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On this week's accidental Irish special, Harrison looks at Irish neutrality during the second world war. Ireland remained neutral, but as one politician put it, neutral on the Allied side. The new country of Ireland walked a dangerous line to stay neutral but not upset too many people along the way.Chris, meanwhile, investigates the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels in 1907 and how an incredible list of missed opportunities in the run-up to the theft could potentially have stopped the thieves in their tracks. Everything isn't as it seems however, as the jewels weren't actually Crown Jewels like the British ones are, but listen in to find out the whole story.Harrison's SourcesIrish neutrality during World War IIBehind the Green Curtain: Ireland's phoney neutrality during World War IIIreland during the Second World WarThe Emergency – A Brief OverviewWhy didn't Ireland Fight in World War 2? (Short Animated Documentary)Chris' SourcesThe Crown Jewels The Greatest Unsolved Heist in Irish History Dublin Metropolitan Police stolen poster On This Day: The Irish Crown Jewels disappear from Dublin Castle in 1907 Wikipedia article on Arthur Vicars If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

On this week's episode, Chris has learnt about the different ways that the CIA attempted to assassinate Fidel Castro, all 638 of them. Well, the most interesting of the 638 attempts anyway. From the very famous exploding cigar to the slightly bonkers poisoned diving suit to the less subtle hiring of the mafia, the CIA made many attempts to get rid of the communist leader. Either they weren't very good, or his security was excellent because he lived a very long life.Then Harrison has learnt about the most expensive party ever thrown. In 1971, the Shah of Iran wanted to prove to the world how rich and sophisticated his country was. The preparations took more than a year and involved the building of a 1,000km highway, a 160 acre “city of tents” and an enormous food order from Paris. The party may have been a hit, but the long term consequences of the party, especially for the Shah, were severe. Follow UpEpisode 26 - The Queen's speech and some unusual jobsNew Zealand council ends contract with wizard after two decades of serviceEpisode 2: Pablo Escobar's hippos and the most camels in the worldA herd of ‘cocaine hippos' from Pablo Escobar's private zoo are being sterilizedHarrison's Sources2,500-year celebration of the Persian EmpireCyrus CylinderThe most expensive party everDecadence and Downfall: The Shah of Iran's Ultimate PartyThe Biggest Party EverThe $22 Million Party that Overthrew an EmpireIranian Revolution [1978–1979]Chris' SourcesWikipedia article on Fidel Castro Fidel Castro biography CIA Attempted to Assassinate Fidel Castro with an Exploding Cigar 8 Bizarre Ways the CIA Tried to Kill Fidel Castro Killing Fidel Castro: Poisoned Cigars, Explosive Seashells Close but no cigar: how America failed to kill Fidel Castro JFK Files: The CIA Planned To Assassinate Cuba's Fidel Castro With Exploding Seashell If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, Harrison tells the spooky tail of London's Necropolis Railway, a rather unusual solution to London's problem in the mid 1800's of having simply too many dead people. A company was established that would provide a full service railway funeral, taking the body and mourners from Waterloo to their picturesque cemetery in Surrey. It's creators confidently predicted that it would be able to bury all of London's dead for hundreds of years and bury more than 50 million people in 100 years. Listen in to find out how they did (spoiler alert, not well).Then Chris has learnt about War Plan Red, America's plan to invade Canada that was drawn up in 1930. Imagine it, what if three allies - the United States, United Kingdom and Canada decided to go to war? Well, War Plan Red really focused on the US invading Canada in order to stop the British in their tracks. This episode also includes Canada's plan to invade the US (they were all at it!) so clearly in between the world wars, the major western powers were very jittery around each other. Fortunately that is no longer the case today…Harrison's SourcesLondon Necropolis RailwayLondon Necropolis railway stationLondon Necropolis Railway - From Waterloo to eternity and backThe London Railway of the Dead - YouTube - Tom ScottLONDON NECROPOLIS RAILWAY: TRAINS FOR THE DEADThis abandoned railway was London's train for the deadChris' SourcesThat Time the U.S. Almost Went to War With Canada The secret Canadian plan to invade the US War Plan Red When, Why, and How did the United States enter WW2? The Date America Joins the PartyIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris discovered the time that the Imperial Japanese Navy flooded Nagasaki when they launched the largest battleship - the Musashi - to ever sail the seas. Whilst the Japanese engineers managed to stop the ship just one metre past the point they thought it would roll off its dry-dock, they failed to account for the tidal wave it would create. Also in this episode, you'll find out all about NATO's floppy magnets. That's right, at the height of the Cold War, just after the Cuban Missile Crisis, NATO decided they needed a simple and effective means of tracking Soviet submarines. Only, the idea that was dreamt up was a little too efficient…Meanwhile Harrison has been looking in to the history of coffee. From the origin of the plants that give us the coffee beans to the culture that's grown up around coffee and the influences it's had throughout history. Learn why beans smuggled in a bouquet of flowers are today responsible for 39% of beans grown in 2020, how coffee houses were known as penny universities and how the punishment for being caught drinking a cup of coffee involved a cudgel, a sack and a river. Charming!Chris' Sources4 military fails so awful they're actually hilarious Japan's WW2 'Musashi battleship wreck found' Japanese battleship Musashi NATO Bombed Soviet Submarines With Tiny, Annoying Magnets Royal Navy plan to hunt Russian submarines with magnets was TOO successful Harrison's SourcesCoffee - WikipediaThe Coffee Bean BeltCoffee: The Greatest Addiction Ever - YouTubeThe History of Coffee - NCAUSAHistory of Coffee - Brewing Controversy - YouTubeHistory of Coffee - Global Addiction - YouTubeIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Harrison investigates the British Interplanetary Society which was found in 1933 and is the world's longest established organisation devoted solely to supporting and promoting the exploration of space and astronautics. It seems likely that because of this incredible society, Britain could have been first to the moon after World War II, if the country hadn't been completely broke and on its knees. Join us on a voyage of discovery!Chris meanwhile learns about the blue people of Kentucky. Through incredibly bad luck, Martin Fugate, a Frenchman who emigrated to the United States in 1820 married a woman who had the same regressive gene that coloured his skin blue. Over 150 years, inbreeding and lack of understanding, the gene meant multiple generations of the Fugate's and three other families in one small area of Kentucky suffered with blue skin, marking them out as different. Fortunately modern science came to the rescue…BBC News - Charles and Diana's wedding cake slice sells for £1,850Harrison's SourcesEpisode 5: Typhoid Mary and all about spacesuitsEpisode 68 - Zambia's astronauts and the Battle for Castle ItterBritish Interplanetary Society - WikipediaThe British Interplanetary SocietyThe BIS Lunar SpaceshipHow a Nazi rocket could have put a Briton in spaceSpace Suit: 1949 - WiredThe BIS Lunar Spacesuit - National Space CentreThe Lunar Space SuitThe Long-Forgotten History of the British Moon SpacesuitChris' SourcesWhat Scientists Found After Analyzing Cases of Inbreeding in the UK Wikipedia article on Methemoglobinemia The Fugate Family of Kentucky Had Blue Skin For Generations If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

