History's Devils

James Crossland
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  • History

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.

  1. 4d ago

    Calculating Crusader or Bloody-Minded Bandit? Reynald de Châtillon and the Fall of Jerusalem

    This week, James Crossland is joined by Nicholas Morton (Author of The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East) to discuss the life and times of the most notorious crusader of his age, Reynald de Châtillon. From his arrival in the Crusader States in the 1150s through to his imprisonment by Nur-al-Din and his increasingly provocative attacks against Saladin, James and Nic explore the violent ambition that drove Reynald and ponder the question of whether his rivalry with Saladin and refusal to stop attacking his possessions can be blamed for the disastrous Battle of Hattin in 1187, the fall of Jerusalem that followed and the subsequent collapse of the Christian Crusader States. Can one man’s recklessness really have changed the history of the Middle East? Or was there more to Reynald than meets the eye?    Covered in this episode Reynald's rise in Antioch — Reynald becomes ruler of the Principality of Antioch through his marriage to Constance of Antioch, navigating Byzantine power, local politics and warfare on the Crusader frontier. The Byzantine conflict and Manuel I Komnenos — Reynald's relationship with Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos reveals how alliances between Byzantines, Franks and Muslim powers could shift according to political circumstances. Fifteen years in captivity — Reynald is captured during frontier warfare and taken to Aleppo, where he spends roughly 15 years as a prisoner of Nur al-Din, raising questions about aristocratic captivity and how imprisonment shaped his later character. Release and political reinvention — After Nur al-Din's death and the rise of Saladin, Reynald is released in 1176, loses his position in Antioch and establishes a new power base in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Kerak, Montréal and Transjordan — Through his marriage to Stephanie de Milly, Reynald gains control of strategically important territories and castles in Transjordan, including Kerak and Montréal, from which he can dominate major trade and pilgrimage routes. Saladin and the Battle of Montgisard — Reynald helps Baldwin IV of Jerusalem defeat Saladin at Montgisard in 1177, beginning a bitter rivalry between the two men. Caravan warfare and the Red Sea raids — Reynald attacks caravans crossing Transjordan and launches an extraordinary expedition in which ships are transported across the desert to the Gulf of Aqaba, before raiding Red Sea shipping and threatening Muslim pilgrimage routes. The politics of the Kingdom of Jerusalem — The episode examines the rivalry between Raymond III of Tripoli and Guy of Lusignan, showing why Crusader politics cannot be reduced to two simple factions. The truce and the road to war — Reynald's attack on a merchant caravan violates the truce with Saladin and helps trigger the final confrontation between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and Saladin. The Battle of Hattin, 1187 — Saladin uses superior strategy, control of water and heavily armoured troops to halt the Crusader army's advance toward Tiberias, producing one of the most devastating defeats in Crusader history. Reynald's execution and the fall of Jerusalem — Captured at Hattin alongside Guy of Lusignan, Reynald is executed by Saladin, while Saladin's army subsequently captures Jerusalem in October 1187. Was Reynald responsible for the collapse of the Crusader States? — The episode challenges the traditional interpretation of Reynald as the man who caused the Crusader States' downfall, instead emphasizing Saladin's military expertise, political pressures and the wider structural causes of the collapse.  Mentioned in this episode Reynald de Châtillon, Raynald, Nicholas Morton, James, Constance of Antioch, Baldwin III of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, Baldwin of Antioch, Baldwin of Hungary, Manuel I Komnenos, Nur al-Din, Saladin, Guy of Lusignan, Raymond III of Tripoli, Richard I of England, Stephanie de Milly, King of Hungary, Byzantine Empire, Principality of Antioch, Kingdom of Jerusalem, Crusader States, Aleppo, Damascus, Egypt, Syria, Antioch, Transjordan, Kerak, Montréal, Jerusalem, Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Mecca, Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, East Africa, Bosra, Montgisard, Battle of Montgisard, Battle of Hattin, Third Crusade, Crusades, First Crusade, jihad, Muslim-Christian alliances, Bedouin alliances, Byzantine-Frankish relations, medieval captivity, aristocratic imprisonment, caravan warfare, trade routes, pilgrimage routes, Red Sea raids, naval warfare, desert warfare, Crusader politics, factional politics, chivalry, military strategy, fighting march formation, waterless warfare, Saladin's military strategy, Reynald as bandit or strategist, the causes of the fall of the Crusader States, the fall of Jerusalem, whether Reynald caused the collapse of the Crusader States, Christians versus Muslims, political alliances of convenience Chapters 00:00 — Reynald de Châtillon: The Making of a Crusader War Lord 05:30 — Constance of Antioch, Byzantium and Reynald's Rise to Power 12:00 — Manuel I Komnenos and the Politics of the Crusader States 18:30 — Reynald's Capture and 15 Years of Captivity in Aleppo 27:00 — Why Was Reynald Released by Nur al-Din's Successors? 34:00 — Kerak, Montréal and Reynald's New Power Base in Transjordan 40:00 — Saladin vs Reynald: The Battle of Montgisard, 1177 46:00 — Reynald's Caravan Raids and the Red Sea Expedition 52:00 — Guy of Lusignan, Raymond of Tripoli and Crusader Politics 57:00 — The Road to Hattin: Reynald, Saladin and the 1187 Crisis 1:03:00 — The Battle of Hattin and Reynald's Execution by Saladin 1:10:00 — Did Reynald Cause the Fall of the Crusader States? 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  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

