Instant Classics
VespucciJoin 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 | Twice weekly | Episodes | 17 | Founded | 3 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | History | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
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
Any Greek hero worth their salt makes a trip to the Underworld at some point during their adventures. Mary and Charlotte follow in their footsteps, crossing the River Styx to ask: what exactly was the Underworld? How was it different to the Judeo-Chr... more
As the Halloween season hits, Mary and Charlotte turn to the wealth of ghost stories from the ancient world to ask: did the Greeks and Romans really believe in ghosts and why are their stories so similar to ours when many of our beliefs are so differ... more
Exciting News!
Vespucci, in collaboration with the City of London Corporation and the Culture Mile Business Improvement District, is thrilled to present the very first live recording of Instant Classics on November 26th, 2025.
Join hosts Mary Beard... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- Informative & Very Enjoyable
I am so glad that Charlotte and Mary have come together to present Instant Classics. The topics from the ancient world are consistently interesting. I so enjoy the humour between them.
Apple Podcasts5PineGroveCharlie
United Kingdoma month ago Absolute 👍
Podcast Addict5a month agoAnnam- Fabulous
Love it ladies! Just found your podcast and I’m already through them all and impatiently awaiting the next!! Thankyou!
Apple Podcasts5RaeCrackson
New Zealanda month ago - Entertainingly revelatory
I’m a new addict to this podcast. Even though it takes the best known facets of Greek and Roman ancient civilisation, it always makes me re-think them, with fresh information, intelligent analysis, bags of humour, and fabulously unpretentious and up-to-date discussion.
Apple Podcasts5Alastair Macaulay
United Statesa month ago - Brill
Came here after Mary’s interview with Tom Holland on the RIHP. Hugely enjoying it so far. Many thanks!
Apple Podcasts5BellthecatUnited Kingdoma month ago
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #70 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #27 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #60 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #39 |  Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #62 |  Italy/History |
Apple Podcasts | #105 |  Germany/History |
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
| Household Income | Social Media Reach | ||||
Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Classics
What is Instant Classics about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Focusing on the intersection of ancient literature and contemporary relevance, the discussion encompasses significant themes and figures from ancient history, literature, and culture. Episodes often revolve around pivotal texts such as The Odyssey, exploring their narratives, characters, and continuing resonance today. The hosts also analyze historical events and figures, making parallels to modern politics and social issues, thereby inviting listeners to reflect on how the past influences the present. Unique to this show is the blend of scholarly insight with engaging conversation that makes classical texts accessible to a wide audience, regardless of their academic background.
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?
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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. History Extra podcast
3. Dan Snow's History Hit
4. The Ancients
5. Not Just the Tudors
How many episodes of Instant Classics are there?
Instant Classics launched 3 months ago and published 17 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.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Instant Classics?
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