What's Your Map?

Oculi Mundi
  • 4.3 (9)
  • History
  • Updated Biweekly

From historians, scientists and writers to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. Winner of the Gold award at the British Podcast Awards 2025 in the Education category! Join award-winning expert Professor Jerry Brotton, as in each episode he invites a guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and stories behind it. So if you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - What’s your map? What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique maps and atlases. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen. Follow the official Instagram @oculimundimaps to learn more about the collection. For press enquiries, contact podcast@oculi-mundi.com

  1. 1d ago

    At Doom’s Gate with John Romero

    In this episode, Jerry will be joined by pioneer of the video game industry John Romero. John is best known as a co-founder of id Software, and responsible for designing over 130 games, including the iconic Wolfenstein 3D (1992), DOOM (1993) and Quake (1996) - to name but a few!  Together, Jerry and John will be stepping into the map of ‘Hangar E1M1’, the legendary opening level from his iconic 1993 first-person shooter DOOM. John's groundbreaking cartographic creations and level design principles for the game represented a pivotal gamechanger for digital spatial mapping.  They discuss how introducing non-linear layouts, and intricate floor plans and even the access through to other in-game environments, John’s work fundamentally shifted game design away from simple two-dimensional mazes, resulting in the vastly increased architectural complexity and immersive spatial design seen in modern 3D video game environments. Follow along with this episode at oculi-mundi.com/john-romeroFrom historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries.  Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it. If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - what’s YOUR map? The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest. Image detail: ©1993 id Software, Inc./John Romero All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

    At Doom’s Gate with John Romero

  2. Sep 29

    Rounding the Cape with Patricia Seed

    In this episode, Jerry meets with Patricia Seed, an American professor of history at the University of California, Irvine. Patricia has spent her career mapping the earliest voyages of European ‘discovery’ that transformed our world. Specialising in the history of cartography and navigation, she is an authority on latitude!  Together they discuss the ‘Ulm Ptolemy’, a landmark world map in The Sunderland Collection, so called for its inclusion in ‘Cosmographia’ (1482) which was published in Ulm by Lienhart Holle and based directly on the geography of Claudius Ptolemy (2nd Century CE).  This map was created six years before the Portuguese rounded the tip of Africa in 1488 and offers a fascinating snapshot on the eve of a global revolution. Using the map as a touchstone, Patricia and Jerry will talk about the key developments in late fifteen-century maritime navigation and the significance of voyages by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias (1450-1500).  We also hear from Patricia about how this brought about a whole new world view and acted as the catalyst for one of the darkest periods of world history - the Transatlantic slave trade.  Follow along with this episode at oculi-mundi.com/patricia-seed From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries.  Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it. If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - what’s YOUR map? The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest. Image detail: ©The Sunderland Collection All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

    Rounding the Cape with Patricia Seed

  3. Sep 15

    Mapping Albion with Zakia Sewell

    In this episode, host Jerry sits down with broadcaster, producer, writer and DJ, Zakia Sewell. Together they discuss her latest book, Finding Albion, which chronicles her journey across the British Isles to explore its seasonal myths, enduring legends, and deep-rooted rituals. Zakia shares the map featured in the book, created with artist Alex Merry - a playful illustrative map of England, Scotland and Wales pinpointing the sites encountered on her quest to find folkloric Albion. Jerry and Zakia also take a look at an early seventeenth century work in the Ex Carta collection of literary maps: ‘Poly Olbion’ by Michael Drayton (1613), an allegorical poem about England and Wales which is accompanied by a series of whimsical copper-engraved county maps. Tracing back to fourth-century BCE Greek geographers, 'Albion' is recorded as the earliest name for Britain. The term traditionally translates to 'white land' (derived from the Latin 'albus') which the Romans attributed to Dover's striking chalk cliffs, but as Zakia reveals, the name carries another origin story! Follow along with this episode at oculi-mundi.com/zakia-sewell From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries.  Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it. If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - what’s YOUR map? The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest. Image detail: Map of Albion ©Alex Merry/Zakia Sewell. Image courtesy of the Artist, and Hodder Press. All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

    Mapping Albion with Zakia Sewell

  4. Sep 1

    Travelling Backwards with Jost Schmid

    In the first episode of series six, Jerry speaks with Dr. Jost Schmid, the Head of Maps and Panoramas at the Zentralbibliothek Zürich (Zürich Central Library). Jost is a specialist in historical geography and this year marks his 20th year working at the Library! He has chosen a 500-year-old map that is both one of the earliest printed maps bound into a bible and the first map to be printed in Zürich, Switzerland.  The map, which has been printed in mirror image, depicts the biblical stories of the Old Testament set in the Holy Land - a region in Western Asia covering modern-day Syria, Palestine and Israel, and parts of Jordan and Egypt. Crafted by Swiss humanist scholar, cartographer and prominent figure in the Protestant Reform Joachim Vadian (1484-1551), this remarkable map draws directly from a six-sheet original by Renaissance painter and printmaker Lucas Cranach the Elder (1473-1553). Printed by the renowned Swiss publisher Christopher Froschauer (1490-1564) for inclusion in his 1515 Bible, it stands as one of three known surviving copies!  In their conversation, Jost and Jerry explore the convergence of real and fantastical cartography, maps of sacred spaces, and the emergence and evolution of borders in early mapmaking. They also discuss the imaginary realms depicted in legendary tales, and how maps served as useful tools on metaphysical pilgrimages or journeys. Follow along with this episode at oculi-mundi.com/jost-schmid From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it.If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - what’s YOUR map? The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest. Image detail: ©Zentralbibliothek Zurich All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