  2. Sep 8

    Claus von Stauffenberg and the Plot to Kill Hitler: The German Resistance Reconsidered

    On this week’s episode of History’s Devils, we’re asking a difficult question – how do you find the devil in a hero? We’re talking about Claus von Stauffenberg, the man who on 20 July 1944, tried to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Sounds like a good guy, right? But, 80 years on from the end of the Second World War, questions remain about the backgrounds and motivations of Stauffenberg and the German resistance of which he was a part. James Crossland is joined by Roger Moorhouse, author of Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U-Boat War to examine Stauffenberg's background, political beliefs, military career, and role in Operation Valkyrie – the plot to kill Hitler and neutralise the Nazi government. From his aristocratic upbringing to his service in Poland, France, and North Africa – where he received the devastating wounds that transformed his relationship with the Nazi regime – this episode explores Stauffenberg’s journey to his destiny in 1944 and the failed earlier German resistance conspiracies of 1938 and 1943. Along the way, Roger and James discuss why so many members of the resistance hesitated to assassinate Hitler or take decisive action against the Nazi state, they question Stauffenberg’s legacy as an unsullied German hero and explain the complicated motivations of the German resistance to Hitler. It’s a thought-provoking episode which, as an added bonus, talks a lot about killing Hitler!   Covered in this episode Stauffenberg's conventional heroic image as the maimed German officer who attempted to kill Adolf Hitler and use Operation Valkyrie to overthrow the Nazi regime and negotiate peace with the Allies.The 2008 film Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise, and whether its portrayal of Stauffenberg as an uncomplicated action hero obscures the political and moral complexities of the historical figure.Stauffenberg's aristocratic upbringing, involvement in the Wandervogel movement and enlistment in the Reichswehr cavalry in 1926.Stauffenberg's conservative aristocratic worldview, the Treaty of Versailles, the First World War, the Spartacist uprising, the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, and his attitude toward Hitler and the Nazi movement during the 1920s and early 1930s.Why 1938 became a crucial year for German opposition to Hitler, including the Beck-Oster conspiracy, the Sudetenland crisis, the Munich Agreement, Neville Chamberlain, Édouard Daladier, Benito Mussolini, and Hitler's subsequent destruction of the Munich settlement through the occupation of the Czech lands in March 1939.The contrasts between Stauffenberg and Henning von Tresckow, whose opposition began after the 1934 Night of the Long Knives and the murder of his former superior Ferdinand von Bredow, leading to a consistent belief that Hitler was a criminal who had to be removed and killed.The weaknesses of the German resistance and the approaches to resistance taken by Hans Oster and Carl Goerdeler. The reluctance to use violence, unrealistic hopes of preserving Nazi territorial gains, and the difficulty of reconciling different visions ranging from socialism to monarchism.Tresckow's attempts to kill Hitler, including the bomb disguised as a brandy bottle smuggled onto Hitler's aircraft at Smolensk and the planned suicide attack by Christoph von Gersdorff using explosives during an exhibition of captured Soviet weapons.Stauffenberg's transformation in North Africa, where he lost