In cleverly written, almost literary language, Real Dictators draws the listener into the stories ★★★★☆

How does a person become a dictator? That’s what the British podcast is investigating Real Dictators, which scrutinizes tyrants such as Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Francisco Franco and Adolf Hitler. In episodes of about 45 minutes, Noiser, producer of history podcast as History Dailythe lives of these men: from their youth to their rise to absolute power.

In cleverly written, almost literary language and with a fine voice, actor Paul McGann draws the listener into the stories. Insights from historians and those involved are interspersed with visual scenes with radio play-like elements. Suddenly you find yourself in the back room of a farm in China’s Hunan province, where 17-year-old Mao reads books by candlelight that his father has banned. Or next to the young Hitler, who runs away panting after his failed coup attempt in Munich, while shots and screams are heard in the background.

The stories are presented tasty and with a sense of drama, sometimes just a bit over the top. Yet it never really goes out of control, because the emphasis remains on thorough historical research. The podcast steers clear of speculation and groundless psychologization. It is mentioned, for example, that Mao may have had antisocial personality disorder, that Kim Jong-il was raised in a loveless way or that Hitler’s father was authoritarian, but explicit connections to their behavior are not made. Real Dictators sticks to the facts, and that graces the podcast.

Whoever listens more to the stories, starts to recognize patterns: ruling without a clear plan, but with all the more pathos, the sowing of fear through random violence and the personality cult that each dictator cultivated in his own way. It is fascinating to hear how these elements are constantly being interpreted differently. Special mention deserves, for example, the triptych about Kim Jong-il, which examines his obsession with (Hollywood) films and the influence this had on his propaganda machine and view of the world.

There is a lot of information coming at you, and Real Dictators is therefore primarily a podcast for attentive listeners who like to dive deep into a subject. There are no fewer than thirteen episodes to listen to about Hitler, which make you realize how little you actually knew. There is also a lot to discover about lesser-known tyrants, such as Saparmurat Niyazov, who completely mastered the new country of Turkmenistan from the 1990s, or the Haitian ‘voodoo pirate’ Papa Doc. Educational, entertaining and very, very well made.