
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/
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 65 | Founded | 10 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | History | |||

Nearly 2000 years before Sigmund Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams, a sage in Ephesus (now in Turkey) wrote a book whose title translates as… The Interpretation of Dreams. Armed with Artemidorus’ book, Mary and Charlotte dive into the surr... more
Mary and Charlotte talk to Professor Maria Wyke, classicist and film historian, about Cleopatra’s rebirth on the screen. By far the most famous Cleopatra film is the 1963 epic starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton - at the time the most expens... more
Mary and Charlotte talk to Lucy Hughes-Hallett, acclaimed biographer and author of ‘Cleopatra: Histories, Dreams and Distortions’, about Cleopatra’s afterlife on the page. Lucy begins by observing that “the people who write about her aren't intereste... more
Another trailer for Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming adaptation of The Odyssey has just been released, giving more insights into the world the cast and crew have created. Mary and Charlotte give their quick-fire response.
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I have always loved Mary Beard but I find the style of this podcast quite frustrating. One example was the recent episode on what poor Romans ate. Lots of words, lots of examples of how we know what they ate, but very little information on what they ate.
Very accessible and interesting. Allows you to enter this fascinating world even if you never studied the subject and have no knowledge of Greek or Latin or much history!
Finally an entertaining, intelligent and accessible history podcast. Wonderful!
67 on a merry rizzmas6️⃣7️⃣
So insightful and interesting. Love to hear the details of the lives that came way before us and the world they lived in.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Apple Podcasts | #200 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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A scholarly, accessible deep-dive into ancient history and literature, led by two acclaimed historians/journalists who explore how classical stories remain relevant today. Episodes mix rigorous source discussion with lively banter, addressing politics, gender, myth, and modern culture through Cleopatra, Rome, ancient philosophy, and book-club style explorations, often featuring guest scholars. The show stands out for its strong pair dynamic, rigorous analysis, and approachable narrative that invites both enthusiasts and newcomers to rethink well-trodden histories.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Instant Classics:
1. The Ancients
2. In Our Time
3. HistoryExtra podcast
4. Gone Medieval
5. The Rest Is History
Instant Classics launched 10 months ago and published 65 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Instant Classics include:
1. Lucy Hughes-Hallett
2. Grayson Perry
3. Mary Beard
4. Tom Holland
5. Naomi Alderman
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