Bad Ideas Podcast

Bad Ideas Podcast

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A podcast about the worst ideas in history. Albert Berg and Tony Southcotte take on some of the biggest historical flops, mistakes, and blunders. From Cop Rock to the Yugo.

Albert Berg, Tony Southcotte


    • May 29, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 100 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Bad Ideas Podcast

    Mary Toft Giving Birth to Rabbits - She stuffed a rabbit WHERE? - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2020 21:39


    Mary Toft was a British woman with the magical ability to give birth to rabbits. Or rather rabbit parts. And cat parts. And chunks of other animals. It really was disgusting and you should fear for the people involved. We cover this grand conspiracy that fooled the medical world for a short while. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgyAxRJizc&list=PUvOuG65OWsIUkHGKPKe1UXQ Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Payday Loans - Predatory Loans Meant to Create a Cycle of Debt with 1000% interest - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 25:26


    Payday loans are a loan you can get when you leverage your next paycheck for cash today. Usually there is a small fee but they can quicky turn into 400 to 1900 percent loans. It's a predatory industry that needs to be heavily reformed or abolished. On Bad Ideas we take a look at this toxic industry and show why it is indeed a bad idea. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgyAxRJizc&list=PUvOuG65OWsIUkHGKPKe1UXQ Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    The Great Salad Oil Swindle - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2020 38:34


    Soy Bean oil doesn't SEEM like the kind of thing that could crash the entire American Economy, but in 1963 that's almost what happened. Tino De Angelis was the biggest holder of salad oil in the world; at least on paper. And the paper that SAID it came from American Express, so it COULDN'T be wrong, could it? Despite the fact that Tino had a number of shady business deals in his past banks were more than willing to continue to lend him money as long as American Express said he had oil to back the loans. American Express was more than willing to continue to say he had the oil because Tino was literally the only profitable account on the books in their fledgling warehousing division. No one really cared that strange calls were coming from an anonymous whistleblower saying that Tino was fudging the numbers on how much oil he had by huge margins. And he might have gotten away with it all, if only he hadn't gotten involved in trying to corner the oil futures market.

    The Fistula Fad - King Louis the XIV's Fistula Fashion - Bad Ideas Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 25:09


    King Louis the 14th found himself in dire need of surgery to fix a fistula. A fistula is an alternative canal from the rectal cavity usually into the butt cheek. Charles-François Félix, a barber, was chosen to do the surgery. He took six months to practice, repairing and also causing holes in 75 prisoners and dissenters. After that he would repair King Louis's fistula and retire in wealth. After the surgery the people of France wanted to show their support. Some wore bandages, but others had barbers give them the same surgery even when they didn't need it.   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgyAxRJizc&list=PUvOuG65OWsIUkHGKPKe1UXQ Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Ouya: What Happened to the Kickstarter Console?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2020 24:44


    The Ouya was one of the biggest Kickstarter success stories, so what happened? This one actually shipped and everything! Julie Urhman Ouya's CEO pitched the return of indie games to the television in an era when it looked like maybe all the indie developers were shifting focus to the mobile market. Unfortunately for Ms. Urhman mobile turned into a horror world of ads and paid upgrades and the Playstation 4 embraced the indie developers like never before leaving no real place for the little Ouya to go.

    The Story Behind The Charge of the Light Brigade - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2020 26:12


    There's a store behind the poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade, a story you may not have heard before. The charge itself was a very small part of the Crimean War, which was an attempt by England and France to keep Russia from expanding into Turkey in the 1850's. The early Crimean War effort was headed up by Lord Raglan, who, from everything I've been able to discern was not a terribly good leader. In the Battle of Balaclava, shortly after landing near Sevastopol, Lord Raglan ordered his cavalry to stop the Russians from making away with some guns they had captured from the allies. But his instructions were vague and the cavalry failed to act quickly. Then he sent more commands, this time by the hand of one, Louis Nolan. Nolan gave the wrong information to the Light Brigade, either to prove a point about how great cavalry was, or completely by accident. We can't know because he died almost immediately. Shortly thereafter many of the men of the Light Brigade would meet the same fate.

