The Reading Party Podcast

The Reading Party Podcast

Are you obsessed with mythology and the ancient world? Does seeing Medusa in movies make you smile? Do you tell yourself “Just one more page!” at 3am when reading a novel based on an ancient myth? Do you drink tea (or any hot beverage of choice)? Then your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians have got you covered. Join Megan and Lexie (with tea and snacks of course!) as they read and watch books, films, and T.V. shows set in the ancient world and dissect every aspect of them. This dynamic duo will try to cover everything from popular films, like the Brad Pitt Troy, to up and coming books like Wrath Goddess Sing. Whether you’ve read them, seen them, or never even heard of them, join us every week as we spill the tea on a ton of ancient stories! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

January 28, 2025 50 mins

In this final episode of season 3 of The Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie are discussing the 2016 film “Ben-Hur”. They share their thoughts on the film’s historical accuracy, the anachronisms in costume and set design, and the unexpected presence of Jesus in the narrative. From the dramatic chariot race to the film's ultimate message of forgiveness and redemption, they analyze what worked and what didn't in this modern retell...

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In this episode of The Reading Party, Megan and Lexie are joined by Dr. Victoria Austen to dive into the 2014 action-adventure film "Pompeii," starring Kit Harington. Join them as they explore the film's unique blend of romance, action, and historical disaster, all set against the backdrop of the infamous volcanic eruption.


Dr. Victoria Austen, an expert in the classics, shares her insights on Roman gardens, social history, an...

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January 14, 2025 52 mins
In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, hosts Megan and Lexie dive into the rich narrative of "Eagle of the Ninth" by Rosemary Sutcliffe. Released in 1954, this children's novel explores the journey of Marcus, a Roman soldier, as he navigates life in Britain after being injured and discharged from the army. The hosts discuss their experience of reading it after watching the film adaptation, "The Eagle," starring Channing Tatu...

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January 7, 2025 44 mins

In this episode of the Reading Party podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the 2011 film "The Eagle," adapted from Rosemary Sutcliffe's 1954 novel "The Eagle of the Ninth." Joining us is special guest Lindsay Allason-Jones, the historical consultant for the movie. Lindsay shares her extensive background in Roman Britain, having previously served as the Director of Archaeological Museums for Newcastle University, where she focused on H...

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December 31, 2024 56 mins

On this episode of The Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie offer an in-depth exploration of the animated film "Asterix versus Caesar," originally titled "Astérix et la Surprise de César," which was released in 1985. This film is an adaptation of the beloved French comic series created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, a significant part of French culture since its inception. Megan and Lexie provide an insightful exploration of...

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December 17, 2024 57 mins

In this episode of the Reading Party podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the 2007 fantasy historical adventure film, The Last Legion. Set against the backdrop of the fall of the Roman Empire, the movie intertwines legendary elements such as the last Roman Emperor, Excalibur, Merlin, and King Arthur, creating a captivating narrative that blends historical fantasy with medieval Britain. "The Last Legion" ultimately serves as a unique ...

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December 10, 2024 77 mins
In this episode of The Reading Party, hosts Megan and Lexie dive into the world of Roman history with esteemed guests Dr. Peta Greenfield and Dr. Fiona Radford, co-hosts of The Partial Historians podcast. With their expertise in Classics and Ancient History, they explore the iconic 2000 film Gladiator, discussing its impact and cultural significance. Dr. Radford shares her specialization in reception studies, particularly Roman fil...

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December 3, 2024 81 mins

Lexie and Megan are back for season 3! Welcome back to the Reading Party Podcast! In this exciting episode of our Rome Centric Season 3, we have not one, but two special guests: ancient historians Aaron Irvin and Jeff Stevens both experts on the Roman Empire, as well as consultants for Starz series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”. Join us as we dive deep into the world of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," focusing on episodes five and six.

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May 14, 2024 39 mins
Join Megan and Lexie for a wrap up of season two!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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May 7, 2024 52 mins
In the season finale of The Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive deep into the final chapters of "Desert God" by Wilbur Smith. They discuss the inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and unsatisfying conclusions in the book, questioning the choices made by the author. Despite the captivating writing style and beautiful descriptions, they express disappointment in the lack of resolution and the abrupt ending. Join them as they analyz...

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April 30, 2024 50 mins

In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the world of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as they discuss the book "Desert God" by Wilbur Smith. Join them as they dissect the historical inaccuracies, character developments, and plot twists in this fifth installment of the Egyptian series. From the over-sexualization of characters to the questionable lore inconsistencies, Megan and Lexie provide a critical y...

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April 23, 2024 54 mins
In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, hosts Megan and Lexie are joined by Dr. Roselyn A. Campbell to discuss the animated movie "The Prince of Egypt" set in ancient Egypt. Dr. Campbell, a subject matter expert, shares insights and expertise on bioarchaeology, the historical/cultural aspects of the film, and provides a captivating exploration of ancient Egyptian stories. Tune in for a lively discussion filled with tea-spilli...

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April 16, 2024 54 mins
Join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they unpack the fast-paced plot and questionable historical accuracy of the book Pharaoh by Wilbur Smith on today’s episode of The Reading Party Podcast! 

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April 9, 2024 69 mins

Today on the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie discuss the 2014 movie "Exodus: Gods and Kings" starring Christian Bale. Egyptologist Dr. Christian Casey, a postdoc at the Freie Universität Berlin working on the Zodiac Project, joins them to talk about ancient zodiacal terms and the development of horoscopes in Mesopotamia. Dr. Casey also shares insights on popular representations of ancient Egypt, focusing on accuracy and educ...

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April 2, 2024 58 mins
Grab your tea and snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, today as they talk about the 2000 animated movie Joseph, King of Dreams with special guest Dr. Joshua Bowen, who shares his expertise as an honorary Hebrew Bible scholar to analyze the biblical context of the film! 

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On today’s episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie are joined by Egyptologist Kara Cooney, to discuss Egypt during Cleopatra's reign. 


Cleopatra's identity and heritage have been a subject of debate, with various theories suggesting different aspects of her ancestry. The episode discusses the possibility that Cleopatra may have had Egyptian ancestry, despite being part of the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty. One ...

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March 12, 2024 54 mins
Today on The Reading Party Podcast, join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they shed light on the inaccuracies in costumes and historical context present in the 1963 movie Cleopatra, prompting discussions about the creative liberties taken in portraying ancient Egypt and Roman culture on screen. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

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March 5, 2024 32 mins
Your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, are back this week to delve into their changing perspective on Wilbur Smith's novel The Quest, a mystical high fantasy novel set in ancient Egypt. They explore problematic themes of race essentialism, exoticism, and strange relationships within the story. The discussion highlights uncomfortable elements like magical rituals involving sex for knowledge transfer and the ...

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February 27, 2024 56 mins

Today, Megan and Lexie are joined by Egyptologist Dr. Jill Waller, to discuss the 2017 movie "The Mummy". Definitely not cut from the same cloth as the original movies with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, Megan, Lexie, and Jill explore how the film deviates from actual Egyptian history and culture, resulting in a portrayal that is far from accurate.


One key point raised by the hosts is the misrepresentation of Egyptian hierogly...

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February 20, 2024 54 mins

Grab your tea and your snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they talk with Dr. Christian Casey about how Assassin's Creed Origins incorporates elements of ancient Egyptian culture and history to enhance the gameplay experience. They focus on the significance of the feather of Ma'at in the game, a symbol of truth and justice in ancient Egyptian mythology associated with the weighing of ...

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