(and also a well-smoked brisket.)

Dapper Jackalope is the brainchild of Janet and Aaron in Miles City, MT.

Janet Banister is a choir and general music teacher by day and a podcast detective by night, unearthing long-buried family secrets and captivating historical true crime. As the creator of Skeletons in the Closet: Family Secrets, she weaves deep research, layered storytelling, and a love for all things mysterious. 

With a background in law, agriculture, and education—not to mention an unshakable true crime obsession—Janet serves up history and culture with a side of intrigue… and the occasional shenanigan.

Aaron the Sound Guy is a school principal by day and audio wizard by night, wrangling waveforms and rogue background noise with the precision of a seasoned hunter. When he’s not perfecting podcast soundscapes, you’ll find him casting a line, tracking deer, or mastering the art of smoked brisket. With a keen ear, a killer instinct for clean edits, and a toolbox full of tech skills Janet refuses to learn, Aaron keeps the chaos sounding crisp—and occasionally reminds the host to hit “record.”

Together, Janet and Aaron run Dapper Jackalope, a small but mighty production studio with a flair for the mysterious and a heart for good storytelling. 

Their flagship podcast, Skeletons in the Closet: Family Secrets, digs into long-buried history—including Janet’s own great uncle Guy Banister’s shadowy connection to the JFK assassination. Season 2 drops in summer 2025, with more secrets ready to surface. 

They’re also launching How to Not Start a Cult (Probably) a podcast and guide exploring where group culture goes wrong, and how to get it right (usually).

Beyond the podcasts, Dapper Jackalope provides live sound services in their local community and proudly donates their skills to the Barn Players theater group. 

Janet is also available for podcast guest appearances and keynote speaking, especially on topics that blend history, mystery, and the power of questioning what we’re told.