History's Greatest Idiots

History's Greatest Idiots
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This hilarious history podcast explores the epic failures, disasters, and terrible decisions that have shaped our world, providing us with memorable lessons to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Hosts Lev and Derek uncover the funniest blunders, scandals, spectacular mistakes, and jaw-dropping screw-ups from the dawn of time to today. Perfect for history buffs who love a little comedy with their knowledge! New episodes bi-weekly featuring famous disasters, military blunders, political scandals, and legendary bad life choices. Educational entertainment at its finest!

  1. The Vanderbilts Part Two: The Remnants of a Fortune

    3 DAYS AGO

    The Vanderbilts Part Two: The Remnants of a Fortune

    How did America's richest family, once worth the equivalent of $200 billion, lose everything in just three generations? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the spectacular rise and catastrophic fall of the Vanderbilt dynasty, from the ruthless Commodore who built a fortune through steamships and railroads, to his descendants who spent it all on mansions, parties, and drinking themselves to death. This is the story of how to lose $200 billion in 95 years, one absurdly expensive mansion at a time. What You'll Discover: How Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt built America's largest fortune through ruthlessness and refusing to spend money on anything (including his dying mother's medical care) How his son Billy multiplied the fortune to $200 million (over $200 billion today) in just eight years The $11 million mansion wars that turned Fifth Avenue into a Vanderbilt showcase Alva Vanderbilt's $8 million costume ball (equivalent to $300 million today) that bankrupted New York's other wealthy families, trying to compete How Cornelius II built a 70-room "summer cottage" in Newport that cost $12 million ($450 million in today's money) Why Reginald Vanderbilt drank and gambled away $10.5 million in just 23 years and died at age 45 How Consuelo Vanderbilt was literally sold to a British Duke for $95 million to buy the family a title Alfred Vanderbilt's terrible luck with transportation (dodged the Titanic, died on the Lusitania) The 1973 family reunion where 120 Vanderbilt descendants gathered and not one was a millionaire How Anderson Cooper and Timothy Olyphant became the last wealthy Vanderbilts by doing something radical: getting a job From Empire to Museum Tours: The Vanderbilts once controlled 10% of all money in America. They built the largest private homes in American history, threw parties that cost hundreds of millions, and lived like European royalty. Then they divided the fortune among multiple heirs, built mansions they couldn't afford to maintain, never worked, and spent wildly on gambling, alcohol, and social climbing. The Mathematics of Destruction: The Commodore left everything to one son (smart). That son split it among eight children (less smart). Those eight split it among dozens of grandchildren (financially suicidal). By the third generation, the money was so divided that maintaining the lavish lifestyle became impossible. The Great Depression accelerated the collapse, but the real problem was simple: they spent faster than the fortune could sustain. The Mansions That Bankrupted a Dynasty: One by one, the legendary Vanderbilt palaces were demolished or given away because nobody could afford the property taxes, heating costs, and servants. The Triple Palace on Fifth Avenue became a shopping plaza. Cornelius II's mansion was torn down after just 40 years. Today, tourists pay $30 to tour The Breakers, the ultimate irony: come see where we used to be rich. Anderson Cooper's Revolutionary Concept: When Gloria Vanderbilt died in 2019, Anderson inherited $1.5 million (not $150 million, not $15 million). But Anderson is worth $50 million because he earned it as a journalist. He built his fortune the old-fashioned way: by working. And he plans to give it all to charity, officially ending the Vanderbilt fortune after 150 years. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    59 min
  2. The Vanderbilts: The Aristocratic Guide to Burning Money - Part One (Season 5 Episode 23)

    27 OCT

    The Vanderbilts: The Aristocratic Guide to Burning Money - Part One (Season 5 Episode 23)

