SNAFU with Ed Helms

Sarah Spain knows a thing or two about winning. But sadly for ol' Napoleon Bonaparte, he managed to do anything but win this war. Ed and Sarah trudge into the tundra to follow Napoleon's epic screwup in his campaign to conquer Russia. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Lovett is a prominent podcaster and political commentator -- and, a survivor. (Get it?). Today, Ed brings Jon along to help commentate on the ill-fated journey of another group who was simply trying to survive: The Donner Party. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Holidays from everyone on the SNAFU Team! While Ed and his elves prepare more stories for the new year, warm up with an oldie-but-goodie bonus episode you might have missed: It's Ed's conversation with Rachel Maddow about her podcast, ULTRA. Plus, if you're still in need of a last-minute holiday gift, there's still time to grab a copy of Ed's New York Times Bestseller, SNAFU: The Definitive...

Sophia Bush is a history nerd. Ed and Sophia geek out with an oddly prescient historic whodunnit when they uncover the Heist of the Mona Lisa in 1911. Spoiler Alert: The Louvre never learns. And don't miss out this holiday season, look for Ed's New York Times Bestseller, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups, wherever you get your books, or go to: www.snafu-book.com See omnyst...

Dan Taberski isn't just a sweet guy, he's an award-winning podcaster. This week, Ed takes him up to Boston to trudge through one of the sweetest, stickiest, and deadliest disasters in American history. It's the great Molasses Flood! And don't miss out this holiday season, look for Ed's New York Times Bestseller, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups, wherever you get your book...

Earsay: The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club is the ultimate book club for audiobook lovers.  This week on Earsay, we're turning it up to 11 with national treasures Rob Reiner and Michael McKean for a deep dive into A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap. They explore the making of the landmark 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap and its long-awaited sequel, Spinal T...

Hey SNAFU fans! We wanted to share another episode from a show that we think you'll enjoy: Here We Go Again with Kal Penn.  Each week, Kal Penn takes today’s trends and headlines and asks: Why does history keep repeating itself? From the new space race and plane delays to fad drugs and movie remakes, our guest's answers will make you feel better about everything. Back in 2008, it seemed...

Jake Tapper is tapped in to the pulse of current events. Ed takes him out to sea to assess the historic disaster that was the sinking of the Lusitania: a chaotic, cataclysmic act of treachery that ignited wartime efforts faster than you can say "U-Boat." Don't miss out this holiday season, look for Ed's New York Times Bestseller, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups, wherever...

Samantha Bee is as lively as ever. And on this special episode of SNAFU, Sam helped take Ed's book tour to the big apple, LIVE at the 92NY in New York City. They reminisce on their early days at The Daily Show together, and naturally touch on some of the most bonkers chapters in Ed's book, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups. Don't miss out this holiday season, and buy the N...

Kal Penn has worked everywhere from Hollywood to the White House. In this joint episode of SNAFU and Kal's new podcast, HERE WE GO AGAIN, Ed tells Kal the story of a small town that decided to secede from America, only to realize their desire to buy beer and party would win out in the end Then, they call up U.S. historian Richard Kreitner to learn about secession movements in America today, like C...

Mike Schur knows how to run a show or two - but could he handle Tammany Hall?? Ed takes Mike on a journey to visit with old Boss Tweed, one of the most divisive - and dare we say cartoonish? - political figures of 19th century New York City. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Desi Lydic thrives in the chaos of New York City. Ed invites her back to one of the city's darkest times, quite literally. It's the 1977 NYC Blackout, a SNAFU showcasing the best and worst of humanity in the Big Apple. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Scheer is an OG podcaster about movies. Ed tells him the story of the snooty country club project that ends up inciting the Johnstown Flood -- and becomes fodder for an epic silent film on its own. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey SNAFU fans! We wanted to share a new show that we think you'll enjoy: Here We Go Again with Kal Penn.  Each week, Kal Penn takes today’s trends and headlines and asks: Why does history keep repeating itself? From the new space race and plane delays to fad drugs and movie remakes, our guest's answers will make you feel better about everything. In this first episode, Kal sits down wit...

Jordan Klepper gives a shit about politics. Ed takes him through Teapot Dome, one of the most sensational political scandals of early American history, a tale of presidential corruption and bribery that's absolutely nothing like our world today. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Nick Kroll is not so great in a crisis, especially a family fishing trip. So naturally, Ed wanted to bring NIck back to the sea for the harrowing story of Ernie Shackleton's failed expedition to Antarctica, complete with dogloos, stowaway cats, and a chance to celebrate the explorers who push humanity forward. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: ww...

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey really miss shooting The Office. So, Ed tells them the story of a lost nuke off the coast of Japan, which ends up eerily reminiscent of a workplace comedy. Except we're trading cubicles for a thousand foot warship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and paper jams for hydrogen bombs. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book...

Your favorite history podcast is back with even more SNAFUs -- one per episode, to be precise. With guests like Nick Kroll, Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, Paul Scheer, Jordan Klepper, Mike Schur, and more, it's part history lesson, part hangout pod, and part group therapy for humanity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a preview from a podcast we think you’ll enjoy, Fiasco. Slow Burn co-creator Leon Neyfakh transports listeners into the reality of America’s most pivotal historical events, bringing life to the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present. In his new season, Leon looks at the 2012 Benghazi attack that left four Americans dead—and the ens...

A special father’s day treat for you! This week, Ed shares one of his favorite chapters from his NYT Bestselling book SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screw-ups (available at SNAFU-BOOK.com or wherever you get your books.) Selected from the Audiobook rendition, Ed weaves a wild tale of a CIA covert operation to develop a bona fide claw machine aboard a seafaring vessel...

Josh Lynn of RepresentUS joins Ed to explore political pitfalls from the 1920s that still threaten our politics today. Together they ask: how can we combat those issues, and how can we bring power back to the voters? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed is joined by writer, producer, and showrunner Terence Winter who shares stories about his New York upbringing and journey into Hollywood, and describes what it took to build a world from a century ago for his hit HBO show, “Boardwalk Empire. ” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prohibition, and all that Mabel has worked to build, comes crashing down, thanks in part to a sly tell-all by none other than George Cassiday. And in New York City, Gettler & Norris finally see their work yield meaningful results. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you might have heard, the SNAFU book comes out next week (April 29, 2025)! If you want to meet Ed, either on book tour or virtually, buy your copy right now. He’ll be hosting a private Ask Me Anything for anyone who preorders and submits their proof of purchase here: www. Snafu-Book.com . Or if in-person is more your style, you can also join Ed on his book tour next week in 8 cities acros...

Mabel Walker Willebrandt and the Dries have their backs against the wall. The Treasury Department has made their poisoning program public, but will any of it matter when the tainted booze reaches the masses? Meanwhile, a mind-melting twist in the case of Two Gun Hart comes to light. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.