Quickly into our relationship, my husband, James began educating me on all things Canadian — which celebrities hail from Canada, why the best comedians are Canadian, and which inventions we owe to Canadians (like insulin & the mighty Wonderbra). That tradition continues today. So imagine my surprise when I discovered a rather famous and prolific Canadian thief, Daniel Blanchard — someone James had never heard of.

I came across A Most Audacious Heist while browsing for something a little different from my usual listening lineup. With its mix of history and high-stakes true crime, it immediately stood out as the kind of story that could keep me hooked.

This 10-episode series braids together two timelines: 19th-century Empress Elisabeth of Austria and 20th-century thief Daniel Blanchard. In the podcast, he’s referred to simply as Daniel, though elsewhere he appears under his full name, Gerald Daniel Blanchard — so if you go looking for him online, don’t be thrown by the variation.

The story crescendos with Blanchard’s bold night-time parachute jump onto the roof of the Schönbrunn Palace to steal the last remaining “Sisi Star” once belonging to the Empress. Having pulled off this extraordinary feat, he went on to rob $750,000 from ATMs in Canadian banks that had not yet opened to the public.

If you’re looking for a podcast that feels part Ocean’s Eleven, part Mission Impossible, A Most Audacious Heist offers an entertaining escape.

Have you listened to this one, or do you have a favorite true-crime podcast that hooked you? I’d love to hear your recommendations.

Rather than owning up to my sheer stupidity about world history, I’d prefer to blame the American education system. What I was taught was generally so boring—and so incredibly U.S.-centric—that I learned very little about the rest of the world. This included neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico.

Never mind the recent political tensions between the U.S. and Canada—when I moved to Canada 13 years ago, one of the first things Canadians would say to me was:
“Did you know we burned down your White House? Did you know we won the War of 1812?”
Well, since this point came up so often, I quickly learned to retort, “Duh, yes I know that!” (Even though I had literally just learned it months earlier.)

All this is to say: I’m quite embarrassed by my own ignorance of world history—and even worse, geography. So when I found out we were moving to Spain, I figured I’d better get a jump on learning the history. That’s how I discovered the podcast Behind the Bastards.

Hosted by journalist and author Robert Evans, Behind the Bastards (active since 2018) explores the worst people in history—past and present. Robert and his rotating guests tackle “bastards” with deep research, biting analysis, and a healthy dose of dark humor. There’s generous swearing, which feels wholly appropriate when describing some of the worst humans to ever exist.

My Gateway Episode: Francisco Franco

My entry into the podcast was through Spain’s own Francisco Franco. The two-part series was released in January 2021:

• Behind the Insurrections: The Birth of Spanish Fascism – Part 1 (January 26, 2021)

• How Fascism Won the Spanish Civil War – Part 2 (January 28, 2021)

These episodes sent me down a rabbit hole of Spanish history. They’re sharp, funny, deeply researched, and somehow manage to balance humor with respect for the gravity of the topic.

If You’re Feeling Brave (or Horrified About Humanity)

Here are some other standout episodes that I’d recommend:

• Part One of Six: Henry Kissinger – Start here if you want to feel deeply disillusioned about international politics.

• Hitler: Y.A. Fiction Fan Girl (May 22, 2018) – Yes, you read that right.

• Part One: Tsar Nicholas II Was a Real Dick (February 15, 2022) – History class never covered this tone.

• Part One of Four: MKUltra – When the CIA Tried to Destroy Free Will (October 11, 2022) – This one’s as wild as it sounds.

I’ll share more of my favorite podcasts in future posts, but Behind the Bastards deserves its own spotlight. It’s funny, sobering, and sneakily educational—especially for someone making up for a whole lot of classroom omissions.

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With so many podcasts out there, the hardest part is just finding the ones that click. Maybe you’ll share my taste — or maybe you’ll just discover how weird I am. Either way, I’m launching this new section of the blog to highlight my favourite podcast series and specific episodes I’ve really enjoyed. I’d love for you to share your thoughts — and your favourite listens too.

🎧 First up: Heavyweight

Hosted by Jonathan Goldstein, Heavyweight is all about helping people resolve unresolved moments from their past — misunderstandings, regrets, lingering questions. Jonathan's attempts to help often involve tracking down lost friends, reconnecting estranged family members, or (yes, really) contacting the Vatican in an attempt to get a curse lifted.

The show mixes humour, heart, and some truly unexpected twists. It’s one of those rare podcasts that leaves you feeling just a little more human. Even James — not usually one for “touchy-feely” content — found it interesting and prompted some good discussion between us.

Start from the beginning or skip around — most episodes stand on their own. A new season is launching in September under Pushkin Industries, so now’s the perfect time to dive in.