History's Devils

James Crossland

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.

  1. 2 days ago

    Grand Theft Auto's History of America: Gangs, Guns and Police Corruption

    In this episode of History’s Devils, James is joined by Bob Whitaker of the History Re-Spawned Podcast to explore the real American history behind the Grand Theft Auto video game series, focusing on how GTA depicts gang violence, the crack epidemic, police brutality, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, gun culture, corruption, capitalism, the War on Terror, and the changing American dream. The discussion traces the influence of Los Angeles gang culture, the Crips and Bloods, the availability of cheap firearms in poor neighbourhoods, the Rampart Scandal, Rodney King and the 1992 LA riots, all whilst considering how accurately Rockstar Games represents the history behind its fictional world. The conversation then moves to GTA V and its darker post-2008 worldview, exploring white-collar crime, capitalism, the financial crisis, private military companies, the War on Terror and torture before asking how Rockstar can possibly satirize Donald Trump’s America in the upcoming GTA VI.   Covered in this episode The origins of Grand Theft Auto: Bob Whitaker explains how London-born brothers Sam and Dan Houser, working at Scottish developer DMA Design, transformed the cops-and-robbers game Race and Chase into Grand Theft Auto in 1997, drawing heavily on American film and popular culture.Why GTA is so American: The episode explores Sam Houser’s observation that GTA depends on America’s distinctive combination of car culture, larger-than-life personalities and widespread guns, despite the series being created in the United Kingdom.GTA: San Andreas and 1990s Los Angeles: Set in the fictional state of San Andreas in 1992, the game recreates Los Angeles as Los Santos, alongside fictional versions of San Francisco and Las Vegas, while protagonist Carl “CJ” Johnson navigates gang warfare, crime, drugs and the pursuit of money.The Crips, Bloods and GTA’s fictional gangs: The Grove Street Families and Ballas are examined alongside the real-world Crips and Bloods, whose rivalry emerged in South-Central Los Angeles during the 1970s and reached a peak of violence during the crack era of the 1980s and 1990s.Hollywood, rap and the construction of gang culture: San Andreas is compared with films including Colors, Boyz n the Hood and Training Day, as well as music from N.W.A., Dr. Dre and Tupac, revealing how popular culture rather than conventional historical research shaped Rockstar’s depiction of 1990s Los Angeles.The crack epidemic and the CIA-Contra controversy: The discussion examines the crack cocaine epidemic in South-Central Los Angeles, the CIA’s support for the Nicaraguan Contras, the 1986 congressional investigation associated with John Kerry, and Gary Webb’s Dark Alliance, while noting that parts of the CIA-drug trafficking story remain contested.Guns, the Cold War and the post-1989 black market: The episode looks at the TEC-9, Uzi and AK-47 as symbols of the flood of cheap firearms into American markets following the Cold War, connecting GTA’s weapon arsenal to the economics of the global arms trade and American gun culture.Police corruption and the Rampart Scandal: Officer Frank Tenpenny, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, is compared with real LAPD corruption, particularly the Rampart Scandal and the testimony of Rafael Perez, while the episode considers Rockstar’s longstanding distrust of police and government authority.Rodney King and the 1992 Los Angeles riots: The game’s climactic riot is connected to the Rodney King beating, the acquittal of LAPD officers in the subsequent trial, the Watts truce between the Crips and Bloods, and the devastating unrest that swept Los Angeles in April and May 1992.GTA V and post-financial-crisis America: The discussion shifts to Michael, Trevor and Franklin, whose lives reflect a more cynical America shaped by the 2008 global financial crisis, white-collar crime, real-estate speculation, stock-market manipulation, technology culture and changing ideas about masculinity.The War on Terror, Blackwater and torture: GTA V’s fictional private security company Merryweather is compared with Blackwater, while Trevor’s torture sequence is discussed in relation to Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and the normalization of torture in popular culture through shows such as 24.GTA VI and the problem of satirizing Trump-era America: Bob Whitaker considers how Rockstar can satirize contemporary Florida, social media, influencers, Trump-era politics and American polarization when reality itself can seem like a Grand Theft Auto parody, particularly after Dan Houser’s departure from Rockstar in 2020 and with Lucia becoming a playable protagonist.  Mentioned in this episode James Crossland, Bob Whitaker, Sam Houser, Dan Houser, Raymond Washington, Stanley "Tookie" Williams, John Kerry, Gary Webb, Drew McKevitt, James Woods, Rafael Perez, Frank Tenpenny, Samuel L. Jackson, Eddie Pulaski, Chris Penn, Alan Pinkerton, Donald Trump, Donald Love, Lucia, Rodney King, Elliot Ness, Martin Scorsese, Denzel Washington, Kiefer Sutherland, Carl "CJ" Johnson, Big Smoke, Michael, Trevor, Franklin, N.W.A., Dr. Dre, Tupac, Blackwater, Merryweather, CIA, Contras, Sandinistas, Crips, Bloods, Grove Street Families, Ballas, LAPD, CRASH, GTA, Grand Theft Auto, GTA San Andreas, GTA V, GTA 6, GTA Vice City, Race and Chase, Rockstar Games, Rockstar North, DMA Design, Assassin's Creed, Sid Meier's Civilization, Hearts of Iron, Colors, Boyz n the Hood, Menace II Society, Training Day, Straight Outta Compton, Snowfall, Dark Alliance, Gun Country, 24, The Godfather, Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead 2, The Untouchables, Crack epidemic, crack cocaine, War on Drugs, CIA-Contra controversy, Iran-Contra era, gang violence, gang warfare, police brutality, police corruption, Rampart Scandal, Rodney King beating, 1992 Los Angeles riots, Watts Truce, O.J. Simpson trial, redlining, ghettos, gun culture, TEC-9, Uzi, AK-47, Cold War, fall of the Berlin Wall, post-Cold War gun market, American dream, capitalism, white-collar crime, real estate speculation, stock-market manipulation, 2008 global financial crisis, trickle-down economics, masculinity, War on Terror, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, government corruption, militarization of law enforcement, social media, influencers, Florida Man, Trump-era America, satire, American popular culture, American cinema, hip-hop culture, British views of America, physical media Chapters 00:00 — Grand Theft Auto and the Dark Side of the American Dream 01:00 — How GTA Became a History of America 02:51 — Bob Whitaker on Studying Video Games as History 04:52 — GTA San Andreas: 1990s Los Angeles, Gangs and Crime 07:36 — Sam and Dan Houser: British Developers Satirizing America 12:19 — The Crips, Bloods and Real-Life LA Gang Warfare 18:00 — Crack Cocaine, the CIA and the Los Angeles Drug Epidemic 23:32 — TEC-9s, AK-47s and America's Post-Cold War Gun Market 27:29 — Rodney King, Rampart and the 1992 LA Riots 39:23 — GTA V: Michael, Trevor, Franklin and Post-2008 America 44:44 — Blackwater, Torture and the War on Terror in GTA V 50:01 — GTA 6, Donald Trump, Florida and the Future of Satire 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

