History's Greatest Idiots

In the fifth episode of Season Four of History's Greatest Idiots, Lev and Derek examine the life and career of one of Hollywood's most notorious actors (Charlie Sheen) and relive the rise and fall of of one of the greatest punk bands of all time, who would have survived longer if it weren't for their meddling manager (Malcolm McLaren). Join our Patreon for Exclusive Content and Gifts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiotshttps://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Social Media ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Lev & Derek ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ThatEffnGuy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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

In the fifteenth Episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek look back at the life and career of a man who cheated death multiple times, created one of the greatest musical instruments of all time, and took on an entire country's musical establishment...and won (Adolphe Sax)! https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots Hosts: Lev & Derek https://linktr.ee/ThatEffnGuy 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

The trad wife trend claims women have always stayed home and deferred to men. History disagrees, loudly. From Assyrian businesswomen on clay tablets to the woman who invented Monopoly before women could vote, this is four thousand years of evidence they'd rather you didn't find.

This week on History's Greatest Idiots (featuring Patreon member Ben Markwart), we explore the Chernobyl nuclear disaster: the catastrophic 1986 explosion that killed dozens, displaced 350,000 people, cost 700 billion dollars, and helped collapse the Soviet Union.The Safety Test That Wasn't Very SafeOn 26th April 1986 at 1:23 AM, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, exploded during a safety test. Engineers disabled the emergency core cooling system, ran the RBMK reactor at just 7% power (unstable below 20%), and withdrew most control rods. Within seconds, power surged to over 100 times normal output. Two explosions blew the 2,000 ton reactor lid off and ignited the graphite moderator, which burned for nine days, releasing massive radioactive contamination across Europe.The RBMK Reactor DesignThe Soviet RBMK reactor had catastrophic design flaws operators weren't informed about. It featured a positive void coefficient (coolant loss increased power), control rods with graphite tips that briefly increased reactivity when inserted, and no Western-style containment building. Deputy Chief Engineer Anatoly Diatlov, in charge during the accident, genuinely believed the reactor was safe.The Cover-up and Sweden's DiscoveryFor 36 hours, Soviet officials said nothing whilst Pripyat's 50,000 residents went about their normal lives at radiation levels 600,000 times background levels. On 28th April, radiation alarms triggered at Sweden's Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant, over 1,000 kilometres away. Only after Swedish authorities announced a Soviet nuclear accident did the USSR reluctantly admit to Chernobyl. Gorbachev didn't issue a statement until 14th May, 18 days later, calling it a "misfortune" and attacking Western media as spreading "malicious lies."The LiquidatorsFirst responders weren't told they were confronting an exposed reactor core. Firefighters handled radioactive graphite with ordinary equipment. 28 died within four months from acute radiation syndrome. Firefighter Vasily Ignatenko, aged 25, received 1,300 rem and died on 13th May 1986. About 600,000 liquidators cleaned up the site. Called "bio-robots," they shovelled radioactive debris from the roof in 40-second shifts because robots were destroyed by radiation. At least 1,800 children developed thyroid cancer from radioactive iodine-131.How Chernobyl Collapsed the Soviet UnionGorbachev later stated Chernobyl was "perhaps the real cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union," more than perestroika, glasnost, Afghanistan, or the Berlin Wall. The disaster shattered public trust, contradicting glasnost's promise of openness. Combined with Afghanistan casualties (15,000 troops), economic stagnation (2.6% GDP growth), and military spending (16% of GNP), Chernobyl's 18 billion rouble cost broke the system. The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989. The USSR dissolved in December 1991, less than six years after Chernobyl.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on History's Greatest Idiots (Featuring Peter of In The Wheels), we explore two Scottish success stories: cyclist David Millar's fall from grace and redemption, and comic writer Mark Millar's controversial rise to Hollywood riches.Born 4th January 1977 in Malta, David Millar burst onto cycling's scene in 2000, winning the Tour de France prologue and wearing the yellow jersey. He won four Tour stages and became the first British rider to wear the leader's jersey in all three Grand Tours.On 23rd June 2004, whilst dining in Biarritz, French police arrested Millar. They found empty EPO phials and syringes. Millar confessed to doping in 2001 and 2003. He was banned for two years, stripped of his 2003 World Championship, and fired by Cofidis.Returning in 2006, Millar transformed into cycling's most vocal anti-doping advocate. He served on WADA's Athlete Committee, became peloton spokesperson during Operación Puerto, and proved he could win clean with stages in the Vuelta, Giro, and a 2012 Tour victory. He achieved almost identical results in both halves of his career, retiring in 2014.Born 24th December 1969 in Coatbridge, Mark Millar became one of comics' most successful and divisive figures. After The Authority and The Ultimates (Time's "comic book of the decade"), Millar created Millarworld, designing properties to sell to Hollywood. Wanted, Kick-Ass, and Kingsman became films before issues appeared. Netflix purchased Millarworld in 