Shows
The Endless KnotA Quiverful of Time ArrowsWe look at the history of English’s conceptualization of time, and update Mark’s research on spatiotemporal metaphor. Also, words for arrows, the surprising origin of ‘toxic’, and a bit of Latin poetry!Blue Arrow cocktailBow and Arrow cocktailTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS2023-05-301h 25
The Endless KnotThe Bellini, Art, and PatronageAs we get ready to mark the new year, it seems a good time to talk about a classic cocktail made with sparkling wine: the Bellini. Our conversation takes us to Italy, in the 20th century, the 15th century, and the 1st century BCE, to Renaissance art and the Roman practice of patronage, and more. Happy New Year!“Rewriting the history of art patronage”, by Jaynie Anderson. Renaissance Studies. Vol. 10, No. 2, Women Patrons of Renaissance Art, 1300–1600 (JUNE 1996), pp. 129-138. “Isabella d'Este and Giovanni Bellini's 'Presepio'“, by J. M. Fletcher. The Burlington Magazine. Vol. 113, No. 825, Venetian Painting...2022-12-291h 26
The Endless KnotWidows, Indian Independence, and PartitionCommemorating the 6th anniversary of the death of Mark’s father, and the 75th anniversary of Indian independence, this episode connects widows and partition, and while also touching on the legacy of Alexander the Great, the origins of badminton and tennis, and obscure typesetting vocabulary.Merry Widow Cocktail Black Widow CocktailOlson, Kelly. “Fringed Clothing in Roman Iconography and Written Sources.” Textiles in Ancient Mediterranean Iconography, edited by SUSANNA HARRIS et al., Oxbow Books, 2022, pp. 149–60.Olson, Kelly. "Insignia Lugentium: Female Mourning Garments in Roman Antiquity". American Journal of Ancient History (New Series 3...2022-08-101h 22
The Endless KnotPolar Regions, Comics, and Classics, with Natalie SwainWe have a very fun conversation with Dr. Natalie Swain about her work on classical reception and the polar regions — the Arctic and Antarctic — science fiction, and comics. And Natalie and Mark find lots of overlaps and connections between their interests!“Between the Sheets: Reading the Coverlet as Comics in Catullus 64.” Image [&] Narrative 22.2 (2021)Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics@mazonianfeline#ClassicsTwitterComicsTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution...2022-07-121h 01
The Endless KnotFuture in the PastWe’re talking all about the future in this episode — and if we even have one (in English). This is a topic near and dear to Mark’s heart, and in part the subject of his dissertation! We get into the nitty gritty of grammatical tense, ways of thinking about the future, and a mystery cocktail. Our video on the FutureWhisky Exchange article about Futurist cocktailsLavery, Gerard B. “Hoc Aeui Quodcumquest : Lucretius and Time.” Latomus, vol. 46, no. 4, 1987, pp. 720–29. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41534650 Berns, Gisela. “Time and Nature in Lucretius’...2022-06-071h 12
The Endless KnotWhat's the Earliest English Word?What do you think the earliest English word was? How could we possibly look for such a thing, and what do the possible options tell us about early English history and the movement of peoples in the early medieval period? We tackle these questions, in an episode about Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians, Celts, Tacitus, Bede, and more.Reminder: Mark will be running another session of his Speakeasy seminar course, The Origins of English: Learning to Think Like an Etymologist, which is open to anyone who’s interested. Registration is now open at Speakeasy.com for the session ru...2021-09-061h 25
The Endless KnotReckonings, with Stephen ChrisomalisIt’s time for a reckoning! Or, to be more accurate, a number of reckonings. We talk to Dr. Stephen Chrisomalis, a linguistic anthropologist who specializes in the anthropology of mathematics and the interaction of language, cognition, and culture, about his new book Reckonings. It’s a fascinating discussion of how we write and represent numbers, and how that’s changed over the years. Why don’t we use Roman numerals any more? It’s more complicated than you might think…Announcement: Mark will be running another session of his Speakeasy seminar course, The Origins of English: Learning to...2021-08-171h 13
The Endless KnotAnnounement: Online CourseAven: Hi everyone. This isn't a regular episode of the Endless Knot podcast. Just a quick announcement. Mark: I wanted to let you all know about something new that I'm doing: an online seminar series. It's basically a short course open to anyone, on the Speakeasy platform. The title is: "The origins of English: learning to think like an etymologist" and it's going to be four one-hour classes on zoom, in which, through a series of linguistic puzzles, we will follow in the footsteps of etymologists and historical linguists to reconstruct the relationships between languages and long f...2021-02-2701 min
The Endless KnotMeta-EtymologyWe talk about the etymology of “Etymology” itself, and then discuss the basics of historical linguistics, including Grimm’s Law, Verner’s Law, and more. We also talk about Isidore of Seville, the etymological puns of Latin poets, and the way Mark does his research for his videos.The Simple Truth cocktailOur “Etymology” videoIsidore of Seville’s EtymologiaeKeith, A. M. “Etymological Wordplay in Ovid's 'Pyramus and Thisbe' (Met. 4.55-166).” The Classical Quarterly, vol. 51, no. 1, 2001, pp. 309–312.Shelton, Colin. “Logical Complexity and Etymological Wordplay.” Latomus, vol. 73, no. 2, 2014, pp. 385–398.O'Hara, James J. “Ve...2021-02-151h 21
