The Reading Party Podcast

Lexie hops on to share an announcement about the Reading Party podcast. Worry not, we will be back with a whole new season sometime in late 2026! In the meantime, we have 3 full seasons of fun content available to check out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back for a very special bonus episode of The Reading Party podcast! Join us as we sit down with Melissanthi Mahut and Michael Antonakos, the voices behind Greek siblings Kassandra and Alexios in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The discussion dives into their backgrounds, their connections to Greek mythology, and their experiences working on the game. They explore the challenges and rewards of vo...

In this final episode of season 3 of The Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie are discussing the 2016 film “Ben-Hur”. They share their thoughts on the film’s historical accuracy, the anachronisms in costume and set design, and the unexpected presence of Jesus in the narrative. From the dramatic chariot race to the film's ultimate message of forgiveness and redemption, they analyze what worked an...

In this episode of The Reading Party, Megan and Lexie are joined by Dr. Victoria Austen to dive into the 2014 action-adventure film "Pompeii," starring Kit Harington. Join them as they explore the film's unique blend of romance, action, and historical disaster, all set against the backdrop of the infamous volcanic eruption. Dr. Victoria Austen, an expert in the classics, shares her insights on Rom...

In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, hosts Megan and Lexie dive into the rich narrative of "Eagle of the Ninth" by Rosemary Sutcliffe. Released in 1954, this children's novel explores the journey of Marcus, a Roman soldier, as he navigates life in Britain after being injured and discharged from the army. The hosts discuss their experience of reading it after watching the film adaptation,...

In this episode of the Reading Party podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the 2011 film "The Eagle," adapted from Rosemary Sutcliffe's 1954 novel "The Eagle of the Ninth." Joining us is special guest Lindsay Allason-Jones, the historical consultant for the movie. Lindsay shares her extensive background in Roman Britain, having previously served as the Director of Archaeological Museums for Newcastle...

On this episode of The Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie offer an in-depth exploration of the animated film "Asterix versus Caesar," originally titled "Astérix et la Surprise de César," which was released in 1985. This film is an adaptation of the beloved French comic series created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, a significant part of French culture since its inception. Megan and Lexie p...

In this episode of the Reading Party podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the 2007 fantasy historical adventure film, The Last Legion. Set against the backdrop of the fall of the Roman Empire, the movie intertwines legendary elements such as the last Roman Emperor, Excalibur, Merlin, and King Arthur, creating a captivating narrative that blends historical fantasy with medieval Britain. "The Last Leg...

In this episode of The Reading Party, hosts Megan and Lexie dive into the world of Roman history with esteemed guests Dr. Peta Greenfield and Dr. Fiona Radford, co-hosts of The Partial Historians podcast. With their expertise in Classics and Ancient History, they explore the iconic 2000 film Gladiator, discussing its impact and cultural significance. Dr. Radford shares her specialization in recept...

Lexie and Megan are back for season 3! Welcome back to the Reading Party Podcast! In this exciting episode of our Rome Centric Season 3, we have not one, but two special guests: ancient historians Aaron Irvin and Jeff Stevens both experts on the Roman Empire, as well as consultants for Starz series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”. Join us as we dive deep into the world of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand,"...

Join Megan and Lexie for a wrap up of season two! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the season finale of The Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive deep into the final chapters of "Desert God" by Wilbur Smith. They discuss the inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and unsatisfying conclusions in the book, questioning the choices made by the author. Despite the captivating writing style and beautiful descriptions, they express disappointment in the lack of resolution and the abru...

In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the world of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as they discuss the book "Desert God" by Wilbur Smith. Join them as they dissect the historical inaccuracies, character developments, and plot twists in this fifth installment of the Egyptian series. From the over-sexualization of characters to the questionable lore inconsistencies, M...

In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, hosts Megan and Lexie are joined by Dr. Roselyn A. Campbell to discuss the animated movie "The Prince of Egypt" set in ancient Egypt. Dr. Campbell, a subject matter expert, shares insights and expertise on bioarchaeology, the historical/cultural aspects of the film, and provides a captivating exploration of ancient Egyptian stories. Tune in for a livel...

Join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they unpack the fast-paced plot and questionable historical accuracy of the book Pharaoh by Wilbur Smith on today’s episode of The Reading Party Podcast!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie discuss the 2014 movie "Exodus: Gods and Kings" starring Christian Bale. Egyptologist Dr. Christian Casey, a postdoc at the Freie Universität Berlin working on the Zodiac Project, joins them to talk about ancient zodiacal terms and the development of horoscopes in Mesopotamia. Dr. Casey also shares insights on popular representations of ancient E...

Grab your tea and snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, today as they talk about the 2000 animated movie Joseph, King of Dreams with special guest Dr. Joshua Bowen, who shares his expertise as an honorary Hebrew Bible scholar to analyze the biblical context of the film!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie are joined by Egyptologist Kara Cooney, to discuss Egypt during Cleopatra's reign.  Cleopatra's identity and heritage have been a subject of debate, with various theories suggesting different aspects of her ancestry. The episode discusses the possibility that Cleopatra may have had Egyptian ancestry, despite being part of the Ma...

Today on The Reading Party Podcast, join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they shed light on the inaccuracies in costumes and historical context present in the 1963 movie Cleopatra, prompting discussions about the creative liberties taken in portraying ancient Egypt and Roman culture on screen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, are back this week to delve into their changing perspective on Wilbur Smith's novel The Quest, a mystical high fantasy novel set in ancient Egypt. They explore problematic themes of race essentialism, exoticism, and strange relationships within the story. The discussion highlights uncomfortable elements like magical rituals involving...

Today, Megan and Lexie are joined by Egyptologist Dr. Jill Waller, to discuss the 2017 movie "The Mummy". Definitely not cut from the same cloth as the original movies with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, Megan, Lexie, and Jill explore how the film deviates from actual Egyptian history and culture, resulting in a portrayal that is far from accurate. One key point raised by the hosts is the misrep...

Grab your tea and your snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they talk with Dr. Christian Casey about how Assassin's Creed Origins incorporates elements of ancient Egyptian culture and history to enhance the gameplay experience. They focus on the significance of the feather of Ma'at in the game, a symbol of truth and justice in ancient Egyptian mytholo...

*Content warning below* Today Megan and Lexie discuss part two of Wilbur Smith's novel, Warlock, which includes a pursuit, a trick, a dust storm, and a change in plans. How many things are we frustrated with in this episode? Too many to count. Gratuitous and poorly written sex scenes, racist and misogynistic elements, and the problematic portrayal of women, particularly African women, in the book,...

*Content warning below* In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the first part of the book "Warlock", from the “Egyptian Series” by Wilbur Smith. They discuss their initial thoughts and share their feelings of familiarity with the plot. Despite some disappointments, they appreciate the well-written descriptions and the immersive atmosphere of the story, though the v...

In this episode, Megan and Lexie discuss the 2016 movie "Gods of Egypt" with special guest Dr. Marissa Stevens, an Egyptologist at UCLA. They delve into the themes and cultural influences of the film, as well as the intersection between Egypt and Ancient Persia. Marissa shares her expertise on funerary papyri and the significance of the 21st dynasty. Grab your tea, your snacks, and join your frien...