 79 from 2020-09-16T08:57

Boom, we're back with a shot across the bow for ships week!

Tom kicks us off with the story of the collision between the HMS Victoria and the HMS Camperdown in 1893, where a badly timed o...

That Was Genius Episode 78 - Thirty Unwilling Goats (Pictures week patron exclusive) from 2020-08-20T20:47

Sorry for the very late episode, but we've got some news! Listen on to find out more. This episode was originally a patron exclusive, but given we've taken August off for Sam to get used to *ins...

The Time Travelling Friar or A Wagger of Ballocks (bands week)- That Was Genius Episode 77 from 2020-07-30T08:13

It's the Sultans of Swing themselves, yes, Tom and Sam are back to talk all things bands!

Tom kicks us off with a look at the history behind Robin Hood's Band of Merry Men, inclu...

Bash Street's Back Alright! (Errant Youth week) - That Was Genius Episode 75 from 2020-07-15T19:25

Teenagers, eh? This week is all about errant youth through the ages.

Tom kicks us off with a look at public (what we in the UK call private) school rebellions, in which posh kids rose up ...

A Cack-handed Tossing of Children and Females (left-handed week) - That Was Genius Episode 73 from 2020-07-01T10:57

To the left to the left, everything you hold in the hand to the left. Yes, it's left handed week!

Sam, our resident Southpaw, kicks us off this week with a look at the odd Russian folk ta...

That IS a tasty Cabbage (Sidekicks week) - That Was Genius Episode 71 from 2020-06-17T06:39

It's all about trusted advisors and sidekicks this week from your two favourite right-hand men.

Tom kicks us off with some of the stories of Raja Birbal (or just Birbal), the 16th Century...

Digging for Brown Gold (Hobbies week) - That Was Genius Episode 69 from 2020-06-03T07:02

Is listening to podcasts a hobby? Well here's some more. Only these ones are a bit odd. And rude.

Sam kicks us off this week with a look at James 'Jemmy' Hurst, the mad, animal-training Y...

Trousers Down, and Present the S**t (Weddings week) - That Was Genius Episode 67 from 2020-05-20T09:36

A happy marriage of history and 'comedy'*? It must be weddings week!        *in the loosest sense. 

Sam starts us off this week with a look at the bizarre and ridiculous marriage of Elisa...

Chocks Out for the Lads (Accents week) - That Was Genius Episode 65 from 2020-05-06T04:48

Eey By Gum, it's accents week!

Tom kicks us off with a look at the fascinating (and very short) history of two classic stereotypical accents - the west country pirate we all know and love...

Knocker and Chisholm's Leather Emporium (Nurses week) - That Was Genius Episode 64 from 2020-04-29T08:25

Ooh er matron, it's nurses week! 

Sam kicks us off with the tale of WW1 best mates, motorbike daredevils and fearless first-aiders Elsie Knocker and Mairi Chisholm, whose bravery in setti...

The Farting Poodle Chamber Orchestra (Pets week) - That Was Genius Episode 63 from 2020-04-22T17:00

Who's a good boy then? We are, that's who. It's pets week!

Tom kicks us off with a look at Wojtek, the Syrian brown bear and Polish army corporal with a penchant for marmalade, c...

A Filthy Little Tip for the Barman (Travelers week) - That Was Genius Episode 62 from 2020-04-15T05:33

We're going on a history hunt, we're going to find a fun source!Yes, it's traveler week. Tom kicks us off with a look at Till Eulenspiegel (which bizarrely translates as either toilet paper or o...

Its Raining Nuns, Halleluja Its Raining Nuns (Pandemics week) - That Was Genius Episode 61 from 2020-04-08T04:22

We tried not to. We begged not to. But the audience demanded: This week we're doing pandemics.

In a rare and possibly slightly drunken display of bravado, Sam goes first this week with a ...

No One's Tougher Than the Biscuit Eaters (Sidekicks week) - That Was Genius Episode 60 from 2020-04-01T03:25

It's not high kicks, it's not karate kicks, oh no, it's sidekick week.

A bit of a tricky one this week, if we're being honest. Tom's been looking at the odd triangle of sidekickery betwee...

Welcome to the Mile High Club (Daredevil week) - That Was Genius Episode 59 from 2020-03-25T07:08

This episode's all about guts, balls, and lofty ambitions to wow a crowd. Yes, it's daredevil week!

Desperate to avoid traditional daredevils if we can, Tom's been looking at the horrific...

