Shows
Thots TVBear Behaving BadlyJam! Socks! SNUGGLY DUCKY DUCK DUCKS!We've covered a LOT of fictional bears on this show... But surely none cuter than our Nev.We had a tremendous amount of fun in this episode discussing a show that everyone thought was fine and nothing more. But honestly, how can anyone feel hate towards the generational pairing of a little blue bear and the Nation's Sweetheart Barney Harwood?Apologies in advance for an unforgivably long Buffy tangent. We can't help it.This is how Barney Harwood wrote the theme...
2025-09-291h 34Thots TVPrank Patrol and The Life and Times of Barney Harwood"What happened to Barney Harwood?"Oooooh BOY do we have some news for you!Also in this episode, we're discussing the public humiliation and emotional manipulation a film crew wrought upon nine-year-olds in 2006.Other topics include Beatrix Potter, the inherent evil of family vloggers, and all the men Meg knows.The interview we referenced (thank you Rob!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KznMVi2exuI&t=1245s&ab_channel=BigtankVideoProductions-TellEngageGrowPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ThotsTVEmail us at Thotstv2002@gmail...
2025-03-201h 52
Mainly Murder With Meg & MumEpisode 9: Barney and Betty HillTODAY’S CASE
In this episode, we dive into the mysterious case of Barney and Betty Hill, the couple behind one of the most famous alien abduction stories in history. Their 1961 encounter in New Hampshire sparked decades of speculation, investigations, and pop culture influence.
🔗 LINKS
Patreon - www.patreon.com/mainlymurder
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mainly_murder
Buy Us A Coffee - https://buymeacoffee.com/mainlymurderwithmegandmum
📩 CONTACT US
MainlyMurderPodcast@gmail.com
🌐 CASE SOURCES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_and_Betty_Hill_incident
htt...
2025-03-0346 min
Hey Now! Hey Now!You've Got Mail"What will NY152 and Emily & Barney say today?", I wonder. Probably something about seeing a butterfly on the subway wearing a hat. In this episode, they review the best film ever - ‘You’ve Got Mail’ featuring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. This episode is for people who think The Godfather is the I’Ching and Nora Ephron is the greatest writer/director to ever exist. If you love cute book stores, and the occasional cyber sex, this is for you. Pro tip: best listened to with some Tic Tacs or a Starbucks Tall Decaf Cappuccino. Ho...
2025-01-1343 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: Purple-Colored GlassesBarney made kids feel loved. He was a friend, sometimes even a father figure, to Millennials and Gen Zers. To this day, many are finding comfort in this purple dinosaur and trying to put his values into practice. So, why do the things we loved as kids stick with us? What draws us back to them decades later? This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/DINO and get on your way to being your best self. This episode is sponsored by MasterClass. Learn from the best to become...
2024-12-1741 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: Kid Bopz“Barney & Friends” was all about the music. Barney and the kids on the show would learn about everything through song. The people behind Barney’s tunes had to make sure toddlers could easily understand what they were hearing — that meant songs had to be active, repetitive, and simple. But those same ingredients? They made some parents cringe. For a lot of them, the songs felt like torture. This episode is sponsored by MasterClass. Learn from the best to become your best. Head over to masterclass.com/DINO for the current offer. The seven-part podcast is produced...
2024-12-1043 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: Purple Dino PuppeteersFor a lot of young viewers, Barney wasn’t just a character on TV. He was more like a friend. Barney even became a kind of mentor for some kids. For one group of friends, their friendship — and even careers — might’ve turned out totally different had it not been for a purple dinosaur. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/DINO and get on your way to being your best self. The seven-part podcast is produced by Connecticut Public and hosted by Sabrina Herrera. The reporter-producers are Meg Dalt...
2024-12-0331 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: Purple CapitalismOn “Barney & Friends,” Barney starts off as a plush toy and then comes to life. That iconic stuffed animal wasn’t just on the small screen; it was in the homes of children around the world. Merchandise was a huge part of the show’s success. But “Barney & Friends” wasn’t the first movie or TV show to connect with fans through merch. That dates back a long time — and has a history that includes He-Man, Ronald Reagan, and George Lucas. This episode is sponsored by MasterClass. Learn from the best to become your best. Head over to masterclass.c...