2017.Critical reception has been harsh. Old Man Logan was called "grotesque" and "without substance", Kick-Ass criticised for undermining its premise, Nemesis dismissed as shock value. When asked about using assaults as a plot device, Millar said: "The ultimate act that would be the taboo, to show how bad some villain is..."Politically, Millar supported Brexit as a path to Scottish independence, then resigned from Labour in 2025, calling Keir Starmer's government "nightmarish, totalitarian."Two Millars. One rebuilt his reputation through honesty. The other built a Hollywood empire on controversy.David Millar: From Yellow Jersey to Prison CellMark Millar: Comics, Controversy and Self-Promotion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on History's Greatest Idiots, we're trying a slightly different mini-documentary format to explore one of the most bizarre success stories in American comedy: Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., the man who proved you could become a millionaire by hitting produce with a mallet.From Science to SledgehammersBorn 24th July 1946 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Leo suffered severe asthma. His family relocated to South Tampa, Florida, for the warm weather. He became a championship roller skater at his father's rink, but wanted to be a scientist. In 1970, he graduated from the University of South Florida with a chemical engineering degree and English literature minor, then worked as a chemist.But when he became road manager for musician Jim Stafford, Kenny Rogers' manager asked if he would open for Rogers on a 100-night tour. Gallagher went from no stage experience to performing in America's largest auditoriums overnight.The Sledge-O-Matic and Cable Television StardomGallagher's big break came in 1975 with an appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. But his 1980 Showtime special launched him to stardom as cable television exploded. The centrepiece was the Sledge-O-Matic, a parody of infomercials. Gallagher smashed apples, oranges, cottage cheese, Big Macs, video game controllers, and finally watermelons. Chunks exploded into the audience.The first rows were covered in plastic sheeting. Audiences brought raincoats. They called it being 'Gallagherized'. From 1981 to 1987, he produced 16 specials on Showtime. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was America's highest-earning stand-up comedian, performing 200 shows yearly for 35 years, over 3,500 performances total, destroying tens of thousands of watermelons.Critics and RankingsWhilst Gallagher sold out theatres, the comedy establishment had mixed feelings. Critics dismissed his act as lowbrow. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him 100th on their list of greatest stand-up comedians. Dead last. Gallagher was bitter, feeling underappreciated despite massive commercial success.The Brother WarsIn the early 1990s, brother Ron asked to perform Leo's routines. Leo agreed if Ron made it clear he was Ron Gallagher, not Leo. Ron toured as 'Gallagher II'. But promotional materials became unclear. In August 2000, Leo sued for trademark violation. Courts sided with Leo. But Gallagher's entire family sided with Ron. The estrangement lasted for life.The Final ActGallagher continued touring into his 70s. He owned patents for slot machine software. In 2003, he ran for California Governor, finishing 16th of 135 candidates. He appeared in a GEICO commercial. His health declined with three heart attacks between 2011 and 2012, collapsing onstage in Minnesota and before a Dallas show. Each time he recovered and returned. After 2012, he reduced touring. COVID-19 in 2020 stopped him entirely. On 11th November 2022, he died from organ failure in Palm Springs, aged 76.LegacyGallagher never got respect from the comedy establishment, but he had 35 years of sold-out shows, millions of fans, and the satisfaction of making people happy. Not bad for a guy who just wanted to be a scientist.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Billions, miserliness, and a severed ear! This episode of History's Greatest Idiots (featuring The Hungry Historian) explores the extraordinary life of Jean Paul Getty, the oil tycoon who became the richest man in the world, installed a payphone in his mansion for guests, and refused to pay ransom whilst his kidnapped grandson's ear was being cut off.The Golden Child Who Disappointed Daddy:Born in 1892 to oilman George Franklin Getty, young J. Paul made his first million at age 23, then quit to party in Hollywood dating film stars including the Gish sisters, Norma Talmadge, and Gloria Swanson. He married and divorced three women within a decade. His father was appalled. When George Getty died in 1930, he left an estate worth $10 million. J. Paul inherited just $500,000. His mother received the rest. It was a pointed snub that would define Getty's entire life.The Great Depression Bargain Hunter:Determined to prove his father wrong, Getty bought up distressed oil company stocks during the Depression. He boasted to an acquaintance: "I just fleeced my mother" after persuading her to give him control of her trust fund. In 1949, he gambled $9.5 million on mineral rights to a barren Saudi Arabian desert called the Neutral Zone. Other oil companies thought he was mad. In 1953, oil was discovered. The field produced 16 million barrels yearly. By 1966, Getty was the world's wealthiest private citizen, worth $1.2 billion (approximately $70 billion in today's purchasing power).The Miser of Sutton Place:Getty settled at Sutton Place, a Tudor estate near Guildford. He filled it with priceless art, then installed a payphone in the entrance hall because he worried guests might make long-distance calls. He haggled over garden barrows. He reused string. He was married and divorced five times, had five sons, and was a terrible father. His son George Getty II died from a drug and alcohol-induced stroke. His son J. Paul Getty Jr. became a heroin addict.The Kidnapping:On 