It's time for another mini facts special! The boys have both found 10 fun facts that weren't quite enough to fill an entire episode, but are still very interesting. very funny or perhaps both at once!Learn about a man who massively over paid for a curry, the reason we hear a count down before a rocket launch, the most rigged election in history and what makes British tanks unique in the world. All of this and more in this week's episode. Chris' SourcesOld, Weird Tech: Parachuting Sheep EditionThe Hottest Inhabited Place On Earth Will Dazzle You With Its Bright Yellow-Green coloursHow One Inventor Tried to Save America—With Roller CoastersQueen Elizabeth's 'body double' has been kept a secret from public for 30 yearsWhy USA Started A $100000 Bill And What Happened To It?NASA Stole the Rocket Countdown From a 1929 Fritz Lang FilmThe Origin of the Eiffel TowerNumber of visitors to the Eiffel Tower in Paris from 2011 to 2019BBC Countryfile visits the Royal Dairy at Windsor Castle20 UK Tea Industry Statistics and TrendsCare for a spot of tea? British Tanks double as tea-making facilitiesDid you know all British tanks have been equipped with tea making facilities since the end of World War II?The Cat TelephoneWilliam McKinley Gave Away His Good Luck Charm (And Died)Harrison's SourcesThe 1927 Presidential Elections1927 Liberian general electionJean de Selys LongchampsThe crazy-but-true story of a WWII fighter pilot who said his artificial legs saved his lifeFunny story of WW2 pilot Sir Douglas Bader resurfacesRasputin and the EmpressAll persons fictitious disclaimerNorth-east business owner's shock after customer pays £1m for three-course mealWoman Accidentally Enters Her PIN as a Tip on Restaurant Terminal, Is Now Out $7,73250 Things About Europe You Never KnewWhy Winter Olympic Athletes Are Getting More Condoms Than Ever BeforeEx-long jump star Susen Tiedtke spills sex secrets of Olympic village with noisy romps keeping athletes up all nightATHLETES GIVEN “ANTI-SEX” BEDS AT THE TOKYO OLYMPIC VILLAGETokyo Olympics athletes warned not to use 160,000 free condomsMan who never wanted to ride in fighter jet accidentally ejects himselfThey're just loco - Britain's most bizarre train stationsWeird Football Facts11 Unfortunate or Strange Football FactsChart of the day: You're probably not afraid of Australia's deadliest animalsIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, Chris checks out the time that the United States Postal Service decided that delivering their mail by cruise missile should be a thing. We kid you not, they actually launched 3000 letters from a US Navy submarine for delivery to the US President amongst others. The boys aren't sure it was a very viable plan as launching the missile in 1955 cost US$267,000. Still, it helped the US Navy flex in the face of the Soviets during the Cold War!Harrison meanwhile discovers the completely bonkers sequel to the 101 Dalmatians called ‘The Starlight Barking‘. You might think it would involve 102 dalmatians, but how wrong you would be. When the world's people are put to sleep by a super dog, every dog on the planet has super powers! They don't need to drink or eat, can communicate with each other telepathically and have assumed the roles their owners had in the British government. Suffice to say, Disney have never actually made this story into a movie, but come with us on a magical journey of discovery to find out if Dodie Smith was on LSD when she wrote it.Chris' SourcesEnduring Stockpile Bombs Dropped On Vietnam Compared To WW2 Here Is What Each Of The Pentagon's Air-Launched Missiles And Bombs Actually Cost Congreve rocket Stephen Smith (aerospace engineer) Mail Delivered by Regulus Missile Regulus I Astronautix.com Regulus I That Time the U.S. Postal Service Tried Delivering Mail By Missile Harrison's SourcesThe Hundred and One DalmatiansThe Starlight BarkingWeirdest sequel ever? The Starlight Barking, Dodie SmithSo, most people are unaware that One Hundred and One Dalmatians, the novel, has a bonkers sequel called The Starlight Barking…If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week's episode is a corker. Harrison delves into the post-colonial world of the Zambian Afronauts. That's right, whilst the Cold War was raging and both the Americans and Soviets were throwing everything, including the kitchen sink at getting a man on the moon, the possibly most unlikely nation on earth decided to throw its hat into the ring. Well, more specifically, Edward Mukuka Nkoloso wanted to put Zambians on the moon and Mars! It's a crazy story that involves the budding afronauts being pushed down hills in oil barrels and swung from trees in tyres to simulate the lack of gravity on the celestial bodies. You have to listen to believe it.Chris meanwhile relays the story of the only documented time that the Americans fought side-by-side with the Germans during World War II to defend a number of high-profile French VIPs from certain death at the hands of the SS. If the story of the Battle for Castle Itter wasn't true, it could easily have been thought up by a budding Hollywood screenwriter, it's so strange. In the dying days of World War II, a German Wehrmacht unit of roughly 20 men and just seven Americans battled through the night to save the VIPs. A possibly stranger tale doesn't exist from World War II!Harrison's SourcesZambiaThe Time When Zambia Tried To Go To MarsAfronauts – Zambia's Space ProgramThe Zambian “Afronaut” Who Wanted to Join the Space RaceMeet ‘The Afronauts': An Introduction to Zambia's Forgotten 1960s Space ProgramImage of the News ArticleChris' SourcesWikipedia article on Battle of Castle Itter The Battle for Castle Itter If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Following on from last week's episode, Chris stays in Martinique, the beautiful Caribbean island, but turns to a dark tale when 30,000 people died on the French island in minutes. The year was 1902 and Mt. Pelee erupted at 7:52am on 8 May. There were just three known survivors - a little girl who was found floating out at sea some time after the eruption, someone the authorities labelled a “madman” and promptly armed with a gun and a hardened criminal who survived a flash temperature rise to 1000 degrees centigrade inside his prison cell. This story has it all!Harrison meanwhile focused on the incredible story of the African American civil rights leader, Megdar Evers, who was assassinated on 12 June 1963, aged just 37 years old. He is perhaps not as well known as other leaders who gave their life, but we think he should be. Medgar worked to desegregate schools and to bring attention to cases of inequality. For this he was shot in the back outside his home, and his killer was thrown a parade after being let off twice. Chris' SourcesLonely Planet article on Martinique Lonely Planet article on St-Pierre The Prison Cell of Ludger Sylbaris Saint-Pierre and the Prison Cell of Ludger Sylbaris Wikipedia article on Ludger Sylbaris Mt. Pelee Eruption (1902) Léon Compère-Léandre Wikipedia article on Mount Pelée Harrison's SourcesThe Assassination of Medgar Evers - A Hero Silenced - Extra HistoryMEDGAR EVERS - NAACPMedgar Evers - WikipediaCivil rights leader Medgar Evers is assassinatedMedgar Evers - FBI HistoryNAACPMyrlie Evers-WilliamsIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, Harrison has returned to Chris' topic from episode 23, famous idioms and where they come from. Ever wondered why we talk about Crocodile tears, running amok, winning hands down or turning a blind eye? Well listen to this episode and wonder no longer! Chris meanwhile discovers the incredible story of Diamond Rock, a few kilometres off the coast of the Caribbean island of Martinique which is a part of France. During the Napoleonic Wars, the British Navy took it upon itself to take over the tiny rock, commission it as a stone frigate (a land-based naval facility) and station cannons all over it. Due the location of the rock, it meant the British sailors stationed on there spent 17 months harrying any enemy shipping attempting to head to Martinique. When the French and Spanish finally sent a combined fleet to deal with the pesky British sailors, they took heavy losses and sailed away when they heard Nelson was in the area hunting for them.The best bit? When the British Navy commissioned the location, it turned into HMS Diamond Rock, which all Royal Navy ships are required to salute when the pass. We love the British and their arcane ways!Harrison's SourcesEpisode 23 - Idioms and where they come from plus the Aussie emu war14 Expressions with Origins that You Would Never Have Guessed13 English Expressions with Surprisingly Funny Origins10 Common Sayings With Historical OriginsHoratio Nelson, 1st Viscount NelsonEVER WONDER ABOUT CROCODILE TEARS?Chris' SourcesAre Diamonds Actually Unbreakable? De Beers' most famous ad campaign marked the entire diamond industry Brilliant Under Pressure: The Global Diamond Industry 2020–21 Martinique: overseas department, France Napoleonic Wars Diamond Rock Battle of Diamond Rock If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week on the internet, Chris learns about the time when a Soviet air force pilot defected to Japan with an at the time state of the art MiG-25 that the Americans and their allies were desperate to get their hands on. From flying blind, to landing at a civilian airport with too short a runway to accommodate the warplane through the Japanese finally crating up and sending back the fighter jet and charging the Soviets for the pleasure. This story has it all!Harrison meanwhile discovers three costly construction cock-ups! The first building created a death ray that caused havoc on the streets of London as cars were slightly melted and one man's welcome mat was slightly scorched. Then there is the New York skyscraper that could have toppled over, had an engineering student not realised that the designers had messed up their maths. Finally the airport in Berlin that was delayed for nearly 10 years because of thousands of problems and finally opened right in the middle of the Coronavirus lockdown! Chris' SourcesThe pilot who stole a secret Soviet fighter jet Cold War Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Viktor Belenko INTELLIGENCE: Bonanza or Bust? Defection of Viktor Belenko Harrison's SourcesMost Expensive Construction Mistakes in the World - Youtube20 Fenchurch StreetDid British weather save the day from Walkie Talkie ‘death ray'?Citigroup CenterThe Design Flaw That Almost Wiped Out an NYC SkyscraperBerlin Brandenburg AirportBerlin Brandenburg: The airport with half a million faultsWhy Berlin's 15 Year-Old Airport has Never Had a Flight - YoutubeIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this episode, Harrison learns about the historic character, Lord Timothy Dexter. Dexter was either a lucky eccentric or a man who knew just what he was doing and had a longing to be accepted by American high society. Despite investing hugely in goods that many people thought were completely pointless and would undoubtedly lose him money, Dexter always seemed to come out on top, earning huge amounts of money. He never found the social acceptance he craved so badly though.Chris meanwhile discovered the lives of three women who really should be more famous than they are. From Agent 355 who was a spy during the American Revolutionary War between American and Britain, to Hedy Lamarr who was a Hollywood actress and the “Mother of WiFi” to Violet Jessop who managed to survive three significant ships sinking, including the RMS Titanic. These women aren't known to the majority of people, but really should be!Harrison's SourcesTimothy DexterThe Strange Life of 'Lord' Timothy DexterTimothy Dexter, the Ridiculous Millionaire Who Sold Coals to NewcastleProject Gutenberg's A Pickle For The Knowing Ones, by Lord Timothy DexterChris's SourcesAgent 355: Female Spy Who Changed the Course of the American Revolution Wikipedia article on Agent 355 Wikipedia article on Benedict Arnold Wikipedia article on HMS Jersey Hedy Lamarr Wikipedia article on Hedy Lamarr Hedy Lamarr official website This Woman Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic — And Its Two Sister Ships Wikipedia article on Violet Jessop Wikipedia article on the RMS Olympic If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

