Badass of the Week

The Death Match: The Soccer Game That Defied the Nazis 01.07.2026 52p

A soccer game so legendary it inspired a Hollywood blockbuster… but did it really happen the way we’ve all heard? During the Nazi occupation of Ukraine, a ragtag team of former professional footballers took the field against a series of German military teams, culminating in a match that would become known as “The Death Match.” According to legend, they were ordered to lose. They refused. And they paid with their lives. But how much of that story is true? This week, Ben is joined by Badass of the Week producer Andrew Jacobs to unravel one of World War II’s most enduring legends. Together, they separate fact from propaganda, explore life under Nazi occupation, and uncover the remarkable true story behind the match that inspired the film Victory. It’s a tale of courage, resistance, and the complicated ways history becomes myth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vassili Paleokostas: History’s Wildest Prison Break Artist 23.06.2026 1ó

History is full of master thieves, daring outlaws, and legendary escape artists... but few ever combined all three quite like Vassili Paleokostas. A small-town Greek electrician turned folk hero, Paleokostas spent decades robbing banks, kidnapping wealthy industrialists, humiliating police, and giving away portions of his loot to struggling families. To some, he was a dangerous criminal. To others, he was a modern-day Robin Hood sticking it to the rich and powerful. But what truly made Paleokostas a legend were his prison escapes. Not once, but twice, he pulled off one of the most audacious jailbreaks in history... This week, Ben is joined by Todd Weiser, co-host of the Heist Club podcast, to tell the unbelievable story of the outlaw who made a nation look foolish, became a folk hero to thousands, and remains one of the most elusive fugitives on Earth. Because some criminals run from the law. Vassili Paleokostas flew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William Bligh: The Man the Pacific Couldn’t Kill 18.06.2026 1ó 26p

When most people hear the name William Bligh, they think of a tyrant. Thanks to generations of books and movies, the captain of the HMS Bounty has gone down in history as the cruel, power-mad villain whose crew finally rose up and mutinied. The real story is far more complicated—and far more impressive. Long before the mutiny, Bligh had established himself as one of the finest navigators in the British Navy. And after being cast adrift by Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, he accomplished one of the greatest survival voyages in maritime history, guiding eighteen men more than 3,600 miles to safety in a tiny open boat. This week, Ben is joined by Dr. Patricia Larash to separate fact from fiction and explore the remarkable life of William Bligh: explorer, naval officer, survivor, colonial governor, and perhaps the most unfairly maligned captain in history. Because getting mutinied against once is memorable. Getting mutinied against twice is a lifestyle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Muhammad Ali: Fighting the Whole World 11.06.2026 1ó 18p

Few athletes have ever transcended their sport the way Muhammad Ali did. This week, Ben Thompson is joined by Dr. Patricia Larash and Mike Primavera to dive into the life of the heavyweight champion who didn’t just dominate boxing—he changed history. From winning Olympic gold and shocking the world by defeating Sonny Liston to refusing the draft at the height of the Vietnam War, Ali turned every fight into something bigger than sports. He was brilliant, controversial, hilarious, fearless, and impossible to ignore. Along the way, he battled legends, sacrificed years of his career for his principles, and became one of the most recognizable human beings on Earth. This is the story of Muhammad Ali—the boxer who conquered the ring, challenged a nation, and earned the title of The Greatest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canute the Great: England’s Viking Nightmare 03.06.2026 1ó 1p

Most people know Canute the Great from the famous story of him ordering the tide to stop. The problem? That’s not what actually happened. This week, Ben Thompson and Dr. Patricia Larash dive into the life of the Viking warrior who conquered England, forged a vast North Sea empire stretching from England to Denmark and Norway, and became one of the most powerful rulers in medieval Europe. Through battlefield victories, political maneuvering, and a surprising talent for statecraft, Canute transformed himself from a foreign invader into one of England’s most successful kings. It’s a story of longships, conquest, diplomacy, and the Viking who proved that sometimes the most badass thing a conqueror can do is learn how to govern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Hardberger: The Repo Man of the High Seas 27.05.2026 46p

Most repo men tow away Hondas in the middle of the night. Max Hardberger stole back multi-million dollar cargo ships from dictators, corrupt governments, and the Russian mafia. This week, Ben Thompson and producer Andrew Jacobs dive into the unbelievable true story of the maritime lawyer, poet, and sea captain who turned international ship repossession into an art form—using fake sinkings, voodoo priests, tropical storms, and sheer nerve to pull off some of the wildest heists in modern history. From Haiti to Vladivostok, this is the story of the world’s only cargo ship repo man… and the insane missions that made him a legend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 442nd: The Purple Heart Battalion 21.05.2026 1ó 15p

This week, Ben Thompson and special guest Shana Steinberg dive into the unbelievable true story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team — the Japanese American soldiers who became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history while their own families sat behind barbed wire in internment camps back home. From brutal mountain warfare in Italy to the legendary rescue of the “Lost Battalion” in France, these men charged machine gun nests, scaled cliffs in the dead of night, and fought with a level of courage that stunned even their fellow soldiers. They battled Nazis overseas while confronting racism and suspicion from the very country they were risking everything to defend. It’s one of the most heroic, complicated, and emotionally devastating stories of World War II — and a reminder that patriotism is sometimes proven by the people a nation treats the worst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hughie Jennings: The Last Baseball Lunatic 13.05.2026 55p

