Join Jamie, Erin, and Matt as they dive into the extraordinary life of Toussaint Louverture—born into slavery, educated under the eyes of plantation masters, and soon the driving force behind the Caribbean’s most pivotal uprising. In this episode, we set the scene beyond Saint-Domingue’s brutal sugar-and-coffee world: we map the global stage of rival European powers, revolutions, and shifting alliances that shaped his path. Discover how a man described as short and unassuming rises to become a visionary leader whose name and legacy sparked abolitionist movements worldwide. We’ll explore the social hierarchies of the colony, the complexities of freedom and ownership, and the delicate balance between mercy and power that defined his approach to revolt and governance. It’s a story of resilience, strategy, and moral ambiguity—a reminder that history is rarely black-and-white, even when the man at the center is called the Black Spartacus.

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

Join hosts Erin, Jamie, and Matt as we unpack the life of the heretic pharaoh who upended centuries of religious practices for a sun disc with hands. Along with his famous wife, Nefertiti, Akhenaten built an entire city from scratch for his new religion, and dragged the whole country along for the ride, whether they liked it or not. Spoiler: they did not. Was he a visionary ahead of his time or just an ancient megalomaniac tyrant with a (literal) god complex? We get into all of it: the high cost of religious reform, the disappearing wives, the unnervingly long skulls. 

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

Yoko Ono has long been cast in the shadow of John Lennon—or worse, blamed for breaking up The Beatles. But the truth is far more powerful. In this episode, we dive into Yoko’s groundbreaking solo art career, her fearless activism, and the decades of backlash she endured as a woman, an outsider, and a visionary. From participatory art and peace towers to the biscuit incident and Get Back reappraisals, we unravel the myths and celebrate the legacy of a cultural icon who turned pain into purpose and never stopped creating.

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

History is rarely black and white—and neither are the people who shape it. *Ambivalent Offenders* explores the lives of controversial historical figures who “live in the grey.” Hosted by twin sisters Jamie and Erin, along with frequent guest co-host Matt, the show blends rich historical research with approachable, conversational storytelling. No lectures—just layered context and a healthy dose of curiosity and fun.

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

In Part 3 of our series, we wrap up the glamorous, chaotic life of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, a man who somehow managed to fail upwards until the very, bitter end. From his attempts at diplomacy (Cardinal Richelieu has now entered the chat) to his ill-fated military campaigns, George had a knack for turning everything that he touched into a spectacular mess. Discover how his bromance with (Baby) Charles I led to political chaos, why Parliament aimed to impeach him (twice!), and how his short life ended abruptly at the end of a knife. 

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

Was Yoko Ono really the reason the Beatles broke up… or is there a lot more to the story? (Spoiler: there is.)

In this emotional and eye-opening episode of Ambivalent Offenders, we explore the real Yoko Ono — far beyond the tired headlines and fan theories. From her childhood in wartime Japan to her bold entry into the avant-garde New York art world, Yoko was already a creative force before she ever met John Lennon.

We trace:

• Her rise as a solo artist and performance visionary
• The evolution of her partnership with John Lennon, both romantic and artistic
• Their radical peace activism and experimental projects
• The media backlash she faced as an outspoken, Japanese woman in a white, male-dominated rock culture
• And yes — we walk through the heartbreak of John Lennon’s assassination, and how Yoko carried on

💬 “She was the first person who told me I was a real artist.” – John Lennon

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

We continue the story of the ultimate Favorite, history’s greatest boy toy—George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Stick around for the disguises (fake mustaches!), Cardinal Richelieu popping up like a movie villain, and a dirty joke that had be censored (don’t worry, we kept some of it). There’s even a dash of true crime, because is it even a podcast without that?

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

Available now wherever you listen to podcasts! Please subscribe to follow for future episodes! 

This is episode one of "Just Throw Away the Key, the Hidden World of Prisons Behind Our True Crime Fascination," the podcast where we talk about what happens after the true crime story ends because there's so much left about what comes next, things that impact you and I in ways we sometimes are blind to one thing being funding. Prisons cost money to run for food officers, power heating programming, and often don't get the public attention needed to increase budgets, which puts us all at risk because when prisons are strapped for cash, well the things proven to reduce recidivism, the tendency for an offender to re-offend.

Such as education programming are cut because of a domino effect of laying off officers and other employees, which makes prisons unsafe to allow movement. Men are stuck or women, but mostly men are stuck in their cell. This makes things unsafe for all of us and.

It leads to a lot of issues that I'll be talking about on this podcast. Plus, on top of that, there are so many questions that aren't always easy to find the answer to. Have you ever wondered what prisoners do all day? What is it like to be a correctional officer? What about a teacher in a prison? How is it determined which prison inmates are sent to?

Why do some prisoners only serve two thirds of their sentences or less behind bars? What the hell do all those acronyms and words mean? Like what the hell is a swamper? What's the bubble? Isn't MSUA college? What about an ICS or OSI? Of course, we can't handle all of that in one episode, but we will get there together, and I'm sure a whole lot further today.

We're starting at the beginning. We're diving into the world  of incarceration at the very start. Specifically the differences between jails and prisons, the distinctions between state and federal prisons and how custody levels work, particularly within Minnesota's correctional system.

Whether you are curious about criminal justice reform. I'm curious about the prison that's located maybe over in the next town, or you simply wanna understand how the prison system works. This episode has got you covered, at least the basics, 

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

This is the trailer for my (Jamie typing here) podcast, "Just Throw Away the Key: The Hidden World of Prisons Behind Our True Crime Fascination."

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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!

We are tackling the action-packed and brief life of George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, who became the powerful favorite and lover of King James I of England. He’s also the George in the new show “Mary & George.” In Part 1, we cover George's early life, how he found himself dangled in front of a king (thanks to his mother and the Queen), and all the complexities of being a favorite. Spoiler alert: it's a lot more paper-pushing than you'd expect. 

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Support the show

• Instagram
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If you have a judgement on any of the figures that we have covered (it can be a voice memo or an email that we can read!) or have a recommendation for a historical figure, please contact us at [email protected]!