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.
151
The Jansenist Miracles of Enlightenment France,...
A series of miracles during the High Enlightenment deepens a religious schism
33 min
152
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
153
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
154
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
155
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
156
The Unbelievable History of the Ancient and Hon...
The long and storied history of a California Gold Rush era secret society.
28 min
157
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
158
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
159
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
160
The End of Edward II, Part One: The Iron Virago...
The historical mystery of Edward II's demise
37 min
161
A Very Historically Blind Christmas II: Father ...
I look at various personifications of the Christmas holiday, from the mock kings of antiquity to the very complicated evolution of the holiday's modern poster boy, Santa Claus.
34 min
162
PATREON MINISODE: Alfred Russel Wallace; Man of...
A re-release of a patron exclusive mini-episode
16 min
163
Shadow of the Werewolf, Part Two: The Salve and...
The conclusion of my Halloween series on werewolves and the 2019 pre-hiatus finale.
43 min
164
Shadow of the Werewolf, Part One: Killer on the...
A hunt for the true nature of the werewolf, looking at its roots in antiquity and mythology and the evolution of the notion through folklore and etymology
35 min
165
The Chronological Revision Chronicles, Part Thr...
I look at some classical revisionists who were otherwise highly respected as scholars but whose revised timelines and claims of vast conspiracy reflect poorly on their legacies.
40 min
166
The Chronological Revision Chronicles, Part Two...
I discuss Immanuel Velikovsky, who challenged not only historical chronology but establishment astronomy and physics as well with his claims of ancient interplanetary collision.
48 min
167
The Chronological Revision Chronicles, Part One...
A look at the theories of a man who would rewrite all of history using science.
38 min
168
The Wrong Side of History: Holocaust Denial and...
I address the modern myth that the Holocaust didn't happen or was exaggerated.
30 min
169
Nazi Occultism, Part Three: The Hunt for a Hype...
In the final installment of my series on Nazi Occultism, I finally get to the weird Nazi obsessions with lost civilizations and mythical artifacts.
35 min
170
Nazi Occultism, Part Two: The Death's Head Cult
I look at the SS and Heinrich Himmler as the neo-pagan and mystical influence at the heart of Nazism.
38 min
171
Nazi Occultism, Part One: The Myth of the Aryans
I explore the dark roots of Nazism, from neo-paganism to contemporary myths and pseudo-science.
32 min
172
The Monster of Loch Ness: Delusion or Denizen o...
I examine another supposed aquatic monster, for a study of whether dinosaurs survived in the deep waters of the earth wouldn't be complete without an examination of the Loch Ness Monster legend.
31 min
173
Leviathan, the Great Sea Serpent, Part 2: Into ...
Part two of my series on sea serpents, in which we see science struggling against the notion of sea serpents in the 19th century.
35 min
174
Leviathan, the Great Sea Serpent, Part One: Her...
The first installment in a series on the myths and mysterious sightings of sea serpents.
35 min
175
Blind Spot: The Great Dying and the Chicxulub C...
I examine another massive extraterrestrial impact, this one prehistoric and blamed for ending most life on earth
22 min