HILF: History I'd Like to F**k
Host, comedian Dawn Brodey, takes you through the annals of history with a special guest and history subject each episode. From Dillinger to Frankenstein, from The Crusades to Freak Shows - Dawn brings her history degree and unfiltered sense of humor to deliver well-researched deep-dives that strip history naked and serve it up raw.
Episodes
Mary Shelley began writing her novel, Frankenstein, in 1816 when she was only 17 years old. Today it remains one of the most-assigned books of all time, finding it's way into classes ranging from Law to Scientific Ethics to Fashion to Politics. As a new film by Guillermo del Toro is set to debut on Netflix, re-join Dawn for the episode that started the podcast!
Guest, Helen Shephard, is a British TV Host, model and comedian, who ha...
On a chilly January morning in 1947, officers arrived to what they were told was "a broken mannequin" lying in a field. They discovered instead, the body of a woman cut completely in half at the waist. She lay naked and drained of blood, her two halves a foot apart, arms draped almost elegantly over her head.
Yikes, right?
Nearly 80 years later, the case remains both unforgotten and unsolved.
Join Dawn and guest, Kaycee Conlee, a...
It's July 3rd, 2025 and Dawn can hardly contain herself as she invites the audience at Flappers Comedy Club to fall down the rabbit hole of history along with her, LIVE! She is joined in this HILF-ing by two special guests: comedian Lauren Harding, who get's down with King George III; and then by America's favorite step-mom Ryan Keeley who helps Dawn undress George Washington.
JOIN US AT THE NEXT SHOW!
🎟️ HILF Public School - the l...
If you get into a heated conversation on any subject these days (and who isn’t?) it often ends with someone being called a “F*cking Marxist” or “Capitalist PIG". Join Dawn and comedian, Mary Gallagher, to find out which one YOU might be... and if it's a bad thing.
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🎟️ HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA
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Billy the Kid - like Black Beard and Al Capone - is one of those real historical characters whose life was so colorful and dramatic that the facts sound like fiction. Dawn is joined by actress and comedian, Kerstin Porter, for a ride with one of the most famous figures of the old west. Get to know William H Bonney, aka: William Antrim, aka: Henry McCarty who would forever be remembered as Billy the Kid.
Hear the story of the so-called Scopes Money Trial from 1925, during which Americans debated if evolution should be taught in schools... a debate that continues now, 100 years later. Dawn also answers some of Ryan’s questions which run the gamut from her personal faith to pop-star divas.
🎧 HILF EP86 - Religion in America with Ryan Ripple
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In Los Angeles? Join Dawn LIVE for HILF Public School - 1st Thursdays of the month at Flapp...
Dawn and bestie, Ryan Ripple, take on the easy, non-controversial subject of Protestant Christianity in America.
As your history books have told you, the earliest colonial settlers came seeking religious freedom, what few discuss is why these denominations were considered 'fringe' back in Europe. Walk with Dawn and Ryan down the holy road from the Shakers of the Revolutionary War, to the Prosperity Gospel of MAGA - and find yourse...
"...education is in trouble, but they can't defund me - I work for beer!" - Dawn Brodey
The first Thursday of every month, fans of comedy and history unite at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, California whence we drink, laugh and learn stuff in the class you always wished you had!
This episode was recorded live on Thursday, June 5th, 2025 and includes a full 10 minute stand-up comedy set by comedian/historian, Jason Horton - after wh...
In Part One of the Manson Family Murders, you went through the law-and-order portion of the history. Now settle in for some of Dawn's favorite mysteries, conspiracies and so much more.
🔔 This is the last episode before HILF Summer Break! Watch social media for updates and events throughout June/July and look forward to the next NEW EPISODE to come out August 6th.
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SILF's (Sources I'd Like to F*ck)
- Book - Helter Skelter...
Dawn is joined by her sister, Lisa; and niece, Ellie for the HILF-ing of Los Angeles’s most famous true-crime tragedy. Hear about Charles Manson and how the world learned about his sinister cult.
