It Could Be Worse

Brad Allen and Olly Hume

History buff Brad Allen teams up with Comedian Olly Hume for a lighthearted but educational journey through history's most unfortunate lives.

Episodes

  1. Oct 7

    Episode 9: The King Who Was So Bad At Sex It Sparked A Revolution

    Brad Allen and Chris Hawes discuss the fateful marriage of Marie Antoinette and Kind Louis XVI of France, including: Trying to consummate a marriage with your dad and the Archbishop of Reims in the room How the Holy Roman Emperor came to Paris to deliver a sex ed talk How failing to consummate the marriage ultimately led to the French Revolution and their beheading Whether Marie Antoinette really said "let them eat cake"

  2. Sep 27

    Episode 8: Looksmaxxing Through The Ages

    Brad Allen and Olly Hume are joined by the Chris the Herald to discussing looksmaxxing through the history, including: Tiny feet in China  Consumptive chic in Victorian England Poisoning your eye muscles in Renaissance Italy

  3. Sep 8

    Episode 7: Trial By Ordeal: Innocent Until Proven Burned

    Brad Allen and Olly Hume take a listener gripe about jury duty and use it as a launchpad into the grimly entertaining history of trial by ordeal. They cover how medieval courts decided guilt with fire, water, holy dirt, and combat, including: Why the practice was smarter than it looked The brutal punishment for failing a trail by ordeal How juries replaced these trials All to remind you: It Could Be Worse

  4. Aug 30

    Episode 6: Life On Japan's Death Railway

    🚂The Brutal Life of a Japanese WW2 Prisoner  🚂 Brad Allen and Olly Hume dig into the astonishing story of Alistair Urquhart who was captured and put to work on the infamous 'Death Railway', including: * Working from dusk until dawn on one small bowl of rotten rice * Being torpedoed by an American Submarine * Watching Nagasaki get hit by a nuclear bomb And much, much more... All in an attempt to remind you... It Could Be Worse.

  5. Aug 25

    Episode 5: Burning Nuns And Almost Conquering England: The Vikings

    Brad Allen and Olly Hume dig into the Vikings in the 9th century, including How close England came to falling to the Danes The brutal origin of the phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face" The Viking ritual of dueling inside hazel branches

  6. Aug 16

    Episode 4: The GREATEST Survival Story Ever—Shackleton in Antarctica

    Brad and Olly discuss Sir Ernest Shackleton and his unbelievable fight for survival in the Antarctic, including: How Shackleton became trapped in the ice in Antarctica Why Shackleton's men deemed him the greatest leader of all time Why men marooned on the ice for were actually happy All to remind you..... it could be worse!!

  7. Aug 9

    Episode 3: How Ancient Sparta Inspired Hitler

    Brad Allen and Olly Hume discuss life in ancient Sparta, including: Life in the Agoge where all Spartan boys were trained from the age of 7 Why Spartan men were shamed with a dead mouse Why Hitler admired Spartan society  And much, much more All in an attempt to remind you... It Could Be Worse.

  8. Aug 2

    Episode 2: Selling Your Six Year Old: Life In A Scottish Coalmine

    ⛏️Life In An 18th Century Coal Mine ⛏️ Brad and Olly dig into life as a worker in an 18th century Scottish coal mine. And spoiler alert... it was NOT a good time. The boys hit: Waking at 2am for 15 hour shifts  Why Scottish miners were essentially slaves until 1799  A brutal punishment where miners are forced to walk in a circle for 15 hours And much, much more.  All in an attempt to remind you... It Could Be Worse.

  9. Jul 26

    Episode 1: One Pint In The Pub Turns Into Two Years At Sea

    Today's topic is Royal Navy Press Gangs from the Napoleonic Wars ⚓️ Brad educates Olly on the phenomenon of Royal Navy Press Gangs to help Olly feel better about helping his Gran move house. The boys discuss: Being tricked by a prostitute at a Crimping House Repulsive Naval meals such as 'Ship's biscuit', 'Lobscouse' and 'Skillagalee' Being flogged by a glass-tipped whip called 'Cat O' Nine Tails' And much, much more. All in an attempt to remind you... It Could Be Worse.

  • 9 Episodes

About

History buff Brad Allen teams up with Comedian Olly Hume for a lighthearted but educational journey through history's most unfortunate lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Allen and Olly Hume
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    It Could Be Worse

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