Honourable Mentions: Hilarious History

Steve and Neil Webb
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Join two brothers for a hilarious dive into the untold stories of history's most obscure figures. Honourable Mentions: Hilarious History unearths the hidden tales your teachers forgot to mention—If you love a good laugh with a bit of sibling rivalry, and learning about remarkable everyday people who did extraordinary things, subscribe for your weekly dose of banter and historical deep dives. It’s the history podcast where the underdogs finally get their due.

  1. 2D AGO

    Eating The Zoo: William Buckland and the Birth of Dinosaurs

    Send us Fan Mail Did you know the man who named the very first dinosaur also tried to eat every animal in the world? Welcome to the utterly chaotic world of William Buckland—the 19th-century theologian, pioneering geologist, and the official father of paleontology. ​Long before Jurassic Park, Buckland was rewriting Earth's history. He discovered and named the Megalosaurus (the first scientifically described dinosaur), and pioneered the study of fossilized feces (coprolites). ​But William wasn't just a genius; he was an eccentric with a great big, neon lit, flashing E. From his infamous "zoophagous" culinary quest to eat his way through the animal kingdom (including bluebottles, panthers, and allegedly the preserved heart of a French king) Buckland's life reads like fiction. ​In this episode, we cover: ​The Megalosaurus Discovery: How a jawbone changed science forever. ​The Eccentric Gourmet: The truth behind his bizarre eating habits and Oxford antics. And Frank. The even madder, even hungrier son! ​If you love history podcasts, weird science history, dinosaur fossils, and biographies of eccentric geniuses, this is the episode for you! Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    41 min

  2. APR 29

    Seconds From Nuclear War: How Vasily Arkhipov Saved the World

    Send us Fan Mail In October 1962, at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world stood on the brink of total annihilation. Deep beneath the surface of the Sargasso Sea, a Soviet B-59 submarine was being hunted by the US Navy. With communication lost and morale collapsing under relentless depth charges, the submarine’s captain ordered a nuclear torpedo to be readied for launch. ​In this episode, we explore the heroism of Vasily Arkhipov, the Soviet naval officer who stood alone against his peers to prevent a global catastrophe. Join us as we dissect this pivotal moment in Soviet naval history and reflect on how close we came to the end of the world. Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    43 min

  3. APR 22

    A Wing and a Prayer: The Flight of Elmer of Malmesbury

    Send us Fan Mail In 1010 AD, a Benedictine monk strapped wings to his hands and feet and leaped from the tower of Malmesbury Abbey. He didn’t just make history; he broke both his legs and became a legend. ​Join us as we peel back the historical layers of Malmesbury Abbey, one of England’s most storied—and occasionally violent—religious sites. From its founding in the 7th century to the daring flight of Elmer (or Eilmer) the Flying Monk, we explore a timeline filled with murderous raids, savage tigers, architectural wonders, and even the first King of England. ​ Subscribe to Honourable Mentions: Hilarious History, for a weekly journey into the grit and glory of the history they didn't teach you at school. Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    40 min

  4. APR 15

    Admiral Yi Sun-sin: From the Miracle at Myeongnyang to His Final Stand

    Send us Fan Mail After being stripped of his rank and tortured, Admiral Yi Sun-sin returned to a decimated navy with only 13 ships remaining. ​We break down: ​The Miracle at Myeongnyang: How Yi used the treacherous currents of the Myeongnyang Strait to defeat a Japanese fleet of over 130 ships. ​Naval Genius: The psychology and strategy behind the world's greatest naval commander. ​The Final Stand at Noryang: The circumstances surrounding his death and his famous final words: "The battle is at its height... do not announce my death." ​Whether you are a fan of military history or the "Admiral" film trilogy, this episode explores the true history of the man who never lost a battle at sea. Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    33 min