Before baseball had billion-dollar contracts, concussion protocols, or even outfield walls… it had Hughie Jennings. This week, Ben Thompson is joined by baseball historian and comedian Jon Franklin to tell the unbelievable story of the coal miner-turned-Hall-of-Famer who survived skull fractures, car crashes, empty swimming pools, and 287 hit-by-pitches—all while becoming one of the greatest shortstops of the Dead Ball Era. From the lawless chaos of 1890s baseball to managing the only team crazy enough to tolerate Ty Cobb, Hughie Jennings lived like a cartoon character with a death wish. He helped change the game forever, invented new ways to get on base, and somehow kept getting back up no matter how hard life knocked him down. This is the story of baseball’s toughest lunatic—and one of the strangest legends the sport has ever produced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Babur: The Gunpowder King 06.05.2026 1ó 6p

This week, Ben Thompson and Dr. Patricia Larash tell the story of Babur — the warrior poet who went from homeless teenage fugitive sleeping in the mountains under a shared cloak… to the founder of one of the greatest empires in history. Descended from both Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, Babur spent decades losing kingdoms, rebuilding armies, writing poetry, and searching for a place to belong before gambling everything on an invasion of India with just 12,000 men, a handful of cannons, and absolutely insane confidence. What followed was one of the most important military revolutions in history: cannon fire against war elephants, mounted archers against armies ten times his size, and the birth of the Mughal Empire. It’s a story of survival, innovation, stubbornness, melons, and one of the greatest comeback stories ever told. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roald Amundsen: The Ice-Cold Genius Who Outsmarted Antarctica 28.04.2026 1ó 16p

Before anyone had ever stood at the bottom of the world, one man decided he wasn’t going to discover the South Pole - he was going to win it. This week, Ben Thompson and guest Erik Slader of Epic Fails of History, dive into the ruthless, ice-cold brilliance of Roald Amundsen —the explorer who turned preparation into a weapon and left better-funded rivals frozen in his wake. From secretly pivoting his expedition plans to racing across Antarctica with dogs, skis, and terrifying efficiency, Amundsen didn’t just survive the harshest environment on Earth—he dominated it. This is a story of precision, deception, and the kind of calculated risk that either makes you a legend… or leaves you buried under a mile of ice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lancaster: Fire, Steel, and Survival at 20,000 Feet 22.04.2026 1ó 30p

High above Nazi-occupied Europe, hundreds of Avro Lancasters tear through the darkness. No lights, no margin for error, and no guarantee of coming home. In this episode, Ben Thompson is joined by filmmaker David Fairhead to break down the brutal reality of flying Britain’s most feared bomber in World War II. From its origins as a flawed aircraft to becoming the backbone of the RAF’s bombing campaign, the Lancaster wasn’t built for comfort, it was built to carry destruction. Seven-man crews packed into a freezing metal tube faced flak, night fighters, and a nearly 50% casualty rate, all while navigating pitch-black skies in tight formation. But this isn’t just a story about a machine - it’s about the men inside it. The young crews who flew mission after mission knowing each one could be their last. The daring raids - from the Dam Busters to the destruction of the Tirpitz - that pushed the limits of what was possible. And the haunting reality of a war fought from 20,000 feet, where survival often came down to luck. It’s a story of fear, firepower, and endurance - of the aircraft that became the RAF’s sledgehammer, and the crews who swung it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isabella of France: The She-Wolf Who Toppled a King 16.04.2026 1ó 12p

They called her the “She-Wolf” - and not as a compliment. This week, Ben Thompson and Dr. Pat tell the story of Isabella of France, a queen who got sidelined, shut out, and underestimated… and responded by invading her own kingdom. Married to the deeply unpopular Edward II of England, Isabella watched her influence disappear, until she decided to take it back with an army. What follows is betrayal, alliance, and one of the cleanest coups in medieval history. With Roger Mortimer at her side, Isabella didn’t just challenge the crown of England, she ripped it off and handed it to her son. Power grab, revenge tour, regime change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The AC-130: Death From Above (with Special guest Special Missions Aviator Anthony Dyer ) 08.04.2026 58p

This week, Ben Thompson sits down with Special Missions Aviator Anthony Dyer to go inside the most feared aircraft in modern warfare—and the man pulling the trigger. From unleashing devastation in Afghanistan to pulling wounded soldiers out of the fire, this is what happens during the mission… and what it costs when you come home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Vasa: Built to Dominate, Designed to Sink 01.04.2026 1ó 14p

