Behind the Bastards – Part Two: Behind the Bastards Q&A: 2026 Edition Host: Robert Evans | Producer/Co-Host: Sophie Lichterman | Date: January 15, 2026
Episode Overview
This special Q&A episode features host Robert Evans and producer Sophie Lichterman responding to listener questions covering topics both serious and absurd. The pair reflect on the most shocking subjects they've researched, the emotional toll of the show, ambitions for future content, the state of media and “bastards” in modern and historical contexts, and even their own personal joys and struggles from the past year. The conversation is candid, sometimes darkly humorous, and often reflective — characteristic of Behind the Bastards' tone.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Personal Lore and Fast Food Talk
- [00:58]–[02:30]
- Sophie kicks off with a light-hearted question about Robert’s alleged aversion to Arby’s; this segues into discussions of nostalgic fast food memories.
- Robert clarifies he never had beef with Arby’s and fondly remembers Hardee’s curly fries as a child.
- Sophie expresses her own disappointment with Arby’s following her switch to a gluten-free diet, but jokes she’d gladly promote them for sponsorship.
“As a kid all of the other curly fries were inferior to Hardee’s curly fries. Now this is like a six or seven year old me...” — Robert Evans, [01:27]
2. Which Bastards Surprised You the Most?
- [02:30]–[04:44]
- Listener asks if any “bastards” (show subjects) surprised Robert by how awful they were.
- Robert highlights Georgia Tann (abusive adoption mogul) as a story that exceeded his expectations for horror. He adds the Jamaican slave owner who meticulously documented his sexual violence and cruel punishments — shocking not just for violence but “the boredom inherent to a lot of the cruelty.”
- Sophie points to episodes covering child abuse at the Elan School and wilderness survival camps, lamenting the widespread, institutional nature of child abuse.
“It was upsetting to me in a way that I kind of was surprised by. Like, the boredom inherent to a lot of the cruelty in the slave trade... really did take me by surprise.” — Robert Evans, [04:13]
3. Child Abuse as a Pillar of Authoritarianism
- [05:01]–[07:31]
- Robert expands: child abuse is central to many oppressive ideologies, especially contemporary conservatism and fascism.
- He delineates the difference between discipline (necessary) and ownership (corrosive). The concept of parental rights as absolute underpins systemic abuse, making societal progress difficult.
“...violence to the ability to abuse children is the center of the conservative project today... one of the root evils of our society.” — Robert Evans, [06:27]
4. Behind the Scenes: Sophie’s Role
- [07:31]–[08:12]
- Sophie addresses frequent listener questions about her on-camera behavior: she’s not ‘distracted’, but following the episode script and managing technical production.
5. Australian and Mexican ‘Bastards’
- [08:12]–[11:30]
- Robert discusses challenges in covering Australian historical villains: unfamiliarity, plus overlap with podcasts like The Dollop. Invites fans to suggest lesser-known figures, especially in sticky threads on the subreddit.
- For Mexico, Pancho Villa is of interest but Robert’s unsure how to categorize him. Notes importance of that era for military doctrine.
“It happens with Lions Led by Donkeys, it’s not a big deal, right? It’s history. We’re all allowed to talk about history...” — Robert Evans, [09:05]
6. Favorite Topic of 2025
- [12:19]–[14:06]
- Robert singles out the “Zizian” episodes as a highlight. He’s proud of dissecting the cult’s logic — how basic assumptions can snowball into extreme violent ideology.
“You start from like some fairly basic logical arguments that lead you to this completely unhinged and murderous worldview in a fairly short span of time...” — Robert Evans, [13:15]
7. Revisiting and Unfinished Bastards
- [14:06]–[15:19]
- Himmler and (surprisingly) Hitler remain unfinished or deserving deeper exploration; previous Hitler episodes were topic-focused, never a full biography.
- Robert expresses nostalgia for episodes about L. Ron Hubbard but feels the material is exhausted.
8. Dream Guests
- [15:19]–[16:31]
- Paul F. Tompkins: dream guest, already appeared, but Robert would love the right episode fit in future.
- Werner Herzog: more for personal interaction (“...cook an elaborate dinner together”) than podcasting.
- Shaquille O'Neal: Sophie pitches the idea playfully.
9. Which Era Had the Most Bastards?
- [16:37]–[21:51]
- Robert identifies 1850–1950 as “prime bastard territory” due to technological/social upheaval and the rise of journalism.
- He reflects on how modern technology empowers “bastards” with unprecedented reach (naming social media moguls and referencing J.K. Rowling as an example of modern historical villainy).
