Idiots Talk History

This week Innes tells us all about the Dance Plague which swept across Europe. It made people burst into uncontrollable dance for days on end! We float a ton of theories about the dancing, which range from the unlikely (it’s a ploy to get off work for a week) to the plausible (it’s all about them toxins). In the Big Question we discuss which popular dance we would choose to break out if we were infected with the plague. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Lorna reports on the fascinating tale of a slave called Benkos Bioho who escaped captivity in late 16th century Colombia. He and other escaped slaves founded a city that still stands today. These outlaw slaves would braid maps into their hair to help others escape. We also go off topic talking about the potential of seeds growing into people’s heads, and what fictional place we would want a map to. This week it’s revealed where guinea pigs originated from too! Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

There’s a lot to take in this week as Matt reports on the life and death of rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Buddy Holly. Innes starts the episode as he means to go on by saying “Sneezelize on air”. There’s a nice rendition of a Buddy Holly song and we debate the decision making of the young singer in proposing five hours into a first date. There’s also talk of some dreadful bus journeys and Innes gets angry at Matt for his tendency to report on topics filled with death! We all come to the unfortunate realisation that we have faces for podcasting. Check on Twitter for a link to the Big Bopper’s song Chantilly Lace. Also Innes basically shouts down the microphone to promote the twitter and email so cover your ears! Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Innes this week tells the story of American long jumper Bob Beamon and his Olympic journey. In discussing Olympic victory we all have a good brag about our own insignificant achievements. Also, Lorna learns she would make a great Premier League football centre-back, and Innes gets all confused about hunting and shooting sports.  Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

This week Lorna focuses on the origins of feminism after Mexico’s revolution in Yucatan, mainly focusing on Elvia and Felipe Carillo Puerto. There are a lot of Spanish names this week so it’s a bit complicated. Also apologies as we had a lot of problems with the audio, and you may only hear Innes and Dan coming through your left earphone. We’re working on it. As usual there’s a good mix of facts along with some random nonsense. We deliver some hard truths to Dan about his old age, Innes talks about the “Gunplowder plot” and there’s a lengthy discussion about the Kong family of Mario Brothers fame. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

As this week was a bit of a rush, Matt gives you a little background before the music hits. Then we dive right into a very unpleasant story about the Beat generation. The focus is on the relationship between Lucien Carr and David Kammerer. What transpired has been called the moment that ignited the Beat Generation and it inspired some of the 20th century’s most famous pieces of fiction. Listen out for Innes’s misunderstanding of names and discussions about David Cameron and Jack Anorak. It’s a bit of a dark topic this week, but don’t worry the mood is lightened through the discussion of our PE lessons. Also this week Innes’ album came out, so check out ‘I’ve Gone In At The Deep End’ by Innes Jackson on Spotify and beyond. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Innes returns this week with a report on one of his favourite things: vegetables. Lorna has an update on her relationship to James Barry and Innes tells us about his burn. Also Innes has some interesting diet tips and your hosts take part in an impromptu pub quiz. Play along! Finally, be scared of pigs, they’ll eat ya. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Special guest Faye Barry joins Lorna Barry this week and there’s a report on Doctor Barry! So many Barry’s! In other news, Matt gets very distracted by giant tortoises and we learn an interesting fact about a South African President. In the Big Question Faye has some great advice for those visiting New York. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

This week, after a bit of a false start when he thought he was doing a report on the Black Dahlia, Matt tells us all about the tragic life and death of Peg Entwistle. It’s quite a sombre episode this week so not really a barrel of laughs, but still interesting stuff! In other news, Lorna is really into knitting at the moment and won’t shut up about it so that makes an appearance this week too. In terms of the Big Question, Lorna gives a really sincere answer, but naturally Matt just wants to inspire people to snap chopsticks… Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Sometime around 120AD the Ninth Legion of the Roman Army disappeared without a trace. What happened to the Legion? Were they ambushed? Did they migrate? Who knows, but we give it a good go this week as Lorna reports on the mystery. It’s not all smooth sailing though as Lorna stumbles over her big reveal of the podcast topic and gets confused about an eagle, but at least she still manages to make herself laugh. (I’d be surprised if anyone loves Merry Madagascar more than her). Matt also gives the most convoluted answer to this week’s Big Question. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

This week's episode is the final installment in our WWII rebels trilogy. Hailed as a Soviet hero, Zina Portnova took part in an underground movement fighting against Nazis during the war.  Hear about how Innes and Matt would not be willing to hand out propaganda leaflets because they used to be paperboys and let's be honest it's not worth it. Also Lorna compares resistance fighters to Dumbeldore's Army which is an interesting point of view. And there's talk of whales attacking U-Boats, beach volleyball and treacle in today's Big Question. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy  @InnesJackson

