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

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

How did a Victorian priest become the first person to scientifically describe a dinosaur, revolutionize paleontology through the study of fossilized poop, and terrify students by shoving hyena skulls in their faces while screaming about stomachs? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, featuring Laurel Rockall of the High Tales of History podcast, we explore the spectacular life of William Buckland, the eccentric geologist who dressed like a wizard, licked cathedral floors, and proved that brilliance and madness are often the same thing.This is the story of how to change scientific history while being absolutely insufferable at dinner parties.The Fossil-Hunting Childhood:How young William grew up in fossil-rich Devon with a father who took him rock hunting instead of, you know, normal parentingHis journey from Blundell's School to a scholarship at Oxford's Corpus Christi CollegeWhy he became obsessed with geology before it was even a proper subject (hipster geologist energy)The Most Terrifying Teacher in History:The infamous lecture technique of shoving hyena skulls in students' faces while screaming "THE STOMACH RULES THE WORLD!"How he'd get on all fours and prance around the lecture hall imitating dinosaur gaits (one colleague said it made him want to vomit)Why he dressed in full academic robes for fieldwork, looking like a wizard on a fossil huntThe students who attended his lectures: future Cardinal John Henry Newman, Samuel Wilberforce, and Charles Darwin's mentor Charles LyellThe Greatest Discovery (And It's Poop):The 1821 Kirkdale Cave discovery: workers using prehistoric bones to fill potholes in Yorkshire roadsHow Buckland proved the cave was a prehistoric hyena den by comparing ancient faeces to fresh hyena droppings (dedication!)The invention of "coprolites" (fossilized faeces) as a scientific field of studyHis infamous poop table: a dining table inlaid with fossilized faeces that he made guests eat on before revealing what it was made ofWinning the Royal Society's Copley Medal for his work on ancient hyena shitThe Dinosaur Whisperer:The 1818 discovery of mysterious bones near Stonesfield, OxfordshireConsulting with Georges Cuvier, the founding father of vertebrate palaeontologyFebruary 20, 1824: Buckland becomes the first person in history to scientifically describe a dinosaur (Megalosaurus)How he changed our understanding of prehistoric life foreverThe Tasting Geologist:Buckland's habit of identifying geological deposits by licking themHis honeymoon with wife Mary Morland: touring Europe's geological sites and tasting rocks togetherThe cathedral floor incident: licking "holy martyr blood" and declaring it bat urineHe Ate Everything:He set out on a mission to eat every living animal, which led to him creating recipes including: including mice on toast, panther chops, crocodile steaks, and...puppiesThe story gets even wilder in part two. William Buckland's lifelong mission to eat everything on Earth continues, including the mummified heart of King Louis XIV of France. Plus: his house that was basically a chaotic zoo, his pet hyena Billy who wore academic robes to wine parties, and how his scientific brilliance was matched only by his complete inability to behave like a normal human being.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

Welcome to Season 6! In Part Two of our Spotify saga, things get MUCH darker. If you thought underpaying musicians and overpaying Joe Rogan was bad, wait until you hear about the military drones, ICE recruitment ads, and the AI-generated music flooding the platform. This is the story of how a music streaming company became a weapons investor, government propagandist, and AI content farm, all while claiming they can't afford to pay artists more.⚠️ REMINDER: We're still hosted on Spotify's platform. This is basically career suicide at this point, but we're committed to the bit.The AI Apocalypse:Spotify's secret "Perfect Fit Content" program: commissioning fake artists to avoid paying real musicians since 2016How AI tools like Suno and Udio flooded Spotify with millions of fake tracksAventhis: The "verified artist" with 1 million monthly listeners whose entire catalogue is AI-generated (57 tracks in 4 months!)Why your Discover Weekly is now filled with AI slop instead of actual human musiciansDeezer implements AI detection tools. Spotify's response? cricketsSpotify Goes to War:Daniel Ek's €700 million ($800 million) personal investment in Helsing, an AI military weapons companyHow the CEO of a music platform became chairman of a company developing drone warfare technologyArtists pull their catalogues in protest: Deerhoof, Massive Attack (possible Banksy collaborators!), and moreThe brutal irony: "We can't afford to pay musicians more" but somehow there's $700 million for battlefield AIDaniel Ek's defence: "AI, mass and autonomy are driving the new battlefield" (yes, really)The ICE Recruitment Scandal:Spotify runs U.S. government ads with phrases like "millions of dangerous illegals are rampaging the streets"Users get ICE recruitment propaganda between their favourite songsSpotify's defence: "We're just following orders" (a historically great excuse!)The #BoycottSpotify movement becomes a quarterly traditionOh, and Spotify donated $150,000 to Trump's 2025 inaugurationThe Swedish Tax Rebel:Daniel Ek's 2016 open letter threatening to move Spotify out of Sweden"The country that gave me free healthcare and education wants me to pay taxes? Outrageous!"How Sweden actually reformed its laws to accommodate billionaires... and Ek STILL complainedThe wealth tax that cost Sweden $166 billion in capital flightThe Good Stuff (Because Balance):Yes, Spotify democratized music access (100+ million songs for $10/month is incredible)The Partner Program actually helps small-to-mid-size podcasters earn decent moneySpotify paid out $10 billion to the industry in 2024 (10x more than in 2014)The algorithm genuinely helps people discover new artists...But does any of this excuse the rest?The Future:Daniel Ek steps down as CEO in January 2026 (but stays as Executive Chairman, pulling the strings)Can Spotify maintain profitability while fighting Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon?Will governments regulate AI-generated music?Can Spotify's brand recover from Joe Rogan + military drones + ICE ads + underpaid artists?Want to actually support artists?Buy their music directlyGo to their concertsBuy their merchDownload, don't just streamIf you stream, loop their songs on repeat (300 streams = 1 album sale)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

