Undercover in Extremist Networks

In this episode of Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal, we speak with Barbora Hola, Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.She conducted research on informers in communist Prague. How many were there? How important were they to the regime? Why did people become informers? And how should they have been treated after the fall of the regime?No only an interesting, but also a deeply personal conversation, as Barbora's own father was also an informer.

In this episode of Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal, we speak with Julia Ebner - an expert in online radicalization, conspiracy theories, and the threats they pose to democracy.As part of her research, she went undercover in extremist online communities and even attended real-world meetings. She witnessed how movements like QAnon grew from small online forums into the mainstream.She’s the author of three bestselling books: Rage, Going Dark, and Going Mainstream.

In this episode of Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal, we speak with Berber van de Woude. She is a former diplomat who worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. She was stationed, among other places, in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. During her time there, she witnessed numerous violations of international law, but the Dutch government did not intervene. In her view, the system is rigged, and she no longer wanted to be a part of it. She resigned and now chairs The Rights Forum, an advocacy organization that focuses on Israel and Palestine and advocates for the enforcement of international law, including human rights.

In this episode of Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal, we speak with Jack El-Hai, author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, the book that inspired the movie Nuremberg.Together with Prof. Alette Smeulers (University of Groningen), we explore:How Jack El-Hai researched and wrote the bookHis insights on Hermann Göring and Douglas KelleyWhat the movie Nuremberg gets right — and what it leaves outWhether Nazi leaders were “ordinary men”What this history teaches us about perpetrators of mass atrocities🎧 Listen now #Nuremberg #HermannGöring #WWII #PsychologyOfEvil #MassAtrocities

Surviving a genocide and then living on while your parents, husband and 5 of your 8 children have been killed. It seems impossible but this is the story of Mama Lambert. An exceptionally wise, courageous and compassionate woman who survived the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994 and dedicated the rest of her life serving thousands of other victims and genocide survivors through counselling. In this podcast we share her story with her daughter Denise, who also miraculously survived the genocide and with Anne-Marie de Brouwer one of the founders of Mukomeze, a foundation that empowers survivors of sexual violence during the genocide in Rwanda and who worked with Mama Lambert for over 20 years. It is a remarkable and moving story about a woman who showed the strength and power to live on despite the terrible fate she, her family and loved ones suffered. Mama Lambert was a finalist to the USIP Women Building Peace Award 2020 and a recipient to the 'Voice Achievers Award African Community Service 2019’. She wrote a book about her own life called “For Those Who Do Not Believe in Miracles”. She also features in other books, including “And I Live On”, as well as on coffee bags with specialty coffee produced by Rwandan women she counselled. 

Most perpetrators of mass atrocities are men. Why? Is it biology or social pressure to fit into gender roles? Together with research professor Inger Skjelsbæk, we explore masculinity, femininity, and their roles in mass violence, including wartime sexual violence. #perpetrator #gender #war #violence

Are world leaders ever truly friends? In this episode of Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal?, we dive into the complex relationships between leaders like Trump, Netanyahu, Putin, and even North Korea’s regime. Joining us is Yuri van Hoef, a lecturer and expert in political friendships, to unpack how these connections work—or fail to work. Are these relationships real friendships, strategic alliances, or something else entirely? And what impact do they have on world peace?

Teaching is never easy, but it’s even more challenging when the subject is mass violence. With current conflicts like those in Ukraine and between Hamas and Israel, this topic is more polarized and sensitive than ever. In this episode, I talk with three experts in teaching: Alette Smeulers, Annalisa Battista, and Andy Aydin Aitchison. Annalisa and Andy share insights from a course they designed to help educators navigate the unique challenges of teaching this subject, along with findings from their research.

With the U.S. election on the horizon, we take a closer look at four key figures in Donald Trump’s inner circle: Stephen Miller, Lindsey Graham, Bill Barr, and Mitch McConnell. How have they shaped Trump’s policies, and what impact could they have on American democracy? In this episode, we explore these questions with Sanda van Dam, whose PhD research delves deep into Trump’s influential advisors. 

Do perpetrators feel remorse? In today’s episode, we try to find out by speaking with Mina Rauschenbach. She has interviewed many perpetrators from the Yugoslavia tribunal, from high-ranking officials to those lower in the chain of command. She shares with us how they reflect on their actions. Do they feel remorse, or do they believe they did nothing wrong? We also explore whether the legal system adequately takes into account the extraordinary circumstances in which these crimes were committed.