In 1592 the Japanese launched a massive invasion of the Korean Peninsula. The Japanese leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi believed that Korea... more

For this throwback Sebastian takes you all the way back to a first season favorite. Ninjas, Japan’s shadow warriors, have... more

Our Fake History celebrates 200 episodes by opening up the phonelines and taking calls from listeners and past guests. Fans... more

There are few Christian saints more misunderstood than St. Patrick. Ireland’s patron saint is best known for driving the snakes... more

The attempted invasion of England in 1588 was doomed even before the first ship left harbor. The Spanish plan was... more

In 1588 King Phillip II of Spain constructed the largest fleet ever seen on the Atlantic in attempt to invade... more

In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you all the way back to the very first episode of OFH ever released.... more

The reign of the Emperor Caligula has been presented as a cavalcade of bizarre and violent behavior. From declaring war... more

When the Emperor Gaius, better known as Caligula, was first elevated to the role of Princeps things seemed promising. He... more

The Roman Emperor Gaius, better known by his childhood nickname Caligula, is often counted among the worst rulers in the... more

Our Fake History is now releasing "throwback" episodes in the off-weeks between series. The regular show will still hit the... more

In 1791 Wolfgang Mozart was one the verge of a comeback. After being the toast of Vienna for half a... more

Wolfgang Mozart made the transition from child prodigy to adult artist fairly seamlessly, but that does not mean there weren't... more

There are few artists who are praised with the same level of hyperbole as Wolfgang Mozart. The German poet Franz... more

The character of Zorro clearly had a number of inspirations, some literary and some historical. But the proto-Zorro with the... more

The co-creator of Batman has admitted that there would be no caped crusader had it not been for the inspiration... more

The Salem witch panic of 1692 can sometimes feel more like a natural disaster than a human event. When the... more

Can a psychological illness become contagious? Many experts believe that in rare cases a phenomenon known as a "mass psychogenic... more

In 1692 in the town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, two young girls started acting very strangely. The girls suffered from... more

In 1906 an ex-convict named Wilhelm Voigt living pulled off one of the most audacious heists in European history. After... more

In the world of pseudo-historical theories there are few more radical than the Phantom Time Hypothesis and the New Chronology.... more

There are few tales of revenge as epic as that of Olga of Kyiv. In 945 AD Olga set out... more

Most professional wrestling fans have accepted the scripted nature of wrestling for decades, but are we truly living in a... more

Professional Wrestling had a long history of manipulated matches, but it took time to evolve into the pure theatre we... more

In 1957 the French philosopher Roland Barthes called professional wrestling a "spectacle of excess." That may be the most beautifully... more

In 1721 the first Hell-Fire club caused a scandal in London and quickly disbanded, but the story did not end... more

In Britain in the early 18th century private social clubs were all the rage. These societies grew out of the... more

There is a long tradition of writers comparing Christopher Columbus to mythical figures. 16th century historian Peter Martyr believed Columbus... more

A Columbus biographer once wrote that the famous navigator had an "an imperfect understanding of the line between truth and... more

There are few historical figures whose reputation has swung in as many extreme directions as Christopher Columbus. The Genoese mariner... more

On today's show Sebastian has the opportunity to talk to one of his favourite film critics, podcasters, and cultural observers,... more

If you managed to get through elementary school math then you have almost certainly heard the name Pythagoras. The ancient... more

The myth of Mata Hari would have us believe that she was a turn-of-the-century super-spy. She has been celebrated as... more

Between 1905 and 1908 the dancer professionally known as Mata Hari was one of the best known entertainers in Europe.... more

In 1905 a woman claiming to be a Javanese temple dancer rocketed to fame in Europe. Her name was Mata... more

In the 1580's Japan was a on the precipice of a massive transformation. For over a century the country had... more

Near the end of Japan's "Warring States" period a remarkable visitor arrived in the country with a group of European... more

Houdini had a truly impressive run as an entertainer. In the decade between 1904 and 1913 he developed a number... more

Over the course of 1899 Harry Houdini went from being an obscure circus performer to being one of the best... more

The word "iconic" gets thrown around pretty loosely these days, but there are some figures who truly earn the descriptor.... more

In 1703 a curious character arrived in London claiming to be a native of the island of Formosa. These days... more

Some of the most legendary figures to emerge from the history of the American West were the rough-and-ready "mountain men".... more

There is a story that as Galileo stood in front of the Inquisition and listened as they declared that the... more

Galileo is often credited with inventing the telescope, but he never made that claim. He simply whipped up his own... more

The Pisan scientist Galileo Galilei has been remembered as the "father of modern science." The discoveries he made with his... more

Did you know that the Amazons once waged war on Atlantis? According to the ancient historian Diodorus of Sicily, the... more