On this week's episode, Chris has found out about some of the innovations that came from Tuberculosis. It may surprise, or disgust you, to learn how ice cream used to be served. Warning, don't listen whilst eating or before consuming ice cream. We can't be held responsible for the results!Then Harrison has been learning about the worst of the worst of Roman Emperors. Lots of murdering, spending huge amounts of money on foolish things, ego the size of mountains and lots and lots of sexy time. What more could you ask?

This week Harrison found out all about Freeborn John Lilburne, a stubborn son of a gun that Chris has decided is his new hero. As well as taking a castle after his superior officer told him not to, he was thrown in jail many many times, often after the court had released him on the promise that he'd keep out of trouble. He didn't. He fought for the rights of thee people, standing up for what he called their freeborn rights. The right to keep silent and not incriminate yourself being prime among them. If you're recently heard the “Miranda Rights” on a tv show or movie, you have John to thank for them!Chris meanwhile learnt about the fire that burnt down the British Parliament in 1834. Various architects had warned for years that if a fire started in Parliament, it would almost certainly rage out of control. Of course no one listened and that's exactly what happened when the Clark of Works ordered that a large number of tally sticks be burned on 16 October 1834. The fire might have been stopped if only someone had paid attention to the heat and smoke rising into the House of Lords from the furnaces below the floor…Harrison's SourcesJohn LilburneJohn BastwickStar ChamberJohn Lilburne - English politicianFifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-IncriminationFREE-BORN JOHNJohn Lilburne and Habeas Corpus | History - The Strange Case of the LawThe Remarkable John Lilburne | Michael BraddickHow Much Do We Owe to John Lilburne Today? | Michael BraddickFacts and Case Summary - Miranda v. ArizonaChris's SourcesBirth of the English Parliament Houses of Parliament The architects: Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin Destruction by fire, 1834 Tally stick 16 October 1834: Houses of Parliament burn down The Fire of 1834 and the Old Palace of WestminsterIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this episode Chris learns about a cyber-attack that occurred in France in 1834. Whilst computers didn't exist at the time, the French government did utilise a network of towers called the ‘Semaphore Network' to relay messages across the country. At the time sending letters via horses and carriages was the norm so the semaphore network was an incredible invention that enabled messages to be sent at incredible speed. However, just like any technology, people have a way of corrupting it. In this case, a couple of brothers managed to make it work for them, making them lots of money in the process.Harrison meanwhile discovers a number of bomb scares with happy endings. You might not consider bomb scares to be funny experiences, but sometimes it turns out that way. What if it wasn't really a WWII bomb that the old man found in his garden or a grenade on a path in the woods. Tune in to find out now!Chris' SourcesCyber Attack Definition The Morris Worm - 30 Years Since First Major Attack on the Internet Claude Chappe How the world's first “cyberattack” looked 200 years ago The crooked timber of humanity Inc.com article on the Blanc brothersHarrison's SourcesHazardous grenade found in German forest turns out to be hazardous grenade-shaped butt plugHuge Butt Plug Sparks Grenade Scare in GermanyWWII bomb scare leads police to big zucchiniWatch This Serious News Anchor Try To Report On Funny Bathroom 'Bomb Scare'If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Harrison and Chris decided to try another mini-facts episode, after the success of the last one during episode 50.This time, the boys range from Marie Curie's radioactive belongings through the small farming town of Quincy, Florida that at one time was the richest place in the United States per capita to why Queen Elizabeth can't sit on the Game of Thrones Iron Throne. It's spectacular stuff so listen now to laugh your way through 20 completely random facts!Chris' Sources What Can 28,000 Rubber Duckies Lost at Sea Teach Us About Our Oceans?NYC Has Its Own Ant, the “ManhattAnt”Frisbee golf inventor's dying wish / He wants his ashes molded into memorial discs The Man Responsible for the Modern Frisbee Design and the “Father of Disc Golf” was Cremated and Had His Ashes Molded Into Frisbees Marie Curie's Belongings Will Be Radioactive For Another 1,500 YearsWhy people used to look so serious in photos but now have big smilesThe Town of Coca-Cola MillionairesNew Clue May Be the Key to Cracking CIA Sculpture's Final Puzzling Passage Documents Reveal How the NSA Cracked the Kryptos Sculpture Years Before the CIA The Crazy Reason Queen Elizabeth Couldn't Sit on the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones"The average South Korean is 3 inches taller than the average North Korean, a huge gulag."Funeral Music Chart 2019Harrison's SourcesPolls of Future Past: Public Expectations for the Future of ScienceThomas Fitzpatrick (pilot)You won't believe where McDonald's opened its first drive-thruThe Man Buried in a Pringles CanBerwick-upon-Tweed's ‘War with Russia'Space Shuttle Challenger disasterUS Navy Naval Sea Systems Command Report on the Salvage of the Space Shuttle Challenger WreckageSaints and Sinners - Robert ListonHow William Wrigley invented direct marketingWho is Beverly, anyway? (Beverly Hills Centennial: The history)I would like to retain ‘fart in your general direction'P.S. This is my favorite memo everIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris finds out about 35 horrific axe murders that happened in the American south in the early 1910s. The febrile rumours that spread at the time say they involved a Voodoo priestess, a reverend and the Church of Sacrifice. But was the real killer ever found…?Harrison meanwhile discovers an incredible airline hijack in 1970. A bunch of Japanese students that were members of the Red Army Faction of the Communist League tried to fly the plane to Cuba. The only problem was they hijacked a regional jet that could never make it across the Pacific Ocean. Not to be outdone, they demanded the plane was flown to North Korea and that's when the real drama started.Chris' SourcesBrits' beliefs about God(s) Wikipedia article about Clementine Barnabet Daily Signal reporting Lafayette Advertiser reporting The Federal Writers Project The 'Voodoo' Murders of Clementine Barnabet, Who Claimed to Have Killed 35 People Harrison's SourcesDestination Pyongyang: the Yodo hijacking incident, 50 years onJapanese Jet Is Hijacked But Lands Safely at SeoulJapan Airlines Flight 351Boeing 727Japanese Red ArmyJapanese hijackers go home after 32 years on the runFormer Red Army Faction leader Takaya Shiomi dies, aged 76If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week Harrison learns about Devil's Porridge, the name given to Cordite by Arthur Conan Doyle. Cordite was instrumental to success on the front lines during World War One, and with all of the men on the front line, the dirty and dangerous work fell on the women. Production had to be done by hand and often resulted in accidents and death. Then Chris has learnt about the night of the horrified sheep, in fact, two nights! Mysteriously, in the middle of the night, thousands of sheep absolutely lost their shit, and no one is entirely sure why. Of course, that didn't stop several people putting forward their own theories, including thick darkness!Harrison's SourcesUncovering the stories of the 'Devil's Porridge' mixersThe Devil's Porridge Museum The Devils PorridgeBattle of AubersShell Crisis of 1915CorditeHM Factory, GretnaROF BishoptonChris' SourcesUnderstanding the stress response Man, 82, killed after being attacked by cows Sheep in the UK An Introduction to Sheep Behavior Charles Fort The Mysterious Oxfordshire Sheep Panic of 1888 The Strange Case of the Great Sheep Panics of Oxfordshire Sheep Panics If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris' SourcesFighting Jack ChurchillWikipedia article on Jack Churchill‘Mad' Jack Churchill – The Only Man To Kill An Enemy Soldier With A Longbow In WW2Harrison's SourcesThe Female Programmers Who Put Men on the MoonMargaret Hamilton: ‘They worried that the men might rebel. They didn't'Margaret Hamilton Led the NASA Software Team That Landed Astronauts on the MoonHer Code Got Humans on the Moon—And Invented Software ItselfMargaret Hamilton (software engineer) - WikipediaIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Harrison's SourcesCasablanca ConferenceOperation BarclayTrout memoJohn Henry GodfreyIan FlemingOperation MincemeatOperation Mincemeat: How a dead tramp fooled HitlerWhat was Operation Mincemeat?Chris' SourcesSolar Storm and Space Weather - Frequently Asked QuestionsNorthern Lights Likely This Week As Strongest ‘Solar Storm' Yet In Sun's Cycle Kicks-Off ‘Aurora Season'Richard Christopher CarringtonA Perfect Solar Superstorm: The 1859 Carrington EventWe're Overdue For The 150-year Carrington EventNew Study Suggests Solar Storm in 1967 Nearly Caused Nuclear WarThe May 1967 great storm and radio disruption event: Extreme space weather and extraordinary responsesIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris learns about a fire that has been burning for the past 59 years and is predicted to burn for between another 100-250 years. The mad thing is, it could have been completely avoided if a certain city council didn't dump rubbish down a mine shaft and then purposely set fire to it… In real terms, it means a city in Pennsylvania has been all-but abandoned, whilst graffiti artists have covered the local highway in, well, graffiti!Meanwhile, Harrison found out about an audacious World War II plan