The Endless KnotElection Talk to Take Your Mind off the ElectionIt’s election night 2020 in the US, and our video from 4 years ago about the language of politics is relevant once again. We discuss the changing vocabulary of democracy and what it can tell us about shifting attitudes towards popular rule and politicians. It may not be a complete break from political coverage, but at least it’s mostly about the distant past, not the uncertain future!Ballot Box CocktailMashed Radish blog post on CandidateMashed Radish blog post on PollAnatoly Liberman on Booth“Sublime” video“Subl...2020-11-031h 15
The Endless KnotLinoleum: It's Not As Boring As You Think!n this episode we go from the origin of the world to the many uses of olive oil, with discussions of Roman mosaics, and trademark law along the way. This is the third of our episodes on Intellectual Property, following Episode 42: Bugging Out! on patents and Episode 57: Freebooting, Piracy, & Copyright on copyright. Also, it’s the start of Season 6, and we want to thank everyone who’s joined us over the last 5 years. It’s been a blast, and here’s to another half decade!“The asàrotos òikos mosaic as an elite status symbol” by Ehud FathyA...2020-10-111h 16
The Endless KnotRecipes and Authority, from Intelligent SpeechBack in June we had the pleasure of being part of the Intelligent Speech Conference 2020 — this year, held entirely online. It was a day filled with amazing podcasters and great conversations, and in this short episode we’re sharing the talk that we gave at the event. It’s about the word Recipe and early cookbooks, medicine, and women’s magazines. If you’d like to see the images that accompanied the presentation, you can watch the talk on YouTube, where the questions and post-talk discussion are also included.Transcript of this episodeIntelligent Speech Conference...2020-08-0625 min
The Endless KnotPlagues, with Moxie from Your Brain on FactsIt’s time for us to talk about plagues — ancient, medieval, literary, etymological, and psychological! We’re joined by Moxie from Your Brain on Facts for a very fun — if slightly disturbing — discussion of many aspects of historical plagues.Transcript of this episodeYour Brain on FactsGardner, H.H. Pestilence and the Body Politic in Latin Literature. 2019.Episode 44: "Us" & "Them" in the Ancient & Anglo-Saxon WorldsEpisode 51: Race & Racism in Ancient & Medieval Studies, Part One: The ProblemEpisode 52: Race & Racism in Ancient & Medieval Studies, Part Two: ResponsesThor...2020-07-061h 35
The Endless KnotThe Rise (and Fall) of SkywalkerIn an episode that was recorded in late May before the protests started, we took a break from COVID talk to give our thoughts on the final movie in the Star Wars saga. We discussed how it was similar to or different from ancient epic, medieval romance, and Icelandic sagas, but mostly we talked about the ways it failed to bring together the many threads of the Star Wars story.Given current events, and the protests against police brutality and systemic anti-Black racism, we urge our white and non-Black listeners to continue their education on these subjects...2020-06-051h 17
The Endless KnotRunes and Early Writing SystemsWe take a look at the history of runes and their connection to early alphabets and Germanic culture. Then we take a trip back to the Phoenician and Egyptian origins of the modern English alphabet, and talk about some of the earliest examples of Greek writing, in inscriptions, epic poetry, and myth. Also, introducing Lyceum, a new platform for educational podcasting!Transcript of this episodeThe “Screaming Viking” cocktailLyceumNativLang’s video Muslim Vikings & Magic Letters: The Odd History of Runes pt 1Images of English RunesThe st...2020-04-101h 34
The Endless KnotSex & GenderWe trace the etymologies and development of the words “sex” and “gender”, as well as words for women and men in Greek, Latin, and English, touching on Roman, Greek, and medieval English ideas about gender. Then we discuss the grammatical term “gender” and how it differs across languages around the world.Transcript of this episodeThe History of Sex PodcastThe “Pink Lady” cocktailThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS2020-02-111h 27
The Endless KnotAn Etymological Holiday FeastThis year’s holiday episode is all about festivals and feasts — and in particular, midwinter celebrations, the solstice, and the seasons. And we read a couple of Latin poems about drinking — and explore the odd connection between them and a tire company!The Christmas Cake cocktailHesiod’s Works and Days in EnglishHorace’s Odes in LatinHorace Odes 1.37 in EnglishFeast videoThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License2019-12-171h 44
The Endless KnotThorneloe Race ForumThis bonus episode contains two talks we gave at our university in November. Mark spoke about “The ‘Anglo-Saxon’ Problem: Language and Racism in Medieval Studies” and Aven spoke about “Defining ‘Race’ in the Ancient Mediterranean and Today”. Google ngrams for collocations of “Anglo-Saxon”: All English TextsAmerican EnglishBritish EnglishOur Patreon pageThis episode on YouTubeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License2019-12-1037 min
