Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics Podcast
Natalie Haynes takes a fresh look at the ancient world, creating stand-up routines about figures from ancient Greece and Rome.
Episodes to download
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The Aeneid—Series 11
Tue 2 Sep 2025
In a tour de force solo performance, Natalie takes on Virgil's great poem in 28 minutes.
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Hestia—Series 11
Tue 26 Aug 2025
The overlooked Olympian who was the resolutely unmarried goddess of the hearth and home
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Hera—Series 11
Tue 12 Aug 2025
The queen of the Olympian gods is swallowed by her father then marries her brother Zeus.
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The Women Poets of Ancient Greece—Series 11
Tue 5 Aug 2025
Natalie tells the stories of the Nine Earthly Muses. With Edith Hall and Nikita Gill.
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Alexandria: The Library—Series 11
Tue 29 Jul 2025
Natalie explores the great library of Alexandria. With Edith Hall and Islam Issa.
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Alexandria: The City—Series 11
Tue 22 Jul 2025
Natalie tells the story of the ancient city of Alexandria. With Islam Issa and Edith Hall.
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Saturnalia
Christmas Eve 2024
Natalie Haynes celebrates Saturnalia with guests André Vincent and Llewelyn Morgan.
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Tacitus—Series 10
Mon 12 Aug 2024
The great historian of imperial Rome, Tacitus can persuade you of just about anything.
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Aesop—Series 10
Mon 5 Aug 2024
The best-known author from antiquity, famed for his fables. But did he really exist?
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Artemis—Series 10
Mon 29 Jul 2024
Predator, hunter, archer, daughter of Zeus, queen of wild creatures: the goddess Artemis.
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Aphrodite—Series 10
Mon 22 Jul 2024
The Greek goddess of love, desire and beauty, Aphrodite is mostly depicted naked, or wet.
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Hesiod—Series 10
Mon 15 Jul 2024
Prize-winning poet, cataloguer of gods and author of a flatpack wagon manual: Hesiod.
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Cleopatra—Series 10
Mon 8 Jul 2024
Brilliant politician, ruthless leader, massive brain-box: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.
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Livia—Series 9
Tue 19 Dec 2023
4/4First Empress of Rome, faithful wife and influential advisor - or serial killer?
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Athene—Series 9
Tue 12 Dec 2023
3/4Goddess of wisdom, war and... handicrafts: Athene is charismatic and bloodthirsty.
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Demeter—Series 9
Tue 5 Dec 2023
2/4A story of a mother's love, and anger. Demeter seeks justice for Persephone.
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Martial—Series 9
Tue 28 Nov 2023
1/4Epigrams, jokes and absolute filth, that's Martial. With Robin Ince and Llewelyn Morgan.
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Homer: The Odyssey—Series 8
Sun 4 Sep 2022
4/4Natalie retells Homer's epic story of homecoming, adventure and passion.
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Lucretius—Series 8
Sun 28 Aug 2022
3/4Six-book epic poem on philosophy and physics? Don't mind if I do.
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Spartan Women—Series 8
Sun 21 Aug 2022
2/4By the standards of the ancient world, Spartan women had it good. With Edith Hall.
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Pompeii—Series 8
Sun 14 Aug 2022
1/4Why are ripe pomegranates and squashed grapes key archaeological finds from Pompeii?
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Clytemnestra—Series 7
Tue 8 Jun 2021
4/4The worst wife in Greek myth. Or was she? With Professor Edith Hall.
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Jocasta—Series 7
Tue 1 Jun 2021
3/4The wife of Oedipus. And mother. A still spellbindingly shocking story. With Edith Hall.
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Pandora—Series 7
Tue 25 May 2021
2/4A mythological equivalent to Eve with a bit of Sleeping Beauty thrown in. With Edith Hall
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Penelope—Series 6
Sun 7 Jun 2020
4/4Natalie Haynes tells of Penelope, the clever woman behind The Odyssey.
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Eurydice—Series 6
Sun 31 May 2020
3/4Natalie Haynes tells Eurydice's story from a new perspective. With Llewelyn Morgan.
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Penthesilea, Amazon Warrior Queen—Series 6
Sun 24 May 2020
2/4Natalie Haynes tells the story of Penthesilea, Amazon warrior Queen.
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Helen of Troy—Series 6
Sun 17 May 2020
1/4Natalie Haynes tells stories of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Troy.
Rory Stewart: The Long History of... Heroism
Rory Stewart with a radical take on the concepts that shape our lives.
