Coffee and Circuses

Coffee and Circuses

By David WalshSociety & CultureDocumentaryHistory
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Coffee and Circuses episodes

  • 13: Patty Baker (University of Kent)

    Patty joins David to talk about her current work on Roman gardens and their relationship with mental and physical health, medical care in the Roman army, and the differences between studying at universities in the US and Britain. We also discuss her interest in sailing, how studying gardens has reignited her interest in floral arrangement, and the benefits of working part-time jobs in fresh air. 

    Patty Baker is Senior Lecturer in Classical and Archaeological Studies and Head of Department at the University of Kent


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    46 min
  • 12: Jo Stoner (University of Kent)

    Jo joins David to talk about the recently opened 'Sounds of Roman Egypt' exhibition at the Petrie Museum in London, her forthcoming book The Cultural Lives of Domestic Objects in Late Antiquity , learning to love craft, Flight of the Conchords, how it wasn't until her third shot at undergrad she found her calling - and how this might mean there's a parallel universe with a Prime Minister Stoner.

    You can find out more about the exhibit at: https://www.kent.ac.uk/student/news/?id=16105&source=blog


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    50 min
  • 11: Becky Newson (Rome Tour Guide)

    Becky joins David to discuss her six years working as a tour-guide in Rome, how she ended up in this role, how she preps for tours, and her advice for anyone visiting Rome. She also chats about getting used to the Roman way of life (and adjusting when she visits home), #Rome on instagram, and how the extras on the DVD of the Mummy led her to study Ancient History at Kent.

    Find Becky on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/bectheguide/?hl=en


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    1 hr 9 min
  • 10: Christian Bace (Former History Press/ English Heritage)
    Christian Bace, former Digital Marketing Executive for the History Press Publishers and English Heritage, talks about how marketing heritage via social media has changed, the 1066/2016 E.H. Twitter campaign, making animated videos about Hadrian's Wall, rubbing shoulders with David Attenborough, and his (misplaced) hopes for Man Utd.

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    1 hr 23 min
  • 9: Rebecca Usherwood (Trinity College, Dublin)
    Rebecca talks about her research on political disgrace in Late Antiquity and why she doesn’t like the term damnatio memoriae, how a trip to the Basilica Nova in Rome inspired her, who her obscure choice for favourite emperor is and her distaste for the emperor Julian, Hans Zimmer, and how classics’ past can hold it back

    We also ponder the ultimate question: was Rachel Weisz better in Agora or The Mummy?

    Rebecca Usherwood is Assistant Professor in Late Antique and Early Byzantine Studies at Trinity College, Dublin. You can find her on Twitter @DrUsherwood


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    1 hr 3 min
  • 8: Sadie Watson (Museum of London Archaeology)

    Sadie chats about how commercial archaeology has changed over the years, its relationship with academia, tackling sexism on site, and how she became Dr Watson. We also discuss some of her highlights from working in archaeology, including when she directed the Bloomberg/MOLA Walbrook excavations, including the discovery of the Roman writing tablets.

    Sadie Watson is a Project Officer for Museum of London Archaeology and a Council Member for the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.


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    1 hr 2 min
  • 7: Jay Ingate (Canterbury Christchurch University)

    Jay Ingate stops by to talk about his research on water in the Roman world and his upcoming book on the subject. How important was water, not only practically, but spiritually and politically in the Roman World? Why have people looked down on the aqueducts of Roman Britain? And how did Jay get into this area of study in the first place?

    We also talk about the Roman world in film and TV, why Jay is the Chief O'Brien of archaeology, whether the film Highlander holds up, and how Jay was the first person to truly appreciate Matthew Mcconaughey's acting talents.

    Jay Ingate is a lecture in archaeology and archaeological theory at Canterbury Christchurch University.


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    1 hr 3 min
  • 6: Christopher Burden-Strevens (University of Kent)
    Christopher makes the voyage down the corridor to talk to David about his new book on Cassius Dio, his own path into the world of Classics (and how this involved teaching himself Latin from a 1930s text book!), and he shares his thoughts on the importance of public engagement. There's more talk of gaming and ancient history, why hot-tubs are a great place to discuss ideas with colleagues, and Christopher comes up with a new slogan to sell the department.

    Christopher Burden-Strevens is a lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Kent. For Christopher's new edited volume on Dio, go to: https://brill.com/view/title/39300


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    1 hr 6 min
  • 5: Andy Gardner (UCL)

    Andy Gardner talks about the importance of theory in the study of archaeology, the relationship between archaeology and anthropology, and how archaeology can become politicised. We also chat about the presentation of the ancient world in gaming, lego Star Wars, and does Guinness taste better in Ireland?

    Andy Gardner is Senior Lecturer in Roman Archaeology at the Insititute of Archaeology, UCL.


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    1 hr 2 min
  • 4: Jan Montefiore (University of Kent)

    Jan Montefiore joins David to discuss Rudyard Kipling's presentation of Roman World. Kipling wrote a number of stories set in Roman Britain, the most famous of which are the Parnesius stories collected in Puck of Pook's Hill, and was one of the most widely read British authors of the early 20th century. Jan and David talk about how Kipling's views on empires and race fed into his work, his depiction of late Roman Britain, and how he's influenced other authors, as well as debating the impact of 'Horrible Histories'...

    Jan Montefiore is Professor of 20th Century English Literature at the University of Kent, and editor of the Kipling Journal.


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    52 min

About Coffee and Circuses

From the publisher's feed

The Roman poet Juvenal once said people are entertained as long as they have 'bread and circuses'. Now we can go one better with 'coffee and circuses'! David Walsh chats to a range of people…