The Endless KnotSoundEdu19 with Scott LepistoCrossover time! We’re joined by Scott Lepisto, of the Itinera Podcast, in a conversation at the SoundEducation podcasting conference in Boston. We talked about the conference itself, the use of podcasting in classrooms, and the importance of public-facing scholarship in Classics and Medieval Studies. And please check out Scott’s podcast, in which he interviews classicists about their work and their journey to and through the field!Scott on TwitterItinera PodcastOur Patreon pageThis episode on YouTubeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Inte...2019-11-1951 min
The Endless KnotDo You Believe in Magic?Happy Halloween! This year we’re talking about the origins of “Magic”, the differences between religion and magic, Greek and Roman spells and curses, and some rather bizarre tales about Virgil & Aristotle.Our “Magic” videoCocktail: Black MagicReligion in the Roman Empire, James B Rives, 2007Arcana Mundi,Georg Luck, 2006Our Patreon page This episode on YouTubeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS2019-10-311h 38
The Endless KnotTracking Monsters, with Liz GloynWe speak with Dr. Liz Gloyn about her new book, Tracking Classical Monsters in Popular Culture. We talk about Hercules: the Legendary Journeys, the Odyssey, the problems with Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey pattern, and more!Liz GloynClassically Inclined blogTracking Classical Monsters in Popular CultureFacebook Page for Tracking Classical MonstersOur Patreon pageThis episode on YouTubeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS2019-10-081h 04
The Endless KnotMedieval Fact & Fiction, with Winston BlackWe talked to Winston Black about his new book, The Middle Ages: Fact & Fiction, which addresses the most common myths and misconceptions about the Middle Ages. And we touch on video games, D&D, and Game of Thrones in the process!The SoundEducation Conference pageThe Middle Ages: Fact & FictionWinston on TwitterOur Patreon pageThis episode on YouTubeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS2019-09-101h 06
The Endless KnotThings Get WeirdThe Fates have decreed that it’s time for us to talk about the word “Weird”! We discuss its etymology, the concept of fate in the ancient and medieval world, whether mythical women really do usually appear in threes, and Shakespeare.Twist of Fate cocktailWeird Sisters Blood & Hand PunchShakespeare Not Stirred book“Weird” video“Does English have a future tense?” video“Arrow” video“As We Like It Podcast” – Macbeth episodeChart of ‘strange’ vs ‘weird’ usageChart of ‘weird’, ‘uncanny’, ‘eerie’, & ‘unearthly’2019-08-131h 35
The Endless KnotDispatches from VidCon 2019While at VidCon this year, we sat down and chatted with a few of our fellow educational YouTubers: The Cynical Historian, Knowing Better, 12tone, and Step Back History. This is a compilation of our discussions about their channels, their reasons for making videos, and their experience of VidCon and its educational companion event, EduCon. If you don’t already watch their videos, we strongly recommend you check them out. Thank you to them all for taking part!Our Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis po...2019-07-162h 06
The Endless KnotEnlisting Imagination under the Banner of ScienceWe discuss a person who had an important impact on both science and language: Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles. In particular, we talk about the use of poetry to explain science, from Hesiod to Lucretius to Darwin to Baba Brinkman, and the new wave of science communicators on and off line.Erasmus Darwin cocktail menu, based on The Loves of the PlantsD.G. King-Hele. “Erasmus Darwin, Man of Ideas and Inventor of Words.” Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London 42.2 (1988): 149–180 .Baba BrinkmanHesiod’s TheogonyAratus’s Phaenome...2019-06-181h 20
The Endless KnotCarly SilverWe spoke to Carly Silver, an editor and a writer on ancient history and horse racing, about how she connects the past to contemporary issues, the intriguing stories in curse tablets in Roman Britain, murder mysteries set in the ancient world, romance novels, breeding programs for American Thoroughbreds, and more!Carly’s websiteCarly’s article about Hadrian’s WallCarly’s article about the sexual assault charges against a workman in ancient EgyptCarly’s writing about horse racingAncient murder mysteries mentioned in the podcast:Gary Corby...2019-05-171h 23
The Endless KnotThe Spirit of the AgeHappy (?) April Fool’s Day! We talk about the origins of the holiday, its connections to the Tom Collins cocktail, and hoaxes throughout history, from Athenian tyrants to the ‘Scratching Fanny’ ghost to the Da Vinci Code.Tom Collins recipePodcast episode on CuckoldPodcast episode 7, with discussion about urban legendsPodcast episode on SublimeBunny Trails episode on ‘wild goose chase’Herodotus passageErasmus Darwin videoPodcast episode about the 12 Days of ChristmasOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitc...2019-04-011h 46
