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
Salvador Allende
English Civil War
Che Guevara
Iraq
Charles I
Human Rights Violations
Augusto Pinochet
Cold War
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 a week 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 of t... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes163Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionDramaHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Real Dictators

Latest Episodes

When the Nazis invade Yugoslavia Tito takes to the mountains. Winston Churchill dispatches a crack team of paratroopers, led by a man rumoured to inspire the character of James Bond. Sneaking their way through the countryside, they will seek to rende... more

An assassination in Marseilles plunges the Balkans into turmoil. The Europe-wide battles of Black versus Red make their way onto the streets of Yugoslavia. Pegged as a trouble-maker and pursued by the authorities, the shape-shifting Josip Broz flees ... more

Josip Broz was the wartime resistance leader who became Tito, the strongman ruler of Yugoslavia. He defeated both Hitler and Mussolini. He stared down Stalin. He consolidated much of the Balkans as a single state, helping it to punch above its weight... more

This is a preview of a brand-new show from the Noiser Podcast Network. Hosted by Clarke Peters (The Wire, The Boroughs), 'Founding Fathers: An American Dream' tells the epic story of the birth of the United States of America, 250 years ago.

Follow G... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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

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
Nicholas O'Shaughnessy
Emeritus Professor of Communication
Queen Mary University of London
Episode: Tito Part 1: The Young Gun
Geoffrey Swain
Professor of Social and Political Sciences
University of Glasgow
Episode: Tito Part 1: The Young Gun
Susan L. Woodward
Professor of Political Science
The City University of New York
Episode: Tito Part 1: The Young Gun
Andrew O'Shaughnessy
Professor of History at University of Virginia, author of The Men Who Lost America
University of Virginia
Episode: Introducing: Founding Fathers: An American Dream - Episode 1
Cowell Birkin
Author of Revolutionary Mothers
Independent scholar/author
Episode: Introducing: Founding Fathers: An American Dream - Episode 1
Stefan Brink
Professor of Scandinavian Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands; author
University of the Highlands and Islands / Cambridge
Episode: Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1
Davide Zori
Associate professor of history and archaeology
Baylor University
Episode: Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1
Eleanor Barraclough
Senior lecturer; author
Baar Spaar University
Episode: Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1

Host

Paul McGann
Host of Real Dictators

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 22.2k ratings
  • This podcast slips into Marxist critical theory framing and language. Treating European migrations as united by skin color, much better podcasts that work harder on descriptions without marxian ideological framing.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Petri
    25 days ago
  • I am

    Genuinely the best podcast ever.

    The great synergy with the trusting voice, vivid sound effects, and concise monologue make for a vivid story you begin to live through.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VolumaDesign
    United Statesa month ago
  • Fantastic for history buffs

    What a great podcast, I can’t believe the deep dive they do into the episodes. Topped off by Paul McGann, perfect listen

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gillyraincloud
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Me gusta mucho y el hilo conductor está muy bien logrado

    Es uno de los podcast que más he disfrutado junto con «the dropout» de ABC. Una excelente producción del podcast, y el volumen de la voz es el correcto.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    iescalona12
    United States2 months ago
  • Yes, Yes & Yes!!

    The history nerd in me absolutely loves this podcast! The research that goes into each subject & the various experts & intellectuals are what makes this podcast a 10/10.

    Hurry up Real Dictators! We need more episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ashley Nickel89
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's engaging narration and strong production quality.
Fans appreciate the clear storytelling and well-paced episodes.
Some comments wish for more frequent episode releases and broader topic coverage.
Many note the deep research and credible expert guests add substantial value.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#22
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#45
United States/History
Spotify
#14
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#163
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#211
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#15
United Kingdom/History

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?

A history podcast that probes the lives and regimes of infamous rulers through rigorous research and narrated storytelling. Episodes blend expert commentary with engaging narrative, reconstructive sound design, and scholarly context to unpack how dictators built power, managed empires, and shaped world events. Notable strengths include high production quality, careful sourcing, and a to-the-point format that benefits listeners seeking both entertainment and education. A strong fit for history buffs, students, educators, and professionals in media or PR who want detailed, source-backed discussions and a clear conversational host presence.

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 three 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. Ancient Civilisations
3. Real Vikings
4. History Daily
5. D-Day: The Tide Turns

How many episodes of Real Dictators are there?

Real Dictators launched 6 years ago and published 163 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. Richard Mills
2. Nicholas O'Shaughnessy
3. Geoffrey Swain
4. Susan L. Woodward
5. Andrew O'Shaughnessy
6. Cowell Birkin
7. Stefan Brink
8. Davide Zori

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