Dr. Kiri Raber studied Early Modern European History at Florida State University, specializing in the history of families in eighteenth-century Jamaica. Her research explores what she terms "alternative families"—families, often of mixed heritage, that emerged from extramarital affairs. Drawing on interdisciplinary methods, her dissertation examines the intersections of race, gender, and family within the British Empire, with a particular focus on Jamaica’s complex social dynamics during the period. She earned her MA from the University of South Florida in 2019. Kiri’s work offers new insights into the social structures and cultural tensions of the eighteenth-century Atlantic world.

Steven Dunn, also known as Fjorn the Skald online, is an Independent Instructor specializing in Norse history and saga literature. With an academic background from the University of South Florida and extensive research in Norse literary portrayals of ordinary objects, he sheds light on various social anxieties (i.e. the performance of masculinity by women) through the subtle, deeper meanings attached to their daily material experience. Recently, he began a YouTube channel and podcast (History Raids with Fjorn) to help a broader audience access reliable material about the Viking Age, Norse mythology, and saga literature. As Fjorn, Steven has also engaged with the broader Norse community online by creating interactive digital content (i.e. maps), joining podcasts, contributing guest blogposts, joining online talks, and facilitating informative discussions.

Website: fjorntheskald.com

Social Media: @fjorntheskald (YouTube, Instagram, Threads); @fjorntheskald.com (Bluesky); @Fjorn_the_Skald (X); @fjorn-the-skald (Tumblr)

Tom Henderson is an independent researcher specializing in the Athenian ephebeia. With an academic background from Florida State University and extensive research experience in ancient Athens, Tom brings a wealth of knowledge on topics such as Athenian citizenship and citizen-training. Recently, Brill published Tom’s book, “The Springtime of the People: The Athenian Ephebeia and Citizen Training from Lykourgos to Augustus,” a new history of Athens’ system of military, athletic, and moral instruction for new Athenian citizens. Characterized as a system of hoplite training with roots in ancient initiation rituals, Tom argues that the institution was a much later creation with the aim of reinvigorating Athenian civic culture. His book also presents a re-evaluation of the later Hellenistic phase of the ephebeia, which has been commonly regarded as an institution in decline, and demonstrates that the ephebeia continued to play an important role in Athens’ civic life.

Dave Thomas has taught, presented, and published at the intersection of Ancient History and Digital Humanities, as well as Digital Scholarship more broadly. He works in areas such as network analysis, text analysis, data visualization, and web programming. With a graduate background in Ancient History, Epigraphy, and computer programming, Dave develops new tools for academic researchers, builds large database-driven web applications for academic research, advises professors on incorporating digital methods into their teaching and research, and guides and assists students in building their own Digital Scholarship projects.

Chelsi Arellano is an Assistant Professor specializing in 17th century early modern European history focusing on the British empire. With an academic background from Florida State University and extensive research experience in gender, race and ethnicity, she brings a wealth of knowledge on topics like popular politics and imperial history. Recently, she finished her dissertation entitled 'Glorious Change, Imperial Revolution: The Role of Gender, Politics, and the Popular during the Reign of William III and Mary II,' which argues that the Glorious Revolution was more broadly popular and advanced by a more diverse range of participants than is currently acknowledged within the secondary literature. By examining England, the Caribbean, North America, and the East India Companies, this study demonstrates the degree to which popular opinion shaped the Glorious Revolution and was always a concern for those at the highest levels of the revolutionary regime. It expands the concept of "the popular" to include race, class, and gender, suggesting new approaches to understanding how William and Mary leveraged popular support to reshape the early British Empire.

This episode introduces Stephen and Patrick and lets you know what this podcast is all about.