The Endless KnotGlossed in TranslationWe talk about names for countries — endonyms and exonyms — and the trade goods named after the places they come from, in a discussion that ranges from Japanese guns to the connection between Wales and roosters to the colour of the phoenix, and much more. If you can make it to the end of the podcast, you’ll never look at porcelain the same way again!Red Dragon CocktailThe Rising Sun CocktailJabzy’s Japan videos: Europeans in Japan and Guns in JapanCynical Historian’s video on gun historyEidolon...2019-03-151h 26
The Endless KnotMortal Republic, with Edward WattsWe talk to Edward Watts about his new book Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny, which covers the history of Rome from the 3rd century BCE to the rise of Octavian to princeps. Our conversation ranges across questions of Roman identity, our fascination with transitional periods, and the connections between Roman history and contemporary politics.Edward WattsAncient Greece Declassified episode 19 “America's Greco-Roman Legacies w/ Caroline Winterer”Our Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis podcast episode on YouTubeTh...2019-02-181h 14
The Endless KnotWriting Myth with Amalia DillinAmalia Dillin is an author of mythic fantasy and historical fiction set in the ancient and Viking worlds. Among other books, she’s written the Fate of the Gods trilogy, about Eve and Adam (and Thor and Athena and more!), and the Orc Saga, beginning with Honor among Orcs. She also writes, as Amalia Carosella, about Bronze Age Greece (Helen of Sparta & sequels, about the love between Helen & Theseus) and the Viking Age (Daughter of a Thousand Years, about Freydis, daughter of Erik the Red, and also a modern women wrestling with her newly found pagan faith).We...2019-01-181h 06
The Endless KnotReindeer GamesTime for a holiday episode! This time we’re talking about how Santa’s reindeer got their names, including some of their classical ties to Roman religion and Greek myth, the Reindeer Rule in US law, and NORAD’s Santa Tracker. And we have a quiz about the animals that bring the winter gift giver around the world!Our video “Who are Santa’s reindeer?”Mark’s Lexitecture episodeOur Christmas videos playlistEpisode 8: YuleEpisode 25: The 12 Days of ChristmasEpisode 49: Stocking StuffersThe Rudolph Cocktail2018-12-111h 19
The Endless KnotThe History of English's Kevin StroudWhile at the Sound Education conference we had the chance to sit down with Kevin Stroud, host of the History of the English Language podcast. We talked about his passion for language, his experiences with enthusiastic but pedantic listeners, his project to gather a database of accent samples from around the world, and much more. Thank you Keven for chatting with us, it was great fun to meet you and hang out!Sound EducationThe History of the English Language podcastOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher link2018-11-161h 10
The Endless KnotSoundEducation ReportWe went to the Sound Education conference on educational podcasting at Harvard Divinity School, and we want to tell you all about it! We’re joined by Ryan Stitt of the History of Ancient Greece Podcast to talk about the panels we were on, the panels we went to, the talks we gave, and most importantly the amazing people we met!Sound EducationThe History of Ancient Greece PodcastDan Carlin’s Keynote TalkOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music link2018-11-1200 min
The Endless KnotEtymological GhostsFrom modern words for ghost, to Latin and Greek terms for spirits, to ghost words that haunt dictionaries, we explore some spooky etymologies and tell some ancient ghost stories.Sound EducationGreen Ghost CocktailLiquified Ghost CocktailGhost videoEidolon online journalPliny’s letter 7.27 in EnglishVIdeo of a performance of the Latin version of Pliny’s ghost storyList of ancient ghost stories sourced from TwitterOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoog...2018-10-221h 14
The Endless KnotClassing up our Languages?In this episode we talk about the history of education in Europe, from classical Greece to the 19th century, covering the origins of many education-related words. Then we turn to the history of second-language teaching of Latin, from Roman Egypt to today’s Living Latin movement.DSM (channel about language and etymology)Sound EducationClassic CocktailEducation videoLearning Latin and Greek from Antiquity to Present, chapters on teaching Latin to Greek speakers (Dickey) & Latin in Anglo-Saxon England (Fisher)“Medieval and Modern Views of Universal Grammar and the...2018-09-301h 26
The Endless KnotWhat We Did on Our Summer VacationWe report on our trips to EduCon, VidCon, Iceland, & England. Lots of museums and historical places, and check out the web page for pictures of some of our favourite artifacts and images.Sound Education podcasting conferenceWe Create Edu communityOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis podcast episode on YouTubeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSSTravelling Etymologies...2018-08-241h 10
The Endless KnotQuick Announcement June 20182018-06-2802 min