How did a Swedish teenager turn $1 million into a $26 billion music empire while simultaneously pissing off every musician on Earth? In the Season 5 Finale of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the spectacular rise of Daniel Ek and Spotify, from teenage web design hustler to billionaire streaming mogul (and all the questionable decisions along the way).This is the story of how to revolutionize an industry while underpaying the people who make it possible, one fraction of a penny at a time.DISCLAIMER: We're hosted on Spotify's podcasting platform, so this might be career suicide. But hey, at least we'll go down with receipts!The Teenage Hustler:How 13-year-old Daniel Ek was already running a business building websites while you were still figuring out MSN MessengerWhy an 18-year-old millionaire enrolled in university just to dodge a massive tax bill (galaxy brain move)The moment Daniel realized being a Ferrari-driving millionaire at 23 was... boringBuilding the Piracy Killer:How Spotify was built using illegally downloaded music to convince record labels to license their catalogues The two-year negotiation marathon that convinced Universal, Warner, and Sony to trust a Swedish start-upWhy the name "Spotify" is actually a complete accident that they pretended was intentionalThe Payment Problem:How Spotify pays artists $0.003-0.005 per stream (that's three-to-five-tenths of ONE CENT)Why you need 800,000 monthly streams just to earn minimum wageThe 2024 policy that stripped $47 million from small artists and gave it to Taylor Swift, Drake, and major labelsDaniel Ek's tone-deaf advice to struggling musicians: "Just put in the work and create more content" (REM's Mike Mills' response: "Go f*ck yourself")The Joe Rogan Problem:Spotify's $200-250 million deal with Joe Rogan (that's more than thousands of musicians earn combined)The medical misinformation, N-word compilations, and conspiracy theories that came with itNeil Young's ultimatum: "They can have Rogan or Young. Not both" (Spoiler: They chose Rogan)The shocking truth about where the money came from: Tencent and Chinese government connections funding America's most controversial podcasterSpotify genuinely changed music forever. For $10/month, you can access 100+ million songs. That's incredible! They helped kill piracy and made discovering new music easier than ever.But somewhere along the way, they decided to:Pay musicians fractions of pennies while spending hundreds of millions on one podcasterFlood their platform with AI-generated garbage to avoid paying real artistsTake a cut from every stream while claiming they can't afford to pay moreTo make minimum wage: Artists need 800,000 monthly streams Joe Rogan's deal: $250 million (equivalent to 50 TRILLION artist streams)Spotify's 2024 policy: Songs under 1,000 annual streams get ZERO royaltiesDaniel Ek's net worth: $2.5 billionAverage artist per-stream payment: $0.004Coming in Part Two:The story gets even wilder. Military drone investments, ICE recruitment ads, Swedish tax battles, and the question everyone's asking: Is this the end of Spotify as we know it?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

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 yearsThe $11 million mansion wars that turned Fifth Avenue into a Vanderbilt showcaseAlva Vanderbilt's $8 million costume ball (equivalent to $300 million today) that bankrupted New York's other wealthy families, trying to competeHow 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 45How Consuelo Vanderbilt was literally sold to a British Duke for $95 million to buy the family a titleAlfred 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 millionaireHow Anderson Cooper and Timothy Olyphant became the last wealthy Vanderbilts by doing something radical: getting a jobFrom 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/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

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 coatWhy his son William Henry was the last competent Vanderbilt, doubling the fortune before his descendants set it on fireThe $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 moneyHow Consuelo Vanderbilt was literally sold to the Duke of Marlborough for $95 million and a fancy titleReginald Vanderbilt's masterclass in drinking and gambling away $400 million in just 23 yearsWhy Alfred Vanderbilt survived cancelling his Titanic ticket only to die on the Lusitania three years laterThe 1973 family reunion where 120 Vanderbilt descendants gathered and not one was a millionaireHow Anderson Cooper became the last wealthy Vanderbilt by doing something radical: getting a jobThe 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-pinchingSecond Generation (William Henry's children): Maintains wealth while building increasingly expensive houses and establishing lavish lifestylesThird Generation: Drinks it, gambles it, and watches their houses get torn down because they can't afford the heating bills.⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