  2. 18 Aug

    The "Father" of Drones: Archibald Low and the Future of War

    James Crossland is joined by aerospace historian and author Mark Piesing – author of N-4 Down: The Hunt for the Arctic Airship Italia – to explore the extraordinary life and legacy of British inventor and “father of drones” Archibald Low (1888–1956), from his early experiments with television to his pioneering work on the First World War’s Aerial Target – one of the first full-size radio-controlled aircraft. The episode traces the development of unmanned aircraft through the interwar years, the Second World War, Operation Crossroads and the Cold War, while examining why Low faded from the development of the technology he helped pioneer. The conversation also asks what Low’s legacy means in the age of drone warfare, particularly after Ukraine’s use of cheap drones against Russian aircraft and air bases. James and Mark consider both sides of that legacy: drones can provide asymmetric military power and reduce risks to pilots, but remote warfare can also depersonalize conflict, make war easier to wage, and allow increasingly cheap weapons to be used against civilians and military targets alike.   Check out Mark’s work at: https://markpiesing.com/about/    Covered in this episode Archibald Low’s early life in Croydon: Born in 1888 to engineer John Low, young Archibald grew up around steam engines, shipping cranes, machinery and the Victorian engineering culture of his father’s workshop on the Thames.The technological world that shaped Low: The episode examines the arrival of the telephone, Marconi’s radio communications, powered vacuum cleaners, Willis Carrier’s air conditioning and the Wright brothers’ 1903 flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.Low the difficult inventor: His school years, experiments in his bedroom, disciplinary problems, studies at Central Technical College in South Kensington, and early engineering work reveal an intensely individualistic inventor who preferred teaching himself to following conventional rules.The inventions that anticipated the future: Low experimented with pre-selected gears, developed the Tele Vista as an early form of television, and later predicted technologies resembling mobile phones, fax machines, radio alarm clocks, automatic telephone redialling and portable music players.From television to radio-controlled weapons: After the outbreak of the First World War, Low joined the Royal Flying Corps/RAF and was directed toward military research, applying his television and radio-control ideas to unmanned aircraft.The Aerial Target of 1917: In March 1917, Low and a team of roughly 30 people produced the Aerial Target, a pilotless monoplane equipped with a radio receiver, gyroscopic controls and actuating gear, demonstrating that a full-size aircraft could be controlled remotely from the ground.The origins of drone warfare: The episode places Low in a much broader history of unmanned weapons, including Nikola Tesla’s 1898 radio-controlled torpedo boat, early radio-controlled airships, American inventor Charles Kettering’s Kettering Bug, and French experiments with pilotless aircraft.Drones between the world wars: After Low stepped away from military work, the Royal Aircraft Establishment continued developing radio-controlled aircraft, eventually producing the de Havilland Queen Bee for naval aerial gunnery practice, while American and French programmes explored increasingly sophisticated remotely controlled aircraft.Drones in the Second World War: The discussion covers radio-controlled aircraft, American drone programmes, the use of modified bombers as remotely controlled explosive weapons, the tragic death of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. during an experimental mission, and the development of drone technology for attacking heavily defended targets.Operation Crossroads and the nuclear age: At Bikini Atoll in 1946, remotely controlled Hellcats and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses were sent into nuclear mushroom clouds to collect scientific data, demonstrating a valuable role for drones in dangerous environments.Low's final years and predictions: Despite writing books such as It’s Bound to Happen and Electronics Everywhere, publishing Armchair Science and continuing to predict a technology-saturated future, Low became increasingly reclusive and died of lung cancer in 1956.The modern legacy of drone warfare: The episode connects Low's pioneering work to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, Azerbaijan’s use of Turkish and Israeli drones against Armenia, and the wider ethical question of whether remote warfare makes armed conflict cheaper, easier and more likely.  Mentioned in this episode Archibald Low, James Crossland, Mark Pising, John Lowe, Dominic Cummings, Bernard Montgomery, Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, Willis Carrier, Guillermo Marconi, Nikola Tesla, Charles Kettering, Lawrence Sperry, John Logie Baird, William Joyce, Lord Haw-Haw, Oswald Mosley, Reginald Denny, Marilyn Monroe, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Vladimir Putin, Osama bin Laden, History’s Devils, Aerial Target, father of drone warfare, radio guidance systems, radio-controlled weapons, drone warfare, unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, remotely piloted aircraft, mobile phones, television, Tele Vista, fax machines, radio alarm clocks, personal listening devices, Walkman, iPod, Armchair Science, Electronics Everywhere, Low Engineering Company, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, RAF, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Central Technical College, Croydon, London, River Thames, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, First World War, First World War aerial warfare, Second World War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Crimean War, Franco-Prussian War, Korean War, Battle of Midway, Operation Crossroads, Bikini Atoll, Operation Spiderweb, Tower 22 attack, Azerbaijan-Armenia war, Iranian-backed militia drone attack, First Blitz, Zeppelin raids, U-boats, U-boat bases, Western Front, German aircraft, V-weapons, V-1, V-2, Wasserfall, Me 262, Kettering Bug, de Havilland Queen Bee, Grumman Avenger, Flying Fortress, Liberator, Hellcat, radio-controlled airships, kamikaze drones, attack drones, drone swarms, cluster munitions, butterfly bomb, asymmetrical warfare, deterrence, hybrid warfare, hybrid navy, USVs, UAVs, saturation warfare, remote warfare, depersonalization of warfare, videogame warfare, artificial intelligence, AI, technological forecasting, futurism, military innovation, Revolution in Military Affairs, weapons innovation, autonomous warfare, drone ethics, technology and society, cheap weapons, technological accessibility, the future of war, the ethics of remote warfare, do drones make war easier to fight   Chapters 00:00 — Archibald Low: The Father of Drone Warfare  How a British inventor predicted mobile phones, television, remote warfare and other technologies of the future. 02:18 — Archibald Low: the Super Forecaster  Why Low’s 1920s predictions about technology were decades ahead of their time—and where his forecasting had limits. 04:40 — Low’s Childhood in Victorian Croydon  Growing up around his engineer father John Low’s machinery, steam engines and shipping cranes on the Thames. 06:03 — The Wright Brothers and the Birth of Low’s Drone Vision  How Wilbur and Orville Wright’s 1903 flight at Kill Devil Hills inspired Lowe’s interest in aviation and unmanned aircraft. 08:54 — The Tele Vista: Low Invents Television? Low’s early television experiments and his demonstration of electrically transmitted images before the First World War. 10:21 — World War I and the Aerial Target How Low’s RAF research turned radio-control technology into a pioneering pilotless aircraft. 16:18 — 1917: The First Full-Size Radio-Controlled Aircraft The Aerial Target takes flight, while the Kettering Bug and other British, French and American experiments reveal the wider origins of drone warfare. 20:59 — Drones After World War I: Queen Bee and Beyond How the Royal Aircraft Establishment, the de Havilland Queen Bee and American programmes continued developing remotely control 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