The Endless KnotFrom the Sublime to the RomanticThe etymology of 'sublime' takes us through a discussion of the Gothic, Neo-Classical, and Romantic periods, the origins of the Romance languages, the roots of romantic love, and more.The Sublime Moment CocktailMats Malm “On the Technique of the Sublime”, Comparative Literature, Vol. 52, No. 1 (Winter, 2000), pp. 1-10.Sarah Bond on Polychromy in Ancient StatuesAlex Potts, Flesh and the Ideal: Winckelmann and the Origins of Art HistoryOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis...2018-06-081h 20The Endless KnotSymposium!This episode, we travel to Calgary, Alberta for a conference, and try some very questionable "ancient" potables! Aven takes a microphone on the road, and chats with a bunch of classicists about Roman beer, barley water, Homeric kykeon, conference papers, social media, and more!Matt Gibbs' article in The ConversationThe slides & papers & resources from the Public-Facing Scholarship panelOur previous episode about ancient and medieval beer brewing Kevin SolezMatt GibbsAmber PorterMary DeminionCarolyn WillekesConor Whately2018-05-1853 min
The Endless KnotFreebooting, Piracy, & CopyrightWe sail the high seas and surf the interwebs for this episode all about the etymology of pirate-related words and the coinage of a new term for stealing videos. We also cover the development of copyright law, the reasons pirates say "Arrrr!", and what Julius Caesar did to his kidnappers.Show NotesBumbo cocktail recipe"Freebooting" videoThe Maritime History podcastThe Academic Podcast by Sam McLean"CAESAR AND THE PIRATES: OR HOW TO MAKE (AND BREAK) AN ANCIENT LIFE", JOSIAH OSGOOD...2018-04-261h 18
The Endless KnotLinguistic Discrimination, with the Vocal FriesWe have the great pleasure to be joined by Megan & Carrie from the Vocal Fries podcast to talk about linguistic discrimination: what is it, why is it bad, what is its history, and how can we combat it?Show NotesThe Vocal Fries PodcastOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis podcast episode on YouTubeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License2018-04-111h 11
The Endless KnotOur Pet Topic (part two, with cats)In part two of our miniseries on pets, we cover cats, monkeys, birds, and more. Find out the surprising origins of the word for parrot, what medieval people named their cats, and what bird was symbolic of the Virgin Mary. Show Notes@AllEndlessKnot on TwitterMedieval Pets by Kathleen Walker-Meikle"Greek and Roman Household Pets", Francis D. LazenbyAnimals for Show and Pleasure in Ancient Rome, George DennisonCompanion Animals and Us: Exploring the Relationships Between People and Pets Anthony L. Podberscek, Elizabeth S. Paul, James A. Se...2018-03-2144 minThe Endless KnotOur Pet Topic (part one)What makes an animal a pet? Who kept pets in the ancient and medieval worlds? What kinds of animals were they? And why are all the words for pets in English of (mostly) unknown origin?! We start a mini two-part series with a general discussion of ancient and medieval pets, and then some great stories about some Very Good Dogs.Show Notes@AllEndlessKnot on TwitterMedieval Pets by Kathleen Walker-Meikle"Greek and Roman Household Pets", Francis D. LazenbyFederico II Gonzaga by TitianOdyssey, 17. 309-10...2018-02-2843 minThe Endless KnotTiki or Not Tiki?We head back to the Endless Knot Cocktail Bar to talk about the history of the Mai Tai, the Tiki craze, Polynesian mythology, cultural appropriation, and World's Fairs. And then we turn to Rome's relationship to Greece, and discuss whether Horace wrote the Exotica music of the ancient world!Show NotesMai Tai Video@AllEndlessKnot on TwitterMai Tai RecipePolynesian Lexicon Project OnlineWallace-Hadrill, A. “To Be Roman, Go Greek Thoughts on Hellenization at Rome.” Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies. Supplement, no. 71, 1998, pp. 79–91.Our...2018-02-1558 minThe Endless KnotRace & Racism in Ancient & Medieval Studies: ResponsesIn part two of our discussion about racism, we talk about ways to respond to the problems in the field, in teaching, scholarship, and more. Thank you to Katherine Blouin, Damian Fleming, Usama Ali Gad, Rebecca Futo Kennedy, Asa Mittman, Dimitri Nakassis, Helen Young, and Donna Zuckerberg for their generous contributions of time and thoughtful discussion of these difficult subjects. Please join in the conversation with your thoughts and ideas about how to move the fields forward.Show Notes@AllEndlessKnot on TwitterThe Optimist CocktailEpisode 44: "Us" & "Them" in the Ancient...2018-01-311h 41The Endless KnotRace & Racism in Ancient & Medieval StudiesWhat are the problems surrounding race and racism in the fields of Classics and Medieval Studies today? Where did these fields come from, and how does that affect the way we think about the past, and how we construct the present? For this episode (and the next) we interviewed eight scholars and put it together into an exploration of these unfortunately timely topics. Thank you to Katherine Blouin, Damian Fleming, Usama Ali Gad, Rebecca Futo Kennedy, Asa Mittman, Dimitri Nakassis, Helen Young, and Donna Zuckerberg for their generous contributions of time and thoughtful discussion of these difficult subjects. In...2018-01-171h 22The Endless KnotTranslating the Odyssey, with Emily WilsonWe interview Emily Wilson, whose new translation of the Odyssey for Norton was published in November to great acclaim and critical praise. She tells us about some of her choices in the areas of metre, vocabulary, register, and more, and we discuss the very concept of 'choice' in translation, the