    Were the Vanderbilts visionary aristocrats building a lasting legacy, or history's most spectacular example of how to lose an unfathomable fortune in three generations? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the family that controlled 10% of all money in circulation in America and turned it into absolutely nothing through the revolutionary strategy of building 250-room houses nobody needed and throwing $8 million parties to impress people who already hated them. This is the story of the Vanderbilt dynasty: from ruthless railroad tycoon to 120 descendants without a single millionaire among them in less than a century. Featuring marble palaces, forced marriages to British dukes, and enough champagne-fuelled bad decisions to sink the Lusitania. Oh wait, that happened too. What You'll Discover: How Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt built a $200 billion fortune (in relative economic terms) by being brilliant, ruthless, and too cheap to buy a new coat Why his son William Henry was the last competent Vanderbilt, doubling the fortune before his descendants set it on fire The $265 million "summer cottage" with 70 rooms that required 40 full-time servants (The Breakers in Newport) Alva Vanderbilt's $8 million costume ball that forced New York society to accept them (one guest came dressed as a working lightbulb) George Vanderbilt's 250-room Biltmore Estate that accidentally became a successful tourist attraction by losing so much money How Consuelo Vanderbilt was literally sold to the Duke of Marlborough for $95 million and a fancy title Reginald Vanderbilt's masterclass in drinking and gambling away $400 million in just 23 years Why Alfred Vanderbilt survived cancelling his Titanic ticket only to die on the Lusitania three years later The 1973 family reunion where 120 Vanderbilt descendants gathered and not one was a millionaire How Anderson Cooper became the last wealthy Vanderbilt by doing something radical: getting a job The Mathematics of Disaster: The Commodore leaves $95 million to one son. That son splits it among eight children. Those eight split it among dozens of grandchildren. Each generation builds million-dollar mansions requiring hundreds of thousands in annual maintenance. None of them work. All of them spend like the money is infinite. Spoiler: it wasn't. The Gilded Age Arms Race: We explore how the Vanderbilts competed with the Astor's and other old money families by building increasingly absurd monuments to their wealth: Fifth Avenue châteaux that were demolished 40 years later because nobody could afford the property taxes, Newport "cottages" with indoor swimming pools and two-story libraries, and enough marble to build a small Italian village. Three Generations of Wealth Destruction: First Generation (The Commodore): Builds empire through ruthless business practices and penny-pinching Second Generation (William Henry's children): Maintains wealth while building increasingly expensive houses and establishing lavish lifestyles Third Generation: Drinks it, gambles it, and watches their houses get torn down because they can't afford the heating bills. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    50 min
  3. Pets.com: The $300M Dot-Com Disaster That Predicted The AI Bubble (Season 5 Episode 22)

    12 OCT

    Pets.com: The $300M Dot-Com Disaster That Predicted The AI Bubble (Season 5 Episode 22)

    Was Julie Wainwright a visionary CEO caught in impossible circumstances, or did she preside over one of the most spectacularly stupid business models in internet history? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the woman who sold dog food for one-third of what it cost, shipped it for free, spent $1.2 million on a Super Bowl ad, and somehow convinced Jeff Bezos this was a good idea. This is the story of Pets.com: the company that proved you could lose $300 million in under two years if you really applied yourself, and the sock puppet mascot that became more famous than the company it represented. What You'll Discover: How a Purdue graduate went from early career struggles to running multiple successful tech companies Why selling heavy pet supplies at massive discounts with free shipping is financial suicide The massive marketing campaign that created an iconic sock puppet How 14 dot-com companies spent an average of $2.2 million each for Super Bowl ads in January 2000 Why customer acquisition costs became unsustainable when selling low-margin pet products The 268-day journey from $11 IPO to $0.19 liquidation (one of the shortest-lived public companies ever) How Julie's husband filed for divorce the day before she announced the shutdown The brutal aftermath: being called "the biggest failure in Silicon Valley" Her incredible comeback with The RealReal (from pariah to billion-dollar IPO) Why we're repeating the exact same mistakes with AI companies right now From Super Bowl Glory to Liquidation: Pets.com raised $82.5 million, had Amazon as a 54% investor, appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and became a cultural phenomenon. But behind the famous sock puppet was a company losing money on every single sale, spending $11.8 million on advertising while earning $619,000 in revenue, and operating on the bold strategy of "lose money on every transaction and make it up in volume." The Dot-Com Bubble Context: We explore how an entire generation of investors lost their minds, why "get large or get lost" became the mantra, and how $5-7 trillion in market value vanished when everyone realized that businesses actually need to make money. Plus: why Webvan, Boo.com, eToys, and Kozmo.com all failed for the exact same reasons. The AI Parallel That Should Terrify You: We're living through this again right now. AI companies raising billions on potential rather than profitability, the same "this time it's different" thinking, identical infrastructure challenges, and investors throwing money at anything with "AI" in the pitch deck. History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes like a sock puppet singing Chicago. Julie Wainwright's story proves that failure isn't fatal, being ahead of your time is often indistinguishable from being completely wrong, and sometimes the universe just needs you to burn $300 million to teach everyone a lesson they'll immediately forget. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 37m
  4. The $30 Million Ponzi Scheme That Shocked Australia - Melissa Caddick (Season 5 Episode 21)

