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
28 episodes
Scourge of God or Just a Guy with a "Magical" Sword? Attila the Hun and the Fall of Rome
Who was Attila the Hun? Did he really bring down the Roman Empire? How much of his reputation as the "Scourge of God" is actually justified? In this episode, James is joined by Jem Duducu (@jemduducu), author of
America's Forgotten King: James Jesse Strang and the Mormon Cult of Beaver Island
James Jesse Strang, the only man in U.S. history to crown himself a king, is the focus of this podcast episode exploring his rise as a Mormon schismatic leader, cult founder, and self-declared monarch on Beaver Island, Michigan.Joined by...
Sidney Gottlieb Part 2: MK Ultra and the CIA's Insane Assassination Plots
James is joined once again by Jayne Friend for part two of our exploration of Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA chemist who led MK-Ultra, developed Cold War mind control experiments, and became involved in some of the agency's most controversial covert ...
Sidney Gottlieb Part 1: MK Ultra and the CIA's Search for Mind Control
Who was Sidney Gottlieb, and how did the CIA's MKUltra program attempt to use LSD and psychological warfare to create mind control during the Cold War?In Part One of this epic two-part episode, James is joined by Jayne Friend to explore ...
The Devils of Red Dead Redemption: How a Video Game Shines a Light on America's Dark History
What can a video game teach us about American history, morality, capitalism, race, violence, and the myth of the Wild West?This week, James is joined by Torre Olsen (author of
Andrew Jackson Part 2: Populist Politics, The Trail of Tears, and the Creation of the American Presidency
In part two of this double-episode on Andrew Jackson, James and Edd explore his rise to the presidency, his turbulent years in the White House, and the lasting impact of his populist politics on America.From the disputed election of 1824...
Andrew Jackson Part 1: The Rise of America's Most Violent President
This week, James (@historysdevils) is joined by Edd Mair (@eplmair) for a double episode on the life of Andrew Jackson, examining how the s...
William Joyce Part 2: The Making of "Lord Haw Haw", Hitler's Voice in Britain
In part two of this double episode on William Joyce, James Crossland and Jayne Friend explain how he became Lord Haw Haw, the infamous Nazi broadcaster who transmitted propaganda from Germany to Britain during the Second World War.James ...
William Joyce Part 1: How a British Patriot Became a Nazi Traitor
This double episode explores the life of William Joyce, better known as Lord Haw-Haw, the infamous Nazi propagandist who went from self-described British patriot to one of the most notorious collaborators of the Third Reich during World War II....
Kim Philby: Britain's Most Dangerous Spy Was Also A Terrible Human Being
In this episode, James is joined by Antonia Senior (author of Stalin’s Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire) to d...
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...