Back in the early 1980s David and Mark Pedley were little more than a father-son real estate scam duo. Then came prison, escape, and a self-penned Bible, named for an obscure Jerusalem priest and the foundation for a micronation called the Dominion of Melchizedek.
It was no ordinary secession movement. The Dominion would become one of its era's greatest swin ... Show More
Jul 8
The Shaman-Gangsters Who Built Indonesia
For centuries, brigands, gangsters and street toughs ruled the island of Java so thoroughly that they were woven into local myths. But in the 20th century, when the world bounded towards war, mob bosses in Jakarta spotted a chance to turn underworld kudos into an independent nati ... Show More
1h 7m
Jun 24
Cocaine, Camorra, Call Girls: Maradona's Downfall
In 1987, Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona was on top of the world. He’d just handed his nation a World Cup, and his club side Napoli its first league title in over 60 years. But Maradona’s hard-partying lifestyle and underworld friends would soon take their toll - and before ... Show More
1h 9m
Mar 2024
433. Luther: The Man Who Changed the World (Part 1)
The Reformation, launched in 1517, stands as one of the most convulsive and transformative events of all time, shattering Christendom and dividing Europe for centuries. Its outcome determined the fates of Kings and Emperors, and saw the souls of millions consigned to the fiery pi ... Show More
51m 28s
Feb 2020
The Knights Templar Pt. 2
The Knights Templar grew in wealth and power for several centuries, becoming what many have labeled as the first multinational corporation. That is until French King Philip the Fair accused them of practicing secret, heretical rituals behind closed doors. The Knights, he pronounc ... Show More
44m 49s
Jan 2023
An audacious kidnapping in 1970s Paris
On 23 January 1978, Baron Édouard-Jean Empain was snatched from the streets of Paris, in an audacious kidnapping attempt. Before long, a ransom of 80 million francs was demanded. And to show they meant business, the kidnappers chopped off the baron’s little finger – with the dist ... Show More
44m 7s
Feb 2022
153. God and the American Empire
On today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by Friend of the Show, Professor Andrew Preston, to talk about the relationship between the US and religion, both at home and abroad in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Why have there been such low levels of anti-clericalism in the US com ... Show More
31m 43s
May 2023
335: The Freemasons: History's Greatest Conspiracy Theory
A grubby, secretive cabal of devil worshippers that run the world, or a fraternity of like-minded individuals who enjoy eccentric rituals? Freemasonry, originating in the Middle Ages, played a significant role in the formation of the new American nation under George Washington, h ... Show More
1h 3m