The Dumbest Bet on a Horse Race in American History
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
Release Date: 10/19/2025
Exclusive Radio Interview: "100 Worst" Author Mike Smith is Asked "The Hard Question"
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? The producers of "The Hard Question," a nationally-sydnicated radio show, were thinking that interviewing author Michael N. Smith about "100 of the Worst Ideas in History: The Audiobook" might be a good idea. And they were right. See if you agree. Listen, laugh and learn all about it in this episode. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in production and on its way to you. Watch for it wherever you get your podcasts. And remember to subscribe, like and comment. For 99 other examples of...
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The President Who Wore the Wrong Suit and Was Assassinated
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? The newly-elected President is on the road giving a speech and meeting guests. He's approached by a constituent who extends his hand in greeting. Yet in his hand, is a gun. Two shots later, the President lays striken. Eight days later, he's dead. Days go by. It's then determined that, if only the President had worn an outer garment ready to be fitted for him prior to his road trip, world history would have been changed forever. In this episode, listen and learn how wearing the wrong suit was a very bad idea, Mr. President. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The...
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Tax-Time Exclusive: A Famous Actor and His Trusty Dinosaur Take on the IRS
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Was He Thinking? So you spend over a quarter of a million dollars on dinosaur remains instead of paying your income taxes, prompting the Internal Revenue Service to label you "the brontosaurus of spendthrifts." Your response? "Evil mimes chasing me!" Ah, right. Listen and learn all about the a-list actor who's bizarre pirouette into paleontology provokes the ire of the IRA and drives his multimillion-dollar fortune to the brink of extinction. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in production and on its way...
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Wartime Special: Big, Hulking, Gray Monsters Stomp to Victory in This Most Unusual Battle
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? In the brutal war between Rome and Carthage, the Carthaginians deploy what might be considered the polar opposite of a stealth weapon: big, gray, hulking, 11,000-pound behemoths – to wreak stomping, earth-shaking terror on enemy foot soldiers while en route to the city of Rome. But the towering, treacherous Alps stand in their way. Overconfident Roman military leaders assure their emperor that the Carthaginian forces will never, ever be able to move their monstrous weaponry over those mountains. Rome, let it be known, is safe. But is it? Listen and learn the...
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Exclusive Interview: Author Michael N. Smith on WRHI radio, Charlotte, NC
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? Well, the producers at WRHI's morning radio show thought talking to the author of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History" might be a good idea. Turns out, it was! Listen, laugh and learn as Mike details the story of the confused chauffuer who started a world war, the naked president, the most ridiculous product placement blunder ever, the snack food that might give you "anal leakage" and more. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in production and on its way to you. Watch for it wherever you...
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The American President Who's Assassinated by... His Doctors?
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? History tells us that this U.S. President – who believed that assassination could not be prevented and “is best not worried about”– is shot and killed in a Washington railroad station by an irate wannabe diplomat. The part about the diplomat wannabe shooting the commander in chief is unquestionably true. But the part about him killing the President is dead wrong. But who's to blame? Could it be his "first-do-no-harm" doctors? Learn the truth in this episode. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the...
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Springtime Two-fer: Double the Fun with Two Episodes in One
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were We Thinking? Giving you two of our podcast epispodes with a single click? That's got to be one of the best ideas in history. Laugh, learn and enjoy. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in production and on its way to you. Watch for it wherever you get your podcasts. And remember to subscribe, like and comment. For 99 other examples of historical, hysterical stinkin’ thinkin’ from the past, get your copy of popular book "100 of the Worst Ideas in History," available at Amazon.com and better retailers...
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Academy Awards Exclusive: A Dozen of the Worst Movie Ideas in History
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? Here on Hollywood's biggest star-studded night, we honor the "dirty dozen" -- 12 of the worst movie ideas in film history. So get ready to cross dress, buddy cop with your mom, get eaten by a roll of shag carpeting and play the piano with finger sausages as you listen, laugh and learn all about these cinematic stinkers. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in production and on its way to you. Watch for it wherever you get your podcasts. And remember to subscribe, like and comment....
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Bad Ideas On Air: DC 101 Radio Interview with "100 Worst" Authors Mike and Eric
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? What were the producers of the "Elliot in the Morning" show thinking when they put our two purveyors of stinkin' thinkin' on their syndicated radio show? Well, they were thinking that this is bound to be an infotaining way to fill 16 minutes on a Tuesday. And they were right! Listen, laugh and learn how the authors of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History" tell tales of mankind's thundering brainstorms turned blundering brain farts in this episode. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in...
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Spring Training Special: He's the Greatest Home Run Hitter Ever – But No Major League Team Wants Him
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
What Were They Thinking? He crushes towering home run after towering home run, yet despite jacking an estimated 800 homers – with an amazing .359 lifetime batting average – no American or National League team signs him to play. Why did every team in bigtime baseball refuse to roster him? Learn the sad truth in this episode. More Blundering Brainstorms to Come The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in production and on its way to you. Watch for it wherever you get your podcasts. And remember to subscribe, like and comment. For 99 other examples of...
info_outlineWhat Were They Thinking?
Sure there's speedy electronic messaging via the telegraph. And yes, the nearly-complete transcontinental railroad will transport millions of bags of mail in the coming months.
But in 1860 America, a trio of wealthy businessmen believe that the future of rapid communication will be carried on the back of good old-fashioned horsepower – and that's depite the fact that racing a single message to its destination will cost as much as $197 in today's money.
You might say this is an idea that lacks horsesense. Listen and learn all about it in this episode.
More Blundering Brainstorms to Come
The next episode of "100 of the Worst Ideas in History, the Podcast" is in production and on its way to you. Watch for it wherever you get your podcasts. And remember to subscribe, like and comment.
For 99 other examples of historical, hysterical stinkin’ thinkin’ from the past, get your copy of popular book "100 of the Worst Ideas in History," available at Amazon.com and better retailers everywhere. Audiobook now available at Audible.com and other platforms.