    Martensville Satanic Panic - When Satan Comes to Town - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 32:07


    Martensville is a small Canadian town with a huge problem. The Satanic Panic of the 90s is hitting them in full force and making everyone completely paranoid. When satan comes to town will you believe the kids? Or is it the cops who are lying? What happened to cause the satanic panic? Why are there so many accusations without evidence? Was the satanic panic real?   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgyAxRJizc&list=PUvOuG65OWsIUkHGKPKe1UXQ Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Spanish Flu and Morale Laws - How to Hide a Deadly Pandemic - Spanish Flu vs Coronavirus

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 35:44


    While we are currently dealing with Coronavirus, we take a deep look into the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Most specifically we look at how morale laws made it so that the news couldn't report on this extremely deadly flu, leading to the deaths of up to 100 million people. We also look at why it is mistakenly called Spanish Flu, how it started in America, and how it affected World War 1. We also compare it with what is happening right now with Covid-19.  || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgyAxRJizc&list=PUvOuG65OWsIUkHGKPKe1UXQ Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Aqua Dots: The Toy that was Recalled for Containing a Date Rape Drug - Bad Ideas Minisode

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2020 7:02


    Aqua Dots (also known as Bindeez) was a toy bead that was accidentally coated with a chemical that synthesizes into something called GHB, a sedative commonly used as a date rape drug. The Chinese factory that manufactured the beads for the Australia-based Moose Enterprise toy company swapped out the safe chemical 1,5 pentanediol for the less expensive but far more dangerous 1,4 butanediol. Naturally some kids put the beads in their mouths, and several became dangerously ill.

    WeWork Collapse - How Andy Neumann Destroyed WeWork - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2020 32:19


    Why did WeWork collapse? Well Andy Neumann's company would end up crashing and giving him the biggest golden parachute of all time. WeWork built itself into a massive hole of liability and debt while paying huge amounts of cash to purchase unrelated companies. When their S1 filing showed how much they were losing, the company went into freefall. Thousands are being laid off. It is only a matter of time before the complete collapse happens.  || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgyAxRJizc&list=PUvOuG65OWsIUkHGKPKe1UXQ Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix    

    "Mad" Mike Hughes: The Life and Death of the Flat Earth Rocket Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2020 15:35


    "Mad" Mike Hughes was a stunt man who built a rocket out of scraps and tried to launch himself as high and fast as possible. Was he really trying to prove the earth was flat, as he claimed, or was he simply trying to make a name for himself by doing something spectacular and dangerous? We may never know the answer for sure, but this is the story we do know.

    Xu Xiaodong Exposes Fake Martial Arts and Loses Everything - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2020 26:36


    Xu Xiaodong is a Chinese Mixed Martial Artist who has made it his goal in life to expose fake martial arts and kung fu practitioners. Especially those that use qi, death touches, or other mystical forces in their supposed martial arts. After defeating 17 such people, Xu has been ostracized, broken down, and bullied by the Chinese government and the martial arts community. Instead of admitting that they are using flawed combat systems, they are doubling down. He is banned from using public transportation, flying, trains, his gym, and all social media. He's been doxxed and his family faces death threats. Follow us as we venture into the sad story of Xu Xiaodong's fight for truth.   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgyAxRJizc&list=PUvOuG65OWsIUkHGKPKe1UXQ Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Understanding the Sand Creek Massacre | Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2020 33:14


    The Sand Creek Massacre was an atrocity, an attack on Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians who had surrendered to the United States military in a desperate bid for peace. John Chivington (whose name still graces the road near where the massacre took place) with full knowledge of the situation led a band of untrained men to the area and set them loose on the camp, where they indiscriminately killed men women and children alike. Silas Soule stood against the assault by refusing to take part in the massacre and by testifying against Chivington at the hazard of his own life. This is the story of true evil, and the story of the good that stood against it, no matter the cost, no matter the result.

