Behind the Bastards
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Behind the Bastards is a popular history and comedy podcast that explores the lives of the worst people in history. While widely praised for its deep research and the host's background in journalism, it is highly polarizing due to its heavy use of banter, a specific comedic tone, and the host's personality.
Pros
- Deep-dive research into historical figures and "villains"
- Humorous and often "unhinged" approach to dark subject matter
- Extensive catalog covering a wide range of historical and modern topics
- Provides an educational look at gaps in traditional history curricula
Cons
- Heavy amount of banter and "chit-chat" can distract from the main topic
- Host's personality and vocal habits are polarizing for some listeners
- Occasional criticism regarding research depth on highly complex or nuanced topics
- Tone can sometimes feel like "kids in their first year of uni" to some
Caveats
- The show features a rotating cast of guests which significantly impacts the dynamic of individual episodes
- Listeners are divided on the host's vocal mannerisms, such as nasal clearing, though this is not noticed by all
- The podcast has a distinct left-leaning lens
Best for
- Listeners who enjoy history mixed with dark comedy
- Fans of deep-dive investigative storytelling
- People looking for a less formal, more conversational podcast style
Avoid if
- You prefer dry, professional, or strictly academic historical narration
- You have a low tolerance for off-topic banter and host chemistry
- You are sensitive to specific vocal tics or informal dialogue
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is based on 25 mentions from r/podcasts with a median age of approximately 563 days.
Sentiment
15 positive (60%) · 6 mixed (24%) · 4 negative (16%)
Trust + time weighted score: +39% · raw score 44%
What redditors said (10 of 25)
I've tried, but that podcast just isn't for me. I think it always sounds like someone talking at other people rather than a genuine dialogue.
Behind the Bastards takes deep dives into the backgrounds of famously terrible people
It seems like such a good show but I just can’t stand him constantly clearing his nasal passages, it makes me physically cringe every time.
The Rest is History and Behind the Bastards are both really good history pods and have deep catalogues.
Podcasts I like but only listen to occasionally include: - Behind the Bastards
It’s not technically true crime but I highly recommend Behind the Bastards. The do deep dive podcasts about historically bad people.
Behind the Bastards (not limited to American history, but there's plenty of it). Focuses a lot on major politicians, their advisors, etc. and people who did true harm as well as the people who downplayed it.
I enjoy Behind the Bastards.
I listened frequently to Knowledge Fight, Small Town Murder, Something Was Wrong, Decoding the Gurus, Behind the Bastards, and QAnon Anonymous.
I don’t love a lot of banter with the hosts, I tried to like Behind the Bastards but found it was too much chit chat to hold my interest.
Compare
Behind the Bastards vs The Rest is HistoryBehind the Bastards vs Your Own BackyardBehind the Bastards vs What Went Wrong
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