Secret Societies

When Francis Dashwood founded the London Hellfire Club, he was primarily interested in partying and starting quarrels. But by the early 1760s, the group's hijinx had destabilized the British Parliament, and threatened the course of England's future.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Black masses. Human sacrifice. Satanic rituals. Are these the practices of an 18th century secret society, or merely legend? The answer may never be known, as the members of the Hellfire Club cloaked their practices in shadow and rumor from the time it was founded.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By 1820, the Carbonari had enough influence within Naples to launch their long-awaited revolution. However, they soon realized that leading a government was much harder than overthrowing one.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early 1800s, the Italian Kingdom of Naples fell under the control of a succession of autocratic rulers. Desperate to have a say in their own governance, a group of Neapolitan citizens created the Carbonari—a revolutionary secret society that had their fair share of initiation ceremonies, complex symbols, and hierarchical organization.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are numerous theories about how actively engaged Yale’s Skull and Bones alumni are in implementing a “New World Order.” The Bonesmen may have already taken control of some of our most influential institutions, including high-ranking positions in government, but just how diabolical are their plans?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some people believe it’s basically just a fraternity. But others believe it’s something more sinister. Founded at Yale University in 1832, members of the Skull and Bones Society include titans of industry, business elite, and world political leaders—including three U.S. Presidents.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to SECRET SOCIETIES, Parcast’s newest original. Every Thursday starting January 9th, we shine a light on history’s most exclusive organizations. From the Illuminati and the Black Hand to the Order of the Nine Angles and the Hellfire Club—we’ll explore the impact each society actually had on the world around them. So get ready to discover the diabolical beliefs and radical actions you were never supposed to know about in the Parcast original series, SECRET SOCIETIES.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices