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 patreon.com/thatwasgenius. We'll be back in two weeks!   Down at the Bottom of the Garden, among the birds and the bees, there live two slightly sweary hosts, and it's gardening week.   Yes, that's the Poddington Peas theme tune. Sam kicks us off this week with our first ever delve into Romanian folklore, with the story of Făt-Frumos with the Golden Hair - the fairy tale of a fabulously dressed prince turned very unsuccessful gardener.   Next, Tom's been looking at the history of hired hermits, paid to inhabit the gardens of the rich in the 18th and 19th centuries.   Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history.   Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world.   We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time).   Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

That Was Genius

That Was Genius Episode 119 - The Many Follies of Heidi Klum (Gardening week Patron exclusive!)

I can see clearly now the pane has come. It's glass week! 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 series of increasingly bizarre articles about a moon civilization caught the public's imagination.  Next, Tom's been exploring Glass Delusion, the historical psychiatric condition which led sufferers to believe they were made of easily shattered glass, when in fact that pain in their bottom was probably something far less dangerous. We're taking a small break for a couple of weeks, but we're going to gift all our regular listeners a Patron exclusive episode to tide you over! Check back in a couple of weeks, or hear it early at patreon.com/thatwasgenius. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

The Puckered Window of a Public Toilet (Glass week) - That Was Genius Episode 118

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 resume next week! Tom's up first with a bold and ambitious attempt to examine the Wars of the Roses, one of the most complicated periods in English history, and the inspiration (vaguely, no dragons) for Game of Thrones. Next, Sam's been reading 'The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship (or the Art of Winning Games without Actually Cheating)', Stephen Potter's 1947 satirical book on being an arse in sport and annoying your rival into defeat, which was so influential it actually led to rule changes in most professional sports. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

Poop On The Desk To Get The Job (Rivalries week) - That Was Genius Episode 116

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, wrestler, and eccentric. Next, Tom's all over the Halifax Explosion of December 1917 - one of the worst man-made disasters in history. PS Sorry this episode is a couple of days behind - two recordings in one week makes Sam a late boy. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

That Was Genius Episode 114 - A Rowdy Witches Hen Party (Canada week)

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 bizarre and filthy cures for common ailments, with some rather sarcastic modern translations.  Next, Sam looks at the nonsense uses of wee in medicine through history. Urine for a treat! This episode features a cross-promo for Countries That Don't Exist Anymore. Check them out on your usual podcast app, or at https://www.ctdeapod.com/ Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

Yeast and Ship-Slime, PI (Medicine week) - That Was Genius Episode 112

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 Sax, inventor of the saxophone and dodger of multiple near deaths, lawsuits, and assassination attempts. Next, Tom's been slipping around the northwest passage (ooh er) with a look at 19th Century explorer explorer William Hudson. Sorry this episode is 24 hours late - sick children issues! Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

Prick It, Twist It, Feck It (Slippery Situations week) - That Was Genius Episode 110

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 Germany's chemical weapons programme in World War One. The left hand giveth, the right hand taketh away... Next, Sam's been looking at the Pig War of 1859, in which Britain and the US nearly went to war over a potato patch. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

The Sound of Something Trapped in the Ice-Cream Truck (Farming week) - That Was Genius Episode 108

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 and bacon-mechanic Charles Godard.  Meanwhile, Tom's been taking a look at history's best-paid sportsman, the remarkable Roman charioteer Gaius Appuleius Diocles. This episode also features a cross promo with The Silly History Boys Show - thanks to Rob 'Uncle BobBob' Bond, Stu 'The PearBear' Perry, Tom 'Tombo' Fermor, and Will 'Uncle Bilbo' Tristram for lending their voices to an honourable mention, The Great Wisconsin Race of 1878, and for inviting us onto their own excellent podcast. Check them out on your app of choice! Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

