Half-Arsed History podcast celebrates seven years of storytelling

The Half-Arsed History podcast is celebrating its seventh birthday with the announcement of a bonus mini-series and an upcoming book.

Hosted and created by Riley Knight, the thrice-weekly show launched in 2018 as a solo passion project recorded at home.

Armed with only with a mic and a history degree, Riley started Half-Arsed History as a grassroots effort to make history fun and accessible. What began as a side hobby has now grown into a chart-topping podcast, known for its irreverent yet thoroughly researched retellings of some of history’s most ridiculous and entertaining stories.

The podcast has since moved to the stage, with sold-out live shows, touring across Australia and cultivating a loyal fanbase with its uniquely Australian take on historical storytelling.

Riley is marking the anniversary with a mini-series exploring the French Revolution – a subject fans have long requested.

Riley says “Over the last seven years, the show has grown from a little hobby tinpot history podcast I did on weekends to a full-blown, full-time and very serious tinpot history podcast. Live shows, tours, books – I never imagined my useless history degree would ever pay off like this.”

The milestone comes ahead of Riley’s debut book, History’s Strangest Deaths, which will be published by Allen & Unwin on 5 August.

Half-Arsed History has been part of the Acast Creator Network since 2021, with Acast as the exclusive hosting, distribution and monetisation partner.

Guy Scott-Wilson, Content Director for Acast ANZ, says “History podcasts are popular with listeners because they offer so much more than just a list of dates and names – they bring the past to life through powerful storytelling. Riley’s nailed that with Half-Arsed History. It’s smart, funny and quintessentially Aussie – the kind of show that takes complex historical moments and makes them feel like stories you’d hear at the pub. The blend of in-depth research and Riley’s entertaining delivery is exactly why it’s such a hit.”

New episodes of Half-Arsed History are released every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and are available on all podcast platforms.

*Images supplied