Ancient Office Hours

Latest Episodes:

Bonus - Roman Horses, Sport & Spectacle with Dr. Carolyn Willekes Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

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 forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!

Originally recorded February 14, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Willekes: https://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/Arts/Departments/Humanities/Faculty/Carolyn-Willekes.htm

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/academic.equestrian/

Check out her publications on Academia: https://mtroyal.academia.edu/CarolynWillekes

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 123 - Dr. Tom Horne Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

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 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 January 28, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Horne: https://drtomhorne.com/

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomhorne870/?hl=en

Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hornesupremacy.bsky.social

Check out his publications on Academia: https://independent.academia.edu/DrTomHorne

Check out the Shindig Archaeology podcast: https://shows.acast.com/shindig

Check out the Govan Stones Museum: https://thegovanstones.org.uk/

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 122 - Dr. Damián Fernández Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

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 rebellion was used to justify state power. 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 January 27, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Fernández: https://www.niu.edu/clas/history/about/faculty/fernandez.shtml

Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historiantillo.bsky.social

Check out his publications on Academia: https://niu.academia.edu/Dami%C3%A1nFern%C3%A1ndez

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 121 - Dr. Tom Morcom Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

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 in popular 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 January 10, 2025.

Learn more about Dr. Morcom: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/97142-tom-morcom

Follow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tommorcom.bsky.social

Check out his publications on Academia: https://uio.academia.edu/TomMorcom

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 120 - Magnus Bruun Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

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 Valhalla. 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 January 5, 2025.

Follow Magnus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnusbruun/?hl=en

Find all of his projects on his IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2422401/

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 119 - Dr. Christian Rollinger Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

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 academia. 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 December 20, 2024.

Learn more about Dr. Rollinger: https://www.uni-trier.de/en/universitaet/fachbereiche-faecher/fachbereich-iii/faecher/geschichte/profil/fachgebiete/alte-geschichte-1/team/dr-christian-rollinger

Follow him on Bluesky: @drcrollinger.bsky.social

Check out his publications on Academia: https://uni-trier.academia.edu/ChristianRollinger

Grab a copy of his edited volume on Classics in video games: https://www.amazon.com/Classical-Antiquity-Video-Games-Receptions/dp/1350193860

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 118 - Dr. Joel Christensen Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

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 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 December 2, 2024.

Learn more about Dr. Christensen: https://scholarworks.brandeis.edu/esploro/profile/joel_christensen/overview

Follow him on Bluesky (ft. Hermes): https://bsky.app/profile/sentantiq.bsky.social

Follow him on Twitter: https://x.com/sentantiq

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 117 - Dr. Clare Downham May 28, 2025

Show notes

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 like Ivar the Boneless. 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 November 11, 2024.

Learn more about Dr. Downham: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/clare-downham

Follow her on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/downham.bsky.social

Check out her publications on Academia: https://liverpool.academia.edu/ClareDownham

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 116 - Dr. Hannah Čulík-Baird May 14, 2025

Show notes

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 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 October 25, 2024.

Learn more about Dr. Čulík-Baird: https://classics.ucla.edu/person/hannah-culik-baird/

Check out her blog O Pietas Animi: https://opietasanimi.com/author/opietasanimi/

Follow her on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/opietasanimi.com

Check out the Res Difficiles Journal: https://resdifficiles.com/

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 115 - Dr. Hans Bork Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

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 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 October 10, 2024.

Learn more about Dr. Bork: https://classics.stanford.edu/people/hans-bork

Check out his publications on Academia: https://stanford.academia.edu/HansBork

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.