Behind the Bastards Behind the Bastards

Part Two: Radovan Karadžić: The Genocidal Dictator Who Became a New-Age Guru

Sep 24, 2026 · 1h 17m

Summary

In this episode, hosts Jamie and Robert discuss Radovan Karadžić’s rise from a disgraced psychiatrist to the dictator of the Bosnian Serb Republic. They explore how he leveraged the Green Party and anti-communist sentiment to build a nationalist base, framing Bosniaks as an existential threat. The discussion details his alliance with Slobodan Milošević and General Ratko Mladić, culminating in the brutal siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica genocide.

Topics discussed

Intro, host banter, and sponsor reads Sponsor segments for Airtasker, TNA, and Times Square Karadzic's background and joining the Green Party Folk metal, alternative medicine, and nationalist politics Bosnian secession and the rise of the SDS Mujahideen presence and Al-Qaeda connections Croatian nationalism and the role of psychiatrists Sponsor segments for ViiV Healthcare and TNA Milošević's rise and the breakup of Yugoslavia Karadzic as leader of the Republika Srpska The Siege of Sarajevo and Karadzic's poetry War crimes under Mladić and Karadzic's oversight The Srebrenica massacre and post-war hiding The international manhunt and surveillance failures Karadzic's reinvention as an energy healer in Serbia The 'David' persona and the sperm cupping scandal Sponsor segments for ViiV, Airtasker, and DoMore Analysis of the alternative medicine refuge and media coverage Reflections on Karadzic's escape and cultural impact Conclusion, final sponsor reads, and sign-off
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