Ancient Office Hours

Dr. Johanna Hanink, a professor of Classics at Brown University, joins Lexie for a podcast centric episode, in which we dive into the origins and inspirations that led to the creation of her podcast Lesche. Our conversation covers the inspirations she took from other podcasts like Byzantium and Friends, the challenges of balancing academic rigor with creating accessible content, to her approach to...

Dr. Dunstan Lowe, a senior lecturer in Latin Literature at the University of Kent, joins Lexie to discuss his journey into the field of classical studies, driven by an early fascination with Roman history and mythology, the nuanced differences between Greek and Roman literature, particularly the works of Virgil and Ovid, and his fascination with archaeogaming and its relevance today. So tuck in yo...

Dr. Christopher Zeichmann, a New Testament scholar and lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University, joins Lexie to discuss his new book focused on radical groups in antiquity. Dr. Zeichmann, a scholar specializing in early Christianity and the Roman military, explains his research background and the genesis of his book, 'Radical Antiquity: Free Love, Zoroastrian Farming Pirates, and Ancient Uprisi...

Dr. Caroline Arbuckle MacLeod, an Egyptologist and professor of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology at the University of Saskatchewan, joins Lexie to discuss her path through near Eastern archeology, and how the Syrian conflict led her to fall in love with ancient Egypt, the unique interest in daily life, beliefs, and preservation of ancient Egyptian sites, her focus on woodworking in ancient E...

Dr. Carolyn Willekes, an equine archaeologist and professor of Ancient History at Mount Royal University in Canada, joins Lexie to discuss how horses were used for sport & spectacle in the Roman Empire & other fun horsey tidbits like using saddles (or the lack thereof) and the Byzantine factions. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't f...

Dr. Tom Horne, an archaeologist, author, podcaster, and communications manager for the Govan Stones museum, joins Lexie to discuss his early inspirations from Glasgow's public museums into academia, the Viking economy, trade networks, and use of bullion economies, and the intersection of academia and media considering his experiences in television, film, and podcasts. So tuck in your togas and hop...

Dr. Damián Fernández, a historian of Late Antiquity and Associate Professor at Northern Illinois University, joins Lexie to discuss the complexities of Visigoth identity and their kingdom in Spain, the importance of learning languages like Spanish and Portuguese for a deeper understanding of Visigothic sites, and his work on a monograph on rebellion in the Visigothic Kingdom which explores how reb...

Dr. Tom Morcom, an associate lecturer in Old Norse Language and Literature at University College London, joins Lexie to discuss his journey into academia, emphasizing his fascination with the depth and richness of Old Norse saga literature and narrative theory, the uniqueness of medieval Icelandic society, how Old Norse literature compares to classical works, and modern reception of Norse culture...

Actor Magnus Bruun, (voice of male Eivor in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla!), joins Lexie to chat about his love for storytelling and the rich history and mythology of Scandinavia that shaped his artistic vision, playing Cnut in "The Last Kingdom”, the challenges of portraying characters in both television and video games, and share some behind-the-scenes stories from working on Assassin’s Creed Valhal...

Dr. Christian Rollinger, a Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Trier, joins Lexie to discuss his experience navigating the German academic system, evolution from focusing on modern history to becoming a scholar of ancient Rome, interest in the historical importance of monarchy, work on reception of classics in video games, and the growing acceptance of video game studies in aca...

Dr. Joel Christensen, a professor of Classics at Brandeis University, joins Lexie to discuss how his childhood in rural Maine and frequent library visits led to a passion for classics, finding parallels between Homeric themes and modern narratives, and re-analyzed Joseph Campbell's 'Hero of a Thousand Faces,' critiquing its limitations while highlighting its impact on modern storytelling. So tuck...

Dr. Clare Downham, a professor of Medieval History and Celtic Studies at the University of Liverpool, joins Lexie to discuss her personal journey into Medieval History and Celtic Studies, the distinct ways Viking activities influenced Ireland compared to the UK, being a historical consultant for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and debunking popular misconceptions about the Vikings and iconic figures li...