    28 SEPT

    The $30 Million Ponzi Scheme That Shocked Australia - Melissa Caddick (Season 5 Episode 21)

    Was Melissa Caddick a financial genius who cracked the code to guaranteed returns, or Australia's most expensive morning jogger who turned fraud into an art form? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the spectacular rise and mysterious fall of the Sydney socialite who stole $30 million from friends and family, lived like royalty for eight years, and then vanished into thin air. What You'll Discover: How a petty check-forger became Australia's most notorious Ponzi schemer The fake university degrees that launched her fraudulent financial empire Why she made herself "too exclusive" to attract desperate investors The $40,000 Aspen hotel stays funded by stolen retirement money How a chance meeting in a dentist's office brought down her scheme The federal police raid that triggered her mysterious disappearance Why her hairdresser husband waited 30 hours to report her missing The gruesome beach discovery that ended wild conspiracy theories How victims received only 32 cents for every dollar they lost From Dover Heights Mansion to Ocean Floor: Melissa Caddick operated without licenses, used 37 fake bank accounts, and fabricated investment statements while living in a $6 million Sydney mansion. Her company Maliver was pure fiction, but her designer handbag collection was devastatingly real. Through fake credentials and social manipulation, she convinced intelligent people (including her own parents) to hand over their life savings for investments that never existed. Her victims weren't gullible; they were simply unlucky enough to trust a charming sociopath who was willing to steal from family to fund her Louis Vuitton addiction. The ultimate cautionary tale about financial fraud, family betrayal, and the high cost of living beyond your means. ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 28m
  5. The Man Who Designed Dystopia: Norman Bel Geddes (Season 5 Episode 20)

    14 SEPT

    The Man Who Designed Dystopia: Norman Bel Geddes (Season 5 Episode 20)

    Was Norman Bel Geddes a brilliant visionary who shaped modern America, or just a master showman who sold us a dystopian future wrapped in chrome and streamlined curves? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we delve into the fascinating and troubling life of the man who promised us flying cars, designed the Interstate Highway System, and convinced an entire generation that the future would resemble a 1950s toaster. What You'll Discover: How a high school dropout became "the 20th century's Leonardo da Vinci" The tragic family suicide that shaped Bel Geddes' obsession with perfect futures Why he changed his name from Norman Geddes to the exotic "Norman Bel Geddes" The revolutionary theater lighting techniques he invented that we still use today. How his GM Futurama exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair attracted 27,500 visitors daily The dark connection between his streamlined designs and eugenics beliefs Why his beautiful concept cars were never built (but Mussolini offered $200k for them) How he helped create America's car-dependent urban nightmare The sophisticated peep shows he designed alongside cities of tomorrow. From Broadway to Highways: Norman Bel Geddes revolutionized everything from Metropolitan Opera lighting to Chrysler Airflow automobiles. His 1932 book "Horizons" popularized streamlining as a design philosophy, while his "Magic Motorways" inspired the Interstate Highway System that transformed America. But behind the gleaming vision of progress lurked troubling ideas about human "improvement" and a corporate-sponsored future that prioritized cars over communities. ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184⁠⁠⁠

    1h 36m
  6. David Hahn - The Radioactive Boy Scout Who Built a Nuclear Reactor in His Backyard (Season 5 Episode 19)

    31 AUG

    David Hahn - The Radioactive Boy Scout Who Built a Nuclear Reactor in His Backyard (Season 5 Episode 19)

    When most teenagers are worried about getting their driver's license, David Hahn was busy building a nuclear reactor in his mom's backyard shed using smoke detectors, camping lanterns, and an alarming amount of duct tape. Meet the "Radioactive Boy Scout" who turned earning a merit badge into a federal nuclear incident. In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the jaw-dropping true story of a 17-year-old Michigan teenager who catfished the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, stockpiled radioactive materials from household items, and successfully built a functioning neutron source that contaminated an entire neighbourhood in what became one of America's most bizarre nuclear accidents. From dismantling hundreds of smoke detectors for americium to posing as "Professor Hahn" to trick government scientists into sending him nuclear reactor blueprints, David's quest for atomic energy turned suburban Michigan into a Superfund cleanup site and sparked a major nuclear security investigation costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Join us as we dive into how one ambitious Boy Scout's backyard science experiment nearly irradiated five city blocks, fooled federal agencies, and became one of the most terrifying examples of DIY nuclear physics and teenage overachievement in American history. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end well for the Nuclear Boy Scout. ⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184⁠⁠