  3. 11 Aug

    Charles Manson Part 2: Helter Skelter? Understanding the Manson Family Murders

    In part two of our Charles Manson episode, James and Jayne discuss how the Manson Family spiralled out of control in the summer of 1969, leading to the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders. Picking up where the previous episode left off, this episode follows the Manson Family during their final months at Spahn Ranch as paranoia, drug use, violence and criminal activity escalated into murder. James and Jayne examine Charles Manson's failed pursuit of a music career through Beach Boys producer Terry Melcher, the murders of Gary Hinman, Sharon Tate and the LaBiancas, the controversial Helter Skelter motive, and the conspiracy theories that continue to surround the case. The episode also explores the sensational trial and muses on the question of why the Manson story continues to fascinate more than fifty years later. What's covered in this episode The deteriorating atmosphere at Spahn Ranch, where Charles Manson's followers became increasingly isolated while theft, drug dealing, assaults and paranoia became everyday life.How Manson's dream of becoming a rock star collapsed after Beach Boys producer Terry Melcher visited Spahn Ranch and rejected his music despite encouragement from Dennis Wilson.Why Manson believed he was destined for greatness and how his growing narcissism collided with reality after his failed audition.The escalation from petty crime to violence through the torture and murder of musician Gary Hinman, carried out after Manson believed he possessed money the Family desperately needed.How Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Bobby Beausoleil, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian and other Family members became central figures in the Manson Family's criminal activities.The attempted murder of Bernard "Lotsa Papa" Crowe, why Manson wrongly believed he had killed a member of the Black Panthers, and how this fuelled his growing paranoia about an impending race war.A detailed reconstruction of the Tate murders at 10050 Cielo Drive, including the deaths of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Parent.The following night's LaBianca murders, examining how Leno and Rosemary LaBianca became random victims as Manson ordered his followers to continue killing.Why messages including "Pig," "Death to Pigs" and "Helter Skelter" were written in blood at the crime scenes, and how they became central to the investigation.An exploration of the competing explanations for the murders, including Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter theory, the Terry Melcher revenge theory, the Gary Hinman distraction theory, and Tom O'Neill's CIA/MKUltra hypothesis.How Manson interpreted songs from The Beatles' White Album, including Helter Skelter, Piggies, Blackbird and Happiness Is a Warm Gun, as secret messages predicting an apocalyptic race war.The investigation that eventually connected the murders, beginning with police raids on Spahn Ranch and Barker Ranch, Susan Atkins' jailhouse confession, and the role of Linda Kasabian's testimony.Inside one of the most notorious criminal trials in American history, including Manson's courtroom behaviour, the Family's public demonstrations, the carving of the infamous forehead "X", and the convictions of Manson and his followers.Why the Charles Manson case continues to inspire documentaries, books and films including Helter Skelter, Charlie Says, Helter Skelter: An American Myth, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and whether any single explanation can truly account for the murders.Mentioned in this episode: Charles Manson, Manson Family, Spahn Ranch, Barker Ranch, Death Valley, Santa Susana Mountains, Los Angeles, Dennis Wilson, The Beach Boys, Terry Melcher, Roman Polanski, Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Parent, Leno LaBianca, Rosemary LaBianca, Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian, Bobby Beausoleil, Gary Hinman, Donald Shea, Bernard "Lotsa Papa" Crowe, Louise Van Houten, Vincent Bugliosi, Tom O'Neill, MKUltra, Project CHAOS, CIA, LSD, mescaline, peyote, Black Panthers, Helter Skelter, The Beatles, White Album, Piggies, Blackbird, Happiness Is a Warm Gun, Book of Revelation, apocalyptic race war, Cielo Drive, Tate murders, LaBianca murders, Gary Hinman murder, Helter Skelter theory, Terry Melcher revenge theory, Gary Hinman distraction theory, Hollywood, cult psychology, coercive control, groupthink, true crime, serial murder, criminal manipulation, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Charlie Says, Helter Skelter: An American Myth.   Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Charles Manson's Descent into Murder The story resumes at Spahn Ranch as the Manson Family becomes increasingly isolated, paranoid and criminal. 02:30 – Life at Spahn Ranch: Crime, Drugs and Groupthink How theft, drug dealing, violence and Charles Manson's growing control transformed the Family into a dangerous cult. 03:20 – Terry Melcher Rejects Charles Manson's Music Career The failed audition that shattered Manson's dreams of becoming a rock star after connections through Dennis Wilson and the Beach Boys. 09:35 – Gary Hinman, Donald Shea and the Family's First Murders The escalation from petty crime to torture and murder as the Manson Family embraced increasingly extreme violence. 15:20 – The Black Panthers, Bernard Crowe and the Birth of Helter Skelter How a drug deal, mistaken identity and Manson's paranoia fuelled his belief in an approaching race war. 20:20 – The Tate Murders: Sharon Tate and Cielo Drive A detailed reconstruction of the murders of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Parent. 26:20 – The LaBianca Murders and the Blood Messages Why Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were targeted, and the significance of the words "Pig," "Death to Pigs" and "Helter Skelter." 29:00 – Why Did Charles Manson Order the Murders? Breaking down the Helter Skelter theory, the Terry Melcher revenge theory, Tom O'Neill's CIA claims and the Gary Hinman connection. 38:00 – The Beatles, the White Album and Manson's Delusions How Manson twisted songs including Helter Skelter, Piggies, Blackbird and Happiness Is a Warm Gun into a violent prophecy. 51:45 – The Investigation, Arrests and the Trial of the Century How police connected the Tate, LaBianca and Gary Hinman cases, Susan Atkins' confession and Linda Kasabian's testimony. 1:02:30 – Convictions, Sentences and Charles Manson's Legacy The guilty verdicts, the death sentences that became life imprisonment, Manson's later years and his death in 2017. 1:03:30 – Why Charles Manson Still Fascinates Today From Helter Skelter and Charlie Says to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, why the Manson Family continues to captivate audiences more than fifty years later. 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

  4. 11 Aug

    Charles Manson Part 1: The Making of a Maniac and His Murderous "Family"

