Behind the Bastards

Part Two: Behind the Bastards Q&A: 2026 Edition

January 15, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Robert Evans believes that the early 20th century (1850-1950) contained the most 'bastards per capita' due to technological advancement providing new opportunities for power grabs, while noting that modern technology makes current bastards more visible. 
  • Robert Evans has become convinced that achieving a better future requires a reckoning and severe punishment for those currently attempting to destroy civil society, citing the insufficient punishment of Nazis and Confederate leaders as historical failures. 
  • Robert Evans finds the evolution of belief systems, specifically how logical arguments can quickly lead to unhinged and murderous worldviews like that of the Zizians, to be the most interesting aspect of his research. 

Segments

Arby’s Lore and Fast Food
Copied to clipboard!
(00:02:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert Evans has negative feelings toward Arby’s due to a bad gluten-free experience, contrasting it with childhood fondness for Hardy’s curly fries.
  • Summary: Robert Evans expressed Arby’s anger because it was one of the last fast foods he ate before stopping gluten consumption, finding the experience terrible. He reminisced about loving Hardy’s curly fries as a child in St. Louis, believing they were superior to other fast-food curly fries at the time. He joked that he would praise Arby’s if they sponsored the show.
Most Surprising Bastard Awfulness
Copied to clipboard!
(00:04:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The inherent boredom and casual cruelty detailed in the diary of a Jamaican slave owner surprised Robert Evans more than the known facts of sexual violence during slavery.
  • Summary: Robert Evans cited Georgia Tann, who was abusive despite creating modern adoption, as a surprising bastard. He was particularly shocked by the details in a Jamaican slave owner’s diary, such as making enslaved people defecate in each other’s mouths or rubbing pickle spices into open wounds. This revealed a laziness and casual cruelty driven by boredom among those who failed in other societal roles.
Child Abuse in Bad Movements
Copied to clipboard!
(00:07:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The commonality of child abuse in Western political and cultural movements, and its centrality to the modern conservative project, is a root societal evil.
  • Summary: Robert Evans noted how common child abuse is across various bad movements, including wilderness camps and survival schools. He argued that the ability to abuse children is a core pillar of fascism, rooted in the belief that children are the property of their parents. He stressed that societal views on parental rights must change to fix other major problems, as children require guidance but should not be treated as property.
Behind the Scenes Recording Process
Copied to clipboard!
(00:09:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Sophie Lichterman follows a script displayed on her phone, looking upward because the recording camera is positioned above her head.
  • Summary: Sophie Lichterman clarified that her apparent phone usage during recording is her following the script, which is displayed on her phone. She noted that the camera placement is above her head, requiring her to look up, which is why she appears to be looking away or messing with her phone.
Future Australian and Mexican Bastards
Copied to clipboard!
(00:10:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert Evans plans to cover more Australian bastards but avoids topics recently covered by The Dollop, and he is interested in covering Pancho Villa, uncertain if he fits the bastard or freedom fighter category.
  • Summary: Robert Evans mentioned a strong recent episode on the island of Gary concerning justified violence against natives, indicating interest in more Australian subjects. He avoids overlap with The Dollop podcast, which has covered many Australian figures. For Mexican bastards, he wants to cover Pancho Villa, recognizing the complexity of classifying him as either a bastard or a freedom fighter due to his role in modern counterinsurgency doctrine.
Favorite and Revisit Bastard Topics
Copied to clipboard!
(00:17:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert Evans was most satisfied with the Zizian episodes because they detailed the thought process leading to their unhinged worldview, and he intends to cover Hitler’s origins in 2026.
  • Summary: Robert Evans felt most satisfied with the Zizian episodes because they explained the progression from basic logic to a murderous worldview, which he found more interesting than just listing their beliefs. He noted that while he has covered many facets of Hitler, he still needs to dedicate an episode specifically to Hitler’s childhood and origins. He expressed missing covering L. Ron Hubbard but feels he has covered everything significant about him.
Dream Guests and Historical Eras
Copied to clipboard!
(00:20:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert Evans dreams of cooking with Werner Herzog and would love to have Paul F. Tompkins back, while identifying the 1850-1950 era as having the most bastards per capita.
  • Summary: Paul F. Tompkins remains a dream guest whom Robert Evans hopes to bring back for a perfect episode, having recently received a shout-out from him. Robert Evans would prefer to cook with Werner Herzog rather than interview him, believing cooking would be a better way to connect. He believes the late 19th/early 20th century was prime bastard territory due to the rise of modern journalism documenting more figures, alongside rapid political disruption creating power opportunities.
Bastards in Modern Times
Copied to clipboard!
(00:24:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Modern bastards are not necessarily more numerous than in the past, but they possess the largest and most visible microphones due to control over social media algorithms.
  • Summary: Robert Evans suggests that while the percentage of bastards might not be higher now than in the 1850-1950 period, they have never been so visible due to controlling the entire media ecosystem. Social media algorithms are tailored by these figures to keep the public enraged and scrolling, which benefits their bottom line. He used J.K. Rowling as an example of someone whose current platform allows her to actively harm a group, something less possible in earlier eras.
Views Changed by Hosting the Show
Copied to clipboard!
(00:30:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Hosting the show reinforced the belief that power and large sums of money corrupt, leading Robert Evans to strongly advocate for a punitive reckoning against those currently destroying civil society.
  • Summary: Robert Evans stated that the show reinforced his belief that giving people power and large amounts of money damages them and makes them harmful to others. He is now convinced that progressive or liberal leaders must enact a reckoning against current destroyers of civil society, similar to how he believes the US should have punished Confederate leaders more severely after the Civil War. He feels that letting people who commit atrocities live peacefully afterward is unethical.
Gardening and Farm Plans for 2026
Copied to clipboard!
(00:34:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert Evans plans to increase potato cultivation and reduce his herd size of sheep and goats, while Sophie Lichterman plans to garden with Sarah Marshall.
  • Summary: Robert Evans admitted to half-assing his gardening in the previous year due to exhaustion following the 2024 election and his father’s death, but he intends to grow more potatoes. He is trying to reduce his herd of sheep and goats, looking for friends to take some, though he is reluctant to part with his hand-trained ram, Sophie. Sophie Lichterman plans to utilize a good patch of dirt at Robert’s house to grow things with her friend, the gardener Sarah Marshall.
Sources of Joy and Listener Support
Copied to clipboard!
(00:37:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert Evans derives joy from building a supportive employment sanctuary for friends and the audience’s consistent, intentional support during fundraisers.
  • Summary: Robert Evans feels satisfaction in building a sanctuary for friends and colleagues through the show, providing jobs and health insurance. He is proud that the show delivers important news, noting that ‘It could happen here’ resonates with many listeners. He deeply respects the audience’s financial efforts, ensuring fundraisers are intentional, which results in tens of thousands of dollars being raised quickly for those in need.
Final Advice on Hopelessness
Copied to clipboard!
(00:40:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners should remember that feelings of hopelessness and rage are intentionally manufactured by social media platforms to benefit their owners’ bottom lines.
  • Summary: Robert Evans advised listeners that the constant bombardment of miserable news is designed to keep them angry, scrolling, and engaged, which benefits the bottom line of tech executives. While acknowledging the reality of the problems, he urged listeners to remember that their emotional state is partly a product of this concerted effort to induce hopelessness. He concluded by encouraging listeners to find and connect with other weirdos who share their interests.