Eurovision, Chapter Two: Pop Music as Problematic Diplomacy

Eurovision, Chapter Two: Pop Music as Problematic Diplomacy

Author: iHeartPodcasts April 16, 2026 Duration: 44:26
Ridiculous History
HistoryCultureSocietySociety & Culture

Now, we know this is going to sound weird, but... it turns out one of the world's most popular pop music contests is also one of the world's best examples of 'soft diplomacy'. So what happens when countries that hate each other get together to determine the year's best song? Spoiler: it gets ridiculous. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max continue their obsession with the Eurovision Song Contest.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
youtubetiktok
Ridiculous History
Podcast Episodes
People Knew the Earth Was Round Way Earlier Than You Think [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
So many people grew up hearing the myth that Columbus proved the Earth was round. It's a great story— but it's also utter bunk! In today's episode, Ben and Max get to the bottom of this ridiculous tale, and learn how mos…
CLASSIC: The Tragic Origin Story of Morse Code [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
The telegraph and the communication system known as Morse code revolutionized the way we transmit information, but how did it get here? Join the guys as they explore the tragic life and time of Samuel Morse in this week'…
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:40
Nowadays, most everyone knows a classic Roald Dahl story — yet who knows the man himself? In the first part of this special two-part interview, the guys welcome Aaron Tracy, the award-winning creator of The Secret World…
The Thai Restaurant Conspiracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:05
Despite being a relatively small country, the South East Asian nation of Thailand is famous across the planet for its unique, delectable cuisine. Heck, nowadays in the United States almost everyone is just a stone's thro…
The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:55
Whether you call it table tennis, whiff-whaff or ping pong, there's no denying this fun sport of "tennis for the home" has become a global phenomenon. But where did it come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max fin…
CLASSIC: How far did Isaac Newton go to hunt down forgers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:01
Today, Isaac Newton is best known for his scientific pursuits -- but he also served as Warden and, later, Master of the Royal Mint. And this wasn't some sort of honorary position, either: Newton took his job of hunting d…
A Ridiculous Love Letter to Atari, Part One: From Pings to Pongs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:27
Nowadays most people either play video games, or know someone who does -- yet this wasn't always the case. As civilization skyrockets toward gaming experiences that feel increasingly immersive (and, in some cases, insepe…

«12345678...10»