Behind the Bastards Part One: Alfred Hugenberg: The Elon Musk of Weimar Germany
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Apr 8, 2025 
Amanda Montell, author of "Cultish" and a cults expert, joins the discussion about Alfred Hugenberg, a key player in the rise of Nazi Germany. They explore his morally ambiguous political strategies, drawing unsettling parallels to modern entrepreneurship. Their conversation highlights Hugenberg's unification efforts and his complex relationship with nationalism and anti-Semitism. With humor and insights, they delve into the dangers of aggressive nationalism and the societal impacts of his actions in a transformative era.
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Worse than Nazis
- Alfred Hugenberg, unlike typical German figures of the early 1930s, wasn't better than the Nazis.
- He facilitated their rise to power, making him arguably worse.
Wrong Script
- Robert Evans mistakenly sent Sophie the wrong script.
- He was up until 6 a.m. working on the episode about Alfred Hugenberg.
Hugenberg and Musk Comparison
- Alfred Hugenberg is comparable to Elon Musk in his role in enabling the Nazi regime.
- Both share similarities in their actions, despite Hugenberg not being a Nazi himself.