2024-11-2636 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: Love 2 HateKids all over the world loved Barney. But even though Barney loved everybody, not everybody loved him back. Some parents found the character pretty annoying. Other grown-ups took things a step further. In some cases, the Barney backlash even got violent. That extreme reaction from adults? It can tell us a bit about our culture today — and how much our identities can get wrapped up in the things we love and hate. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/DINO and get on your way to being your best self....
2024-11-1939 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: Toddler TVIn the 90s, preschoolers went nuts for “Barney & Friends” — and that’s kind of by design. The people behind the show put a lot of thought into every detail, from the word choices in scripts to the behaviors Barney modeled. Barney spoke to kids in a language they could understand. And those little ones? They were also central to the creation, and evolution, of the show. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/DINO and get on your way to being your best self. The seven-part podcast is produced...
2024-11-1242 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: DinosyncFor years, two men brought Barney to life. One was the voice, one was the body, and together they entertained kids around the world. Bob West and David Joyner created an iconic character in Barney, from the goofy laugh to those gravity-defying jumps. Just like the character meant so much to many of us, Barney meant a lot to Bob and David, too. The seven-part podcast is produced by Connecticut Public and hosted by Sabrina Herrera. The reporter-producers are Meg Dalton and Lily Tyson. The editor is Cassandra Basler. The project manager is Megan Fitzgerald. The sound...
2024-11-1236 min
Generation Gilmore GirlsGeneration Barney: TrailerMeet “Generation Barney,” a podcast about the media we loved as kids and how it shapes us. It’s about the purple dinosaur. But it’s also about music and love and backlash and toys and nostalgia. Most of all, it’s about the television that helps us become who we are, from the station that helped launch Barney into the world. The seven-part podcast is produced by Connecticut Public and hosted by Sabrina Herrera. The reporter-producers are Meg Dalton and Lily Tyson. The editor is Cassandra Basler. The project manager is Megan Fitzgerald. The sound designer and theme...
2024-10-2802 min
Against the LorePantheon (Part 2)The second episode in our double bill celebrating the publication of Caroline Lawrence's Pantheon. In this episode, we talk about our favourite heroes and heroines - and our least favourite. Who's your favourite hero or heroine from Greek mythology?
2024-09-2732 minAgainst the LorePantheon (Part 1)To celebrate the launch of Caroline Lawrence's new book, we've created this special two part series! Today, Caroline joins us as we all discuss our favourite gods and goddesses.
Don't forget to order Caroline's new book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pantheon-Illustrated-Handbook-Greek-Goddesses/dp/1781579490/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LNKO27CS5QBW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QTJetO5ZMX2RMX_ToDAHWl6gdQqqRfmQtxPOi0A1CQ8aVNwaA75kzgckv9O0UshUyLpen_2q2_kBGpHJ1CiRiFzk_Lcq_SnCEra5l35Cux1COh5LMAJKmNcUJ_TdJiRm.oZVuEwsgG3VYeGlSnC0LBRv_sd9-FtO9Mzcybh4jBZM&dib_tag=se&keywords=caroline+lawrence+pantheon&qid=1723301767&sprefix=caroline+lawrence+pantheon%2Caps%2...
2024-09-1235 minAgainst the LoreUltimate Favourite ThingsIn which we revisit our favourite things from all of our eight seasons - because this will be the last of our regular content for the foreseeable :'( We'd like to say a huge thank you to all of our lovely listeners and supporters and we hope that you'll look out for some of the other outreach projects we have in the pipeline!
It's not the end of Against the Lore - just the end of the podcast. Goodbye for now
2024-06-0237 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore Play VideogamesIn which we are joined by Dr Kate Cook and Dr Jane Draycott, experts on classical videogames! Flo, Kate and Jane pitch their favourite videogames set in the ancient world to Meg and Zenia, who are totally new to gaming.
2024-05-1950 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore Watch Music VideosIn which Zenia, Meg and Barney pitch Flo their favourite music video that includes classical references! We start with surprise Icarus in a BTS MV, followed by Lil Nas X and Lizzo putting their spin on classical antiquity, while Barney breaks down Katy Perry's Dark Horse...
2024-05-0531 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore on Telly: DocumentariesIn which we pitch Flo our favourite documentaries about the ancient world. For Zenia and Meg, these documentaries were genuinely life-changing, setting them on the path that has led all the way up to Against the Lore! But for Barney, the world of documentaries is changing, and not in a good way...