A Little Bit of Bump and Grind (Movement week) - That Was Genius Episode 58 from 2020-03-18T11:53

In out in out shake it all about, it's movement week!

Tom starts us off this week with a whistlestop tour of the humble Waltz, a dance deemed too risque for stuffy bishops because it invo...

Stealing Toilet Roll for the Revolution (Spies week) - That Was Genius Episode 57 from 2020-03-11T07:21

The name's Genius. That Was Genius.

Yes, it's spy week! Pew pew pew! Tom starts with a guide to simple sabotage by the OSS (later CIA ) in WW2. from 2020-03-04T09:15

The head bone's connected to the... Knee bone. Hmmm. It's probably best that we're historians talking about body parts, rather than actual doctors.

A Flirty French Roly-Poly (Fitness week) - That Was Genius Episode 55 from 2020-02-26T10:26

It's time to *lift* your spirits, *stretch* the truth, and *work out* exactly what the sources are telling us in an episode all about health and fitness!

Yes, after a week's break we're b...

A Dirty Little Present From Your Crush (poetry week) - That Was Genius Episode 54 from 2020-02-12T16:00

There once was a podcast on history. And why they still did it's a mystery. This week's about verse, so Sam's picked the worst. And Tom's done Catullus for his story.

Yes, it's poetry wee...

A Little Bit of Man Jerky - AKA Pepperami Leggy-ami (Serial Killers week) - That Was Genius Episode 53 from 2020-02-05T16:00

Oh have mercy, it's serial killers week! Featuring Sam murdering a song in our first proper musical interlude!

Tom kicks us off with a look at Alexander Pearce, the Irish convict sent to ...

Whizz, Pop, and Up We Go! (World First week) - That Was Genius Episode 52 from 2020-01-29T16:00

Welcome to the age of discovery, as we attempt something we've never done before: An episode on world firsts! And it's a good'un this week.

Tom kicks us off with a look at the lesser know...

Pants Down on The Good Ship Naturist (French week) - That Was Genius Episode 51 from 2020-01-22T16:00

Sacre Bleu! It is ze week we av all been waiting for, kick arse Frenchmen week!Yes, after months of baiting our cousins across the sea, it's finally their time to shine as we explore some of the...

500 Tarts And One Sexy Roman Emperor (Laughter week) - That Was Genius Episode 50 from 2020-01-15T16:00

Finally, something to laugh about - this week's episode is all about the humour (well it's rarely about the history)!

Tom kicks us off with a look at the Philogelos (Love of Laughter), th...

Operation Fire Sausage (Genocide week) - That Was Genius Episode 49 from 2020-01-08T16:00

What a nice cheery one this week. It's all about genocide. But don't worry, we've still managed to squeeze out some (awkward) laughs.

Don't say we never give ourselves a challenge! This w...

An Englishman, an Irishman and a Frenchman Walk Into a Pub (Wars that didnt happen week) - That Was Genius Episode 48 from 2020-01-01T16:00

When two tribes go to war... Or don't. Because this week we're talking about wars which didn't quite happen. Or did, just not very successfully.

Tom kicks us off with the Huéscar - Denmar...

That Was Genius - * Q&A Session!* Featuring Taps, Genocide and 90's Sitcoms. Happy 2020! from 2020-01-01T09:49

Happy 2020! As a special welcome in to the new year and thanks to all our listeners, we've done a Q&A answering your questions. From hot water taps to 90s TV and the emu wars, here's everything ...

Sam meets QI creator John Lloyd - The Other Genius Episode 2 from 2019-12-25T16:00

How do you prove an arch-nemesis history teacher wrong? How many facts can you find beginning with the letter Q, and how many make it onto a major British TV panel show? How do you stay curious?   ...

Buster the Prize Fighting Shrew (Shows week) - That Was Genius Episode 47 from 2019-12-18T16:00

Roll up, roll up for the greatest show on Earth! Yes, we plumb the depths of what humans will do for entertainment in this week's podcast, which is all about shows.

Sam kicks us off with ...

The Muffled Screams of Thriller from the Mortuary (Ancient Laws week) - That Was Genius Episode 46 from 2019-12-11T16:00

Here's a free trial you definitely don't want to sign up to... This week we're covering arcane laws, from trial by fire and water, to dealing with ancient arsonists.

Tom kicks us off with...

The Soily Fondue Jazz Quartet (Treasure week) - That Was Genius Episode 45 from 2019-12-04T16:00

What if the real treasures are the friendships we make along the way?