10th July 1973, 16-year-old John Paul Getty III was kidnapped in Rome by the 'Ndrangheta crime organization. They demanded $17 million. Getty refused to pay, suspecting his grandson was faking it. For months, Paul was held in a cave, blindfolded and beaten. In November 1973, kidnappers sent Paul's severed ear to an Italian newspaper with a letter: "This is Paul's first ear. If within ten days the family still believes this is a joke, then the other ear will arrive. In other words, he will arrive in little bits." Only then did Getty negotiate. He agreed to pay $2.2 million (the maximum tax-deductible amount under U.S. law). He then lent the remaining $800,000 to his son at four percent interest. Getty wrote off his portion as a tax deduction. When Paul was rescued, Getty refused to come to the phone. Paul never recovered, suffering a stroke in 1981 that left him paralyzed and nearly blind for 36 years until his death in 2011.Getty proved you could have all the money in the world and still be absolutely miserable whilst making everyone around you miserable too. He died wealthy and alone, having haggled over his grandson's ear, installed payphones for guests, and left behind a company that charges fees for photographs it doesn't own.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Scams, spectacular failures, and billions burned! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots explores three tech disasters that prove innovation and incompetence make the perfect recipe for catastrophe.First up: Ruja Ignatova, the "Crypto Queen" who convinced investors OneCoin was the next Bitcoin whilst running one of history's largest Ponzi schemes. She vanished in 2017 with $4 billion of other people's money, becoming one of the FBI's Most Wanted. Her brother went to prison. Her victims lost everything. She's probably on a yacht somewhere laughing at all of us.Then we explore Y2K, the Millennium Bug that convinced the entire world civilization would collapse at midnight on 1st January 2000. Governments spent $300-600 billion preparing for disaster. Russia put nuclear forces on high alert. People stockpiled generators, tinned food, and guns (sales spiked 700% in some US areas). Airlines grounded flights. Survivalists moved to remote cabins. What actually happened? Some slot machines in Delaware stopped working. That's it. The most expensive non-event in human history.Finally, Sam Altman and OpenAI: the Stanford dropout who convinced the world he was building God whilst burning billions and destroying the planet. From nonprofit to capped profit to whatever OpenAI is now. ChatGPT's explosive growth to 100 million users in two months. The environmental catastrophe (training GPT-3 used enough energy to power 358 UK homes for a year). The brain drain to Anthropic as safety researchers fled. The board firing Sam for lying, 500 employees threatening to quit, and Sam returning five days later more powerful than ever. OpenAI projected to lose $14 billion in 2026 and potentially go bankrupt by mid-2027. Tech stocks making up 40% of the market. Microsoft losing $357 billion in a single day in January 2026. The AI bubble that might crash harder than dot-com.From crypto fraud to millennium panic to AI hype, these tech disasters prove that when greed meets fear meets overconfidence, billions of dollars disappear and nobody learns anything.Join Lev, Derek and special guest The History Obscura Podcast, as they count down the greatest hits of technology's most spectacular failures.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're sad to announce that Derek will no longer be continuing with the podcast. We've had 5 wonderful years producing this show together, and I couldn't have wished for a better friend and co-host than the person that made me laugh more than anyone I've ever known.This isn't the end of the show though, History's Greatest Idiots will continue, and Derek and I remain close friends. He will still be reachable via myself if you wish to pass on any messages.We love you all very much, thank you all for your continued support. Rest assured, there's plenty more comedic historic podcast episodes on the way.Thank you all for understanding.Lev and Derek

War heroes, haute couture, and outrageous parties! This episode of History's Greatest Idiots, featuring The Fit Historian (https://www.youtube.com/@fithistorian), explores the extraordinary life of Neil Munro "Bunny" Roger, the openly gay fashion designer who became a decorated World War II hero, invented Capri pants, and threw London's most legendary parties whilst maintaining a 26-inch waist and wearing makeup to battle.The Fairy Prince:Born in 1911 to Scottish telecommunications tycoon Sir Alexander Roger, young Bunny asked for a doll's house and got it. At age six, his parents gave him a fairy costume with butterfly wings. His stern father sent him to Loretto, a famously dour boarding school that Bunny later said was worse than being shelled at Anzio. At Oxford, he attended parties dressed as Hollywood starlets, wore makeup, dyed his hair, and was expelled in 1930 for "alleged homosexual activities" when homosexuality was completely illegal. Margaret Thatcher was one of only a tiny minority of Conservative MPs who voted to decriminalise homosexuality in 1967, calling prosecutions "a waste of court time." This didn't stop her passing Section 28 in 1988, banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools.The Fashion Designer:After Oxford, Bunny worked at Fortnum & Mason learning tailoring, then opened "Neil Roger" in 1937 with £1,000 from his exasperated father (equivalent to £60,000 today, purchasing power of £400,000). He dressed Vivien Leigh, future star of Gone with the Wind. His designs referenced Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Swanson, and Pola Negri.The War Hero:In 1941, Bunny joined the Rifle Brigade and served in North Africa and Italy. At Monte Cassino in 1944, he charged a machine gun post wearing blush and a silk scarf, carrying