The Biographers

It's that time again to sit back, relax, and enjoy a laid-back episode of Office Hours. In this episode, we bid a final (and incredibly fond) farewell to our long time friend and co-host, Akiva Meola, as he moves into his now full time job as a bladesmithing instructor (check out www.HardyAndFuller.com to take a class with him!). We love you, and you will be missed. Join us as we chat about emo kids, Big Dog clothing, and vinegar sticks, while Charlotte leads the charge on all of our fact-checking and unanswered questions from the previous series.

In our final installment of Marcus Aurelius, we discuss the twilight years of the “last good emperor”. Alone, battle-hardened, and bent with age, Marcus is still facing two of the biggest scourges of his life: disease and war. Tribes from the north continue to nip at the heels of Rome, while the Antonine plague takes more lives than ever. Worst of all, Marcus would be faced with a betrayal that threatens to tear the empire apart from within. At the final hours of his life, Marcus must apply all of the teachings of stoicism to maintain balance in the empire before he dies. Join us as we say goodbye to Marcus Aurelius. (Ep. 085)

In part three of our series on Marcus Aurelius, we cover the battlefronts that the twin emperors were tasked to manage. In Syria, Marcus tasks his brother and co-emperor, Lucius Verus (great bad guy name), with confronting the armies of king Vologases, but his time as commander in chief was not exactly what Marcus had hoped for. Speaking of tactics, we go over Rome's astonishing ability to adapt when fighting the Parthian cataphracts, along with the top generals who brought glory to Rome. After the war, a “pestilential vapor” would allegedly escape from a golden coffin, wreaking havoc on the populous, and Marcus Aurelius would face a new challenger (with another great bad guy name) in the north. Tune in for part three of Marcus Aurelius to learn more! (Ep. 084)

In part two of our series on Marcus Aurelius, we see Marcus’ get adopted by Antoninus Pius after the grisly death of Hadrian. After moving into the royal palace, Antoninus Pius would become a role model to Marcus , and he'd become close with his new step brother, Lucius Verus, despite being polar opposites. Marcus would become increasingly fearful of ruling as his 20’s were spent gaining more and more responsibility over the empire. Outside of the senate, Marcus took tutoring from two clashing minds: Cornelius Fronto and Junius Rusticus, who battled to turn Marcus into a better speaker or philosopher. As Antoninus Pius bent more with age, both Marcus and Lucius would become increasingly aware of the tidal waves of trouble their father had been holding back, and they would both prepare themselves to carry the burden. Tune in to part two of Marcus Aurelius to learn more! (Ep.083)

In part one of our series on famed Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius, we explore the early life of the last of the so-called “5 good emperors”. Born the son of a wealthy mother and a politician father who would die early on, Marcus would be raised in the lap of Hadrian, the famed “builder emperor of Rome". As Hadrian left to begin his tour of the far reaches of the empire, Marcus learned his first lessons from the painters, servants and tutors provided by his mother, giving him a taste of his future passion: philosophy. By his teens, the young philosopher would be pushed to his limits when Hadrian returned, more brutal and insane than ever before. It would take all the wisdom, courage, and temperance young Marcus had to not be killed by the unhinged orders of his dying emperor. Tune in to part one to hear the beginnings of Marcus Aurelius! (Ep. 082)

It's time for another episode of Office Hours, and this time we have some show-altering news! Our very own Akiva Meola, who has been co-host of The Biographers for two years, is leaving the show. We talk about what led him to this decision, while also introducing the person who will be taking his place. Don't worry, everyone! Change can be scary, but we know you're going to love our new co-host -- the one and only Charlotte Stanley.

In the conclusion to our series on the infamous Wu Zhao, we discover why the only female emperor in Chinese history, relinquished the throne. Her reign as emperor would only last 15 years, and though she would have several opportunities to extend her dynasty past a single member, her stubborn nature would get the better of her. Zhao's new pair of lovers, the Chang brothers, would seemingly cast a spell upon her that clouded her judgment, which in turn affected her ability to rule fairly. The political court around her would eventually become so desperate for change that they would stage a coup, and her reign would end. The tea is hot in this episode — tune in for part five of Wu Zhou to see how it all ends! (Ep. 081)

In part four of our series on Wu Zhao, we watch the continued rise to power of the only female emperor in the history of China. With Emperor Gaozong's health declining to the point of his ultimate demise, Zhao finds various means to push her sons away from the throne and establish herself as the de facto leader of China. It would take social, political, and religious reform, along with some not-so-savory actions, before the time would finally be right. Finally, at the age of 65, Zhao would ascend the throne and take the name of Emperor Wu Zetian. Tune in to part four to learn all the juicy details! (Ep. 080)

In part three of our series on the infamous Wu Zhao, we finally get to see her long-planned rise to Empress, and what sequence of events led her there! Due to some health complications, the Emperor would soon rely on Zhao to run the day to day governmental operations of China, and despite the medieval Chinese belief that women were unfit (and unable) to lead, Zhao would prove to be an astute political leader, which resulted in the royal couple earning the nickname of "The Two Sages". Tune in to part three of Wu Zhao to learn more! (Ep. 079)

In part two of our series on Wu Zhao, we take a look at the earliest days of her arrival into the royal harem of the Emperor, and what curriculum needed to be studied as a concubine. Zhao's time in the harem would first last ten years, but after the Emperor she served passed away, she would be shuttled off to live the life of a solitary monk in a monastery. Thanks to some careful planning (as well as a bit of luck), Zhao would find herself back in the royal palace, and mother to three children. But her sights were now fixed on becoming Empress, and in order to fulfill her dreams, drastic steps needed to be taken. But just how far was she willing to go? Tune in to part two of Wu Zhao to find out! (Ep. 078)