    For this episode, James is joined by the ever-game Jayne Friend to explore the early life of Charles Manson, how he built the Manson Family, his connections to the 1960s counterculture and his bizarre relationship with the Beach Boys James and Jayne trace Charles Manson's childhood, criminal career and repeated imprisonments before examining how his release into the social upheaval of late-1960s California shaped his rise as a cult leader. They discuss the influence of the hippie movement, Haight-Ashbury, Scientology, MKUltra conspiracy theories, and Manson's manipulation of vulnerable followers. The episode also explores Manson's surprising links to Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, Terry Melcher and the Los Angeles music scene, ending with the establishment of the Manson Family at Spahn Ranch before the murders that would make them infamous. Covered in this episode Charles Manson's childhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, including his troubled upbringing, absent father, alcoholic mother Ada Kathleen Maddox and early life of crime.Manson's years in juvenile detention, repeated prison sentences, marriages, and escalating criminal behaviour throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.The dramatic changes in America during Manson's imprisonment, including the Vietnam War protests, Civil Rights Movement, student activism and the rise of the hippie counterculture.How Haight-Ashbury became the centre of alternative lifestyles, free love and psychedelic culture, providing fertile ground for Manson's influence.The relationship between Manson, Scientology, psychiatrist Louis "Jolly" West, MKUltra and the conspiracy theories explored in Tom O'Neill's book Chaos.How Manson's experience as a pimp, manipulator and career criminal helped him recruit and control young followers.The backgrounds of key Manson Family members including Susan Atkins, Tex Watson, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel.The unusual chain of events that connected the Manson Family with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys and Hollywood's music scene.Charles Manson's ambitions to become a successful musician, his songwriting and the recording of "Cease to Exist," later released by the Beach Boys as "Never Learn Not to Love."Producer Terry Melcher, Cielo Drive and the significance these locations and relationships would later have in the Manson story.Why the Manson Family left Dennis Wilson's house after months of drugs, theft, parties and growing tensions.How Spahn Ranch became the headquarters of the Manson Family, allowing Charles Manson to build an isolated commune that would soon become one of America's most notorious cults.Mentioned in this episode Charles Manson, Charles Maddox, Ada Kathleen Maddox, William Manson, Walker Scott, Charles Manson Jr., Rosalie Jean Willis, Leona "Candy" Stevens, Diane Sawyer, Boys Town, Cincinnati, Ohio, Nebraska, Texas, New Mexico, San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury, Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr., Chicago riots, Richard Nixon, Cold War, Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, MKUltra, CIA, Louis "Jolly" West, LSD, Tom O'Neill, Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties, Manson Family, Susan Atkins, Tex Watson, Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel, Dennis Wilson, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, Terry Melcher, The Byrds, Cielo Drive, Malibu, Los Angeles, Spahn Ranch, George Spahn, Bonanza, The Lone Ranger, counterculture, hippie movement, free love, cults, manipulation, charismatic leadership, organised crime, prostitution, serial killers, true crime, American history, 1960s California. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Charles Manson and the Manson Family 03:48 Charles Manson's childhood in Cincinnati 06:00 Crime, juvenile detention and life in prison 13:05 America changes while Manson is incarcerated 17:45 Haight-Ashbury, Scientology and the counterculture 20:05 MKUltra, Louis "Jolly" West and conspiracy theories 25:25 Building the Manson Family 28:40 Susan Atkins, Tex Watson and key followers 34:40 Patricia Krenwinkel and recruiting vulnerable young people 37:30 Dennis Wilson, the Beach Boys and Charles Manson 45:30 Manson's music career and Terry Melcher 49:30 Spahn Ranch becomes the Manson Family headquarters 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

  5. 4 Aug

    Merchant of Death: Basil Zaharoff and the Origins of the First World War

