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★★★★★

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One day, Paul Bates found a book in an alley. It wasn’t a magical book, but it was very old - 132 years old, to be exact. It’s called The Pictorial Treasury of Famous Men and Famous Deeds: its cover is beautiful, its language is flowery, and its tone is problematic. It’s also full of wildly obscure and preposterously inaccurate stories about people and deeds you’ve probably never heard of. And, it’s the basis for this history podcast. Each episode Paul shares a chapter with a guest and together they cut through the rhetoric, fill in the blanks and bring a modern perspective to this relic from the height of the British Empire.

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2025/07/30

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Correct Me If I'm Wrong (Livestream) w/ Leigh Cameron, Mark Little & Brandon Hackett

2023/01/08

Inspired by his favourite British panel show, Paul Bates (host of The Dubious Book of Famous Deeds) came up with this hilarious concept for a game. Correct Me If I'm Wrong is a game where funny people have to speak for a full minute on a given topic without hesitation or deviation and everything they say must also be factually correct (as judged by Paul's Google Home device). This livestream episode was recorded as part of The Sonar Network holiday marathon in December, 2021. Featuring: Brandon Hackett Leigh Cameron Mark Little

Chapter 19. Horatio Nelson, or: The Naval Gaze

2022/08/01

Clare Blackwood joins me for the tale of Lord Admiral Nelson: commander of the Royal Navy, hero of the Napoleonic Wars, deadbeat husband. Listen to the story of a man who left everything on the field, including an arm, most of his teeth and an eyebrow. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 18. Samuel Colt, or: From My Old, Dead Hands

2022/07/25

Guests Rhys Waters and Jesse Harley ('Canadian Politics is Boring') come for the weaponry and stay for the pyromania as we explore the life of Samuel Colt, a gun inventor who had a singular appetite for destruction. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 17. Walter Raleigh, or: Misadventure Time

2022/07/11

Comedian Brandon Hackett is here for the story of Walter Raleigh, namesake of Raleigh, North Carolina: a great explorer, so we're told, but really - did he get a single thing right? Or was he really famous because Queen Elizabeth I had the hots for him? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 16. Sir Henry Holland, or: Lady Chatterley’s Doctor

2022/07/04

In a surprisingly horny episode, comedian Ashley Botting is here for the story of Sir Henry Holland: physician to the wealthy, confidante to the elite, and - to spread a rumour we can in no way substantiate - hot lover to them all? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 15. Great Lighthouse Disasters, or: Lead Belly

2022/06/13

Alastair Forbes is here for stories about lighthouses! Specifically, stories about lighthouse disasters. We'll also hear a bit about John Smeaton, the first ever civil engineer... but mainly we're talking lighthouses failing. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 14. John Milton, or: Walking Tour de Force

2022/06/06

Allana Reoch is here to learn all the uncomfortably public details about legendary poet John Milton. Will Allana come around on him? Does she have a soft spot for broken things?? Or is John Milton just *that* charming??? (He isn't.) Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 13. Sir Edwin Landseer, or: Must Love Dog Art

2022/05/03

The Dubious Book returns with an extremely funny episode about Queen Victoria's favourite painter, Edwin Landseer. Tim Baltz and Marty Adams join the podcast to absolutely devastate this long dead artist whose main gig was painting pictures of dogs. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Season 2 Announcement!

2022/04/19

Hi friends! Been a long time. But I'm happy to tell you that more episodes are just around the corner. Season 2 arrives May 3rd with with more great guests, obscure names and fun stories. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 12. Edward Baines of Leeds, or: Trowel Drop

2021/09/27

It's the season finale! Comedian Lisa Brooke is here for the rags to riches tale of Edward Baines, the newspaperman who had the distinction of being burned in effigy by his fellow citizens not once, but twice. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 11. The Emancipation of the Serfs, or: Happy Butter Week

2021/09/20

Just before slavery was abolished in the USA, tens of millions of Russian serfs also received their liberty. But was there a catch? Yes, of course there was! Actor/comedian Anand Rajaram is here for a tale about the high cost of freedom. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 10. Columbus, Magellan, Da Gama & Vespucci, or: The Tale of Enrique

2021/09/13

Paloma Nuñez joins me for the story of not one but four explorers: all famous, all psychos, as we dive into a very pro-colonial chapter. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 9. Sir Titus Salt, or: The Silicon Valley of Wool

2021/09/06

Kris Siddiqi and Nigel Downer are here to learn about Sir Titus Salt who, for reasons unexplained, built a city in his own name! Was it a Christian utopia? A triumph of capitalism? A child-labour sweatshop? Can it be all three? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Chapter 8. 19th Century Surgeons, or: Time Me Gentlemen, Time Me

2021/08/30

Comedian Stacey McGunnigle is here to learn about Sir William Ferguson, Scottish surgeon, and stares aghast as we cut open and examine the world of surgery in 1800s London! Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

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5 out of 5

13 reviews

★★★★★

Toe Gould 2022/05/17

New favorite

I just found this podcast a couple of weeks ago and devoured the whole first season in less than a week.

★★★★★

Anneaie 2022/04/24

The best thing I’ve ever listened to

Literally cannot wait between episodes, this show is addicting and informative in the best way

★★★★★

Angchriskraus 2021/09/20

Worth listening.

Always entertaining although he does drop in notes of his leftist viewpoints.

★★★★★

BHdude 2021/09/20

A Fun and Informative Show

Regardless that the host does ply 21st Century thought to the Victorian Era (you just can’t help but do that) his vigor and joy comes across and makes...

★★★★★

zamnan 2021/09/15

What a treat!

Making fun of Victoriana in a smart way. Dubious guests get sucked into being interested in something they thought they would never be interested in. ...

★★★★★

wu library 2021/08/21

indescribable in the best way

first time in ages that i am anxiously awaiting new episodes of a podcast

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