Episodes

  • The Great Dublin Whiskey Fire

    The Great Dublin Whiskey Fire
    Oct 13 2025
    In 1875, Dublin was flooded with whiskey, literally. When a bonded warehouse in the Liberties district went up in flames, over 300,000 gallons of burning whiskey poured through the streets, turning one of Ireland’s poorest neighborhoods into a fiery river of booze. Firefighters quickly learned that water only made it worse, so they turned to an unlikely hero: horse manure.

    Comedians Robert Bacon and guest host Jenna O’Brien (filling in for Mike Kauffman) dive into this bizarre disaster where people didn’t die from fire, but from drinking the flaming whiskey. It’s a true story of chaos, comedy, and cautionary tales about Irish ingenuity gone sideways.

    SOURCES
    • The Irish Times (June 21, 1875): descriptions of people scooping whiskey with boots, the wholesale poisoning numbers The Irish TimesThe Pot Still Whiskey Blog
    • Irish Examiner (June 21, 1875): “in literal torrents from the doors and windows” Wine Enthusiast
    • The Pot Still blog: detailed local reporting, including the dog incident and hospital admissions The Pot Still Whiskey Blog
    • Wikipedia: overview of the event, location, fatalities not from direct fire but poisoning Wikipedia
    • Wine Enthusiast: recounting the burning river and manure tactics Wine Enthusiast
    • Historic Mysteries: supplementary context on the chaos and the nature of the response
    Keywords: Dublin Whiskey Fire, 1875 Dublin Fire, Irish history podcast, comedy history podcast, whiskey disaster, Liberties Dublin, weird history, whiskey history, Ireland disasters, Mistakes Were Made podcast.
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    59 mins
  • Lawn Chair Larry

    Lawn Chair Larry
    May 24 2025
    We're back! After a 7-year break, Mistakes Were Made returns with a high-flying tale—literally. In this episode, Bacon tells Mike the bizarre history of people who tried to fly using helium balloons. From lawn chairs to church pews, it turns out some folks really took “lightheaded” to new heights.

    EPISODE 31 - Lawnchair Larry
    In this episode of Mistakes Were Made, we dive into the strange history of helium balloon flight attempts, including the infamous Lawnchair Larry and other balloon-powered adventurers. If you love weird history, historical mistakes, or funny stories about real-life stunts gone wrong, this podcast is for you. Subscribe to Mistakes Were Made for more episodes about history’s biggest blunders, epic fails, and bizarre moments.

    MISTAKES WERE MADE PODCAST
    Comedians Robert Bacon and Mike Kauffman explore some of history’s biggest blunders—mixing well-researched storytelling with a dose of humor. It’s history, but with more laughs and fewer homework assignments.
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Mao Zedong

    Mao Zedong
    Sep 4 2018
    In the late 1960s, Chairman Mao Zedong turned a simple piece of fruit into a symbol of blind devotion—and chaos. When Mao gifted crates of mangos to Chinese factory workers, the nation erupted into a frenzy of worship, complete with parades, wax mango replicas, and (of course) executions. Comedians Robert Bacon and Mike Kauffman peel back the absurd true story of how one man’s tropical obsession became a cult-like craze that mixed propaganda, paranoia, and pulp. It’s a sweet, sticky slice of history that proves power really does rot from the inside out.Keywords for SEO:
    Mao Zedong mango obsession, Cultural Revolution history, weird history podcast, Mistakes Were Made podcast, Chinese history comedy, Mao mango story, history gone wrong, propaganda stories, historical blunders, comedy podcast.
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    56 mins
  • The Winter War Sniper

    The Winter War Sniper
    Aug 27 2018
    n 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland in a conflict known as the Winter War. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Finnish forces put up a fierce resistance in freezing conditions. Among them was Simo Häyhä, nicknamed “The White Death,” a sniper who reportedly killed hundreds of Russian soldiers with astonishing skill. The war demonstrated Finland’s resilience, tactical ingenuity, and how one extraordinary marksman can influence the course of a battle.

    Comedians Robert Bacon, Mike Kauffman, and Bobby Smithney recount the heroics, hardships, and human absurdity of the Winter War. They blend historical detail with humor, exploring how extreme cold, cunning strategy, and remarkable individuals created one of the most unique military conflicts of the 20th century.

    Keywords:
    Winter War podcast, Finland vs Russia 1939, Simo Häyhä sniper, Mistakes Were Made podcast, comedy history podcast, Finnish military history, World War II prelude, historical heroes podcast, military blunders and feats, funny history podcast.

