The History of Fun

by Polygon
572

The History of Fun explores the hidden backstories behind the things you enjoy. This season, we’re diving into the amazing origins of your favorite holiday traditions. Join Polygon’s Russ Frushtick, Allegra Frank, and Chris Plante each week as they embark on a new quest to uncover these common-yet-mysterious customs. Produced by Polygon and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Recent Episodes
Episodes loading...
Recent Reviews
  • partyhat555
    Great but more episodes
    More episodes pls
  • ajw427
    it isn’t the same without you 😭😭
    i’ve been listening to this show since it first started coming out. i still relisten to it all the time, and recommend it to my friends. if i could have one wish in the world, it would be for more episodes. you guys are great!
  • HareAttack59
    Born too late to explore the world, and too late to listen to this as it came out.
    Love the podcast. found it from a tweet from allegra about the neopets episode. i really wish more would be coming out.
  • Uzma s.
    Come back please!
    I guess I started listening to this show too late, I really like it. You guys are soooo funny! I hope you guys come back with more episodes 😊
  • #hamilfan😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉
    Love it
    Hope they come back and if they do bring on the the toys
  • NoraSpaceAce
    So good!
    I miss this podcast. Each episode is so interesting and I’ll listen to them over and over!
  • gnitsugsid
    Love love love
    I found this show during a five hour drive earlier in the summer and decided I had to start it from the beginning. I finished the show sometime last month. I miss it so much. I really hope it returns for a third season even without Allegra :( I saw a meme earlier today about not being taught how to do my taxes in school, but learning how to square dance. I thought learning how to square dance in gym class was just a southern thing. Maybe that could be an episode if y’all come back. There may be nothing to that story (I am aware that I could find out myself) I really hope the show returns, because I miss annoying my coworkers and boyfriend with Neopets trivia.
  • Faith Kathryn
    Fantastic hosts
    Absolutely love this show. I’m so sad to see it ended and there’s only two seasons, but I already know that I’ll be going back and re-listening to a bunch of episodes. The hosts get along so well, and their dumb jokes and banter back and forth make this one of the most enjoyable podcasts I’ve ever listened to. I hope they’ll be able to team up on another podcast in the future!
  • Sebastian Tech of coffee
    Ruined it for me
    Two older white men talk over a young black woman specifically to say Catholics have had it as bad as black peoples.
  • ang_gacx
    No longer impressed
    I miss the old format and subjects of the show it was more interesting compared to mere holidays. It’s starting to feel like a discounted “origin of everything” which covers all things on YouTube. Idk. They also haven’t been uploading in about a month so I’m losing interest.
  • SailorBeqa
    It’s good fun, with none of the pitfalls
    I’m often skeptical of the format where hosts research a topic in one week (usually just online) and then “present” it via podcast. Like, I can read Wikipedia myself, thanks very much. But these three pick things they have experienced and heap plenty of entertaining and insightful commentary on top. Also, in a world of endless irony and sarcasm, it’s really nice to just have a goofy and pleasant podcast to listen to.
  • JackieBauer24
    Fun and delightful! Keep the holiday traditions coming!!
    I found this podcast by accident and was absolutely delighted by the topics of season 2. I have a fascination with holiday traditions and where they come from, I’m the annoying person who loves to share what I’ve learned with less interested people. ;-) This Podcast IS fun and delightful and the hosts interact with each other very well.
  • Reader Girl📚
    Great But
    I really enjoy the show, however, I can no longer listen to the podcast because it is explicit even though the show is in no way inappropriate. I was very sad because the show is very enjoyable
  • uncreativekid
    Love it!
    I love History of Fun. Plante, Allegra and Russ are great. I love the history of holidays, and I wanted to share a fun holiday thing my family does! Every Easter we create “Easter Soup” - a Polish tradition! In the old days families would take their meat to the Catholic Church to be blessed for their Easter meal. Now we just make what’s basically a protein soup - ham, cooked eggs and MULTIPLE kinds of sausages. I’d love to hear History of Fun talk about something like this when they get to Easter!
  • Isaacthegamer
    Listen to this show if you like fun! It's hilarious!
    One time, in the States, I was at a karaoke bar and Dennis Haskins came in and started singing. I was too drunk to talk to him, but I tried to get a picture. Even so, it ended up just being a blurry mess the next day. Now, I live in Japan, where private room karaoke is the main form of karaoke. It's nice because you can go with your friends and sing a bunch of songs for as long as you want. It's also great, because you can sing any song you want and no one cares if it's slow or whatever. No more bar karaoke for me ever again.
  • Cmedua
    Just three friends talking about some fun things
    I like this show because it feel more like a group of friends telling each other interesting facts about a certain subject rather than a team presenting a final project to a teacher. If you're looking for a show that gives you 'all' the detail facts about a topic than this may not be for you, but if you just want to enjoy hearing three people who enjoy each others company talking about some interesting things than listen up.