his right hand, fingers on his left hand, and his right eye.Stauffenberg and Tresckow’s modification of the existing Valkyrie emergency plan so the German Reserve Army could seize control of key institutions, disarm the SS and Gestapo, and launch a coup after Hitler's assassination.Why Stauffenberg's bomb failed – his difficulty arming the explosives with his injured hands, the discarded second charge and the briefcase bomb being moved behind a massive oak table support.The collapse of the coup and Stauffenberg's legacy as a post-war German hero.  Mentioned in this episode:  Claus von Stauffenberg, Adolf Hitler, James Crossland, Roger Moorhouse, Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, Operation Valkyrie, 20 July 1944, German resistance, German military resistance, Third Reich, Second World War, World War II, First World War, World War I, Treaty of Versailles, Reichswehr, Wehrmacht, Reserve Army, SS, Gestapo, Nazi Party, Nazi Germany, Operation Torch, Operation Barbarossa, Operation Bagration, D-Day, Holocaust, Holocaust by bullets, Einsatzgruppen, Polish campaign of 1939, occupation of Czechoslovakia, Sudetenland, Munich Crisis, Munich Agreement, Night of the Long Knives, Beer Hall Putsch, Spartacist uprising, Reichstag fire, Beck-Oster conspiracy, Henning von Tresckow, Hans Oster, Ludwig Beck, Hans Gisevius, Carl Goerdeler, Ferdinand von Bredow, Christoph von Gersdorff, Schlabrendorff, Werner von Haeften, Friedrich Fromm, Colonel Brandt, Frank Mason MacFarlane, Neville Chamberlain, Édouard Daladier, Benito Mussolini, Erich Ludendorff, Hermann Göring, Heinrich Himmler, Paul von Hindenburg, Stefan George, Winston Churchill, Emperor Hirohito, Kreisau Circle, Abwehr, German aristocracy, German nationalism, German conservatism, German racism, antisemitism, anti-Nazism, assassination of Hitler, resistance to Hitler, military coup, coup d'état, Operation Valkyrie conspiracy, Hitler oath, unconditional obedience, Wehrmacht oath, moral revolt, saviour complex, post-war German memory, German national identity, usable history, German resistance memorialization, Bendlerblock, Wolfsschanze, Wolf's Lair, Smolensk, Rastenburg, East Prussia, Poland, France, North Africa, Silesia, Berlin, Munich, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Rhineland, Soviet Union, Eastern Front, Western Front, Kulturkampf, Kaiserreich, Weimar Republic, democracy, monarchy, aristocratic nationalism, German military tradition, 20 July plot bomb, assassination attempts against Hitler, German surrender, Allied peace negotiations, Nazi war crimes, Polish Jews, concentration camps.   Chapters 00:00 — Claus von Stauffenberg: Hero, Villain or Something More Complicated? 04:02 — Valkyrie: Tom Cruise and the Hollywood Stauffenberg 05:46 — Stauffenberg's Aristocratic German Upbringing 08:26 — German Nationalism, the Reichswehr and Hitler's Rise 12:58 — The Munich Crisis and the 1938 Beck-Oster Plot 16:11 — Henning von Tresckow and the Night of the Long Knives 18:26 — Hans Oster, British Skepticism and the German Resistance 23:20 — Why the German Resistance Was So Divided and Passive 29:46 — Tresckow's 1943 Assassination Attempts Against Hitler 37:06 — Stauffenberg's War, North Africa and His Wounding 39:13 — The Hitler Oath and Stauffenberg's Turn Against the Regime 49:47 — Operation Valkyrie and the 20 July 1944 Bomb Plot 54:50 — Why Stauffenberg Failed to Kill Hitler 1:00:34 — The Collapse of the Coup, Stauffenberg's Execution and His Legacy 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  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

