Yesterday

RE-RELEASE: Spartacus vs. Toussaint L'Ouverture (With Mike Duncan)

⁠Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! More than 1,800 years after Spartacus fought for his freedom, another rebel leader spearheaded the most successful slave revolt in history: the Haitian Revolution. That leader was a man named Toussaint L’Ouverture. This ... Show More

1h 13m

Feb 26

ALL IN ONE PLACE: Spartacus Parts 1, 2 & 3

Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! ⁠ This file contains the first three episodes of our Spartacus series. You'll learn about the conditions in Italy that gave rise to the Third Servile War; how Spartacus rebelled and the pressures he was under in holding ... Show More

2h 38m

Feb 19

RE-RELEASE: Dionysus: Religion of Revolution

Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! ⁠⁠ Dionysus was a god of revolutions. He featured prominently in two out of three major Roman slave rebellions. Why is that? And why was that aspect of Dionysus forgotten? In this episode, we'll focus on what happened af ... Show More

1h 44m

Jul 2024

The Ancient Olympics

For nearly 12 centuries, the Ancient Greeks honoured their gods with one of the most famous sporting contests in the world: The Olympic Games. Athletes represented their city states to compete for the glory of the gods, knowing that winning or losing could change the course of th ... Show More

54m 58s

Aug 2024

The Ancient Olympics: Games Of The Gods

<p>A tradition that endured millennia. The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC and took place every four years until at least 396 AD. It was a major religious and sporting festival, attended by over 40,000 spectators who flocked to watch athletes compete in sports like wrestlin ... Show More

50m 49s

Aug 2024

Marketing The Olympics

With the Paris Olympics in motion, it is a good time to revisit this episode from our archives.From the first ad at the first Olympics in 1896, to the hundreds of millions spent on today's advertising contracts, sponsorship money has always been a contentious issue. The Olympics ... Show More

29m 42s

Aug 2024

The Modern Olympics

Every four years, the Modern Olympic Games is a celebration of athletic excellence. From modest roots in 19th Century Athens, to a worldwide phenomenon which will feature almost 15,000 athletes in Paris 2024, the Modern Olympics has developed into the largest sporting festival in ... Show More

57m 27s

Jul 2024

The Olympics and the Royal Family

During the 1908 and 1948 London Olympics, the royal family was deeply involved. King Edward VII opened the 1908 games at White City Stadium. Originally meant for Rome, the event moved to London after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1906. Legend has it that Queen Alexandra influ ... Show More

9m 45s

Jul 2020

#648 The future of the Olympic games

The first modern Olympics were held in 1896 but their traditions date back to the 8th century BC. It is an iconic event littered with tradition, hard work, records and emotions. Could that all be able to change as there are whispers of video games being included in future Olympic ... Show More

37m 36s

Jul 2024

Episode 542: Leisure Time in Ancient Rome

<p>From all accounts, the ancient Romans knew how to do leisure—the priviledged classes at least.</p> <p>According to historians, they didn't see leisure time as something they got to enjoy once their obligations were completed, but rather, as the ideal state in which to live, wh ... Show More

31m 39s

Nov 2025

A day in the life of a gladiator

If we were to step back in time on to the blood-soaked sand of the Roman gladiatorial arena, what would we uncover about society, power and entertainment in the ancient civilisation? Speaking to Rachel Dinning, historian Harry Sidebottom guides us through 24 hours in the arena, r ... Show More

33m 31s

A Day at the Ancient Olympics