notion of a 'faithful' translation, the complicated question of heroic women, and 70's blaxpoitation films!Show NotesThe Odyssey, translated by Emily WilsonOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis...2018-01-031h 04The Endless KnotStocking Stuffers & Christmas TreatsReindeer videoMerchandise (CafePress Site)Stocking videoGerry Bowler, The World Encyclopedia of ChristmasBruce David Forbes, Christmas: A Candid HistoryDesmond Morris, Christmas WatchingAndrea Broomfield, Food and Cooking in Victorian England: A HistoryKaufman, Cathy. “The Ideal Christmas Dinner.” Gastronomica, vol. 4, no. 4, 2004, pp. 17–24. Leach, Helen. “Translating the 18th Century Pudding.” Islands of Inquiry: Colonisation, Seafaring and the Archaeology of Maritime Landscapes, edited by Geoffrey Clark et al., vol. 29, ANU Press, 2008, pp. 381–396. History of shortbread.Canadian Encyclopedia "Tourtière"Lemasson...2017-12-201h 20The Endless KnotTalking Teaching with MythTake!Mythtake PodcastBakkhai at StratfordIntroduction to Mythology from Oxford UPEaters of the Dead by Michael CrichtonOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis podcast episode on YouTube2017-12-061h 13
The Endless KnotWhy Bob Dylan Matters, with Richard ThomasWhy Bob Dylan MattersMonday, Dec. 4, 2017 at Newtonville Books in Boston, MAWednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 at the University of Tulsa, in Tulsa, OKOur Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music link2017-11-221h 03
The Endless KnotMike Duncan & The Storm before the StormWe talk to podcaster and author Mike Duncan about his book, podcasting, Roman history, and more. Thanks to Mike for joining us -- and everyone, go get his book, it's great!Show NotesThe History of Rome PodcastRevolutions PodcastThe Storm before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic Our Patreon pageiTunes linkStitcher linkGoogle Play Music linkThis podcast episode on YouTube2017-11-081h 19The Endless KnotCostumes & the Language of FashionOur Hallowe'en themed episode this year is about costumes -- and etymologies and origin stories of a whole bunch of iconic items of clothing. We talk about the semiotics of fashion, the many varieties of the toga, and hats that caused fainting fits, and finish off with a couple of spooky Roman stories! Also, check out this year's Hallowe'en video, on words for Ghost.Show Notes#2PodsADayWerewolf Cocktail recipe"Costume" video"Jack o'Lantern" videoEp 22: Jack o'Lantern podcastThe "gens togata": Changing Styles and...2017-10-271h 17
The Endless Knot"Us" and "Them" in the Ancient and Anglo-Saxon WorldsWhat words did the Greeks, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons use to talk about different groups of people? What differences did they think were important? How do those compare to modern conceptions of ethnicity, national identity, or race? We try to give some basic background on this complicated question, starting with the etymology of the vocabulary and addressing some of the ways differences were conceptualized.Show NotesFull transcript of this episode#2PodsADayVideo on the Anglo-Saxon Invasion, collaboration with JabzyEthnicity in Herodotus--The Honest EntryHow is the...2017-10-131h 12The Endless KnotEpisode 43: Hercules the Much-Filmed2017-09-2759 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 42: Bugging Out!2017-09-131h 03The Endless KnotEpisode 41: Arrival, Linguistics, & Time2017-08-3053 min
The Endless KnotEpisode 40: The Cottage, Language, & Poetry2017-08-181h 00The Endless KnotEpisode 39: From Fossil Hunters to Mammoth Cheese2017-07-1950 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 38: Wonder Woman & the Amazons2017-07-051h 00The Endless KnotEpisode 37: What is a Recipe? with Laura CarlsonWe talk to Laura Carlson from The Feast Podcast about recreating historical recipes, the many meanings of food, and what exactly defines a 'recipe'. This is part of The Recipe Project's Virtual Conversation: What is a Recipe? and you can join in the conversation by leaving a comment here or by checking out the hashtag #recipesconf on Twitter and Instagram.2017-06-201h 06The Endless KnotEpisode 36: Looking for the Legend in Guy Ritchie's King ArthurWe discuss how the recent Guy Ritchie movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword fits into the history of adaptations of the Arthur legend. What kind of Arthur does it present, how does it interact with the Arthurian tradition, and what themes does it explore? And who has the biggest...er...elephants?2017-06-0757 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 35: Season to TasteWe're getting saucy with a discussion about the etymology and history of condiments -- from Roman garum to Worcestershire sauce, through Escoffier and seasonings, to the global implications of ketchup.2017-05-2649 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 34: The Gimlet & the Diseases of ColonialismWe discuss the origins of the Gimlet cocktail, the stories about its name, and its connection to the treatment of scurvy; then we talk about some of the other diseases tied to the early era of European expansion and colonialism, including the classical history of malaria in Greece and Rome. Also featuring conversation about gin, the pronunciation of quinine, and a cameo appearance by Alexander the Great!