  • DanDan301
    Why I stopped listening
    The History of Fun was a podcast I really enjoyed in the first season. I listened to most of the episodes. I disagree with the reviews saying that the hosts should be rethought. I think the three of them have good chemistry and the variety of ages is important because it provides wider perspectives. My first problem with the podcast now is that it’s about holiday stuff, which doesn’t interest me. My bigger problem is the new Explicit rating on Apple Podcasts. I’m not sure why it was added because the earlier episodes didn’t come of as inappropriate for teens. But with the combination of subjects that don’t interest me and the new ‘E’ rating, I have unsubscribed. Sorry History of Fun.
  • GreaterGamer🎮🤓
    Good but one problem...
    I love this podcast and love their humor and their ability to laugh at anything and everything but one of the episodes “A presidential pardon to turkeys” is literally just the same episode but with a different title as the Macy thanksgiving parade, but otherwise the best podcast ever
  • Aaron "Mob Boss" Jones
    Late comment on Devils Night
    This is a fantastic podcast by the way, I’m so excited to see what season two brings. So! I’m from Florida and we didn’t have any official pranking night but one halloween long enough ago so that I wouldn’t get in trouble for it now I decided I was going to make a little money for Halloween. I went and TP’d a bunch of houses in my neighborhood of people I knew. I stuck forks in the group, I threw toilet paper through trees, even wrapping bushes totally. The real part of my plan was then going the next day and offering to clean everything up for them at the small price of $10 bucks a house. I made $150 dollars easily. Which I then used to fund my underground snack selling at school.
  • Richbumx
    Get rid of the hyena
    happy that its back.. but a few minutes in I quickly remember the issue I have with the show. what exactly does alegra add to the podcast? she just laughs through everything and her only commentary is to repeat the punchline of the joke and then laugh some more. annoying. getting rid of her would probably improve the show
  • bb4lake
    Mischief Night Joke
    Knock Knock Who’s there? A ghost goes... A ghost goes who? No, a ghost goes boo! Great show you all!
  • Mooreshmallow
    Putting the “fun” in “educational”!
    Wait.
  • Jaime Esc
    A fun podcast
    This is a great podcast. The topics are fun and the hosts are entertaining.
  • dezertsbyallen
    A new change
    This is the first episode I listen to with the sharper image in Brookstone and believe me I was not impressed perhaps I do need to reevaluate their host and make a different concept on the show I’ll keep trying some more but I don’t know.
  • (Brian)3
    Prune that Plant
    I genuinely enjoy this show more when Plant isn’t on it. He drags things down with his schlocky, un-clever jokes. The other hosts are funny and interesting. Take the break to nip him out of the equation.
  • 04edawg
    The best podcast
    This is the best podcast I’ve discovered in a while. Russ, Allegra, and Chris Plante are able to bring the podcast to life! I can’t wait for season two!!! I love the personalities on the show and how well they combine knowledge with comedy. I. Love. It.
  • One-Punch Phan
    Who are these guys
    Female voice and two male sounding voices do good job at talking about fun-related anecdotes. I like the male voice that’s also from Kansas City. Please talk about the quitillion (kit-trillion) high school dance thing please, we didn’t have it at my school and I refuse to look it up
  • Elon Husk
    Fantastic show!
    While I hate all three personalities and the subject is somewhat of a bore, the show is a lot of fun! Highly recommended!
  • Kagalli
    A Fun Listen!
    Loving this podcast! The hosts have great chemistry, humor, and pacing. The length of each episode is perfect, especially for listening while I workout! I feel like I've learned so much random stuff for both things I already knew about and things I've never thought much about before.
  • Quentin A Pongratz
    I want more.
    This podcast is such fun. Between the world records and the Reader memories song, they have me laughing way too much while I listen at work. It's one of those series where as much as I want to binge the whole backlog, I force myself to listen to older ones at a more reasonable pace. Because the day where I go to listen to another and have to wait until the new one to come out will be a sad one.
  • Alfieri Family
    Fun!
    My best friend recommended this podcast a few months ago when I drove from Georgia to California and I’ve kept up with since! Super fun and informing! As for karaoke , my go to is Love is Battlefield by Pat Benatar, but the best: I have a friend that does What I Like About You by The Romantics and he plays the harmonica solo. The song is fun enough to already be a crowd pleaser but then when he whips out a harmonica people go crazy. I think he’s found bars that do karaoke contests and he’s actually won some money off these performances.
  • mightymorpho
    A heartlighted dive into the things we loved to do!
    Great topics that induce nostalgic memories from a wide range of topics such as video games, board games, movies, television programming, and physical activities. The trio of the cast: Russ, Allegra, and Christopher engage in hilarious, and witty commentary that convey the "hidden backstories" of the things we loved to do. Starting your day off with this Monday morning podcast, it is an absolute joy.
