Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! | Greek Mythology & the Ancient Mediterranean - podcast cover

Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! | Greek Mythology & the Ancient Mediterranean

Liv Albert mythsbaby.com

The most entertaining and enraging stories from 'Classical' mythology (and, often, ancient history of the wider Mediterranean!) told casually, contemporarily, and (more often than not) sarcastically. The world of Greek mythology and the history of the wider ancient Mediterranean is full of wonder, horror, and utter hilarity. These myths and stories are timeless for a reason, they're just as relevant today as they were 2500+ years ago. With over 700 episodes and counting, we dive deep into the realm of gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and everything in between.


Regular episodes every Tuesday, conversations with authors and scholars or readings of ancient epics every Friday. LTAMB: The Oracle Edition has ad-free episodes and so much more. Learn more about the podcast, and Liv's work, including her book Greek Mythology: the Gods, Goddess, and Heroes Handbook at mythsbaby.com.

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Episodes

Conversations: The Conspiracy & Conspirituality of Atlantis w/ Steph Halmhofer

CW/TW: brief mention of Canadian Residential Schools and recent and ongoing discovery of graves. Liv speaks with archaeologist Steph Halmhofer about conspiracy and conspirituality in archaeology and pseudoarchaeology, Atlantis and its dangerous development into what it is today, and more. Follow Steph on Twitter @cult_archaeo . Further Reading: Plato's Timaeus and Critias , quotes translated by Benjamin Jowett; A Brief History of Atlantis: Plato's Ideal State by Stephen P. Kershaw (includes alte...

Jan 28, 20221 hr 5 minSeason 5Ep. 348

Deconstructing Atlantis: Platonic Allegory Meets Bronze Age Reality Meets Dangerous Conspiracy (Part 3)

Just because Plato's Atlantis was never intended to convey history doesn't meant it didn't have some historical inspiration in the form of a Bronze Age natural disaster... Plus: how did Atlantis become what it is today and where do these dangerous ideas come from? This episode was written and recorded before the eruption of the volcano in Tonga in January of 2022 which is why the tragedy and those affected were not mentioned. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, a...

Jan 25, 202241 minSeason 5Ep. 346

BONUS! Kassandra Meets Poseidon, Atlantis in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey w/ Kira Jones

Spoilers for all of AC Odyssey, particularly the Atlantis DLC, obviously. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is known for its accuracy... so where did it get Atlantis? Liv speaks with returning guest Dr. Kira Jones all about the world of Assassin's Creed Atlantis. Follow Kira on Twitter . Further Reading: Plato's Timaeus and Critias , quotes translated by Benjamin Jowett; A Brief History of Atlantis: Plato's Ideal State by Stephen P. Kershaw (includes alternate translation of Plato); PDF: Truth, Lies, and...

Jan 22, 20221 hr 3 minSeason 5Ep. 345

Conversations: Deus Ex Alien, Ancient Realities vs. Pseudoarchaeology w/ David S. Anderson

Liv speaks with archaeologist David S. Anderson about the concept, and harm, of pseudoarchaeology. Why it matters to promote false notions of alien intervention and the study of the very real ancient people of the world is much more important. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Further Reading: Plato’s Timaeus and Critias , quotes translated by Be...

Jan 21, 20221 hr 11 minSeason 5Ep. 344

Deconstructing Atlantis: What Makes a Myth? Plato’s Allegorical Atlantis (Part 2)

We've heard the original source for Atlantis, but why is it that Plato's Timaeus and Critias can't be termed "myths"? If it isn't a myth, how do we know that there isn't some history behind it? This episode details what we do know about Plato's Atlantis and what that proves. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources/Further Reading: Plato's Timae...

Jan 18, 202242 minSeason 5Ep. 343

Conversations: From the Known to the Unknown, Atlantis vs. Mediterranean Archaeology w/ Flint Dibble

Liv speaks with researcher Flint Dibble all about the archaeology of the Mediterranean, what we know about Plato's Atlantis, and more importantly: what we know about Athens from the Bronze Age and earlier! Twitter threads mentioned in the episode: Atlantis in current pop culture , the dangers of Atlantis "lore" , erotic vases . CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing ...

Jan 14, 20221 hr 14 minSeason 5Ep. 342

Deconstructing Atlantis: Finding Atlantis in the Depths of Plato’s Imagination (Part 1)

The story of Atlantis has fascinated the world for centuries... But how many of us know where the story came from, or what is actually included in the original source? Episode one of Deconstructing Atlantis dives into the story of Atlantis as it exists in the Timaeus and Critias. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources/Further Reading: Plato's ...

Jan 11, 202250 minSeason 5Ep. 341

Lost Ancient City or Philosophical Allegory? Deconstructing Atlantis

Special series coming January 11th: Atlantis, from the original sources to the ongoing pseudoarchaeological searches, Liv deconstructs the story of Atlantis and the mythology, history, and archaeology that is (and most importantly is not) behind it. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Special podcast artwork by Sara Richard....

