Behind the Bastards is a deep dive into history’s villains — and its two-part series on Palestine is some of its best work

👂 Our endless fascination with history’s bad guys has found yet another home in the podcast world: iHeartPodcasts’ Behind the Bastards. Hosted by journalist Robert Evans, the podcast dives deep into modern and historical villains, exposing the bizarre lives they led and tracing their villain arcs — from poster villains like Hitler to lesser-known figures and groups that have left their mark on history.

What to expect: Mirroring the sheer expansiveness of history itself, Behind the Bastards is not exactly an on-the-go listen. Episodes can run for an hour or more, often stretching across multiple parts and packing in plenty of research. Evans does much of the digging himself, while also inviting experts and academics to add insight and more context to the stories. The podcast also has a separate It Could Happen Here weekly series, where Evans takes on more current affairs with experts in hefty 3-4-hour episodes.

The origins of terror in Palestine: Two episodes take a long look at a less-trodden part of Palestine’s history: the rise of militant groups and the breakdown of communities in the Holy Land. Part one unpacks the nuanced history of Jews in Palestine and the development of Zionism from the 1880s through the Nakba in 1948. Speaking with academic and Palestinian and Arab politics researcher Dr. Dana Al Kurd, he highlights the context of the Ottoman Empire, which shaped much of the inherent differences between Palestinians of all religions and European Jewish immigrants — mainly a nationalist tension, not a religious one. They also discuss the longstanding presence of Arab and Sephardic Jews in Palestine before the major waves of European immigration associated with the Zionist movement.

Part two traces the emergence of anti-Zionism among Palestinian and Arab leaders as both Palestinian and Zionist defensive and offensive organizations start to form. Overall, the two-part series digs into the deeper political conditions that produced decades of violence and armed struggle in Palestine. It leaves very little untouched in Palestine’s complicated political history, touching on nationalism, displacement, resistance, the failure of diplomatic solutions, and much more.

What we liked: The episode is a true history crash course. Evans draws on different historical accounts and perspectives to paint as comprehensive a picture as possible. He’s an engaging and lively narrator with enough personality to chime in with funny or sarcastic comments and his own informed takes. Although Evans carries most of the episode, Al Kurd’s commentary comes in at pivotal moments, adding another perspective and giving the show a more conversational tone.

The verdict: Behind the Bastards is for anyone curious about the darker corners of history. The episodes are immersive and packed with information, accounts, and details, opening up deeper, often overlooked stories behind some of the world’s worst figures. It’s perfect for when you want to settle in for a couple of hours with a fascinating, often eye-opening story in your ears.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can tune in on Apple Podcasts | Anghami | iHeart | Spotify.