  3. Sep 1

    Timothy McVeigh Part 2: The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Re-Shaping of America's Far-Right

    In part two of the Timothy McVeigh episode, James is joined once again by Craig Johnson, host of 15 Minutes of Fascism, to explain how the Oklahoma City bombing was planned and executed. James and Craig also break down the means by which Tim McVeigh and his co-conspirator, Terry Nichols were captured, before assessing the dark legacy of the bombing and the impact it had on America's far-right far-right movements, anti-government extremists and white supremacists, shaping the practices of everyone from the Boogaloo movement to the January 6 rioters.  For anyone who wants to makes sense of far-right political violence in the year 2026, this is a can't miss episode!  Covered in this episode The planning of the Oklahoma City bombing with Terry Nichols, the symbolic selection of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the influence of The Turner Diaries on the attack itself.How McVeigh built the fertilizer bomb, chose 19 April 1995 to coincide with Waco and Lexington and Concord, and carried out the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history before 9/11.McVeigh's arrest, the evidence linking him to the bombing, his trial, execution and insistence that the bombing was an act of war rather than murder.Why McVeigh failed to spark the revolution imagined in The Turner Diaries and how the FBI crackdown transformed the American militia movement during the late 1990s.The continuing legacy of McVeigh, The Turner Diaries, Richard Spencer, the alt-right, the Boogaloo movement, January 6 and the enduring evolution of far-right extremist violence.Mentioned in this episode:  Timothy McVeigh, Craig Johnson, James Crossland, 15 Minutes of Fascism, Tate brothers, Oklahoma City bombing, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Lockport, Buffalo, Bill McVeigh, Mildred "Mickey" McVeigh, Ed McVeigh, Second Amendment, Cold War, Soviet Union, The Turner Diaries, William Luther Pierce, National Alliance, George Lincoln Rockwell, American Nazi Party, white nationalism, neo-fascism, Aryan Nations, Christian Identity Movement, anti-Semitism, globalism, New World Order conspiracy theories, Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, The Spotlight, Ku Klux Klan, National Rifle Association (NRA), Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Green Berets, Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver, Vicki Weaver, Idaho, FBI, ATF, Waco siege, Branch Davidians, David Koresh, Seventh-day Adventists, Jonestown, Guyana, Terry Nichols, Decker Michigan, Michigan militia movement, Elohim City, Christian nationalism, leaderless resistance, Louis Beam, accelerationism, Janet Reno, Lon Horiuchi, Walter Smith, Lexington and Concord, American Revolution, fertilizer bomb, improvised explosive device (IED), domestic terrorism, terrorism, extremist radicalization, conspiracy theories, Oklahoma City bombing investigation, Southern Poverty Law Center, Ramszi Yousef, 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Al-Qaeda, John Doe No. 2, Felice Orsini, Richard Spencer, alt-right, Boogaloo Boys, Dylan Roof, Orlando nightclub shooting, January 6 Capitol attack, Day of the Rope, Dollar General shooting, political violence, white supremacist terrorism, anti-government extremism, terrorist spectaculars Chapters 1:00 — Why Timothy McVeigh decided to commit an act of terrorism  1:11 — Planning the Oklahoma City bombing with Terry Nichols  1:19 — 19 April 1995: The Oklahoma City bombing unfolds  1:26 — Arrest, trial and Timothy McVeigh's justification for mass murder  1:39 — From Oklahoma City to the alt-right: McVeigh's enduring legacy  1:46 — The Turner Diaries, January 6 and the evolution of modern extremism 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  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

  4. Sep 1

    Timothy McVeigh Part 1: From Gun-Loving Loner to America's Most Notorious Terrorist