Vogue in his pocket. When asked about approaching Germans, he replied "When in doubt, powder heavily." He was decorated for bravery, saved a wounded comrade at Anzio by dragging him from No Man's Land under fire, and entered burning buildings to rescue soldiers. After the war: "Now I've shot so many N*zis, Daddy will have to buy me a sable coat."The Post-War Fashion Legend:Bunny ran Fortnum & Mason's couture department from the late 1940s until 1973. In 1949, he invented fitted Capri pants on holiday. He bought 15 bespoke Savile Row suits yearly at £30,000 each in today's money, ordering four pairs of custom shoes per suit. By his death, he owned over 600 pairs of shoes. He maintained a 26-inch waist through corsetry until later life when it ballooned to 31 inches.The Legendary Parties:Bunny's Mayfair house became London's most notorious party destination. In 1952, he threw a "Quo Vadis?" party with no address, answering the door in slavery attire. In 1956, he held the infamous Fetish Party with guests in leather bondage gear, some dragging companions on dog chains. The Sunday People published scandalised photographs. For his 70th birthday in 1981, he held the Amethyst Ball at Holland Park, wearing a plum catsuit with a feathered headdress glued into his hair. Anyone not in purple was rejected. For his 80th birthday in 1991, he wore a scarlet sequin catsuit with an orange cape and greeted guests from behind a literal wall of fire.The Final Years:Bunny retreated to his Scottish estate Dundonell, spending his inheritance on art, furniture, and parties. When Sotheby's auctioned his belongings in 1998, the catalogue was 339 pages with 1,505 lots. He died in 1997 aged 85, having lived exactly as he pleased, fought Nazis in makeup, invented iconic fashion, and never once pretended to be anything other than who he was.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How does a Stanford dropout convince the world he's building God, burn through billions whilst destroying the planet, get fired for lying, come back more powerful than ever, and still somehow convince investors to hand over even more money? And how is it all about to come crashing down?In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the spectacular rise and looming collapse of Sam Altman's empire at OpenAI, the company that promised us artificial general intelligence and delivered us a very expensive chatbot that makes things up.The Golden Boy Who Dropped Out: Sam's precocious childhood and his first Apple Mac at age 8. How he built Loopt, a location-sharing app so revolutionary it was basically Find My Friends but worse and earlier. His real talent was not building successful companies, it was convincing people he could. How he rose through Y Combinator before being quietly forced out in 2020.The Birth of OpenAI (Or: How to Rebrand "We Want All The Money" as "Saving Humanity"): Founded in 2015 as a nonprofit with Elon Musk, pledging $1 billion but only collecting $130 million. The Paperclip Maximizer thought experiment and why two billionaires decided to build God to stop God from destroying us. The quiet transition from nonprofit to "capped profit" company in 2019. ChatGPT's explosive launch in 2022, hitting 100 million users in two months and making Sam the face of AI.The Controversies (Or: Everything You Need To Know About Why This Was Always Doomed): Training GPT-3 used enough energy to power 358 UK homes for an entire year, and that's just one model. AI data centres consuming electricity equivalent to entire countries whilst carbon offsets do precisely nothing. The brain drain to Anthropic as safety researchers flee, including the head of OpenAI's own safety team. The board firing Sam for lying, 500 employees threatening to quit, and Sam returning five days later more powerful than ever. OpenAI never making a single penny of profit whilst 95% of its 800 million users pay nothing.The Bubble Bursting: OpenAI projected to lose $14 billion in 2026 and potentially go bankrupt by mid-2027. Tech stocks making up 40% of the market whilst AI companies desperately raise billions they cannot justify. America's power grid buckling under the strain of data centre demand. Microsoft losing $357 billion in market value in a single day last week. Why the entire AI boom might crash harder than the dot-com bubble.This is the story of how Silicon Valley's biggest ever AI project convinced the world it was saving humanity whilst simultaneously cooking the planet, haemorrhaging cash, and losing its own safety researchers to a rival company.⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Andrew Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Messiahs, madness, and mass delusion! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots explores three cult leaders who proved that charisma and megalomania make the perfect recipe for disaster.First up: David Koresh, the guitar-playing prophet who transformed a quiet religious community into the Branch Davidians, stockpiling weapons in Waco, Texas whilst claiming divine authority and multiple wives, culminating in a 51-day FBI siege that ended in tragedy.Then we meet Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later known as Osho), the Indian guru whose followers built a utopian city in rural Oregon, complete with a fleet of Rolls-Royces, free love philosophy, and a bioterror attack that poisoned 751 Americans with salmonella in the largest such attack in US history.Finally, Claude Vorilhon rounds out our line-up: the French race car driver turned prophet who claims aliens created humanity, renamed himself Rael, and built the Raelian Movement around messages from extraterrestrials, cloning controversies, and a surprisingly large international following.From compound sieges to bioterrorism to UFO religions, these self-proclaimed messiahs prove that absolute conviction plus zero self-awareness equals catastrophic consequences.Join Lev and Derek as they count down the greatest hits of history's most spectacularly deluded cult leaders.Perfect for true crime fans, cult history enthusiasts, and anyone who's ever wondered how charismatic narcissists convince thousands to follow them into absolute chaos.⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Animation: Daniel Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Andrew Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