Gin, Glorious Gin: How Mother's Ruin Became the Spirit of London by Olivia Williams
"The Dead Do Tell Tales", Ethan Barnes, Corinth, Vol. 20, Corinth, The Centenary: 1896-1996 (2003), pp. 435-443. JSTOR
Malaria and Rome: A H...2017-05-1053 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 33: Purple, Pink, & BrownWe finish up our colour series (for now!) with a discussion of Purple, Pink, & Brown. From Phoenician shellfish, Virgil's Aeneas,& Propertius's Cynthia, to flowers, beavers, & bears, this episode covers a lot of ground. Let us know what fun colour facts we've missed, and what colourful topics you might like us to cover in the future!2017-04-2852 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 32: Ariadne's ClueWe've joined forces with the MythTake podcast for a pair of episodes about the myth of Theseus, the Minotaur, and Ariadne. In our episode we talk about the story of Theseus & Ariadne, and the development of the word 'Clue' from Chaucer's version of the tale, as well as Catullus and Ovid's depictions of Ariadne's abandonment, and the connections to fingerprints, detective fiction, and Agatha Christie's life. Meanwhile, Alison & Darrin in their episode talk about two poems by Bacchylides, and the Greek sources for the life of Theseus and his heroic exploits, as well as a few more English words derived...2017-04-131h 17The Endless KnotEpisode 31: #CreateICGIt's #CreateICG Week! A bunch of internet creators are putting out videos, podcasts, blogs, & more, all on the theme of CREATE – with all sorts of different approaches and interpretations. The event is centred around the Internet Creators Guild, a non-profit organization with a mission to support, represent, and connect creators whose primary platform is online. If you’d like to find out more about them, you can go to internetcreatorsguild.com – and to find more amazing creations by ICG members, search #CreateICG on your social media of choice, check our show notes for links, or go to createicg.wordpress.com for li...2017-03-2258 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 30: Baba Brinkman & Peer-Reviewed RapWe have the immense pleasure of interviewing Baba Brinkman, a Canadian rap artist & award-winning playwright best known for his “Rap Guide” series of plays and albums, with which he has toured the world; these cover topics like evolution, religion, medicine, and most recently climate change. He’s also pioneered the genre of ‘lit-hop’ with his adaptations of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Gilgamesh, Beowulf & more. At the end of the interview we play a couple of tracks by Baba: his newest single "Erosion", and the first two tracks from his Rap Canterbury Tales album, "General Prologue" & "The Knight's Tale (scene 1)".2017-03-101h 12The Endless KnotEpisode 29: Evolution, with Ray BelliHow do words change their meanings? What are the mechanisms behind semantic change? And how do technological advances -- like the development of e-books -- affect language? We discuss these topics and more with Ray Belli, host of the Words for Granted podcast.2017-02-271h 00The Endless KnotEpisode 28: Coach, or The History (& Future?) of EducationWe trace the history of 'coach' back to its Hungarian roots, and explore its connections to the development of higher education in Europe. Then we run through a capsule history of the goals (stated and unstated!) of education from classical Athens to today, and discuss how the new world of online learning, including YouTube and pocasts, fits into the ideals and best practices of the future of education. Please let us know about all the things we over-simplified, left out, or got wrong in the process of covering almost 3000 years of western European schooling, and weigh in on where you...2017-02-171h 11The Endless KnotEpisode 27: Yellow & OrangeWe return to our series on colour words with a discussion of Yellow and Orange in Greek, Latin, & English. The Roman and medieval associations of the colours take us from a wedding hymn by Catullus to Mary Magdalene & pawnbrokers -- and finally to modern connections to cowboys and Cheetos.2017-01-311h 08The Endless KnotEpisode 26: Rogue OneWe're joined by Sam McLean to discuss Rogue One's connections to Germanic heroism, Norse thautr, Roman epic, Terry Pratchett, heist films, & The Dirty Dozen. Following up last year's conversation about The Force Awakens, we're interested in seeing how the newest Star Wars film changes genres and develops new themes.2017-01-141h 05The Endless KnotEpisode 25: Twelve DaysWe delve into the origins of the gifts in "The 12 Days of Christmas" carol, talk about Christmas as the season for games, read a little Latin poetry, and discuss the parallels between feisty women and old farts. And there's a bonus song!2016-12-0653 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 24: Talking TurkeyThe origin of the turkey's name leads to discussion of the origin of Thanksgiving, the role of myths in constructing ideology, and some Horace, Homer, & Ovid. Also featuring some spicy cocktails.2016-11-2153 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 23: Dirk GentlyWe discuss Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently novels, the 2010 BBC miniseries, and the new BBC America adaptation, with Samuel Barnett & Elijah Wood, written by Max Landis We talk about "the fundamental interconnectedness of all things" as inspiration for Mark's work, the process of adaptation, and 1980's Englishness..2016-11-1559 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 22: Jack o'LanternIn our Halloween episode we discuss the origins of the holiday, the etymology of Jack o'Lantern, the Canadian connections to trick-or-treating, and the great pumpkin scandal of 2016, and we read a Roman poem about witches scared off by a wooden fertility god!2016-10-2641 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 21: Haggard HawksWe talk to Paul Anthony Jones about where his love of