About This Episode
What is this episode about?
The episode "ShortHand: Vlad the Impaler - The Real Dracula" from RedHanded covers the life and afterlife of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula, examining the brutal legends that surround the historical ruler. Released as part of a month of Halloween-themed episodes, the ShortHand format tackles the stories of his savagery, including an infamous account of him dining amid hundreds of thousands of impaled enemies.
The episode traces how these gruesome tales became woven into the modern vampire myth, drawing a direct line between the historical figure and the blood-sucking legend that followed him through the centuries. The exploration of this connection is detailed further in The Real Dracula, which lays out how fact and folklore merged into one of history's most enduring horror figures.
Hosts and release
Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire host RedHanded, a true crime podcast examining serial killers, cults and lesser-known cases through a cultural lens. The show runs to roughly 400 episodes, releases weekly, and is available on Spotify and Amazon Music, with bonus content offered exclusively through Patreon. This ShortHand episode, number 243, runs 27 minutes and was released on October 2, 2026, as part of the show's seasonal run of spooky, Halloween-focused installments.