After causing the 2008 financial crisis through reckless deregulation, Larry Summers got hired by Barack Obama to fix the disaster he helped create. Then in November 2025, emails revealed he'd been using Jeffrey Epstein as his wingman.Welcome to part two. Last episode covered his arrogant rise. Now we cover his spectacular fall.The 2008 Financial CrisisSummers made $5 million at D.E. Shaw in 2008 whilst the economy collapsed. He earned $20 million speaking to banks he'd deregulated.Then his policies came home to roost. Derivatives crashed. Lehman collapsed.Who did Obama call? Larry Summers.Christina Romer calculated the economy needed $1.8 trillion in stimulus. Summers capped it at $890 billion. The final stimulus was $787 billion. Too small.Banks got bailed out. Homeowners got foreclosed.The Epstein ScandalAfter Obama, Summers returned to Harvard. Joined OpenAI in 2023. He'd survived everything.Then came November 2025. The House Oversight Committee released Epstein's estate documents. Among them: emails between Epstein and Summers from 2017-2019.Summers was asking Epstein for dating advice about pursuing a younger woman economist, his "mentee." Code name: "peril." Epstein workshopped his messages over seven months.Epstein wrote: "im a pretty good wing man, no?"Summers asked whether to thank her or apologise for being married. To Harvard professor Elisa New. Who had also emailed Epstein, thanking him for funding her poetry project.The fallout was immediate. Summers resigned from OpenAI, Bloomberg, The New York Times, and multiple think tanks. On 3rd December 2025, the American Economic Association imposed a lifetime ban.Summers called it "a major error in judgement."What We LearnBrilliance doesn't mean being right. Summers was wrong about derivatives, Glass-Steagall, Russia, the stimulus, and Epstein."Failing upwards" works until it doesn't. For 50 years, every disaster led to a bigger job. Until one scandal proved too toxic.Stiglitz warned everyone about everything in the 1990s. He was right and kept from power. Summers was wrong and kept getting promoted.The system enabled Summers for decades: valuing confidence over wisdom, connections over competence. His deregulation helped cause the 2008 financial crisis, his Russia policies created oligarchs, he was implicated in numerous scandals during his tenure in Harvard. He got away with failure for decades...until he used Jeffrey Epstein as his dating coach.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How did one economist cause the 2008 financial crisis, get hired to fix it, protect his corrupt mate whilst Harvard paid millions in settlements, suggest women might be genetically inferior at science, and still remain one of the most powerful figures in American economics for decades?In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the spectacular career of Lawrence Henry Summers, the man who failed upwards for nearly five decades, leaving economic destruction, hurt feelings, and dodgy friendships in his wake. This is the story of how brilliant people can be catastrophically wrong about everything whilst sounding extremely clever, and how it all came crashing down in November 2025 when emails revealed he'd been using a high-profile buddy as his personal dating coach.Part one of this epic two-part series covers Larry's rise from golden child to economic disaster architect.The Golden Child: How Larry was born into economics royalty (both parents were economics professors, two uncles won Nobel Prizes) The three-year-old who argued with everyone and drove his mother crazy Writing to his Nobel Prize-winning uncle at age 13 to solve maths problems (the audacity!) Skipping grades, enrolling at MIT at 16, and becoming one of Harvard's youngest tenured professors at 28 Winning every major economics award before age 40 (perhaps a bit too confident)The Clinton Years: How to Deregulate an Economy and Call It Progress: The infamous 1991 "toxic memo" suggesting dumping pollution on poor countries (economics or eugenics with dollar signs?) Championing the repeal of Glass-Steagall in 1999, removing Depression-era banking protections Crushing Brooksley Born's attempts to regulate financial derivatives Pushing through the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, banning regulation of derivatives (what could go wrong?) His fundamental disagreements with Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, who was actually correct about regulation The Russia disaster: "shock therapy" privatization that created oligarchs, sent poverty from 2% to 40%, and caused a 43% increase in male death rates Why Summers, like most economists, only thought five years ahead instead of 15, 20, or 30 yearsLarry Goes to Harvard (And Everything Goes Wrong Again): Becoming Harvard's 27th President in 2001 and lasting exactly five years (one of the shortest tenures in modern history) The Cornel West affair: calling a renowned philosopher's hip-hop album an "embarrassment" and sparking an exodus to Princeton The Andrei Shleifer scandal: protecting his corrupt protégé from the Russia privatization disaster whilst Harvard paid a record $26.5 million settlement January 2005: suggesting women are underrepresented in science because they don't want to work hard enough and might be genetically inferior (listing discrimination third) MIT biologist Nancy Hopkins feeling physically ill and walking out of his speech The faculty vote of no confidence (218 to 185) and his eventual resignation in February 2006 Why being the smartest person in the room means you should be able to read the bloody roomThis is only part one. In part two, Larry gets to witness the worldwide economic collapse caused by his deregulation policies, gets parachuted in by Obama to help fix the problems he created, and we reveal the massive 2025 scandal that ultimately ruined his already damaged legacy.