Welcome to an episode of Sappho, sex, rock and roll. Discover the first female voice of Western literature. 

This singer-songwriter from Lesbos pioneered female poetry and music. Only 1 percent of her work is left so this exclusive interview is seriously exclusive. It is a common misconception that Sappho wrote about desire, childbirth, the beauties of the natural world, and just girly things. But the reality is she wrote about politics, tyranny, and sexuality. This was all burnt by some angry, prudish Christians. 

We ask compelling questions such as, what constitutes the female gaze, and how does it differ from the male gaze? And, how different were female drinking parties from male 'symposiums?' 

Louise Walsh tells the fascinating story behind her 'Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker.' This sculpture sparked the longest ever debate in the Belfast city council. 

The controversy was all about sex work, the commemoration of women, and sectarian politics. 

This expression is thrown around a lot, but Walsh does truly talk for Ireland. Enjoy. 

Spinoza is back to make everyone wake up and smell the coffee - you are never free until you recognise that you are not free. 

He questioned the Torah's sacredness and was excommunicated from his Jewish community at only 23 years old. 

Fear not; his relationship with God and spider-fighting is explored and analysed. 

This man is gentle, fascinating, and pretty controversial. 

This episode was originally on a radio show. 

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Diogenes the dog is an exclusive interview with the 5th-century cynic who lived in a barrel (sorry, wine casket.)

I ask him a plethora of questions, such as "why did you remain single by choice?" and "what's up with you masturbating and defecating in public?"

Adored by Alexander the Great and hated by Plato, this man will shock and baffle you. 

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How does the etymology of avocado relate to the word protestant? What do the words genetics, genesis, and genuine all share in common? Does crocodile mean a pebble worm, and squirrel the 'shadow-tailed' and why?

Plenty more of this available right here, right now.

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This episode is fact and fun-fueled. 

Pt 1 - The rip-roaring Romans popping off after winning the euros, followed by a quick sidetrack of a history of parks from Ancient Rome to Mussolini’s fascist regime.

Pt 2 - The Circus Maximus - what raucous activities went down here then?

Pt 3 - An interview with Aldo Giannotti - the curator of the exhibition “Safe and sound” in the Mambo Art museum. The exhibition explores surveillance. Why do we feel safe with cameras watching us?

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They say curiosity killed the cat, and that’s why Advice from Aristotle Pt.2 is back.

Aristotle gets a bad rep, but maybe his 'reason conquering all' is a useful logic to bring to the table?

Why did Aristotle the investigator say “You can find beauty in the tiniest, ugliest thing?”

So what’s up with moths the size of birds? What animals do you intuitively dislike?

Who would you rather sit down for a meal with, Plato or Aristotle?

Why do journalists do courses on Aristotle? Can Aristotle cancel “cancel” culture?

How fine a line it is between patriotism and nationalism?

Listen to the whole spectrum with me and the fantastic Olivia Fane.

What’s the difference between Plebeians and Patricians? Was emperor Claudius the first pro-immigration leader? Did dolphins disrupt fishing? Who are those fellas, Romulus and Remus then? Was Cicero such the cream of the crop?

All these questions are answered and discussed walking around the ancient site of Ostia Antica.

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Did Aristotle think women need to have orgasms to get pregnant? Or that masters can be more 'slavish' than their own slave? Does Aristotle like 'ugly' animals?

There is no ancient thinker who can speak more directly to the concerns and anxieties of contemporary life than can Aristotle.

Olivia Fane and I deliberate Aristotle’s approach to slavery, women, and animals. We chat about how his advice teaches us not to compare ourselves to others, to train ourselves to be good people and to have the different parts of our soul in harmony.