Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

The summer of 1914 was dazzling. Electric lights blazed in great cities, ocean liners crossed the Atlantic in record time, and the world was bound together by telegraph wires and trade. Politicians, scholars, and ordinary people alike told themselves the same comforting story: war was impossible in a modern, interconnected age. And then, with the crack of a gunshot in Sarajevo, that illusion shattered—and the world plunged into the bloodiest conflict humanity had ever seen.

In this episode of The Dark History Podcast, Rob takes you into that fragile moment before the fall: a Europe brimming with confidence but trembling on hidden fault lines of nationalism, empire, and pride. You’ll hear how Germany’s restless ambition collided with Britain’s naval supremacy, how France dreamed of revenge, how Russia and Austria-Hungary tangled in the Balkans, and how a single assassination lit the fuse of catastrophe.

But this is not just a story about the past. It’s a warning. As Rob draws eerie parallels to our own time—rising powers, arms races, fragile alliances, and volatile flashpoints—the question becomes impossible to ignore: are we, too, sleepwalking toward disaster? Or can the lessons of 1914 open our eyes before it’s too late?

With immersive storytelling and unsettling echoes across a century, this episode isn’t just about history—it’s about the fragile present we’re living in right now.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21

Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

In 1629, the Dutch East India Company’s flagship Batavia set sail from Amsterdam, loaded with silver and ambition. She was meant to be a vessel of wealth, glory, and trade. Instead, she became the stage for one of the most horrifying tragedies in maritime history.

When the Batavia struck a reef off the coast of Western Australia, nearly 300 survivors scrambled onto barren islands with no food, no water, and no hope of rescue. But their greatest threat was not the sea—it was each other.

At the heart of the disaster rose Jeronimus Cornelisz, a failed apothecary who turned desperation into a reign of terror. Under his command, Beacon Island descended into a nightmare of mass murder, enslavement, and cruelty almost too brutal to believe. Children were drowned, women were forced into concubinage, and more than 120 men, women, and children were slaughtered in the sand.

Yet even in the face of horror, resistance flickered. Wiebbe Hayes, a low-ranking soldier left to die, rallied his men, built a fort from coral, and stood against Cornelisz’s tyranny. His defiance would become the one spark of hope in a story otherwise drenched in blood.

This episode takes you from the suffocating decks of the Batavia to the desolate islands where order collapsed and savagery reigned. It is a tale of greed, power, survival, and the thin line that separates civilization from chaos.

Join me as we uncover the wreck of the Batavia and the nightmare that followed—one of history’s darkest voyages.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21

Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

The Invisible Killer: Gas, Grief, and the New London School Explosion

On March 18th, 1937, an ordinary school day in East Texas became one of the darkest tragedies in American history. At 3:17 p.m., a massive natural gas explosion ripped through the pride of a booming oil town—the New London School—instantly reducing a state-of-the-art building to rubble and silencing nearly 300 innocent lives, most of them children.

In this chilling episode of The Dark History Podcast, Rob takes you deep inside the forgotten disaster that reshaped safety laws forever. Through vivid storytelling, you’ll step into the classrooms of that fateful afternoon, hear the blast that shook the ground for miles, and witness the chaos as parents and oilfield workers clawed through the wreckage with bare hands in a desperate search for survivors.

But this isn’t just a story of devastation—it’s a haunting lesson about hidden dangers, misplaced pride, and how one invisible killer forced America to change. From the rise of East Texas oil money to the desperate aftermath and the legacy that still lingers today, this episode uncovers why the New London School Explosion remains one of the most important—and least remembered—events in U.S. history.

If you’ve ever wondered why natural gas smells like rotten eggs, or how tragedy can spark lasting change, this story will stay with you long after the episode ends.

🎧 Listen now to uncover:

• The rise of New London, Texas during the oil boom of the 1930s.
• How one small, invisible danger—odourless natural gas—turned a normal school day into catastrophe.
• The desperate rescue efforts, the staggering loss of 294 lives, and the grief that swallowed a community whole.
• The lasting impact of the disaster, including the safety measures we still rely on today.

This is history at its darkest—and its most unforgettable.

👉 Subscribe to The Dark History Podcast and never miss an episode where we pull back the veil on humanity’s most tragic, disturbing, and overlooked stories.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21

Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

Step into the blood-soaked streets of 13th-century northern Italy, where political rivalry was a death sentence and mercy was a forgotten word. In this episode of The Dark History Podcast, we uncover the chilling story of Ezzelino III da Romano, a warlord so feared that even Dante placed him in the Seventh Circle of Hell.

Ruling during the brutal conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, Ezzelino rose from minor nobility to become one of the most infamous figures in medieval Europe. Aligning himself with the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, he carved out a vast domain through intimidation, political manipulation, and calculated slaughter. His reign was marked by torture chambers, public executions, and the eradication of entire families.

At the height of his power, Ezzelino laid siege to the proud Guelph stronghold of Padua in 1256. What followed was not a victory, but a massacre—thousands killed, priests mutilated, women and children slaughtered, and the city reduced to a smouldering warning. Chroniclers claimed that in just two years, over 11,000 people perished under his rule. Whether exaggerated or not, the terror he inspired was real.

