SNAFU with Ed Helms

Welcome to another Bonus Episode of SNAFU! On Season 2, we discovered an eerie plot to poison the nation's alcohol; the government's last ditch effort to quell consumption and protect Prohibition. For color commentary, Ed brought in the preeminent producer, writer and showrunner, Terence Winter - the man behind HBO's Boardwalk Empire. With a heavy dose of wit and New York flare, Terry and Ed touch upon the fashion, ideologies and mishaps of the 1920s, whilst peeking behind the curtain of Hollywood productions. Enjoy Ed's conversation with Terry Winter and we'll be back with new episodes next Wednesday. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trailer Description: What’s the best way to rob a bank? How do you fake your own death? Can you deploy a swarm of bees to get rid of the cops? And if so, how (theoretically) would one do that? All of these questions and more are answered on CRIMELESS, a weekly talk show that breaks down crazy crimes and answers the questions that you’re too embarrassed, or too afraid, to ask, lest it land you on an FBI watchlist. Each week, comedian Rory Scovel and his co-host, the veteran journalist and true crime podcaster Josh Dean, break down a brazen heist, outlandish scam, crypto caper, monkey gang war, or otherwise outrageous crime. The story will catapult the hosts into an exploration of the minutia of the crime, the wild characters who committed it, and how the hosts could do it better. While the show will be funny, first and foremost, listeners will also learn something — at least enough to seem interesting for 10 minutes at a party. It’s How Stuff Works, if How Stuff Works got drunk and robbed a Papaya King, to pay for the Bored Ape NFTs it bought to cover its gambling losses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jad Abumrad is the definition of inquisitive. As the creator of hit shows RadioLab and Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, Jad has the innate ability to calculate idionsyncrasies, question the peculiar, and posit grand deductions. Perfect for this week's Murder Mystery of a SNAFU. Ed leads Jad on a tangled journey to the Arctic, where late 19th Century explorer Charles Francis Hall fell fatally ill. Was it the unforgiving tundra, or was there something more sinister afoot? Don your detective deerstalker alongside Jad as he tries to unravel this week's SNAFU WHODUNNIT! And watch this week's episode on the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m taking a break to share an episode of another podcast I think you’ll enjoy, Business History. Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small, bringing to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in the archives of commerce. They share why some company stocks soar, while other business ideas crash, and explore the ideas that shaped our economy—and the lessons behind their success and failure. Today’s episode: how E.T. brought down Atari. Fueled by hot tubs, recreational drugs, and a love of games, Nolan Bushnell took computer games out of research labs and into bars, launching an industry. Bushnell and his engineers were pushed aside as Atari expanded and, in a desperate bid to cash in on Hollywood hype, the company concocted a wild plan for a game based on Steven Spielberg's hit, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The game tanked...and brought Atari down with it. Find Business History, on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Crawford is a musician with a historian's heart. Bassist and founding member of The Avett Brothers, his expertise on the Founding Fathers of the United States comes in handy on today's SNAFU, where Ed and Bob delve into the folly of Lord Dunmore, a Scottish-born supporter of the King and assigned royal Governor of Virginia in the 1770s. When whispers of revolution were building to an insurmountable roar, Lord Dunmore inadvertently mobilized the revolutionary war cries with one massive misstep after another. Watch this week's episode on the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is another SNAFU treat from the book tour archives! Tig Notaro joins Ed live on stage at Live Talks Los Angeles, where they break down Ed's book, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups. Tig also roasts Ed like a campfire marshmallow, which will indeed leave you asking for "S'more." Find your copy of the New York Times Bestseller wherever you get your books, or go to: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rory Scovel is a man of opulence. But he won't let greed go to his head like the subject of today's SNAFU. Ed and Rory discuss a modern Wall Street legend: the story of Ivan Boesky, a wall street trader who turned Arbitrage into front page headlines, until it all came crashing down. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chelsea Handler is a world traveler. Ed and Chelsea discover whether they're cut out for luxury Air Travel of the 1930's; the catch being it's aboard the infamous Hindenburg Zeppelin. Oh the Humanity! And watch this week's episode on the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Scott is fearless. Ed and Adam explore a high-flying SNAFU that showcased just how valiant pilots must be when the engines run dry...literally. This is the tale of the Azores Glider; a complimentary mid-flight snack of FEAR at 30,000 feet. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Bassett and Chris Winterbauer are film afficianados. This week, they help Ed uncover cinematic treasures that just may be synonomous with a very spooky moment in American hubris; the time we decided to literally NUKE SPACE! Find out what "Dr. Strangelove," "The China Syndrome," and "The Iron Giant" all have in common with today's SNAFU built for Cinemascope. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jake Johnson is an off-the-cuff kinda guy, form-fit for this week's SNAFU when Ed and Jake meet a man who loved taking off his cuffs...and tunic, and trousers. He also happened to be one of the preeminent scientific minds during the French Revolution, and whose ill-fated trip across the Atlantic culminated in a tassle with Caribbean pirates and, potentially, a sunk American metric system. This is the Joseph Dombey Affair. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another Bonus Episode of SNAFU! Today, sit back and enjoy Ed's conversation with a real, genuine former KGB Spy! Jack Barsky was a Soviet operative who defected, risking his life, and family, to remain in the United States. His story is full of twists and turns, and is truly a unique perspective behind the Cold War curtain. Enjoy Ed's conversation with Jack Barsky and we'll be back with new episodes next Wednesday. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Grant is a thinker. The kind of thinking that makes you think twice. Which is precisely what the victims of a certain financial fraud deployment have been told throughout history. But today, Ed and Adam head to the top of this pyramid, to unveil the origin of the ultimate form of foul play: The Ponzi Scheme. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Corrigan is all class. As an award-winning journalist, podcaster, and author, her insights are a breath of fresh air. Today, Ed and Kelly cover Operation Cottage, a screwy attempt by American and Canadian forces to recapture the Aleutian Islands during WWII. But when the Allied soldiers arrived, all was not as it seemed. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway are two titans of podcasting. Their ever-prescient analyses of today's political, technological, and cultural worlds have set an elevated standard for journalists across the board. Today, they help Ed analyze an event from our past that may feel eerily familiar: The Palmer Raids. Although they took place in 1919, their echoes in modern times may just give you goosebumps. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenny Slate is a connoisseur of finer things. Ed invites her to revisit an epic failure on the part of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette as they attempt to flee revolution, yet cling to their superfluous lifestyle. Will they make it to the city of Varennes or lose their lavish heads in the process? Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Spain knows a thing or two about winning. But sadly for ol' Napoleon Bonaparte, he managed to do anything but win this war. Ed and Sarah trudge into the tundra to follow Napoleon's epic screwup in his campaign to conquer Russia. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Lovett is a prominent podcaster and political commentator -- and, a survivor. (Get it?). Today, Ed brings Jon along to help commentate on the ill-fated journey of another group who was simply trying to survive: The Donner Party. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Holidays from everyone on the SNAFU Team! While Ed and his elves prepare more stories for the new year, warm up with an oldie-but-goodie bonus episode you might have missed: It's Ed's conversation with Rachel Maddow about her podcast, ULTRA. Plus, if you're still in need of a last-minute holiday gift, there's still time to grab a copy of Ed's New York Times Bestseller, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups, wherever you get your books, or at www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sophia Bush is a history nerd. Ed and Sophia geek out with an oddly prescient historic whodunnit when they uncover the Heist of the Mona Lisa in 1911. Spoiler Alert: The Louvre never learns. And don't miss out this holiday season, look for Ed's New York Times Bestseller, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups, wherever you get your books, or go to: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.