Herod the Great was one of the most powerful and feared rulers of the ancient world. Rising from an outsider family with strong Roman connections, Herod fought his way to the throne through war, political alliances, and ruthless violence. Best known from the biblical story surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, Herod became infamous for his paranoia, executions, and alleged order to kill the children of Bethlehem in the Massacre of the Innocents. Yet he was also a brilliant builder who transformed Judea with massive projects like the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem and the fortress of Masada. This episode explores Herod’s turbulent rise to power, his brutal reign, his conquest of Jerusalem, the murders of his own family members, and the lasting legacy of a king remembered as both a political genius and a terrifying tyrant.

Pedro Rodrigues Filho, known as Pedrinho Matador, was one of Brazil’s most notorious serial killers, claiming over 100 victims throughout his life. Born into a violent home, he committed his first murders at just 14 years old and went on to target criminals, gang members, and even his own father. Much of his killing took place inside prison, where he claimed to be delivering justice. Despite being sentenced to hundreds of years, he was eventually released due to Brazilian law. Later becoming a public figure, his life ended in 2023 when he was assassinated — closing the chapter on one of the most disturbing and complex figures in true crime history.

Once again join Angela and her special guest, her husband, Tony for our two year anniversary show! In this episode we rank the most horrible humans from all of the episodes from the second year of the Horrible Humans in History podcast and reveal our choice for the most horrible human that we have covered during our first two years.