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
Listen ad-free on Castria