The oldest known piece of literature on the planet is the epic tale of Gilgamesh, king of the Mesopotamian city-state of Uruk. The story was a staple of middle-eastern storytelling for well over a thousand years. However, after the destruction of Assyrian city of Nineveh in the 600's BC, key manuscripts were lost and the tale faded from memory. When ... Show More
Jun 17
Episode #230- Why President McKinley? (Part I)
The 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, has recently been in the news. In the 2025 inaugural address it was announced that Alaska's highest peak would once again be known as Mt. McKinley to honour the former President, who was apparently a "great businessman" w ... Show More
1h 27m
Jun 10
Bonus Episode- Selkies, Spectacles, and Satire
In this Bonus Episode Sebastian takes questions about his recent exploration of mermaid mythology. He gets into the difference between Selkies and Mermaids, and wades into the murky waters of Scottish oral tradition. There is also some discussion of the 2012 hoax documentary Merm ... Show More
34m 40s
May 6
CLASSIC: The Story of Atlantis
The legendary civilization of Atlantis was first mentioned in the works of Plato, in dialogues that claimed to recount information from translations of ancient Egyptian texts. And people have been searching for this city ever since. So what was Atlantis, exactly? A metaphor, a wo ... Show More
1h 3m
Mar 2025
The Epic of Gilgamesh | Sleep Story for Grown Ups | Sumerian Mythology | Bedtime Sleep Stories
Relax with a gentle retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest stories ever told. Follow the mighty king of Uruk on a journey of friendship, loss, and the search for meaning. Including the stories of Enkidu, Cedar Forest, Humbada, Ishtar, Bull of Heaven, eternal life, ... Show More
1h 6m
Oct 2024
Nefertiti: The Greatest Ancient Egyptian Queen?
Ancient Egyptian rulers, incest, the Nazis and female empowerment, all in one episode! 'But how?' You say. 'What story could possibly bring all of these things together?'
This is the story of Queen Nefertiti and her bust. Kate is joined by Joyce Tyldesley and Monica Hanna to find ... Show More
1 h
May 12
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and The Birth of History | Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid
We sit down with Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid, author of "Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and The Birth of History" an honorary fellow at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. She takes us on an incredible journey through ancient Mesopotamia, exploring the region's rich history, ... Show More
1h 3m
Jan 2023
Wayward Sons and Scribes (Re-Release)
Two letters that tell tales. A model letter from c.1250 BCE tells us of a wayward scribe, who fell off the path of ma’at and became lost in drunkeness, indolence and womanizing. Disappointed in his former pupil, a schoolmaster writes to the scribe, rebuking him for his lifestyle ... Show More
32m 12s