Rephonic
Artwork for Real Dictators

Real Dictators

NOISER
Fidel Castro
Cuba
Benito Mussolini
World War II
Saddam Hussein
Oliver Cromwell
Fascism
CIA
Italy
Cuban Revolution
Chile
English Civil War
Salvador Allende
Che Guevara
Iraq
Charles I
Augusto Pinochet
Cold War
Human Rights Violations
D-Day

Real Dictators is the award-winning podcast that explores the hidden lives of history's tyrants. Hosted by Paul McGann, with contributions from eyewitnesses and expert historians. New episodes available two weeks early for Noiser+ subscribers. You'll also get ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content on shows across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top o... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes166Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryDramaFiction

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Real Dictators

Latest Episodes

With his enemies vanquished Octavian returns to a hero’s welcome. Consolidating personal rule over Rome’s vast dominions, he begins dismantling the old republic. The Senate declares him the most “August” of Caesars, an Emperor. But the lack of an hei... more

Alongside Mark Antony, Octavian hunts down Great-Uncle Julius’s assassins. But Antony will soon go rogue, beguiled - just like Caesar - by Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. Octavian will strike without mercy. With General Agrippa to the fore, he will soon co... more

On the Ides of March 44BC, Julius Caesar is murdered in the Senate. With Rome’s long-time dictator deposed, the would-be inheritors of his estate and offices begin jostling for position. But as it turns out, Caesar has had other ideas. Remarkably, hi... more

Tito becomes an international celebrity, with a jet-set lifestyle to match his status. His hybrid ‘coca-cola socialism’ sees Yugoslavia booming. But the good times have been built on shaky foundations. And as Tito ails it seems his Balkan miracle wil... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Joyce Tyldesley
Egyptologist and author
University of Manchester
Episode: Augustus Part 3: Birth of a Dynasty
Lauren Ginsberg
Historian
Episode: Augustus Part 3: Birth of a Dynasty
Neville Morley
Professor
Episode: Augustus Part 3: Birth of a Dynasty
David Gwynn
Historian
Episode: Augustus Part 3: Birth of a Dynasty
Christopher Catherwood
Historian, expert contributor
Independent
Episode: Tito Part 4: The Marshal Versus Stalin
Edward Cardelch
Deputy Prime Minister (historical reference)
Government of Yugoslavia
Episode: Tito Part 4: The Marshal Versus Stalin
Alexander Ranković
Minister of Interior (historical figure)
Yugoslav government
Episode: Tito Part 4: The Marshal Versus Stalin
Fitzroy Maclean
Brigadier, SOE officer who met Tito
British Army/SOE
Episode: Tito Part 3: The Partisan in the Mountains
Richard Mills
Associate Professor in Modern European History, author of the politics of football in Yugoslavia, sport, nationalism and the state
University of East Anglia
Episode: Tito Part 1: The Young Gun

Host

Paul McGann
Host of long-running history series focused on tyrants and autocrats; lead narrator and primary presenter.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 22.4k ratings
  • Irritating experts

    As a long time listener I’m enjoying Ian Glenn. Good to have a change.

    I’m now listening to the new 3 parter on the Roman Empire with Paul and the so called experts are dreadful!! So much so I can’t finish this series. The male expert in particular is awful! Why have these people contributing? You don’t need them!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Benarchie
    United Kingdom12 days ago
  • I read it for the articles

    Paul McGann in his bag!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joseph Freshwater, Esq
    United States19 days ago
  • Never disappoints

    An excellent pod cast for history lovers. I learn new things every episode. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mary ann with no e
    United States20 days ago
  • Hitler Hitler Hitler!

    I LOVE hearing about Hitler because that dictator has a lot to hear about.:3

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paws of the cat club
    Canada24 days ago
  • Me like

    I love history and the death 😀

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Austin the main man
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience notes strong interest in more episodes and politics angles
Guest experts bring scholarly depth and credibility
Rigorously researched history with polished narration
Production quality and storytelling are standout strengths

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Oliver Cromwell Part 3: To Kill a King…
Q: Why do some parliamentarians and members of the New Model Army decide to get rid of the king?
Because they realize Charles I has been insincere in negotiations and has also launched a new civil war in 1648, making him untrustworthy. Additionally, they believe it is God's will to remove him to prevent continuous conflict.
BONUS: Dictators’ Books
Q: Any of them show any sign of a sense of humor in their work, or are these books, you know, to the last one kind of devoid of that?
Not really, humor is dangerous in totalitarian regimes; very few jokes appear.
BONUS: Dictators’ Books
Q: Do you feel when you were reading these books, in touch with that kind of evil of the person who was writing them? I mean, was there a kind of discomfort there?
Sometimes, it depended on the regime, e.g. Stalin was dry while Hitler's writing was filled with hate.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Dictators

What is Real Dictators about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show provides in-depth historical storytelling focused on the lives and regimes of infamous dictators, combining archival narration with expert analysis. Episodes weave political biography, international diplomacy, and social impact, often featuring historians and scholars to contextualize events, while occasionally highlighting celebrity connections and cultural moments tied to the figures. The production emphasizes thorough research, nuanced portrayals, and a narrative style that balances critical analysis with engaging storytelling. It's likely to appeal to history enthusiasts who enjoy rigorous context, primary-source framing, and well-structured episodes that connect regional developments to global Cold War dynamics. A standout as... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Real Dictators?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Real Dictators. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Real Dictators and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Real Dictators get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Real Dictators, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Real Dictators?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Real Dictators, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Real Dictators have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Real Dictators has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Real Dictators?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Real Dictators:

1. Short History Of...
2. History Daily
3. Biography
4. Dan Snow's History Hit
5. Real Survival Stories

How many episodes of Real Dictators are there?

Real Dictators launched 6 years ago and published 166 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Real Dictators?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Real Dictators?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Real Dictators from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Real Dictators?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Real Dictators. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Real Dictators?

Recent guests on Real Dictators include:

1. Joyce Tyldesley
2. Lauren Ginsberg
3. Neville Morley
4. David Gwynn
5. Christopher Catherwood
6. Edward Cardelch
7. Alexander Ranković
8. Fitzroy Maclean

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days