    The AAirpass - American Airlines Offered a Lifetime of First Class Tickets and it Backfired

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2020 18:35


    The AAirpass was a lifetime pass that allowed its members to fly free for the rest of their lives. While this was amazing for them, it would end up costing American Airlines millions. People like Steven Rothstein would go on an average of more than one flight per day. Eventually the airline would strip people of their passes in sad and awkward ways.   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/BadIdeas Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Thomas Midgely Jr. and the Deadly Invention of Leaded Gas - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020 37:48


    Leaded Gasoline was developed by GM to solve the problem of engine knock in the early 20th century. There were other ways to solve engine knock, but they all involved selling LESS OIL (gasp). Also GM couldn't patent them. If only we could have known at the time that lead was a deadly poison. Oh, wait, we did.

    Albania's Ponzi Rebellion and Civil War - When Ponzi Schemes Destroy an Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2020 25:51


    Tony takes a deeper look at the 1997 Albanian Civil War that started because a huge swath of their entire GDP was caught up in ponzi schemes. With offers of 100 percent per month interest, who could say no? Well, when the entire economy collapsed the people rebelled against the new regime. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/BadIdeas Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    How Hype Ruined the Segway - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2020 25:33


    The Segway was a revolutionary invention, and on top of that it was fun to ride. So why did it become the punchline of every joke about mall cops? At least part of the answer can be found in the over-hyping of this machine in the early 2000's. With tiny pieces of information "Steve Jobs says it'll be bigger than the PC!" the internet fabricated all kinds of theories, obsessing over what would turn out to be a fancy scooter. This is the story of how hype helped kill the Segway's chances of changing the world.

    Fordlandia - Ford's Failed Company Town in Brazil - Bad Ideas Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2020 32:14


    Fordlandia was an experiment from Henry Ford to take away the British monopoly on rubber. He decided to set up an entire city in the depths of the amazon, leading to death, vice, riots, and not a whole lot of rubber.  || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/BadIdeas Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    William Walker's One Man Invasion of Nicaragua | Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2020 29:33


    In his time William Walker was known as the Grey Eyed Man of Destiny, probably because the Grey Eyed Man of SUPER Racism wasn't as catchy. He was the most successful of the "filibusters" men who tried to conquer territory in other countries to add to the number of slave states in the United States. His first attempt was an invasion of Mexico which didn't go so well, but it made him popular enough to convince some Nicaraguans to invite him to come and try to invade THEIR country.

    The Vasa - Sweden's Massive Gunboat, and Even Bigger Mistake

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2019 25:47


    The Vasa was a massive 64 gun 200 foot long ship in the 1600s. The massively expensive project was supposed to propel Sweden into the future of their military might, but instead it found the bottom of the sea on its maiden voyage. For 333 years it rested until it was salvaged and set up in a museum. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/BadIdeas Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Burning the Gavle Goat: Sweden's Giant Straw Yule Goat Keeps Getting Destroyed - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2019 20:16


    It is NOT acceptable to set the Gavle Goat on fire. It is against the law. It makes many children sad at a time of year that is very dark and cold in Sweden where the Gavle Goat lives. It destroys hundreds of man-hours of labor. But people keep doing it anyway. For fifty years Swedes in the small town of Gavle have been putting up their giant straw goat around Christmas time, and despite their best efforts to protect it people keep burning it down. This is the story of the Gavle Goat.

    New Coke - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2019 27:37


    Once upon a time Coke thought their classic drink needed a new flavor. We all know it went very wrong. This is the story of how they made that mistake.

