"Natalie Haynes stands up for the Classics"

[TheAdjutant]

Is it my age, and because I studied the Classics, that I find this programme on Radio 4 a prime example of "dumbing down".
The audience seem to guffaw at every word.
Are they overawed by Natalie's education?

I don't think the audience is so much overawed by her education as entertained by her sense of humour. It's a 30min light entertainment programme, not a four-hour history documentary.

I’ve never listened to this one, but I have been looking for a history podcast fronted by a woman, that isn’t done for comic effect, and struggling to find one.

She's a comedian who is extremely knowledgeable about lots of aspects of the classics; mythology, literature, history. She isn't an academic and doesn't claim to be one. The show is stand-up with a focus on stories from ancient Greece and Rome, it doesn't purport to be a lecture.

And it is hilarious and entertaining and educational all in one.

Love it, informative and funny.

I agree with you.

I didn't study Classics, and I find this show entertaining.

I really like her ( she sounds a little like Bridget Christie, to me) and enjoy the programme, I got O'level Latin but I didn't study classics...she's quite dry and give me this, any day, over, for instance, TL;DR or something of the 6.30 comedy slot offerings ( apart from Dead Ringers and The News Quiz).
It's gentle entertainment, thats all I need, I suppose.

Mary Beard has just started a new podcast but its focused on the classical period rather than the sweep of history.

I found 1619 (Nikole Hannah-Jones) interesting, one of my DDs likes “You’re Wrong About” (Sarah Marshall). Journey Through Time is co hosted by Sarah Churchwell. Not Just the Tudors is hosted by Suzannah Lipscombe (sp?). I found a few via History Hit, available within Spotify/Apple subscriptions.

In Our Time often has interesting women speakers, although male presented. The Memory Palace is also male presented but quite a few episodes focus on women’s lives.

I was engaged in a similar search last year - I found few fully fronted by women and those I found tended to be specialist rather than generalist.

I quite like Natalie Haynes - its the 6.30 light ents slot, not a documentary after all.

I like Natalie Haynes. I'm not a university classicist, but did a bit of Greek and Latin and school have read translations of the Iliad, Odyssey, various Greek myths.

I enjoy her feminist takes on various things including weaving and how hard it must for women. A different perspective on Penelope's efforts.

Reading The Past on YouTube with Dr Kat is good if you like early modern, Tudors etc.

Ooh I love her and didn't know about this podcast! Off to subscribe....

Love this podcast!

I love it.

I posted this on another thread: 'There's another programme that I should enjoy but I find the presenter's delivery too annoying.'

I should enjoy it but I don't. I would learn from it but I switch it off.

I have post-grad degrees in classics and history and teach both. It's a brilliant podcast that makes classics accessible without losing the sense of the original texts and yes, it's funny. She also has interviews with leading classicists eg. Edith Hall. (Her books are also great.) If you don't like it, don't listen to it? There's other programs you might prefer!

Well, yes it is dumbed down, but she’s a comedian whose particular spin is the classics rather than a classicist lecturer, and she’s aiming at an audience who may have little or no background knowledge. I really enjoyed her stuff until I saw her live and the briefly chatted with her at a gig. She’s great on stage, but offstage she’s rather snooty about her audience, and rather ungracious. Now I can detect a bit of a sneer in her voice as I listen.

I can detect a bit of a sneer in her voice as I listen. That's exactly it, that and the 'canned laughter', @LoserWinner .
@Flora20 , I have nothing against the concept, or the content itself. I'm all for it , and it's my loss to not listen, but I don't enjoy it.

I find some of the less light podcasts almost unlistenable because I dislike the jingles.

It's not canned, it's in front of an audience like a lot of the 6.30 comedy slots are.

I went to a talk by her a couple of years ago and a book signing afterwards. She was lovely, chatted nicely to those getting books signed and not in the least sneezy or condescending. Only a bit awkward if anything.

I listened today and was laughing out loud! Felt like Ieanrt some stuff as well as enjoying something light hearted!

Nope, won’t hear a word against Natalie, I love her; she’s very entertaining on her podcast and her books are very readable too. Each to their own though - that’s the joy of podcasts, there are so many you’re bound to find one that suits you and if you don’t subscribe you don’t need to listen to any you don’t enjoy.

@DappledThings , I know it is recorded in front of an audience but I used the term to indicate that it doesn't seem genuine.

As I said, I have nothing against the concept, or the content itself. I'm all for it , and it's my loss to not listen, but I don't enjoy it.

I love this and I love her delivery - again unlike many of the 6.30 comedy slot stuff.

Betwixt the Sheets is a great history podcast which has a female presenter - Dr Kate Lister - and practically all the expert guests are women too.

Also, After Dark, which is co-presented by Dr Maddy Pelling.

I listened to this the other day and found the audience laughter really annoying. I love radio comedy but there was something about it that felt OTT. Either the audience demographic or mic levels/mix made it sound like a bunch of teenagers laughing performatively at in jokes.

It’s great. The vast majority of us didn’t study Classics and it doesn’t pretend to be an academic lecture. It’s smart, funny and accessible, and she knows her stuff (she’s written very good books on the Greek myths - not textbooks though im
afraid).

I really like it. It’s my top choice to listen to last thing (apart from the grisly ones). I’ve learnt lots and it’s entertaining, with a feminist angle and she has a lovely voice. What’s not to like?