When we discuss Rome, we usually talk about its Emperors, Warlords and Conquerors, but rarely about ordinary Romans... and almost never about the people who actually built the place - the slaves.
With her recently released book SERVUS: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire however, historian Emma Southon finally shifts that narrative.
In this lovely convo we talk about how one could became enslaved, what it was like to visit a slave market, how slaves coped with the brutality of their everyday life, but also, why the Romans are so fun to roast 👇🏻
In 16th century Europe, few events were as momentous as the German Peasants’ War - an explosive rebellion that shocked the ruling houses of the Holy Roman Empire.
Driven by the ideas of Reformation, apocalyptic preaching and an all-out anger about the increasingly cruel conditions of serfdom, bands of peasants marched to war, during which they came close to overturning the entire feudal order…
To find out why the revolt started, how it engulfed an entire nation and why it ultimately failed, I talk to Lyndal Roper, a celebrated historian who's the 2026 recipient of the Holberg prize, and the author of the award winning book, Summer of Fire and Blood: The German Peasants’ War 👇🏻
You're an ordinary German, living in 1920's Weimar when the Nazi party takes over - WHAT do you do?
That's exactly the question that Katya Hoyer, "Britain's favourite German historian," wanted an answer to. For her latest book, Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, she spent years combing the Weimar archives, inspecting the fates of its citizens who were living through some of the most turbulent times in world history - what choices did they end up making? Did they resist, look away or even support Hitler's murderous regime?
In this gripping conversation, Katja and I talk about Weimar's contrast to Berlin, Hitler's infatuation with the city... But also how it went from being the birthplace of Bauhaus to hosting the biggest concentration camp on German soil...
Please remember that you can always SUPPORT this pod on Patreon! It means the world to me (you'll also get the convos ad-free and at least a day early).
Additionally, I'm SUPER EXCITED to finally book one of my favourite young historians on the show to talk about her amazing upcoming book. The convo will drop in early May and should be a proper one.
Thank you muchas - all of you watching, listening and most of all, supporting, are the reason the pod keeps going ❤️
Please remember that you can always SUPPORT this pod on Patreon! It means the world to me (you'll also get the convos ad-free and at least a day early).
Additionally, I'm SUPER EXCITED to finally book one of my favourite young historians on the show to talk about her amazing upcoming book. The convo will drop in early May and should be a proper one.
Thank you muchas - all of you watching, listening and most of all, supporting, are the reason the pod keeps going ❤️
Ever since their civilisation ceased to exist, the Ancient Greeks have been appropriated to suit various agendas - but what did they actually think and believe?
For example - how did they see other, non-Greek people? Was sexual orientation even a thing in Ancient Greece? Did they ever wrestle with the horrific institution of slavery?
To help me find answers to my burning questions, I talked to Tony Spawforth, professor emeritus of ancient history at Newcastle University, and the author of the fantastic book, What the Greeks Did for Us 👇🏻
Despite it's mainstream presence for more than a decade, Bitcoin has yet to make a convincing argument about its use case. Nevertheless, the cryptocurrency space has become the home of a fascinating subculture - that of the Bitcoin Bros.
But who are these guys? Why do they hinge their identity to this digital casino? And finally - do they actually believe in crypto, or are they in it for other reasons?
As someone who actually used to work in the space (although reluctantly) I was more than happy to turn to Prof. Dan Cassino, author of the recently released book, Bitcoin Bros: Masculinity, Cryptocurrency, and the Future of Men 👇🏻
Dr. Philipp Cozzolino is a research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuro-behavioral Sciences at University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies, where he investigates reports of past-life memories from children around the world.
In this wonderful chat we discuss his work on death anxiety, the incredible testimonies of kids who claim to have lived before (as well as his thoughts on what might be going on), and finally, whether he thinks death is the end 👇🏻
Luke Kemp, a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk researched 324 cases of societies, usually empires (which he called Goliaths) that collapsed - and soon found one thing they all had in common...
In this (slightly terrifying) conversation we discuss the main questions featured in Luke's groundbreaking book, Goliath's Curse - questions like why are hierarchical societies always a bad idea, what usually goes wrong first and finally, why we seem to be heading for a collapse of our own 👇🏻
I always wondered whether the Renaissance was a truly groundbreaking historical event - or has it become just a self-referential cliché?
Talking to Prof. Kenneth Bartlett (author of The Renaissance in Italy: A History), I finally had a chance to ask...
In this illuminating conversation we talk about the movement's main ideas, the timeless art they produced, the political intrigues of Florence, the House of Medici and finally, their ominous adversary, friar Savonarola.
The Smart Cookies Podcast
When we discuss Rome, we usually talk about its Emperors, Warlords and Conquerors, but rarely about ordinary Romans... and almost never about the people who actually built the place - the slaves.
