Chainsaw History

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and click the logo in the center of the page to support our show with a paid subscription! }Jamie and Bambi are at it again! Anthony Comstock persecuted New York smut dealers and tavern owners until he found his target of choice—women who advocate for freedom, education, and equality. When ruining things for people in New York was not enough he pushed the Comstock Act into federal law—which is how the authors of Project 2025 plan to ban pornography and access to information about abortion. He persecuted trailblazing women like Victoria Woodhull and Margaret Sanger fueled by his weird obsessions and religious guilt.In this episode we encourage you to consider a donation to Planned Parenthood, which provides education and support services for sexual and gender related health. Learn all the ways they assist men, women and families at www.plannedparenthood.org.

It's our first "Short Rant," where we'll relate current events to history! These are videos posted on our YouTube and TIkTok accounts and the audio will be available here within a day.President Trump announced "Liberation Day" on April 2, 2025 with broad and sweeping tariffs that are causing stock market panic and layoffs even in the earliest days. His case for high tariffs are good policy are based on his admiration for the 25th President, William McKinley. But Trump is either ignorant of or lying about the truth about American tariff policies in the late 19th century. If history is any predictor of future events, bad things are in store both for the economy and to Republicans' future electoral chances.

Dive back into 1980s children's biographies as podcasting siblings Bambi and Jamie Chambers explore The Value of Determination: The Story of Helen Keller. Bambi reads us the tale of an adorable baby named Helen who becomes a "nasty" little girl after being stricken blind and deaf by a fever. (Hey, it's their word not ours!) But with the help of a trio of imaginary leprechauns and a small assist from Anne Sullivan our heroine is able to overcome her disabilities and learn to communicate and somehow become a vaudeville performer. It's all about DETERMINATION in this kids' book that completely ignores Keller's political activism as a pacifist, feminist, and open socialist.Support the show and stay tuned with us on social media and discover more on our website: http://www.chainsawhistory.com

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and click the logo in the center of the page to support our show with a paid subscription! }The Chambers siblings return from summer break to take a buzzsaw to the memory of Anthony Comstock. He was a self-appointed moral crusader and postal inspector from the 19th century whose legacy lingers in modern politics—including references in Project 2025 to ban mailing abortion medications, contraception, and pornography.Learn how one boy's mommy issues are inflicted on an entire nation as Comstock's Connecticut Puritan upbringing sends him on a mission to hunt mad dogs, go full Batman on an illegal saloon, and makes him the least popular soldier in the Civil War. His obsessive, self-critical journaling offers a window into his world of shame and personal struggles with one-handed temptation. (Ahem.)It's another awful person telling everyone else how to live! Join Jamie and Bambi while they wonder aloud why Comstock's laws and moralizing mission should have any relevance in the 21st century.In this episode we encourage you to consider a donation to Planned Parenthood, which provides education and support services for sexual and gender related health. Learn all the ways they assist men, women and families at www.plannedparenthood.org.

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }Bambi concludes her deep dive into Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, widow of Alexander Hamilton—the only American so far to have been shot dead by the sitting Vice President of the United States. Using the Hamilton musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda as a touchstone, we explore Eliza's happiest years, heart-wrenching tragedies, lifelong grudges, and many charitable works before her death at 96 years old. Most notably, we delve into her tireless efforts to house and educate orphans in New York City.Why did Eliza hate James Monroe for the rest of her life? Did she burn her husband's letters out of anger, or was it part of a cover-up? Did the Reynolds Affair actually happen, or was it an elaborate lie? Why did Benedict Arnold travel around Europe with a portrait of Alexander Hamilton? These burning questions and more will be answered as we ask, "Who tells your story?" when it comes to Eliza Hamilton.

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }Bambi takes over the podcast and tells the story of Elizabeth Schuyler—most known to history and Broadway musical fans as the wife of Mr. Ten Dollar Bill, Alexander Hamilton. But Jamie learns that the Schuyler sisters and "Betsy" are far more than background characters and devoted wives. Using the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical as a frame of reference the siblings set the record straight about extraordinary women from the time of the American Revolutionary War.

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }We dive back into history with Indiana Jones in our series "No Time For Love Doctor Jones," where Jamie Chambers drags his sister Bambi through another adventure of nine-year-old Henry Jones, Jr. When ancient one-eyed Dr. Jones is forced to see a psychiatrist he forces her to listen to the story of the day he met Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, and Carl Jung—who encouraged him to break into a castle to give a snowglobe to a princess.Prepare for a baffling childhood romance in Vienna as we track the development of the most heroic archeologist in cinema!

