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Every episode
SNAFU with Ed Helms
30 episodes
Comedians: Ed’s Funniest Friends
Aug 12, 2026 · 36 min
Ed's funniest guests shine in this week's compilation episode - whether it was Nick Kroll waxing poetic about his family puking tuna sandwiches on a deep sea fishing trip, or Jenny Slate telling us how susceptible she is to cults, or Jordan Klepper reflecting on Donald Trump’s desperate need for a hug. It's the best of the comedians of SNAFU, so listen, laugh and enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Primo Podcasters: My Favorite Murder, Bowen Yang and More
Aug 5, 2026 · 33 min
Podcast lovers, this one's for you! We've compiled the best clips from our favorite podcasting celebs on Season 4 of SNAFU - Karen Gilgariff and Georgia Hardstark from My Favorite Murder really brought their true-crime sixth sense to our tale of the kidnapping of William Morgan. Robert Evans, the head honcho of the Behind the Bastards Podcast, illuminated the Iran-Contra debacle of the 1980s with such wit and gravitas. And on a slightly more tech-oriented episode, the co-hosts of Hard Fork, Kevi…
RERELEASE: S1E2: Will the Real Evil Empire Please Stand Up?
Jul 29, 2026 · 42 min
Today, we have Episode 2 of our first season of SNAFU all about Able Archer 83, the NATO military exercise that almost started a real nuclear war. Last week, you met some of our main characters and heard about 1980’s America where tension with the Soviets was a fact of everyday life and we heard about a dauntless sleuth trying to unearth the SECRET CIA files that reveal the entire Able Archer story. Now, in episode 2, we meet the men keeping it all together – aka avoid a nuclear arma…
RERELEASE: S1E1: Not All Fun and WarGames
Jul 27, 2026 · 46 min
If you’re a new fan of SNAFU and you never listened to our beloved Season 1, then now is the time to tune in for a tale of nuclear dread, traitorous spies, and a war game gone wrong. It was the closest we ever came to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis – and it’s a story with echoes into the present, especially with rising international tension. We’ll be sharing the second episode later this week, along with all the episodes on YouTube for the first time ever. But…
Thought Leaders
Jul 15, 2026 · 30 min
It's another summer select episode of Ed's favorites! This week, hear from some of the podcasting industry's top minds. Folks like Scott Galloway, Kara Swisher, Jad Abumrad, Adam Grant, Kelly Corrigan, and more. Witness how their brains analyze and envision important cultural events, past and future, in ways both awe-inspiring and hilarious. Tune in for our montage episode of SNAFU's Best "Thought Leaders". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Insights From Ed's Castmates & Collaborators
Jul 8, 2026 · 39 min
This summer, to tide you over until our new season arrives, catch special montage episodes brimming with collective nuggets of Snafu-laden wisdom. First up, the most insightful moments from guests who also happened to be Ed's wonderful collaborators on film and tv projects over the years. If you didn’t catch the behind-the-scenes banter before, now is a great time to devour these bite-sized morsels. Featured in this episode: Angela Kinsey, Jenna Fischer, Jake Johnson, Paul Scheer, Mike Sch…
Mars Orbiter and the Probe to Nowhere
Jun 16, 2026 · 21 min
A NASA space probe that lost roughly $25 million because of a… math era? Classic SNAFU! On this week’s special bonus, we revisit a favorite space-related chapters from my book, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screw-ups. Just in time for Father’s day, this is your gentle reminder that SNAFU makes for a fantastic gift for the history buff, nonfiction reader, or SNAFU podcast super fan. Pick up your copy on any book retailer or at this link: https://www.sn…
William Morgan & Our Favorite Murder (with Karen and Georgia of My Favorite Murder)
Ep 36 · Jun 10, 2026 · 59 min
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark are True Crime Royalty. They join Ed to unravel the mystery of William Morgan - one of the earliest American missing persons cases with massive political ramifications. Was it a case of bribery or... murder?? Listen to find out what the expert hosts of My Favorite Murder have to say about this eerie case. And stay tuned throughout the summer for updates on more SNAFU goodies! Watch today's episode on our SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod See o…
Chappaquiddick & The Real Reason Ted Kennedy Never Became President (with Pete Holmes)
Ep 35 · Jun 3, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Pete Holmes is Weird. In a good way! He's also a New England native, and perfectly attuned to today's Martha's Vineyard-set SNAFU involving the youngest Kennedy brother, Ted. What happened on the small island of Chappaquiddick, and why did it potentially sink his chances at a future Presidency run? Watch today's episode on our SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Behind the Bastards' Robert Evans & The Iran-Contra Arms Dealing Scandal (Part II)
Ep 34 · May 27, 2026 · 37 min
Robert Evans of the Behind the Bastards Podcast is back for Round 2 of the Iran-Contra Scandal. Robert and Ed tee up the uncanny conclusion to this epic saga including some questionable offers of immunity, and unveil whether accountability comes to fruition. (Spoiler alert, it won't.) And don't forget to watch on our SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Behind the Bastards' Robert Evans & The Iran-Contra Arms Dealing Scandal (Part I)
Ep 33 · May 20, 2026 · 37 min
Robert Evans is a delightful human. Which makes it so funny that he hosts a hit podcast about the worst people to ever exist! Today, the mastermind of Behind The Bastards Podcast joins Ed to discuss a dastardly scheme in the early 80s involving arms trafficking to Iran, facilitated directly by some of Reagan's top brass. It's the Iran-Contra Affair on part one of this mind-boggling SNAFU. And check out our SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i…
Cambridge Analytica: Facebook's Big Data Scandal - Part II (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Ep 32 · May 13, 2026 · 34 min
The unraveling web of deceipt continues in the Facebook Data Scandal. Our guests, Kevin Roose and Casey Newton unveil what Mark Zuckerberg had to say for himself in a one-on-one interview. And what were the ramifications in the wake of the 2016 presidential election? Find out in the thrilling conclusion of this week's SNAFU. Don't forget to 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.
