"What can I say but listening to this podcast at Tribeca made me fall in love with audio all over again. Nichole Hill is a magician!"

- Shreya Sharma, Tink Media/Slate Podcasts

Our Ancestors Were Messy, hosted by Nichole Hill, is a podcast that reclaims history by centering the gossip, scandals, and everyday drama that filled Black newspapers in the early to mid-20th century. Instead of distant monuments or sanitized narratives, Hill brings us stories of ordinary people—neighbors, celebrities, church leaders—whose lives were funny, complicated, and full of intrigue.

The genius of the show lies in its balance of playfulness and depth. Hill’s storytelling is warm and conversational, pulling listeners in with the thrill of a juicy tidbit before weaving in the historical context that makes it matter. By treating the small and the scandalous with care, she expands our understanding of Black life in America, reminding us that the past was not only defined by oppression, but also by joy, conflict, humor, and humanity.