From notorious tyrants to fashionable media monsters, these podcasts discover essentially the most messy, menacing, and generally misunderstood figures all through historical past. Whether or not you’re into true crime, popular culture, philosophy, or political intrigue, listed here are 10 standout podcasts that dive deep into the darkish facet.
Behind the Bastards
Credit score: ‘Behind the Bastards’
Hosted by Robert Evans (not the movie man, the journalist and former battle correspondent,) Behind the Bastards is a deep dive into among the worst individuals in historical past, from brutal dictators to modern-day grifters and cult leaders. Episodes are lengthy and go extraordinarily in depth. Evans will typically take a number of episodes to cowl a single topic. (Like his Vince McMahon sequence, which is unimaginable and a great place to start out.) With each episode, he and a visitor mix sharp historic analysis with biting humor and a little bit righteous rage. It’s darkish, humorous, and academic.
Behind the Insurrections
Credit score: ‘Behind the Insurrections’
A spin-off of Behind the Bastards (and likewise hosted by Robert Evans), Behind the Insurrections is a restricted sequence that appears on the historical past of tried (and profitable) insurrections world wide. (There’s a enjoyable sprinkling about historical past’s antifascists, too.) Alongside along with his good friend and co-host Propaganda (from Hood Politics), Evans makes use of his signature wit and perception to attract chilling parallels between previous uprisings and modern-day threats to democracy that really feel each clarifying and terrifying. It’s surprising how acquainted all of it sounds. Begin on the very starting with “Mussolini’s March on Rome: The First Fascist Rebel.”
Bizarre Little Guys
Credit score: ‘Bizarre Little Guys’
On Bizarre Little Guys, Molly Conger leans into her area of interest experience: horrible individuals who, deep down inside, are literally simply tousled weirdos. In every episode, she profiles questionable characters from historical past, media, and fantasy whom you could or could not have heard of. I like that even when the subject material is heavy or miserable, listening to this present seems like getting gossip out of your good, well-read good friend. When you can’t do something about skinheads, the least you are able to do is work out how they acquired to be such large losers. It’s cathartic.
This Man Sucked
Credit score: ‘This Man Sucked’
Historian Claire Aubin is the host of This Man Sucked, an instructional takedown of terrible males all through historical past, tradition, and present occasions, from Voltaire to mid-century liberals. Claire ups the ante with historians and professors for conversations which can be equal components humorous and good. This a historical past podcast with an incredible host who’s doing extra than simply studying Wikipedia entries—she’s sparking partaking conversations and educating you about among the stuff you discovered flawed the primary time round.
Dangerous Gays
Credit score: ‘Dangerous Gays’
Dangerous Gays, hosted by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller, shines a lightweight on villainous figures, however solely the queer ones. Every episode is stuffed with nice storytelling, numerous jokes, and educational rigor. It challenges simplistic narratives and asks essential questions on energy, id, and complicity, one thing that anybody on the gender spectrum can fall prey to. Begin with “J. Edgar Hoover,” an episode about an iconic dangerous homosexual, dissected with nuance and wit.
Actual Dictators
Credit score: ‘Actual Dictators’
Actual Dictators is a gripping narrative historical past podcast that dives into the lives of among the world’s most notorious authoritarian rulers. Hosted by Paul McGann (with a dramatic, cinematic tone), the present blends historic details with the type of immersive storytelling, dramatic narration, lovely sound design, and compelling pacing that can make you are feeling such as you’re on the motion pictures. Every season or multi-part episode focuses on a unique dictator—assume Stalin, Mao, Saddam Hussein—tracing their rise to energy, ideologies, and brutal regimes.
What do you assume to this point?
The Villain Was Proper
Credit score: ‘The Villain Was Proper’
The Villain Was Proper is a hilarious rewatch podcast that defends well-known film villains and asks, “Have been they actually that flawed?” Comedians Craig Fay and Rebecca Reeds convey episodes which can be intelligent, irreverent, and surprisingly persuasive. You’ll by no means take a look at The Satan Wears Prada the identical means once more. We’re not speaking about Stalin and Hitler, we’re speaking about The Moist Bandits in House Alone. (In truth, that’s a enjoyable place to start out.)
Disgraceland
Credit score: ‘Disgraceland’
On Disgraceland, Jake Brennan combines true crime tales and the music world, to inform the tales of musicians who’ve gotten away with homicide, if not actually then figuratively. The manufacturing stage is excessive, Jake has an unforgettable voice that brings drama to each story, and the present is endlessly bingeable. Assume Behind the Music behind bars.
Evil Genius with Russell Kane
Credit score: ‘Evil Genius’
You’ll love the debates on Evil Genius, the place host and comic Russell Kane (and his friends) argue whether or not controversial historic figures had been actually evil—or simply sophisticated. It’s each historical past and sport! Russell is a comic, so that is for individuals who like their historical past with a splash of comedy. Episodes are fast-paced and dig into ethical grey areas with out getting preachy. Begin with Walt Disney, a man all of us love however who additionally actually wants a couple of minutes beneath the microscope.
Very Dangerous Wizards
Credit score: ‘Very Dangerous Wizards’
On Very Dangerous Wizards, a thinker (Tamler Sommers) and a psychologist (David Pizarro) speak in regards to the morality of dangerous conduct in popular culture, movie, and actual life. It’s each entertaining and can ship you down philosophical rabbit holes. You’ll find it irresistible as a result of it’s each educational and insightful whereas nonetheless being informal and enjoyable. Sommers brings the fiery, contrarian thinker power and Pizarro affords considerate, data-informed views. They’ve nice chemistry, and so they’re not afraid to roast one another.