  • HarerG
    A great podcast, but let's talk about my karaoke preferences instead
    The History of Fun is a very entertaining and surprisingly educational podcast, and I recommmend very highly that you listen to it every week. Now that that's out of the way, I do a pretty dang decent Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. I know that sounds dubious, but let's hangout and grab a few cocktails and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. One time my wife and I took a nice day trip to Catalina Island (off the coast of Southern California) and I rocked out some rad *NSYNC with a complete stranger. He was a good guy, and I think about him often. I hope you're doing well, random Karaoke buddy. Hey, check out this podcast while I have you here!
  • The Sheriff Tom
    Viva la Japan
    Such a great show. Thank you for all your amusing anecdotes, and the merry go round musical moments that make this show stand out. I’ve been listening to the show from the beginning, and I don’t plan on going anywhere. Here’s to millions upon millions of future listeners sure to set a Guinness podcast record going forward. My favorite Karaoke song has to be “What’s up” by 4 Non Blondes. A crowd favorite, but I too keep a google note on my iPhone of go-tos just in case. Hugs, Tom
  • Recca_R
    I love this show!
    My go-to karaoke songs are “Billy Don’t Lose My Number” by Phil Collins and “For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder, but the WORST karaoke song is “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman. It is way harder to sing than people realize and really bombs every time I have tried it or have seen other people try it. Also the only Are You Afraid of the Dark moment I still remember is from the TV movie, where they were looking for a carousel horse with a blue eye and found out that it had been painted over with brown. Somehow they found the right horse anyway, I can’t really remember. Love the show, thanks!
  • WakingOni
    Love working to these nostalgia bombs
    One of my favorite shows! In reply to the Snick episode: My favorite Are You Afraid of the Dark have to be a toss up between The Tale is Dead Man’s Flow (with the VERY grotesque looking monster) and The Tale of the Dollmaker. Both of those episodes always stuck out to me for being uniquely creppy/spoopy
  • Mal119
    Lots of fun!
    This show's really great to listen to on my morning commute! Also, the last episode reminded me how afraid I was of Are You Afraid of the Dark, and that one episode where a librarian stole noisy children's voices and kept them in a wooden box. Pretty creepy!
  • brendan kelly scott
    Loves
    Just discovered this podcast and love everything about it, lots of 90’s nostalgia and the hosts are great
  • BlytheBrown
    Snick reply
    I loooove the idea to do a goopy toys episode! I wanna know all the goop scandals! Also... my favorite/worst ever “Are You Afraid of the Dark”. The one with a slime monster who hung out at the public pool, and he would slip through drain grates and creep everyone out. I still look at drain grates like “Not today, pal!”
  • mattweinberger99
    My Are You Afraid of the Dark memory
    Love the show! A highlight of my Monday’s for sure. The episode of AYAOTD is by far the red Pool Zombie one. I remember being convinced he was going to come up out of the drain in our shower and kill me, so I didn’t bathe for a whole week :)
  • Rawgsauce
    Russ somehow knew...
    ...that I hadn’t reviewed this podcast yet. Well I’m here to fix that for fear of malignant psychic intervention. This is such a jolly podcast that brightens my Monday drive to work. I have suggested this podcast to fellow employees so there’s that. I say keep it up and I’ll keep listening! P.S. The side story saga of the ROM theme song has been thrilling. It took a while but we got there! I think...
  • frankfooterguy
    Best podcast !!
    Look forward to it every week! i never watched are you afraid of the dark but the worst food to have an eating competition of would have to be, without a doubt: dry cereal, it seems easy at first, but three handfuls in, your mouth gets so dry, it’s hard to eat anything else
  • Potential awesomeness
    Awesome
    This is a awesome podcast!!! I didn’t know I could love a podcast so much 💚
  • Spirithp
    Love this
    Love this podcast, it's informative and fun at the same time. Tangents don't take long are are funny, couple line jokes then back to the content
  • rosarianroamer
    Great stuff!
    Love the show! I took your joke offer seriously though! Go read Shopping List in Yokohama (Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou) it’s about an android who runs a coffee shop in a post-apocalypse Japan! Mother nature is reclaiming what’s her’s! It’s very chill and pretty! There’s not a lot of plot so it doesn’t take a lot of dedication!
  • Tiffles0588
    Awesome!
    The history of fun was my first podcast and what a great Choice! I look forward to every Monday and you guys start my day off right! :)
  • Crip city bird gang
    Can't live without it
    Great podcast with interesting topics. Hosts are have a great rapport.
  • BigDaddyJeffffff
    Fun and Obnoxious
    Love the subjects they talk about, but cannot stand the way they do it. Most times it feels like the hosts are more focused on making terrible (and I mean terrible) jokes and pushing their personality brand. There's been episodes of theirs where roughly a third of it is just nothingness banter. I know that nobody wants a bland reading of a Wikipedia page, but I'd rather hear about the subject history over the bad jokes and endless banter 100% of the time.
  • kate_hyland
    worst food for a hot dog eating contest
    think about it. marshmallows. you’d have to chew SO MUCH and they’re all sticky and sweet, it would be the worst (also this show is great you should check it out!).
  • DjJimiJamz
    Worst food for eating contest
    Oysters
Similar Podcasts
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.