Ambivalent Offenders: Re-Examining History’s Most Questionable Figures
Just like history isn’t all black and white, neither are the people who lived it. So who are the ones living in the grey?
Welcome to Ambivalent Offenders— where we dig into the lives of people who’ve been called a lot of things: villains, scoundrels, monsters, misfits, or just plain morally messy. But were they really as bad as history says… or have they gotten an unfair rap?
In each episode, we unpack the stories, facts, and cultural myths surrounding some of the most questionable (and sometimes misunderstood) figures from the past — all in a tone that’s more friend-at-brunch (according to one listener review) than lecture hall. No dusty textbooks, no moral grandstanding. Just conversational storytelling, questionable behavior, and a little historical tea.
Ultimately, we’re here to do what humans do best: judge the hell out of some pretty interesting people.
Ambivalent Offenders: Re-Examining History’s Most Questionable Figures
Akhenaten, the Heretic Pharaoh of Egypt
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.
Tell us your thoughts! Do you agree with our take? Share your take!
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 ambivalent.offenders.podcast@gmail.com!