    This week's episodes explores how Timothy McVeigh became the Oklahoma City bomber, tracing his path from disillusioned Gulf War veteran to the deadliest domestic terrorist in American history, while examining the far-right movements, anti-government extremism and white supremacist ideology that shaped his radicalization. For this epic two-parter, James is joined by Craig Johnson, host of 15 Minutes of Fascism, to examine McVeigh's life, beliefs and legacy. Together they unpack the influence of The Turner Diaries, the impact of Ruby Ridge and the Waco siege, the culture of 1990s militia movements, and the concept of "leaderless resistance" that helped shape modern far-right terrorism. The conversation also explores how McVeigh's ideas continue to echo through contemporary extremist movements, from the Boogaloo movement to the January 6 rioters  For anyone who wants to makes sense of far-right political violence in the year 2026, this is a can't miss episode!  Covered in this episode McVeigh's childhood in Lockport, New York, his relationship with his father Bill McVeigh and grandfather Ed, and how firearms, Cold War fears and survivalist thinking shaped his worldview.The influence of The Turner Diaries, William Luther Pierce, the National Alliance and the American white supremacist movement on McVeigh's political radicalization.How conspiracy theories about globalism, anti-Semitism, white nationalism and anti-government ideology intersected within the American far-right during the late twentieth century.McVeigh's military career, service in the Gulf War, attempted Green Beret selection and growing disillusionment with the US government after combat.His immersion in gun shows, militia networks, extremist publications, Rush Limbaugh, anti-government propaganda and the concept of leaderless resistance.Why Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver and the siege at Waco became defining moments for anti-government extremists and convinced McVeigh that violent retaliation was justified. Mentioned in this episode:  Timothy McVeigh, Craig Johnson, James Crossland, 15 Minutes of Fascism, Tate brothers, Oklahoma City bombing, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Lockport, Buffalo, Bill McVeigh, Mildred "Mickey" McVeigh, Ed McVeigh, Second Amendment, Cold War, Soviet Union, The Turner Diaries, William Luther Pierce, National Alliance, George Lincoln Rockwell, American Nazi Party, white nationalism, neo-fascism, Aryan Nations, Christian Identity Movement, anti-Semitism, globalism, New World Order conspiracy theories, Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, The Spotlight, Ku Klux Klan, National Rifle Association (NRA), Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Green Berets, Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver, Vicki Weaver, Idaho, FBI, ATF, Waco siege, Branch Davidians, David Koresh, Seventh-day Adventists, Jonestown, Guyana, Terry Nichols, Decker Michigan, Michigan militia movement, Elohim City, Christian nationalism, leaderless resistance, Louis Beam, accelerationism, Janet Reno, Lon Horiuchi, Walter Smith, Lexington and Concord, American Revolution, fertilizer bomb, improvised explosive device (IED), domestic terrorism, terrorism, extremist radicalization, conspiracy theories, Oklahoma City bombing investigation, Southern Poverty Law Center, Ramszi Yousef, 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Al-Qaeda, John Doe No. 2, Felice Orsini, Richard Spencer, alt-right, Boogaloo Boys, Dylan Roof, Orlando nightclub shooting, January 6 Capitol attack, Day of the Rope, Dollar General shooting, political violence, white supremacist terrorism, anti-government extremism. Chapters 00:00 — Timothy McVeigh and the darkest path of far-right radicalization  08:20 — The Turner Diaries and the ideology behind white supremacist terrorism 21:10 — The Gulf War, military service and McVeigh's growing disillusionment 33:15 — Gun shows, militias and how radicalization spread before the internet 44:00 — Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver and the anti-government movement 53:10 — Waco, David Koresh and the siege that changed everything   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  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

  5. Aug 25

    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  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

  6. Aug 18

    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 controlled aircraft. 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  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

  7. Aug 11

    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  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

  8. Aug 11

    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  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

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    James Crossland
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 History's Devils
  • Show Website
    History's Devils

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