etymology and obscure words came from, how he researches his books, the unexpected popularity of his Haggard Hawks twitter account, and more.2016-10-1000 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 20: Blue & GreenWe explore the terms for blue & green in Greek, Latin, and English, and discuss their symbolism and meaning in the various cultures. Is it true the ancient Greeks couldn't see blue? Why do we go 'green with envy'? And what did chariot racing, colours, and religious riots in Constantinople have to do with the Italian national football team?2016-09-121h 08The Endless KnotEpisode 19: BeefWe chat about the Norman French influence on Anglo-Saxon words for animals and meat, the powerful emotional and political aspects of the words we use for food, and then delve into Latin technical terms for farmyard animals, ending off with Virgil's pastoral poems, the Eclogues.2016-08-021h 00The Endless KnotEpisode 18: BeerAll about beer! From experiments in baking bread with the leftovers from brewing beer to the etymology of beery words, and the complicated question of how fizzy beer has been through the ages. We follow up on questions raised in our "Loaf" podcast, and get some tips from other foodie podcasters.2016-07-1348 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 17: LoafExploring bread-related etymologies, sourdough and Roman loaves, and the link between brewing beer and baking bread.2016-06-1554 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 16: RedWe talk about Old English, Greek, and Latin words for red, the cultural importance of dyes, basic colour terms, blushes, blood, and gods.2016-05-1855 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 15: Stephen LeWe talk to Stephen Le about his book 100 Million Years of Food, and his efforts to use an understanding of evolution to help us decide what to eat. We chat about what it means to "eat what your ancestors ate", the cultural history of food, and his wide-ranging travels in search of traditional foods to try.2016-04-251h 02The Endless KnotEpisode 14: CocktailWe chat about possible origins for the cocktail, and the crazy stories about the word's origin. We also tell the tale of our first cocktail party, that sparked our interest in them and led to the cocktail video series.2016-04-0843 minThe Endless KnotBonus: #WhanThatAprilleDayWe read passages from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales & Ovid's Fasti, to celebrate #WhanThatAprilleDay, a day for enjoying old languages.2016-04-0101 min
As We Like ItEpisode 5: Akira Kurosawa's Ran
In this episode, Jon, Mark, and Aven watch and discuss Akira Kurosawa's 1985 movie Ran. A fusion of King Lear with Japanese history, Ran is an incredibly intricate, well-made, and bleak movie so rich with detail and reinterpretation that any discussion on it could last well beyond its nearly three-hour running time.2016-03-101h 10The Endless KnotEpisode 13: AlbumWe have an in-depth conversation about the Latin words for "white", the many terms for "shining" in proto-Indo-European, and the connection between the Beatles and medieval German students, while drinking White Ladies.2016-03-0350 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 12: David Hein & Irene SankoffWe discuss the origins of "Come From Away" in the unexpected connections caused by 9/11, and the ways David & Irene's backgrounds and interests have intersected to produce this show.2016-02-1833 min
The Endless KnotEpisode 11: CuckoldSexual fetishes, middle English poetry, Jane Austen, and Ovid -- and how they're all connected to Valentine's Day!2016-02-0755 minThe Endless KnotPatreon AnnouncementAnnouncing our Patreon campaign2016-01-2601 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 10: James AndeanWe chat to James Andean about acousmatic music, interdisciplinary improvisation, the role of narrative in music, and, inevitably, Star Wars. With a piece by James at the end!2016-01-251h 30The Endless KnotEpisode 9: The Force AwakensWe talk about the ways SW:TFA connects to Classical epic and Norse sagas, and literary and theoretical aspects of the movie. Spoilers!2016-01-1555 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 8: YuleWe discuss the etymology of Yule & the Germanic roots of Christmas traditions, along with Dr. Seuss & the Grinch, beer, & the unsavoury meaning of 'mistletoe'.2015-12-1725 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 7: The Story of NarrativeWe chat about stories, myth, and cognition -- and some of the ways narrative shapes our understanding of the world around us. Includes more Doctor Who talk, and some Latin and Old English.2015-11-0936 minThe Endless KnotBrief AnnouncementAnnouncing a new podcast, "As We Like It", about Shakespeare in film, and updating listeners on new videos and upcoming podcast episodes.2015-10-3102 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 6: Paddle Your Own CanoeWe discuss metaphor, travel narratives, Greek & Roman epic, Star Trek, and Doctor Who.2015-09-2800 minThe Endless KnotEpisode 5: Janice LiedlA conversation with history prof. Dr. Liedl about fandom, scifi, treason under Henry VIII, and history.2015-09-1446 min
The Endless KnotEpisode 4: Carpe Diem!A special episode, recorded at the cottage! We chat about unplugging, the etymology of 'harvest', poetry, and what to call a group of loons.2015-08-3137 min
The Endless KnotEpisode 3: From Plato to PlutoWe discuss Plato's views on writing, the effects of technology and relationships on memory, and the naming, origin, and mythology of Pluto.2015-08-0756 min
The Endless KnotEpisode 2: A Detective StoryWe discuss and play "A Detective Story", touching on Sir Gawain, Sherlock Holmes, memory palaces and other ways to remember things.2015-07-2840 min
The Endless KnotEpisode 1: Introduction to The Endless KnotThe first episode of The Endless Knot Podcast, introducing the concept and exploring the idea of connections in the world around us.2015-07-0622 min