When the conquistador Francisco Orellana was attacked by a band of female warriors deep in the heart of South America,... more

In this OFH throwback episode Sebastian is throwing you back to Episode #61 - What's the Problem with Socrates? Socrates... more

In this "throwback episode" we look back at episode #96. In the 1930’s a famous California history professor thought he... more

In this SUPER SIZED season finale Sebastian explores the many myths and misconceptions about the city of Toronto. In his... more

In the stories of saints' lives written in the medieval era Attila the Hun was often used as a stock... more

The Huns were not a literate culture, which means their version of history was never written down. As a result... more

Attila the Hun has been saddled with a truly terrible historical reputation. In many parts of the world his name... more

In the last year the global conversation around the fate of the Benin Bronzes has shifted dramatically. In April of... more

In 1897 Queen Victoria marked her diamond jubilee and Britain was in a celebratory mood. The British Empire had never... more

Looting has been a part of warfare since the earliest times. Despite the fact that looting was common for much... more

The Titanic myth isn't really built on lies, so much as a series of amplified "half-truths". Stories about the Captain... more

When the wreck of the Titanic claimed over 1500 lives in 1912 the tragedy seemed too full of irony and... more

The sinking of the RMS Titanic is one of the best remembered nautical disasters in history. Over 1500 passengers died... more

In part two of this OFH Special Presentation Sebastian pulls a little something out from behind the Patreon paywall. What... more

In this OFH Special Presentation Sebastian pulls a little something out from behind the Patreon paywall. What was once a... more

Over the course of 150 episodes there have been theories, stories, and sidebars that have fallen through the cracks. Tales... more

The character of Stagger Lee has been one of America’s most enduring folk heroes. There have been over 400 songs... more

In 1906 Alberto Santos-Dumont performed a number of short flights in front of a large crowd in Paris. These were... more

The late 19th century in France sometime gets called La Belle Époque or the "Beautiful Era". As the name suggests,... more

In mythology from around the world the ability to fly was reserved strictly for the gods. Stories about human beings... more

The legendary hybrid creature known as the gryphon was said to have the body of a lion and the head... more

Eleanor of Aquitaine has been called the "Queen of the Troubadours" by fawning biographers. She has been credited with transforming... more

When the King and Queen of France went on crusade in 1147 it nearly destroyed their marriage. The campaign led... more

Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the best remembered medieval Queens. She has been celebrated as one of the most... more

The 30 Years War has reputation among history buffs as one of the most complicated conflicts you can study. Even... more

There are three main culprits in the alleged burning of the Great Library of Alexandria. But weirdly they all lived... more

The Egyptian city of Alexandria was once the most magnificent city on the Mediterranean. It was a city of wonders,... more

In this throwback episode Sebastian takes a look back at a show that explores one of the greatest legends in... more

In this OFH Throwback episode Sebastian takes a look at one of the most fun and accessible episodes in the... more

In this throwback episode we take a look at an episode Sebastian thinks may have been the best "one-off" show... more

In this throwback episode Sebastian revisits "Part II" in the Season One series on the conquest of Mexico. In the... more

In this throwback episode Sebastian revisits a series from Season One of OFH. After the shows on Jared Diamond it... more

Season 6 wraps up with Sebastian taking questions from the listeners! He gets into everything from the name of the... more

Is Jared Diamond's 1997 bestseller a work of staggering genius, or a piece of intellectual garbage? Has it moved our... more

When Sebastian first read Jared Diamond's Pulitzer Prize winning book Guns, Germs, and Steel as an undergrad, he thought it... more

Every spring thaw between 1812 and 1814 seemed to inaugurate a completely new war in North America. The momentum in... more

When Sebastian first learned about the War of 1812 when he was a Canadian middle-schooler, there were two words he... more

American historians sometimes refer to War of 1812 as the "Forgotten War", but this has never really sat well with... more

Ethiopia's history is nothing short of remarkable. The East African nation is home to one of the worlds oldest Christian... more

The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most fascinating objects mentioned in the Old Testament. The ancient Israelites... more

The search for a historical Gilgamesh is filled with red herrings. As Mesopotamia's best loved epic hero, images of Gilgamesh... more

The oldest known piece of literature on the planet is the epic tale of Gilgamesh, king of the Mesopotamian city-state... more

There are few Christian saints more misunderstood than St. Patrick. Ireland's patron saint is best known for driving the snakes... more

In 1611 a the Hungarian Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, was confined to her castle of Cachtice, never to leave again. This... more

Throw the name Elizabeth Bathory into your favourite search engine and you will quickly find superlatives like “history’s most prolific... more

In episode #125 a historical myth about the origins of karate snuck past Sebastian! In this bonus episode the host... more

