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A media analysis podcast in which hosts Allison and Julia discuss modern media (including TV & film, books, and music) that depicts the Ancient Mediterranean world, its peoples, and its stories. We're here to have a good time, not to nitpick accuracy, but we've got a thing or two to teach, too.
Episodes
Saturday Dec 31, 2022
Saturday Dec 31, 2022
In this episode, we tackle three episodes of the new series of Doctor Who: Fires of Pompeii, The God Complex, and The Eaters of Light. Featuring Sibyls, the etymology of 'volcano', Roman sexuality, and, of course, some complaining about Steven Moffat, join us on this romp through a show that's beloved by both of us!
(And, for funzies, a few comments about aliens and Atlantis that proved to be foreshadowing for our first episode of 2023...)
Content warnings:
- Profanity
- Discussion of sex and sexuality
- Discussion of death, including mass death in natural disasters
- Discussion of imperialism and imperial violence
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Music by Dark Fantasy Studios.
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Saturday Nov 26, 2022
Saturday Nov 26, 2022
In this episode, we discuss The Wicked and the Divine vols. 1-4, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. We talk Dionysus, the Satanic Panic (and also Satan, a bit), child sacrifice, and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, plus a few takes that make it clear that at time of recording, neither of us had read the entire run. In summary: art good.
Content warnings:
- Profanity
- Discussion of child/infant death, specifically ritual child sacrifice
- Mentions of rape and sexual assault
- Mentions of sex and sexuality
- Discussion of drugs and drug use
- Mentions of racism and racist tropes
- Mentions of transphobia
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Music by Dark Fantasy Studios.
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Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
On this episode, we're joined by special guest Dr. Victoria Austen to discuss 1997 film Hercules. We talk trends in feminism, the Christianization of myth, and the cult of Elon Musk.
Find Victoria on Twitter, @Vicky_Austen, and give her a follow!
And click here for Dr. Polt's threads on Hercules, as mentioned by Victoria.
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Music by Dark Fantasy Studios.
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Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
In this episode on the FINAL (AT LAST) Percy Jackson book, we talk about the Iliad (some more), Nico DiAngelo ex machina, and why Hestia is the most underrated Greek deity.
Content Warnings:
- Mentions of canon-typical violence and death
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Music by Dark Fantasy Studios.
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Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
In this episode, we dive into one of Julia's favourite movies, 1999's The Mummy. Turns out one of Julia's favourite movies is pretty racist. Featuring (a significant lack of) archaeological ethics, the magical ability to read ancient Egyptian, and yet another shoutout to our friend and yours Edward Said.
Content Warnings:
- Extensive discussion of racism and racist (particularly orientalist) tropes
- Mentions of cannibalism
- Brief mention of incest
- Profanity
- Discussion of violence, death, and human remains
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
This episode, we have a special guest: friend of the podcast Madi, who is a dedicated fan of Percy Jackson and joined us to share her perspective on this book! Digressions include environmentalism, how to pronounce 'Daedalus', and the Teletubby vaccination forgery scandal.
Content warnings:
- Profanity
- Discussion of violence and death; mentions of body horror (possession)
- Discussion of sexual assault
Friday Feb 04, 2022
Friday Feb 04, 2022
In this special episode, Julia strikes out on her own to conduct a semi-scholarly takedown of C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces. Spoilers: she hated it. Featuring unfortunate fantasy naming, the Christianization of Cupid and Psyche, and a weak attempt to explain Apuleius.
Content warnings:
- Profanity
- Discussion of racism and misogyny
Saturday Jan 15, 2022
Saturday Jan 15, 2022
In this episode we discuss Percy Jackson book 3: The Titan's Curse. Featuring: both-sides-ism, a small amount of complaining about philosophy professors, and a pitch for casting Aphrodite. Also, we call Rick Riordan out for fridging. We continue to have mad nostalgic fun with these episodes.
Content warnings:
- Mild profanity
- Discussion of violence and death
- Mentions of sexuality and sexual assault
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
This episode, we have a special treat: an interview with author Nicholas Nicastro on his recently-published novel, The River Through Rome. Featuring engineering logistics, a shoutout to flat-earthers, and the refrigerator door theory of writing inspiration, we hope you enjoy this conversation--we sure did!
Apologies for some inconsistency in audio quality--this was our first recording after Julia moved away, as well as our first recording with a remote guest, so we ended up having to mix and match a bit.
Content warnings:
- Mentions of sex and sexuality
- Mild profanity
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Check out Nicholas's work at any of the following places:
On Instagram @nicastromedia
On Facebook as Books by Nicholas Nicastro
And you can purchase and review his books in paperback or ebook via Amazon, or as an audiobook via Audible.
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Saturday Oct 16, 2021
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
In this episode we discuss Natalie Haynes's 2019 novel A Thousand Ships. Digressions include identity theft, ancient clothing, and ecofascism. We also spend a while simping for basically every ancient woman mentioned.
Content warnings:
- Profanity
- Discussion of violence and death
- Discussion of rape and sexual assault
- Mentions of slavery
- Mentions of sex and sexuality
Notes: The French story about a man replacing his dead comrade that Julia referenced was the story of Martin Guerre, which was indeed historical.
And a small correction: the word for Penelope and Odysseus's likemindedness is "homophrosyne" not "symphrosyne".