Rephonic
Artwork for Instant Classics

Instant Classics

Vespucci
The Odyssey
Greek Literature
Homer
Parthenon
Ancient Literature
Homer's Odyssey
Roman Empire
Ancient Greece
Odysseus
Classical Studies
Athena
Epic Poems
Christopher Nolan
Epic Poetry
Rome
The Iliad
Translation
Athens
Virgil
Trojan War

Join world-renowned classicist Mary Beard and Guardian chief culture writer Charlotte Higgins for Instant Classics — the weekly podcast that proves ancient history is still relevant. Ancient stories, modern twists… and no degree in Classics required. Become a Member of the Instant Classics Book Club here: instantclassics.supportingcast.fm/

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes20Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Instant Classics

Latest Episodes

Recorded live in an actual Roman amphitheatre underneath the Guildhall Art Gallery in London, Mary and Charlotte uncover the (Roman) origins of one of the world’s great cities.

London’s Roman amphitheatre may not be the Colosseum, but it’s thought i... more

Athena: goddess, shape-shifter, helper of heroes, fashion guru, patron deity of Athens and a bit of a daddy’s girl. She’s also one of the most elusive and puzzling characters in Greek mythology. In this episode, Mary and Charlotte ask who exactly is ... more

In the second of this two-part special, Mary and Charlotte rejoin Boudica as she marches on London, continues her path of destruction, and finally meets the Roman army on the battlefield.

It’s a dramatic story, complete with Boudica’s rousing speech... more

Boudica. Britain’s original badass. A warrior queen who almost defeated the Romans, gave voice to the oppressed and inspired countless school children ever since. But what do we really know about her? Mary and Charlotte trace her story, asking how mu... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4
The Ancients
The AncientsHistory Hit
Gone Medieval
Gone MedievalHistory Hit

Hosts

Mary Beard
Co-host and world-renowned classicist, known for her contributions to the understanding of classical literature and culture, with significant scholarly presence and media engagement. She brings her expertise in Ancient Rome and Greece to the discussions.
Charlotte Higgins
Co-host and chief culture writer at The Guardian, she combines journalistic insight with a passion for classical studies, enhancing the program with her cultural critiques and engagement with contemporary issues.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 391 ratings
  • Love the Odyssey book club!

    Enjoying it while on mat leave - baby seems to like listening to it too! Particularly loving the Odyssey book club and hoping the Iliad is next. Found it via Tom Holland RIHC and glad I did!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LauraDNJ
    United Kingdom8 days ago
  • Smart women talking about history

    What a breath of fresh air to listen to these brilliant historians discuss classical history and poetry. Unlike all the cringing I do as I listen to brilliant male historians, this podcast is a balm. And they’re really funny too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Follow the fith
    United States9 days ago
  • My favourite podcast!

    I love listening to Charlotte and Mary with their new take on issues, incidents and periods in classical history. They gel so well together as hosts and the topics range from Roman ghost stories to Athenian politics. I especially enjoy hearing the different classical writers dissected along with their own context and bias with the phrase 'it's complicated' when solving historical conundrums.

    I met Mary recently at her book signing after her talk at Manchester Tate and managed to mumble out that ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Electrobookworm
    United Kingdom11 days ago
  • I want to love this but

    As a fan of both of these historians, I thought I'd love this, however, it's hard to listen to. The subjects have been good but the two women talk over each other a lot, which I find jarring, I don't know if it's each want to show off their knowledge or whether Charlotte is filling in the silence/trying to move things along as Mary speaks so slowly. I will keep listening and hope the rhythm settles down.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    palaoiai
    Australia18 days ago
  • Love this Podcast

    I love Mary Beard and just found this podcast. I love listening to her and Charlotte make history interesting. Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lishka29
    United States21 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critiques focus on occasional political commentary, indicating a desire for a more focused historical perspective without modern biases.
There's a strong positive sentiment toward the engaging presentation style and chemistry between the hosts, making complex topics relatable.
Listeners appreciate the humor and insightful analysis provided by the hosts as they relate ancient history to modern-day issues.
Many find the discussions enlightening, refreshing, and accessible, often describing the content as both entertaining and informative.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#216
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#58
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#156
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#89
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#124
France/History
Apple Podcasts
#220
Germany/History

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per EpisodeGender SkewLocation
InterestsProfessionsAge Range
Household IncomeSocial Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Classics

What is Instant Classics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast explores the connections between ancient history and modern life, featuring discussions led by an esteemed classicist and a prominent culture writer. The hosts illuminate various aspects of Greek and Roman history, covering iconic figures, significant events, and cultural artifacts while relating them to contemporary issues and themes. Episodes offer engaging narratives woven with humor, insights, and a critical examination of historical interpretations, making ancient history accessible and thought-provoking for all audiences. Notably, the focus on the relevance of classical themes in today's society sets this podcast apart, encouraging curiosity and stimulating discussions around enduring societal questions.

Listeners can ex... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Instant Classics?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Instant Classics. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Instant Classics and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Instant Classics get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Instant Classics, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Instant Classics?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Instant Classics, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Instant Classics have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Instant Classics has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Instant Classics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Instant Classics:

1. The Rest Is History
2. In Our Time
3. The Ancients
4. Journey Through Time
5. Gone Medieval

How many episodes of Instant Classics are there?

Instant Classics launched 4 months ago and published 20 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Instant Classics?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Instant Classics?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Instant Classics from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Instant Classics?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Instant Classics. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days