Ancient Office Hours

Latest Episodes:

Episode 130 - Dr. Alyson Melzer Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Ancient Office Hours is a proud member of Mnemosyne: The Memory Collective, a podcast network and creator collective for historians, archaeologists, artists, and other creators and educators dedicated to sharing content about and featuring the ancient world that is accurate, accessible, and inclusive. To learn more about the collective and its contributors, check out collectivemem.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 129 - Dr. Christopher Baron Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 128 - Dr. Chance Bonar Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 127 - Dr. Aisha Dad Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Aisha Dad, a Research Affiliate at the Carolina Asia Center and Director of the Classics Gaming Collaborative, joins Lexie to discuss her move from medicine to falling in love with literature and classics, her work in reception studies, particularly in how ancient stories are retold in modern contexts such as video games and literature, the challenges of being a person of color in the field and the importance of rethinking what constitutes 'classics’. 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.

Check out the Apollodorus Project: https://paizomen.com/apollodorus/

Find her forthcoming book Through the Looking Glass: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674303317

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special Release - The Legacy of Storytelling: Insights from The Last of Us with Troy Baker Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Lexie chats with Troy Baker, the voice of Joel in the popular video game series 'The Last of Us.' The conversation explores a range of topics, from childhood narratives and their impact on personal growth to the philosophical and historical influences that shape storytelling. Troy dives deep into his own nostalgic triggers, the importance of simple yet profound narratives, and the experience of loss and empathy in 'The Last of Us Part II.' They also touch on the critical balance between player agency and linear storytelling in video games. This episode provides a rich exploration of how ancient and modern stories continue to resonate today, all through the lens of a beloved video game series.

Originally recorded November 11, 2023.

Follow Troy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialtroybaker/?hl=en

Find all of his projects on his IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1684869/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 126 - Dr. Christian Langer Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Christian Langer, a trained Egyptologist and professor in the Classics department at the University of Georgia, joins Lexie to discuss his interest in ancient Egypt's political economy, forced migration, and the nuanced interplay between Egyptian and Nubian relations, contemporary issues of decolonizing academic fields such as Egyptology, and the ongoing challenges of integrating diverse perspectives in a traditionally Western-dominated discipline. 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 April 12, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Langer: https://www.classics.uga.edu/directory/people/christian-langer

Check out his publications on Academia: https://uga.academia.edu/ChristianLangerFRHistS

Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-langer-8a393a113/

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special Release - Lesche: Ancient Greece, New Ideas with Dr. Johanna Hanink Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

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 preparing for interviews. It also highlights the importance of fostering a hype culture within academia and future plans for the podcast. 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 8, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Hanink: https://www.johannahanink.com/

Check out Lesche podcast: https://www.leschepodcast.com/2388571

Follow Lesche on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leschepodcast/

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 125 - Dr. Dunstan Lowe Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

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 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 February 25, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Lowe: https://www.kent.ac.uk/classics-archaeology/people/1744/lowe-dunstan

Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ancientplay.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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special Release - Radical Antiquity with Dr. Christopher Zeichmann Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

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 Uprisings.' He explores the lives and societies of radical, leaderless communities throughout history, emphasizing the social experimentation that marked these groups. The conversation offers insights into Zeichmann’s motivations and the broader implications of his work for both scholars and general readers interested in political readings of 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 August 14, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Zeichmann: https://christopherzeichmann.com/ & https://www.torontomu.ca/philosophy/undergraduate/religious-studies/christopher-zeichmann/

Check out his publications on Academia: https://torontomu.academia.edu/ChristopherZeichmann

Find his new book “Radical Antiquity” here: https://firestorm.coop/products/23867-radical-antiquity.html

Or get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Antiquity-Zoroastrians-Farming-Uprisings/dp/0745350399

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 124 - Dr. Caroline Arbuckle MacLeod Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

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 Egypt and the practical and the spiritual significance of various woods used in Egyptian coffins. 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 February 24, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Arbuckle MacLeod: https://stmcollege.ca/contacts/caroline-arbuckle.php?_gl=1*p96iqh*_ga*MTk1NDY2MDgxNC4xNzU3MTc1NjA4*_ga_7P8QY8C9QK*czE3NTcxNzU2MDckbzEkZzEkdDE3NTcxNzU2MzIkajM1JGwwJGgw#top

Check out her personal website: https://carriearbuckle.wordpress.com/

Check out her publications on Academia: https://usask.academia.edu/CarolineArbuckleMacLeod

Find her on Women Know History: https://womenalsoknowhistory.com/individual-scholar-page/?pdb=7591

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 theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.