    The Poyais Scheme - Gregor MacGregor's Fake Country

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2019 28:22


    Gregor MacGregor was nearly a household name in London for his antics in Central America and the army. When he tried to create a colony in modern day Honduras this notoriety would help him promote and sell huge swaths of land and securities. The only problem was, his country didn't really exist. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/HumanEchoesGaming    Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/BadIdeas Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   Streaming Weekly-       Twitch: https://Twitch.tv/manicpixidrmgirl       Mixer: https://Mixer.com/HumanEchoes   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    John Law and the Mississippi Bubble | Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2019 28:08


    John Law invented modern monetary policy when he saw the Dutch trading money on paper rather than with physical coins. He took his big ideas to France in 1720 convinced the Duke of Orleans to put him in charge of basically the entire French economy. He printed paper money, started a company, and set his sights on profiting from an unexplored area in the New World. Everything was great right up until everything was terrible.

    D.B. Cooper's Copycats - Incompetent Hijackings Gone Wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2019 20:35


    D.B. Cooper might be a legendary criminal who may or may not have survived his skyjacking, but the men we detail here are truly not Cooper. We cover stories about the more than dozen people who tried to pull the same heist as Cooper, but failed miserably. Most notably, Glenn Tripp who got drugged and changed his demands to several cheeseburgers. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix

    Microsoft Bob - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2019 18:09


    Microsoft Bob was the software suite for people who don't know what a software suite is. Unfortunately when you don't know what a software suite is, you're unlikely to buy a software suite, especially when it won't run on your dinky computer. Also, something something Clippy something Comic Sans.

    Heaven's Gate - Marhsall Applewhite's Suicide Cult

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2019 31:49


    This week on Bad Ideas we dive into the Heaven's Gate Cult, a millenarian group led by Marshall Applewhite. The group believed that they would ride a ship hidden behind the Hale-Bopp Comet into a new life of ascendance. Unfortunately the only way to do this was castration and eventual suicide. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    Apple III: The Computer with a 100% Failure Rate | Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2019 22:52


    Apple computers had a good thing going with the Apple II, but they had a problem. It was being bought by BUSINESSES! The Apple II was meant for hobbyists, nerds who wanted to play around with computer stuff, but now BUSINESSES were using it for SPREADSHEETS. Imagine the horror. Something had to be done to rescue those poor businesses from the terrible terrible clutches of the Apple II, and the thing Apple decided to do was to release a computer that didn't work. Like AT ALL. Because that's what businesses like.

    China’s Social Media System – Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2019 27:33


    China’s new social media system is a tyrannical monstrosity that aims to control the lives of its billions of citizens. We give you the details on just a few of the things you can lose by not being a complete model citizen.   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    The Zimmerman Telegram - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2019 24:56


    In 1917 the Germans needed to stop America from getting into World War I. So they asked Mexico to attack. Without considering whether Mexico had the means or will to do so. And without realizing that the British had their telegraph lines bugged. It did not go well for them.

    Curtis Howe Springer and The King of Quacks: The Fraud of Zzyzx

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019 21:43


    Curtis Howe Springer was one of the last medicine men and a quack who operated for decades in the deserts of California. He lied about having several degrees and became a radio minister to hock his own vitamins and panaceas that didn't work. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    The Affairs of Warren G. Harding - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2019 26:11


    Warren G. Harding is frequently ranked by historians as the worst U.S President of ALL TIME. But even before he even became president, he was trouble for the Republican Party. WHY? Because the woman he had been cheating on his wife with, brought his many MANY letters to the blackmail the ENTIRE PARTY into sending her on vacation to Japan, because SHE found out he was cheating on her with ANOTHER woman. Yeah.

    The Devils of Loudun - Urbain Grandier and the Possessed Nuns of Loudun

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 42:59


    Urbain Grandier was a priest in France during the 1600s who was burned at the stake for being a witch. Unfortunately for him it was more a political murder in which 17 nuns were coerced into pretending to be possessed and under his control. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    The Battle of Cannae: Underestimating Hannibal and Ignoring Fabius - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2019 36:17


    Hannibal of Carthage was one of the most brilliant military strategists the world has ever seen, but when he crossed the Alps into Italy, Rome thought they could take him. But one man tried to warn them not to go head to head with Hannibal; Fabius Maximus knew Hannibal would destroy the Roman army if attacked head on. He tried to stop Rome from directly confronting Hannibal, but it's really hard to get people excited about your strategy of hanging around annoying Hannibal until he gets bored and leaves. So Rome decided to ignore Fabius and attack Hannibal directly at the Battle of Cannae.

