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 | Weekly | Episodes | 70 | Founded | a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | History | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Shortly after its formation, the United States of America initiated a building program for both state and federal governments, turning to Ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. As Mary and Charlotte discover… In-between duties like writing the Decl... more
Last year, Mary spent nine months in Washington D.C. During this time, she became interested in visual iconography and real objects of Ancient Greece and Rome on display in the city’s museums and streets. In this episode, she tells Charlotte about he... more
In case you haven’t noticed… the USA is celebrating a special anniversary. Mary and Charlotte talk to one of America’s leading scholars of ancient Rome and its modern reception, Joy Connolly, about why so much of the struggle for independence deploye... more
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
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- 1 star
It didn't take long for Charlotte to take this down the modern political drain. Good Lord we don't care to hear her narrow and intolerant political views.
Apple Podcasts1Mikey Likes Podcasts
United States17 days ago - Feminist, literary theory
If someone wants to know why there’s a presence of populist movements in the western world one only has to listen to the feminist literary theory and political correctness to understand why. Dogma is dogma. I dropped out of a Masters program because of the PC Cultural Revolution. I study literature at the free public library, and I no longer listen to the reactionary politicians that this movement precipitated.
Apple Podcasts1August ConsumerUnited States23 days ago - Exceptional!
I just discovered this podcast. The topics are very well researched (I learned many new things in one episode). Is engaging, the hosts have a great chemistry an complement each other.
So refreshing to have a podcast such smart and fun ladies. Thank you!
Apple Podcasts5investigativejournalism junkieUnited Statesa month ago - If only students had these two as ancient history teachers…
Fabulous and so engaging-funny and informative! Mary Bears is so brilliant and Charlotte Higgins is the perfect guide. I’m hooked and find myself mimicking the accent as I relate the best bits to my husband😆I could listen for hours and feel so much smarter for it! Keep up the good work ladies!
Apple Podcasts5LexBBOYUnited Statesa month ago - Cleopatra
The Cleopatra series is excellent. Her name is so well known but I never knew much about her. Glad you are explaining the myth and the actual facts. Really thoughtful.
Apple Podcasts5vegftrapeyeUnited States2 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #167 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #53 |  United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #196 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #67 |  Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #88 |  Italy/History |
Apple Podcasts | #51 |  Poland/History |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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?
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.
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. Ancient Lives with Mary Beard
2. The Rest Is History
3. The Ancients
4. HistoryExtra podcast
5. Empire: World History
How many episodes of Instant Classics are there?
Instant Classics launched a year ago and published 70 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.
What guests have appeared on Instant Classics?
Recent guests on Instant Classics include:
1. Maria Wyke
2. Lucy Hughes-Hallett
3. Grayson Perry
4. Mary Beard
5. Tom Holland
6. Naomi Alderman
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.