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Unraveling Ezra - Episode 1: The Grave Next Door
07/05/2025
Unraveling Ezra - Episode 1: The Grave Next Door
Welcome to a special series within the Practical Change for MidLife Lesbians podcast: Unraveling Ezra — a journey into the life, legacy, and contradictions of my great-great-great grandfather, Ezra Baker Jr. MD. This arc is a departure from my usual content, but sometimes, life pulls you in an unexpected direction. This is one of those times. In this first episode, I share how a dramatic quote from a dusty 19th-century history book led me to a quiet cemetery plot near my home—and how that small contradiction launched a full-blown research quest across U.S. history, family folklore, political scandals, and personal reckoning. Ezra Baker Jr. was a doctor, land speculator, a merchant, an entrepreneur, a postmaster, political appointee… Definitely an opportunist, and possibly a traitor. He was also definitely not as forgotten as people would like to believe—and not nearly as ruined as the record claims. Along the way, I’m asking questions about legacy, masculinity, white privilege, reinvention, and the stories we choose to pass down. Mentioned in this episode: Quote from the Combined History of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash Counties, Illinois (1883) Ezra’s burial site at The in Philadelphia Family narratives (and myths) from the Want to help? Got a tip? Do you know anything about the Bakers of Wabash County, Il? Do you love researching local history, 19th-century politics, or tracing lost archives? I’d love to hear from you. The story is much more interesting in the context of the times. Contact me at: And of course -- If you want coaching, head over to PracticalChangeCoaching.com for more info. Support the Podcast: If you enjoy this series or want more of this kind of storytelling, the best way to support it is to share it with a friend—or leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. #UnravelingEzra #FamilyHistory #QueerHistorian #MidLifeMystery #LegacyAndLoss #EzraBakerJr #WabashCounty #HistoricalScandal #CemeteryStories #HiddenHistory #PracticalChange #LesbianPodcaster #WomenWhoResearch #GraveyardStories #GenealogyNerd
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