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 companiesWhy selling heavy pet supplies at massive discounts with free shipping is financial suicideThe massive marketing campaign that created an iconic sock puppetHow 14 dot-com companies spent an average of $2.2 million each for Super Bowl ads in January 2000Why customer acquisition costs became unsustainable when selling low-margin pet productsThe 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 shutdownThe 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 nowFrom 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/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

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 schemerThe fake university degrees that launched her fraudulent financial empireWhy she made herself "too exclusive" to attract desperate investorsThe $40,000 Aspen hotel stays funded by stolen retirement moneyHow a chance meeting in a dentist's office brought down her schemeThe federal police raid that triggered her mysterious disappearanceWhy her hairdresser husband waited 30 hours to report her missingThe gruesome beach discovery that ended wild conspiracy theoriesHow victims received only 32 cents for every dollar they lostFrom 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/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

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 futuresWhy 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 dailyThe dark connection between his streamlined designs and eugenics beliefsWhy his beautiful concept cars were never built (but Mussolini offered $200k for them)How he helped create America's car-dependent urban nightmareThe 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/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.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

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/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

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/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

When you're born into wealth, attend the best schools, and still manage to get kicked out of half of Europe, you might be Karl Marx, the bearded chaos merchant who thought capitalism sucked and spent most of his life borrowing rent money from his contemporary/co-writer/patron Friedrich Engels.In this episode of History’s Greatest Idiots, we take a cold, sobering plunge into the life of the man who gave us The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, inspired countless revolutions, and yet somehow couldn’t hold down a job or manage a budget to save his life (or his children’s lives, sadly). From his toxic academic ego to the world's slowest writing habits and a bizarre refusal to bathe, Marx was less a revolutionary hero and more “guy who ruins the pub chat by quoting Hegel.”Join us as we explore how a man with brilliant ideas and disastrous follow-through became one of the most influential (and, in many ways, idiotic) figures in modern history.⁠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

When the world is your oyster, sometimes you think, "f*ck that oyster, I want canned tuna instead!" That's the point of view of today's subject, Tim Lambesis: from world conquering album launches with and tours with As I Lay Dying, to critical praise and millions of dollars, everything seemed to be going well for this rock star...then he threw it all away...multiple times.Join us as we look back through the life and career of one of the most infamous modern rock musicians. A man so despised, he's gone through 14 bandmates and 3 wives in 25 years!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

In this Pride Month special, the History’s Greatest Idiots team dives into the nuanced, lesser-told story of Harvey Milk. Yes, he was a pioneering political figure during a time of widespread discrimination and upheaval in 1970s America — but he was also a deeply complex character with a flair for publicity, a relentless political drive, and a ruthless streak that left real collateral damage.From his rise in San Francisco politics to the controversial tactics he used to stay in the spotlight, we explore the myth, the man, and the messy legacy Harvey Milk left behind.👉 Was Harvey Milk a selfless hero or a savvy manipulator who knew how to work the system?👉 How did his assassination shape LGBTQ+ activism forever?👉 And why is it important to look at queer icons with clear eyes, not just through rose-colored glasses?Join us for a thought-provoking episode that challenges the sanitized biopic versions and digs into the contradictions of one of America’s most iconic — and imperfect — political figures.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

What happens when you give someone with ADHD, violent tendencies, and poor impulse control as much fame and money as humanly possible? Predictably, absolute chaos!Keith Moon is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers and most iconic rock stars of all time. As part of The Who, he toured the world, lit up every arena he performed in, and created some of the most iconic music of the 20th century.Even contemporaries like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin admired Keith's presence and skill, while simultaneously being charmed by one of the sweetest and most fun-loving people in music.But his wild nature, propensity for violent destruction, and crippling addictions led to a lifetime of trouble, sadness, and an untimely death.Relive the highs and lows of one of the most memorable musicians of all time.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

There's a lot of focus and attention on billionaires nowadays (both good and bad), but one name from The Gilded Age often gets overlooked: Hetty Green.Called "The Queen of Wall Street" to her face, and "The Witch of Wall Street" behind her back, Hetty built a fortune at a time when investing in stocks and shares was not something women were encouraged to do.Her ability to generate and maintain wealth was so impressive, she even lent money to the city of New York to keep it afloat during difficult times.Let's dive into her life and incredible career and fascinating life of America's Richest Woman!⁠⁠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

There is one company that is so synonymous with the 1990s that it has been used as a visual cue for the era in virtually every nostalgia-tinged movie and TV show since it went out of business: Blockbuster Video.But, despite being a titan of industry and THE go-to store in its niche, the company's demise was as rapid and embarrassing as the brand was iconic.Wasteful spending, a reluctance to innovate, and paying top executives tens of millions of dollars when the company was struggling to turn a profit, were just some of the many stupid decisions the company had already made by the time it made what many experts consider to be the most catastrophic decision in corporate history: Blockbuster turned down the opportunity to buy Netflix for just $50 million.Stick around to learn more about one of the most ridiculous corporate downfalls ever.⁠⁠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