2024-04-2140 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore on Telly: DramasIn which Meg, Zenia and Barney pitch Flo their favourite TV drama series set in the ancient world. Zenia puts forward ITV's Plebs and HBO's Rome and Barney fast follows with Starz's steamy series Spartacus, and pitches Gilgamesh as a mini-series. Meg brings two BBC dramas, Atlantis and Troy: Fall of a City, but also pitches a Glee-style series around the City Dionysia.
What's your favourite ancient series?
2024-04-0733 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore at the MoviesIn which Zenia, Barney and Meg pitch to Flo their favourite movies set in the ancient world. From Gladiator to Troy, from Prince of Egypt to Gods of Egypt, we go against the lore on thumbs down and the eye of Horus.
2024-03-2436 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore at the Library: NovelsIn which we welcome special guest Dr Mai Musie to talk about novels, both ancient and modern, set in the ancient world! Mai tells us about novels written in the Roman Empire, which are rollicking tales of love and magic and adventure - and even science fiction! Barney brings an Egyptian Robinson Crusoe to the table, while Meg pitches the queer icon Mary Renault's books and Zenia goes with a classic, I Claudius.
2024-03-1036 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore at the Library: The Children's SectionIn which we each pitch our favourite children's books set in the ancient world to Flo! Zenia continues fangirling for Caroline Lawrence, Meg is onto a winner with Vesuvius Poovius, while Barney stans Horrible Histories.
2024-02-2532 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore at the Library: RetellingsIn which we pitch our favourite retellings of ancient myth to Flo and she chooses her favourite. From poetic Achilles to sponge adventures to Zeus Behaving Badly, we explore all sorts of Greek myth retellings!
2024-02-1140 minAgainst the LoreAgainst the Lore in Pop CultureIn which we introduce the theme for series eight - the ancient world in modern popular culture! Each episode, we're going to bring our favourite examples of ancient history in popular culture, whether that's books, films, TV shows, videogames, brand names...there's a lot of ancient stuff out there. And Flo will judge the best examples of this 'classical reception'.
2024-01-2815 min2024-01-2700 minAgainst the LoreYes, Classics Really Is For Everyone!In which we are joined by the Titan of Classics, Edith Hall, to talk about classicists from underprivileged backgrounds. From Isobel Cotton the blacksmith's daughter to Hormuzd Rassam to Freya Stark, these ordinary people defied social expectations and class limitations to make their mark on the history of Classics.
2023-12-2443 minAgainst the LoreStorytellingIn which Caroline Lawrence joins us again to talk about storytelling in the ancient world. Of course, the great epics are the protagonists in this episode, but the key to how these stories were passed down was the incredible memorisation techniques that the ancients used on a daily basis.
2023-12-1035 minAgainst the LoreEarthIn which we learn about the Mesopotamian goose-god of the earth, the Roman intersex (?) god(dess?) of the earth, and the Greek primordial quartet.
2023-11-2642 minAgainst the LoreFireIn an episode that is straight fire, Barney tells us that the ancient Egyptians thought the sun was made of poo, while Meg brings some beautiful poetry, ancient and (more) modern, to the hearth. Zenia tells the tragic story of the Great Fire of Rome and describes the super-stylish uniforms of ancient Rome's firefighters.
2023-11-1238 minAgainst the LoreWaterIn which Meg begins a 'not all aqueducts' pipe positivity movement, Barney tells us about Hapi the Egyptian intersex idol, while Zenia tells the story of syncretism in Roman Bath.
2023-10-2938 minAgainst the LoreVandalismIn which we learn about the Romans who toppled statues, Egyptians who cached mummies, and Greeks who had a grand old time...!
2023-10-1547 minAgainst the LoreClassics is for EveryoneIn which we are joined by Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson to talk about classics teaching and education today. If you're interested in any of the resources mentioned in the podcast, check out our public post on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/againstthelorepodcast
2023-10-0147 minAgainst the LorePowerIn which we compare power structures across the ancient world - from the 'big men' (otherwise known as loo girls) in the ancient Near East, to democracy in ancient Greece, to Roman kings and emperors.
2023-09-1742 minAgainst the LoreMoneyIn which we discover the dolphin coins of Ancient Greek colonies, Ancient Egypt's cheap gold and Ancient Rome's horrendous inflation.
2023-09-0338 minAgainst the LoreSexIn which we hear Sappho's version of Teenage Dirtbag, Enkidu's entry to civilisation and Caesar, Queen of Bithynia...
