Liberty Dies With Thunderous Applause: Dictators of History
Liberty Dies With Thunderous Applause is a history podcast focused on history's greatest dictators. The hosts run a knockout tournament in which each episode pits two dictators against each other, exploring their lives and times. The loser is eliminated immediately, while the winner advances toward being named the greatest dictator of all time. The show blends historical narrative with competitive bracket-style debate.
Episodes
William the Conqueror vs. Queen Elizabeth I
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two dictators of England; William the Conqueror and Queen Elizabeth IThey discuss William's role as Duke of Normandy, the triple threat battle between England, the vikings and the Normans, William's domination of England and the lasting impact on the country.They also discuss Elizabeth's unhappy childhood, Bloody Mary, Mary Queen of Scots, he
Ieyasu Tokugawa vs General Hideki Tojo
The dictator knock-out tournament continues. The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two dictators of Japan; Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and General Hideki Tojo, Prime Minister of Imperial Japan.They discuss the three rulers who unified Japan, the wars and back-stabbing politics, the cause of Japan’s distinct culture and the birth of the Tokugawa dynastyThey also discuss Tojo’s rise to power within
Leopold II vs. Mobutu Sese Seko
The dictator knock-out tournament continues. The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two dictators of the Congo; Belgian King Leopold II and Mobuto Sese Seko, the President of the Congo & Zaire.They discuss the Leopold II, his hunger for a colony, his evil plan to create the Congo Free State, severed hands, rubber harvesting and his French prostitute mistress/wife.They also discuss Mobutu'
Montezuma II vs. Porfirio Diaz
The dictator knock-out tournament continues. The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two Mexican dictators; Aztec Emperor Montezuma II and Mexican President Porfirio Diaz.They discuss the creation of the Aztec Empire, human sacrifice, life in Tenochtitlan and the invasion of Hernan Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors. They also discuss Porfirio Diaz's military career, his suspicious election,
Lingering Questions on The Nazi Legacy (Bonus)
There's far too much to discuss of Germany in just one episode. In this short, bonus episode Uncle Ian will answer your Nazi Germany questions spanning topics such as: the Second World War, ongoing Nazi influence, Homer Simpson, complicity, accusations of madness and the other Reichs.
Kaiser Wilhelm II vs. Adolf Hitler
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two German dictators; Kaiser Wilhelm II and Adolf HitlerThey discuss Kaiser Wilhelm's traumatic birth and disability, his love-hate relationship with his British relatives, his undiplomatic diplomacy, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand the subsequent 'blank cheque he gave that caused the first world war.They also discuss Hitler's Austrian upbringing, h
Manuel Noriega vs. Hugo Chávez
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two Latin American dictators; Manuel Noriega of Panama and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.They discuss the creation of the Panama Canal, Noriega's rise up the military ranks, his covert work for the CIA, the suspicious plane crash that brought him to power, his drug smuggling and the war that toppled him from power. They also discuss Chavez's failed coup, his
Agamemnon vs. Alexander The Great
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two Greek dictators; Agamemnon and Alexander The Great.They discuss Agamemnon's ruthless treatment of his children, Paris' seduction/abduction of Helen of Troy, the Trojan War, Achilles, Odysseus and his Trojan Horse. They also discuss Alexander's maneuvers to become King of Macedonia, his invasion of the Persian Empire, his unbeaten battle record, his b
King Philip II vs. General Franco
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two Spanish dictators; King Philip II and General Francisco Franco. They discuss Philip's enormous Spanish empire, his marital misfortune, the Spanish Inquisition against religious heretics and the Spanish Armada sent to depose the Queen of England.They also discuss General Franco's ruthless campaign in North Africa, his friendship with Mussolini and Hit
Kim Il-sung vs. Kim Jong-il vs. Kim Jong-un - North Korea Special
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of three North Korean dictators; #1 Kim Il-Sung, #2 Kim Jong-il, #3 Kim Jong-unThey discuss Kim Il-sung's time in the soviet army, his relationship with Stalin, The Korean War and his unique Communist rule.They also explore Kim Jong-il's fantastical birth, his infamous debauchery, his kidnapping of film stars, his drug smuggling and, of course, the inventio
Which Dictator would throw the best Christmas Party?
It's a Liberty Dies Christmas Special! Featuring all your favourite dictators; Idi Amin, Joseph Stalin, Pope Alexander VI, Pol Pot, Kaiser Wilhelm, Adolf Hitler, Alexander the Great, General Tojo and Benito Mussolini.