    Who was Basil Zaharoff and how did he lay Europe's path to the First World War? This week, James Crossland is joined by military historian and Not So Quiet on the Western Front co-host Spencer Jones to examine the extraordinary life of Sir Basil Zaharoff, the mysterious international arms dealer whose influence stretched from the Ottoman Empire to Britain, Russia, Greece, Spain and Japan. The episode explores how Zaharoff built a fortune through fraud, bribery, political influence and weapons sales before becoming one of the most feared and infamous figures of the early twentieth century. Along the way, James and Spencer separate myth from reality, examining whether Zaharoff truly deserved his reputation as the "merchant of death" who profited from the arms race that culminated in the First World War. Covered in this episode The story of Zaharoff's disputed origins in the Ottoman Empire, his Greek heritage, early life in Constantinople, and a career built on fraud, aliases, bigamy and international scams.Claims that Zaharoff may have worked with early British intelligence while operating across London, New York and the eastern Mediterranean.How Zaharoff joined the Nordenfelt Arms Company through Thorsten Nordenfelt and entered the booming international arms trade.Why the Franco-Prussian War transformed European military thinking and sparked an international demand for revolutionary new weapons.The development of the Nordenfelt submarines, the failed Ottoman submarine programme, and the origins of the "Zaharoff System" of selling weapons to opposing sides.How Hiram Maxim's revolutionary Maxim Gun changed warfare, and the extraordinary lengths Zaharov went to sabotage competitors through deception and industrial espionage.The wider European arms race, including Britain's naval competition with Imperial Germany, the emergence of Dreadnought battleships, machine guns, submarines and new military technologies.Zaharoff's involvement in the Russo-Japanese War, alleged bribery in Russia and Spain, influence over military procurement, and his efforts to undermine rival inventors such as Isaac Peral.His investments in early aviation, ownership of French newspapers, and attempts to shape public opinion by encouraging fears of war before 1914.Spencer explains how the Maxim Gun transformed First World War tactics, contributing to trench warfare alongside barbed wire, artillery and defensive firepower, while also discussing Ernest Swinton's early ideas that led to the tank.The pair examine Zaharoff's political influence during the First World War, his relationship with David Lloyd George, his knighthood, post-war philanthropy, lasting influence on fictional villains including Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Tintin's Basil Bazaroff, and whether history should remember him as one of its greatest villains.Mentioned in this episode Basil Zaharoff, Sir Basil Zaharoff, James Crossland, Spencer Jones, Not So Quiet on the Western Front, First World War, Great War, Franco-Prussian War, Anglo-German naval arms race, Dreadnought battleships, Hiram Maxim, Maxim Gun, Nordenfelt Arms Company, Thorsten Nordenfelt, Nordenfelt submarine, Abdul Hamid submarine, Isaac Peral, Peral submarine, Gatling Gun, machine guns, submarines, tanks, Ernest Swinton, Maurice Dease, Sidney Godley, Battle of Mons, Battle of the Aisne, Battle of San Juan Hill, Russo-Japanese War, Battle of Tsushima, Port Arthur, Scramble for Africa, Sudan campaign, Mahdists, Zulu War, Ottoman Empire, Greek War of Independence, Greece, Turkey, Constantinople, Russia, Japan, Spain, France, Britain, Germany, David Lloyd George, Aristide Briand, King George V, Walter Guinness, Lord Derby, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Alfred von Tirpitz, Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Riders, H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds, The War in the Air, Ian Fleming, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Tintin, Hergé, Basil Bazaroff, Sherlock Holmes, Professor Moriarty, Guy Ritchie, Jared Harris, Robert Downey Jr., Belgravia, Monte Carlo, Vickers, Vickers Machine Gun, Vickers submarines, Wright brothers, aviation, aerial bombing, military technology, arms race, war profiteering, British intelligence, merchant of death, military-industrial complex, international arms trade, war profiteering, diplomacy, propaganda, imperialism, colonial warfare, trench warfare. Chapters 00:00 – Who was Basil Zaharoff? The world's most notorious arms dealer  03:30 – Fraud, bigamy and the making of an international conman  13:55 – Enter the arms trade: Nordenfelt and Europe's weapons boom  20:05 – Selling submarines and inventing the "Zaharoff System"  27:20 – The Maxim Gun and the future of modern warfare  36:10 – The Anglo-German naval arms race explained  43:10 – Russia, Japan, Spain and bribery in the global arms business  49:00 – Aviation, propaganda and preparing Europe for war  50:30 – How machine guns shaped the First World War battlefield  56:10 – Politics, Lloyd George and Zaharoff's wartime influence  1:00:30 – Knighthood, philanthropy and rewriting his legacy  1:03:00 – Was Basil Zaharoff history's ultimate merchant of death?   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