In 1628, Vasa warship set sail as the most powerful warship Sweden had ever built—a floating symbol of ambition, wealth, and absolute confidence. It had more cannons, more firepower, and more swagger than anything else in the Baltic. It also had a fatal flaw. On its maiden voyage, in front of a cheering crowd and the entire city of Stockholm, the Vasa made it about three-quarters of a mile… before a light gust of wind tipped it over and sent it straight to the bottom of the harbor. In today's episode, Ben and Dr. Pat break down how a king’s ego, a rushed timeline, and some truly catastrophic engineering decisions combined to create one of the most spectacular failures in history—and why, somehow, that disaster is exactly what makes the Vasa so badass. Because sometimes being legendary doesn’t mean you won. Sometimes it means you failed so hard they’re still talking about it 400 years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liver-Eating Johnson: The Mountain Man Boogeyman 25.03.2026 53p

History is full of revenge stories - but almost none of them spiral into full-blown, years-long war against an entire nation. This week, host Ben Thompson is joined by producer Andrew Jacobs to dive into the blood-soaked legend of Jeremiah “Liver-Eating” Johnson -a mountain man who survived brutal winters, outlaws, and ambushes… and then allegedly spent years hunting down members of the Crow Nation after the murder of his family. It’s a story of myth vs. reality, frontier violence, and one man’s transformation into something closer to folklore than human. Because when your nickname is Liver-Eating, you’re already way past the point of reasonable behavior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ishtar: Seduction, Slaughter, and the Underworld Heist 18.03.2026 1ó 4p

History’s earliest civilizations didn’t just invent writing, cities, and law, they also gave us one of the most unpredictable, volatile, and straight-up terrifying deities ever worshipped. Meet Ishtar: the Mesopotamian goddess of love, war, sex, power, and absolutely zero chill. Hosted by Ben Thompson with guest Dr. Patricia Larash, this episode dives into the legend of a goddess who could seduce kings, destroy armies, and then descend into the underworld on what might be the most ill-advised power move in mythological history. She’s been worshipped, feared, blamed for plagues, and credited with victory in battle -- all depending on what kind of mood she woke up in. From divine romances that ended in disaster to her infamous showdown with the Queen of the Dead, Ishtar’s story is a wild ride through ancient Mesopotamia’s greatest myths and a reminder that when you’re the most powerful being in the universe, consequences are more of a suggestion than a rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

El Cid: The Baddest Knight in Spain 11.03.2026 1ó 10p

Medieval Spain was a chaotic battlefield of rival Christian kingdoms, powerful Muslim emirs, shifting alliances, and nonstop war - and in the middle of it all rode Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the legendary warrior history remembers as El Cid. Exiled by his own king, El Cid didn’t disappear quietly into the margins of history. Instead, he built an unstoppable reputation as a battlefield genius and mercenary commander, fighting for whoever would hire him and defeating just about everyone who stood in his way. His campaigns reshaped the balance of power in Iberia, culminating in the stunning conquest of the great city of Valencia, where he ruled as a warlord-king. In this episode Ben Thompson and Dr. Patricia Larash explore the life of one of the most legendary knights of the Middle Ages—a warrior whose story includes exile, epic sieges, brutal battlefield victories, and one final act so wild that even death couldn’t stop him from leading his army to victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kondo Isami: Last Samurai Standing 04.03.2026 53p

The samurai weren’t supposed to go quietly. This week, host Ben Thompson is joined by guest Mike Primavera to tell the story of Kondo Isami the peasant-born swordsman who rose to command the most feared killers in Kyoto: the Shinsengumi. As Japan cracked open under pressure from Western powers and internal rebellion, Kondo and his men became the iron fist of the collapsing shogunate — hunting assassins, cutting down rebels, and enforcing order with cold steel in the streets. But when civil war erupted and the emperor’s modern army marched forward with rifles and artillery, Kondo faced an impossible choice: adapt… or die defending a dying world. He chose the sword. This is loyalty pushed to its breaking point. An era ending in blood. And a man who stood firm while history moved past him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josephine Baker: The Most Dangerous Woman in Paris 24.02.2026 48p

In the 1920s, she scandalized Europe in a banana skirt and became the most famous entertainer in the world. But when war came, Josephine Baker traded applause for espionage—smuggling secrets for the French Resistance, hiding messages in sheet music, and risking execution by the Nazis In today's episode, Host Ben Thompson is joined by historian Taylor Cassidy to break down the astonishing life of a woman who refused to be boxed in - by racism, by borders, or by history itself. From the stages of Paris to the front lines of World War II and the steps of the March on Washington, this is the story of a performer who turned celebrity into a weapon. Feathers. Freedom. Fire. This is Josephine Baker at full volume. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Washington: Ice-Cold and Unkillable 16.02.2026 1ó 12p

Wooden teeth? No. Cherry tree? Probably not. Absolute unit of a leader? Undeniably. Ben Thompson welcomes EpicLLOYD from Epic Rap Battles of History for a Presidents’ Day breakdown George Washington — the six-foot-two surveyor who became the most dangerous man in the British Empire. Outnumbered. Undersupplied. Outgunned. Washington lost more battles than he won, but he never lost the war. From the frozen gamble at Trenton to resigning his commission when he didn’t have to, he pulled off something rarer than victory: he gave power back. If monarchy was the expectation, Washington was the plot twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices