Episodes

  • Storytime: ARACHNE - Web of Truth

    Storytime: ARACHNE - Web of Truth
    Apr 27 2026
    To receive the illustrated guide to each main episode and an invitation to the live Q&As (on Thursday 7th May at 7pm), become a monthly supporter! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Welcome to a new outpost of the Podyssey Empire - PODYSSEY STORYTIME. Basically, while researching the main episodes, I stumble on many other myths - MANY other myths - that are really touching or funny or outright bizarre. They don’t necessarily warrant hours of deep analysis, but they are absolutely worth sharing. And since I cannot retain an infinite amount of information but I love giving you more content, I will put these out, as I find them, in this short, story-only format. Now, on to this weekend’s myth, the story of Arachne, the talented Lydian weaver, who challenged the Goddess Athena to a contest, sort of by accident, and wound up with quite the itsy-bitsy problem. *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** (COVER ART: Nikolaos Gyzis/Νικόλαος Γκύζης, "Η Αράχνη/Arachne", 1884 - Εθνική Πινακοθήκη/National Gallery, Αθήνα/Athens) (MUSIC: Roussel: "Le Festin de l'Araignee", Jean Martinon, 1953; Canteloube: "Lo Fiolairé" (The Spinner), Madeleine Grey, 1930; Debussy: "The Maid with The Flaxen Hair", Laurindo Almeida, 1964; Verdi: Requiem "Des Irae", Tullio Serafin, 1939; "That Old Black Magic", Beryl Davis with the Stephane Grappelli Quartet, 1943.) Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • BONUS: Europa Live Q&A - Of Ancient Tax Havens and Flying Penises

    BONUS: Europa Live Q&A - Of Ancient Tax Havens and Flying Penises
    Apr 18 2026
    To receive the illustrated guide to each episode and an invitation to the live Q&A on Thursday 16th April at 8pm, become a monthly supporter! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** From a Phoenician Princess kidnapped from the beach, to Nazi experiments trying to revive the Zeus-Bull; from victim to mother of the Minoan civilisation; from the Catholic Church, to the euro currency... The myth of the abduction of Europa is, in many ways, the most consequential one for modernity. It is the source of our sense of Westerness. The link to a past that acts as a decryption key, that turns a series of points into an arc. It is the origin story of our view of the world in which we live. ... The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other. Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new! ADDITIONAL MUSIC Meyerbeer: L'Africaine - "Selika's Death", Denise Monteil, 1965 "Cows Don't Fly", Pearl Trio, 1947 "Don't Fence Me In", Lee Monti's Tutones, 1951 *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • 2.4 EUROPA II: How to invent a continent

    2.4 EUROPA II: How to invent a continent
    Apr 11 2026
    To receive the illustrated guide to each episode and an invitation to the live Q&A on Thursday 16th April at 8pm, become a monthly supporter! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** From a Phoenician Princess kidnapped from the beach, to Nazi experiments trying to revive the Zeus-Bull; from victim to mother of the Minoan civilisation; from the Catholic Church, to the euro currency... The myth of the abduction of Europa is, in many ways, the most consequential one for modernity. It is the source of our sense of Westerness. The link to a past that acts as a decryption key, that turns a series of points into an arc. It is the origin story of our view of the world in which we live. ... The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other. Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • 2.3 EUROPA I: Quite a lot of bull

    2.3 EUROPA I: Quite a lot of bull
    Apr 9 2026
    To receive the illustrated guide to each episode and an invitation to the live Q&A on Thursday 16th April at 8pm, become a monthly supporter! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** From a Phoenician Princess kidnapped from the beach, to Nazi experiments trying to revive the Zeus-Bull; from victim to mother of the Minoan civilisation; from the Catholic Church, to the euro currency... The myth of the abduction of Europa is, in many ways, the most consequential one for modernity. It is the source of our sense of Westerness. The link to a past that acts as a decryption key, that turns a series of points into an arc. It is the origin story of our view of the world in which we live. ... The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other. Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • BONUS: Pandora Live Q&A

    BONUS: Pandora Live Q&A
    Mar 8 2026
    *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Make sure you are on ko-fi as a monthly subscriber, with the right email, so you get an invite to these LIVE sessions every other Thursday, as well as an illustrated guide to each episode. ... The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other. Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new! MUSIC Red River Dave, "I wish I had my first wife back", 1944 Richard Wagner, Lohengrin: "Mein lieber Schwan", Lauritz Melchior, 1938 *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos Illustrated Guide design by Daniel Block A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • 2.2 PANDORA: Worst. Unboxing. Video. Ever.

    2.2 PANDORA: Worst. Unboxing. Video. Ever.
    Feb 25 2026
    To receive the illustrated guide to each episode and an invitation to the live Q&A on Thursday 5th March at 8pm, become a monthly supporter! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Pandora’s tale demands deconstruction, because it makes no sense, even on its own terms. When a story lacks internal logic, one must look for the external factors pressing on it, twisting it out of shape. ... The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other. Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Bonus PROMETHEUS: Live Q & A

    Bonus PROMETHEUS: Live Q & A
    Feb 25 2026
    *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** What is there to be said about Prometheus that has not been said already, by voices much more illustrious than mine - from Plato to Goethe and Aeschylus to Mary Shelley? Quite a lot it turns out. This is the beauty of myths - they wrap around each present differently, always revealing different things. Make sure you are on ko-fi as a monthly subscriber, with the right email, so you get an invite to these LIVE sessions every other Thursday, as well as an illustrated guide to each episode. ... The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other. Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • PROMETHEUS: I Don't Want to Set The World On Fire

    PROMETHEUS: I Don't Want to Set The World On Fire
    Feb 8 2026
    *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** What is there to be said about Prometheus that has not been said already, by voices much more illustrious than mine - from Plato to Goethe and Aeschylus to Mary Shelley? Quite a lot it turns out. This is the beauty of myths - they wrap around each present differently, always revealing different things. Make sure you are on ko-fi as a monthly subscriber, with the right email, so you get an interview to next week's LIVE episode on Prometheus. Thursday the 12th, at 8pm. ... The myths, tales, and concepts of ancient Greece echo and reach into every aspect of modern life. Often misunderstood, frequently romanticised, and sometimes deliberately twisted - to understand their origins and truth is to get a real glimpse into the universal themes that connect us to the past and each other. Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its influence, juice it for its wisdom, reimagine, update and put it back together - all shiny and new! *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Written and presented by Alex Andreou Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Amanda Potter, and Dr Ruth Smith Music by Marianna Sangita Artwork by Simona Kanellou Additional research by Kos Mantzakos A Cooler Heads podcast *** SUPPORT PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 28 mins