    Star Citizen - The Most Expensive Crowdfunded Vaporware of All Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2019 31:12


    Star Citizen is a three game 300 million dollar effort without an end in site that has players spending as much as 3000 dollars per ship for a game that will probably never be released. With a target launch date of 2014, we're already 5 years past promised dates and every few weeks the goal posts get moved a little further.    || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    Napoleon's Invasion of Russia - Special Guest Alex Tuna from the Unranked Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2019 34:02


    This week dive deep into Napoleon's invasion of Russia and how you waste 600,000 soldiers over a badly made embargo. Alex "Tuna" from the Unranked Podcast joins us to talk about it.   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    The Edsel: the Fascinating History of Ford's Famous Failure - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2019 34:35


    When Ford created the Edsel they were finally recovering from the disaster of World War II, and the mismanagement of the elder Henry Ford who had become paranoid and unreliable in his later years. A group of men known as the Whiz Kids had helped turn the company into a lean, efficient company, and now it was time to turn the page and write new brighter history with a car that would look to the future. That car, they thought, was the Edsel. You probably know how that turned out. But this is the story who fought for and against the Edsel and why it was such a disaster.

    The Salem Witch Trials - Mass Hysteria in Massachusetts

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2019 35:29


    The Salem Witch Trials were a bit of hysteria in Salem Town and Salem Village during 1692. 20 people were hung, crushed, or died in prisons. Hundreds more were accused. We dig deep and talk about ergot poisoning, hysteria, and how teenagers might be causing hangings out of boredom.   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    Rabbits in Australia - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2019 18:21


    The history of rabbits in Australia goes back as far as the first attempts to colonize the continent. It's understandable why the settlers would have brought the animals along; they multiply quickly and they're pretty good eating. Unfortunately the downside is that they multiply quickly and they're pretty good AT eating. Australia has been battling the rabbit scourge for nearly 150 years. This is the story of that battle.

    Belle Delphine's Bathwater - Buying a Twitch Star's Bathwater - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2019 20:10


    This week we talk about the strange phenomenon of people buying Twitch and YouTuber Belle Delphine's bathwater. It might be a good idea financially for her, but the people drinking it are not quite so smart. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    The Disappointments of the Space Shuttle - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 25:48


    The Space Shuttle is an iconic part of American space flight history. Unfortunately it was a victim of compromise, cost-cutting, and politics from the very beginning.

    Franz Reichelt and his Parachute Suit - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2019 20:58


    Today we talk about Franz Reichelt. a man who tried his hardest to make a parachute suit for aviators in 1912. To prove the value of his invention, he dove from the Eiffel Tower and crashed into the frozen dirt below.   || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    McDonald's vs Supermac's: How McDonald's Lost the BIG MAC Trademark

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2019 23:00


    Supermac's and McDonald's battle started when McDonald's filed an objection to Supermac's planned expansion in the EU. That much, like it or not, was business as usual. But the battle turned into a war when McDonald's tried to take the trademark for one of Supermac's signature dishes, the Snack Box. Supermac's next move was, quite frankly, unbelievable. They filed a claim with the courts that McDonald's was not using the BIG MAC trademark. But what was even more unbelievable was that McDonald's LOST that battle in court. This is the story of that case, and how McDonald's failed to prove that they were using the BIG MAC trademark.

    Tanacon - Tana Mongeau's Failed Revenge on Vidcon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2019 31:51


    Tana Mongeau is a youtuber who was spurned by Vidcon one too many times. After being justifiably angry, she decided to run her own convention to compete directly with Vidcon. Tanacon would be less than two miles from the venue. Unfortunately she did this in under a month and with the very definition of failed event manager Michael Weist.    || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    CED: When Video Went Vinyl - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2019 23:11


    RCA released the CED (aka Selectevision) in 1981 at the height of the format wars, but the "video on a record" format had been in development for decades by that point. When RCA started researching the technology it made sense to try to tap the home video market with new technology, but by the time the product was actually released the market was already pretty well tied up by better and more advanced products. CED's only redeeming quality was price, and being the cheapest wasn't enough to save it (or RCA) from crushing failure.

