What TV Never Told You About Ancient History with Neil Laird

What if ancient history was actually a lot more accepting, and a lot more gay, than the history books ever let on?Neil Laird is a multiple Emmy-nominated director and executive producer who's spent nearly three decades making historical documentaries for Discovery, BBC, PBS, History Channel, and National Geographic, filming in over 70 countries. After years of uncovering what TV and textbooks got wrong about the ancient world, he began writing comedic novels inspired by his time in the field, starting with Prime Time Travelers.In this episode, Neil shares what same-sex life actually looked like in ancient Egypt, Rome, and other cultures, compared to how it's typically portrayed today. He opens up about the real story behind making historical TV documentaries, what it's been like traveling the world as an openly gay filmmaker, often in difficult locations, and how streaming and AI are reshaping the future of the genre he helped build.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:Same-sex life in ancient Egypt, Rome, and beyondThe real story behind making TV documentariesTraveling the world as an out filmmaker in difficult locationsHow streaming changed TV for viewers and creators alikeWhether AI threatens the future of documentary productionTurning decades of TV experience into comedic historical fictionCONNECT WITH NEIL LAIRD:Website: (linked on his profile)IMDb: full list of his showsFacebook, LinkedIn & TikTok: linked on his profile