2023-08-2044 minAgainst the LoreWrong Answers OnlyIn which we play Saturnalia and Flo takes over being the ancient history expert! Listen out for the Easter Eggs in our QI-style buzzers...
2023-07-0945 minAgainst the LorePhysicsIn which we go against the lore on Archimedes while Lucretius muses on the nature of the universe and the Ancient Near Easterners predict the weather.
2023-06-2637 minAgainst the LoreChemistryIn which we find out about Tutankhamun's space dagger and Barney comes up with an excellent PhD title...
2023-06-1141 minAgainst the LoreBiologyIn which we find out about some creation myths that have similarities to our episode on fertility and meet some ancient David Attenborough equivalents.
2023-05-2838 minAgainst the LoreThat's Entertainment: ArtIn which we discover how the ancients made and appreciated art. From bricks as art in ancient Persia to art as storytelling in ancient Rome to joke art in ancient Greece, the ancient world is full of beauty!
2023-05-1442 minAgainst the LoreThat's Entertainment: PerformanceIn which we discover the Greek origins of modern-day theatre, the Roman version of pantomime (oh no we don't) and ancient Near Eastern ritual performances, including a ritual slap of the King for New Year's. Coronation inspo, anyone?!
2023-05-0141 minAgainst the LoreThat's Entertainment: GamesIn which we learn what games were played in the ancient world - the Romans and Greeks typically liked strategy games, while the Mesopotamians and Egyptians read omens into their race games...
2023-04-1632 minAgainst the LoreThe UglyIn which we discover that ugliness can be lucky, disability can be divine, and Enkidu and Anne Hathaway have a surprising amount in common...
2023-04-0137 minAgainst the LoreThe BadIn which we find out what it meant to be bad in the ancient world - for Barney and the ancient near east, it's demons, whereas the Greek philosophers thought badness was due to a lack of self-control, and several emperors vie for the title of worst Roman!
2023-03-1935 minAgainst the LoreThe GoodIn which we discover what the ancient Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Babylonians thought of as Good! From Marcus Aurelius' commendable journalling habit, to Aristotle's virtue-signalling, to Gilgamesh's pursuit of eternal life, there's a grand scale of ancient goodness. But the key question we try to answer in the podcast is: where exactly does Papa John's fit on this scale? Plato may have the answer...
2023-03-0535 minAgainst the LoreSeason 6 TrailerGet ready for a new format...triple threat episodes! Starting off with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...
2023-03-0302 min
80s TV LadiesCagney & Lacey & Barney Rosenzweig, Part 2Wait! There were THREE Cagneys?In Part 2 of our conversation with creator/executive producer Barney Rosenzweig, we follow along as the massive success of the Cagney & Lacey TV movie launches it directly into a weekly series for CBS and into a very tumultuous road from multiple cancellations to hit ratings and 14 Emmys. The rest, as they say, is 80’s TV herstory…THE CONVERSATIONGOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS, PART 1: “We want ‘Cagney & Lacey’ as a mid-season pick-up!” BUT… “You’ve got to be on the air in 20 weeks. And -- you need a new Cagney”.After Loretta Switt...
2023-03-0155 min
80s TV LadiesCagney & Lacey & Barney Rosenzweig, Part 1Buckle up, kids - We’re kicking off our series on Cagney & Lacey!Sharon & Susan begin their look back at the classic 80’s TV series Cagney & Lacey with a conversation with the show’s creator and executive producer, Barney Rosenzweig. Rosenzweig’s career spans five decades and hundreds of hours of television including Charlie’s Angels, Daniel Boone, Christie, Twice in a Lifetime, and The Trials of Rosie O’Neill.But he made TV history when he approached writers Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday with a simple yet revolutionary idea: “Write a Robert Redford/Paul Newman buddy movie...
2023-02-151h 00Against the LoreChildcareIn which we're joined again by Caroline Lawrence, who is shocked by Soranus' terrible advice about breastfeeding. Meg tells us about the ancient Greek baby shower (aka the amphidromia ritual), while Barney reveals the ancient Sumerian word for midwife.
2022-11-0644 minAgainst the LoreBirthIn which Caroline Lawrence returns to tell us about the textbook-perfect birth from Roman times! Barney attempts an induction via Akkadian incantations, while Meg tells us about the pollution that the ancient Greeks associated with childbirth - which have strange echoes of the covid rules...
