Speaking to the Dead

Doug Rooney and Will Stafford
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Speaking to the Dead Podcast

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!

  1. 14 MAR

    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.

    41 min

  2. 21/12/2023

    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!

    42 min

  3. 01/05/2023

    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!

    46 min

  4. 11/03/2023

    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.

    55 min

  5. 31/01/2023

    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: https://www.monash.edu/arts/monash-indigenous-studies/wunungu-awara/animations/budj-bim

    28 min

  6. 22/12/2022

    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!

    35 min

  7. 08/12/2022

    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 what he has to say about the treatment of the poor in his time, his failure to speak to those in the working class as equals, and what if anything is his lasting legacy.

    54 min

  8. 02/11/2022

    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.

    50 min
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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!

Information

  • Creator
    Doug Rooney and Will Stafford
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Doug Rooney and Will Stafford
  • Show Website
    Speaking to the Dead

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