Ancient Office Hours

Dr. Aisha Dad, a Research Affiliate at the Carolina Asia Center and Director of the Classics Gaming Collaborative, joins Lexie to discuss her move from medicine to falling in love with literature and classics, her work in reception studies, particularly in how ancient stories are retold in modern contexts such as video games and literature, the challenges of being a person of color in the field and the importance of rethinking what constitutes 'classics’. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded April 24, 2025.    Check out the Apollodorus Project: https://paizomen.com/apollodorus/ Find her forthcoming book Through the Looking Glass: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674303317 Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one. 

Lexie chats with Troy Baker, the voice of Joel in the popular video game series 'The Last of Us.' The conversation explores a range of topics, from childhood narratives and their impact on personal growth to the philosophical and historical influences that shape storytelling. Troy dives deep into his own nostalgic triggers, the importance of simple yet profound narratives, and the experience of loss and empathy in 'The Last of Us Part II.' They also touch on the critical balance between player agency and linear storytelling in video games. This episode provides a rich exploration of how ancient and modern stories continue to resonate today, all through the lens of a beloved video game series. Originally recorded November 11, 2023.Follow Troy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialtroybaker/?hl=en Find all of his projects on his IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1684869/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject 

Dr. Christian Langer, a trained Egyptologist and professor in the Classics department at the University of Georgia, joins Lexie to discuss his interest in ancient Egypt's political economy, forced migration, and the nuanced interplay between Egyptian and Nubian relations, contemporary issues of decolonizing academic fields such as Egyptology, and the ongoing challenges of integrating diverse perspectives in a traditionally Western-dominated discipline. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded April 12, 2025. Learn more about Dr. Langer: https://www.classics.uga.edu/directory/people/christian-langerCheck out his publications on Academia: https://uga.academia.edu/ChristianLangerFRHistS Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-langer-8a393a113/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one. 

Dr. Johanna Hanink, a professor of Classics at Brown University, joins Lexie for a podcast centric episode, in which we dive into the origins and inspirations that led to the creation of her podcast Lesche. Our conversation covers the inspirations she took from other podcasts like Byzantium and Friends, the challenges of balancing academic rigor with creating accessible content, to her approach to preparing for interviews. It also highlights the importance of fostering a hype culture within academia and future plans for the podcast. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded April 8, 2025.Learn more about Dr. Hanink: https://www.johannahanink.com/Check out Lesche podcast: https://www.leschepodcast.com/2388571 Follow Lesche on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leschepodcast/Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one. 

Dr. Dunstan Lowe, a senior lecturer in Latin Literature at the University of Kent, joins Lexie to discuss his journey into the field of classical studies, driven by an early fascination with Roman history and mythology, the nuanced differences between Greek and Roman literature, particularly the works of Virgil and Ovid, and his fascination with archaeogaming and its relevance today. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded February 25, 2025. Learn more about Dr. Lowe: https://www.kent.ac.uk/classics-archaeology/people/1744/lowe-dunstanFollow him on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ancientplay.bsky.socialSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one. 

Dr. Christopher Zeichmann, a New Testament scholar and lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University, joins Lexie to discuss his new book focused on radical groups in antiquity. Dr. Zeichmann, a scholar specializing in early Christianity and the Roman military, explains his research background and the genesis of his book, 'Radical Antiquity: Free Love, Zoroastrian Farming Pirates, and Ancient Uprisings.' He explores the lives and societies of radical, leaderless communities throughout history, emphasizing the social experimentation that marked these groups. The conversation offers insights into Zeichmann’s motivations and the broader implications of his work for both scholars and general readers interested in political readings of history. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Originally recorded August 14, 2025. Learn more about Dr. Zeichmann: https://christopherzeichmann.com/ & https://www.torontomu.ca/philosophy/undergraduate/religious-studies/christopher-zeichmann/Check out his publications on Academia: https://torontomu.academia.edu/ChristopherZeichmannFind his new book “Radical Antiquity” here: https://firestorm.coop/products/23867-radical-antiquity.htmlOr get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Antiquity-Zoroastrians-Farming-Uprisings/dp/0745350399Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday. Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.