    1h 35m
  7. Hollywood's Greatest Idiots: Randy Quaid, Errol Flynn, and John Belushi (Season 5 Episode 18)

    17 AUG

    Hollywood's Greatest Idiots: Randy Quaid, Errol Flynn, and John Belushi (Season 5 Episode 18)

    Lights, camera, CHAOS! This special greatest hits episode dives into Hollywood's most spectacular celebrity meltdowns and scandals, featuring three legendary movie stars who proved that fame, fortune, and fundamental stupidity make for blockbuster disasters. RANDY QUAID - From Christmas Vacation to Conspiracy Theories: The talented character actor who went from beloved comedic roles in National Lampoon's movies to starring in his own real-life thriller involving alleged Hollywood assassins, Canadian border crossings, and a persecution complex that would make even the most paranoid conspiracy theorists say "maybe dial it back a notch". ERROL FLYNN - Golden Age Hollywood's Ultimate Bad Boy: The swashbuckling Robin Hood superstar whose off-screen adventures made his action movies look tame, complete with high-profile trials, Nazi spy allegations, and enough debauchery to scandalize 1940s Hollywood (which took some serious effort). JOHN BELUSHI - Saturday Night Live Legend's Tragic Downfall: The comedy genius and Blues Brothers star whose explosive energy extended to pharmaceutical experimentation, turning SNL success into a cautionary tale about how quickly brilliance can burn out when mixed with bottomless appetites. From celebrity courtroom drama to wartime Hollywood intrigue to drug-fueled comedy chaos, these movie legends prove that sometimes the most entertaining performances happen when the cameras aren't rolling and nobody's directing the disaster. Join Lev and Derek as they count down the greatest hits of Tinseltown's most gloriously idiotic moments in this true crime meets celebrity biography meets so insane it's practically fictional podcast episode. Perfect for movie buffs, Hollywood history enthusiasts, celebrity scandal lovers, true crime fans, and anyone who's ever wondered how someone can simultaneously entertain millions and completely destroy their lives. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184⁠⁠

    3h 42m
  8. Music's Greatest Idiots: Rick James, Keith Moon, Malcolm McLaren, and Morrissey (Season 5 Episode 17)

    4 AUG

    Music's Greatest Idiots: Rick James, Keith Moon, Malcolm McLaren, and Morrissey (Season 5 Episode 17)

    Sex, drugs, and spectacularly stupid decisions! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots rocks through the most legendary bad choices in music history, featuring four icons who proved that talent and terrible judgment make the perfect rock and roll cocktail. First up: Rick James, the funk superstar who turned "Super Freak" into a lifestyle philosophy, complete with kidnapping charges, cocaine binges, and the kind of career self-sabotage that makes train wrecks look organized. Then we dive into Keith Moon, The Who's drummer, whose explosive personality matched his playing style, literally blowing up hotel toilets, driving cars into swimming pools, and somehow making other rock stars say "that guy's too wild for us." We'll explore Malcolm McLaren, the punk impresario who created the Sex Pistols purely to destroy the music industry, then watched his masterpiece implode when Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious actually meant all that anarchist stuff. Finally, Morrissey rounds out our line-up: the melancholy maestro whose genius for alienating fans, cities, and entire countries turned him from an indie darling into a professional controversy generator. From drug-fuelled hotel destruction to punk rock manipulation schemes, these music legends prove that sometimes the biggest disasters happen when brilliant artists meet absolutely zero impulse control. Join Lev and Derek as they count down the greatest hits of rock and roll's most gloriously idiotic moments. Perfect for music fans, rock history buffs, and anyone who's ever wondered how someone can be simultaneously a genius and completely insane. ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Animation: Daniel Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Andrew Wilson ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184⁠⁠

    5h 12m
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About

This hilarious history podcast explores the epic failures, disasters, and terrible decisions that have shaped our world, providing us with memorable lessons to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Hosts Lev and Derek uncover the funniest blunders, scandals, spectacular mistakes, and jaw-dropping screw-ups from the dawn of time to today. Perfect for history buffs who love a little comedy with their knowledge! New episodes bi-weekly featuring famous disasters, military blunders, political scandals, and legendary bad life choices. Educational entertainment at its finest!

Information

  • Creator
    History's Greatest Idiots
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © History's Greatest Idiots
  • Show Website
    History's Greatest Idiots

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