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
Eustache Dauger, the Secret Prisoner in the Vel...
An investigation into the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask.
35 min
152
Blind Spot: The Secret of Rennes-le-Château and...
A closer look at the mystery of Abbé Saunière’s wealth and the legends of treasure at Rennes-le-Château.
19 min
153
The Priory of Sion and the Quest for the Holy G...
A look at a historical mystery that spiderwebs into hoax and pseudo-history.
36 min
154
The Marian Apparition of Guadalupe and Her Fant...
A study of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
28 min
155
The Turin Shroud: Divine Likeness or Bogus Relic?
A look at the most studied artifact in history.
31 min
156
Blind Spot: The Great Los Angeles Air Raid and ...
An examination of the so-called Battle of Los Angeles and the conspiracy theory that would paint it as an alien encounter.
17 min
157
A Brief History of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
We take a look at UAP from Ancient Egypt through to the age of ballooning.
46 min
158
Blind Spot: Three Men Gone from Eilean Mor, the...
An examination of the Great Lighthouse Mystery
21 min
159
The Carroll A. Deering, Ghost Ship of Cape Hatt...
A tale of a ghost ship, mutineers and pirates in the modern era.
28 min
160
Blind Spot: The Terrible within the Small; or, ...
In this companion piece to my last episode on the blood libel, I expose the 19th and 20th centuries' conspiracy theories attributing plots of global domination to the Jews.
21 min
161
Bloody Libel; or, the Slaughter and Sacralizati...
An exploration of one of the darkest and most destructive myths in history, the blood libel.
36 min
162
The Specter of Devil Worship, Part Two
In part two of a Halloween special, Mike Brown and I continue to scrutinize claims of devil worship throughout history.
33 min
163
The Specter of Devil Worship, Part One
An exploration of the Satanic Panic and accusations of devil worship throughout history, with guest Mike Brown of Pleasing Terrors.
26 min
164
Jubal Early's Lost Cause
In This Episode, we explore the Myth of the Lost Cause and its relevance to the current debate over Confederate monuments.
26 min
165
Blind Spot: The Loss of Theodosia Burr Alston
A companion piece to Episode 11, detailing the later misfortunes of Aaron Burr and a further mystery.
15 min
166
The Trial of Levi Weeks for the Murder of Elma ...
An account of America's first "Trial of the Century"
35 min
167
Blind Spot: Swift's Lost Silver Mine and Dorr's...
A look at some lost treasures that may have been tall tales.
17 min
168
Joseph Mulhatton: The Liar Laureate of the World
A look at the fake news of the late 19th century, focusing on the life and work of one of the greatest hoaxers who ever lived.
34 min
169
Blind Spot: Tutelary Spirits
An exploration of guardian spirits and ominous entities.
15 min
170
The White Ladies of German Lore
An exploration of the wide-spread German legend of the White Lady ghost.
30 min
171
Blind Spot: The Lady of the Haystack
In 1776, a mysterious woman appeared in England, living as a transient among haystacks. Is it possible she was the daughter of an emperor, as a pamphlet suggests, or perhaps just an impostor?
21 min
172
Kaspar Hauser, Part Two: Princeling
Part two of our exploration of the mysterious foundling of Bavaria, Kaspar Hauser.
42 min
173
Blind Spot: Princess Caraboo of Javasu
A look at the singular story of an island princess washed ashore in England who wasn't what she appeared to be.
21 min
174
Kaspar Hauser, Part One: Foundling
Part One of our exploration of the mysterious Wild Boy of Bavaria
32 min
175
Blind Spot: The Oberfohren Memorandum and the E...
A companion piece to Episode 6, covering some further conspiracy theories and supposed evidence about the Reichstag Fire.
15 min