Proem for Season 2
After a short hiatus, we’re back to announce MWD will be returning for another season. More movies, more not-movies, all the hot-takes.
Podcast: Movies We Dig: Ancient History & Film Podcast
Episode 26 – Blood of Zeus (2020) Part II, with Christie Vogler & Zoé Thomas
Gigantomachy II: Electric Boogaloo! Our longest episode to date, we really don’t lack for things to talk about. There’s a a lot
Episode 25 – Blood of Zeus (2020) Part I, with Christie Vogler & Zoé Thomas
“Screw your winged horse, I want a Manticore!” We break down the first four episodes of Netflix’s original anime series with repeat
Episode 24 – Troy: Fall of a City (2018), Part III, with Ava-Elana Tolley-Enstrom
“A man who thinks that he has been done wrong is a mad, mad man.” (the Iliad, abridged). Get these and other
Episode 23 – Troy: Fall of a City (2018), Part II, with Lucile Chambon, Jordan Engstrom and Mitchell Jackson
Joined by three fantastic first year students from UT Austin, we continue our discussion of Netflix’s miniseries as we get into episodes
Episode 22 – Troy: Fall of a City (2018), Part I, with Adam Rabinowitz
We launch the first of a special, three part miniseries on the Netflix/BBC original on the Trojan War. Joining us is UT
Episode 21 – The Eagle (2011)
Get your checkbooks ready Hollywood producers because we basically re-pitch a new, better version of this now 10 year old film. On
Episode 20 – Pompeii (2014), with Christy Schirmer
Are you ready to go back to Titanic Pompeii? Accompanied by another fantastic host, Christy “I didn’t want Kiefer like that,” Schirmer,
Episode 19 – Agora (2009)
Two questions: 1) Is this a nuanced and thoughtful take on the religious and political strife in Alexandria and the wider Roman
Episode 18 – Black Orpheus (1959), with Rebecca Futo Kennedy
Depressa! Toma! Toca faz o sol nasce! Bolstered by yet another mega guest, Dr. Rebecca Futo Kennedy, the creative mind behind Classics
Episode 17 – Ben-Hur (1959)
Is this movie the spiritual predecessor of The Phantom Menace? Probably not, but we explore that idea anyways. This week, Colin and
Episode 16 – Spartacus (1960)
We’re Spartacus! This week Colin (aka Spartacus) and Eli (aka Spartacus) take on the classic epic written by Dalton Trumbo, directed by
Episode 15 – O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000), with Joel Christensen
Joined by another fantastic guest and man of constant sorrow, Joel Christensen, we trace the unbroken line from Homer to Mumford &
Episode 14 – Cleopatra (1963), with Jeremy Swist and Nicole Becklinger
We get into classic Hollywood’s take on Egypt’s most (in)famous queen with the help of Heavy Metal Classicist Jeremy Swist and pharaonic
Episode 13 – Quo Vadis (1951)
This movie is… long… and hasn’t aged amazingly well. For all its faults, mostly involving Marcus, this movie did pave the way
Episode 12 – The Dig (2021), with Christie Vogler
A movie actually about digging! This week we’re joined by special guest, Dr. Christie Vogler, to talk about the 3 D’s of
Episode 11 – Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
Romanes eunt domus?!? Back from a brief hiatus, we tackle a most blasphemous take on sword & sandal Biblical epics by Britain’s
Episode 10 – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
Was 1 a good year? Eli and Colin dive into Roman comedy and its brief but successful renaissance on Broadway in the
Episode 9 – Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), with Clara Bosak-Schroeder
We dig (or dive) into Disney’s attempt to pivot from songs to explosions with another wonderful guest. Is this movie undersea Pocahontas?
Episode 8 – Hercules (1997), with Ayelet Haimson-Lushkov
“The 90’s are just the 80’s until they become the mid 2000’s.” We fully consider the coconut that is Disney’s animated take
Episode 7 – Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Colin & Eli alienate themselves to younger listeners by not understanding popular novels. They also reveal their own age by constantly comparing
Episode 6 – Hercules (2014)
The film that makes the bold choice to be set in 358 B.C.!?! Is Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson the modern manifestation of
Episode 5 – Immortals (2011)
Another visually interesting but thematically frustrating film. More gods, more battles, more fake armor, more (not) chosen one narratives. Plus the birth
Episode 4 – Clash of the Titans (2010)
We beat our heads against our desks over this movie (and the Cars franchise). What is the nature of the gods and
Episode 3 – 300 (2007)
Now we sound nice. More screaming, but also more tolerable. We delve into the popularity and problems with this movie. Would you