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.
Episodes
51 episodes
Trailer for “Ambivalent Offenders”
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...
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1:22
George Villiers: Part 3
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...
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1:59:45
Yoko Ono, "the So-Called Woman Who Broke Up the Beatles": Part 1
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 —...
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1:15:34
George Villiers: Part 2
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 c...
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1:43:13
"Just Throw Away the Key" Episode 1: Jails, Prisons, & Custody Levels, Oh My!
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 po...
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24:29
NEW PODCAST TRAILER (HOSTED BY JAMIE)! "Just Throw Away the Key: The Hidden World of Prisons Behind Our True Crime Fascination"
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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3:21
George Villiers, Favourite to King James I: Part 1
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 Ge...
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1:34:53
Mary Todd Lincoln: Part 3
We conclude our series on Mary Todd Lincoln, covering her life post-assassination, her insanity trial, the betrayal of her eldest son, and how she spent her final years. Expect a rant (or two!) about Robert Lincoln, everybody’s least favorite L...
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1:51:33
Mary Todd Lincoln: Part 2
We continue Mary Todd Lincoln’s story as she enters the White House, diving into her controversial tenure as First Lady, her exploration of spiritualism, and the assassination that turned her world—and the nation—upside down. Will Erin make it ...
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1:42:19
Mary Todd Lincoln: Part 1
Mary Todd Lincoln has the distinction of being one of the least popular First Ladies of the United States, even as her husband tops the lists of greatest Presidents. Their marriage has been the topic of entire books and careers. Mary has been c...
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2:41:28
President Lincoln's Assassination and Aftermath
We are marking the 160th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865. As we prepare to release our upcoming series on Mary Todd Lincoln, we are going to go forward in her story and talk about the assassination and its after...
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57:11
Tonya Harding, Figure Skating’s Most Controversial Star
Grab your ice skates—we are going back to the ‘90s to talk all about Tonya Harding! Harding survived her bad childhood to become a rising (and controversial) star in the figure skating world...until the scandal broke that put her in the pantheo...
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1:32:07
Andrew Carnegie and the Robber Barons
The original oligarchs of America are on trial this week. Grab your monocle and best suit as we head back to the Gilded Age to meet Andrew Carnegie and his gang of fellow robber barons…and spend not an insignificant time discussing HBO’s “The G...
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1:32:56
Mark Antony: Part 3
We have arrived at the end of Mark Antony's story...and his life. Join Erin and guest co-host, Matt, as we discuss his relationship with Cleopatra, the final showdown with Octavian, and how it went so horribly, inescapably wrong.
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1:51:38
Mark Antony: Part 2
Join Erin and guest co-host, Matt, as we continue on in the life of Mark Antony, as he navigates life as Julius Caesar's faithful deputy, the horrific aftermath of the Ides of March, and feuding with a teen.
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1:38:47
Mark Antony, Roman politician & lover of Cleopatra: Part 1
Mark Antony--Shakespearean hero, Roman bad boy, lieutenant to Julius Caesar, and a man whose death often overshadows his life. With guest co-host, Matt, we begin our series with discussions of the very egalitarian Roman Senate (just kidding!), ...
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1:27:19
Dueling Villains Judgement Episode
We conclude our first Dueling Villains series with the judgement on John Brown and Aaron Burr. Matt fills in for Jamie and helps us break down the flaws and the greatness of two of history's most enigmatic (and frustrating!) figures. Brown or B...
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40:16
Alice Perrers (20 minute Preview from Patreon Episode!)
NOTE: We always have a 7 day free trial for our Patreon memberships so this could be the perfect time to check that out! Hello listeners! We've been dealing with illness, job changes, issues with our editing program, and the usual...
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24:33
Aaron Burr: Dueling Villains (Part 2)
Follow the rest of Aaron Burr's story, as he vies for the presidency in the Election of 1800, enters that infamous duel with longtime rival/future musical star Alexander Hamilton, and finds himself dabbling in some *light* treason. Emperor Aaro...
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1:32:21
Aaron Burr: Dueling Villains (Part 1)
We are covering Aaron Burr (SIR!) as the second half of our "Dueling Villains" series. In this episode, we cover Burr's early life, the American Revolution and his role in it, as well as his political life up until the election of 1800. There's...
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1:18:18
BONUS: Bleeding Kansas (with Erin & Matt!)
We spoke about Bleeding Kansas briefly in the previous episode on John Brown, but we have invited back Husband of the Pod, Erin's husband, Matt, to explain more of what was happening in Kansas during the lead up to the Civil War. St. Louis base...
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47:56
John Brown, America’s “Good” Terrorist? (Dueling Villains series)
Listen to our first installment of our new Dueling Villains series! We will be covering John Brown, an American enigma. Terrorist, martyr, mad man--or a little bit of each? We will talk about Brown's early life, his move to Bleeding Kansas, and...
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1:10:29
Wolf Hall Episode 1 Discussion
With the new season of Wolf Hall airing in the U.K. now and coming to the United States in March, we have begun our own rewatch series of the first season. Follow along with us as we continue through the first season and sharing o...
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1:07:02