PODCAST

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

BBC Sounds

It’s good, bad, ugly - and very very funny. Changing the way we see heroes and villains in history.

comedy

All Episodes

31:42

Evil Animals - Bottlenose Dolphins

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/09/24

Bottlenose Dolphins. Smiley acrobatic boffins or nature’s smug psychopaths? Evil or Genius?Join comedian Russell Kane, zoologist Billy Heaney and comedian Lindsey Santoro as they deep-dive Bottlenose Dolphins.Additional material by: Eve Delaney & Christina RiggsResearcher: Catherine Beazley Recording Engineer: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Executive Producer: Paul Smith Production Coordinator: Liz Tuoy Producer: Simon NichollsEvil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production

38:18

Evil Animals - Hamsters

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/09/17

Join comedian Russell Kane as he gets to the bottom of hamsters (not that bottom). Are they cute little chaos merchants or agents of psychological warfare and cannibalism?Helping Russell decide whether hamsters are misunderstood marvels or pint-sized monsters are comedian Laura Smyth and zoologist and hamster expert Jules Howard.Additional material by: Eve Delaney & Christina RiggsResearcher: Catherine BeazleySound Recordist: Luke NagyDigital Editor: Jerry PealExecutive Producer: Paul

2:10

Welcome to Evil Animals...

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/08/13

Join comedian Russell Kane for Evil Animals. The feral sibling of Evil Genius.Russell is joined by special guests: comedian Laura Smyth, zoologist Jules Howard, comedian Ola Labib and Principal Curator of Diptera at the Natural History Museum, Erica McAlister.Hosted by Russell KaneAdditional material by: Eve Delaney & Christina Riggs Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Luke Nagy Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Executive Producer: Paul Smith Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls & Liz

43:59

Jackie Kennedy

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/07/30

Was Jackie Kennedy a stoic American icon? Or the greatest airbrusher of 20th Century history? Did she use her limited power in inventive ways to leave an impression, or did she wrestle to stay in the spotlight for personal gain? Amy Matthews, Ray Badran and Rajiv Karia are tasked with deciding whether Jackie Kennedy is evil or genius?Additional Material: Eve Delaney Researcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Paul SmithThe Producer

40:32

Nostradamus

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/07/23

Did he predict he'd be a subject on Evil Genius? Did he predict anything at all? Nostradamus is put under the microscope in this week's episode. Was he a mystic with an ability to peer into the future? Or a charlatan who used vague and cryptic language to hedge his bets? Richard Herring, Ola Labib and Pierre Novellie join Russell Kane to find out whether Michel De Nostredame was evil or genius.Additional Material: Eve DelaneyResearcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator:

37:18

Catherine The Great

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/07/16

Catherine 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 DelaneyResearcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah

31:38

Florence Nightingale

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/07/09

Was 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 DelaneyResearcher: Miriam

34:25

Marilyn Monroe

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/07/02

Was Marilyn Monroe a genius who beat the system to become a star? Or was she a career driven narcissist who perpetuated the sexism of old Hollywood? And does she have a case to answer for the toxic beauty standards with still live with today. Hannah Platt, Janine Harouni and Tony Hawks join Russell Kane to ask - if we can't handle her at her most evil, then do we deserve her at her most genius?.Additional Material: Eve DelaneyResearcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production

38:37

Father of bodybuilding, Joe Weider

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/06/25

You might not have heard of Joe Weider, but he was the man who invented modern bodybuilding. Formalised training, published magazines, birthed massive international competitions, and unearthed a megastar in Arnold Schwarzenegger. But was he a genius who built himself up from nothing to bring health and fitness mainstream? Or a charlatan who unleashed toxic masculinity on the world, who encouraged steroid use, and ripped people off on his way to making his fortunes? Jess Fostekew, Joe Sutherland and

41:29

Robert Maxwell

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/06/18

Was Robert Maxwell the defiant outsider who came from nothing to join Britain's elite? Or was he a bullying maniac whose power went unchecked? Was he a pioneer in business and politics who was ahead of his time? Or was he a fraud who nicked his employees pensions? And, did the man whose family tragically died in the holocaust actually commit a war crime himself?Tony Hawks, Janine Harouni and Hannah Platt join Russell Kane in the boardroom of Evil Genius to find out.Additional Material: Eve

34:51

Wicked: Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West)

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/06/11

Was she a tyrant in a tall hat — or the original girlboss, defying gravity and public opinion? Was she a product of her environment who experienced prejudice, and even if she was, does that allow her to terrorise Oz? Emmanuel Sonubi, Joe Sutherland and Jess Fostekew join the great and powerful Russell Kane to decide if Elphaba Thropp - The Wicked Witch of the West - is evil or genius.Additional Material: Eve DelaneyResearcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah

40:41

Napoleon

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/06/04

Napoleon Bonaparte. Was he a tiny tyrant who ruled with an iron first? Or a military mastermind who revolutionised warfare forever? Russell Kane reads from Napoleon's romantic fiction, tells of his battlefield exploits, and even shocking party trick that left women in tears.Celya AB, Glenn Moore and Johnny Cochrane join Russell Kane on the battlefield - who will win? Evil, or Genius?Additional Material: Eve Delaney Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah

35:38

Christine Keeler

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/05/28

Christine Keeler - was she the genius who used what she had to bring down the government? Or did she play fast and loose with national security. Russell Kane is joined by Sara Barron, Rachel Fairburn and Michael Odewale to delve into the life of the woman at the centre of the Profumo affair. A story of sex, violence, espionage and cold war tensions. It's what Evil Genius is all about.Additional Material: Eve DelaneyResearcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah

37:45

Harper Lee

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/05/21

Was Harper Lee a literary genius who helped spark the civil rights movement in America? Was she a selfish recluse who put her own interest above anyone else’s? And, in one of her last acts, did she tarnish her own legacy by betraying her most beloved character? Celya AB, Glenn Moore and Johnny Cochrane join Russell Kane in the courtroom of Evil Genius to find out.Additional Material: Eve DelaneyResearcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive

37:15

OJ Simpson

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/05/14

Was OJ Simpson an inspiring American rags-to-riches story, or a fame-hungry abuser?Michael Odewale, Sara Barron and Rachel Fairburn take a sip of ‘The Juice’. Was he a murderer who got away with it all? Was a victim of systemic racism in the US justice system? Our guests dig into his life, and debate the legacy of Orenthal James Simpson.Additional Material: Eve Delaney Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Paul SmithThe Producer

0:59

Evil Genius: Returning Soon

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/04/09

Evil Genius is back soon with more good, bad, ugly - and very, very funny. Hear it first on BBC Sounds.

35:22

Lawrence of Arabia

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/01/15

Did Lawrence of Arabia beautifully befriend the Arabs in WWI or savagely betray them? Should the king of guerrilla warfare be held accountable? What were his most surprising eccentricities? Our guests Susie McCabe, Desiree Burch and Ian Smith get stuck into the life of Thomas Edward Lawrence.Producer: Sasha BobakEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

32:37

Lady Macbeth

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/01/08

Was Lady Macbeth a cold-hearted killer or a grieving mother? Did she manipulate her husband or help him achieve his goals? Or was she simply in a very toxic relationship? Laura Smyth, Josh Jones and Johnny Cochrane decide... evil or genius.Producer: Sasha BobakEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

33:58

John D. Rockefeller

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2025/01/01

Money 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.

34:34

Oliver Cromwell

Evil Genius with Russell Kane ·

2024/12/25

Oliver 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.

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Evil Genius with Russell Kane

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