Jan 08, 202230 secSeason 5Ep. 340

Studying the Ancient World, Finding the Best Translation, & How Good was Odysseus Anyway? A New Year Q&A (Part 2)

In part two of the New Year Q&A Liv answers more questions on what it's like to study Classics/the ancient Mediterranean and what you might consider. She answers questions about Odysseus and Theseus, and provides examples of good translations of ancient Greek texts. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Attributions and licensing information for ...

Jan 07, 20221 hr 15 minSeason 5Ep. 339

Favourite Goddesses, Books Recommendations, & the Wild Wonder of Ancient Greece Sources: A New Year Q&A

Liv answers listener questions about any and everything: mythology, sourcing, book recommendations, video games, history, and more! CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

Jan 04, 20221 hr 21 minSeason 5Ep. 337

RE-AIR: Calliope is Over Your Sh*t, the Women of the Trojan War with Natalie Haynes

A re-airing of Liv episode with author and classicist Natalie Haynes about the women of the Trojan War and Pandora. Natalie's latest books are A Thousand Ships, recently published in North America and Pandora's Jar, available in the UK. Also mentioned is her book the Children of Jocasta, and the recently performed play series 15 Heroines, put on virtually by the Jermyn Street Theatre in London.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or...

Dec 31, 20211 hr 4 min

Liv Reads Hesiod: The Theogony (Part 2)

Liv reads Hesiod's Theogony! The Theogony is the oldest surviving source for the beginning of the ancient Greek world. Liv has referenced it, a lot, but now she's reading it for you! Translated by HG Evelyn-White. This is not a standard narrative story episode, it's simply a bonus reading of Homer. For regular episodes look for any that don't have "Liv Reads..." in the title! Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attribution...

Dec 28, 202144 minSeason 5Ep. 336

RE-AIR: The Cyprian Goddess, the Cytherean, Venus, Aphrodite, A Conversation with Author Bettany Hughes

A re-airing of Liv's episode with Bettany Hughes about all things Aphrodite, Venus, and her ancestors throughout even more ancient Mediterranean cultures. You can find Bettany Hughes's book Venus and Aphrodite at your local bookstore.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found...

Dec 24, 20211 hr 4 min

Liv Reads Hesiod: The Theogony (Part 1)

Liv reads Hesiod's Theogony! The Theogony is the oldest surviving source for the beginning of the ancient Greek world. Liv has referenced it, a lot, but now she's reading it for you! Translated by Hugh Evelyn White.This is not a standard narrative story episode, it's simply a bonus reading of Homer. For regular episodes look for any that don't have "Liv Reads..." in the title!For a list of Roman/Latin names and who they were in the Greek, visit: mythsbaby.com/names Attributions and licensing inf...

Dec 21, 202140 minSeason 5Ep. 335

Conversations: Helen as the Beautiful Evil, the Kalon Kakon, w/ Alexia Burrows Charalambidou

Liv speaks with Alexia Burrows Charalambidou about the kalon kakon, the beautiful evil in mythological women like Pandora, Helen, Medea, and Circe. Follow Alexia on Twitter ! CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions . Hosted on Acas...

Dec 17, 20211 hr 18 minSeason 5Ep. 333

Beyond the Face That Launched A Thousand Ships, Helen of Sparta (Part 2)

Helen of Sparta, later of Troy, is so many things... it all depends on where you're looking. In this episode we examine the Helen of Homer, and of Sparta itself. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources: Helen: Goddess, Princess, Whore by Bettany Hughes; Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity by Sarah B. Pomeroy; Theo...

Dec 14, 202137 minSeason 5Ep. 332

Liv Reads Ovid: The Heroides, Letters from Paris & Helen

Ovid's Heroides are fictional letters between mythological figures... These two are particularly incredible (and in the case of Paris, hilarious). Ovid's Heroides, translated by Grant Showerman. This is not a standard narrative story episode, it's simply a bonus reading of Homer. For regular episodes look for any that don't have "Liv Reads..." in the title! For a list of Roman/Latin names and who they were in the Greek, visit: mythsbaby.com/names Attributions and licensing information for music ...

Dec 10, 202151 minSeason 5Ep. 331

The Most Infamous Woman of Greek Myth, Helen of Sparta (Part 1)

Helen is simultaneously the most well known mortal of myth and a complete and utter enigma. What do we actually know about her, and the choices she did and did not make that lead to the Trojan War? CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources: Helen: Goddess, Princess, Whore by Bettany Hughes; Theoi.com; The Iliad, translated by Samuel Butler; Early...

Dec 07, 202135 minSeason 5Ep. 330

Conversations: Singing the Words of Homer, Ancient Music and Lyrics with Bettina Joy De Guzman

Liv speaks with teacher, songwriter, and ancient instrument musician Bettina Joy De Guzman all about ancient instruments, music, and singing songs of Greek myths and stories. Find more about Bettina Joy's work here: bettinajoydeguzman.com CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be...

