Behind the Bastards
Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
SummaryBehind the Bastards is a deep dive into the worst people in history and the systems that allowed them to thrive. Hosted with a mix of sharp wit, meticulous research, and a healthy dose of cynicism, the show peels back the layers of history’s most infamous dictators, grifters, and ideologues to reveal how they shaped our modern world. Whether exploring the brutal rise of Uday Hussein, the origins of white supremacist regimes in Rhodesia, or the dangerous mechanisms of far-right influencers, the podcast refuses to settle for simple morality plays. Instead, the show highlights how ordinary people are conditioned by their environments, how fear is monetized for political gain, and how easily even the most educated among us can be swindled by pseudoscience or elaborate hoaxes. From the lethal consequences of fraudulent technology to the historical roots of modern-day xenophobia and sectarianism, the episodes bridge the gap between long-forgotten archives and current headlines. It is a show that values context over sensationalism, constantly reminding listeners that the monsters we fear aren't just figures in a textbook, but products of structural instability and human vulnerability. If you are interested in the dark, weird, and frequently absurd mechanics of power, this podcast offers an essential, often unsettling look at the people who have done the most damage to our shared reality.
Updated Jul 7, 2026
Episodes
Part One: The Worst Team Owner in FIFA History: Uday Hussein
Uday Hussein ran Iraq’s national football team by keeping a literal torture dungeon for underperforming players.
It Could Happen Here Weekly 239
Far-right agitators fueled by xenophobic media framing sparked riots in Belfast, provoking a massive community backlash.
Part Two: Elizabeth Dilling: The Original Candace Owens
Elizabeth Dilling pioneered the modern far-right grift by weaponizing anti-communist paranoia for profit and influence.
Part One: Elizabeth Dilling: The Original Candace Owens
Explore the origins of American fascist propaganda through the life of Elizabeth Dilling, the OG far-right influencer.
It Could Happen Here Weekly 238
Five men were arrested for plotting a failed terrorist attack on a Trump-hosted UFC event at the White House.
Part Two: Ian Smith: The Prime Minister of Rhodesia
Ian Smith and his white supremacist party fight to maintain colonial control as Rhodesia nears its inevitable collapse.
Part One: Ian Smith: The Prime Minister of Rhodesia
Discover the rise of Ian Smith, the architect of Rhodesia’s illegal, white-supremacist state in southern Africa.
It Could Happen Here Weekly 237
The Dominican Republic immigration system functions as a proxy for US border policy, fueling systemic human abuse.
Part Two: The Fake Bomb Detector Grift That Killed Hundreds
A fraudulent plastic box marketed as a high-tech bomb detector scammed schools and police into buying empty shells.
Part One: The Fake Bomb Detector Grift That Killed Hundreds
The idiomotor effect explains how a fake bomb detector con fooled global experts and led to hundreds of deaths.
It Could Happen Here Weekly 236
A deep dive into former Border Patrol official Greg Pavvino and his alliance with European neo-Nazis.
Part Two: The Rise of the "Activist" Investor
Bill Ackman transforms from corporate raider to activist investor, only to tank JC Penney with his failed Apple clone.
Part One: The Rise of the "Activist" Investor
Activist investors use their wealth to force corporate changes that prioritize quick profits over worker stability.
It Could Happen Here Weekly 235
The historical push to conquer nature and kill off bear populations continues today through calls for revenge killings.
Part Two: Mark Fuhrman: The Most Racist Cop, or Merely Normal Racist Cop?
Mark Fuhrman was not a lone bad apple but a symptom of the systemic racism and misogyny entrenched within the LAPD.
Part One: Mark Fuhrman: The Most Racist Cop, or Merely Normal Racist Cop?
Before becoming the face of LAPD corruption, Mark Fuhrman was a deeply insecure man LARPing as a classic movie cop.
It Could Happen Here Weekly 234
Vancouver electrolysis workers talk about unionizing their clinic to protect gender-affirming care for the trans community.
Part Three: The Orgasm Cult
OneTaste leveraged Silicon Valley wealth and media complicity to transform a sex cult into a high-end tech business.
Part Two: The Orgasm Cult
The Welcome Consensus used high-priced sexual seminars and psychological abuse to trap followers in a violent cult.
It Could Happen Here Weekly 233
A deep dive into the Trump administration's weaponized investigations and voter roll purges aimed at election officials.
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