Nah. Gold is much more valuable. Gold and cheese.

This week we're discussing buried treasure, from the sublime...

A Triple Suplex in the Name of Love (Badass Women week) - That Was Genius Episode 44 from 2019-11-27T16:00

This week we're celebrating badass women through history. With a series of sources written by men, because history. Sigh.

Tom's giving us a whistlestop tour of The Moralia, Greek/Roman hi...

Brazilian Samba Dancing Nurses with Incredible Moustaches (Charlatans week) - That Was Genius Episode 43 from 2019-11-20T15:00

"Doctor Doctor, give me the news, I've got a bad case of loving you": Sounds serious, try rubbing this cream made out of seeds and good energy on it.

Yes, this week we're abandoning respo...

One Dead President and a Scottish Woman's Bottom (Spooky week) - That Was Genius Episode 42 from 2019-11-13T15:00

Cor Blimey Guv'nor, it's a Holy Ghost! Which, fact of the day, is Cockney rhyming slang for, erm... Toast.

Yes, it's Spooky week, which has absolutely nothing to do with that other scary ...

Thomas the Self-Pleasuring Engine (40 week) - That Was Genius Episode 41 from 2019-11-06T15:00

Yes, the topic this week is the number 40. Yes, it's episode 41. What can we say. We're historians, not mathematicians. 

Obvious stupidity and working ourselves into a corner aside (genui...

Toilet Paper of the Ancients (discovery week) - That Was Genius Episode 40 from 2019-10-30T15:00

History is all about discoveries. From scientific breakthroughs, to new philosophies and ideas, to finding out what women get up to in sleepovers and finding wads of classic work used as loo rol...

Revenging the Nazi Tap-Dance Troupe (Badass week) - That Was Genius Episode 39 from 2019-10-23T12:00

It's badass week. From the good badass, to the bad badass, to the ugly badass.

And yes, it's a rare triple billing as well, since Sam couldn't decide and bought two stories to the table. ...

A Noble and Historic Parking Lot Brawl (Revenge week) - That Was Genius Episode 38 from 2019-10-16T16:00

I mean honestly, it's amazing it's taken us this long to tackle revenge. That's basically what history is all about.

And we've no shortage of things to talk about. Tom kicks us off with t...

Hold Me Closer Zombie Dancer (Health week) - That Was Genius Episode 37 from 2019-10-09T16:00

Say aah please, it's health week! From conspiracies to the Charleston, we've got it covered.

Tom kicks us off with a look at the conspiracy theories surrounding the Pineal gland, a comple...

He's Not The Messiah, Hes a Very Naughty Serial Killer (The Law week) - That Was Genius Episode 36 from 2019-10-02T15:00

Order! Listen in the name of the law!

We're discussing all things legal this week. Sam kicks us off with a follow on from last week's Papacy special with a look at all the times God has ...

Watch Where You Waggle That Broomstick (Pope week) - That Was Genius Episode 35 from 2019-09-25T15:00

Bless you my child, it's Popes week! And we've avoided almost all the obvious jokes!

Tom's been learning about the Malleus Maleficarum or 'Hammer of Witches', a hideous medieval treatise ...

Sam Meets History With Hilbert - The Other Genius Episode 1 from 2019-09-19T13:00

We've got a new and exciting side project!

Welcome to That Was Genius' "the Other Genius", a little side-hustle in which we catch up with other history creators and fanatics and talk abou...

The Gassy Floridians Are Coming By Sea (Ships week) - That Was Genius Episode 34 from 2019-09-18T16:00

Ahoy there shipmates, and all aboard for a nautical-themed adventure.

Tom kicks us off by looking at the odd nautical origins of some well known phrases. And there are a lot of them: Most...

Welcome to That Was Genius - A Rather Silly History Podcast from 2019-09-13T18:00

Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean //

Yes, this week we're taking a trip down the original information superh...

One Monkey, Two Giant Balls, and 6,000 Eastern Europeans (Japan Week) - That Was Genius Episode 32 from 2019-09-04T06:00

It's Japan week! So we've not exactly been short of fun things to talk about.

First up, we've got special guest, That Was Genius fan and Japanese resident Stephanie, to talk about the myt...

The Purple Headed Wibbler in the Garden (Vegetables Week) - That Was Genius Episode 31 from 2019-08-28T04:26

It's vegetables week! No, we're not sure why either. 

Tom kicks us off by looking at Priapus (and his collection of poems The Priapeia), Rome's bad-tempered and EXTREMELY well endowed gar...

