
A recap of the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines and then history in pre-Civil Rights Era America. Host Nichole Hill takes her guests through the story of an ancestor in search of opportunity, adventure, love, and a way to beat Jim Crow. Along the way, these ancestors make messes that land them in the gossip columns of Black newspapers. Support this independent production by jo... more
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 23 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ComedyHistory | |||

Thousands of our ancestors escaped slavery during the American Revolution, fought for the British on the promise of freedom, and left an outsized legacy in the US, Canada, and beyond. Starring writer, sociologist, and MacArthur Fellow Tressie McMilli... more
Thousands of our ancestors escaped slavery during the American Revolution, fought for the British on the promise of freedom, and left an outsized legacy in the US, Canada, and beyond. Starring the co-hosts of Code Switch B.A. Parker and Gene Demby ta... more
A preview of an upcoming episode about the Black Loyalists. Thousands of our ancestors escaped slavery during the American Revolution, fought for the British on the promise of freedom, and left an unbelievable legacy in the US, Canada, and beyond!
F... more
Host Nichole Hill responds to listeners' comments and shares an interview with the show's Research Producer, Chioke I'Anson, about the research behind the histories shared on the show. Their conversation was originally taped for the donor community k... more
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I am so happy to have stumbled across via a cross over. It’s so informative and interesting. Thank you!
This pod is excellent. It’s delivered so smoothly that it may feel like casual conversation. But it’s so much more. I can only imagine the amount of work that goes into researching these stories. Nicole delivers history and story at the highest level.
So glad a friend recommended this show to me.
I’m so glad I heard about this podcast! I can’t get enough! I’ve been telling everyone to listen and support. This is just what we need to learn and understand our history and remember our ancestors were/are people first. Yes they were messy but so are we! The guests on every episode are chefs kiss! I’ll be heading over to the website to join the household 😊 Don’t stop these stories. The ancestors will make a way to have their stories told.
This show has been so inspiring to go and do my own research!
I am so happy I found this podcast! As someone who loves history, especially Black History, I am trilled this information is accessible and engaging. I can’t wait for season 2! Thank you Nichole for your care and commitment to this work.
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A historically rich, conversation-driven show that uncovers the gossip, drama, and cultural context surrounding Black American figures before the Civil Rights era. The host guides listeners through archival stories with careful sourcing, nuanced interpretation, and lively storytelling, often featuring guests who add depth from journalism, history, and archival research. Episodes emphasize research workflows, the balance between context and present-day relevance, and the idea that history can be taught as a tangible skill. The format blends warmth, humor, and rigor, making complex pasts accessible while highlighting the ongoing social significance of these figures and moments. Notable throughlines include how sources are evaluated, the role ... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Our Ancestors Were Messy:
1. Code Switch
2. The Read
3. This American Life
4. Ratchet & Respectable
5. It's Been a Minute
Our Ancestors Were Messy launched 2 years ago and published 23 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Our Ancestors Were Messy include:
1. BA Parker
2. Tressie McMillian Cottom
3. BA. Parker
4. Gene Demby
5. Chioke I'Anson
6. Jason Reynolds
7. Natalie Tulloch
8. Christabel Nsiah-Buadi
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