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Artwork for Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

BBC Radio 4
Egypt
Ptolemaic Dynasty
Library Of Alexandria
Alexander the Great
Rome
Homer
Alexandria
Julius Caesar
Cleopatra VII
Greek Mythology
Ancient Greece
Ptolemy I
Greek Literature
Artemis
Aesop
Hestia
Aphrodite
Hesiod
Fables
Britain

Natalie Haynes takes a fresh look at the ancient world, creating stand-up routines about figures from ancient Greece and Rome.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes55Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Stand-UpComedyHistory

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Artwork for Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Latest Episodes

Natalie narrates Jason and the Argonauts' epic quest to find the Golden Fleece. Killer women, bronze giants, talking crows and a skeleton army all feature in the great poem by Apollonius. No wonder the equally epic 1963 film of the story credited him... more

The Greek mathematician and philosopher has vanished from history because she was a woman. Natalie reveals the evidence of her brilliance in 4th century Alexandria and openly envies her philosopher's cloak. Islam Issa and Adam Rutherford join to tell... more

Natalie, with Michael Scott and Alicia Stallings, offers a helpful guide to using the Oracle to get answers to your life's big questions. You'll need cash and a sign from a goat.

'Rockstar mythologist' Natalie Haynes is the best-selling author of Di... more

Did the Boy Emperor in fact fiddle while Rome burned? Natalie's joined by star of BBC TV's I, Claudius, Christopher Biggins and Llewelyn Morgan to find out if he was all bad. For a seventeen year old put in charge of an Empire, he was surprisingly po... more

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Recent Guests

Islam Issa
Episode: Hypatia
Adam Rutherford
Episode: Hypatia
Michael Scott
Author who has written about Delphi (discussed as a book on Delphi)
Author/Scholar
Episode: The Oracle at Delphi
Christopher Biggins
Actor and guest on the show, discussed Nero's portrayal and related topics
BBC / I, Claudius
Episode: Nero
Daisy Dunn
Author and Classicist, known for her detailed examination of Catullus
Episode: Catullus
Nikita Gill
Episode: The Women Poets of Ancient Greece
André Vincent
Episode: Saturnalia
Llewelyn Morgan
Episode: Tacitus
Dan Snow
Episode: Tacitus

Host

Natalie Haynes
Host and stand-up comedian known for presenting classical topics with wit and accessible storytelling.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Natalie is great!

    These episodes are terrific. Natalie's guests are well-chosen and make relevant and helpful additions to her commentaries. Natalie herself is expert, highly informed, and very funny guide to the Classics. A highly worthwhile series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maura Battle
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • Tickle your historical funny bones!

    Honestly, this is one of the finest podcasts available.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    theschnecki
    United Statesa month ago
  • Brilliant!

    I discovered this series totally by accident. Absolutely love it, the humour, the guests, the information, everything. brought back fund memories of School players et cetera. But amazed at how much was left out! On reflection, I’m not surprised it so much was left out of our School plays!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    -3£££@
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Amazing. Education and entertainment

    Podcast Addict
    5
    indigonegative
    6 months ago
  • delightful and nuanced!

    natalie haynes is brilliant and brings that brilliance to her discussions of ancient mythology. as a classical literature teacher, this has deeply enhanced my love and wonder for greek mythos.

    a simple request to investigate deeper into the lives of the vestal virgins as well as Regilla, the woman murdered amidst domestic violence as documented by historian Sarah Pomeroy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KylieGal!
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate feminist angles on myth and literature and want more episodes on favorite figures.
Fans praise the show's wit and scholarship and say it makes classics feel relatable.
Listeners commend the guest lineup and Natalie's engaging delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#24
United States/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#3
United Kingdom/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#98
United Kingdom/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#6
France/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#9
Italy/Comedy/Stand-Up

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Alexandria: The Science
Q: What role does the city itself play in shaping the research conducted in the Museon and the library?
The city's trading network, weather, and navigation needs directly influenced which questions were asked and what kinds of knowledge were pursued, making Alexandria a living laboratory.
Alexandria: The Science
Q: Adam, it's not just an impression, is it? More stuff gets discovered when scientists work near each other, either work together or work as rivals against one another.
Yes, collaboration and dialogue accelerate discovery; the Alexandria environment demonstrates how proximity and shared goal-setting fuel progress.
Alexandria: The City
Q: What role did Ptolemy play in the legacy of Alexandria?
Ptolemy managed to secure Alexandria's significance by taking over as governor and ensuring its status as a central trading hub in Egypt.
Alexandria: The City
Q: Why did Greeks flock to Alexandria under the Ptolemies?
Alexandria offered immense work opportunities, a vibrant economy, and comparatively fewer slaves, allowing poor free citizens, including women, to flourish.
Alexandria: The City
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about Egypt before Alexandria was founded?
Egypt was a very old and advanced civilization with a defined religious culture and significant developments in science at the time Alexander arrived.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, accessible deep-dive into ancient Greece and Rome, blending scholarship with humor. Episodes illuminate mythic figures, epic poetry, and sacred rituals through lively storytelling, modern-day connections, and thoughtful commentary from classical scholars and writers. The show often pairs rigorous context with entertaining anecdotes, making dense history feel relevant and entertaining for educated listeners who enjoy wit and feminist perspectives. A standout trait is the host's skill at presenting complex classical material in a way that's approachable for both new and veteran fans, with frequent guests who are prominent classicists or authors.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. You're Dead to Me
2. Ancient Lives with Mary Beard
3. Instant Classics
4. In Our Time
5. The Ancients

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 55 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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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Islam Issa
2. Adam Rutherford
3. Michael Scott
4. Christopher Biggins
5. Daisy Dunn
6. Nikita Gill
7. André Vincent
8. Llewelyn Morgan

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.

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