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Half-Arsed History

Riley Knight
Half-Arsed History
Latest episode

722 episodes

  • Half-Arsed History

    Week 34: Edmund Halley Observes His Comet

    04/09/2026 | 23 mins.
    This week in history we’ve got an ancient volcanic eruption, we’ve got a prime minister being devoured, we’ve got a mysterious gas cloud killing thousands - and we’ve got Edmund Halley discovering something important about the famous comet that still bears his name today.
    The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:
    AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9
    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Half-Arsed History

    Tickets for the 2026 Book Tour are now available!

    02/09/2026 | 11 mins.
    Half-Arsed History is going on tour yet again - this time across the entire country - to celebrate the release of The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of!
    For the first time, as part of this tour I'm coming to both Perth and Adelaide, in addition to shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and at home on the Sunshine Coast.

    Maroochydore - 6:00pm 2nd October at Harry Hartog: Tickets available soon
    Sydney - 6:00pm 6th October at Dymocks City Store, tickets $12*: https://events.humanitix.com/riley-knight
    Brisbane - 6:00pm 7th October at Brisbane Square Library: Tickets available soon
    Adelaide - 6:00pm 9th October at North Adelaide Library, tickets free: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1641949
    Melbourne - 6:00pm 14th October at Robinson's Bookshop, The Glen, tickets free: https://www.simpletix.com/e/riley-knight-tickets-289831
    Melbourne - 6:30pm 15th October at North Fitzroy Library, tickets $15**: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1635329
    Perth - 6:00pm 16th October at City of Vincent Library, tickets free: https://events.humanitix.com/the-most-interesting-people-you-have-never-heard-of-with-riley-knight
    Brisbane - 10:00am 21st October at Capalaba Library, tickets free: https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/Libraries/Whats-on-at-your-library?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D206622862

    Due to time constraints at the venues, these shows will be a little shorter than last year's - a quick chat, a chapter, a Q&A, then some time for signings.
    Copies of the book will be available for purchase at each show, and I'll be more than happy to sign it and take a quick snap with you if you'd like. Can't wait to see you there!
    *Ticket price includes light refreshments.
    **Ticket price includes a welcome drink.
    The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:
    AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9
    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Half-Arsed History

    Episode 425: The Capture of the USS Chesapeake

    28/08/2026 | 52 mins.
    In this week's episode, learn all about the capture of the USS Chesapeake, a fascinating duel that took place between two frigates during the War of 1812.
    The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:
    AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9
    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Half-Arsed History

    Week 33: The Bermuda Gunpowder Heist

    26/08/2026 | 26 mins.
    This week in history we’ve got the birth of a great friend of the show, we’ve got a marvel of modern engineering, we’ve got armies mobilising to cut down a tree - and we’ve got an audacious heist of gunpowder which was instrumental to the American Revolution.
    The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:
    AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9
    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Half-Arsed History

    Episode 424: Vincent van Gogh, the Tortured Artist

    24/08/2026 | 1h
    In this week's episode, meet Vincent van Gogh, the famous Dutch painter whose colourful and vivid paintings stood in sharp contrast to his difficult and troubled life.
    The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:
    AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9
    International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About Half-Arsed History
Half-Arsed History's second book, The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, releases on the 29th of September and is now available for pre-order: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9Welcome along to Half-Arsed History! It's a weekly podcast highlighting absurd and entertaining stories from history. Twice a week, it helps host Riley Knight feel as though his useless history degree has some kind of real-world relevance.Get in touch: halfarsedhistory@gmail.comSupport the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/halfarsedhistorySubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/halfarsedhistoryBuy Half-Arsed History merch: https://halfarsedhistory.theprintbar.comIf you've just discovered the show and aren't sure which of the 400+ episodes to start with, here are some suggestions:Episode 139: The History of the Toilet - https://sptfy.com/PK3J • https://apple.co/3Giftt3Episode 75: The Great Emu War - https://sptfy.com/PK3K • https://apple.co/4jKCvr7Episode 197: The History of Nuclear Weapons - https://sptfy.com/PK3L • https://apple.co/4jygYlcEpisode 233: The 1930 FIFA World Cup - https://sptfy.com/PK3M • https://apple.co/4iltL9PEpisode 106: The First Circumnavigation - https://sptfy.com/PK3N • https://apple.co/4jewsLjNo AI is knowingly used in the creation of this podcast.Half-Arsed History acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) Land on which the podcast is written and recorded, and pays respect to First Nations Elders past, present, and emerging. Indigenous sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was, and always will be, Aboriginal Land. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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