Podcast
Evil Genius with Russell Kane
Hosted by BBC Radio 4 · EN
It's good, bad, ugly - and very very funny. Changing the way we see heroes and villains in history.
54episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Catherine The Great
Jul 16, 202500:37:18Tap to summarizeCatherine the Great - was she as magnificent as her moniker suggests? Was she a reforming pioneer of a burgeoning empire, or an expansionist who reneged on promises to free the serfs? A radical empowerer of women, or a husband murderer with a proclivity for the equine? Rajiv Karia, Amy Matthews and Ray Badran join Russell Kane in the Russian palace of Evil Genius to find out.Additional Material: Eve Delaney Researcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Paul SmithThe Producer was Gwyn Rhys Davies. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.
Transcribe →Florence Nightingale
Jul 9, 202500:31:38Tap to summarizeWas Florence Nightingale a nursing pioneer, or a terror with a spreadsheet? Could the mother of modern nursing really have been a glorified doctor's receptionist from hell? Did her colonial attitudes towards race, and her perpetuation of the idea of 'women's jobs' hold us back as much as her healthcare revolution took us forward? Richard Herring, Ola Labib and Pierre Novellie join Russell Kane as they head to the frontline and find out.Additional Material: Eve Delaney Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Paul SmithThe Producer was Gwyn Rhys Davies. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.
Transcribe →John D. Rockefeller
Jan 1, 2025Tap to summarizeMoney makes the world go round... but does it make heroes or villains? Our guests Phil Wang, Lindsey Santoro and Katie Norris examine the life of the world's first-ever billionaire, weigh in on his ruthless tactics, and reflect on his motivations.Producer: Sasha Bobak Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Transcribe →Oliver Cromwell
Dec 25, 2024Tap to summarizeOliver Cromwell is a highly controversial figure, not least because he banned Christmas (fun sponge alert). Our guests Kerry Godliman, Helen Bauer and Glenn Moore evaluate his powerful reign, argue over his policies, and realise the trouble they’d have run into under his regime.Producer: Sasha Bobak Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Transcribe →George Harrison
Apr 4, 2024Tap to summarizeDaliso Chaponda, Catherine Bohart and Rachel Parris explore the enigma of the Quiet Beatle. Deeply spiritual hippie or deeply selfish hippiecrite? Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Transcribe →Marie Antoinette
Mar 7, 2024Tap to summarizeRachel Parris, Daliso Chaponda and Catherine Bohart on the original drama queen. Was the Last Queen of France just a spoiled child with huge hair who didn't know any better? Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Transcribe →Attila the Hun
Feb 1, 2024Tap to summarizeRobin Morgan, Gráinne Maguire and Athena Kugblenu ask: you OK, hun? Was Attila all that bad? Is a spike up the bum really the worst way to go, which is the best Hun gadget, and why is Gráinne such a fangirl?Producer Sally Heaven Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Transcribe →Marvin Gaye
Mar 30, 2023Tap to summarizeMaisie Adam, Ania Magliano and Marlon Davis wonder what was goin' on with the soul singer.
Transcribe →Adi Dassler, founder of Adidas
Mar 5, 2020Tap to summarizeDarren Harriott, Nathan Caton and Joanne McNally put the boot in to the sportswear giant.
Transcribe →Evil Genius is back on 27 February
Feb 20, 2020Tap to summarizeStarting with three sport episodes - two sports megastars and one king of sportswear
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