History's Devils
Who were the worst people in history?
HISTORY'S DEVILS is a weekly deep-dive podcast that investigates the world's most infamous historical figures. Each episode explores the life, actions, and impact of a notorious person from history, examining the facts behind their reputation and the events that shaped their legacy.
Hosted by Professor James Crossland, HISTORY'S DEVILS covers dictators, tyrants, war criminals, cult leaders, revolutionaries, con-artists, conspiracy theorists and other controversial historical figures, combining deep research with compelling storytelling to reveal the darker side of human history.
Perfect for fans of dark history, history documentaries, historical biographies, and in-depth explorations of the people who changed the world for better - or for worse.
All the devils are here. And we are ready to tell their stories.
Episodes
18 episodes
Allan Pinkerton: Spy, Detective, Strike-Breaking Conspiracy Theorist
In this episode of History’s Devils, James is joined by Lewis Sage-Passant (How To Get on A Watchlist) to explore the rise of the Pinkerton National ...
The Gentleman Pirate with the Mid-Life Crisis: Stede Bonnet and the Golden Age of Piracy
This week, James sets sail with Jamie Goodall (author of The Pirates of Chesapeake Bay and
The Truth About Satanism: Anton LaVey, the Church of Satan & America’s Moral Panic
This week, James welcomes Mikki Brock (@historymikki) back onto the show to dive deep into the controversial world of Satanism and the cultural impact of the Church of Satan’s founder, Anton...
The First War on Terror? Irish Dynamiters and the Bombing of Victorian Britain
Long before The Troubles, 7/7 and other modern terrorism, Britain faced a wave of bombings that shocked the Victorian world.Step into one of the most overlooked chapters of British history in this gripping episode on the "Dynamite War" o...
The Legend of Billy The Kid: Murder, Myth and Reality in the Old West
In this episode, James is joined by Jem Duducu (author of The History of the Western Movie) to tell the story of a teenage gunslinger w...
The Carny & The Showman: How Donald Trump and Vince McMahon Conquered America, Pt.2
In Part Two of this two-part History's Devils episode, James and Jayne finish the story of Donald Trump and Vince McMahon by explaining how the psychology of professional wrestling shaped Trump's two presidencies, and altered the way i...
The Carny & The Showman: How Donald Trump and Vince McMahon Conquered America, Pt.1
SummaryDive into one of the strangest and most revealing alliances in modern history as History’s Devils unpacks the decades-long relationship between Donald Trump and Vince McMahon.In Part One of this two-part ser...
She Poisoned Everyone? The Story of Mary Ann Cotton, Serial Killer
This week, James is taking a backseat and letting Paul Bavill (History Rage Podcast) dive into one of the most chilling true crime stories in British history – the poisonous rampage of Mary Ann Cotton....
The Queen's "Magician": Angels, Demons and the Occult World of John Dee
In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, host James Crossland is joined by historian, author and scholar of Satan, Mikki Brock to explore the extraordinary life of John Dee, the famed court magician of Elizabeth I.From occult practi...
The Devil from the Galaxy Far, Far Away: How Darth Vader Became Cinema’s Greatest Villain
In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, host James Crossland is joined by historian and author Chris Kempshall to explore the rise, fall, and legacy of Darth Vader—one of the greatest villains in ...
The First Terrorist? Felice Orsini - The Man Who Tried to Kill Emperor Napoleon III
In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, host James Crossland is joined by Lisa Traynor (Royal Armouries) to uncover the story of Felice ...
Was He Jack The Ripper? The Scandalous Life of Francis Tumblety, Pt.2
In this HISTORY’S DEVILS two-parter, James Crossland is joined by Jayne Friend to explore the shocking true story of Francis Tumblety - one of the most disturbing conmen of the 19th century. A self-proclaimed doctor, master grifter, an...
Quack, Conspirator, Assassin? The Scandalous Life of Francis Tumblety, Pt.1
In this HISTORY’S DEVILS two-parter, James Crossland is joined by Jayne Friend to explore the shocking true story of Francis Tumblety - one of the most disturbing conmen of the 19th century. A self-proclaimed doctor, master grifter, an...
Hitler's Best Friend? How Rudolf Hess became a Human Conspiracy Theory
In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, host James Crossland is joined by Paul Woodadge (WW2TV) to examine the strange and controversial life of Rudolf Hess, one of ...
The Cosplay Diplomat Who Made Friends With Nazis: James Lonsdale-Bryans and the British “Peace Party”
In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, James Crossland and Phil Craig, author of 1945: The Reckoning: War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World, delve into the complex web of the British Peace Party and its connec...
"Ace of Spies" or Ultimate Grifter? Sidney Reilly and the World of British Intelligence
This episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS delves into the life of Sidney Reilly, a dashing, semi-mythical MI6 officer who has often been referred to – without much reason – as the “Ace of Spies”. James Crossland is joined by Professor Rory Cor...
Nathan Bedford Forrest: Massacre-Ordering General and First Grand Wizard of the KKK
This episode of History's Devils delves into the life of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Joined by the incomparable Edd Mair, James explores Forrest's early life, his rise in ...
First Fascists: How Posh Dreamers, Military Washouts and Thugs Brought Poison to Britain
In the very first episode of History’s Devils, hosts James Crossland and Jayne Friend explore the roots of British Fascism by traveling back to the 1920s. They uncover the extraordinary story of Rotha Lintorn Orman, an upper-class tomb...