2022-10-2336 minAgainst the LorePregnancyIn which we hear pregnancy advice from the ancient world! Roman doctor Soranus has some helpful practical advice for the third trimester, while the abortion debate raged among the Hippocratic doctors as much as it does in some countries today. Meanwhile, the hippo goddess of ancient Egypt and Babylonian demons join forces to protect unborn children.
2022-10-0938 minAgainst the LoreFertilityIn which we find out how the peoples of the ancient world tried, and tried not, to conceive. From Pliny the Elder's spider-sourced implant to Babylonian couples therapy to an ancient Greek contraceptive cocktail, we categorically do not recommend you try these recipes at home...
2022-09-2532 minAgainst the LoreWomen's HealthIn which Caroline Lawrence joins us again to discuss women's health in the ancient world! Meg talks about how Aristotle saw women as weak and spongy, basically human Brita filters, while Zenia highlights a Roman husband-and-wife doctor dream team. Caroline talks about Hippocrates' ideas of the wandering womb and the imbalance of the four humours, while Barney points out that the earliest gynaecological text comes from ancient Egypt.
2022-09-1140 minAgainst the LoreSeries 5 TrailerBig news all round! Announcing Dr Meg, two Against the Lore babies and the return of Caroline Lawrence. Oh, and Barney's cat's new trick...
2022-09-0902 minAgainst the LoreAgainst Your LoresIn which we tackle the biggest misconceptions that you shared in a recent Twitter poll! We go against the lore on the assumption that the ancient world is about Northern European (white) history, that ancient peoples had no concept of their own history, and that Greek philosophers were seen as cool in their own day...
2022-08-0735 minAgainst the LoreConspiraciesIn which we go Against the Lore on some of the biggest conspiracy theories about the ancient world - both ancient and modern.
2022-07-2434 minAgainst the LoreChickensIn this episode, we welcome Ophelie Lebrasseur, archaeologist and expert on chickens! From royal chickens in the Ancient Near East, to the world's first chicken farm, to chickens as sex symbols in ancient Greece, to omen-giving sacred chickens in ancient Rome, Ophelie joins the rest of the gang as we trace the history of chickens in archaeology, literature, and art in the ancient world!
2022-07-1036 min
Against the LoreWeatherIn which we engage in our favourite British pastime - talking about the weather. Zenia tells us about how Hannibal made bad weather work for him (and his elephants), Meg shares the story of Odysseus' mishap with the winds, and Barney tells us about how priests in the Ancient Near East interpreted different types of thunder.
2022-06-2635 minAgainst the LoreBreakupsIn which we gossip about famous historical breakups, like the mythological breakups of Jason and Medea or Ishtar and Dumuzid, or the dramatic divorce case of Fannia and Titinius (who have normal, not funny names) and the attempted divorce by Hipparete of her playboy husband Alcibiades. If we thought modern breakups were gossip-fodder, then ancient history shows that breakups have always been juicy news!
2022-06-1228 minAgainst the LoreAssassinationsIn which we compare assassinations in the ancient world, by advising Flo on how to get rid of a troublesome person in her life. Zenia tells us how the Romans found stabbing a foolproof method; Meg brings some variety to the mix by adding a potential poisoning to the stabbing theme; meanwhile Barney reveals some unorthodox Ancient Near Eastern methods for assassination - including being pelted to death with cylinder seals.
2022-05-2934 minAgainst the LoreNamesIn which we welcome back Caroline Lawrence to talk about what kind of names people had in the ancient world! From the Roman triple name to the Greek joke name to the Pharaohs' five names, we discover what really is in a name.
2022-05-1535 minAgainst the LoreCollapseIn which we welcome back Iszi Lawrence to talk about civilisation collapse! Cue doom and gloom and...donkey chariots?
Check out Iszi's new show, Your Place or Mine, on BBC Sounds.
2022-05-0135 minAgainst the LoreHairIn which Flo finds out what hairstyles she would have rocked in our three different periods of ancient history! Meg says her short hair would have been suitable for a slave, while Zenia advises Flo to get herself a monobrow and an ornatrix (Latin for hairdresser). Barney takes us through the different hairstyles of Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East - be warned, this episode comes with a visual cue!