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Panic, paranoia, and spectacularly stupid predictions! This episode of History's Greatest Idiots (featuring Mandy Gardner from the History Obscura Podcast) explores Y2K, the millennium bug that convinced the entire world that civilization would collapse at midnight on January 1st, 2000, leading to the most expensive non-event in human history.The Technical Problem: Back in the 1960s and 70s, when computer memory cost a fortune, programmers saved space by writing dates with two digits instead of four (65 instead of 1965). Nobody thought about what would happen when 1999 became 2000. Would computers think it was 1900? Would banks collapse? Would planes fall from the sky? Would nuclear missiles accidentally launch? These were genuine questions people were asking in 1998.The Media Frenzy: By 1999, reasonable concerns about bank systems had spiralled into headlines like "Will your pacemaker stop working at midnight?" and "Could nuclear power plants explode?" Governments didn't help. Bill Clinton established a Y2K council. Britain spent £396 million (equivalent purchasing power of £9 billion today). Countries stockpiled fuel, food, and medical supplies as if they were preparing for war. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan compared it to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ed Yardeni predicted a 70% chance of a worldwide recession. Experts warned that elevators would trap people, traffic lights would fail, water treatment plants would shut down, prison doors would automatically unlock, and planes would literally fall from the sky.The Survival Industry: Y2K preppers made pandemic preppers look casual. People bought generators (manufacturers couldn't keep up), mountains of tinned food, warehouses of bottled water, gold, and guns (sales spiked 700% in some US areas). Companies sold Y2K survival kits for $2,500 containing a year's freeze-dried food. An entire industry monetised fear. Products got "Y2K Compliant" stickers, including toasters that didn't know what year it was anyway.The Price Tag: Worldwide spending reached $300-600 billion. That's more than the Apollo moon landings and Manhattan Project combined. The US alone spent $100 billion. Some COBOL programmers charged $1,000 per hour ($1800 in 2025 money) just checking old code. With that money, we could have ended world hunger for years, eradicated malaria, or provided universal water and sanitation globally.New Year's Eve 1999: Airlines grounded flights. Russia put nuclear forces on high alert with Yeltsin in a command center (drinking vodka). Emergency teams stood ready worldwide. Some families withdrew all their money and moved to remote cabins with six months of supplies. As midnight hit New Zealand, then Asia, then Europe, reporters sounded increasingly disappointed that nothing was going wrong.The Anticlimax: The complete list of significant Y2K problems: slot machines in Delaware stopped working, some bus ticket machines failed in Sheffield and Australia, a few credit card terminals had issues for hours, and the US Naval Observatory website displayed January 1, 19100. That's it. No planes crashed. No nuclear war. No apocalypse. Just slot machines in Delaware that nobody noticed because it's Delaware.The Aftermath: People with 500 tins of beans couldn't exactly return them ("the apocalypse was cancelled"). Politicians claimed credit for preventing disaster by spending billions. We'll never know if the preparations prevented catastrophe or if the problem was massively overblown, making it the geopolitical equivalent of Lisa Simpson's tiger-repelling rock.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Abdications, gluttony, world wars, and child tantrums! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots celebrates the season with four legendary monarchs who proved that unlimited power and terrible judgment make the perfect recipe for spectacular failure.First up: King Adolf Frederick of Sweden, the 18th-century monarch who literally ate himself to death at a royal feast, proving that even kings should know when to stop at dessert number fourteen. His final meal included lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, kippers, champagne, and a staggering amount of semla pastries served in hot milk. He died of digestive problems so severe they're still taught in Swedish schools as a cautionary tale about gluttony.Then we meet Edward VIII, the British king who chose love over the crown, abdicating after just 326 days to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. His decision triggered a constitutional crisis, gave Britain an unexpected king (his brother George VI), and led to decades of exile, Nazi sympathies, and becoming the world's most expensive royal footnote.We'll explore Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Emperor, whose combination of insecurity, aggressive foreign policy, and terrible judgment helped trigger World War One. Born with a withered arm he spent his entire life compensating for, Wilhelm alienated Britain, Russia, and France while building a massive navy nobody needed, ultimately fleeing to the Netherlands where he spent 23 years in exile chopping wood and blaming everyone but himself.Finally, Richard II rounds out our line-up: crowned King of England at age 10, he faced the Peasants' Revolt at 14, developed a massive persecution complex, and spent his reign oscillating between tyranny and incompetence until his nobles had enough and deposed him. He died in captivity, possibly murdered, possibly starved, definitely regretting his life choices.From fatal desserts to world wars, these royal catastrophes prove that absolute power combined with zero common sense creates historically epic disasters.Perfect for history buffs, monarchy enthusiasts, and anyone who's ever wondered how someone can wear a crown and still make monumentally stupid decisions.⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Animation: Daniel Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Andrew Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184⁠⁠⁠