A Yurt-Juggling Sensation (Whacky Races week) - That Was Genius Episode 106

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 newspaper which delighted audiences with graphic illustrations of the macabre, bizarre, and cheeky. He's also got an honourable mention for the Turin Erotic Papyrus - the first known lads mag. Next, Tom's been taking a look at Marginalia, the hilarious and often VERY rude doodles and drawings made by medieval monks and artists in the corners of their works. Snails fighting knights and a tree full of genitals, anyone? Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify This episode features a cross promo with Historical AF. Check them out on your app of choice! Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

A 30-Year Genital Drawing Apprenticeship (Cartoons week) -That Was Genius Episode 104

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 ability to start a fight in a town square. Next, Sam takes a look at the island of Tavolara, which until recently was the worlds smallest kingdom. So small, it's main export was rotten-toothed goats, and its king was technically unemployed. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify This episode features a cross promo with Historical AF. Check them out on your app of choice! Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

A Little Claggy Lump of Independence (Small week) - That Was Genius Episode 102

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 Tsukumogami, the Japanese belief that household objects gain a soul on their 100th birthday. And usually use the new-found power of life to be arseholes to everyone they meet. Next, Tom takes a look at the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, on the 100th day of 1815, which indirectly led to the invention of the bicycle. He also takes us through the 1885 'scientific' book, One Hundred Proofs that the Earth is Not a Globe, by William Carpenter. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify This episode features a cross promo with The Partial Historians. Check them out on your app of choice! Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

That Was Genius EPISODE 100 - The Terrible Sperma of Terra Firma (100 week)

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 honourable mention for the only ship ever sunk by a meteor, before talking about Poon Lim and his incredible, record-breaking story of survival at sea. Next, Tom's got the sinking of the whaling ship Essex and the cannibalistic survival story that followed, in a tale which inspired Moby Dick. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

A Boyscout at Terminal Velocity (Seas week) - That Was Genius Episode 99

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 woke up one day drunk, shaved and living in a monastery. Best. Stag Do. Ever. Next, Sam takes a look at the Golpa Borghese, a very Italian coup involving the mafia, some fascists, a renegade group of freemasons and, obviously, some Government corruption. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

Freemasons in Comedy Breasts (Coups week) - That Was Genius Episode 97

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 this week with a look at The Zhengde Emperor - the mad Ming ruler who spent his time playing dress-up, chopping up Europeans and collecting animals and women, rather than really doing anything useful. Next, Tom takes a look at Plato's republic, a classical Greek work that might just have some useful messages today. Or it might just be the rantings of a grumpy old man, who can say... Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook (and our Facebook group for memes and fun), Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

A Risky Night at the Zoo Brothel (Tyrants week) - That Was Genius Episode95

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 honorable mention to Dazzle camouflage - the idea you can mask a ship's movement by painting it mad, zebra-like patterns. Next, Sam takes a somewhat odd look at the surprisingly long history of strapping bombs to birds - nearly a millennia of animal cruelty in the name of killing one another from crows with fireworks up their bums to nuclear chickens. Subscribe and listen to us! Apple Music // Podbean // Overcast // Stitcher // TuneIn // Spotify Welcome to That Was Genius: Two blokes. An immature sense of humour. And 10,000 years of human civilisation. A weekly podcast looking at the weirder side of history. Join Sam Datta-Paulin (he likes history and lives in Britain) and Tom Berry (he also likes history and used to live in New Zealand but is now in the UK as well), for a weekly reflection on the bold, the brilliant... And the downright strange. From bizarre events and stories to equally odd inventions, barely a day goes by without something incredible (or incredibly stupid) happening around the world. We upload new episodes every Wednesday night/Thursday morning (UK time). Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and via our website, and please do subscribe to us and leave us a review if you like what you hear!

Give 'em the Old Razzle Dazzle (Weapons week) - That Was Genius Episode 93

A rude, silly comedy/history podcast looking at the forgotten side of the past.

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That Was Genius

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