History's Greatest Idiots

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...

This week, we cover someone whose entire (short) career in politics was built on a seemingly never-ending stream of lies. Who could it possibly be?! Join Lev and Derek for Season 5 Episode 10 of History's Greatest Idiots as they cover the life and career of one of the biggest and most infamous fibbers in the history of U.S. Politics: George Santos. From his various financial dealings, to his t...

What could possess one man to come up with the idea to break into an enormous building in one of the most secure and carefully monitored cities on the planet? Greed, ambition, arrogance, and utter stupidity, that's what! G Gordon Liddy spent a lot of his career in the Nixon Administration coming up with insane schemes to discredit Democrats, but breaking into their offices in the Watergate was def...

In another, more recent story of human stupidity, we look into the fascinating story of "Dr" Dozy Mmobuosi, whose alleged lies, fraud, and manipulation are so staggeringly obvious that they don't hold up to even basic scrutiny. From selling 30 million mobile phones to farmers in Nigeria to trying to buy Sheffield United football club, Dozy Mmobuosi claims to have been behind some of the most succe...

Ever wanted more money? Why not just make some of your own? That's precisely what Wesley Weber did! From his early adolescence, Wesley became obsessed with perfecting the art of counterfeiting one of the most complex and secure currencies in the world: the Canadian Dollar. Follow Wesley's journey from low-level high school prankster, to someone so good at counterfeiting he would probably still be...

In this episode you'll hear Derek go rogue and re-tell the story of The Scottish Conman (Gregor MacGregor), and we revisit Lev and Derek asthey look into The Canoeing Fraudster (John Darwin). ⁠Nowin Video Podcast format⁠ ⁠Supportus on Patreon⁠ ⁠Visitour Instagram⁠ ⁠ Hosts: Lev & Derek ⁠https://linktr.ee/Lev_Myskin⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/ThatEffnGuy⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sara...

Hi! We've hit a snag and had to delay the podcast by 24 hours. It's nothing contagious (like zombies or anything), we just need some time, so check back here in 24 hours time and there should be more delicious stupid history content for you to devour!

There are a lot of people that have become famous as a result of their time in wars, but none were as singularly determined to be at the front of every single war quite as much as 'The Unkillable Soldier'. Adrian Carton De Wiart fought in 3 major wars, was injured dozens of times, and lost limbs, appendages, and even an eye. Despite his numerous injuries, he maintained an unquenchable desi...

One of the greatest performers of all time, "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig was known for three things: being an incredible in-ring performer, being a loving and devoted friend, father, and husband, and being one of the greatest pranksters in human history! No matter what he did, Curt usually found himself at the centre of some of the biggest (and most infamous) moments in wrestling history. Re...

A con artist AND a mobster? Why yes! Infamous Swindler? Yes! Person with a much more famous sibling? Yep! John Factor was all of those things and so much more! Born into a hardworking family that featured a Rabbi and internationally famous Cosmetics mogul (Max Factor) John "Jake The Barber" Factor was determined to make a name for himself...just not the same way the rest of his family took. With c...

Imagine the leader of a dynastic family takes as much power as he can away from the only other people with any power in a country and then creates a cult of personality around himself. It could only happen in ancient Egypt...right? Akhenaten ripped an entire culture apart in his quest to assert his authority over it, while simultaneously ignoring external threats to his power. He is without doubt...

As a bonus episode for the festive season, here's the most recent Patreon Exclusive Recording of The Never Ending Tangent! To support us on Patreon, visit us here: https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots

In the first episode of Season 5 Lev and Derek look into a British cult...or maybe Lighthouse Global isn't a cult. Honestly, how could anyone think that? It's not like they displayed any coercive behaviour, made hollow promises, stole money from people and used it to fund extravagant lifestyles, and threatened anyone that looked into them or anything... Paul Waugh, Lighthouse's leader, describes h...

In season 4 Episode 25 (episode 100) of History's Greatest Idiots, Lev and Derek cover one of the most notorious and influential (for both bad and good) politicians in History: former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Loved by the financial and Neo-Liberal establishment, and hated by (many) others, Margaret Thatcher left several indelible marks on society that have shaped our world. Her l...

In the penultimate episode of season 4 (episode 99) Lev and Derek look back on the life and career of one of the most iconic comedy actors of the last 50 years: John Belushi. Funny, intense, and incredibly talented, John Belushi's journey from fringe improv comic to world-conquering multi-hyphenate is the stuff of legend. His untimely demise, however, is the stuff of nightmares. ⁠⁠https://www.patr...

In the twenty third episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek try to take your mind off that crazy stuff that happened on Tuesday and focus in on something much more dangerous: Australia's hatred for Emus! Yep, most countries love their national bird, not Australia though, they considered them a pest to such an extent that they went to war with them! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/H...

Lev and Derek are back with their annual Halloween special featuring an inspiration for one of Shakespeare's weirdest characters and an actual killer clown and ghost! Whether Thomas Skelton was the real inspiration for Shakespeare's Tom Fool is up for debate, what isn't up for debate is that he murdered a peasant at the behest of a nobleman...wait, he might now have done that either? Who even know...

In the twenty first episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek look back on the career and disturbing life of one of the sporting world's most controversial figures. Max Mosley is a pivotal figures in the growth and success of motorsport. His business acumen helped Formula One reach incredible heights and earn billions of dollars. However, the spectre of his family name, along...

In the twentieth episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek delve into the history of the iconic board game Monopoly. Far beyond the official version of its development, Lev and Derek uncover the true story of its creation and growth at the very start of the 20th Century - nearly 30 years before its "official" creation. This is a story of lies, deceit, theft, and corruption the...

In the nineteenth episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek look back on the life and career of one of the most iconic actors of the 1960s: Batman himself, Adam West. Despite being a beloved part of Americana who was a pleasure to work with and be around, West had his demons, and they are covered at length in this episode. https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots htt...

In the eighteenth episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and special guest Peter Barnes of In The Wheels Podcast examine the career of one of the most notorious people in the history of cycling (Floyd Landis), and take a deep dive into a financial and trading scandal that changed financial markets forever (Yasuo Hamanaka and the Sumitomo Copper Scandal) https://www.patreon.com/Hi...

In the seventeenth Episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek examine the rise and fall of the man the sort of broke Apple, but was also Silicon Valley’s top-paid executive in 1987, John Sculley III. https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots Hosts: Lev & Derek https://linktr.ee/ThatEffnGuy Artist: Sarah Chey https://...

In the sixteenth Episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek examine the series of events that led to one of the biggest financial scandals in the history of South East Asia (Trương Mỹ Lan). Depending on who you believe, between $12.5 billion and $44 billion were embezzled in Vietnam, between 3% and 9% of the country's GDP. https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots...

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...

In the Fourteenth Episode of Season 4 of History's Greatest Idiots Lev and Derek rediscover the life and legacy of a criminal that changed American law forever (Ernesto Miranda), and relive the insanity of the worst plane journey ever (The Plane Ride From Hell)! https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots Hosts: Lev & Derek https://linktr...