Attack of the Burping Lecherous Bum Otters (Rivers Week) - That was Genius Episode 30 from 2019-08-21T13:30

Episode 30, can you believe it? And to celebrate, this week's episode is particularly silly. We've been looking at rivers.

Tom dives right in with a (quite roundabout) look at the ferryme...

Attention Passengers This Is Your Toilet Speaking (Plane Crash Week) - That Was Genius Episode 29 from 2019-08-14T16:00

Fasten your seatbelts and put up your tray tables, because this week we're talking all things plane crash.

From the world's luckiest man to several very unlucky victims, we've been lookin...

Dónde está tu oro? (Conquistador Week) - That Was Genius Episode 28 from 2019-08-07T16:00

Hola! And welcome to an episode all about Conquistadors, the swarthy and generally deeply unpleasant Spanish settlers, treasure-seekers and soldiers who made the new world their home in the 16th...

If it Says it in The Bible (Slavery Week) - That Was Genius Episode 27 from 2019-07-31T16:00

WARNING: This episode contains references to sources which use language in common use at the time, but which would be considered offensive and derogatory today.

Which isn't surprising, be...

Hell Hath No Fury Like 300 Spearmen in Heels [Homosexuality Week] - That Was Genius Episode 26 from 2019-07-24T16:00

STOP, in the name of love, as we take a look at some of history's host of heroic homosexuals to celebrate Pride season.

Tom kicks us off with a look at the Theban Sacred Band, the elite f...

A Face Full of Holy Horse Wind (The North week) - That Was Genius Episode 25 from 2019-07-17T16:00

Ey up, it's Northern week on That Was Genius! This week we're discussing all things North of the Border. Sam discovers what the Ancient Greek's thought lay beyond the grumpy horse who makes the ...

Kiss Me Tenderly Where The Sun Doesn't Shine (Music week) - That Was Genius Episode 24 from 2019-07-10T16:00

# I'm having the time of my life, and I've never felt this way before # Yes, it's music week! And yet somehow we've managed to fall into a pit of depravity, once again. Tom explores some of the ...

The Ghosts Told Me To Do It (Great Escapes week) - That Was Genius Episode 23 from 2019-07-03T16:00

Right you lot, your mission? Escape from camp Genius. The plan? One hour of close calls and narrowly avoided disasters as we explore some of history's greatest escapes. Sam kicks us off with a l...

The Tragic Tale of Burpy the Dwarf (Disney week) - That Was Genius Episode 22 from 2019-06-26T16:00

Be our guest, be our guest, be prepared to be impressed, by our knowledge about Disney, bad accents and Prince's frisky... That's right, it's Disney week! Tom and Sam have been delving into the ...

A Bit Heavy on the Dynamite (America week) - That Was Genius Episode 21 from 2019-06-19T16:00

Why howdy y'all, and welcome to an episode of That Was Genius dedicated to the good 'ole US of A! This week, Tom examines the horrific case of Elmer McCurdy, the useless criminal and genuine cor...

Everything Here is Trying to Kill Us (Australia week) - That Was Genius Episode 20 from 2019-06-12T16:00

G'Day Bruces and Shielas, stick another shrimp on the barbie because it's Australia week!  Tom takes us on another highly entertaining (and, as usual, it's deeply harrowing) story of shipwreck s...

Third Arm and Hammer (Religion week) - That Was Genius Episode 19 from 2019-06-05T16:00

Oh Lordy, it's religion week. Which we're approaching with as much tact as you would expect for a delicate subject like this. Sam discusses the Freedomites, Canada's nudist vegan terrorists (pac...

Pornographic Soviet Drunk Train (inventions week) - That Was Genius Episode 18 from 2019-05-29T16:00

Eureka! Inventions is the topic this week, from some of the oddest and least successful to the most ingenious. Tom looks into Roman siege equipment courtesy of Vetruvius, including some really q...

Imagine Mr Tickle... Covered in Swastikas ('that should be a film' week) - That Was Genius Episode 17 from 2019-05-22T16:00

Talk about a historical epic: Episode 17 is all about events which should have been made into films, but aren't!

Sam discusses the battle for Itter Schloss (the only time the Germans and ...

Vanking for Victory (resistance week) - That Was Genius Episode 16 from 2019-05-15T16:00

Resistance is anything but futile! And it's the topic this week. Sam's been learning about British superspy and inventor of imaginary resistance networks Juan Pujol Garcia, the rare recipient of...

