Rephonic
Artwork for Instant Classics

Instant Classics

Vespucci
The Odyssey
Helen Of Troy
Greek Literature
Trojan War
Homer's Odyssey
Athena
Homer
Roman Empire
Parthenon
Ancient Greece
Ancient Literature
Rome
Euripides
Christopher Nolan
Odysseus
Boudica
Lupercalia
Zeus
Classical Studies
Toga

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/

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes57Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Instant Classics

Latest Episodes

Mary and Charlotte talk to artist Grayson Perry about why he hates classical civilisation. Grayson is one of Britain’s most famous artists - he won the Turner Prize in 2003, has been exhibited in major exhibitions across the globe, published books an... more

In this episode, Mary and Charlotte’s special guest is… Mary Beard! On the day of publication of her new book, Talking Classics, Mary does just that - talks classics with Charlotte.

Talking Classics is a summation of Mary’s 50 years study of the anc... more

Mary and Charlotte explore the story of Perpetua, a young Christian woman tortured and murdered in the Roman arena in Carthage (modern day Tunisia) for her faith in the 3rd Century CE. Astonishingly, Perpetua kept a diary during her last days - right... more

Antigone is one of the most regularly staged Greek tragedies with great actors lining up to play the part. Juliette Binoche, Juliet Stevenson and Gillian Anderson have all had a crack in recent years. In this episode, Mary and Charlotte look at why A... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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.

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

Recent Guests

Mary Beard
World-renowned classicist, author of Talking Classics
Cambridge University / scholarly work
Episode: Talking Classics with Mary Beard
Tom Holland
Historian and bestselling author known for his work on ancient history.
The Rest is History
Episode: Classic Chats: Tom Holland
Naomi Alderman
Bestselling novelist and computer games writer, renowned for her insightful societal commentary
Episode: Underneath the Toga pt 2 (With Naomi Alderman)

Hosts

Mary Beard
Co-host and world-renowned classicist, Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge
Charlotte Higgins
Co-host and chief culture writer at The Guardian

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 491 ratings
  • Get to the point

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DzB13
    United Kingdom24 days ago
  • Excellent

    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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steve1886
    Australia3 months ago
  • History Geeks Rejoice!

    Finally an entertaining, intelligent and accessible history podcast. Wonderful!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ricknewyork
    United States3 months ago
  • 67

    67 on a merry rizzmas6️⃣7️⃣

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nega da dega
    Finland4 months ago
  • I’d listen to Mary talk about paint drying.

    So insightful and interesting. Love to hear the details of the lives that came way before us and the world they lived in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Designgirl73
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some mentions of sound quality concerns suggest that while the content is rich, technical improvements could enhance the overall listening experience.
The podcast stands out in the crowded history podcast landscape, as many note how it effectively blends ancient stories with modern relevance.
Audience members express excitement for continued discussions surrounding various figures and events in classical history, highlighting a strong community interest.
The hosts are widely praised for their intelligence, humor, and ability to make complex topics enjoyable and relatable, often appreciated for their distinct styles and rapport.
Listeners describe the podcast as accessible and engaging, providing a fascinating entry point into ancient history even for those without prior knowledge.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#196
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#125
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#50
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#136
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#152
Italy/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Classic Chats: Tom Holland
Q: What took you to the Romans?
Tom expresses that an early childhood fascination with both dinosaurs and the Romans drove his interest, along with specific impactful books that sparked this obsession.
Classic Chats: Tom Holland
Q: How do you actually go about your translations day to day?
Tom recounts his method of tackling sections daily and how locations and his environment play into his writing process, notably his experiences while traveling and during lockdown.
Classic Chats: Tom Holland
Q: Tom, what is it about Suetonius? What are his qualities? What are the things that drew you so close to him?
Tom shares that Suetonius's works resonate with contemporary cultural insights and reflect broad human experiences, making him a compelling subject for translation and study.
Underneath the Toga pt 2 (With Naomi Alderman)
Q: Naomi, why did you decide to study classics?
I have always been enticed by it and had a real love for Ovid from my studies, which motivated me to delve deeper into the subject.
Instant Answers: New Year’s Day Q&A
Q: Why do people want to speak Latin and is there a modern movement?
There's a modern movement, like the Latinitas Project, aiming to teach Latin as a living language to make it accessible and demystify it for learners.

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 captivating exploration of ancient history, this podcast features in-depth discussions on various figures, themes, and narratives from the classical world. With hosts who bring both vast knowledge and engaging dialogue, episodes frequently dive into topics like mythology, notable historical figures such as Helen of Troy and Boudica, and the societal implications of ancient customs that resonate with modern life. Rich in humor and accessible storytelling, it invites listeners without formal backgrounds in Classics to engage with and appreciate the stories and complexities of the past, showcasing how these ancient tales continue to evolve in contemporary contexts. The hosts' dynamic chemistry and expert insights make for a delightful audito... 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 Ancients
2. Dan Snow's History Hit
3. Gone Medieval
4. The Rest Is History
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of Instant Classics are there?

Instant Classics launched 9 months ago and published 57 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. Mary Beard
2. Tom Holland
3. 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.

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