    The Fall of the Khwarezmian Empire - Don't Kill Genghis Khan's Messenger - Bad Ideas With Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2019 29:16


    Sometimes you pick a fight with the wrong person. The Khwarezmian Shah, Muhammad the 2nd, decided that instead of accepting a trade deal he would behead the messengers of Genghis Khan. Little did he know that this would lead to the destruction of his entire empire and set off a chain of events that would change the middle east forever. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7    Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    Bat Bombs: Weird Failed Weapons of World War II - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2019 15:52


    Despite sounding like something Batman would use, bat bombs were a very real thing that the army (and later navy) experimented with during World War II. They were the brainchild of Dr. Lytle S. Adams who was in Carlsbad Caverns when the war broke out, looked around him and said, "Well these tiny flying things look like they might be able to win the war." They weren't. But it's an interesting story anyway. Some sources we consulted: https://web.archive.org/web/20080531082803/http://www.afa.org/magazine/1990/1090bat.html https://www.7dayadventurer.com/tag/dr-lytle-s-adams/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/04/old-weird-tech-the-bat-bombs-of-world-war-ii/237267/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_bomb

    The Unabomber - Ted Kaczynski's Terror Campaign to End Technology

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019 35:06


    Theodore J. Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, was the sole perpetrator of a string of attacks lasting decades. He would mail bombs to people involved in technology hoping to incite a revolution to return to humanity's wild roots, as well as to exact his revenge on society. Obviously, this is a very bad idea. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7   Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/4shyDUgoc6c   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    Chernobyl - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2019 34:55


    Chernobyl is one of the more important man made disasters of the 20th century. It was the culmination of all our nuclear fears, and arguably the blow that started the final breakdown of the Soviet Union. This is an examination of what caused that disaster, both the technical failures and the human mistakes that contributed to the meltdown.

    The SS Bessemer - A Victorian Age Cure for Sea Sickness - Bad Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2019 22:39


    The SS Bessemer is a paddle steam ship from the 1870s that noted inventor Sir Henry Bessemer. Bessemer was tired of getting sea sick on his voyages so he made a room inside of a ship that was on gimbals and hydraulics. It was a great idea until it made the ship unable to steer and it crashed into the pier of Calais. Twice. || More Human Echoes stuff: http://humanechoes.com || Become a member for BONUS PODCASTS: http://bit.ly/1NkSWnQ || Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HumanEchoes   Watch our Gaming Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRKd5q0ZCV_NX85LePyPAA   Bad Ideas Podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/2yrDfyx   Buy some T-shirts: http://bit.ly/1NetNNP   Join our Community Discord: https://discord.gg/vyMvJx7   Listen to Bad Ideas: https://youtu.be/8RDb6jlY_4A Watch Dirt Block: https://youtu.be/MfdHU-E_N70 Watch Dwarf Fortress: https://youtu.be/H2KR9Ny4iy8   You can also follow the Human Echoes Peeps on Twitter! @HumanEchoes @tsouthcotte @albert_berg @josephdevon @ManicPix  

    Sunn Classic Pictures: Family Values, Twisted History, and Ancient Aliens - Bad Ideas with Al and Tony

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2019 32:33


    Sunn Classic Pictures' history spans little more than a decade. They started out with the goal of making family friendly entertainment, movies that middle America could take their kids to on a Saturday without having to worry about the profanity and violence that seemed to be on the upswing in Hollywood at the time. Between knowing their market, and having a clever distribution strategy, Sunn Classic Pictures did pretty well for themselves. But then they found out about ancient aliens, and things started to slide from family friendly to fake news.

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