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.
126
Patron Minisode Release: Little Caesar Lost
The mysteries surrounding Cleopatra and her son.
14 min
127
Hermes Trismegistus, Father of Alchemy (An Ency...
An examination of the enigmatic figure of Hermes Trismegistus and his Emerald Tablet
42 min
128
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
129
The Eleventh Hour: Presidential Pardon Power
A history of the Presidential pardon power's use and misuse.
40 min
130
Patron Exclusive Release: The Thanksgiving Mythos
the myths and misconceptions surrounding the history of Thanksgiving
14 min
131
Circuit Riders, Midnight Appointments, and Pack...
A History of the Supreme Court
51 min
132
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
133
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
134
A Rediscovery of Witches, Part One: The Hammer ...
The early modern witch craze and the historical myths and misconceptions surrounding it.
46 min
135
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
136
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
137
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
138
The Murder of Lord Darnley, Part Two: The Caske...
Various suspects in the murder of Lord Darnley vie for control of Scotland.
39 min
139
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
140
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
141
The Jansenist Miracles of Enlightenment France,...
A series of miracles during the High Enlightenment deepens a religious schism
33 min
142
The Feat of the Flying Friar: St. Joseph of Cup...
The supposed miracles of an Italian monk said to have the superhuman ability of unencumbered flight.
37 min
143
In the Footsteps of the Wandering Jew: Anti-Sem...
Connecting the legend of the Wandering Jew with the long history of using Jews as scapegoats for calamities of all kinds.
40 min
144
Cocoliztli: The Mystery Pestilence
A devastating and mysterious plague in 16th century Mexico offers some historical perspective on our current global health crisis
35 min
145
Blind Spot: Drake's Plate, a Brazen Plot
The story of a legendary artifact and the drama surrounding its purported discovery in the 1930s
26 min
146
The Unbelievable History of the Ancient and Hon...
The long and storied history of a California Gold Rush era secret society.
28 min
147
Gnostic Genesis (An Apocryphal Catechism)
A look at Gnosticism, a school of thought within early Christianity that inverted Judeo-Christian norms with its creation mythology.
32 min
148
Zoroaster, the First Magus (An Encyclopedia Gri...
I look at the figure of Zoroaster, or Zarathustra, as the supposed originator of all things magical.
34 min
149
The End of Edward II, Part Two: The Hermit King...
In the conclusion of the season premiere, all is not what it seemed with the death of King Edward II.
41 min
150
The End of Edward II, Part One: The Iron Virago...
The historical mystery of Edward II's demise
37 min