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Half-Arsed History

Half-Arsed History

By: Riley Knight
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Half-Arsed History's second book, The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, releases on the 29th of September and 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

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/halfarsedhistory

Buy Half-Arsed History merch: https://halfarsedhistory.theprintbar.com


If you've just discovered the show and aren't sure which of the 400+ episodes to start with, here are some suggestions:

Episode 139: The History of the Toilet - https://sptfy.com/PK3J • https://apple.co/3Giftt3

Episode 75: The Great Emu War - https://sptfy.com/PK3K • https://apple.co/4jKCvr7

Episode 197: The History of Nuclear Weapons - https://sptfy.com/PK3L • https://apple.co/4jygYlc

Episode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup - https://sptfy.com/PK3M • https://apple.co/4iltL9P

Episode 106: The First Circumnavigation - https://sptfy.com/PK3N • https://apple.co/4jewsLj


No AI is knowingly used in the creation of this podcast.


Half-Arsed History acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) Land on which the podcast is written and recorded, and pays respect to First Nations Elders past, present, and emerging. Indigenous sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was, and always will be, Aboriginal Land.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Riley Knight Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Week 36: The End of the Western Roman Empire

    Week 36: The End of the Western Roman Empire
    Sep 23 2026

    This week in history we’ve got a battle that defined the history of ancient Rome, we’ve got a famous abolitionist breaking his chains, we’ve got the extinction of an Australian marsupial - and we’ve got the event that marked the downfall of the Western Roman Empire after years of decline

    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 link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9

    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Episode 427: The Viking Age - Part 2 Conquest

    Episode 427: The Viking Age - Part 2 Conquest
    Sep 22 2026

    In this week's episode, continue discovering the story of the Viking Age, including learning why Vikings transitioned from raiding to conquest and settlement, and the consequent establishment of the Danelaw and Normandy.

    The Most 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 link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9

    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Week 35: The Origin of Stockholm Syndrome

    Week 35: The Origin of Stockholm Syndrome
    Sep 18 2026

    This week in history we’ve got London destroyed by a fire, we’ve got the shortest war in history, we’ve got an Olympic marathon won by a bloke in a car - and we’ve got the interesting but somewhat dubious psychological origin of the term Stockholm Syndrome.

    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 link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9

    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
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