With her recently released book SERVUS: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire however, historian Emma Southon finally shifts that narrative.
In this lovely convo we talk about how one could became enslaved, what it was like to visit a slave market, how slaves coped with the brutality of their everyday life, but also, why the Romans are so fun to roast 👇🏻
1 week ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
In 16th century Europe, few events were as momentous as the German Peasants’ War - an explosive rebellion that shocked the ruling houses of the Holy Roman Empire.
Driven by the ideas of Reformation, apocalyptic preaching and an all-out anger about the increasingly cruel conditions of serfdom, bands of peasants marched to war, during which they came close to overturning the entire feudal order…
To find out why the revolt started, how it engulfed an entire nation and why it ultimately failed, I talk to Lyndal Roper, a celebrated historian who's the 2026 recipient of the Holberg prize, and the author of the award winning book, Summer of Fire and Blood: The German Peasants’ War 👇🏻
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
You're an ordinary German, living in 1920's Weimar when the Nazi party takes over - WHAT do you do?
That's exactly the question that Katya Hoyer, "Britain's favourite German historian," wanted an answer to. For her latest book, Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, she spent years combing the Weimar archives, inspecting the fates of its citizens who were living through some of the most turbulent times in world history - what choices did they end up making? Did they resist, look away or even support Hitler's murderous regime?
In this gripping conversation, Katja and I talk about Weimar's contrast to Berlin, Hitler's infatuation with the city... But also how it went from being the birthplace of Bauhaus to hosting the biggest concentration camp on German soil...
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
Dear peeps,
Please remember that you can always SUPPORT this pod on Patreon! It means the world to me (you'll also get the convos ad-free and at least a day early).
Additionally, I'm SUPER EXCITED to finally book one of my favourite young historians on the show to talk about her amazing upcoming book. The convo will drop in early May and should be a proper one.
Thank you muchas - all of you watching, listening and most of all, supporting, are the reason the pod keeps going ❤️
1 month ago | [YT] | 6
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
Dear peeps,
Please remember that you can always SUPPORT this pod on Patreon! It means the world to me (you'll also get the convos ad-free and at least a day early).
Additionally, I'm SUPER EXCITED to finally book one of my favourite young historians on the show to talk about her amazing upcoming book. The convo will drop in early May and should be a proper one.
Thank you muchas - all of you watching, listening and most of all, supporting, are the reason the pod keeps going ❤️
1 month ago | [YT] | 4
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
Ever since their civilisation ceased to exist, the Ancient Greeks have been appropriated to suit various agendas - but what did they actually think and believe?
For example - how did they see other, non-Greek people? Was sexual orientation even a thing in Ancient Greece? Did they ever wrestle with the horrific institution of slavery?
To help me find answers to my burning questions, I talked to Tony Spawforth, professor emeritus of ancient history at Newcastle University, and the author of the fantastic book, What the Greeks Did for Us 👇🏻
1 month ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
Despite it's mainstream presence for more than a decade, Bitcoin has yet to make a convincing argument about its use case. Nevertheless, the cryptocurrency space has become the home of a fascinating subculture - that of the Bitcoin Bros.
But who are these guys? Why do they hinge their identity to this digital casino? And finally - do they actually believe in crypto, or are they in it for other reasons?
As someone who actually used to work in the space (although reluctantly) I was more than happy to turn to Prof. Dan Cassino, author of the recently released book, Bitcoin Bros: Masculinity, Cryptocurrency, and the Future of Men 👇🏻
2 months ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
Dr. Philipp Cozzolino is a research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuro-behavioral Sciences at University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies, where he investigates reports of past-life memories from children around the world.
In this wonderful chat we discuss his work on death anxiety, the incredible testimonies of kids who claim to have lived before (as well as his thoughts on what might be going on), and finally, whether he thinks death is the end 👇🏻
2 months ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
Luke Kemp, a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk researched 324 cases of societies, usually empires (which he called Goliaths) that collapsed - and soon found one thing they all had in common...
In this (slightly terrifying) conversation we discuss the main questions featured in Luke's groundbreaking book, Goliath's Curse - questions like why are hierarchical societies always a bad idea, what usually goes wrong first and finally, why we seem to be heading for a collapse of our own 👇🏻
3 months ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
The Smart Cookies Podcast
I always wondered whether the Renaissance was a truly groundbreaking historical event - or has it become just a self-referential cliché?
Talking to Prof. Kenneth Bartlett (author of The Renaissance in Italy: A History), I finally had a chance to ask...
In this illuminating conversation we talk about the movement's main ideas, the timeless art they produced, the political intrigues of Florence, the House of Medici and finally, their ominous adversary, friar Savonarola.
3 months ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
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