Akbar The Great vs. General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two South Asian dictators; The Mughal Akbar The Great and Pakistani General Muhammad Zia-ul-HaqThey discuss Akbar's mongol lineage, his sometimes brutal conquest of India, his creation of his own religion and the legacy of his Mughal Empire.They also discuss Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's coup that brought him to power, his Islamisation of Pakistan, his very succ
Chairman Mao Zedong vs. President Xi Jinping
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two Chinese dictators; Chairman Mao Zedong and current President of China Xi Jinping.They discuss Mao's involvement in the creation of the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese civil war fighting the Nationalists, the world war fighting the Japanese, his brutality in taking control of China, the millions of deaths in his Great Leap Forward and the hysteri
Marshal Tito vs. Nicolae Ceausescu
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of Eastern European Communist dictators; Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia and Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania.They discuss Tito's rise up the Yugoslav Communist Party, his leadership of the resistance movement during World War Two, his imprisonment of Stalinists within Yugoslavia and the aftermath of his death.They also discuss Ceausescu's humble origins, his luc
Cleopatra vs. Catherine The Great
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two female dictators; Cleopatra, The Last Queen of Egypt and Catherine The Great, Empress of Russia.They discuss Cleopatra's Macedonian heritage, her battles with he brother, her recruitment of Julius Caesar, her seduction of Mark Antony and her famous Shakespearean death.They also discuss Catherine's Prussian origins, the coup that placed her on the thr
Caligula vs. Nero
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two Roman Emperors; Caligula and Nero. They discuss the Caligula's stellar ancestry, the origin of the nickname 'Caligula', his adoption by the Emperor Tiberius, his suspicious succession to Emperor, his cruel reign, sexual perversions and his eventual assassination. They also discuss Nero's many connections to Emperor Claudius, his unbelievable mother A
Muammar Gaddafi vs. Hosni Mubarak
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.They discuss the coup that brought Gaddafi to power, his bizarre manifesto, the Lockerbie bombing, his crazy behaviour on the world stage, his all female bodyguard troop and his eventual downfall during the Arab Spring.They also discuss Mubarak's survival of the assassination of Anwar Sadat, his use of
Ferdinand Marcos vs. Suharto
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of Ferdinand Marcos of The Philippines and Suharto of Indonesia.The hosts discuss Marcos’ election, his declaration of martial law, embezzlement of billions of dollars, and of course, the extravagance of his wife Imelda Marcos.They also discuss Suharto’s military seizure of power, the widespread massacres of Indonesian communists, his invasion of East Timor
Joseph Stalin vs. Vladimir Putin
The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two rulers of Russia, Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Putin.The hosts discuss Stalin's bizarre childhood, his outmaneuvering of Trotsky, his superb use of propaganda, the great purge of suspected dissidents, how agricultural collectivisation lead to famine, his leadership during World War 2 and his eventual death. They also discuss Putin's early life
Pope Alexander VI vs. Ayatollah Khomeini
In this episode the hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two religious rulers, Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) and Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran.The hosts discuss Pope Alexander's corrupt election to the papacy, his nepotism, profiteering, expansion of the papal states and wild sex life.They also discuss Ayatollah's Khomeini's Iranian Islamic revolution, his toppling of the Shah, his war with S
Charlemagne vs. Napoleon Bonaparte
In this episode the hosts unravel the lives and legacies of French rulers Charlemagne and Napoleon BonaparteThe hosts discuss Charlemagne's family's rise to power, his conquests throughout western Europe, the forced Christian conversion of subjects and the massacre of Verden. They also discuss Napoleon's rise to Emperor from humble beginnings, his genuine military genius, his clever use of propag
A Retrospective of the First 20 Dictators (BONUS)
In this bonus episode of Liberty Dies With Thunderous Applause, the hosts look back at the 20 dictators covered thus far in the tournament. Which dictator would Uncle Ian most like to have dinner with? Which dictator would Scott travel back in time to kill? What warning signs are there of an emerging dictatorship? These questions and many others get answered in this special episode.Julius Caesar,
Augusto Pinochet vs. Jorge Videla
The hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and Argentinian dictator Jorge Videla.The hosts explore Pinochet's rise within the military, the coup overthrowing his Marxist President, his tactic of 'disappearing' his opponents and Chile's 'miraculous' economy. They also discuss Videla's military junta, his contribution to Operation Condor, the involvement of the CI
Idi Amin vs. Robert Mugabe
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada and Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe.The hosts discuss Idi Amin's rise to power, his manic behaviour, his involvement with Operation Entebbe, the brutal massacres under his regime and his eventual downfall. They also discuss Mugabe's time as an African independence leader, his ruthless consolidation of powe
Enver Pasha vs. Recep Erdogan
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Ottaman ruler Enver Pasha and Turkish President Recep Erdogan. These two dictators battle it out in Round 8 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Enver's rise to power, the trickery deployed to drag The Ottoman Empire into World War One and the genocide orchestrated against th
Ho Chi Minh vs. Pol Pot
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Ho Chi Minh and Pol Pot. These two dictators battle it out in Round 7 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Ho's fight for Vietnamese independence from France, the communist repression in North Vietnam, the war with America to unify the country and his lasting legacy. They als
Henry VIII vs. Oliver Cromwell
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell. These two dictators battle it out in Round 6 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Henry's determination to produce an heir, his creation of the Church of England, his cruel and numerous methods of execution and his lasting legacy. They also dis
Fidel Castro vs. François (Papa Doc) Duvalier
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Fidel Castro and François Duvalier. These two dictators battle it out in Round 5 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Castro's revolution in Cuba, the subsequent political repression, his battles with the USA, the Cuban Missile Crisis and his enduring political legacy. They a
Xerxes vs. Saddam Hussein
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Xerxes and Saddam Hussein. These two dictators battle it out in Round 4 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Xerxes rule of the Persian Empire, his suppression of the Babylonian rebellions, his failed invasion of Greece and enduring fame. They also discuss Saddam Hussein's ri
Genghis Khan vs. Deng Xiaoping
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Genghis Khan and Deng Xiaoping. These two dictators battle it out in Round 3 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Genghis Khan's unification of the Mongol tribes, his formation of the world's largest contiguous empire, the many atrocities he committed and the Eurasian cultura
Ivan The Terrible vs. Vladimir Lenin
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Ivan The Terrible and Vladimir Lenin. These two dictators battle it out in Round 2 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Ivan's consolidation of power as Russia's first Tsar, the atrocities, his reforms, and enduring legacy in Russia. They also discuss Lenin's adoption of Marx
Julius Caesar vs. Benito Mussolini
In this episode the hosts discuss the lives and legacies of Julius Caesar and Benito Mussolini. These two dictators battle it out in Round 1 of the knock-out tournament to determine the single greatest dictator of all time. The hosts discuss Caesar's time as a Roman General, his rise to power, his reforms, assassination and enduring impact. They also discuss Mussolini's invention of Fascism, his s
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