Mistakes Were Made

About Mistakes Were Made

History is full of terrible decisions, epic failures, and absurd moments. Mistakes Were Made is here to celebrate them. Comedians Robert Bacon, Mike Kauffman, Bobby Smithney, and Jenna O'Brien dive into the greatest blunders in history, from the Great Molasses Flood in Boston to the rise of eccentric dictators, bizarre wars, and even the oddities of human behavior. With sharp humor, detailed storytelling, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, they teach each other, and you, how humans have screwed up throughout the ages. Expect epic fails, ridiculous mishaps, and the funniest ways people have ever accidentally changed the world.Whether it’s military disasters, political catastrophes, failed inventions, or historical oddities like Dancing Mania and the Winter War, this podcast mixes comedy with real history for a laugh-and-learn experience. If history had bloopers, this is where you’d find them. Keywords: history podcast, funny history podcast, comedy history podcast, historical mistakes, historical blunders, epic fails in history, bizarre historical events, weird history stories, military disasters, political mistakes, human folly history, educational comedy podcast

Publisher

Robert Bacon

Category

comedy · comedy · history

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

13 Feb 2017

Latest episode

13 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

33 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2025

   The Great Dublin Whiskey Fire

   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 Times (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/the-night-a-river-of-whiskey-ran-through-the-streets-of-dublin-1.2743517?utm_source=chatgpt.com)The Pot Still Whiskey Blog (https://blog.thepotstill.irish/the-dublin-whiskey-fire-of-1875?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Irish Examiner (June 21, 1875): “in literal torrents from the doors and windows” Wine Enthusiast (https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/spirits/great-whiskey-fire-irish-history/?srsltid=AfmBOoot1iBQ6Q_Dc8n0hoWKA0wBJxqJxXsVNmgngbjKDazwOYFPujMR&utm_source=chatgpt.com) The Pot Still blog: detailed local reporting, including the dog incident and hospital admissions The Pot Still Whiskey Blog (https://blog.thepotstill.irish/the-dublin-whiskey-fire-of-1875?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Wikipedia: overview of the event, location, fatalities not from direct fire but poisoning Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_whiskey_fire?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Wine Enthusiast: recounting the burning river and manure tactics Wine Enthusiast (https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/spirits/great-whiskey-fire-irish-history/?srsltid=AfmBOoom_BNjtFqMuUTfy68EGvV1q8iWmqW8YE1gE9Tiqn7no7EOlNnw&utm_source=chatgpt.com) 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.

2. 

   24 May 2025

   Lawnchair Larry (2025 NEW EPISODE)

   Comedian Robert Bacon recounts to Mike Kauffman the strange history of people attempting flight with helium balloons, including the infamous Lawnchair Larry, revealing humanity's sometimes misguided pursuit of innovation in this interview.

3. 

   4 Sept 2018

   30 - Mao Zedong

   This episode explores Mao Zedong's life, highlighting his controversial actions and unusual fascination with mangos.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

29

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32