It’s a report from Lorna this time all about a lady called Catherine Lawler or Kate Webster, depending on how she was feeling, or as Innes likes to call her ‘Webbo’. Matt isn’t sure about her and as well as his terrible impression of her Irish accent she ends up on his Bad Gal’s list. The report ends with a twist bringing it all the way to 2011, resulting in a strange big question conversation. Classic! Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy  @InnesJackson

Is this the worst intro we’ve ever done? Potentially. Innes talks us through the bizarre cases of the Swiss invading their neighbours Liechtenstein. Over a period of 22 years the Swiss somehow invaded the poor Liechtensteiners three times! Also, Switzerland isn’t next to Belgium just for the record. Apologies for the in-depth discussion about our pronunciations of different Indian takeaway foods. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Innes takes over the introduction this week and naturally it’s a bit of a mess. Matt reports on an unbelievable true story of two pen pals, one a brutal dictator and one a young American girl from Michigan. It’s a bit of a controversial topic amongst the hosts. Also, whenever Matt reports he always seems to mess up his words and this week is no different. Listen out for pandemonium, George Brush and resign. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Lorna runs us through the unexpected and fascinating tale of lipstick in WWII.  We get surprisingly deep on this episode. Idiots Talk History gets real!! Don't worry though, as talk soon turns to a crisis where animals gain the ability to speak and try to overthrow humans.  If you'd like to buy any of our new lipsticks or Matt's patriotic bath bombs, get in touch below. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

The returning Innes ruins the introduction this week but then goes on to give us a terrific report on Hadrian’s Wall. There’s a lot of chatting this week, a lot of catching up and a lot of talking over each other, and for this we apologise but we haven’t seen each other in a while. We also go off on a number tangents, including a long discussion about British children’s TV shows and Matt and Lorna do a play by play of a classic moment from Big Brother. Another treat this week is Lorna’s creation of a new spin off, Idiots Talk Geography. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Seagulls! Dogs! Pots and Pans! There’s so much background noise this week! Sorry! Matt gets so many facts wrong this week! His biggest blunders include those relating to Oliver Cromwell, America and apothecaries. Talk about Idiots Talking History are we right?! This episode there’s a bit of smiling at a dog, talk of panto’s and a classic case of confusion when Lorna doesn’t know what a highwayman is. There is a lot of frustration at today’s tale and in the Big Question Lorna tries to frame Matt! But all in all we promise this is a fascinating report! Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Lorna returns with the story of the Race to the South Pole that took place in 1911/12. We focus in on Lawrence Oates, a member of Captain Scott’s British expedition crew. There is a bit of rambling about tortoises and bananas at the start, for which Matt apologises. Get past that and it’s an absolute cracker of an episode though! There’s also the added bonus of Matt doing some tasty food puns. And there is a moment when we try and do maths but we just can’t. It’s been a long time since we were in school. Finally, the audio cut out at a certain point and we had to re-record so apologies for that as well. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson

Our special guest Dan reports this week on the occupation of Denmark by the Nazis during the Second World War. A cheery topic to start the year! Dan turns this week’s episode into a competition between the hosts, including some challenges which are completely dreadful for an audio format. Visit our Twitter profile to see the map of Denmark we were all staring at for about five minutes. This episode also shows why Innes and Lorna call Matt “Sore Loser Singleton”. If anyone can actually count how many points we all got that would be greatly useful (this is Matt asking by the way). Oh there’s also a tangent about Thomas the Tank Engine for a while too. And there’s a discussion about a few local pubs which is very niche. As well as all this, the bizarre song from the end of Episode 21 is finally explained!! Dan thinks it could be “really good or really awful”. I think we now know which it is… (If you hear any shuffling throughout the episode it’s the four of us sneaking chocolates. It’s the Holidays after a

This week we are joined by Dan for a very special Christmas report. Matt walks us through famous historical events that took place on Christmas day. Sit back and take in this condensed history of Christmas from 1066-1968! In classic Innes fashion, it takes him twenty minutes to realise it’s in chronological order. And by the end of the report Matt has almost lost the function to speak properly. The highlights (or lowlights depending on your view) include our wonderful rendition of Silent Night in Austrian! Stick around after the music at the end for two little special additions you will love! Or hate. Most probably hate. The second will be explained in next week’s episode! Thanks for listening. Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod Email: IdiotHistoryPod@gmail.com Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy    @InnesJackson