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Hello, Niles North, and welcome to Reed’s Recs! I am Reed Larson-Erf, here to talk to you about everything you never knew you had to find. This week, I’m elated to share an amazing podcast with you called Real Dictators, from the Noiser network. Narrated by British actor Paul McGann, this narrative nonfiction podcast focuses on the lives of tyrannical leaders throughout history and from all over the world. From Julius Caesar all the way to Kim Jong-Un by way of Joseph Stalin and Robert Mugabe, Real Dictators examines the turbulent lives, brutal reigns, and, occasionally, bloody ends of all the evil leaders you know and hate–and many others you don’t. (Considering the source material, this podcast may not be for everyone.)
Central to the success of Real Dictators is its painstaking historical narratives. In series between two and seven episodes long, the podcast examines the lives of one tyrant at a time, incorporating historical and cultural context along the way. Historians, scholars, and witnesses who were alive during each dictatorship lend their voices to offer nuance and clarity to each story. Not to mention, some things one learns from the podcast can be surprising–did you know that Turkmenistan’s Saparmurat Niyazov had a golden statue of himself built that rotated during the day to always face the sun?
Buoying the fascinating history behind its subjects is Real Dictators’ superb production values. Ominous background music underscores particularly daunting moments in each tale of tyranny. This is complemented by the menacingly catchy violin theme tune at the beginning and end of most episodes. For me, what really sells the podcast is Paul McGann’s calm, authoritative voice, creating a steady train to ride along the vicious track of history.
If you want the gruesome details about some of the most shocking and disturbing figures in history, check out Real Dictators on Spotify. Thank you for listening, and tune in next week to hear more about everything you never knew you had to find!