  6. 28 Jul

    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 The Devil's Horsemen: A Thousand Years of Conquest by Eurasian Steppe Horse Archers to separate fact from myth in the life, military campaigns and legacy of Attila the Hun during the final century of the Western Roman Empire. Attila the Hun is one of history's most famous conquerors, but much of what people believe about him comes from later Roman and Christian writers rather than contemporary evidence. As James and Jem show, there's mystery about who the Huns really were, how Eurasian steppe horse archers revolutionised warfare, why Attila became Rome's greatest enemy, and what actually happened during the legendary Battle of the Catalaunian Fields in 451 and Attila's famous meeting with Pope Leo I - events for which Attila became infamous, despite never conquering Rome.  Along the way, we cover the history of why Rome fell, the impact of the barbarian tribes on the frontier, and merits of the composite bow, the legend of Attila's magical "Sword of Mars" and why having a thick set of stone walls is an excellent way to stop a cavalry charge! What's covered in this episode Who Attila the Hun was, why he became known as the Scourge of God, and why modern historians still debate his life because almost every surviving source comes from Roman or Christian writers.How the Huns emerged from the Eurasian steppe, their possible origins near northern China, and why mounted horse archers dominated warfare across Europe and Asia for more than a thousand years.Why the Late Roman Empire looked very different from the Rome of Julius Caesar, including the Crisis of the Third Century, Emperor Diocletian's division of the Roman Empire, and the growing reliance on barbarian federate armies.How the Battle of Adrianople (378 AD) changed European history after Emperor Valens was killed fighting the Goths, whose migration into Roman territory had been driven by the advancing Huns.Why Constantinople's defensive walls protected the Eastern Roman Empire while the Western Roman Empire became increasingly vulnerable to invasion, eventually moving its capital from Rome to Ravenna.How Attila rose to power alongside Bleda, the campaigns of their uncle Ruga, the devastating Battle of the Utus River, and the huge tribute of gold extracted from Emperor Theodosius II.Why Hunnic armies repeatedly defeated larger Roman forces using composite bows, mounted archery, feigned retreats, mobility and psychological warfare instead of traditional battlefield tactics.What the contemporary diplomat Priscus of Panium reveals about Attila's court, including his appearance, leadership, nomadic lifestyle, diplomatic negotiations and the legend of the Sword of Mars.How Honoria's proposal to Attila, Pope Leo I's diplomatic meeting with the Hunnic ruler, and Attila's invasion of Gaul led to one of Late Antiquity's most famous battles.Why Flavius Aetius assembled a coalition of Romans, Visigoths, Franks, Burgundians and other allies to fight Attila at the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields (451 AD), often described as Rome's last great military victory.The competing theories surrounding Attila's death, the rapid collapse of Hunnic power after his passing, and why other leaders ultimately played a greater role in the final fall of the Western Roman Empire.Why Attila remains one of history's most misunderstood figures, how Hungary remembers him very differently from Western Europe, and how the Huns influenced medieval warfare, knighthood, the Silk Road and the wider history of Europe.Mentioned in this episode: Attila the Hun, Jem Duducu, James Crossland, The Devil's Horsemen: A Thousand Years of Conquest by Eurasian Steppe Horse Archers, Billy the Kid, Flavius Aetius, Late Roman Empire, Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Roman Empire, Crisis of the Third Century, Diocletian, Constantinople, Byzantium, Ravenna, Rome, Pannonia, Hungary, Danube River, Eurasian Steppe, Huns, Goths, Visigoths, Franks, Burgundians, Saxons, Lombards, Alans, Vandals, Magyars, Avars, Turks, Gokturks, Kipchaks, Naimans, Mongols, Genghis Khan, Timur (Tamerlane), Crusades, Silk Road, Great Wall of China, composite bow, longbow, horse archers, stirrup, spur, falconry, yurts, nomadic societies, barbarian migrations, federati, Battle of Adrianople, Emperor Valens, Battle of the Utus River, Theodosius II, Ruga, Bleda, Priscus of Panium, History of Byzantium, Sword of Mars, Thrace, Gaul, Orléans, Rhine frontier, Valentinian III, Honoria, Pope Leo I (Leo the Great), Battle of the Catalaunian Fields, Battle of Châlons, Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, Battle of Troyes, Alaric, Geseric, Odoacer, Romulus Augustulus, sack of Rome (410), sack of Rome (455), fall of the Western Roman Empire (476), Black Death, bubonic plague, Christian chroniclers, historical myth, historical memory, military history, steppe warfare, mounted warfare, Late Antiquity. Chapters 00:00 – Who was Attila the Hun? Separating history from myth 01:20 – The origins of the Huns and the Eurasian steppe 06:05 – Why Hunnic horse archers changed warfare forever 13:10 – Why the Roman Empire was collapsing before Attila 25:15 – How Attila became ruler of the Huns 28:35 – The military tactics that defeated Roman armies 35:05 – Inside Attila's court: Priscus, diplomacy and the Sword of Mars 41:05 – Honoria, Pope Leo I and Attila's invasion of Gaul 46:20 – The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields explained 51:20 – How Attila the Hun died and why his empire collapsed 54:20 – Why Hungary celebrates Attila the Hun today 58:00 – Did Attila really cause the fall of the Roman Empire? 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

