Advertise on podcast: Ancient Office Hours

Dr. Dan-el Padilla Peralta, a Professor of Classics at Princeton (at the time of this recording), joins Lexie to discuss how growing up unhoused in New York City led him to reading in a shelter library and discovering Greece and Rome, the efforts to revise curricula toward race, gender, and sexuality studies, the limits of relying on one faculty member for such courses, and the importance of hiring, and outlines two reception projects—Classicism and Other Phobias and a book on Dominican classical reception and racialization. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded June 26, 2025. Learn more about Dr. Padilla Peralta: https://classics.princeton.edu/people/dan-el-padilla-peralta Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/platanoclassics.bsky.social Read the NYT article referenced in the episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/magazine/classics-greece-rome-whiteness.html Read about his upcoming move to Arizona State University: https://paw.princeton.edu/article/activist-scholar-dan-el-padilla-peralta-06-leaving-princeton Check out his book “Undocumented”: https://www.prhspeakers.com/speaker/dan-el-padilla-peralta Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gigi Berardi, a Western Washington University environmental science professor and award-winning writer who has taught in Italy for 15 years, talks about her historical fiction novel Bianca’s Cure. Gigi explains choosing the Medici because their patronage shaped Florence and because her book centers on the “greatest mystery of the Renaissance”: the near-simultaneous deaths of Grand Duke Francesco de’ Medici and his wife Bianca Cappello, debated as arsenic poisoning, malaria, or murder by his brother Ferdinando. She describes building an accurate historical “skeleton” from primary sources and extensive fact-checking with Florence researchers while inventing plausible internal monologue using tonal exercises. The conversation covers Bianca’s Venetian aristocratic background, Renaissance medicine and Artemisia/antimalarial history, women’s roles in alchemy, Florence as a character, and Gigi’s view of success as visibility and reader engagement.  Originally recorded February 23, 2026. Check out Gigi’s website: https://gigiberardi.com/  Check out Bicana’s Cure: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Biancas-Cure/Gigi-Berardi/9798896360704 Follow Gigi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580352734240  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kate Cook, a Lecturer in Greek Culture at King’s College London, joins Lexie to discuss falling in love with tragedy after reading Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Kassandra’s scene, connecting hostility toward prominent or “masculinized” women in modern games to ancient tragic narratives about women, and critiquing the “historical accuracy” discourse in gaming which includes mods that remove women. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded June 12, 2025.  Learn more about Dr. Cook: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/kate-cook  Follow her on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/katexe.bsky.social  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Sarah Bond, an associate professor of Classics at the University of Iowa, joins Lexie to discuss the importance of classical languages and public scholarship, her book 'Strike' and the evolution of labor unions from ancient Rome to modern times, the potential future of classics & the impact of AI on the job market, and the significance of empathy in humanities. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded June 11, 2025.  Learn more about Dr. Bond: https://history.uiowa.edu/people/sarah-bond  Check out her blog: History From Below  Check out her Substack “Pasts Imperfect”: https://pasts-imperfect.ghost.io/    Follow her on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sarahebond.bsky.social Grab a copy of her book Strike: https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300273144/strike/  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Alex Dold, a literary scholar, historian, and unofficial “Dr. of Outlander,” joins Lexie to discuss her insights on how she blends literary scholarship and historical research, the challenges of researching an ongoing series, the importance of studying popular culture academically, and the essential role of books and public history. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded January 28, 2026.  Learn more about Dr. Dold: https://alexdold.com/  Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex.dold.historian/  Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Dold-Historian/61583605072756/  Check out her chapters in the new academic volume on Outlander: https://luath.co.uk/products/outlander-and-scotland?srsltid=AfmBOorsHtSQxR6pMQ7uNDzNOCWmlL1h_BwFuW6KdkvAMnFRlyBSvoAT  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Alexander Vandewalle, a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University, joins Lexie to discuss how his passion for modern video games and Classics led to his PhD research on the characterization of mythological figures in video games, the nuances of using video games in educational settings, and the evolution of classical reception in video games & its growing legitimacy as a field of study. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded May 30, 2025.  Learn more about Dr. Vandewalle: https://research.flw.ugent.be/en/alexander.vandewalle  Check out his publications on Academia: https://antwerp.academia.edu/AlexanderVandewalle  Check out Paizomen, the database of Classical Antiquity games: https://paizomen.com/  Find his book on characters in myth: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/characters-and-characterization-in-mythological-video-games-9781350565852/  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hailey Beaupre, also known as The Sassenach Historian, is an American who moved to Scotland to become a historical and pop culture tour guide. She recounts her journey from a small-town Connecticut upbringing to becoming a Scottish history tour guide, inspired by a childhood fascination with the Titanic and a pivotal visit to Scotland. She discusses the intricacies of juggling an education career, a passion for history, the impact of Outlander on Scottish tourism, and the challenges of starting her own tour company. Additionally, she delves into her upcoming book project about a historical witch in Scotland, blending fictional storytelling with historical context. The conversation touches on the importance of preserving heritage sites amid increased tourism, the practicalities of moving abroad, the economics of the tourism industry, and the personal fulfilment found in guiding others through Scotland's rich history. Originally recorded December 19, 2025. Learn more about Hailey and her tours: https://sassenachhistorian.com/  Follow her FB page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sassenach-Historian-Tours-100089200463277/ Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassenachhistorian/?hl=en Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Naomi Weiss, a Professor of Classics at Harvard, joins Lexie to discuss the nuances and wonders of Greek tragedies, especially works by Euripides and Aeschylus, the complexities of modern adaptations, narrative vs. performance elements, and the potential of transforming these ancient stories into contemporary performances, like a musical adaptation of Greek tragedies. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded May 28, 2025.  Learn more about Dr. Weiss: https://classics.fas.harvard.edu/people/naomi-weiss-0  Check out her publications on Academia: https://harvard.academia.edu/NaomiWeiss  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Lindsey Mazurek, an Associate Professor of Classics at Indiana University Bloomington, joins Lexie to discuss her evolving interests from Greek civilization to Roman provincial archaeology, the complexities of ancient migration, and the implications of migration on social and political dynamics in ancient civilizations. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded May 28, 2025. Learn more about Dr. Mazurek: https://classics.indiana.edu/about/core-faculty/mazurek-lindsey.html Find more of her work on her website: https://www.lindseyamazurek.com/ Check out her publications on Academia: https://indiana.academia.edu/LindseyMazurek Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. David Parnell, a professor of history at Indiana University Northwest, joins Lexie to discuss the challenges and gaps in academic offerings in late antiquity, his work on significant Byzantine figures like Justinian, Theodora, and Belisarius, the potential for more historical media content, and the impact of digital records on future historical studies. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded May 16, 2025. Learn more about Dr. Parnell: https://profiles.iu.edu/northwest/parnell-david.html  Check out his publications on Academia: https://iun.academia.edu/DavidParnell  Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/byzantineprof.bsky.social Check out the Epic History YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EpichistoryTv  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Eduardo García-Molina, an Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joins Lexie to discuss his journey from being inspired by the video game 'Rome Total War' to specializing in the Seleucid Empire in his academic career, insights from his research, including the challenges of working with limited historical records, and his course on the intersection of gaming and ancient history. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded May 12, 2025.  Learn more about Dr. García-Molina: https://classics.illinois.edu/directory/profile/emg24 Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/egarcmol.bsky.social  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emmy Award winning casting director Suzanne Smith discusses the intricacies of casting for film and television, particularly in historical and period dramas. She shares her unplanned journey into casting, experiences with projects like Band of Brothers, Outlander, and Reign, and the unique challenges of casting roles that span different time periods. The episode explores the importance of historical accuracy, chemistry reads, and the impact of modern technology on the casting process. The conversation delves into the essence of an actor, the nuances of today's casting requirements, and personal anecdotes from her numerous casting endeavors. The episode culminates in a discussion on the significance of story adaptation across different media and a revelation of a dream casting project: The Hobbit by Peter Jackson.  Originally recorded November 11, 2025.  Check out all of her projects on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0189792/  For professional inquires check out her website: http://www.suzannesmithcasting.com/  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Alyson Melzer, an Assistant Professor of Classics at Indiana University Bloomington, joins Lexie to discuss the emotional resonance of Greek tragedies and specific elements that make these ancient works distinctively Greek, the challenges of interpreting and performing these plays in modern times, balancing authenticity and modern adaptation, and the timeless themes found in Greek tragedies and their relevance today. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded May 5, 2025.  Learn more about Dr. Melzer: https://classics.indiana.edu/about/core-faculty/Melzer_Alyson.html  Check out her publications on Academia: https://indiana.academia.edu/AlysonMelzer  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Christopher Baron, an Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Notre Dame, joins Lexie to discuss his interest in both Roman and Greek history, particularly focusing on the historiography of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic period, how information spread in Alexander’s time, the significance of classical education, and the modern portrayal of ancient history in media. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded May 5, 2025.  Learn more about Dr. Baron: https://classics.nd.edu/people/christopher-baron/  Check out his publications on Academia: https://nd.academia.edu/ChristopherBaron  Find his book Timaeus of Tauromenium: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/timaeus-of-tauromenium-and-hellenistic-historiography/timaeus-of-tauromenium-and-hellenistic-historiography/99CD5F068F4278E40B9D5A59BE1F6689 Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Chance Bonar, an Advising Fellow at the University of Virginia, joins Lexie to discuss how his interest in early Christianity led to critical inquiries into texts outside the New Testament and broader socio-political-religious contexts, the complex legacy of slavery in ancient texts, and the modern implications and interpretations of religious and cultural history. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!  Originally recorded April 24, 2025.    Learn more about Dr. Bonar: https://chancebonar.hcommons.org/  Check out his publications: https://chancebonar.hcommons.org/books/  Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chancebonar.bsky.social Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject  Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at [email protected] and we can provide one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.