Nicolae Ceaușescu was born into a poor Romanian peasant family in 1918, and by the end of his life, he was one of the most notorious dictators of the 20th century. From escaping an abusive father to becoming an apprentice shoemaker, young Nicolae’s early life set the stage for a rise fueled by ambition, ideology, and a shocking disregard for human rights. Introduced to communism at a young age, he quickly climbed the ranks of Romania’s underground political movement, eventually seizing power and ruling with an iron fist.

Comedians Robert Bacon and Mike Kauffman trace the bizarre, brutal, and occasionally absurd life of Ceaușescu, exploring how a village kid became a man whose policies led to immense suffering, eccentric displays of power, and a dramatic downfall that the world couldn’t ignore.It’s a story of ambition, ideology, and human folly—perfectly suited for Mistakes Were Made.

Keywords:
Nicolae Ceaușescu podcast, Romanian dictator history, Mistakes Were Made podcast, comedy history podcast, 20th century dictators, weird history stories, Romanian history podcast, communist leaders history, human folly in history, history of Romania, funny history podcast.