dreamt up by the British secret service called ‘Operation Mincemeat'. This wartime mission was so insane, Harrison has decided to split his part of the podcast across two episodes!Harrison's SourcesCasablanca ConferenceOperation BarclayTrout memoJohn Henry GodfreyIan FlemingOperation MincemeatOperation Mincemeat: How a dead tramp fooled HitlerWhat was Operation Mincemeat?Chris' SourcesMining Total assets of BHP from 2009 to 2020 Coal and Air Pollution Coal Fatalities for 1900 Through 2020 Who Were the Molly Maguires? A Town with a Hot Problem Decides Not to Move Mountains but to Move Itself A Walk in the Woods (book) This Mine Fire Has Been Burning For Over 50 Years If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this episode, Harrison learns about a Geoffrey Pyke, also know as Churchill's Snowman. Pyke was British and can somewhat charitably be called eccentric, but he had many ideas that whilst at first view might seem completely insane - such as building a 2km long aircraft carrier out of ice that could let WWII bombers take off and land - he was clearly a clever guy. It's a real shame the British don't take strange ideas more seriously.Chris meanwhile discovered the time that a bunch of Russian “Cossacks” who weren't Cossacks at all invaded and tried to colonise a part of Africa, which at the time was colonised by the French. After about a month, the French lost their patience and sent in a flotilla of gunboats. Best of all the rag-tag army of Cossacks was led by a 23 year old Russian who until his African adventure had the ear of Czar Alexander III. The late 19th century was a strange time.Harrison's SourcesGeoffrey PykePykreteGeoffrey Nathaniel Pyke; 1894 -1948Geoffrey Pyke: The man behind the 'iceberg aircraft carrier'Geoffrey Pyke - Inventor, genius, fugitive, spyChris' SourcesThere Are Only 22 Countries in the World That the British Haven't Invaded How Russian 'Cossacks' tried to conquer Africa The Half-Cocked Cossack If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, Chris has learnt about the truly horrific winter of 1948/1949, that saw the American government send thousands of people to clear snow and ice and rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed by three months of snow. Chris tells us a few stories involving cows, dynamite and an unusual trip to a hospital. Then Harrison has been learning about crime in Japan, specifically bank robberies. Japan has the lowest murder rate in the world and some of the lowest crime rates, but that only means that when such things as bank robberies happen, they are quite remarkable. Learn how 3 robberies occurred, one with a note, one with a gun and some bandages and one with some pills and an armband. Harrison's SourcesCrime in Japan300 million yen robberyWho was the mysterious motorcyclist behind infamous Japanese heist? After 50 years, the case remains unsolvedBiggest Bank Heist Ever in JapanA Cost-Savings Measure Carries $5.4 Million TabRobbers Send Thank You NoteThe Mystery of Mass Cyanide Poisoning and Bank Robbery in JapanSadamichi HirasawaChris' SourcesSnow at Heathrow and Gatwick ruins plans of thousands Passengers suffer on trains stuck in Channel Tunnel Average Temperatures for Nebraska in December Average Temperatures for Wyoming in December Average Temperatures for Colorado in December Historical Vignette 122 - Operation Snowbound Freezing, hungry and trapped: 1949 blizzard left thousands stranded The Notorious Blizzard of 1949 For Texas, The Worst Of The Weather Has Passed, But Water Is Still A Big Problem If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Harrison builds on Chris' British royal family focus by finding out which royals have actual jobs. Take for example, young Prince Nikolai of Denmark - he's seventh in line to the throne so doesn't get access to the royal purse. What's the solution? Go and be a model. Chris wasn't impressed…Chris meanwhile learns about the creepy practice (to modern ears at least) of creating death masks. These masks were created generally within hours of a person's death and then used to display around the home, or create statues based on their likeness. Perhaps unsurprisingly Madame Tussaud got her start by making death masks, though she perhaps didn't really want to do so.Harrison's SourcesMembers of the world's royal families who work for a livingPrince Harry, Duke of SussexPrince William, Duke of CambridgePrince Philip, Duke of EdinburghWillem-Alexander of the NetherlandsMeet the King of Rwanda who lives in a council house in ManchesterMarie-Chantal, Crown Princess of GreecePrince Nikolai of DenmarkChris' SourcesThe Crazy True History Of Death Masks Tutankhamun Madame Tussauds history Wikipedia article on Marie Tussaud Turns Out, CPR Doll's Face Is A Copy Of 19th Century Drowned Woman's FaceIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, Chris has been looking in to the procedures and processes that will happen when the Queen dies. This includes a period of national mourning when no comedy will be played on the BBC and mournful music only will be heard on the radio. It may surprise you to hear that he has some Thoughts on this!Then Harrison tells the story of what is considered to be the worst corporate giveaway in history. One so bad it took a company that had entered the lexicon in the UK, and brought it to its knees. It was an offer too good to be true, in so many ways.Chris' SourcesQueen Victoria Royal record: How long has Queen Elizabeth II been on the throne? Extraordinary milestone Justin Welby: I hope I do not oversee Queen's funeral Most currencies featuring the same individual Britain's new plastic banknotes will cost 50% more to make—but at least they'll fit in your wallet What will happen when the Queen dies? Britain's TV and Radio Stations Already Have a Meticulous Plan for Queen Elizabeth II's Death The military drill that sparked WhatsApp rumours of Queen's deathHarrison's SourcesGeneric trademarkHoover free flights promotionThe worst sales promotion in historyHoover's free flights fiasco recalledThat time hoover accidentally cost itself almost £50,000,000 by giving away free flights with the purchase of a vacuum cleanerIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, to celebrate the podcast reaching 50 episodes, Harrison and Chris have each put together a list of 10 mini facts they've discovered whilst researching topics from the last year. These are all things that are not quite enough for an entire episode on their own, but were just too funny or interesting to leave out! Learn about the president who liked to hide from his secret service agents, the festival that involves jumping over children, a Chinese general who defeated an army with only a lute and the story of the pink lake pictured above.Thank you so much for your support for the last 50 episodes of We Love The Internet, here's to 50 more! Chris' SourcesJohn F. Kennedy Podium Apollo 11: 'The greatest single broadcast in television history' Meet the first man who ‘peed' on moon! He is not Neil Armstrong Why Doesn't Artificial Banana Flavor Taste Like Bananas?10 Most Bizarre Festivals in The World Look Inside Spain's Unusual Baby Jumping Festival Polar Bears: Is climate change putting them risk of Arctic extinction? Will I die if I eat polar bear liver? MIT Has Had a Secret Pirate Program This Whole TimeHow Lobster Got FancyWhy This Company Sent Poop to 30,000 People for Black FridayLake Hillier: Australia's Pink Lake and the Story Behind ItWhy does Hawaii's flag include the Union Flag?The Word "Quarantine" Comes from the Italian Word "Forty Days" Black Death Harrison's SourcesThe Time Julius Caesar Was Captured by PiratesU.S. President Calvin Coolidge Buzzed His Bodyguards, Then Hid Under His DeskLyndon Johnson Liked Taking His Advisors Out For Joyrides That Ended With This Terrifying PrankThis mystery writers' prank would make an incredible sociological experimentIn 1866, 80 men went to war — this is why 81 came homeHow accurate is the assertion that Britain has invaded all but 22 countries in the world?Mithridates VI EupatorEMPTY FORT STRATEGYKoalas make a monkey out of the policeThe fastest red card in footballIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this episode Chris explores Ida Wood's life (pictured above). Ida was one of New York's socialites from around 1857 through to 1907 when she suddenly disappeared and subsequently lived life as a hermit with her sister and daughter in the Herald Square Hotel. That was until 24 years later when Ida's sister became sick and she sought help. What became clear was Ida was an extremely wealthy women, but essentially lived in squalor. It's a fascinating tale of one woman doing what she thought was best to hang onto her wealth.Harrison meanwhile investigates Ernest Hemingway's crazy life, from fighting with the French Resistance during WWII behind enemy lines to living through two plane crashes in two days (and escaping of the planes by smashing his head against the jammed door!). Unfortunately for the accomplished writer, depression, or his “Black Dog” as he called it, stalked him and eventually caused him to commit suicide. A terribly sad end for such an incredible force of nature.Chris' SourcesWikipedia article on Ida Wood Wikipedia article on Benjiman Wood Earl of Crawford Benjamin Wood Panic of 1907 The story of the rich New York socialite who hid in a hotel room for 24 years How Ida Wood Talked Her Way Into The Manhattan Elite But Died 'The Recluse Of Herald Square' Everything Was Fake but Her Wealth Fascinating Ida – Frank McNally on the continued story of Ida Wood, a rich recluse who hid her humble Irish origins Harrison's Sources22 Facts About Ernest Hemingway10 Surprising Facts About Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway - Britannica Biography45 Macho Facts About Ernest HemingwayFive Fascinating Facts about Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway - WikipediaDeath in the AfternoonIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

How long do you think the shortest war in history was? You'll probably be surprised to learn that it came in between 38 and 45 minutes! In this episode, Harrison finds out about the time the British went to war with the Zanzibar in 1896, against a group of unprepared locals, making it history's shortest war.Chris meanwhile discovered the time that German saboteurs bombed New York, resulting in the loss of five lives. What was extraordinary was the explosions didn't kill more people and although the Americans later joined World War I in support of the Allies, it wasn't because of this terrorist incident.Harrison's SourcesList of conflicts by durationReconquistaSultanate of ZanzibarAnglo-Zanzibar WarKhalid bin Barghash of ZanzibarHHS GlasgowWhy the Shortest War in History Lasted 38 MinutesChris' SourcesSeptember 11 Attacks 7 July London bombings: What happened that day? Count Johann von Bernstorff, Ambassador and Spymaster 1915 Vanceboro international bridge bombing Black Tom explosion The Black Tom Explosion In 1916, German Terrorists Launched an Attack on American Soil If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris learns about ‘Death by GPS' with some quite incredible stories of people who have followed their GPS past any reasonable point. Whilst fortunately not all the people involved in the stories have died because of their actions, it's a timely reminder to keep your eyes on the road and remember that when you're driving you need to use your brain too!Harrison meanwhile found out about the world's most dangerous world record. Whilst for the majority of the time the record might have been contested by professional teams of speed freaks, this world record was last broken in 1978 by an Aussie who built a boat in his back yard. Can you guess what we're talking about yet?How Amazon's Super-Complex Shipping System WorksChris' SourcesDeath by GPS Sat-nav sends Swedish tourists to wrong end of Italy after Capri spelling mistake Women trust GPS, drive SUV into Mercer Slough Cops: Driver was following GPS in crash off bridge that killed wife Damaged NW Indiana bridge's replacement opens 11 years later Driver followed satnav to edge of 100ft drop GPS Tracking Disaster: Japanese Tourists Drive Straight into the Pacific Harrison's SourcesWater speed recordHD-4Garfield WoodHenry SegraveMalcolm CampbellDonald CampbellStanley SayresJohn Cobb (racing driver)Ken WarbyThis is the Most Dangerous World Record to BeatIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this episode, Harrison learnt about the time that the worldwide courier company, UPS, shipped two whales from Taiwan to Atlanta, Georgia. Overnight. Yep, they shipped two whale sharks over night. How insane is that!Chris meanwhile found at about the time in 1814 that the British attacked, ransacked and burnt all the government buildings to the ground in Washington DC. It remains the only time that a foreign power has occupied the United States capital city. We somewhat believe it will never happen again either!Harrison's SourcesThat Time When UPS Overnight Shipped a Whale in the MailA shark whale of a time with UPSGeorgia Aquarium Whale Sharks Receive Special UPS Delivery; Two Resident Male Whale Sharks are Joined by Two FemalesChris' SourcesWikipedia article on the United States Capitol The First Cornerstone U.S. Capitol Building Why Is The War Of 1812 Considered a Second American Revolution? Robert Ross (British Army officer) Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet Joshua Barney The Tornado That Saved Washington