  7. 21 Jul

    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 Peter Zablocki (History Shorts Podcast), James uncovers the shocking story of Strang’s transformation from a sickly but highly ambitious child in upstate New York into a lawyer, journalist, and self-proclaimed prophet who broke away from the early Latter Day Saint movement after the death of the founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith. The episode examines how Strang used a disputed letter allegedly naming him Smith’s successor to gain followers, before establishing his own religious offshoot, the Strangites, and relocating them to a remote frontier island in northern Michigan. There, he built a tightly controlled theocratic community that blended religion, law, and authoritarian rule. The discussion also covers how Strang escalated his authority into monarchy, crowning himself King of the Kingdom of Earth and Heaven in 1850, and how his rule over Beaver Island became increasingly violent and controlling, leading to violent conflicts with local fishermen, enforcement of strict moral and dress codes, the controversial introduction of polygamy, and clashes with U.S. authorities, all set against the broader backdrop of frontier populism and 19th-century American expansion. Covered in this episode: James Jesse Strang’s childhood in Scipio, New York, including illness, intellectual ambition, a coded diary, and early fantasies of monarchy, Napoleon, and political power Strang’s early careers as a lawyer, journalist, and Baptist preacher, alongside his self-described atheism and drive for status and authority The origins of Mormonism under Joseph Smith, including the angel Moroni, the golden plates, and the creation of the Book of Mormon as context for Strang’s later claims The 1844 killing of Joseph Smith and Hiram Smith in Carthage, Illinois, and the ensuing succession crisis within the early Mormon movement Strang’s disputed claim to leadership via a letter allegedly written by Joseph Smith naming him successor, supported by selective followers including members of Smith’s family Formation of the Strangite movement and break with Brigham Young’s main Mormon faction, which migrated west to establish Salt Lake City, Utah Establishment of the Voree community in Wisconsin, discovery of “bronze plates,” and publication of The Book of the Law of the Lord Relocation to Beaver Island, Michigan, where Strang founded St. James and created a frontier theocratic settlement Strang’s 1850 coronation as king, complete with crown, scepter, and ceremonial loyalty pledges from followers Escalating authoritarian governance on Beaver Island, including flogging, banishment, taxation, public punishment, and strict control of dress and behavior Conflicts with local non-Mormon fishermen and loggers, including accusations of piracy, violence, and interference with mail delivery Introduction of controversial religious practices such as polygamy, baptism for the dead, and ritual animal sacrifice Strang’s brief but significant political career as a Michigan state representative and his use of populist rhetoric about frontier independence and eastern elites His eventual assassination in 1856 on Beaver Island, followed by the collapse of his kingdom and the dispersal of his followers The survival of the Strangite movement into the modern era in small communities in Wisconsin and Michigan Mentioned in this episode: James Jesse Strang, History’s Devils, James Crossland, Peter Zablocki, Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Brigham Young, Mormonism, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Strangites, Angel Moroni, golden plates, Book of Mormon, Voree plates, Book of the Law of the Lord, Beaver Island, St. James settlement, Michigan state legislature, 1844 Mormon succession crisis, Carthage jail killings, polygamy, theocracy, frontier populism, Andrew Jackson, USS Michigan, Lake Michigan frontier, United States mail system, Wingfield W. Watson, Thomas Bedford assassination of Strang Chapters:  00:00 James Jesse Strang and the making of a self-proclaimed king  01:18 Introduction to History’s Devils and Strang’s legend  02:06 Early life in Scipio, New York and ambitions of power  03:33 The coded diary and early visions of monarchy  05:07 Early careers: law, journalism, and Baptist preaching  07:18 Atheism, ambition, and conversion to Mormonism  08:45 Joseph Smith, golden plates, and the origins of Mormonism  10:29 Persecution of Mormons and Joseph Smith’s death  12:07 Strang’s claim as successor and leadership crisis  14:36 Voree Plates and angelic revelation in Wisconsin  16:04 Formation of the Strangite movement and break from Brigham Young  17:26 Voree community and the Book of the Law of the Lord  22:51 Migration to Beaver Island and founding of St. James  25:57 Strang’s coronation as King of Beaver Island  27:45 Governing Beaver Island and rising conflict with locals  31:31 Mail interference and federal attention  35:48 Political career, trial, and public legitimacy  37:33 Laws, newspapers, and authoritarian rule on Beaver Island  41:25 Polygamy, marriage rules, and internal tensions  48:30 Violence, assassination plot, and federal involvement  49:50 Assassination of James Jesse Strang aboard the USS Michigan  54:19 Collapse of Beaver Island and Strangite legacy  #americanhistory #mormonism #jamesjessestrang 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