Dec 03, 20211 hr 33 minSeason 5Ep. 329

Far-Shooting Phoebus Apollo, God of Everything & Nothing

Oh, far-shooting Apollo... What are you exclusively the god of, anyway? All things Apollo, the good and the very, very bad. Submit your questions to Liv's 2022 New Year Q&A episode here . CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources: Theoi.com; Homeric Hymns translated by Hugh Evelyn-White. Attributions and licensing information for music used i...

Nov 30, 202133 minSeason 5Ep. 328

Liv Reads the Homeric Hymns to Apollo

Homeric Hymns are beautiful and detailed and so, so ancient... The two Homeric Hymns to Apollo tell the story of his birth and the founding of the Oracle at Delphi. This is not a standard narrative story episode, it's simply a bonus reading of an epic. For regular episodes look for any that don't have "Liv Reads..." in the title! Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...

Nov 26, 202141 minSeason 5Ep. 327

Io the Wanderer and Hermes, Boot-Lick of the Gods (Prometheus Bound Part 3)

Prometheus tells Io of her ongoing story of suffering, but also hey! She's going to start quite the dynasty. Finally, Hermes arrives with news from Zeus. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources: The Prometheus Bound (maybe) by Aeschylus: translations by Herbert Weir Smyth , James Romm, and George Theodoridis. All quotations from the Weir Smyth ...

Nov 23, 202142 minSeason 5Ep. 325

Conversations: Who Was This "Homer" Guy, Anyway? Homeric Theories w/ Joel Christensen

There's so, so much more to the concept of "Homer" than a blind poet from Archaic Greece. In fact, there probably was never any Homer, or any Hesiod for that matter. Plus... Toxic heroes being toxic. Follow the Sententiae Antiquae twitter here , or visit the site for loads of ancient Greek and Roman goodness: here . Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

Nov 19, 20211 hr 24 minSeason 5Ep. 324

Prometheus vs. the Tyranny of Zeus (Prometheus Bound, Part 2)

Prometheus laments and laments, he meets the Titan Oceanus and, finally, the woman and survivor of Zeus, Io. The Prometheus Bound is an examination of tyranny and the rule of Zeus, king of the gods. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources: The Prometheus Bound (maybe) by Aeschylus: translations by Herbert Weir Smyth , James Romm, and George The...

Nov 16, 202139 minSeason 5Ep. 323

Conversations: Socrates Was Invented by Plato to Sell More Philosophy, Classical Memeology w/ Ben of CSMFHT

Turns out the Classical world is ripe for use in memes! Liv speaks with Ben of the Classical Studies Memes for Hellenistic Teens Twitter and Facebook empires about Classics, memes, and a whole lot else. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Nov 12, 20211 hr 14 minSeason 5Ep. 321

All This Over a Bit of Fire? Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound (Part 1)

Prometheus gave humanity fire, but he paid the price. Prometheus is brought to his punishment and meets the chorus of Oceanids. The Prometheus Bound is an examination of tyranny and the rule of Zeus, king of the gods. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources: The Prometheus Bound (maybe) by Aeschylus: translations by Herbert Weir Smyth , James R...

Nov 09, 202134 minSeason 5Ep. 320

Liv Reads Ovid: The Heroides, Letters from Hypsipyle & Medea

In the first readings of Ovid, Liv reads the letters of Hypsipyle and Medea. Hypsipyle writes to Jason after hearing he's not coming back to Lemnos, she's heard of his new wife Medea and wants to tell him about the twins she gave birth to. Medea writes to Jason to remind him everything she did for him before he gave her up for a Greek princess. This is not a standard narrative story episode, it's simply a bonus reading of an epic. For regular episodes look for any that don't have "Liv Reads..." ...

Nov 05, 202134 minSeason 5Ep. 319

Adapting Greek Myth, the World of Lore Olympus w/ Rachel Smythe

Hades and Persephone are some of the most beloved characters of Greek myth and Rachel Smythe is retelling their story (and so many others) in the incredible Webtoon (and now, book!) Lore Olympus. Rachel and Liv chat mythology and adapting myth, characters and sourcing, and so much more. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Attributions and licensing...

Nov 02, 20211 hr 16 minSeason 5Ep. 318

Conversations: Sorceresses & Satire, Witches of Ancient Greece & Rome w/ Maxwell T Paule

Liv speaks with Maxwell T Paule all about witches (and much, much more) of classical myth and Roman poetry... Follow Maxwell on Twitter and TikTok . The poem recited is Horace's Epode 5, translated by Maxwell T Paule. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbab...

Oct 29, 20211 hr 13 minSeason 5Ep. 316

No Crime Have I Committed, Save to Speak the Truth: Cursed Cassandra.

Oh, cursed, cursed Cassandra. The princess of Troy is an enigma whose story is told in disjointed fragments that this episode weaves together. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sources: Theoi.com: Aeschylus' Agamemnon, translated by Herbert Weir Smyth and found on Theoi ; Early Greek Myths by Timothy Gantz. Episode title is an edited quote from S...

Oct 26, 202132 minSeason 5Ep. 315
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