A Nice Bike Ride Through A French Riot (cheating week) - That Was Genius Episode 15 from 2019-05-08T17:00

You dirty rotten cheat. Foul play is the topic this week. Tom's gamed the system to make sure cheating in the early years of the Tour de France comes up, with both bizarre and terrifying drug co...

The Bad, The Worst, and The Stupid (naughty Englishmen week) - That Was Genius Episode 14 from 2019-05-01T16:00

'Perfidious Albion' or the dastardly English is the topic this week, although through a series of miscommunications it's actually an episode featuring one horrible person and one absolute idiot....

Please Dont Pirate This Podcast (pirate week - obviously) - That Was Genius Episode 13 from 2019-04-24T19:44

Yarr, it's pirate week on That Was Genius. Tom discusses French Buccaneer, privateer and all-round nasty guy Francois L'ollonois, who is definitely not one to cross if you happen to be Spanish. ...

Two Shiny Nipples and an Unfortunate Weather Vane (sculpture week) - That Was Genius Episode 12 from 2019-04-17T16:00

Episode 12 is all about historical statues and sculpture. How high brow... Although actually not really. Tom introduces the Colossus of Rhodes, and Sam struggles to pronounce Lysippos. 

S...

Welcome to the Antarctic Party Boat (people called Richard week) - That Was Genius - Episode 11 from 2019-04-10T16:00

Episode 11 is all about historical Richards! Tom discusses the horrific antarctic trials of Australian science teacher Dick Richards on Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic...

Please Don't Eat The Priceless Artifact (yes, it's artifact week) - That Was Genius Episode 10 from 2019-04-03T16:00

Artifact's is this week's topic. Sam discusses the Shang Oracle Bones - a priceless gateway to a lost civilization that was almost eaten out of existence.

Meanwhile Tom looks at the Hedwi...

Two False Legs and One Ruined Bakery (food week) - That Was Genius - Episode 9 from 2019-03-27T17:00

Episode 9 is all about food, and features the horrific menu served up to starving Parisians in the Franco-Prussian war, and 'The Pastry War' or first Franco-Mexican war, the result of a looted b...

Pulling Down the Judges Trousers (banned literature week) - That Was Genius - Episode 8 from 2019-03-20T17:00

Banned literature is the theme this week, and features the mad ramblings of the CIA, and a whole book full of medieval dick jokes. Which makes us as happy as it'll make you!

Tom discusses...

What Do You Do With The Cheerful Sailor (getting lost week) - That Was Genius - Episode 7 from 2019-03-13T17:00

Getting lost is the topic this week, from a twice shipwrecked (and probably quite annoying) Dutchman and his adventures in Java and Indonesia, to intrepid Amazon explorer Percy Fawcett, his unfo...

A Walking Human Tambourine of Military Excellence (con-men week) - That Was Genius - Episode 6 from 2019-03-06T17:00

It's Historic conmen week, from fake footballer Carlos Kaiser faking it as other footballers (meta, I know), to Gregor MacGregor, the guy who made up his own country and sent hundreds of people ...

A Little Unexpected Dampness (stupidity week) - That Was Genius - Episode 5 from 2019-02-27T17:00

It's stupidity week! Featuring badly written Roman erotica, trying to fight a battle drunk, terrible German accents and more.

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The Adventures of Sir Flannel Washbottom (love week) - That was Genius - Episode 4 from 2019-02-20T17:00

Love is in the air this week, with the *first* wedding of Henry VIII's first wife Catherine of Aragon (hint, it wasn't to Henry), and the first ever love story... A Sumerian legend which involve...

Mansa Musa's Massive Sack (journeys week) - That Was Genius - Episode 3 from 2019-02-13T07:21

Journeys is the topic this episode, which features Mansa Musa - the man so rich he ruined the economy of the Middle East by going on holiday there - a stroke of marketing genius by a viking lead...

Touched by a Goddess (Eureka moments week) - That Was Genius - Episode 2 from 2019-02-12T01:35

Eureka! Moments of genius is the topic this week, which features the accidental discovery of rubber (aka your Dad's dirty secret), and Odysseus returning from the Trojan wars to find 100 blokes ...

Call of Duty Canada (war heroes week) - That Was Genius - Pilot Episode from 2019-02-12T01:31

Introducing Leo Major - Canada's WW2 answer to Rambo - and Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator, or 'Quintus the Delayer', the Roman general who beat Hannibal by, well, sort of hiding from him. Hist...