Martial arts myths are have been described as "savvy marketing". But, the most enduring bits of of fake martial arts... more

Asian martial arts are often coated in a thick layer of of legend. Many fighting styles have elaborate origin stories... more

For this Bonus Episode Sebastian is sharing something he recorded earlier this year for a project curated by Daniele Bolelli,... more

These days Nostradamus is best known for the predictions found in his book The Prophecies. But, surprisingly, that book only... more

The 16th century French prophet, Nostradamus, has a way of rearing his head anytime humanity finds itself in the midst... more

In 1763 twenty indigenous people in the colony of Pennsylvania were murdered by an armed gang. The victims had been... more

What does a Voodoo Queen even do? It turns out that much of it had to do with a ceremony... more

Voodoo might be one of the most misunderstood religious traditions in the world. This unique combination of traditional West African... more

One of the many things that makes New Orleans one of the most unique cities in North America is its... more

The island of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, has been called "the clearest example of a society that destroyed itself."... more

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as the indigenous islanders call it, may be the most misunderstood place on planet Earth.... more

William Shakespeare is easily the best known playwright in the English language. His works are praised as some of the... more

In November of 2017 OFH did a series on the birth of Rock 'n Roll. Back then Sebastian was so... more

In November of 2017 OFH did a series on the birth of Rock 'n Roll. Back then Sebastian was so... more

On this OFH Throwback we return to an episode from two summers ago called "Who Invented Your Favourite Sport?" This... more

In 1324 the Malian Emperor, Mansa Musa, made a pilgrimage to Mecca that would stun the Islamic world with its... more

One of the most pernicious historical myths to ever circulate is the wrongheaded belief that sub-Saharan Africa was uncivilized and... more

There are few tales of revenge as epic as that of Olga of Kyiv. In 945 AD Olga set out... more

In this quick announcement Sebastian lets everyone know that the next Our Fake History will be released on June 23.... more

After unifying the "Warring States" the first emperor of China turned his attention to an even more lofty goal: becoming... more

In Chinese folklore the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is never presented as a hero. Instead he is always presented... more

If you were going to make a list of the most historically influential people to have have ever lived, Qin... more

The rebellion led by Boudica, the Iceni warrior woman, nearly dislodged the Roman empire from the island of Britain. She... more

The ancient rebel leader Boudica has become an icon in her native Britain. She is celebrated as a symbol of... more

They say that history is written by the winners. While it's a trite cliché, there might be some truth in... more

When did the Renaissance begin? When did it end? Do these questions even have proper answers? In this episode Sebastian... more

The Renaissance has been touted as one of the most important moments in European history. 19th century historians like Jules... more

In the 1890's a team of physicians and scientists discovered the cause of bubonic plague, a bacteria they named Yersinia... more

When studying the plague of the 14th century it can be easy to focus on the death, but on Our... more

The epidemic known as the Black Death struck Europe in 1347 and completely upended medieval society. It's been estimated that... more

In November 2019 Sebastian was asked to perform at the Toronto Hot Docs Podcast festival. Our Fake History was featured... more

The Santa Claus legend may be one of the most sturdy pieces of mythology in modern times. While other magical... more

In celebration of Our Fake History's 100th episode Sebastian runs the podcaster's gauntlet in front of a live crowd. Your... more

These days it's impossible to speak about the mysteries of the pyramids without saying something about aliens from outer space.... more

The most elaborate theories concerning the pyramids of Giza usually position those monuments as deeply different and distinct from all... more

The Egyptian pyramids are easily the most mythologized pieces of architecture on the planet. They have inspired historical myths and... more

In the 1930's a famous California history professor thought he had discovered a long lost historical treasure. It was a... more

Since The Prince was first published in 1532 it has attracted an eclectic group of admirers. Figures as diverse as Napoleon... more

There are few political thinkers with as evil a reputation as the Florentine writer Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli's philosophy was believed... more

Once someone has embraced the moon landing hoax conspiracy it can be hard to change their mind. More often than... more

The foundational text for all moon landing conspiracy theories is a humble little book called We Never Went To The Moon.... more

As we near the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission many have started to reflect on the legacy of... more

Thanks to the mysterious pirate historian Captain Charles Johnson, Blackbeard became a truly legendary villain. According to the Captain, Blackbeard... more

Blackbeard may be the most iconic pirate to ever roam the seas. His fearsome reputation and distinctive sense of personal... more

There are few periods in history as hotly contested as the so-called "Dark Ages". Traditionally, the 5th to 10th centuries... more

There is evidence out there that King Arthur was more than just a myth. However, that evidence often comes in... more

The Arthurian legend has been described by at least one scholar as a giant mythical vacuum. It has a reputation... more

King Arthur is easily the most requested topic in the history of this podcast. This probably isn't a surprise given... more