Welcome to our first episode of 2021 and what a treat we have for you! Chris learns about the often times crazy gifts world leaders get each other. If you're the French President, what do you get Queen Elizabeth II, a women who wants for nothing? Why a large wine cooler/table in the guise of a massive grasshopper of course! What about when two long-standing enemies, America and Russia meet? Potatoes from Idaho of course.Harrison meanwhile found out all about a genius grandfather who broke a US state lottery, winning an estimated $26m over a number of years for his syndicate. How did he do it? Maths of course! The craziest thing about the whole story is that the company running the lottery were quite happy with the situation. That is until the media blew the whole thing wide open.Chris' SourcesHow much do we spend at Christmas? Christmas Spending Survey 2019 - Results and Statistics Button gaffe embarrasses Clinton Vladimir Putin given a puppy during trip to Bulgaria Puppy diplomacy: Japan hopes to win Vladimir Putin over with Akita Inu dog Grrr! Russia's Putin gets tiger cub for birthday Oops! Mali family cooks and eats Francois Hollande's gift camel Mali gives Hollande new camel after first one eaten by caretakers North Korean museum shows off leaders' gifts Queensland's prickly royal wedding gift Weird and wonderful gifts given to the Queen John Kerry gives Sergei Lavrov two large Idaho potatoes Harrison's SourcesEpisode 34 - Darwin Awards and a granny who killed a country's internet accessThe Mathematical Loophole that Broke the LotteryThe Lottery Hackers - Huffington PostHow a retired couple found lottery odds in their favorEpisode 33 - Halifax explosion and the Olympic skier who played the systemIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

I'm sure we can all agree 2020 hasn't been the best of years, and that's an understatement, but Harrison found 20 great things that did happen this year and tells us all about them in this end of year episode. Everything from a whale's tail sculpture saving a train from crashing over the end of the line to conjoined twins, Ervina and Prefina, being separated at a hospital in the Vatican City. Inspiring stuff!Chris meanwhile follows on from the special Christmas episode by find out what bonkers New Year's traditions people around the world do to celebrate seeing in the new year. From Colombians that run around the block with a suitcase to make sure they'll be able to travel in the new year (we wish them better luck in 2021!) to Peruvian's who live in the Andes mountains fighting each other to clear the slate for the coming year!Alt Shift X - The Expanse recap for Season 5Harrison's SourcesUS election results 2020: Joe Biden's defeat of Donald TrumpTwo cheetah cubs were born for the first time by IVFAfrica declared free from wild polioCat's return after three years 'takes the Biscuit'Drive-ins: A new way to watch live performancesWhat a fluke: Dutch whale tail sculpture catches metro train42-year-old pulled out of crowd to make NHL debut ... and wins gameMoonrise converts production to hand sanitizer for the communityThis Woman Accidentally Turned Herself Into A Potato For A Video Meeting And Couldn't Figure Out How To Fix ItThe penguin watching Pingu so he doesn't get lonelyConjoined twins separated at Vatican-owned hospitalA malfunction causes red wine to flow from faucets in an Italian townVIENNA TO GIVE FREE CONCERT AND MUSEUM TICKETS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT TRAVELLERSNewly created embryo nourishes hope for the survival of the northern white rhinoCaptain Tom Moore on raising millions and being a ‘late starter'Let your corona crankies out by screaming into an Icelandic abyssPostcard stamped in 1920 delivered 100 years laterAustralia surfer saves wife by punching sharkWe Love The Internet‘This is a remarkable achievement': First patients receive vaccine as nationwide rollout beginsChris' SourcesTakanakuy: Peru's Christmas fighting festival settles the year's grievances by fist New Year's Eve: Break Dishes Friends' Doorstep Vasilopita (New Year's Coin Cake) Colombian New Year's Traditions The 12 Lucky Grapes: A New Year's Eve Tradition in Spain Russian ice divers put up New Year's tree in frozen Lake Baikal If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this special Christmas episode, Chris learns about some strange and crazy Christmas traditions practiced around the world including a German Christmas pickle decoration (that isn't German) and what the Christmas meal of choice in Japan is (hint: it's not turkey that's for sure)!Harrison meanwhile finds out that UPS trucks never turn left (or right if they drive on the left side of the road). It's really quite fascinating and Chris thinks it's the kind of company he could work for because they're all about efficiency…Harrison's SourcesUnited Parcel ServicesUPS Fact SheetTravelling salesman problemVehicle Routing ProblemWhy UPS drivers don't turn left and you probably shouldn't eitherIntersection approach speed and accident probabilityWhy UPS Trucks Almost Never Turn Left - YouTubeFedEx vs. UPSChris' SourcesWhy Japan celebrates Christmas with KFC Japan's Population The legend of La Befana The legend of La Befana – The Witch of Christmas Meet Tió de Nadal, Catalonia's smiling Christmas log that defecates presents German Christmas Pickle Tradition This Icelandic Legend of Jólakötturinn, Is About The Giant ‘Yule Cat' Who Eats People Without New Clothes On Christmas If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Harrison discovers various animals that have been promoted to high ranks within militaries around the world. There is even one British Army regiment that picks a goat from a bloodline gifted to Queen Victoria.Chris meanwhile finds out about some seriously crazy submarine facts, including the British Royal Navy submarine that can run for 25 years without ever having to surface. Of course, the sailors may die long before from the lack of food before that ever happens…ReinheitsgebotHarrison's Sources10 Animals Used for Military PurposesHere are 13 of the most impressive and high-ranking animals in military historyWar bondWilliam Windsor (goat)Soldiers choose regimental goatPenguin power: Norwegian regiment honours pint-sized chiefNils OlavChris' SourcesRoyal Navy Submarine Museum British sub which can stay underwater for 25 years makes us wonder… How a 60-year-old BBC radio show may be one of the only things keeping the world from nuclear war Trident: What are the letters of last resort? Theresa May's grim first task: Preparing for nuclear armageddon Windows for Submarines The Manly History of Cribbage and How to Play the Game Oldest submarine in US Navy service returns from final deployment Why the largest submarine in the world has a pool? Well, where else would you go after sauna? (Video) If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris learns about some of the many inventions that were either invented during World War I or gained in popularity during the conflict. There may be some pivots from tea bags to passports so be prepared for a wild ride!On the flip-side, Harrison found out about Cocaine Bear. This poor bear died tripping off his face after overdosing on 40kg of cocaine that he found in a Georgia forest. But his story doesn't end there as he was stuffed and sold to a famous Country & Western singer. Honestly, you need to hear the story of Cocaine Bear!Harrison's SourcesAndrew C. Thornton IIAmerican black bear'Pablo EskoBear': The story of the legendary cocaine bear of KentuckyMEET OUR NEW MASCOT: COCAINE BEARWaylon JenningsChris' SourcesHow Many People Died in WW1? A Look at the Numbers The Countries Involved in World War I Do wars drive technological advancement? British Government on Passports Government of Canada on Passports Schengen Agreement The reason why passports are all designed the same League of Nations Passport Conference document ICAO ePassport Basics Romania during World War I Konrad Adenauer 10 inventions that owe their success to World War One Greggs launching ‘vegan friendly' sausage roll Veganism Skyrockets To 7% Of UK Population, Says New Survey European parliament votes to scrap daylight saving time from 2021 The History of the Tea Bag A Brief History of the Tea Bag 100 Years of Legacies: The Lasting Impact of World War I If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this episode, Harrison learns about some of the unluckiest people alive, including Alice Roth who was hit in the face by a baseball, then once she'd made it to the stretcher - and medical attention, she was hit again by another baseball from the same player! You could be mistaken for thinking he had it in for this poor grandmother…Meanwhile, Chris investigates the story of DB Cooper who is the only hijacker to never get caught. Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727 in November 1971, demanded a ransom on $200,000 and jumped out of the plane at 10,000ft. What happened to him? Listen now to find out!Harrison's SourcesThese Are Officially The 13 Unluckiest People in The WorldLady Struck Twice By Foul Balls Hit By Phillies' Richie Ashburn In The Same At BatEveryone's a winner in Sodeto … almostMost lightning strikes survivedMelanie Martinez: the unluckiest woman in AmericaThank God! Jason & Jenny aren't coming hereIs this Britain's unluckiest man?Fortune smiles on unluckiest manChris' SourcesList of aircraft hijackings Wikipedia article on D. B. Cooper Hijacker and criminal mastermind D.B. Cooper parachutes out of plane D.B. Cooper Hijacking: The Enduring Mystery of America's Only Unsolved Skyjacking Case D.B. Cooper Notes make $37K at Heritage's Americana Memorabilia Auction DB Cooper's Loot Serial Number Searcher FBI Is Giving Up On Solving The Mystery Of D.B. Cooper ‘We got it wrong!' Major discovery in DB Cooper case indicating TWIST in mystery revealed The Skyjacker That Got Away If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, inspired by Chris' topic of the real life spy who inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond, Harrison has been researching some actual spy weapons which sound like something right out of a 007 movie!Then Chris has found out about two great apes, who both lived very different lives. One lived it up in the Cotswolds, drinking cider and coffee, the other went on a grand adventure in the name of science! Chris' SourcesWikipedia article on the Life on Earth TV series Sir David Attenborough - The story behind Life on Earth video First known zoo Animal Legal and Historical Center - Great Ape Laws by State Untold story of the English village that raised a gorilla as a boy The strange tale of the gorilla who went to an English country school Memorial sculpture of Uley's gorilla John Daniel unveiled Chimpanzees In The US The Tragic Tale of Ham The Chimp Ham, the First Chimpanzee in Space Ham the Chimp became the first monkey in space in 1961 Harrison's SourcesGolden GunSCARAMANGA'S 24CT GOLDEN GUN PROP REPLICA - NUMBERED EDITIONLipstick Pistol - The Kiss of DeathGeorgi MarkovBulgarian umbrellaThe poison-tipped umbrella: the death of Georgi Markov in 1978 - archiveThe CIA secretly created an undetectable ‘heart attack gun'The Confederate Coal TorpedoJames Bond has Nothing on these Clever Spy WeaponsCIA HEART ATTACK GUN