Schemes, scams, and spectacularly stupid greed! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots celebrates the season with four legendary criminals who proved that audacity and terrible judgment make the perfect con artist cocktail.First up: Charles Ponzi, the Italian immigrant whose name became synonymous with financial fraud, promising impossible returns while building a house of cards so unstable it makes modern crypto schemes look sophisticated.Then we meet Howard Marks, the Welsh drug smuggler who turned marijuana trafficking into a global enterprise, juggling fake passports, MI6 connections, and enough aliases to confuse even himself before his spectacular arrest.We'll explore John Factor, the mafia conman whose brother founded Max Factor cosmetics while he specialized in extortion and fake kidnappings, somehow parlaying criminal notoriety into Las Vegas respectability.Finally, Melissa Caddick rounds out our line-up: the Australian fraudster whose Ponzi scheme funded designer shoes and luxury living until she vanished, leaving behind one of true crime's most bizarre mysteries.From postal reply coupons to disappearing feet on beaches, these criminal masterminds prove that sometimes the biggest cons collapse when greed meets absolutely zero exit strategy.Join Lev and Derek as they count down the greatest hits of history's most gloriously idiotic fraudsters.Perfect for true crime fans, scam history buffs, and anyone who's ever wondered how someone can be simultaneously brilliant and catastrophically stupid.⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Animation: Daniel Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Andrew Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184⁠⁠

Welcome to Part Two! If you thought decades-long affairs were wild, wait until you hear what Palmerston did with actual power. In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore his most spectacular diplomatic overreactions: sending 14 warships to collect £150, fighting two wars over opium trafficking, allegedly assaulting Queen Victoria's lady-in-waiting in her own palace, becoming Prime Minister at 70, and literally dying in office at 80.This is the story of gunboat diplomacy, imperial arrogance, and refusing to retire.What You'll Discover:The Don Pacifico Affair (Most Spectacular Overreaction Ever): Portuguese Jewish merchant in Athens had his house ransacked in 1847. Claimed £26,000 damages (£30 million in relative purchasing power). Palmerston sent 14 warships, 731 guns, 8,000 sailors to blockade Greece for two months. Actual damages awarded: £150 (£13,500 today). His famous five-hour speech: "Civis Romanus sum" (I am a British citizen). Commons voted 310-264 in his favour, became "most popular man in the country."The Opium Wars (Britain's Least Defensible Policy): British merchants illegally smuggling opium into China for decades. China banned it (catastrophic health crisis). Britain's solution: get Chinese addicted, use drug money to buy tea. 1839: China destroyed 20,000 chests of British opium. Palmerston insisted war was about "free trade." Gladstone called it "a war more unjust in its origins, more calculated to cover this country with permanent disgrace." Vote: 271-262 for war (nine votes!). First Opium War (1839-1842): Britain destroyed Chinese forces, Treaty of Nanking forced China to pay indemnity, open treaty ports, cede Hong Kong. Second Opium War (1856-1860) fully legalised opium trade. China's "century of humiliation" began. All because Victorians really liked tea.The Windsor Castle Scandal: Late 1830s/early 1840s: Palmerston, staying at Windsor Castle, entered Lady Dacre's bedroom late at night (drunk and "enterprising"). She screamed, threw him out. Entire castle learned immediately. Claimed he mistakenly entered wrong room, but locked door behind him. Victoria furious, wanted him sacked. Only Lord Melbourne's intervention saved his career. Victoria wrote years later about "old offences which sunk deep into her mind." She explicitly said in 1853: "Nothing will induce Her Majesty to have Palmerston as Prime Minister." Had to accept him twice anyway. 1863: 78-year-old Palmerston accused of adultery with Mrs O'Kane. Public reaction: "Good for him!"Becoming Prime Minister (Finally): Crimean War going badly, Aberdeen's government fell. 1855: Palmerston became PM at 70 (oldest person ever to take job for first time). Brought Crimean War to reasonable conclusion. 1857: Called election campaigning on being "tough on China," won considerable majority ("Vote for me, I'll send more gunboats!"). 1858: Government fell over restricting refugees. 1859: Returned as PM at 75 with Russell and Gladstone. Final ministry until death in 1865.The Final Years: Navigated American Civil War carefully. Presented Italian Unification as British victory (Britain barely involved). Schleswig-Holstein Question: "Only three people understood it: Prince Consort (dead), German professor (mad), and I (forgotten)." Blocked electoral reform for working class. 1865 election slogan: "Leave it to Pam," won convincing majority at 80. Died 18 October 1865, two days before 81st birthday. Alleged last words: "Die, my dear doctor? That's the last thing I shall do."⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How did an 18-year-old aristocrat become one of Britain's longest-serving politicians, spending 20 years in the same boring job before discovering his true calling at age 46? In the latest episode of History's Greatest Idiots, featuring Emily Jackson, one third of the Trauma Agora Podcast, we explore Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, the man known as "Lord Cupid" who survived an assassination attempt, conducted a decades-long affair with his friend's wife, and accidentally built one of the most remarkable political careers in British history.The Origin Story: Born in 1784 literally in Parliament's shadow, inheriting an Irish peerage at 18 that was considered "lesser" by British gentry. Educated at Harrow (one of seven PMs from there) and Edinburgh University. Described as having "the most faultless character" (the last time anyone would say that).The Reluctant Politician: Lost his first two campaigns, then paid £1,500 (£1 million in today's purchasing power) to become MP for Horsham at 22. Later represented Newtown with one condition: never visit the constituency. Democracy was more suggestion than requirement.The 20-Year Training Montage: Appointed to admiralty at 22, turned down Chancellor of the Exchequer at 25 (too young!), accepted Secretary at War instead. Spent a mind-numbing 20 years doing army finances under five Prime Ministers. Called "a brilliant young man wasting his talents, destined to remain a second-rater."The Assassination Attempt: Shot by Lieutenant Davies (ex-officer with PTSD) in 1818, survived with minor injury, then paid for Davies's legal defense and psychiatric care. But refused to intervene when poacher Charles Smith was executed on his estates in 1822.Lord Cupid: Earned his nickname through notorious affairs with Lady Jersey, Princess Dorothea Lieven, and dozens of others. The big one: 30-year affair with Emily Lamb, Countess Cowper, whose boring husband "sank into ill health." At least two of her five children were likely Palmerston's.Finally Getting Married: Lord Cowper died in 1837. Emily's children objected (he's too old and a womanizer!). Queen Victoria (age 18) thought people in their 50s were too old to marry. They married anyway in 1839 after 30 years of waiting. Extraordinarily happy marriage, described as "perpetual courtship."The Career Finally Begins: Resigned in 1828 after 20 years with Tories, gave brilliant foreign policy speech in 1829, switched to Whig party, appointed Foreign Secretary in 1830 at age 46. The training montage was over.Coming Up In Part Two: Sending 14 warships to collect £150, fighting two wars over opium, allegedly trying to 'seduce' Queen Victoria's lady-in-waiting in her own palace, becoming PM at 70, and dying in office at 80.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to Part Two of the William Buckland saga, featuring Laurel Rockall of the High Tales of History podcast.If you thought licking cathedral floors and revolutionizing palaeontology through fossilized poop was weird, wait until you hear about his lifelong mission to eat every animal on Earth. In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we dive deep into Buckland's practice of "zoophagy," his house that was basically a Victorian zoo gone wrong, and the most infamous dinner party in history where he ate the mummified heart of King Louis XIV of France.This is the story of how brilliance and complete insanity can coexist in one man who served his guests mice on toast while a hyena in academic robes wandered through the living room.The Zoophagist's Manifesto:William Buckland's lifelong goal: eat his way through the entire animal kingdomHis philosophy: "The stomach rules the world! The great ones eat the less, and the less the lesser still!"The actual, documented menu from the Buckland household (these aren't rumours, these are from his children's memoirs)Regular dinner items: mice on toast, hedgehogs, crocodile steaks, panther chops, rhinoceros pie, roast ostrich, elephant trunk, porpoise head, horse's tongue, kangaroo ham, puppies, slugs, earwigs, and bluebottle fliesThe only two things Buckland declared disgusting: mole and bluebottle flyThe House of Chaos:Why the Buckland home was less "Victorian residence" and more "natural history museum gone catastrophically wrong"The indoor menagerie: guinea pigs, snakes, frogs, ferrets, hawks, owls, cats, dogs, a pony (INSIDE THE HOUSE), eagles, and monkeysBilly the Hyena: the real, living hyena who roamed the house in academic robesTiglath Pileser the Bear: the black bear treated as an honorary Christ Church College member who attended wine parties, enjoyed horseback riding, and once raided a sweet shopThe outdoor chaos: a giant tortoise William let people ride, plus foxes, chickens, and various creatures for "observation"Growing up Buckland: nine children raised in a house with a hyena, a bear, and a poop tableThe Heart of a King:The 1848 dinner party at Nuneham House (residence of the Archbishop of York)The silver casket containing the mummified heart of King Louis XIV of FranceHow a French king's heart ended up in England (spoiler: French Revolution and "Mummy Brown" pigment)Buckland's infamous declaration: "I have eaten many strange things, but have never eaten the heart of a king before"The moment he popped a 140-year-old royal organ into his mouth and swallowed itThe horrified reactions from distinguished guests watching a priceless historical artifact get eatenThe Serious Scientist (Because He Actually Was One):First scientific description of a dinosaur: Megalosaurus (1824)Pioneering coprolites (fossilized faeces) in palaeontology and coining the termRevolutionary work on Kirkdale Cave winning him the Royal Society's Copley MedalDiscovery of the Red Lady of Paviland (one of Britain's oldest known human remains)Contributing to modern geology by embracing glaciation theory over biblical flood narrativesTraining future scientific leaders including Charles Darwin's mentorThe Decline and Perfect Ending:Moving to Westminster Deanery in 1845 (with 16 staircases for maximum chaos)The perfect burial: discovering solid Jurassic limestone in his grave plot and needing explosives to excavate itHis legacy today: lunar ridges, islands, and that coprolite table still on display at Lyme Regis Museum⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