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History's Devils

James Crossland

What makes someone evil?


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 legacy of a terrible person from history, sorting through myths to examine the facts behind their reputation and to judge just how wicked they truly were.


Hosted by Professor James Crossland, HISTORY'S DEVILS covers dictators, tyrants, war criminals, cult leaders, revolutionaries, con-artists, conspiracy theorists and just plain terrible people, combining deep research with compelling storytelling to reveal the darker side of human history.


A show for fans of dark history, historical biographies and in-depth explorations of  people who changed the world for better - or for worse.


All the devils are here. And we are ready to tell their stories.


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  • 23 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • #16
    May 26 · 1 hr

    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 LaVey. This episode explores the origins of LaVey’s church and how his philosophy challenged traditional religion, focusing on libertarian personal freedom and the rejection of societal norms. This episode also examines the wave of fear known as the Satanic Panic, which fuelled widespread misinformation about Satanism and the occult during the 1980s, persisting into the era of QAnon and Pizzagate. Finally, we look at how an unexpected consequence of the panic was the founding of the The Satanic Temple – a progressive advocacy group that promotes empathy, tolerance and other very non-evil things. For anyone into American cultural history, religious history and the occult or, if you’ve ever asked yourself the question: What is Satanism really about? This episode is for you! #satanism Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

    • Transcript
  • #15
    May 19 · 1 hr 4 min

    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" of the 1880s - often described as the first “war on terror.” Joined by Gillian O'Brien (author of The Darkness Echoing: Ireland's Places of Famine, Death and Rebellion), James explains how Irish republican groups like the Clan Na Gael and Irish Republican Brotherhood carried out bombing campaigns in Britain, bringing political violence to the heart of the London. Learn how advances in explosives like dynamite - invented by Alfred Nobel of peace prize fame - changed the nature of asymmetrical warfare and terrorism, creating fear, media frenzy, and new policing tactics. We break down key events, targets, and the debates within the Irish independence movement over the morality of terrorism. This episode also examines how the British government responded with informers, spies and the development of the world's first bomb squad! Perfect for listeners interested in history podcasts, Irish history, terrorism studies, political violence, and Victorian Britain, this episode provides deep insight into a forgotten conflict that helped shape modern ideas of terrorism and state response. Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a history podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

    • Transcript
  • #14
    May 12 · 1 hr 6 min

    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 who became a legendary figure wrapped in folklore, media exaggeration, and historical debate – Billy the Kid. Tracing the story of Billy’s criminal career and involvement in the Lincoln County War, we discuss how Hollywood films and pop culture transformed a young outlaw into a Wild West icon, generating the myth that he somehow survived his deadly encounter with the lawman Pat Garrett in 1881, and went on to live into the 1950s as a mysterious drifter and adventurer named Brushy Bill Roberts. This episode is perfect for fans of true crime, American history, film history and Wild West legends. Whether you're curious about outlaw myths, frontier justice, or the real story behind Billy the Kid, you’ll discover surprising facts, historical insights, and the truth behind the legend. Check out Jem’s book – The History of the Western Movie Follow Jem @jemduducu Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a history podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

    • Transcript
Showing 21–23 of 23 episodes