We trace Ezzelino’s rise, his calculated brutality, and his inevitable downfall as the Pope declared a crusade against him—a rare honour reserved for only the most despised of enemies. Captured at the Battle of Cassano in 1259, Ezzelino refused food, medicine, or confession, dying in prison as the cities he once ruled celebrated his demise.

From fortress intrigue and political betrayal to siege warfare and mass executions, this is the story of a man who turned cruelty into a system of governance. Perfect for listeners drawn to medieval history, true crime, and the study of absolute power, this episode serves as both a deep historical dive and a grim cautionary tale.

Join us as we bring Ezzelino III da Romano out of the shadows of history, to stand once more in the light—if only to remind us how far human cruelty can reach.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21

Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

Trapped in total darkness. No sound, no escape—just the slow breakdown of your body and mind. In this chilling episode of The Dark History Podcast, we descend into the terrifying world of the oubliette, one of the most inhumane torture devices ever devised. Used across medieval Europe, these hidden pits were built to erase people completely—no trial, no grave, no memory. Just a sealed trapdoor and silence.

Join host Rob as he explores the origins of the oubliette, the castles that hid them, and the horrifying experiences of those thrown inside. From secret executions in France to political disappearances in England and Ireland, we uncover real stories of the forgotten—victims driven to madness in underground tombs barely wide enough to sit in. And while these torture chambers may seem like relics of the past, we’ll ask a disturbing question: have oubliettes truly disappeared, or have they just evolved?

Grim, immersive, and unforgettable—this episode will haunt you. Don’t listen alone.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21

Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

In this gripping episode of The Dark History Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most chilling and overlooked forms of human trafficking in history: shanghaiing. From the mid-1800s to the early 20th century, thousands of men were abducted from port cities like Portland, San Francisco, and Liverpool—drugged, beaten, or tricked into signing forged contracts, only to wake up trapped aboard ships bound for Asia.

This wasn’t just the work of shady criminals in back alleys. It was a full-blown industry. Crimps, saloon keepers, hotel owners, and even police officers played their part, all for a quick payout. Some victims were lured by the promise of work or a warm bed. Others were dropped through trapdoors into underground tunnels and chained in holding cells until a ship was ready. Few escaped. Most were never seen again.

You’ll hear the real names behind the crimes, like the notorious “Bunko” Kelly, who once claimed to have sold a ship a crew of corpses. We'll uncover how this brutal system thrived in plain sight for decades, and how changing laws, technology, and public outrage eventually brought it down.

This isn’t the maritime adventure story you’ve been told. It’s about organised trafficking, greed, and the silent suffering of thousands who were stolen from familiar streets and forced into a life at sea. The legacy of shanghaiing lives on in the sealed trapdoors and forgotten tunnels beneath modern cities.

If you're fascinated by the dark undercurrents of history—the parts that rarely make it into textbooks—this episode is a must-listen.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21

Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

In this gripping episode of The Dark History Podcast, we journey back to 16th-century Germany and uncover one of the most terrifying uprisings in religious history — the Anabaptist Rebellion in Münster.

It’s 1534. The Protestant Reformation has split Europe apart, and in the city of Münster, a new nightmare is about to take shape. Led by self-proclaimed prophets Jan Matthys and Jan van Leiden, the city descends into religious extremism, brutal theocracy, forced polygamy, torture, starvation, and finally — total collapse.

This isn’t just a story about faith gone wrong — it’s about how hope, fear, and power can twist ordinary people into something unrecognisable. From mass executions to cannibalism, and from gold robes to rusted cages that still hang today, the so-called New Jerusalem became one of the darkest episodes in European history.

Whether you're into true crime, cults, religious history, or the strange and obscure, this episode has it all:

• Doomsday prophets and violent revolutions
• Fanatical leaders claiming divine visions
• Polygamy, torture, and mass starvation
• A siege so brutal it turned people into cannibals
• And the haunting legacy that still lingers in Münster’s skyline

Perfect for fans of: dark history, religious cults, historical rebellions, apocalyptic movements, Anabaptists, and medieval Europe.

⭐ Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — it massively boosts visibility and helps us bring you more of the darkest stories history has to offer.

👉 Join us as we pull back the curtain on The Kingdom of the Damned — and discover just how far people will go when they think God is on their side.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21

Send us a text. Thank you for your messages I really appreciate it 😁

Whilst I continue with my recovery, I’m handing things over this week to the brilliant team at Midday Movies — part of the Umbrella Collective and one of the sharpest film podcasts out there.

In this episode, Stephen and Laura take a deep dive into Robert Eggers’ 2024 Nosferatu — a gothic vampire thriller and long-standing passion project from the director behind The Witch and The Lighthouse. Released over Christmas, this eerie retelling stars Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, and Willem Dafoe, and brings new life to one of cinema’s oldest monsters.

Expect a rich discussion covering not just the film itself, but the full legacy of Nosferatu — from the 1922 German expressionist original (A Symphony of Horror) to the historical roots of Dracula and the cinematic vampire as a whole. Stephen and Laura also get into Eggers’ obsession with historical accuracy, the film’s slow, creeping dread, and why this latest version stands out in an already crowded genre.

It’s not my usual format — but it’s dark, atmospheric, and steeped in film history. Perfect listening while I rest up. I’ll be back soon with new episodes.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

Instagram: @dark_history21