Dive back into 1980s children's biographies as podcasting siblings Bambi and Jamie Chambers explore The Value of Respect: The Story of Abraham Lincoln. In this book we follow the story of young Abe, who is born in a log cabin to a life of ridiculous poverty. But thanks to a talking squirrel our little dirt farmer learns the power of RESPECT—which somehow leads to him battling river pirates, learning slavery is bad, and forging a path that would make him perhaps the greatest president in the history of the United States.Stay tuned with us on social media and discover more on our website: http://www.chainsawhistory.com

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }Siblings Jamie and Bambi Chambers conclude the story of all-black Buffalo Soldiers sent guard a training camp for new recruits for the war effort in Houston, Texas where Jim Crow laws and white supremacy were in full effect. After enduring constant racism and disrespect, a young soldier tried to intervene in an unfair arrest of a local mother—the resulting police abuse set off a chain reaction that led to over a hundred professional soldiers marching into the city with the intention of killing as many white cops as possible. It's a challenging story of racism, fear, rage, retribution, and injustice that took over a century to be addressed by the United States and its armed forces.In this episode we hope you'll consider donating to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in their fight for racial justice through litigation, advocacy and public education. We also express support and solidarity with the Atlanta Forest Defenders and encourage you to learn more and help stop Cop City.

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }Join podcasting siblings Jamie and Bambi as they return to the Jim Crow South to examine the underlying causes of the Camp Logan Mutiny. First we get a picture of where America is at in 1917 and take an uncomfortable look at the laws and social standards of former slave states. Next we learn about the all-black Buffalo Soldiers and their history of brave and honorable service despite the lies told by racist politicians such as Teddy Roosevelt. But when the United States joins World War I the Buffalo Soldiers are called to guard the construction of a training camp for new draftees—Camp Logan in Houston, a bayou town fully embracing white supremacy enforced by a brutal police force. What could possibly go wrong?In this episode we hope you'll consider donating to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in their fight for racial justice through litigation, advocacy and public education. We also express support and solidarity with the Atlanta Forest Defenders and encourage you to learn more and help stop Cop City.

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }Welcome back to Chainsaw History's limited series, "No Time For Love Doctor Jones,” where Jamie Chambers guides his reluctant sister Bambi through the life of fictional life of Indiana Jones. In this episode, we travel to Paris, France, exploring The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Episode 19: "Paris, September 1908."Today's episode introduces 9-year-old Henry (our future Indiana Jones) to the Parisian art scene, where he meets a young Norman Rockwell and a Spanish maniac named Pablo Picasso—who loves to party with sex workers and fire his gun into the air. Thrill as Henry and Norman brawl with French pimps and engage in Scooby-Doo hijinks in a graveyard. All this is framed by old Indiana Jones reminiscing about the fraud he committed on the art community. It's a wacky romp in Paris as we see how little Henry gets one step closer to cinema's favorite two-fisted archeologist!

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }As a holiday treat Jamie gets to take a break, so the rest of us can sit back and get cozy as Bambi tells the story of Alice Roosevelt—daughter of the ridiculously-mustached Teddy. Inheriting her father's need for attention, she went from pranking White House dinner parties with her pet snake (Emily Spinach) to becoming a political institution in Washington D.C., whose favor and advice was sought by insiders. Alice was beloved by the press and foreign leaders including the Dowager Empress of Japan and Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. But her ambitions to return to the White House were thwarted by rivalries and difficult choices, and she lived a life touched by tragedy. Let's sip some cocoa and hear the story of a feminist icon who defied convention, set trends, and held onto petty grudges.

{ Discover more at ChainsawHistory.com — access our full episode list, delve into bonus content, and support our show with a paid subscription! }Grab a crucifix and burn some sage! Jamie and Bambi (finally) wrap up the enigmatic tale of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Learn how a historically accurate version of The Conjuring would have ended with Ed getting punched in the face and thrown out of the Perron family home. Visit the most famous haunted house in the world—the Amityville Horror—which taught the Warrens the value of book and movie deals. Meet the author who dedicated his life to discrediting the Warrens. And learn the dark secret that Lorraine Warren tried to hide when she signed the deal for The Conjuring.In this episode recommend people donate to Feeding America to address growing food insecurity in our country. We also express support and solidarity with the Atlanta Forest Defenders and encourage you to learn more and help stop Cop City.