2022-04-1733 min
Rock's BackpagesE124: Devon Powers on The Village Voice + Red Hot Chili Peppers + White Stripes audioIn this episode we welcome the excellent Devon Powers — beamed in from Philadelphia — and ask her to talk about The Village Voice, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the White Stripes… and music journalism since the turn of the century.Devon begins by talking about the music she loved when growing up in her native Michigan — and her first awareness of "rock critics". We hear about her move to New York City in 1999, her early pieces for the PopMatters site, and the Anglophilia that led to umpteen pieces about the likes of Clinic, Starsailor, Badly Drawn Boy and, yes, even Oce...
2022-04-051h 08Against the LoreCelebrityIn which we play a game of smash or pass on the celebrities of antiquity...from actors to priests to kings to politicians, there's a whole range of ancient celebs on whom we dish the dirt...
2022-04-0334 minAgainst the LoreNatural DisastersIn which we welcome Jerry Toner to talk about natural disasters in the ancient world! Jerry goes against the lore to tell us that the Romans weren't actually that fussed about Vesuvius; Meg and Barney both share flood myths from Greek and Mesopotamian traditions; Flo wonders whether Pliny was the original storm chaser...
2022-02-2032 minAgainst the LoreBuildingsIn which we welcome Professor Michael Scott, who has co-presented several series of the BBC's Invisible Cities, to talk to us about buildings! We each present our favourite buildings from the ancient world: Michael votes for the Parthenon, Zenia proposes Hadrian's Wall, Barney shares his admiration for the pyramids and Meg of course likes the building named after her (not really but sort of).
2022-02-0631 minAgainst the LorePoetryIn which we welcome Dr Valerie Smitherman to talk about the connections between ancient and modern poetry. Valerie tells us about her research on Bedouin poetic traditions and the modern-day X-factor style TV poetry contest in the UAE. Barney, Zenia and Meg each share their favourite poems from the ancient world.
2022-01-2333 minAgainst the LorePet PeevesIn which we try to purge our January blues by getting all our pet peeves out in one go. Zenia objects to the objectification of Cleopatra; Meg goes against the lore on some assumptions about Homer, and Barney points a finger at orientalist attitudes to the Ancient Near East.
2022-01-0933 minAgainst the LoreAlcoholIn which we celebrate the festive season with drinks from each of our periods in history. Barney chugs beer, Zenia sips white wine, while Meg glugs Greek grog.
2021-12-2638 minAgainst the LoreTattoos & PiercingsIn which we welcome Iszi Lawrence to talk about the Scythians and their love of tattoos! Barney shares that the ancient Mesopotamians were very into piercings but across the ancient world, there were negative associations with tattoos, which were seen as a mark of punishment or ownership. Zenia reveals the etymology of the word 'stigma', and the whole Against the Lore team share what tattoos they would get...
2021-12-1233 minAgainst the LoreAlphabetIn which we dive into history to find out the origins of how we write the way we do! The origins of the word 'alphabet' lie in Meg's territory, but she tag teams across to Barney to find out where the letters themselves came from. Meanwhile, Zenia reveals an unusual root to the Latin alphabet.
2021-11-2832 minAgainst the LoreRemembrance - Remembrance Sunday SpecialIn which we welcome Rebecca Bradshaw to tell us about how the Ancient Near East commemorated conflict, and how the communities from that same area today value, preserve or even destroy ancient heritage. Meg shares stories about how the ancient Greeks remembered their war dead, while Zenia tells us that the Romans did their best to ignore theirs...
2021-11-1434 minAgainst the LoreBONUS EPISODE - Music Part 3In which Meg chats to Bettina Joy de Guzman, classicist and multi-instrumentalist, about ancient instruments. Bettina plays us several beautiful lyres - deep ones, small ones, some in the shape of triangles - as well as the aulos and a selection of drums. Find out more about Bettina's work on bettinajoydeguzman.com
2021-11-0726 minAgainst the LoreGhosts - Halloween SpecialIn which Barney, Zenia and Meg each share a ghost story from their respective historical periods. Meg tells us that Socrates believed in reincarnation, Zenia shares that mosquitos can come back to haunt you, and Barney reveals that leeks are the scariest vegetable...
2021-10-3134 minAgainst the LoreTimeIn which Zenia reveals that there is no year zero, Barney takes us back to the future, and Meg is stuck in Ancient Greece's Groundhog Month.
2021-10-1735 minAgainst the LoreSuperstitionIn which Caroline Lawrence joins us again to talk about her favourite topic, superstition in the ancient world! Meg reveals a spell to turn you invisible, Barney takes us through Babylonian omens and Caroline tells us about the power of the evil eye...
