Right Answers Mostly

“I’ve come to believe that it’s not what has happened to our family that has been cursed—it’s the fact that we’ve never been able to deal with it privately.” — Eunice Kennedy Shriver

The idea of the “Kennedy Curse” has followed this family for generations, often explained away as bad luck or fate. But the truth is more complicated.
In this episode, we explore how constant public scrutiny, enormous expectations, and a deep resistance to vulnerability shaped the Kennedy family’s most painful moments, especially in the case of Rosemary Kennedy, whose lobotomy reflects how fear, misunderstanding, and the pressure to protect an image could lead to irreversible decisions.

Rather than a story about a doomed bloodline, this episode looks at how power, silence, and the denial of privacy shaped one of America’s most famous families, and why those choices continued to ripple outward long after they were made. This is The Kennedy Curse.

Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo

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Sources: American Dynasties: The Kennedys, People, Historyextra.com, Rosemary's Wiki, NPS.Gov, Kathleen's Wiki, Historytoday.com, Chappaquiddick Wiki, People article #2

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Before they were a symbol of 90s perfection, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were shaped by very different kinds of pressure. John grew up inside America’s most mythologized family, raised in public grief and constant expectation. Carolyn came from outside the dynasty, building her life on privacy, control, and impeccable restraint.

When they fell in love, it looked like fate. What followed was something far messier. In this episode, we trace how fame became a third partner, how obsession was mistaken for romance, and how one of the most aestheticized couples in modern history quietly unraveled, ending in tragedy.

Because Camelot 2.0 wasn’t just glamorous. It was toxic, suffocating, and devastatingly human.

Produced and created by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald

For more RAM, check us out here!

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Sources include: Wikipedia, Vanity Fair, People, and the podcast Significant Lovers

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Welcome to Kennedys Month at Right Answers Mostly. We’re kicking things off at the very beginning: the building of the Kennedy dynasty and the man behind it all, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr..

The Kennedy story begins with famine in Ireland, and a risky escape to Boston, Massachusetts. We unpack how Juicy Joe built his fortune, pulled the strings behind the scenes, and paved the way for his sons, most famously John F. Kennedy, to enter politics.

Was it clean? Not exactly. Was it effective? Absolutely. From backroom deals to carefully crafted public images, this is the origin story of how the Kennedys didn’t just enter American politics, they conquered it, and sealed their place as American royalty. THIS IS THE KENNEDY DYNASTY!

Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo

For more RAM, go ⁠here.⁠

Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually!

Sources: American Dynasties: The Kennedys , NPS.gov, Wikipedia, altaonline
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Before Lilly Pulitzer was splashed across sorority houses, bachelorette parties, and every preppy closet in America, she was just a Palm Beach socialite trying not to ruin her clothes while running a juice stand. What happened next accidentally created one of the most recognizable fashion empires of all time.

In this episode, Tess and Claire dive into how Lilly turned bright, stain-hiding shift dresses into a symbol of wealth, freedom, and rich girl rebellion and why her hot-pink prints quietly blew up the buttoned-up fashion rules of the 1950s and ’60s. We’re talking Jackie Kennedy (HINT HINT for future episode) in Palm Beach, old money social codes, glamorous breakdowns, scandalous divorces, and the rise of casual luxury before anyone was allowed to dress “effortless.”

If you love this episode you can find the entire episode here on our premium channel! The fourth episode of every month is a preview unless you are a subscriber. This helps support our show!

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald

Curious about more RAM? Go here!

Sources: Town and Country Magazine
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This week, we’re joined by Katy from Queens Podcast, whose deep knowledge of royal history helps us unpack how Eleanor quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) shaped empires, fueled crusades, and influenced generations of rulers, all while being married to two very mediocre kings who consistently failed upward. From Louis VII to Henry II, we break down how Eleanor’s intelligence, wealth, and strategy built power structures that men happily claimed as their own.

We explore Eleanor’s marriages, her imprisonment, her political savvy, and why history punished her for the same ambition it rewarded in men. Plus: feminist rage, royal divorce drama, and proof that the concept of “letting him think it was his idea” is much older than we thought.

If you love powerful women, messy monarchies, and reclaiming history from underwhelming men ,this episode is for you.

You can follow Katy and Nathan from Queens Podcast here for all of their episodes and follow them on instagram here.

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald

For more RAM, go here!

To join our premium subscription channel for THREE bonus episodes a month where you get to know us, go here!
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