PODCAST · history
Speaking to the Dead
by Doug Rooney and Will Stafford
Welcome to Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead!
Episodes
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The Last Emperor of China episode 1: Context
Will and Douglas are back with not just a new episode but the first Speaking to the Dead series. We look at the eventful life of Pu Yi the last Emperor of China. In this first episode, the background to his life and his selection as Emperor are discussed.
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Death, Empire and the Stars: 7 Unusual Christmases
Welcome to a holiday special episode of Speaking to the Dead. In this episode, Doug tells Will and the liseners about 7 unusual Christmas's throughout history. What is the worst Christmas there ever was? What about the best present ever given? Find out here!
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10 Pretenders: Coronation special
In this episode we run down ten modern pretenders to the throne. Originally recorded as a spare episode to release in case of emergency. We bring it to you now in time for the coronation of King Charles the third. Look out for a pretender to one of his thrones!
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The Book of Mormons
Welcome to the 18th episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we discuss the book of Mormon and the interesting story of it's author Joseph Smith.
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The Worlds Oldest Story
How old is the worlds oldest story? Here we talk about the potentialy 30,000 year old creation story of Budj Bim. In this episode, we consider for the first time a work of oral history. If you would like to listen to a recent telling you can find Tim Church's version here:...
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Winter Visitors: New Year Cheer, Christmas Gifters, and Children Eaters
In this holiday special we introduce 10 winter visitors from across Europe and the world. Learn about witches who leave candy, Icelandic candle thieves, and how surprisingly common it is to be at risk of being eaten rather than getting coal if your naughty!
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Robert Owen, Father of British Socialism
Welcome to the 16th episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we meet Robert Owen mostly remembered for his New Lanarkshire factory. We see…
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Hrotsvitha and the Original Christian Rock
Hrotsvitha was an amazing figure, the first recorded playwright of medieval Europe, one of the first Germanic historians, a poet, and writer. But she was also a great example of censoring media to meet the christian morals with a very medieval twist.
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Mary Rowlandson And America's First Best Seller
Welcome to the 14th episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode we consider the memoir of Mary Rowlandson and her experience after being taken...
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Sundara Row and Revolutionary Geometry
Welcome to the eleventh episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we learn about the inventive textbook of Sundara Row, how it influences…
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The Calamitous Life of Peter Abelard
Welcome to the eleventh episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we hear all the calamities that befall poor Peter Abelard, his eventful and...
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Histories Most Disappointing Sons
Join us for a bonus episode of speaking to the dead where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford consider, now that father's day is behind us, the sons in history that have most disappointed their parents.
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The Last Queen of Hawaii
Welcome to the eleventh episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we join Queen Lili'uokalani as she tries to preserve the independence of her...
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From one King to another, the letters of Kamaahmaah
Welcome to the tenth episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode we interrogate Kamaahmaah about his military prowess in the takeover of the whole...
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The Ancient Roman Wedding Advice
Welcome to the ninth episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, Will makes the dubious choice of turning to the ancient Roman stoic Gaius…
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A Chinese Diplomat goes to Angkor Wat
Welcome to the eighth episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! We are joined by Zhou Daguan to hear his occasionally unbelievable record of the Khmer Empire at...
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Relationship Advice from Medieval Nubia
Welcome to the seventh episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode we travel to medieval Nubia to meet with the father of Jak who has some...
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Alcuin, Lindisfarne and the Vikings
Welcome to the sixth episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode join us as we talk to Alcuin as he complains about men not being men anymore, the...
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The first carol, a dying wish, and good King Wenceslas (Christmas special)
Join us for a bonus episode of speaking to the dead where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford trade stories of three (or maybe four) carols from different times and places.
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The Lionman and the Reach of Our Imagination
Welcome to the fifth episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we are joined by the sculptor of the Lionman. In our first consideration of a...
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The Maori Magna Carta or The Treaty of Waitangi
Welcome to the fourth episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we are joined by the translator and writer of the Treaty of Waitangi. We…
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Witches, Fairies, Ghosts, and Mary (Halloween Special)
Join us for a bonus episode of speaking to the dead where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford trade stories of the supernatural and the impact of supernatural beliefs on our lives.
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Theano and the Early Pythagoreans
Welcome to the third episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we are joined by Theano, an early disciple of Pythagoras, to hear what the…
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The Black Death
Welcome to the second episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we are joined by Gabriele de Mussis author of the Historia de Morbo, the tragic...
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The Sumerian Story of the First Text
Welcome to the first episode of Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead! In this episode, we start with the Sumerian story of the inversion of writing.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead!
HOSTED BY
Doug Rooney and Will Stafford
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Speaking to the Dead have?
Speaking to the Dead currently has 25 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Speaking to the Dead about?
Welcome to Speaking to the Dead. Where Doug Rooney and Will Stafford read historic texts and put them in conversation with the modern-day. The only rule: the author must be dead!
How often does Speaking to the Dead release new episodes?
Speaking to the Dead has 25 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Speaking to the Dead?
You can listen to Speaking to the Dead on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Speaking to the Dead?
Speaking to the Dead is created and hosted by Doug Rooney and Will Stafford.
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