Badass of the Week

High Five Content
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Badass of the Week

Throughout the course of human civilization certain individuals have stood out as being completely f***ing awesome. From ninjas and gunfighters to pirates and Vikings, to explorers, scientists and great leaders, these people - true badasses - completely obliterated anything that stood in their path, routinely overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and ultimately altered the course of history through their actions. Be it glory, conquest, or survival, these hardcore men and women all had one specific goal in life - and they didn’t let anything stand between themselves and their mission. They refused to back down even when the odds seemed hopelessly stacked against them, they came back from the brink of failure to achieve ultimate success, and they beat the fucking hell out of anyone stupid enough to have stood in their way. Badass of the Week is a weekly (duh) podcast, that dives into new stories of badasses every week.

  1. 1D AGO

    Leo Major: Why Send an Army When One Canadian Will Do?

    Some soldiers fight wars. Leo Major won them—single-handedly—while rocking a Canadian flag. This one-eyed, French-Canadian unstoppable force of nature took on the Nazis solo, liberated an entire Dutch city by himself, and casually shrugged off wounds that would’ve ended lesser men. Whether it was sneaking through occupied territory like a moose in stealth mode, capturing dozens of enemy soldiers alone, or just deciding that war wasn’t over until he said so, Leo Major was a walking Canadian legend. And just in case WWII wasn’t enough, he came back for another war just to flex on history one more time. Strap as Ben and producer Andrew discuss Canada’s hardest-hitting, war-winning, maple syrup-fueled madman.

    46 min

  2. MAR 19

    100 EPISODES: Blood, Guts, and Questionable Pronunciations

    100 episodes. Hundreds of badass stories. Countless questionable pronunciation attempts. This week, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of Badass of the Week with a look back at the wildest, craziest, and most ridiculous moments from our journey so far. From legendary warriors to historical madmen, unsung heroes to absolute lunatics, we’ve covered it all—and we’re not stopping anytime soon. Join us for a victory lap filled with favorite episodes, behind-the-scenes chaos, and a heartfelt (but not too heartfelt) thank-you to everyone who’s been along for the ride.This episode is published as part of Podcasthon, an incredible and fast-growing non-profit initiative that unites over a thousand podcasters globally, once a year to support charitable causes. We've chosen to support Building Homes for Heroes (www.buildinghomesforheroes.org) a great charity that helps build and modify mortgage-free homes for veterans.

    48 min

  3. MAR 11

    Mickey Rooney: The Star Who Stood with Soldiers

    You know Mickey Rooney as a Hollywood legend, but did you know he also served in World War II? At the height of his fame, Rooney traded red carpets for the Army, entertaining the troops and boosting morale across war zones. While he wasn’t storming beaches, he was on the front lines of entertainment, giving performances to soldiers who needed a reason to laugh in the middle of chaos. In this episode Ben is joined by writer Robert O'Connor, we look at how one of Hollywood’s biggest stars used his talent to serve his country and keep the troops’ spirits high when they needed it most.

    59 min

  4. MAR 8

    Oracle of Delphi: Ancient Greece’s Hotline to the Gods

    Step into the smoke-filled temple of Apollo and meet the Oracle of Delphi, the most mysterious and feared fortune-teller in the ancient world. Kings, generals, and philosophers all climbed Mount Parnassus to hear her cryptic prophecies—some of which shaped the course of history. But was the Oracle really channeling the gods, or just really high on volcanic fumes? In today's episode Ben and Pat unravel the truth behind ancient Greece’s most powerful mystic, the riddles that baffled empires, and the wildest predictions that actually came true.

    1h 17m

  5. FEB 26

    Robert Smalls: The Confederate Ship Heist

    Robert Smalls wasn’t just a man—he was a one-man revolution. Smalls was slave who stole a Confederate warship, sailed his way to freedom, and then went back to kick the Confederacy’s ass. Born into slavery, Smalls pulled off one of the greatest heists in American history, disguising himself as a Confederate captain and delivering a stolen ship to the Union. But he didn’t stop there—he went on to become a Union naval officer, a U.S. Congressman, and a major force in Reconstruction. In this episode Ben and Producer Andrew Jacobs tell the story of a man who refused to be anyone’s prisoner and made history on his own terms.

    48 min

  6. FEB 19

    Erik the Red: The Madman Who Made Greenland a Thing

    Before the Vikings had maps, they had Erik the Red—a hot-tempered, ax-swinging explorer who turned exile into empire. In this episode, Ben and Pat follow the fiery outlaw who got kicked out of Norway, then Iceland, and instead of learning his lesson, discovered Greenland and made it his own. With a reputation for both brutality and brilliance, Erik carved his way into history as the ultimate Viking troublemaker. Get ready for a tale of blood feuds, icy frontiers, and the man who made Greenland sound way better than it actually was.

    1h 7m

  7. FEB 11

    Zheng Yi Sao: The Most Ruthless Pirate You Never Heard Of

    In this episode Ben and Brandon set sail for a high-seas adventure with Zheng Yi Sao, the most powerful pirate you've never heard of. This legendary Chinese pirate queen commanded a fleet of over 70,000 ruthless outlaws, outmaneuvered imperial navies, and built a criminal empire that made the British and Portuguese think twice before messing with her. We'll dive into how she rose from a life in the shadows to ruling the South China Sea with an iron fist—and then pulled off one of history’s greatest retirement plans. Forget Blackbeard—Zheng Yi Sao was the real queen of piracy

    41 min

  8. FEB 5

    Winged Hussars: The Armored Angels of War

    Get ready for the thunder of hooves and the clash of steel as Ben and Pat charge into the epic saga of the Winged Hussars, the cavalry that didn’t just ride into battle—they exploded onto the scene. In this episode, we’ll uncover how these armored juggernauts, with wings strapped to their backs and lances aimed for glory, shattered enemy lines and rewrote the rules of warfare. From the Siege of Vienna to battles where they turned the tide against impossible odds, the Winged Hussars weren’t just warriors—they were a freaking force of nature. Saddle up for a story of speed, power, and wings that brought empires to their knees.

    1h 7m
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4.8
out of 5
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About

Throughout the course of human civilization certain individuals have stood out as being completely f***ing awesome. From ninjas and gunfighters to pirates and Vikings, to explorers, scientists and great leaders, these people - true badasses - completely obliterated anything that stood in their path, routinely overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and ultimately altered the course of history through their actions. Be it glory, conquest, or survival, these hardcore men and women all had one specific goal in life - and they didn’t let anything stand between themselves and their mission. They refused to back down even when the odds seemed hopelessly stacked against them, they came back from the brink of failure to achieve ultimate success, and they beat the fucking hell out of anyone stupid enough to have stood in their way. Badass of the Week is a weekly (duh) podcast, that dives into new stories of badasses every week.

Information

  • Creator
    High Five Content
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    105
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    2024 High Five Content © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from High Five Content
  • Show Website
    Badass of the Week

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