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Half-Arsed History
Episode 357: The History of the Papal Conclave
Ep. 10357
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In this week's episode, learn all about the papal conclave: what preceded it, its origins, its centuries of history, and all that we know about how it elects popes today, in the 21st century.
The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of, the second Half-Arsed History book, releases on the 29th of September across the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand region. Pre-order your copy from Booktopia or Readings:
AU/NZ (affiliate link): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/bkq2G9
International: https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761472596/the-most-interesting-people-youve-never-heard-of--riley-knight--2026--9781761472596
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Tickets for the 2026 Book Tour are now available!
11:00|Half-Arsed History is going on tour yet again - this time across the entire country - to celebrate the release of The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of!For the first time, as part of this tour I'm coming to both Perth and Adelaide, in addition to shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and at home on the Sunshine Coast.Maroochydore - 6:00pm 2nd October at Harry Hartog: Tickets available soonSydney - 6:00pm 6th October at Dymocks City Store, tickets $12*: https://events.humanitix.com/riley-knightBrisbane - 6:00pm 7th October at Brisbane Square Library: Tickets available soonAdelaide - 6:00pm 9th October at North Adelaide Library, tickets free: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1641949Melbourne - 6:00pm 14th October at Robinson's Bookshop, The Glen, tickets free: https://www.simpletix.com/e/riley-knight-tickets-289831Melbourne - 6:30pm 15th October at North Fitzroy Library, tickets $15**: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1635329Perth - 6:00pm 16th October at City of Vincent Library, tickets free: https://events.humanitix.com/the-most-interesting-people-you-have-never-heard-of-with-riley-knightBrisbane - 10:00am 21st October at Capalaba Library, tickets free: https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/Libraries/Whats-on-at-your-library?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D206622862Due to time constraints at the venues, these shows will be a little shorter than last year's - a quick chat, a chapter, a Q&A, then some time for signings.Copies of the book will be available for purchase at each show, and I'll be more than happy to sign it and take a quick snap with you if you'd like. Can't wait to see you there!*Ticket price includes light refreshments.**Ticket price includes a welcome drink.
10425. Episode 425: The Capture of the USS Chesapeake
52:46||Ep. 10425In this week's episode, learn all about the capture of the USS Chesapeake, a fascinating duel that took place between two frigates during the War of 1812.
50033. Week 33: The Bermuda Gunpowder Heist
26:05||Ep. 50033This week in history we’ve got the birth of a great friend of the show, we’ve got a marvel of modern engineering, we’ve got armies mobilising to cut down a tree - and we’ve got an audacious heist of gunpowder which was instrumental to the American Revolution.
10424. Episode 424: Vincent van Gogh, the Tortured Artist
01:00:19||Ep. 10424In this week's episode, meet Vincent van Gogh, the famous Dutch painter whose colourful and vivid paintings stood in sharp contrast to his difficult and troubled life.
50032. Week 32: Lt. General Patton Slaps a Soldier... Again
27:15||Ep. 50032This week in history we’ve got the defeat of a great Spanish fleet, we’ve got the construction of a famous but slightly wobbly Italian landmark, we’ve got the infamous end of a US presidency - and we’ve got the time a US general slapped one of his soldiers, again.
10423. Episode 423: The Plague of Athens
52:16||Ep. 10423In this week's episode, hear all about the deadly horrors of the Plague of Athens, and tackle the question - what was the plague itself, in the first place?
50031. Week 31: The Hammer and Feather on the Moon
24:05||Ep. 50031This week in history we’ve got ancient Romans slaughtered by the thousand, we’ve got champagne not getting invented, we’ve got the disaster that was the first transatlantic telegraph cable, and we’ve got a famous physics demonstration held on the Moon.
10422. Episode 422: Athens vs. Sparta - the Peloponnesian War
57:15||Ep. 10422In this week's episode, learn all about one of the most important and iconic conflicts from the history of Ancient Greece: the Peloponnesian War, when the rivalry between Athens and Sparta was settled once and for all.
Apologies to Apple Podcasts Subscribers
02:38|I can't log into my Apple Podcasts account - the 2FA code thing isn't working while I'm overseas (despite me setting it up with my overseas number before I left), so ads might be playing on what should be ad-free episodes for Apple Podcasts subscribers. I'm really, really sorry; I'm still trying to fix it, worst case scenario is I'll (hopefully) be able to back in Australia. In the meantime, please accept my very sincere apologies.