Dr. Hannah Čulík-Baird, a professor of Classics at UCLA, joins Lexie to discuss the intersections of her personal identity (growing up in Scotland) with her academic pursuits, the importance of addressing historical inequities within the field, the relevance of ancient texts like those of Cicero, and the modern challenges of teaching classics in a diverse and evolving academic landscape. So tuck i...

Dr. Hans Bork, a professor of Classics at Stanford, joins Lexie to discuss his formative experiences with Indo-European linguistics before Classics, the siloed nature of language study, which is typically categorized with literature rather than with its scientific and mathematical aspects, and humor in ancient Rome, particularly the works of Plautus and Cicero. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard...

Two-time Grammy winning composer Christopher Tin joins Lexie to discuss the evolution of film music, particularly the transition from lush orchestral scores of the past to the more atmospheric and synth-driven scores of contemporary composers, his experiences scoring for the Civilization game series and Old World, and the intersection of music, history, & creativity. So tuck in your togas and...

Dr. Carolyn Willekes, an equine archaeologist and professor of Ancient History at Mount Royal University in Canada, joins Lexie to discuss her moving from STEM/veterinary science to Classics, how being a “horse girl” drew her to Macedonian cavalry and the role of horses in the ancient world, the complexities of the human-horse relationship, and the legendary relationship between Alexander the Grea...

Dr. Alexandra Schultz, a professor of Classics at Dartmouth, joins Lexie to discuss her journey from working at Microsoft into Classics, the role of feminist theory in understanding ancient texts and libraries, insights on the Library of Alexandria, the accessibility of ancient libraries, and what modern libraries can learn from their ancient counterparts. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trir...

Dr. Grace Erny, a professor of Classics at the University of California - Berkeley, joins Lexie to discuss getting into Classics via extensive fieldwork and summer programs, her work on settlement pattern, economic & social transformations and Minoan artifacts in ancient Crete, and the importance of communal dining practices and the militaristic aspects of Cretan society. So tuck in your...

Dr. Jane Draycott, a Roman historian, archaeologist, and lecturer at the University of Glasgow, joins Lexie to discuss her work on ancient medical practices looking at the evolution of skincare and assistive technologies like prosthetics, the complexities of studying classical reception in video games, ethical concerns with game studios, and writing her book Cleopatra’s Daughter. So tuck in your t...

Dr. Richard Cole, a lecturer in Digital Classics at the University of Bristol, joins Lexie to discuss challenges to merging the ancient world with contemporary digital mediums, his work on the Virtual Reality Oracle project, the significance of storytelling in both ancient and modern contexts, and the future of VR in education, particularly its application in classrooms. So tuck in your togas and...

Robin Pierson, host of The History of Byzantium podcast, joins Lexie to discuss creating The History of Byzantium, the challenges and joys of podcasting about such a complex and often misunderstood period of history, how his perspectives have shifted through research, and the lack of representation of Byzantine history in popular media. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this...

Dr. Mario Telò, a professor of rhetoric, comparative literature, and Ancient Greek and Roman studies at the University of California, Berkeley, joins Lexie to discuss the educational emphasis in Italy focusing on language and grammar, his research interest in the literary qualities and the timeless themes that resonate across generations, and the application of various critical theories, including...

Dr. Natalie Swain, a professor of Classics at the University of Acadia, joins Lexie to discuss the impact of having inspiring professors who ignited our interests in Classics, how video games are a rich area for exploring classical themes, and the significance of examining video games as cultural artifacts. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey!&nbsp...

Dr. Jacques Bailly, a professor of Classics at the University of Vermont, joins Lexie to discuss the complexities of teaching ancient philosophy and literature and how to make abstract ideas accessible to students, Diodorus Cronus' Master Argument about determinism and free will, and how how he came to be the official pronouncer for the National Spelling Bee. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard T...

Lindsay Allason-Jones, a Roman archaeologist and museum professional, joins Lexie to discuss the importance of artifacts in understanding the lives of people from the past (particularly women in Roman Britain), the cultural diversity of Roman Britain, the purpose and functionality of Hadrian’s Wall, and consulting on “The Eagle” film. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this w...