{ Visit ChainsawHistory.com see full show notes and research links, get access to our full back catalog, check out our bonus content, and support the show with a paid subscription! }We're back! Podcasting siblings Jamie and Bambi return just in time for Halloween with an episode all about Ed and Lorraine Warren, the demonologist and clairvoyant couple made famous by The Conjuring movies starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. Learn what Ed smelled like as a sixteen year old boy and how the nuns punished Lorraine for seeing into the future. Find out how their careers began as hobo artists collecting ghost stories before they learned how to monetize their hobby for fun and profit! We'll take a look at the world's most famous creepy doll: Annabelle. Were the Warrens truly battling the forces of Satan or were they just shady grifters? Research, skepticism, and swearing are all required to untangle this mess.In this episode recommend people donate to Feeding America to address growing food insecurity in our country. We also express support and solidarity with the Atlanta Forest Defenders and encourage you to learn more and help stop Cop City.

Join podcasting siblings Bambi and Jamie Chambers as they venture further into the ValueTales series from the 1980s with The Value of Learning: The Story of Marie Curie. In this episode they dissect the peculiar storytelling of an extraordinary scientist's life—the only person to ever win a Nobel Prize in both physics and chemistry. She's also one of the few people in history entombed in lead because her incredible discovery also killed her dead and left behind a corpse that would startle a geiger counter. Marie Curie is given much respect while the children's book about her ... not so much. But at least we learn the private concerns of an imaginary friend named "Fizz." Check out their candid thoughts and insights on this unusual take on a scientific legend's life story.Stay tuned with us on social media and discover more on our website: http://www.chainsawhistory.com

Welcome back to Chainsaw History's limited series, "No Time For Love Doctor Jones,” where Jamie Chambers guides his unconvinced sister Bambi through the thrilling and controversial life of Indiana Jones. This time they travel to Florence, Italy in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Episode 25: "Florence, May 1908."In this installment Indy's Mom steps out on her husband Professor Jones with legendary opera composer Giacomo Puccini. The podcasting siblings discuss the cringe-inducing story of opera, doomed romance, and a one-eyed old man hustling pool in a dive bar at noon. Watch the episode and follow along with the hosts and see the incredible shots of the Tuscan countryside and hear music from Madame Butterfly and La Boheme.Get ready for romance, tears, and laughter as we dive into the ups and downs of cinema's most iconic archaeologist and whip-cracking hero!

Podcasting siblings Jamie and Bambi Chambers continue their journey through the ValueTales series of children's books from the 1980s with The Value of Kindness: The Story of Elizabeth Fry. In this episode, they tackle the peculiar portrayal of a pivotal prison reformer, as the book veers off course by focusing on Elizabeth's obsession with her hair and the private thoughts of an imaginary butterly. Listen in as they shed light on Fry's actual accomplishments—including her work in Newgate Prison, her advocacy for female inmates, and her efforts to transform the penal system—while expressing their frustration at the book's failure to depict her as the trailblazing humanitarian she truly was.Stay connected with us on social media and discover more on our website: http://www.chainsawhistory.com

It's another episode of our new limited series from Chainsaw History: "No Time For Love Doctor Jones" — where Jamie Chambers drags his reluctant sister Bambi through the fictional life of Indiana Jones. In today's episode, our hosts continue The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in chronological order with Episode 35: "Tangiers May, 1908." (Future episodes of this series will be available only to paid subscribers ... but for now they're free!)On today's installment the Jones family visits Morocco, where nine-year-old Indy is loaned a young slave by Emily Keene, Cherifa of Wazan. But when he disguises himself as an Arab and forces his enslaved friend decide to sneak off with him to check out a severed head on a stick, they are abducted by child slavers--requiring a rescue by famous journalist and known pedophile Walter B. Harris. Decades later in the 1990s, old Indiana Jones liberates a beauty pageant.Created for fans and newcomers alike, "No Time For Love Doctor Jones" delivers foul-mouthed entertainment and real-world history as we follow the evolution of cinema's most iconic archaeologist and whip-cracking hero!

It's the first regular episode of our brand-new limited series from Chainsaw History: "No Time For Love Doctor Jones" — where Jamie Chambers takes his skeptical sister Bambi on a journey through the fictional life of Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr.—better known as Indiana Jones. In today's episode, our hosts dive into The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles starting with the first half of "Curse of the Jackal."Gorgeous Egyptian landscapes are shot and historical creative liberties are taken (both Lawrence of Arabia and Howard Carter are featured before they would have been in Egypt) in order to teach kids about mummies and ancient tombs. The royal architect, Ka, was a "juicy" mummy taken to Italy in real life.Designed for fans and newcomers alike, "No Time For Love Doctor Jones" promises entertainment and real-world history as we follow the evolution of cinema's most iconic archaeologist and whip-cracking hero!

