What does it mean to give an ancient subject new life? In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Samantha Ng, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Aothen Magazine, to explore accessibility, archaeology, creativity, and finding your own path into the ancient world.

Growing up in Hong Kong without Latin or Greek at school, Samantha went from aspiring chemist to classical archaeologist after an unexpected online Homeric Greek course helped reveal her calling. We discuss the teachers who encouraged her unconventional path, how Classics shapes our understanding of art and literature, and why studying antiquity matters even for those who never become classicists.

We also explore healing amulets and their surprising connections to modern medicine, Samantha’s love of Book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid, and her mission to make Classics feel less distant and exclusive—giving new generations a role in keeping an ancient subject alive.

What if the best way to understand the ancient world is to step inside its stories? In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with bestselling author Caroline Lawrence, creator of the Roman Mysteries, to explore how Classics can inspire imagination, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning.

Caroline shares how reading Homer and historical fiction transformed her life, leading her to study Classics at UC Berkeley and Cambridge before becoming a Latin teacher and author. We discuss her idea of “Nancy Drew in Ancient Rome,” the enduring humanity of Homer and Virgil, and how ancient art and everyday objects illuminate lives often missing from traditional histories.

We also explore xenia, the ancient Greek ideal of hospitality, and why Caroline believes empathy may be one of Classics’ most important lessons. Ultimately, our conversation shows how storytelling can transport us across millennia—and make the ancient world feel remarkably alive. 

What can studying a 2,000-year-old language teach a modern physician? In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with neuroradiologist Dr. Christopher Mattern to explore the unexpected intersection of Classics, medicine, science, and leadership.

Dr. Mattern traces his journey from discovering Latin through an inspiring high school teacher to earning degrees in both Biological Sciences and Classics at Stanford before attending medical school and now a key leader in the nation's largest radiology physician practice. We discuss how Latin helps him understand medical terminology and anatomy, how ancient history provides context for the modern world, and why relationships formed through Classics influenced his approach to leadership.

We also explore Homer, Ovid, Stoicism, and the enduring presence of the ancient world in popular culture. Above all, our conversation challenges the divide between STEM and the humanities, showing how Classical study can cultivate curiosity, creativity, historical perspective, and a richer understanding of the science we practice today.

What happens when the ancient world becomes a place to discover not only the past, but something about yourself? In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Johns Hopkins Professor Nandini Pandey for a deeply personal conversation about Classics, identity, belonging, and who gets to claim the ancient world as their own.

Professor Pandey shares her journey as a South Asian American who discovered Latin in college and found in ancient literature a connection to a deeper past. We discuss the mentors who shaped her path, making Classics more accessible and inclusive, and how studying antiquity can challenge modern assumptions about race, power, and cultural identity.

We also explore founding myths and Professor Pandey’s powerful reading of Virgil’s Aeneid, in which Aeneas’s journey as a refugee and immigrant takes on new meaning—and reminds us why the ancient world can speak to all of us.

In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Brown University Professor Johanna Hanink, classicist, author, and host of Lesche: Ancient Greece, New Ideas, to explore how the ancient world continues to live, change, and inspire us today.

Professor Hanink traces her journey from studying Latin and Greek to a career exploring ancient Athens and the modern reception of Classical Greece. We discuss the influence of inspiring teachers, the value of connecting antiquity with the modern world, and why Classics teaches the increasingly important art of slowing down and reading closely.

We also explore the Odyssey, the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, mortality and cultural memory, and Professor Hanink’s creative project reimagining the House of Atreus as a Gothic haunted house. Ultimately, our conversation asks what it means to join a dialogue about ancient texts that has endured for thousands of years.

In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Cindy Calder, founder of Calder Classics, whose programs have personally shaped the way I experience the ancient world. After years of studying Latin in the classroom, traveling to Rome with Calder Classics showed me how powerful it can be to read ancient texts in the very places where their history unfolded.

Cindy shares her own unconventional journey from growing up surrounded by ancient sites in Greece to a career in banking and translation before returning to school to study Greek and Latin. We discuss how Classics develops self-expression, close reading, and critical thinking—and why there is no single path into the field.

We also explore Virgil’s Aeneid, learning through travel, and Cindy’s work bringing Classical stories into the present through educational programs and a jewelry collection inspired by ancient coins and mythology that helps fund student scholarships.

In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with the President of the Society for Classical Studies & University of Pennsylvania Professor Emeritus of the Humanities and Classical Studies, Ralph Rosen, to explore why the ancient world remains worth studying today.

Professor Rosen traces his journey from discovering Greek and Latin to a distinguished career studying ancient literature, satire, comedy, and medicine. We discuss surprising connections between Homeric poetry, jazz, and modern rap; the enduring influence of the Odyssey; and what ancient medicine can still teach us about the human experience.

We also tackle one of the central questions of this podcast: Why study Classics? Professor Rosen challenges us to look beyond practical benefits like critical thinking and stronger writing and instead appreciate the ancient world for its richness, complexity, and enduring ability to help us better understand ourselves, our history, and the world around us.

In the inaugural episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Elizabeth Murphy - Brown University graduate, professional actress (The Notebook, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS), Latin teacher, academic coach, and founder of Pretty Smartly - to explore how studying Classics can shape life in unexpected ways.

Elizabeth traces her journey from discovering Latin in high school to double concentrating in Latin and Biology at Brown, where professors and mentors deepened her fascination with ancient texts and the human experiences preserved within them. She reflects on how the rigor of Latin taught her to think analytically, embrace challenges, and develop the confidence to pursue paths far beyond the realm of a traditional classroom.

Our conversation explores the surprising connections between Classics, linguistics, acting, and storytelling; the influence of teachers and mentors; and the emotional power of ancient writers such as Catullus. Elizabeth explains why exposure to Latin remains valuable for students today and how Classics can open pathways into careers ranging from law and medicine to writing and the arts.

Ultimately, Elizabeth makes the case that Classics is more than a field of study; it's a way to cultivate curiosity, discover connections, and recognize our shared humanity across thousands of years.

Hello! I'm your host, Maira Zaidi, and welcome to The Case for Classics, a podcast dedicated to inspiring a new generation of learners to discover the value of a Classics education.

I believe Classical Studies deserves a place in today's classrooms. Too often, the field is dismissed as irrelevant to modern times or reserved for an elite few. I believe it is for everyone. 

Through conversations with leading scholars, educators, and professionals, I hope to highlight that the ancient world is not simply a relic of history but rather a living legacy that continues to shape our world today.

My goal is to make the case that an education in Classics develops critical thinking, cultural understanding, and effective communication, skills that prepare students not only to succeed in broader careers but also to become thoughtful and engaged citizens.

Whether you're a lifelong Classicist or just beginning your journey, I hope that these conversations inspire you to discover why Classics remains one of the most rewarding and transformative fields of study.    

Let's make the case for Classics together!