Still Thinking About Rome?: Podcasts About Empires

Still thinking about the Roman Empire? Podcast Recommendations

February 04, 2024

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Curated by...Sam Baker (she/her)Why did you choose this theme?As someone working on a history podcast at the moment, I've been thinking a lot about the things from the past that we fixate on — and those we avoid, or which have been actively forgotten.With the recent cultural moment of women asking men how often they think about ancient Rome, I thought about how we remember this empire and others. So, I wanted to share a few of my favorite shows that dip into the past looking for lessons and insights for today, or that just tell stories that offer a more holistic understanding of history.

PODCAST PICKS:Click on the podcast art to listen 👂

You're Dead to Me

Agrippina the YoungerYou're Dead to Me is a delightful show that brings together a comedian and a historian for a laugh and a look back at a specific chunk of history, or in some cases, a specific figure. In contrast to what we might typically think of when it comes to ancient Rome — gladiators and senators and territorial conquest — this episode tells the story of a woman who really played the political game in this society.

Noble BloodBoudica Victoria EarBuds curator Sam enjoyed this episode about folk heroine Boudica, who fought against Roman occupiers in Great Britain alongside thousands of troops. Sam loves Noble Blood for its beautiful sound design and for storytelling that brings people to life who often haven't been for a very long time.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie SantosHappiness Lessons of The Ancients: EpictetusHow can philosophy from Ancient Rome apply today? Check out The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos for the series "Happiness Lessons of the Ancients." This episode explores the ideas of Epictetus and lessons from Ancient Greece, China, and the world's oldest religions.

Stuff The British StoleA Tiger and a ScreamIf thinking about the Roman Empire has you rolling your eyes, how about looking into an empire whose mark is still felt in many parts of the world today? Stuff the British Stole examines the stories left off placards at British institutions that would rather forget the history of the objects they hold in their collections.Start with this first episode, where host Marc Fennell nearly misses his flight to see a gruesome toy tiger that tells the story of the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Mysore.

EmpireQueen Elizabeth II & Empire (with David Olusoga)When thinking about the Roman Empire, it's hard to not become curious about other empires and how they changed the world. In this aptly named show, the hosts explore various empires in depth. This episode reflects on the long shadow of the British Empire and is a great entry point as to why learning about empires is so important for us all. 

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COMMUNITY:

🎤This week in Podcast The Newsletter: Lauren Passell writes: "I can't be the only one in the history of the universe who didn't know what Eurovision was until she heard about it on Helen Zaltman's The Allusionist."

🌍Global Treasures is an overview of the history, legends, and people that make the UNESCO World Heritage Sites so unique and amazing to human history and culture.🎧Led by Eileen Dunn, a seasoned clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, The Art of Listening explores the transformative power within the space between speaker and listener.💗In You’re Not the Only One F*cking Up: Breaking the Endless Cycle of Dating Mistakes, Lane Moore explores the trials and tribulations of real people who have been through the struggle of navigating the dating pool, yet still surfaced to the top.

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CLASSIFIEDS:

♟️Elon Musk tweets — and then deletes — a supposed “joke” about a young Grandmaster cheating in over-the-board chess via vibrating anal beads. An uproarious media frenzy ensues as the honour of the game of chess is suddenly thrown into the spotlight. But what the headlines missed is the complicated web of accusations, slander, lies, cheating, lawsuits, and overall drama that continues to cast a long shadow on the once noble game of chess... even one year after the alleged scandal has taken place. The mission of Rooked: The Cheaters' Gambit is to look for answers as this true-ish crime story continues to unfold in the manner of a modern whodunnit. The clues are hidden in the holes of a chessboard, the deepest of internet rabbit holes... and maybe some other holes, too. This titillating story made headlines around the world... but anal beads are just the tip of the iceberg in this wild tale. 

 

PODCAST NEWS from Podnews:

 

SPOTLIGHT:

Murder in Boston1989 Boston. The crack epidemic is raging, the murder rate soaring, and white flight has taken hold. Charles Stuart and his pregnant wife, Carol, are carjacked, drawn deep into a dangerous “inner city” neighborhood, and allegedly shot by a Black man. All of Boston — and the nation — is gripped by the hunt for the suspect. What follows will reveal truths about the city... and ourselves.