    Travelling Backwards with Jost Schmid

  5. Jul 30

    What's Your Map? Live at Hay Festival: David Olusoga, Emma Jane Unsworth and Tim Marshall

    In this special episode, live from Hay Festival 2026, Jerry was joined by former diplomatic editor at Sky News and author Tim Marshall; award winning historian, broadcaster and author David Olusoga OBE; and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter and novelist Emma Jane Unsworth. To explore the maps as you listen visit Oculi-Mundi.com/wym-live-hay-2026 From historians, scientists and writers to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. Join us in this award winning podcast (Gold in Education at the British Podcast Awards 2025) as Jerry Brotton invites a guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and stories behind it. If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - What’s your map? What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique maps and atlases. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen. Producer: Emma Jones (Hay Festival)Recording: George Tarplee (Hay Festival)Technical: Nia Thomson, Lewis Jones (Hay Festival)Music: Eric de Broche des Combes Animation: João "Daxter" Pinheiro CamachoAll views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection, Hay Festival or Whistledown Productions.

    What's Your Map? Live at Hay Festival: David Olusoga, Emma Jane Unsworth and Tim Marshall

  6. Jun 30

    Here Be Dragons! The plot thickens with Cressida Cowell

    In this episode we have a roar-some treat: our intrepid host Jerry Brotton journeys to the legendary Barbaric Archipelago with best-selling children's author and illustrator Cressida Cowell. Cressida’s chosen map shows the landscape she created for her acclaimed children’s series, How to Train Your Dragon (2009-2015), which charts the adventures of the young Viking, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his dragons Toothless and Windwalker. This map comes from her latest book How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike (June 2026). We hear about Cressida's childhood summers spent on the wild and remote Scottish island of Little Colonsay, off the Isle of Mull. She reflects on the creative process - the joy of getting lost and the act of creation - and we hear about some of the influential literary maps that shape her creative vision… we also learn a spot of Dragonese! To explore the map as you listen, visit: https://oculi-mundi.com/cressida-cowell From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries.  Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it. If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - what’s YOUR map? The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest. Image detail: ©Cressida Cowell / Hachette UK All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

    Here Be Dragons! The plot thickens with Cressida Cowell

  7. Jun 16

    Sea Queens and Desert Ants: Celestial Navigation with David Barrie

    In this episode, Jerry meets master navigator, sailing expert and award-winning author David Barrie. Together, they discuss a British Admiralty chart of the North Atlantic Ocean that tracks David’s incredible 1973 Transatlantic voyage aboard a 35-foot yacht named Sæcwen, from Halifax in Nova Scotia east across the Ocean to Falmouth in Cornwall, UK We learn about David’s fascination with celestial navigation and the remarkable optical instrument called a sextant that he and his crew mates used during the 24-day adventure to find their positions at sea. A sextant is an extraordinary optical instrument that identifies the angle between the horizon and a celestial body - such as the Sun, the Moon or a star - to assist in the determining of latitude and longitude at sea.  During the episode, we also hear about David's transition from the field of experimental psychology to his exploration of animal behaviour and wayfinding, and a glimpse into the world of supernavigators. To explore the map as you listen, visit: https://oculi-mundi.com/david-barrie From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries.  Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it. If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - what’s YOUR map? The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest. Image courtesy of David Barrie. All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

    Sea Queens and Desert Ants: Celestial Navigation with David Barrie

  8. Jun 2

    The Craft of Globemaking with Jonathan Wright

    In this episode, Jerry meets master craftsperson, globemaker and conservator Jonathan Wright. Jonathan brings with him a twelve-inch celestial globe produced by Scottish firm James Kirkwood & Sons from 1810. For Jonathan, this globe marks a significant career milestone: it was the first one he ever restored. In his discussion with Jerry, we hear about some of the intricate conservation methods he used, the challenges he encountered - and the rather peculiar items he discovered inside the globe… Jerry also explores Jonathan's professional journey. We hear about his personal motivations, dream commissions, and the artistic and historical influences that shape his work and practice. Above all, Jonathan reflects on the profound personal meaning for him in keeping this essential traditional craft alive. To explore the globe as you listen, visit: https://oculi-mundi.com/jonathan-wright From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries.  Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it. If you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - what’s YOUR map? The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest. Image detail: ©Jonathan Wright All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

    The Craft of Globemaking with Jonathan Wright
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

From historians, scientists and writers to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. Winner of the Gold award at the British Podcast Awards 2025 in the Education category! Join award-winning expert Professor Jerry Brotton, as in each episode he invites a guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and stories behind it. So if you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - What’s your map? What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique maps and atlases. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen. Follow the official Instagram @oculimundimaps to learn more about the collection. For press enquiries, contact podcast@oculi-mundi.com

Information

  • Creator
    Oculi Mundi
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Oculi Mundi
  • Show Website
    What's Your Map?

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