It's a new limited series from Chainsaw History: "No Time For Love, Doctor Jones" — in which Jamie Chambers drags his reluctant sister Bambi through the fictional life of Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr. — aka Indiana Jones. In today's episode our hosts introduce our new show and take a meta look at the history of our complicated main character as created by George Lucas in collaboration with Steven Spielberg. (Did you know that if wasn't for Clint Eastwood and white supremacist Asa Carter, we might live in a world with an "Indiana Smith" movie and no Star Wars?)Made for fans and newcomers alike, "No Time For Love, Doctor Jones" will find entertainment and real-world history as we watch the development of cinema's most famous archeologist and whip-cracking hero!

Podcasting duo Jamie and Bambi are back at it, diving into the ValueTales series with The Value of Friendship: The Story of Jane Addams. Join them as they explore the baffling portrayal of a social reform powerhouse, questioning the book's focus on a terrifying imaginary friend named Marjorie instead of Addams' groundbreaking work. Listen in as they highlight Jane's significant contributions—including Hull House, child labor laws, and women's suffrage—while lamenting the missed opportunity to showcase her as a truly inspiring and influential figure.Get ready for a wild ride as Jamie and Bambi uncover the unsettling aspects of this peculiar children's book, all while appreciating the real Jane Addams and her impact on history. Don't miss their candid thoughts and insights on this bizarre take on a feminist icon's life story.Keep up with us on social media and discover more on our website: http://www.chainsawhistory.com

{ Visit ChainsawHistory.com see full show notes and research links, get access to our full back catalog, check out our bonus content, and support the show with a paid subscription! }In Part Two we learn that Sir Matthew Hale had two women executed for witchcraft after a trial so famous it served as a model for Salem. And for our final surprise we learn that, despite Hale's horrible legal opinions about the rights of women, he specifically writes that abortion is not a crime in English common law. Once we follow the footnotes anyone can see that Justice Alito lied about Hale's position.CW: In this episode we discuss challenging topics including sexual violence and abortion.In this episode recommend people donate to RAINN to help victims of sexual violence or help out at a local domestic violence shelter. We also express support and solidarity with the Atlanta Forest Defenders and encourage you to learn more and help stop Cop City.Mentioned in this episode:Stop Cop City!The destruction of our forests and the militarization of our police is an issue of national concern. Please visit DefendTheAtlantaForest.org to learn more and stand in solidarity with the movement to defend the Weelaunee Forest in Atlanta.

{ Visit ChainsawHistory.com see full show notes and research links, get access to our full back catalog, check out our bonus content, and support the show with a paid subscription! }In 2022 the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with their ruling on a case called Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, allowing states to pass severely restrictive anti-abortion laws. In the majority opinion Justice Alito referenced a 17th century jurist named Sir Matthew Hale no less than eight times.Season Two of Chainsaw History begins as podcasting siblings Jamie and Bambi dissect the baffling and infuriating influence of Sir Matthew Hale, a 17th-century English jurist with outdated ideas (even for his time!). They talk about how Hale relates to modern American law, particularly concerning women's rights and sexual assault. Get ready for a wild ride through history with Hale's Puritan-flavored nonsense and the lingering consequences of his backward beliefs.Here's what you can expect from this hilarious and eye-opening episode:The life and times of Judge Hale, Puritan extraordinaire (oh, joy!).How religion mixed with his legal opinions like a bad cocktail.Hale's role in witch trials and other bizarre legal endeavors.Coverture, the ultimate marital buzzkill, suppressing women's legal rights.Sir Matthew Hale's cringeworthy views on rape, consent, and the credibility of women.How the "Hale rule" crawled into modern American law, casting doubt on rape victims' testimonies.The California Supreme Court finally giving the Hale rule a much-deserved kick to the curb.Jamie and Bambi can't believe that Sir Matthew Hale's ideas still manage to haunt women's rights and legal proceedings in the United States, centuries after he kicked the bucket. It's time to say goodbye to these ancient, harmful perspectives and let progress reign supreme.CW: In this episode we discuss challenging topics including sexual violence and abortion.In this episode recommend people donate to RAINN to help victims of sexual violence or help out at a local domestic violence shelter. We also express support and solidarity with the Atlanta Forest Defenders and encourage you to learn more and help stop Cop City.Mentioned in this episode:Stop Cop City!The destruction of our forests and the militarization of our police is an issue of national concern. Please visit DefendTheAtlantaForest.org to learn more and stand in solidarity with the movement to defend the Weelaunee Forest in Atlanta.

