Ridiculous Romance

The most dangerous and successful pirate in the world was a woman named Zheng Yi Sao who, together with her lover Cheung Po Tsai, united pirates under a single banner in the South China Sea. To end her bloody reign, the Qing Dynasty would have to negotiate, and her tongue was as sharp as her sword. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener...

Deland McCullough grew up a happy adopted child but always wanted to find his birth parents. As he rose the ranks in the NFL to become a coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, he set out on a life changing journey to find them. The answers he uncovered were more than he'd ever bargained for.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

In our final RiCRYPTulous Romance of 2021, we saved the worst for last! A ghostly prophecy gave Carl Tanzler a vision of his future wife. When he finally met the girl in Florida decades later, she was terminally ill. But Carl wouldn't let death stop him from being with his promised bride... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Salesman and grandfather of the American Infomercial, Samuel Popeil, had such a rocky marriage that his wife Eloise hired killers to take him out. But wait, there's more! Listen now and you'll get this story PLUS betrayal, PLUS their outrageous trial for free! This offer is not available in stores! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener...

On this ghastly, gruesome RiCRYPTulous Romance, Daniel and Manuela were each lost souls, looking for someone who shared their love, their passion, and their thirst for blood. But after sharing vows at one alter, they soon made a human sacrifice at another! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The high dollar French courtesan Marguerite Alibert always got what she wanted. When she nearly met her match in her husband, the oppressive Egyptian aristocrat Ali Fahmy, she got a little trigger happy and found herself on trial. Maybe her ex-boyfriend, the womanizing heir to the British throne could help her out... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omny...

On another RiCRYPTulous Romance, Fred Oesterriech was haunted by bumps in the night and a ghastly figure he saw in the attic. His wife Dolly was convinced it was all in his head, until one day a pale, scrawny creature appeared in their kitchen and shot him dead! Who was the ghoulish gunman? The terrifying truth awaits! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See om...

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz was a Catholic nun in Mexico in the late 17th century who outraged the Spanish Inquisition by being way smarter and cooler than them. As long as she had the love and protection of the Vicereine of New Spain, Maria Luisa, they were powerless to stop her. But that protection wouldn't last forever... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com Se...

In our first RiCRYPTulous Romance - Amanda Large was just your average medium when she encountered a spirit who would change her life forever: the 300 year old Hatian pirate, Jack Teague. But after falling in love and MARRYING the spirit, her health started to fail! Was her ethereal lover sucking her life away? Or could the bonds of love hold them together across the veil? It's all in this special...

Phillip Morris was in jail for a minor offense when he fell in love with Steven Russell, a tall, smart, charming, master conman. In a series of mind blowing schemes, Steven escaped prison by walking out the front doors MULTIPLE times! And he kept going straight back to his love, no matter how much trouble it caused them both.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co...

Helen Keller lived a rich and exciting life. She traveled the world, dined with royalty, and fell deeply in love with Peter Fagan. But her abelist family didn't seem to think one of the most accomplished women in the world could handle marriage! Through it all, the love that Helen, Anne Sullivan, and Polly Thomson shared was unbreakable. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcas...

Akihiko Kondo and Hatsune Miku fell madly in love and got married even though they had never met each other in person. That's because Hatsune Miku is a synthesized digital voice program with a holographic cartoon avatar! And it sure got us talking about the nature of reality, true love, and robotic sex toys. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.co...

I Love Lucy was changing sitcoms forever, and Lucille and Desi pushed the envelope further with a shocking pregnancy storyline in season 2. But some differences couldn't be reconciled, and eventually their marriage dissolved for good. After six seasons, two children, and a hearing before the House Un-American Activities Committee, would their friendship endure? It's all right here in part 2! Learn...

Two of the most legendary names in entertainment, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz met on the set of Too Many Girls in 1940. But "too many girls" was exactly Desi's problem, and their rocky marriage was a tabloid sensation. Fortunately their creative partnership was unfazed, and together they revolutionized comedy and negotiated what's still considered the greatest deal in television history! That's on...

The one-legged, sex crazed, abolitionist and optimist Gouverneur Morris is the coolest Founding Father you've never heard of. But Ann Cary Randolph's story was as harrowing as his was outrageous. After he wrote the preamble to the US Constitution, the two of them formed a union of their own! Together they're an American legend truly worth hearing.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...

Maha Vajiralongkorn is the current monarch of Thailand (as of this launch date), though his behavior is anything but kingly. He and his two queens rule with strict lèse-majesté laws, sending anyone who speaks ill of him and is many, many scandals straight to prison. Uh oh, might have to rethink our trip! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/li...

High school sports champion Jackie Robinson didn't strike out when he met the brilliant Rachel Isum. And when he faced the challenge of being the first Black man to play Major League Baseball in the 20th century, she helped him round the bases and knock racism out of the park! This couple protected each other through brutal challenges and became the first married couple to both be in the Baseball...

For a long time, it's been assumed that Amelia Earhart flew in and stole George Putnam away from his wife Dorothy. But the truth is, Dorothy had been trying to take off for years, and had a few layovers herself! Sadly their marriage was grounded early, and love was stuck at the gate. Please put your seats in their full upright position for this epic and emotional story of travel, adventure, and di...

In August of 2021, Diana & Eli attended Podcast Movement, an annual convention centered around... you guessed it, Podcasting! We were invited to speak on a panel called "The Humor & The Heavy" with our good friends and hosts of Ridiculous History, Ben & Noel! Moderated by Lauren Vogelbaum (Savor, BrainStuff, American Shadows), we discuss the challenges and strategies of bringing our th...

Margaret Wise Brown put her sense of wonder and whimsy into all of her children's books, including Goodnight Moon. Her lesbian lover Michael Strange was a smack-talking erotic poet who didn't have much respect for those "baby books." But Margaret showed her and the world by creating a sensation in children's literature that still gets stuck in parents' heads to this very day! Learn more about your...

The Eleusinian Mysteries are the best kept secret in history! (But you know we've got some ideas.) Hadrian and Antinous attended this trippy event and kicked off a world-tour romance that would inspire people for centuries to follow. But after a fatal drowning, the Romans make their own little stop at Speculation Station! Hear the epic conclusion now! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://ww...

Hadrian had some big sandals to fill when he succeeded Trajan as Emperor of Rome. The senate didn't love him, but fortunately one ridiculously attractive, athletic, cool AF man did. Their story became legend, and these men have gone down in history as icons, inspiring gay culture and sports to this day. Hear how Hadrian changed an Empire, challenged the Roman senate, and met his one true love in p...

Marguerite Steinheil's affair with the President of France was already worth one episode. But not long after that scandal, she would become the talk of Paris once again... as a suspect in her husband's murder! Daring heists, international conspiracies, and of course, wild speculation, are all in this thrilling conclusion! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See...

Marguerite was at the center of French culture in 1898, holding grand salons with the top artists and politicians of the day. She was also mistress to Felix Faure, the French President best known for... dropping dead at a very "intimate" moment. It was a scandal that brought France to its knees! And that's only Part ONE of Marguerite's ridiculous story! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...

George Remus and his wife Imogene ran the biggest bootlegging business in America during the prohibition years! But when George slips up and gets locked away, can he trust his wife to manage their fortune? Or will the savvy young Agent Dodge seduce her into a betrayal? Grab a drink and find out in this episode! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio...