Historical Blindness

Historical Blindness is a podcast about history’s myths, mysteries, and misconceptions. By examining cases of outrageous hoaxes, pernicious conspiracy theory, mass delusion, baffling mysteries and unreliable historiography, host Nathaniel Lloyd searches for insights into modern religious belief and political culture. 

History
Politics
Religion
76
The Beautiful Corpse of Helen Jewett
The story of the sensational Robinson-Jewett murder trial.
42 min
77
Unfit to Print; or A History of Bad News: the P...
The history of American journalism, looking at the party press era and yellow journalism to seek historical insight into journalistic bias.
39 min
78
EXTRA! EXTRA! Extra-Terrestrial Hoaxes!
Media hoaxes related to erroneous astronomical observations
20 min
79
Hidden Bodies: A Brief and Incomplete History o...
A survey of wrong ideas about the solar system
34 min
80
Anti-Vaccinationism, a Historical Hindrance to ...
An exploration of the long history of vaccine criticism and anti-vaccination rhetoric
50 min
81
The Story of Chevalier d'Eon and the Inadequacy...
A discussion of trans persons in history with a special focus on Chevalier d'Eon
50 min
82
Written in Stone: The Archaeological Frauds of ...
A look at the rich American tradition of archaeological frauds
43 min
83
The Abode of the Lost Tribes of Israel, Part Tw...
How this historical myth has evolved to become the basis for numerous insidious theories of racial origin
39 min
84
The Abode of the Lost Tribes of Israel, Part On...
The first part of a 2-part series on the Lost Tribes of Israel.
34 min
85
The Epistle of Prester John
A look at Prester John, a legendary Christian king of a faraway land filled with wonders.
41 min
86
Patron Minisode Release: Little Caesar Lost
The mysteries surrounding Cleopatra and her son.
14 min
87
Hermes Trismegistus, Father of Alchemy (An Ency...
An examination of the enigmatic figure of Hermes Trismegistus and his Emerald Tablet
42 min
88
A Very Historically Blind Christmas III: The Ep...
A look at the legendarium of the Three Wise Men and the Star of Bethlehem.
37 min
89
The Eleventh Hour: Presidential Pardon Power
A history of the Presidential pardon power's use and misuse.
40 min
90
Patron Exclusive Release: The Thanksgiving Mythos
the myths and misconceptions surrounding the history of Thanksgiving
14 min
91
Circuit Riders, Midnight Appointments, and Pack...
A History of the Supreme Court
51 min
92
The Smoke-Filled Room: Contested Elections in A...
A look at contested elections in American history, with especial focus on the outmoded institution of the Electoral College and the elections of 1824 and 1876.
46 min
93
A Rediscovery of Witches, Part Two: The Moon Go...
Part two of my series on the early modern witch craze and the myths, misconceptions, and theories about witches spread by academics.
47 min
94
A Rediscovery of Witches, Part One: The Hammer ...
The early modern witch craze and the historical myths and misconceptions surrounding it.
46 min
95
The Illuminati Illuminated, Part Two: The Order...
An overview of the role of Illuminati conspiracy theories in the election of 1800 and in American political discourse ever since.
52 min
96
PATREON MINISODE: A Dark Day Indeed
The mystery of the Dark Day of New England, a day with no light, when darkness fell over New England and many feared that God's judgment was at hand.
12 min
97
The Illuminati Illuminated, Part One: The Order...
A look at the birth of modern conspiracy theory in the Enlightenment, with idea that the Illuminati fomented the French Revolution.
37 min
98
The Murder of Lord Darnley, Part Two: The Caske...
Various suspects in the murder of Lord Darnley vie for control of Scotland.
39 min
99
The Murder of Lord Darnley, Part One: The Viper...
The life and reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, from birth to her consort's demise.
44 min
100
The Jansenist Miracles of Enlightenment France,...
The conclusion to a series about an age of miracles in the midst of the Enlightenment, in which we look at the strange development of convulsionism among the adherents of François de Pâris.
35 min