  8. 14 Jul

    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 operations. This episode continues to story of Gottlieb's obsessions with LSD and psychological warfare, whilst covering his involvement in CIA assassination plots against Patrice Lumumba and Fidel Castro. James and Jayne examine how the lack of oversight drove MK-Ultra's unethical human experimentation into new and darker places, why MK-Ultra ultimately failed, the mysterious death of Frank Olson, and how Gottlieb escaped criminal prosecution before retiring to live the life of a wandering hippy and humanitarian. They also ponder MK-Ultra's legacy into the War on Terror. What's covered in this episode The career of George White and Operation Midnight Climax, where prostitutes secretly dosed clients with LSD whilst White watched from behind a one-way mirrorThe death of CIA scientist Frank Olson after he was secretly given LSD, the controversy surrounding his fall from a New York hotel window, and later evidence suggesting foul play.Gottlieb's role in developing concealed poisons, suicide devices and assassination methods for covert CIA operations during the Cold War.CIA plots to assassinate Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba using botulinum toxin, poison kits and other covert methods.The extraordinary range of proposed assassination attempts against Fidel Castro, including contaminated cigars, exploding seashells, poisoned diving equipment, beard-removal schemes and LSD-based disinformation plans.Why MKUltra was shut down in 1973, Gottlieb's destruction of thousands of CIA records, and how surviving files exposed the programme during the Church Committee and the Kennedy Inquiry.Gottlieb's testimony before congressional investigations and his successful negotiation for immunity, leading to his retirement to a farm in Virginia.The long-term legacy of MK-Ultra, its influence on debates about interrogation, intelligence oversight and ethics, and comparisons with CIA interrogation methods during the War on Terror. Mentioned in this episode Sidney Gottlieb, MKUltra, Project Bluebird, Project Artichoke, Allen Dulles, Frank Olson, George White, Operation Midnight Climax, LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, truth serum, mind control, brainwashing, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, behavioural psychology, chemical warfare, biological warfare, CIA, OSS, Cold War, Korean War, Soviet Union, China, North Korea, prisoner of war brainwashing, Camp King, Nazi scientists, Francis Gary Powers, U-2 Incident, saxitoxin, botulinum toxin, Patrice Lumumba, Congo Crisis, Belgian Congo, Larry Devlin, Fidel Castro, Cuba, Cuban Revolution, Dwight D. Eisenhower, exploding cigars, exploding seashell, thallium salts, Church Committee, Frank Church, Edward Kennedy, Stansfield Turner, Jimmy Carter, CIA oversight, assassination plots, covert operations, human experimentation, ethics in intelligence, War on Terror, Abu Zubaydah, enhanced interrogation, waterboarding, CIA black sites, psychological warfare. Chapters 00:00 — Sidney Gottlieb: The CIA's Master of MK-Ultra 05:10 — Why the CIA Became Obsessed with Mind Control 10:45 — LSD, Truth Serums and the Birth of MK-Ultra 17:35 — Operation Midnight Climax and Secret CIA Safe Houses 24:40 — Frank Olson: The Scientist Who Fell from a Hotel Window 32:20 — CIA Poisons, Saxitoxin and Covert Assassination Weapons 38:10 — The CIA Plot to Kill Patrice Lumumba 42:00 — Fidel Castro and the CIA's Strangest Assassination Plans 48:00 — The Collapse of MK-Ultra and the Destruction of the Files 53:00 — The Church Committee, Congressional Investigations and Immunity 58:30 — Did MK-Ultra Influence the War on Terror? 1:03:30 — Sidney Gottlieb's Legacy and the Dark History of CIA Experiments  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

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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    James Crossland
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 History's Devils
  • Show Website
    History's Devils

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