“Not that she would have been a better person. She just wouldn’t have made her bigotry everyone else’s problem to the extent that she can.” — Robert Evans, [21:26]
10. Did the Show Change Your Views?
- [22:00]–[25:27]
- The show has reinforced Robert’s pre-existing skepticism of concentrated power and wealth.
- He’s grown less optimistic about reconciliation with figures responsible for mass harm, criticizing soft historical responses to Nazis and Confederates as mistakes.
- Advocates for more severe reckonings with architects of injustice; believes leniency perpetuates cycles of abuse and harm.
“I am a believer in punishing the folks who are doing this right now. And I simply don’t see any other way that this country can move forward and have any hope of a better future without going through a period of extreme ugliness.” — Robert Evans, [23:46]
11. Gardening Plans
- [25:27]–[28:08]
- Robert admits he “half-assed it” in 2025, with potatoes growing wild in his yard as minor consolation. He’s uncertain if he’ll renew focus this year.
- Sheep and goat population reduction is a priority.
- Sophie is teaming up with Sarah Marshall for spring gardening.
12. What Brought You Joy?
- [28:20]–[31:28]
- For Robert: partnership with Sophie and creating meaningful work and community for friends.
- Behind the Bastards’ audience and its impact — especially fundraising for causes — is a source of pride.
- Sophie is cheered by seeing the team together, notably at live events like the successful charity show.
“...we’ve been able to build basically, like, a little sanctuary for a small chunk of, like, weirdos that I love, and I’m proud of that.” — Robert Evans, [28:54]
13. Advice for Listeners
- [31:28]–[33:58]
- Robert offers comforting perspective for those feeling overwhelmed by negative news and social media:
- Remember, much of your hopelessness is engineered by media and tech overlords for profit.
- It’s not weak to feel overwhelmed — billions are spent making you feel that way.
- Staying aware of this manipulation can help counteract despair.
- Sophie’s advice: find people who share your weird interests and become friends with them.
- Robert offers comforting perspective for those feeling overwhelmed by negative news and social media:
“Your emotional state in that moment is not purely based on the reality of what you’re reading about... it is also the product of a concerted effort to make you hopeless and enraged at all times.” — Robert Evans, [33:42]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Arby’s sponsorship:
“I’ll spread whatever lies you want. There’s lead in fucking Chick-fil-A, you know, I don’t care.” — Robert Evans, [02:18] -
On the child abuse and authoritarianism:
“Children are the property of their parents. ... That’s a dominant political belief for a lot of the country, it’s upsetting...” — Robert Evans, [05:09] -
On societal rot:
“Unless you fix the way children are treated and educated ... you can’t fix a lot of the other problems.” — Robert Evans, [07:07] -
On J.K. Rowling and modern villainy:
“This is not just a person who wrote some books people liked and also has some bigoted opinions. ... No, this is a person who has turned themselves into an activist and is dedicating their time and their money to hurting a specific group of people as much as she possibly can... And I don’t think something someone would have been like her would have been in a position to do in an earlier era. Right.” — Robert Evans, [21:04] -
On the grind of news and social media:
"You are feeling that way because billions of dollars have been devoted...to making you feel that way because it’s good for Mark Zuckerberg’s bottom line." — Robert Evans, [33:11] -
On community:
"Find people that like the same weird shit as you and become friends with them. Yeah, that's what I did." — Sophie Lichterman, [33:50] -
On loving the audience:
"I love about 40% of you, statistically speaking. Bye." — Robert Evans, [34:02]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Fast Food Lore — [00:36]–[02:30]
- Most Surprising Bastards — [02:30]–[04:44]
- Child Abuse as Authoritarian Tool — [05:01]–[07:31]
- Behind the Scenes (Sophie) — [07:31]–[08:12]
- International Bastards (Australia/Mexico) — [08:12]–[11:30]
- Favorite Topics of 2025 — [12:19]–[14:06]
- Unfinished Stories/Dream Guests — [14:06]–[16:31]
- Historical Era Full of Bastards — [16:37]–[21:51]
- Has the Show Changed Your Views? — [22:00]–[25:27]
- Gardening and Goats — [25:27]–[28:08]
- What Brought You Joy — [28:20]–[31:28]
- Closing Reflections & Advice — [31:28]–[34:02]
Overall Tone
The conversation is frank, sometimes bleak but threaded with irreverence and camaraderie. The hosts’ mutual respect, dark wit, and genuine engagement with listeners shine through. The episode balances historical seriousness with behind-the-scenes transparency and well-timed humor, staying true to the spirit that draws audiences to Behind the Bastards.