As Dawn is a resident of LA, you'll ride shot-gun briefly as they leave the studio and visit a crime scene in order to better understand this dark page from LA’s past. Buckle up!
SILF's (Sources I'd Like to F*ck)
- Book - Helter Skelter b...
Hear the story of Rosemary Kennedy, sister to John F Kennedy, who goes from being the media-darling of a royal ball, to the the victim of a botched lobotomy at the age of 23.
To thank for this sad and fascinating HILF is Molly McAleer who is a comedy writer, and behind the mic of a few hit podcasts including Trend Lightly, and Mother May I Sleep With - which is devoted to Lifetime movies!
Catch Molly's LIVE SHOW Friends Only Live! (...
Welcome back! When last we met Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their Corps of Discovery, our heroes had navigated over 2,000 miles. Up and down rivers, across the Continental Divide, and all way to the Northern Pacific Coast. They saw a dead whale, it was nuts.
In the conclusion, learn why those who first saw present-day Yellowstone Park thought it was literal hell on earth; hear how Sacegewea’s son finds himself in the royal ...
Lewis & Clark were more than just two white guys in buckskins! Join Dawn and the “Corps of Discovery” as they venture into the wildest of the wild West. Meet Sacegawea, fight a grizzly, and find out what it takes to cross the Rocky Mountains in 1805.
Along with Dawn on this historic journey, is comedian Alex Malt, whose first comedy album debuts this summer!
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SILF's (Sources I'd Like to F*ck)
It’s the wild, true story of Donald Nichols, a seventh-grade drop-out who rises from Army Mechanic to Black Ops Phenomenon during the Korean War. Hear the whole twisted tale - from his unlikely rise, to his fall, to the weeks of electroshock therapy - and from Blaine Harden, the world’s leading expert on the subject.
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SILF's (Sources I'd Like to F*ck)
Joining Napoleon on his journey to his now-famous defeat at Waterloo, is comedian, Jackie Kashian. She has several comedy albums, performs across the country, and on all your screens: Netflix, late show, Conan and so much more.
You can also hear her on two great podcasts, The Dork Forest, which invites folks from a variety of backgrounds to come and share the stuff on which they are “dorks”, and the comedy podcast The Jackie and La...
Re-join Dawn and her guest, comedian, Jackie Kashian (Netflix, late show, Comedy Central) for a few more tasty morsels from the history of Napoleon's doomed last stand.
Listen to Jackie's two great podcasts: The Dork Forest, which invites folks from a variety of backgrounds to come and share the stuff on which they are “dorks”, and the comedy podcast The Jackie and Laurie Show which pairs her with another great comedian, Laurie Ki...
“Entertainment Specialist” was the technical designation of what would later be known as The Morale Corps. This intrepid group of enlisted soldiers were responsible for finding joy in life’s darkest and most dangerous corners.
To tell the story, Dawn is joined by author Robert B. O’Connor who wrote Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge. Hear how his novel weaves a lovely fiction among real history and makes the case for w...
In HILF EP78, you got to know the Jeep Show, a real-life WW2 unit of enlisted soldiers (including Mickey Rooney) who were on the front lines with nothing but an accordion, a Jeep full of wigs, and ORDERS to boost morale.
Continue the conversation with Dawn and author Robert B. O’Connor who wrote Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge.
See video of the real Electro - The Westinghouse Robot that captured Robert's heart.
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It’s a family affair as Dawn is joined by her husband, director Andrew Melby, to HILF this awe-inspiring natural wonder of the world. On a recent road-trip to Los Angeles from Minnesota, Dawn and Andrew stopped in the Grand Canyon. The beauty, wonder and mystery of the place inspired Dawn to take a deep dive into the history.
…and who better to go down with?
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SILF's (Sources I'd Like to F*ck)
Join Dawn and guest, Cristina Van Epps, as they follow the dark and fascinating path of Jack Parsons - the rocket-loving occultist who helped man get to the moon. Cristina works as an engineer at The Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is also a self-professed ‘sci-fi nerd’.
Hear the incredible story of Jack Parsons whose fascination with science and outer space led him on a journey to the stars… and huge piles of drugs.
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