Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts · History

Behind the Bastards

There’s a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater’s insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein’s side career as a trashy romance novelist.

Episodes

The podcast explores the history of cigarettes and their impact on modern society, arguing that the cigarette industry has shaped cultural norms, advertising techniques, and even scientific research. It highlights how cigarettes gained popularity through World War I and the subsequent marketing strategies targeting wom...

CZM Rewind: Part One: How Cigarettes Invented Everything

06 Jan 2026

1h 11m

AI processed

The podcast explores the history of cigarettes, arguing that the tobacco industry inadvertently shaped much of the modern world. It traces tobacco use from ancient Maya rituals to its encounter with Columbus and subsequent adoption in Europe. The discussion highlights how cigarette marketing pioneered modern advertisin...