This week, Chris learnt about the greatest con man to ever have lived. He managed to sell the Eiffel Tower once, sold non-existent Broadway plays to first class passengers and almost made people lose trust in the might US dollar! That was until the Secret Service caught up with him…Harrison meanwhile looks into some imaginative ways that elections which were too close to call have been decided. You might think coin flips, drawing cards and lots are the order of the day and shockingly you'd be right! Just don't ask the British to go back to the polls again if they think you lost the first time, that's just not cricket.Chris' sourcesWikiepdia article on Victor Lustig The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice. Meet Victor Lustig, The Conman So Smooth He ‘Sold' The Eiffel Tower — Twice Victor Lustig, King of the Con Harrison's sources 10 of the most bizarre elections in American historyCoin flips, poker hands and other crazy ways America settles tied electionsVirginia Republican David Yancey Wins Tie-Breaking Drawing1997 Winchester by-electionBallot paper marked 'Brexit' gives win to Tory councillorVOTER WRITES 'W*NK' ALL OVER BALLOT PAPER, PUTS 'NOT W*NK' NEXT TO GREENS, DEEMED ACCEPTABLE AS A VOTEIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Could you ever imagine a dog being elected as a mayor of a city? Well imagine no longer, as Harrison tells you all about dogs (and other animals!) have been elected as mayors in mainly the United States, to be fair…Chris meanwhile finds out about the “greatest spy of all time”. Sidney Reilly was an incredible man who led a life of glitz and glamour, charming powerful people all around the world, working for the British intelligence community and eventually being shot by the Russians in 1925, on Stalin's personal orders. He even inspired Ian Fleming to write James Bond!Harrison's SourcesFrench bulldog elected as mayor of Kentucky town5 of the nation's most accomplished animal mayors4 Animals That Ran for Mayor (and Won!)10 TIMES ANIMALS STOOD FOR ELECTIONSBosco the dogCacarecoRhinoceros Party of Canada (1963–1993)Duke, Beloved Dog Mayor Of Small Minnesota Town, Has Died1968 United States presidential electionPigasus (politics)Chris' Sources Wikipedia article on James Bond Anna Chapman: Diplomat's daughter who partied with billionaires A Spy Story Even James Bond Might Envy How fate, and Stalin, finally dealt the 'ace of spies' a losing hand Spartacus Educational article on Sidney Reilly 7 of the Greatest Spies Who Ever Lived Wikipedia article on Sidney Reilly If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Harrison learns about the Nottingham cheese riot of 1766 when a bunch of Lincolnshire merchants tried to buy and spirit away Nottingham's cheese. What started with a bunch of “rude boys” shouting at the merchants ended up morphing into a riot that spanned over a number of days. Nottingham's mayor was also knocked off his feet…by a cheese wheel!Chris then finds out all about London - and the world's - first traffic light. Unfortunately for the policeman operating it, and the traffic management's designer, it wasn't a success with somewhat explosive consequences. You'll also find out what a ‘cat's meat man‘ is too, which alone is worth the listen!Harrison's SourcesNottingham cheese riotNottingham Goose FairFood: NOTTINGHAM CHEESE SHOP MARKS 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NOTTINGHAM GREAT CHEESE RIOTDamn his Charity, we'll have the Cheese for nought! - Nottingham's Great Cheese Riot & other 1766 Food RiotsEpisode 12: Bizarre British sports and all about ConcordeChris' SourcesTfL marks the 150th anniversary of the traffic lightPictured: The junction with 42 separate traffic lights finally labelled 'too much'The Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894Top hats everywhere, a traffic jam of horse drawn carriages and not a car in sightThe Cat's Meat Man, From Dickens To Jack The RipperLondon's Teeming Streets, 1830-1914When the Street Light First Came to London, Disaster EnsuedWhen were the first traffic lights installed?Here's What The World's First Traffic Lights, In Westminster, Looked LikeIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Harrison discovers some of the weirdest and spookiest Halloween related world record breakers. There's a guy who can carve a Jack-o'-lantern in mere seconds through to the largest pumpkin in the world, that also travelled 35 hours to be judged!Chris meanwhile learns about witches and the women who were accused of being witches and how they were persecuted, tortured and killed throughout the 15th century for over 200 years. It was certainly a dark period of history and far scarier than any Halloween tale!Harrison's SourcesHow Much Do Pumpkins Weigh?Anoka man wins world championship in California with his giant pumpkinLargest jack o'lantern (size)Largest jack o'lantern (weight)Fastest time to carve one pumpkinMost pumpkins smashed in one minute5 Guinness World Records titles you can try at home this HalloweenLargest gathering of people dressed as witchesLargest gathering of people dressed as ghostsLargest gathering of people dressed as zombiesLargest collection of candy wrappersChris' SourcesHistory of WitchesA Timeline of Witch Hunts in EuropeDominican Order5 Infamous Witch Trials in BritainPendle witchesNorth Berwick Witch TrialsIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris learns about some bonkers Darwin Award winners. If you haven't heard of them, the Darwin Awards officially were started in 1993 to celebrate individuals who remove themselves from the gene pool in spectacular ways, usually quite unintentionally. You'll hear about a bunch of people who met quite messy ends in this darkly humorous episode.Harrison meanwhile checks out the story of a 75 year old grandma who managed to shut down the internet with a shovel. Go granny! Also, give us our internet back already.Chris' SourcesDarwin AwardsA Slack-Robatic EffortAustralian Man, 20, Dies After 98-Foot Fall Into Sinkhole After Allegedly Attempting HandstandThe Missionary PositionAmerican 'killed in India by endangered Andamans tribe'Focus On The BearMan ‘trying to take selfie' dies after being mauled by bearDouble Darwin Award! Sports TrainingTwo men killed by Rotterdam Zuid train were ‘fooling around'Harrison's SourcesGeorgia (country)Caucasus Cable SystemHayastan ShakarianGeorgian woman cuts off web access to whole of ArmeniaPensioner in Georgia cuts Armenia off from internetHow one woman and a garden spade cut off the internet for an entire COUNTRYIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Chris investigates an explosion that you've probably never heard of, but one that devastated the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1917, injuring at least 9,000 people and making some 25,000 homeless. In the middle of freezing temperatures and a six-day blizzard. A story of appalling luck and human resilience.Harrison meanwhile finds out all about Elizabeth Swaney who qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics as a member of the Hungarian team. Her chosen sport? The half-pipe. Only, she couldn't do any tricks…Chris' SourcesBeirut explosion: What we know so farAnnual Weather Averages Near HalifaxWikipedia article on the Halifax ExplosionBank of Canada inflation calculatorThe Halifax Explosion of 1917ThoughtCo article on the Halifax explosionHarrison's SourcesElizabeth SwaneyFreestyle skiing at the 2018 Winter Olympics – Women's halfpipeHalf-pipe skiingHere's what Elizabeth Swaney was like during her Harvard days, according to her mentorAt least this can be said: Elizabeth Swaney still standing after her runElizabeth Swaney: the Olympic halfpipe athlete who doesn't really do tricksOLYMPICS 2018 Hungary Skier Goes Down Halfpipe with NO Tricks !!!If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