2021-09-1935 minAgainst the LoreColoursIn which we welcome Scott Gray to talk about colours in the ancient world! Meg and Scott discuss whether the ancient Greeks were colour-blind, Zenia tells us about how statues in the ancient world were painted in bright colours, and the colours of the rainbow confuse everyone, from Homer to Aristotle...
2021-09-0530 minAgainst the LoreCrimeIn which Against the Lore goes Against the Law with an episode on crime in the ancient world! Tune in for tales of heinous crimes (committed by hardened criminals like stale bread) and the trailer for a new series of Brooklyn 99 but set in ancient Babylonia...
2021-08-2235 minAgainst the LoreOlympicsIn which Meg tells us about how the Olympics really started, Zenia tells us about how Nero messed them up, and Barney shares stories of ancient Near Eastern ultra runners.
2021-08-0834 minAgainst the LorePetsIn which we are joined by Salima Ikram, Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo! She tells us about Egyptian police baboons, Meg shares the story of Odysseus' loyal dog Argos, and Zenia goes against the lore on the rumour that Caligula made his horse a consul...
2021-07-2534 minAgainst the LoreBONUS EPISODE! Nero Exhibition GuideThis special bonus episode is a guide to the Nero exhibition that's currently on at the British Museum. Zenia visited a few weeks ago and wanted to record a podcast that can accompany you around the exhibition, or help inform you before you visit it, or if you can't make it to the exhibition, this could serve as a long distance audio guide.
2021-07-1933 minAgainst the LoreBirthdaysHappy birthday Zenia! And what better way to celebrate than to find out what people did for their birthdays in ancient times. Flo is disappointed to find out that people didn't eat their own birthday cakes, and Barney tells us the truth about horoscopes...
2021-07-1135 minAgainst the LoreToiletsIn which we find out what waste disposal methods were used in the ancient world. Zenia tells us the story of the Roman toilet octopus, and there's a unanimous vote to 'Bring Back Sulak', the Mesopotamian dirty hands demon...
2021-06-2734 minAgainst the LoreMusic Part 2In which Dr Jeremy Swist joins us again to talk about what music was like in the ancient world, and Meg tells us where the word 'guitar' comes from...
2021-06-1334 minAgainst the LoreMusic Part 1In which we welcome Dr Jeremy Swist as our special guest, and discover how ancient history features in metal music!
2021-05-3032 minAgainst the LoreClothingIn which we welcome Caroline Lawrence as our special guest, and find out about smelly Romans, fly Mesopotamian hairstyles, deadly accessories and a shocking lack of pockets in the ancient world!
2021-05-1634 min2021-05-0900 minAgainst the LoreNeurodiversityIn which we talk about how neurodiversity might have been seen in the ancient world. Zenia and Flo discuss the Emperor Claudius and his potentially neurodiverse behaviour, and Barney shares a description of what could be OCD from a Babylonian text.
2021-04-1133 minAgainst the LoreGlobetrottersIn which we compare ancient globetrotters from ancient Greece, the Roman Empire and the ancient near east! Zenia reveals that Hadrian's Wall was not just in Britain, and Barney makes the case for Babylonian king Nabonidus and his staycation.
2021-03-2829 minAgainst the LoreHospitalsIn which we discover that there were no hospitals in the pre-Christian ancient world; Meg tells us about surgery in the Temples of Asclepius, and Barney describes the multiple uses for a goat in Babylonian medicine...
2021-03-1433 minAgainst the LoreSchoolIn which we introduce our favourite substitute teacher, Meg, and Barney insists that everything should be written on fireproof clay tablets.
2021-02-2831 minAgainst the LoreLoveIn which we discover the real relationship of 'roommates' in the ancient world, and Flo offers to produce a Hollywood version of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
2021-02-1429 minAgainst the LoreLeadershipIn which we discover how ancient democracy was different from modern democracy, and Zenia tells us why the Romans were scared of crowns...
2021-01-3134 minAgainst the LoreFoodIn which Barney tells us where chickens come from, and Flo discovers the Roman version of Marmite on Hadrian's Wall.
2021-01-1730 minAgainst the LoreHappy Holidays!In which we find out about the parallels between Christmas and the Roman festival of Saturnalia, and Barney tells us about the 'old Egyptian switcheroo'.
2021-01-0328 min