    More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4
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    22 mins
  • Franz Ferdinand

    Franz Ferdinand
    Aug 20 2018
    On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo—a single event that triggered the chain reaction leading to World War I. Ferdinand’s death exposed the tangled web of alliances, militarism, and nationalism in Europe, turning a regional conflict into a global catastrophe. His life, politics, and the assassination itself reveal how small mistakes and poor timing can spiral into unimaginable consequences.

    Comedians Robert Bacon, Mike Kauffman, and Bobby Smithney break down the Archduke’s eccentric personality, his controversial marriage, and the absurdly preventable circumstances of his assassination. Mixing historical insight with dark humor, they explore how one man’s death changed the world forever, and how human folly often sets the stage for monumental events.

    Keywords:
    Franz Ferdinand podcast, World War I history, Sarajevo assassination, Mistakes Were Made podcast, comedy history podcast, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, historical blunders, causes of World War I, funny history podcast, human folly in history.
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    32 mins
  • Seward's Folly (Alaska For Sale)

    Seward's Folly (Alaska For Sale)
    Aug 13 2018
    In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million—a deal widely mocked at the time as “Seward’s Folly.” Critics believed the U.S. had bought nothing but frozen tundra, ice, and bears. History, of course, proved them spectacularly wrong. The purchase provided vast natural resources, strategic advantages, and eventually became a cornerstone of American expansion.

    Comedians Robert Bacon, Mike Kauffman, and Bobby Smithney dive into the political drama, public ridicule, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering that made the Alaska Purchase possible. Mixing history with humor, they highlight how one man’s vision—and a very cold gamble—turned into one of America’s smartest deals.

    Keywords:
    Alaska Purchase podcast, Seward’s Folly, William H. Seward history, Mistakes Were Made podcast, comedy history podcast, 19th century U.S. history, American land deals, political blunders and triumphs, funny history podcast, historical mistakes that worked out.
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    38 mins
  • The Berlin Wall

    The Berlin Wall
    Aug 5 2018
    Robert Bacon, Mike Kauffman, and Bobby Smithney tackle one of the 20th century’s most infamous symbols: the Berlin Wall. Erected in 1961, the Wall didn’t just divide a city—it divided families, friends, and an entire ideology. Built almost overnight by East Germany, it was meant to stop the mass exodus of citizens fleeing to the West, but it also became a monument to political absurdity, paranoia, and human ingenuity.

    The hosts explore the Wall’s construction, its impact on everyday life, daring escapes, and the increasingly bizarre lengths people went to in order to cross it. From tightrope walkers and homemade hot-air balloons to tunnels dug by hand, the Berlin Wall became a theater of human courage and folly—all set against a backdrop of Cold War tension and bureaucratic blunders.It’s a story of walls, mistakes, and monumental human absurdity—delivered with humor, insight, and the signature style of Mistakes Were Made.

    Keywords:
    Berlin Wall podcast, Cold War history, Mistakes Were Made podcast, comedy history podcast, East Germany history, Berlin Wall escapes, historical blunders, 20th century history, human ingenuity in history, funny history podcast, political mistakes.
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    39 mins
  • The Halifax Disaster

    The Halifax Disaster
    Mar 20 2018
    For the first time, Mistakes Were Made welcomes a new co-host: Bobby Smithney joins Robert Bacon and Mike Kauffman as they dive into one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history. On December 6, 1917, the bustling harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was the site of unimaginable chaos when two ships—a Norwegian vessel and a French munitions ship—collided. The resulting explosion leveled the city, killed nearly 2,000 people, and injured thousands more, leaving a sticky, smoldering mess that history still remembers.

    The hosts break down the tragic events, the human errors, and the series of mistakes that led to the catastrophic explosion, mixing detailed historical storytelling with dark humor and absurdity. From eyewitness accounts to the sheer scale of destruction, this episode captures both the horror and the bizarre circumstances surrounding the Halifax Disaster.It’s a story of misjudgment, miscommunication, and human folly—now with a fresh voice—on Mistakes Were Made.

    Keywords:
    Halifax Disaster podcast, 1917 Halifax explosion, Mistakes Were Made podcast, comedy history podcast, deadliest maritime disasters, Nova Scotia history, historical accidents podcast, funny history stories, ship collision disasters, World War I history, weird history podcast.
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    37 mins