Ever regretted sending an e-mail with a typo? I'm sure we all have, but in this episode, Harrison learns about people and companies that suffered major financial damage from a single typo. Be careful out there!Meanwhile, Chris discovers some of the crazy duels of the past. Duels were mostly fought by upper-class and noble men of issues of honour, but that wasn't always the case as we also find out about a couple of duels that involved women.Harrison's SourcesPenguin cookbook calls for 'freshly ground black people'Australian $50 note typo: spelling mistake printed 46 million timesAustralia's A$50 note misspells responsibilityTravel Agent Angry Over Phone Book TypoMariner 1July 22, 1962: Mariner 1 Done In by a TypoTypesetter's NightmaresChris' SourcesFuture president Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson in a duelLady Almeria Braddock and Mrs Elphinstone8 Famous Duels and 1 Almost DuelA Princess Once Dueled A Countess Over Floral Arrangements...ToplessAaron Burr slays Alexander Hamilton in duelIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

You probably can't understand it today, but in the 1800s, cocaine infused wine was a thing. So popular in fact, the producers couldn't produce enough of it to supply consumers needs. In this episode, Harrison learns all about how not one, but two popes loved the product so much that they even went as so far as to advertise it to the general public.Chris meanwhile finds out all about some bonkers English laws that either never were or that did exist but have since been repealed. For example, it might be illegal to kill one of the Queen's swans, but it isn't a traitorous act. However there was a time when you couldn't wear outrageous and monstrous double ruff shirts at Queen Elizabeth I's court. Because when you're an autocratic monarch, what you say goes!Harrison's SourcesVin MarianiAngelo Mariani (chemist)Coca wineCocaineCocaine - PopularizationPope Leo XIIIPope Pius XJohn Stith PembertonPemberton's French Wine CocaChris' SourcesLegal Curiosities: Fact or Fable?Top 5 Silly Laws That You Might Be BreakingThe reason why London black cab drivers carry a bale of hay everywhere they goLord Bassam of Brighton on relieving yourself in urban environments vs the Forest of DeanDoes The Queen really own all the swans?The Worshipful Company of DyersThe Vinters CompanySwan UppingThe Unlawful Gaming ActIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

On this bonkers episode, Chris has been looking in to the 1904 Olympic marathon, an event so dangerous it nearly killed the poor sods running in it, and was briefly won by a cheater! The man who ended up winning paid a hell of a price to do so.Then Harrison tells us about Lawn chair Larry, Chris' new hero. A truck driver from America who could never quite give up his dream of flying. Despite terrible eye sight, no plane and no licence, he was determined to make his dream a reality!Harrison's SourcesWe Love The Internet - Episode 8Larry WaltersLawnchair Larry flightLawnchair Larry flight - ImitatorsCluster ballooningChris' SourcesOlympic Games historyThe 1904 Olympic Marathon May Have Been the Strangest EverThe 1904 Olympic MarathonWikipedia article - Athletics at the 1904 Summer OlympicsSamuel MellorFred LorzThomas HicksStrychnineIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

This week, learn about the LeMans 24hr Endurance Race, the oldest regularly held race in history. Harrison also tells the tale of the 1953 race, when health and safety was absolutely not a thing, and the incredible story of Jaguar's number 18 car and its drivers.Then Chris has been learning about Pepsi Co and a fact about the company, sent in to us by a listener, which is so crazy, Chris didn't believe it when he first read it!Harrison's Sources24 Hours of Le Mans1953 24 Hours of Le MansTony RoltDuncan Hamilton (racing driver)Westland LysanderJaguar C-TypeTHE DRUNKEN TALE OF DUNCAN HAMILTON1953 - Drunken chargeChris' SourcesThe History of Pepsi ColaPepsiCo press release on its 2019 earningsPepsi Store – History of the birthplaceEncyclopaedia of North Carolina article on Pepsi-ColaPatio Diet ColaPepsiCo UK productsPepsiCo US productsHow Pepsi briefly became the 6th largest military in the worldWikipedia article on Caleb BradhamIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

In this episode Chris has discovered what the most dangerous animals on the planet are and you may be surprised to learn what the top predator is. There are buffalo, mosquitoes and box jelly fish. We hope you're not too terrified to go swimming after this episode!Harrison meanwhile checks out the most elaborate schemes for tax avoidance. You'll be shocked to learn that not many wealthy Greek homeowners pay their pool tax, but the tax authorities had a plan to find them anyway…Harrison's SourcesGreek Wealth Is Everywhere but Tax FormsGreece Taxes And PoolsAll the Weird Ways People Have Tried to Avoid Paying TaxesHarthacnutPeasants' RevoltWhiskey RebellionChris' SourcesCape buffalo FactsEncyclopaedia Britannica article on Cape buffaloAngry Cape buffalo attacking a vehicleNational Geographic article on Box jellyfishHow Deadly Is the Box Jellyfish?CrocBITE - a worldwide crocodilian attack databaseNational Geographic article on Saltwater crocodilesThe 10 most dangerous animals in the worldResearchers Turn Mosquitoes Into Flying VaccinatorsIf you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts!We'd really appreciate it. Thanks for listening.

On this episode Chris has been learning about the frankly terrifying history of nuclear weapons that have been lost by the worlds super powers, known as broken arrows. Learn about several times we've come perilously close to a nuclear accident.Then Harrison tells us about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, a story with so many examples of bad luck and judgement and unfortunate circumstances, which would ultimately lead to the First World War, and the deaths of millions of people.

This week, Chris has been looking in to the history of the Queen's speech at the opening of parliament. What happens and why, including what happens to the royal hostage!Then Harrison has been finding out about the official wizard of New Zealand, and some other unusual jobs from around the world.