Behind the Bastards
Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
There’s a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous…
Recent episodes
Part One: Dennis Hastert: The Longest-Serving Republican Speaker of the House
Nov 3, 2026 • 50 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 256
Oct 31, 2026 • 3 h 23 minPart Two: Peter Rachman: King of the Slumlords
Oct 29, 2026 • 1 h 10 minPart One: Peter Rachman: King of the Slumlords
Oct 27, 2026 • 56 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 255
Oct 24, 2026 • 4 h 17 minPart Two: How Nuisance Streamers and Rage-Baiting Ate the Internet
Oct 22, 2026 • 1 h 16 minPart One: How Nuisance Streamers and Rage-Baiting Ate the Internet
Oct 20, 2026 • 1 h 08 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 254
Oct 17, 2026 • 3 h 54 minPart Two: Peter Attia and the Cult of Longevity
Oct 15, 2026 • 1 h 17 minPart One: Peter Attia and the Cult of Longevity
Oct 13, 2026 • 1 h 04 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 253
Oct 10, 2026 • 3 h 52 minPart Two: Heinrich Schliemann: The Archaeologist Who Destroyed Troy
Oct 8, 2026 • 45 minPart One: Heinrich Schliemann: The Archaeologist Who Destroyed Troy
Oct 6, 2026 • 55 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 252
Oct 3, 2026 • 3 h 22 minPart Two: Martin Niemöller, the author of 'First They Came', was a murderous fascist
Oct 1, 2026 • 1 h 05 minPart One: Martin Niemöller, the author of 'First They Came', was a murderous fascist
Sep 29, 2026 • 1 h 00 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 251
Sep 26, 2026 • 3 h 05 minPart Two: Radovan Karadžić: The Genocidal Dictator Who Became a New-Age Guru
Sep 24, 2026 • 1 h 18 minPart One: Radovan Karadžić: The Genocidal Dictator Who Became a New-Age Guru
Sep 22, 2026 • 1 h 13 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 250
Sep 19, 2026 • 3 h 30 minPart Four: Francis Galton: Inventor of Eugenics
Sep 17, 2026 • 53 minPart Three: Francis Galton: Inventor of Eugenics
Sep 15, 2026 • 1 h 17 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 249
Sep 12, 2026 • 3 h 00 minPart Two: Francis Galton: Inventor of Eugenics
Sep 10, 2026 • 1 h 11 minPart One: Francis Galton: Inventor of Eugenics
Sep 8, 2026 • 1 h 05 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 248
Sep 5, 2026 • 3 h 07 minPart Two: The Websites Behind An International Rapist Network
Sep 3, 2026 • 1 h 11 minPart One: The Websites Behind An International Rapist Network
Sep 1, 2026 • 1 h 09 minIt Could Happen Here Weekly 247
Aug 29, 2026 • 4 h 12 minPart Two: Percy Fawcett: Real-Life Indiana Jones, or Deluded Psychic Racist?
Aug 27, 2026 • 1 h 15 min
What HN said
- papitoDec 2022"Elon Musk pulls a date out of his butt".
I am on to this act. All these dates are not something his engineers tell him that's possible, or at least he doesn't care if they are truthful. If you say "no" in a meeting with him, you might as well go back to your desk and pack your stuff.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-one-i-do-not-like...
Note that the podcast was done long before Twitter, back when Musk had some serious personal cache, so it's probably the most both-sides pod in the series.
It really dives into the myths that he has created of himself. The part where they mentioned how Elon and his brother routinely jacked emeralds from their grandfather's pocket in NYC and then sold it for petty cash - he never mentions THAT.
It's basically creating unrealistic deadlines to make the people down the ladder hustle.
- papitoDec 2022Behind The Bastards had the most mild episode they've ever had about Elon, as the host was too torn about giving him a hard time, but this was before all this:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-one-i-do-not-like...
I listened to it back then, and it was just something that was notable at the time, in a "yeah, good to know" kind of way, but in lieu of Musk's current antics, it all makes sense now.
- mplewisJul 2021The Boston police were started to defend the rights of property owners, not citizens.
In the South, post-Civil War, police used gold star badges because they were adapted from the gold star badges used by slave patrols.
You should learn more about the history of policing in America: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-america...
- tommypalmJun 2023I really recommend everyone listen to the 4 part series on MK Ultra from Behind The Bastards[1]. Its absolutely insane that the government did this and BTB really delves deep on how it all came about.
[1] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-one-mkultra-when-...
- ahansenDec 2022It's not a short summary, but if you are into podcasts then Behind the Bastards have a two parter on him.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/part-one-the-ballad-of...
- apiApr 2021You could start with police training:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-man-who-teaches-ou...