Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, with Tom Freston

Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, with Tom Freston

Author: iHeartPodcasts January 1, 2026 Duration: 47:38

Happy New Year! It's no secret that MTV fundamentally changed the nature of media and entertainment. But how did it actually get started? What made the world so obsessed with the concept of "Music Television"? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max get to learn the true origin story of MTV from none other than the legendary co-founder, Tom Freston. As an author, a businessman, a philanthropist and a world traveller, Tom shares not only his origin story ... but, get this: he also gives the guys some insider tips on how to pursue a life worth living (and pitches a wild idea to get them promoted).

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

Ridiculous History
Podcast Episodes
The Ridiculous History of the 90s and Low Culture, with Ross Benes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:54
The 1990s were a time of chaos, aspiration, and, above all, ridiculous things. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max welcome returning guest Ross Benes, the author of 1999, for an in-depth exploration of talk shows, crim…
CLASSIC: The Great London Beer Flood of 1814 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:58
In 1814, a poor neighborhood in London fell victim to a strange, tragic and boozy disaster -- this calamity would eventually leave eight people dead. So what exactly happened? How could an entire neighborhood flood with…
The True Story of Pac Man -- and a Ton of Weird Theories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:56
As one of the most iconic games in all of arcade history, Pac Man is recognized across the planet. But how did it get here -- and why are there so many in-depth fan theories about what it means? Is Pac Man a Sisyphean im…
The Ridiculous Origin of the the Word "Ridiculous" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:54
With nearly one thousand episodes out in the world over the years, Ben, Noel and Max realized they've never asked about the origin of the word "ridiculous." In this rollicking, cartoonishly meta episode, the gang learns…
CLASSIC: Dr. Seuss Wrote His Most Famous Book On A Bet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
What are your favorite children's books? In this Classic episode, Ben and the gang acknowledge Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known writers on the planet. "Green Eggs and Ham", one of his most successful books, sold o…
CLASSIC: Feral Children and the True Story Behind The Jungle Book [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:37
Now, let's be honest. Rudyard Kipling was a cartoonishly problematic guy. Yet his work made a permanent impression on global literature -- and, to a surprising degree, he based a lot of his writing on real-world events.…
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Colossus of Rhodes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
Imagine you're an ancient traveler, visiting Rhodes for the first time in 280 BCE. As you approach the famed city, a singular object dominates the horizon: a huge statue of the Greek sun god Helios, popularly known as th…

«1...678910