A podcast about myths we think are history and history that might be hidden in myths! Awesome stories that really (maybe) happened!
In the 670's something was brewing in the eastern Mediterranean. The Umayyad caliphate had built an impressive navy and was... more
Check out this trailer for a new history podcast from the BBC. Actress Nicola Coughlan, from Bridgerton and Derry Girls,... more
When the capital of the Roman empire was moved from Rome to the city of Constantinople, the city on the... more
In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you back to Season 2 Episode #34 - Did Archimedes Build a Death... more
Edgar Allan Poe has been remembered as one of America's greatest authors and poets. However, many are less familiar with... more
Trying to come an "objective" understanding of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot has proved difficult for historians. From the the outset... more
There is an old English rhyme that implores every patriotic Briton to "Remember, Remember, the 5th of November." This was... more
In this throwback episode Sebastian revisits one of the earliest episodes of Our Fake History from 2015. Is the myth... more
In 1976 the bestselling biography A Man Called Intrepid made the Canadian spy Sir. William Stephenson something close to a household... more
When King Tutankhamun became King of Egypt at the tender age of eight he inherited a kingdom in chaos. His... more
King Tutankhamun may be the best known Egyptian Pharaoh. The discovery of his tomb in 1922 created a wave of... more
In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you back to the conclusion of the African Samurai series. In the 1580’s Japan... more
In this throwback episode Sebastian was inspired by a recent controversy around the Assassin's Creed videogame series to revisit his... more
In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you back to Season 4 to finish up the series on Blackbeard. Thanks to... more
In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you back to season four and a fan favorite about one of history's most... more
The man credited with reviving the Olympics in the late 1800's was a French aristocrat named Baron Pierre De Coubertin.... more
Ahead of the Olympic Games there is always some discussion of the so-called "Olympic Spirit." This is a spirit of... more
When the Olympic games were revived in the late 19th century there was a widespread belief in the "purity" of... more
In this throwback Sebastian does his best to get you geared up for an upcoming trilogy on the Olympics by... more
There are few pieces of Hawaiian folklore as beloved as the tales of the Menehune. This group of pint-sized magical... more
On this throwback episode we revisit Episode #14 from Season One of the podcast. The Pacific Ocean is the... more
Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is undoubtedly the world's most famous painting. But, despite this, many visitors to the Louvre come... more
In the late 19th century many Victorian's were experiencing a crisis of faith. Changing technology and scientific breakthroughs had... more
In this throwback episode we revisit Episode #31 from Season 2. The Crimean War cavalry action known as “the charge... more
In the Imjin year of 1592 the Japanese orchestrated a blitzkreig invasion of Korea. Within just two months they had... more
When the Japanese army landed in Korea in 1592 the Korean defenders were woefully underprepared. Confused diplomacy and divisive court... more
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
As we near the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission many have started to reflect on the legacy of the moon... more