The secretive leader of the communist Khmer Rouge was responsible for killing around a quarter of Cambodia’s population — one of the worst mass killings of the 20th century. He was born Saloth Sar in 1925, but is most recognizable by one of his many nicknames: Pol Pot.
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Nov 2022
Thanksgiving Special: Just Add Arsenic
Over the ages, arsenic has had many lives — beauty fad, household product, medical prescription… and weapon of choice wielded by killers everywhere from Alabama to ancient Rome. Brine your turkey, knead your dough, and listen to our Thanksgiving Special on the regime-changing, as ... Show More
42m 41s
Nov 2022
Famous Revolutionaries: Maximilien Robespierre Pt. 2
In 1791, France adopted a new constitution, placing power in the hands of the people. Robespierre’s job was done... or so he thought. War was coming, and with it, the growing threat of enemies both internal and external. In his quest to squash the counter-revolution, Robespierre ... Show More
46m 37s
Sep 2022
Pol Pot: The making of Cambodia’s Brother #1
In the West, Pol Pot is synonymous with Cambodia’s infamous “Khmer Rouge”. One of the most brutal dictatorships of the 20th Century. In hindsight, was this a case of one man’s bloodthirsty hunger for power, or the unravelling of a mission for an agrarian utopia? Support the show ... Show More
38m 34s
Apr 2021
“The Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski Pt. 2
By the 1980s, Ted Kaczynski had set off several bombs, causing only minor injuries — but for him, it wasn’t enough. What had started as a plot for revenge grew into an unrelenting need to change the world. To do that, he needed to kill. The reign of the Unabomber had begun. Learn ... Show More
47m 19s
Apr 2020
Crossover Week: Dictators (Joseph Stalin Pt. 1)
If you enjoy the stories told in Secret Societies, check out this episode from our series Dictators: Before he became the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world, Joseph Stalin was an idealistic, but ruthless revolutionary. A Marxist from a young age, he devoted ... Show More
47 m
Jan 2021
E233: "Hitler's Half-Niece" Geli Raubal Pt. 2
The 1931 gunshot death of Geli Raubal was ruled a suicide by Munich police, but for many people, questions remained. With Hitler’s political career on the line, Nazi officials resorted to cruel measures to control the official narrative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po ... Show More
45m 5s
May 2020
“The Meanest Man in America” Pt. 1: Donald Henry Gaskins
Between 1953 and 1982, Donald Henry “Pee Wee” Gaskins murdered at least 14 people, and claimed to have killed over 100. Gaskins began his crime spree early, and went from a young burglar and car thief in South Carolina to one of the most brutal serial murderers in U.S. history. L ... Show More
49m 9s