  5. APR 8

    Admiral Yi Sun-sin: His Early Career and the Making of a Legend

    Send us Fan Mail Before he was the 'God of the Sea' who never lost a battle, Yi Sun-sin was a man of unwavering principle facing a corrupt bureaucracy. In this first part of a two episode tale, we go beyond the famous ironclad Turtle Ships and the Battle of Myeongnyang to explore the formative years of Korea’s greatest hero. ​We'll take you through his repeated failures in the military examinations and his late start in the army. ​His early service defending the Northern border against Jurchen tribesmen. ​How his refusal to engage in political corruption led to demotions and professional sabotage. ​And the specific leadership traits and tactical brilliance he developed long before the Japanese invasion. ​Join us for part one of the unbelievable life of a man whose character was forged in adversity, and who laid the groundwork for a legacy that would change the course of East Asian history forever.  Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    41 min

  6. APR 1

    First Blood: Jure Grando and the birth of the Vampire (an Honourable Mentions and Boo Foons Mystery Investigators special episode)

    Send us Fan Mail In 1672, deep in the village of Kringa, Istria, a man died... and then things got weird. For 16 years, Jure Grando terrorized his widow and the townspeople, leading to the first official "vampire" record in European history. In this special crossover event, the history buffs from Honourable Mentions: Hilarious History, team up with the supernatural sleuths from Boo Foons Mystery Investigators to exhume the legend of a real life vampire. ​Grab your stakes and a clove of garlic—this is history at its most hilarious and hauntings at their most chaotic. In this episode, we dive into: ​The Legend: How Jure Grando rose from the grave to knock on doors and cause havoc. ​The Exorcism: The botched attempts to stop a corpse and the final, gruesome showdown. ​The History vs. The Hype: Was it a supernatural plague or just 17th-century hysteria? ​The Boo Foons Breakdown: Our investigators weigh in on the "science" of the Istrian strigoi. Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    52 min

  7. MAR 25

    Eben Byers: The Millionaire Dissolved in Liquid Sunshine

    Send us Fan Mail In 1932, a headline in the Wall Street Journal shocked the world: "The Radium Water Worked Fine Until His Jaw Came Off." This is the gruesome and tragic true story of Eben Byers, a wealthy industrialist, socialite, and golf champion who became the most famous victim of radium poisoning. ​In this episode, we peel back the lead-lined curtain on the Radithor craze—the "certified" radioactive water marketed as a cure-all for everything from mental ill health to "lost vigor."  We explore the rise of William J.A. Bailey, the notorious medical quack behind the tonic, and the horrific medical mystery of Byers’ physical decline. From his addiction to radium water to his final days suffering from jawbone necrosis and osteonecrosis, we look at how one man’s death changed the face of the FDA forever. ​If you’re a fan of dark history, medical quackery, and historical true crime, this deep dive into the 1920s radium craze is a must-listen.  Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    31 min

  8. MAR 18

    Stagecoach Mary: The Black Pioneer Who Outfought the Wild West

    Send us Fan Mail Step into the dusty streets of Cascade, Montana, to meet a true Wild West legend: Stagecoach Mary Fields, an icon of black history. Born into slavery, she found a life of independence that few women of her time could imagine. Standing six feet tall and never without her Smith & Wesson, she became the first African American woman star route mail carrier in the United States. ​In this episode, we explore the incredible history of the Wild West through the eyes of a woman who was as tough as she was kind.  From fending off wolves and outlaws to her legendary 100% mail delivery success rate, Mary Fields defined what it meant to be a Western pioneer. We’ll dive into her unique relationship with the local community, her friendship with a young Gary Cooper, and why her legacy remains a vital part of Black Western history. ​Whether you're a fan of untold history podcasts or stories of the American frontier, the life of Stagecoach Mary is a masterclass in grit and resilience. Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com  Website honourablementions.buzzsprout.com Facebook Honourable Mentions  Instagram  honourablementionspod TikTok  honourable.mentionspod

    36 min
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About

Join two brothers for a hilarious dive into the untold stories of history's most obscure figures. Honourable Mentions: Hilarious History unearths the hidden tales your teachers forgot to mention—If you love a good laugh with a bit of sibling rivalry, and learning about remarkable everyday people who did extraordinary things, subscribe for your weekly dose of banter and historical deep dives. It’s the history podcast where the underdogs finally get their due.

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