Hey true believers! Podcasting siblings Jamie and Bambi are gearing up to cut more history down to size. Check out this brief announcement to find out what's been going on and learn what's next.Look for us on social media and find more on our website: http://www.chainsawhistory.com"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Podcasting siblings Jamie and Bambi were forced to read the ValueTales series of "history" books as children, so we've decided to share! Young Nellie (not her real name) shrieks about how unfair things are as she badgers Joseph Pulitzer for job, when she begins speaking to mice in an insane asylum, and as she meets Jules Verne while traveling around the world in pursuit of a story about traveling around the world. This book focuses on weird and boring moments in the life of a real-world badass and feminist icon. We learn the truth about a woman who broke through glass ceilings and dared to put a monkey in a dress. Look for us on social media and find more on our website: http://www.chainsawhistory.com

Did you know that the author of The Education of Little Tree and The Outlaw Josey Wales was actually Asa Carter—a white nationalist who sent members of the KKK to attack Nat King Cole on stage? He was a man so racist that George Wallace cut him loose, so Carter changed his name, lied about his past, and became a best-selling author before his own son punched him to death. Jamie and Bambi go back to segregation-era Alabama to talk about a uniquely terrible person. Consider a https://www.cherokee.org/about-the-nation/donations/ (donation to the Cherokee Nation). And if you are struggling, please reach out to someone you trust or dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Podcasting siblings Jamie and Bambi were forced to read the ValueTales series of "history" books as children, so we've decided to share! Learn the struggles of a young Italian cabin boy and the innermost thoughts of his imaginary pet seagull as he sets out to prove once and for all that the world is not a giant pizza surrounded by cosmic purple dragons. We also learn that the native peoples Columbus met were all very happy and compliant — hooray! This episode is sponsored by our https://www.patreon.com/chainsawhistory/posts (Patreon community)—where you'll find more ValueTales episodes and other bonus content!

The first woman to sit on a United States presidential cabinet, Labor Secretary Frances Perkins was the architect of the New Deal working with Franklin Delano Roosevelt and worked her entire life for the benefit of women, the poor, the immigrant, and working class as inspired by her deep religious faith. Read our full show notes and support our podcast over on https://www.patreon.com/chainsawhistory (Patreon)!

What does Dirty Dancing have to do with the first woman to sit on an American presidential cabinet? Frances Perkins is the answer! Jamie & Bambi take a break from awful historical figures to celebrate the early life of someone who worked hard and long hours so that others could have an easier life. Learn more and support our podcast over on https://www.patreon.com/chainsawhistory (Patreon)!

Jamie & Bambi conclude the story of former Alabama governor George Wallace from the day he was shot and paralyzed by would-be assassin Arthur Bremer. Learn more and support our podcast over on https://www.patreon.com/chainsawhistory (Patreon)!

Jamie & Bambi take a look at two-time former Alabama governor "Big Jim" Folsom, a left-leaning populist who kissed the girls and made them cry. Find more bonus episodes and extra content on https://www.patreon.com/chainsawhistory (Patreon)!

Jamie & Bambi continue the saga of former Alabama governor George Wallace from his first term through his shooting on the presidential campaign trail in 1972. Learn more and support our podcast over on https://www.patreon.com/jamiechambers (Patreon)!

Jamie & Bambi discuss four-term famously-racist Alabama governor George Wallace. His early life reads like a supervillain origin story. Learn more and support our podcast over on https://www.patreon.com/jamiechambers (Patreon)!

Jamie & Bambi share a story from their own family, one that ties into an issue that even Ben Franklin once wrote about—the fact that once white people got a taste of Native American life they usually preferred it to white society. Find more bonus episodes on https://www.patreon.com/jamiechambers (Patreon)!

Siblings Jamie & Bambi Chambers discuss how a humbled George Washington found himself heroically leading a retreat in the French & Indian War after a month of horrific diarrhea. Learn more and support our podcast over on https://www.patreon.com/jamiechambers (Patreon)!

Siblings Jamie & Bambi Chambers talk about how ambitious fancy-boy George Washington failed his way upward and helped start the first global war in world history. Learn more and support our podcast over on https://www.patreon.com/jamiechambers (Patreon)!