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T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story

Christine Laskowski

A limited series podcast devoted to sixth century Byzantium and the greatest recorded love story on earth — that between Empress Theodora and her husband, the Emperor Justinian. 

  1. 14/10/2025

    Silk and Islam

    Justinian catches a big break after a certain textile secret gets out, while Belisarius' reputation undergoes a brief revamp. A succession competition heats up and another great love story emerges, as we say goodbye to Procopius and this cast of characters in order to introduce the Middle Ages and, in many respects, Europe as we know it. All 12 of T&J's original, end-of-episode songs are also available in one album! Buy T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story (Original Podcast Soundtrack) on Apple Music and iTunes and/or stream on Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen!

    1h 15m

  2. 16/07/2025

    Overture

    Designed to be an experimental compliment to the Trailer, as the podcast series nears its finale, I wanted to collect the mnemonic tags, parodies, sound effects, foley and quotes (most but not all) from the proverbial T&J storytelling garden — to show how much it's grown.  All 12 of T&J's original, end-of-episode songs are also available in one album! Buy T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story (Original Podcast Soundtrack) on Apple Music and iTunes and/or stream on Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen!

    4 min

  3. 19/06/2025

    Raised in the Shade

    Eunuchs were prominent figures in T&J era Byzantium, and the most notable by far was the general, Narses. But for those whose only touchstone for eunuch representation has been the character, Varys, from the HBO hit series 'Game of Thrones,' consider this a masterclass in eunuch culture and physiology. All 12 of T&J's original, end-of-episode songs are also available in one album! Buy T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story (Original Podcast Soundtrack) on Apple Music and iTunes and/or stream on Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen!

    1h 11m

  4. 07/05/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Sex and Sexuality with Steven D. Smith

    What can the epigrammatic form tell us about how sixth century Byzantines thought about sex and same-sex attraction? Were they indeed kinkier than their predecessors? Steven D. Smith is the author of Greek Epigram and Byzantine Culture: Gender, Desire, and Denial in the Age of Justinian and takes us on a titillating tour.

    50 min

  5. 10/04/2025

    The Plague Pt. 2

    In a total antique PR disaster, the Justinianic Plague a.k.a. the bubonic plague a.k.a. the world's very first pandemic reduces the Roman Empire's population by about half and reverses some pretty ossified norms — sound familiar? We meet three Johns (and thanks to Theodora, lose one) along with an OG sea monster. All 12 of T&J's original, end-of-episode songs are also available in one album! Buy T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story (Original Podcast Soundtrack) on Apple Music and iTunes and/or stream on Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen!

    1h 10m

  6. 11/03/2025

    The Plague Pt. 1

    A huge swath of the world goes dim for a year and a half after a mysterious haze covers Eurasia's skies. The abrupt dip in climate creates some pretty ideal conditions for the bubonic plague. Meanwhile, T&J set out to restore the Roman Empire with less-than-desirable results. All 12 of T&J's original, end-of-episode songs are also available in one album! Buy T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story (Original Podcast Soundtrack) on Apple Music and iTunes and/or stream on Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen!

    1h 3m

  7. 15/01/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Cuisine with Andrew Dalby

    From the impact of humoral theory (black bile, anyone?) to a typical breakfast in January, we go on a delectable journey exploring how 6th century Romans — and even Persians — ate their meals with Dr. Andrew Dalby, author of Tastes of Byzantium: The Cuisine of a Legendary Empire.

    43 min

  8. 19/12/2024

    Solomon, I Have Outdone Thee

    The Nika Riots leave Constantinople a tabula rasa for Justinian's masterpiece cathedral, the Hagia Sophia. Although, not without petty rivalries, starchitects and a shrewd Hebrew king's influence along the way.  All 12 of T&J's original, end-of-episode songs are also available in one album! Buy T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story (Original Podcast Soundtrack) on Apple Music and iTunes and/or stream on Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen!

    1h 6m
See All (19)

Trailer

About

A limited series podcast devoted to sixth century Byzantium and the greatest recorded love story on earth — that between Empress Theodora and her husband, the Emperor Justinian. 

Information

  • Creator
    Christine Laskowski
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story
  • Show Website
    T&J: A Roman Empire Love Story
  • Provider
    CHRISTINE LASKOWSKI