Cambridge Analytica, Part I (with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton)
Ep 31 · May 6, 2026 · 35 min
Kevin Roose and Casey Newton are High-Tech Savants. The co-hosts of the Hard Fork Podcast were on the front lines of the Facebook Data Scandal, and today they help Ed break down just how much of your data (yes, you dear listener!) was leaked and misused for political purposes. Find out what laws Cambridge Analytica broke in today's tech-heavy SNAFU. Don't forget to subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystudio.com/li…
SNAFU's Hottest Takes & Biggest Laughs
Ep 30 · Apr 29, 2026 · 31 min
It's a special "Best Of" SNAFU! From Nick Kroll's raucous family sea voyage, to Jenny Slate's casual susceptibility to cults, Ed selects his favorite, spiciest hot takes from this season's array of guests. Enjoy a fun romp through the last six months, and stay tuned for a hint at what's to come! Don't forget to 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.
Tulip Mania: The World's First Financial Bubble (with Bowen Yang)
Ep 29 · Apr 22, 2026 · 45 min
Bowen Yang is an unwitting student of Dutch Economics. This week, Bowen joins Ed on a journey to 17th century Netherlands, where they help burst one of history's first ever economic bubbles, known today as Tulip-Mania. You thought NFT's were crazy, but did you know one Tulip bulb in 1637 could purchase an entire HOUSE? Find out what wilted this mad tulip fever, and don't forget to subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPod Buy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.com See omnystu…
Revisiting the Prohibition Era (Ext. Interview with Terence Winter of Boardwalk Empire)
Ep 28 · Apr 15, 2026 · 47 min
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 Hollywo…
Who Killed Charles Francis Hall? The Polaris Expedition's Arctic Whodunnit (with Jad Abumrad)
Ep 27 · Apr 8, 2026 · 59 min
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 alo…
From Business History: How E.T. The Extra-Terresterial Destroyed Atari
Apr 3, 2026 · 52 min
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 beh…
Lord Dunmore and the Proclamation That Ignited Revolution (with Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers)
Ep 26 · Apr 1, 2026 · 46 min
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 misste…
Live at LA Talks with Tig Notaro
Ep 25 · Mar 25, 2026 · 47 min
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.
Ivan Boesky: The Wall Street Legend Who Crashed and Burned (with Rory Scovel)
Ep 24 · Mar 18, 2026 · 50 min
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.
What Went Wrong on the Hindenburg Luxury Airship (with Chelsea Handler)
Ep 23 · Mar 11, 2026 · 42 min
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.
Air Transat Flight 236: The Azores Glider That Ran Dry (with Adam Scott)
Ep 22 · Mar 4, 2026 · 54 min
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.
That Time the U.S. Decided to Nuke Space: Starfish Prime (with Chris Winterbauer & Lizzie Bassett of What Went Wrong)
Ep 21 · Feb 25, 2026 · 50 min
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…
The Metric Pirates & Joseph Dombey's Bizarre Tale (with Jake Johnson)
Ep 20 · Feb 18, 2026 · 39 min
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…
Entering the world of a Former KGB Spy (with Jack Barsky)
Ep 19 · Feb 11, 2026 · 40 min
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…
Unpacking the OG Ponzi Scheme (with Adam Grant)
Ep 18 · Feb 4, 2026 · 46 min
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.
Operation Cottage: The Most Awkward WWII Invasion of... Nothing? (with Kelly Corrigan)
Ep 17 · Jan 28, 2026 · 48 min
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.
Why the 1920 Palmer Raids Feel...Weirdly Familiar? (with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway)
Ep 16 · Jan 21, 2026 · 46 min
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: ww…
Jenny Slate and the Flight to Varennes
Ep 15 · Jan 14, 2026 · 47 min
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.
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