Ambivalent Offenders: Re-Examining History’s Most Questionable Figures

William the Conqueror: Part 1

In this first episode of the series, we are diving deep into the often messy and violent early life of William the Conqueror. From his tumultuous childhood in 11th-century Normandy to gaining his infamous title of conqueror, we explore the turbulent road that saw a young bastard son of a duke become one of history's most controversial figures. It is a wild ride of political maneuvering, violent power plays, and, there at the heart of it, a man to be both feared and loathed. Tell us your thoughts! Do you agree with our take? Share your take!Support the show Instagram Patreon Buy Me a Coffee (one time support) TikTok Show website 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!

Harold Godwinson: Part 2

In Part 2 of Harold Godwinson’s story, Erin and Matt chart Harold's rise to power after the death of his father, his (very) brief kingship, and the bitter betrayal of his brother, which ultimately led to the showdown with Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. A battle in which a nation would be changed forever. Cameos include multiple Ediths (how many wives named Edith can ONE man have?) and a mention of Scooby Doo. Tell us your thoughts! Do you agree with our take? Share your take!Support the show Instagram Patreon Buy Me a Coffee (one time support) TikTok Show website 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!

Harold Godwinson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King of England

Erin and Matt dive into the wildly dramatic life of Harold Godwinson, the last true Anglo-Saxon King of England. In Part 1, we rewind to the Anglo-Saxon world to follow the rise of Harold’s ambitious, king-making father, Godwin, the chaos of Viking invasions, and the messy family dynamics that shaped England’s fate. Follow along as we chart Harold’s road to the throne, which was paved by exile, wives, and plenty of political backstabbing, all leading to a cataclysmic end at the Battle of Hastings. Tell us your thoughts! Do you agree with our take? Share your take!Support the show Instagram Patreon Buy Me a Coffee (one time support) TikTok Show website 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!

Toussaint Louverture, the Black Spartacus: Part 1

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.Tell us your thoughts! Do you agree with our take? Share your take!Support the show Instagram Patreon Buy Me a Coffee (one time support) TikTok Show website 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!

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!Support the show Instagram Patreon Buy Me a Coffee (one time support) TikTok Show website 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!