Speaking to the Dead

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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 captive by the Algonquin. We consider how her story is coloured by the Puritan world view, why captivity narratives were so successful, and what insights the book can give us into the unwritten history of the period.

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 spread far and wide, and why the American editors removed reference to an Indian mathematician and added references to their own work.

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 long-lasting relationship with Heloise, and ask if everyone you meet is awful might that say something about you?

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.

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 island home in the face of American imperialism.

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 of Hawaii, uniting the kingdoms under his rule. We also wonder about his change in tone to King George as he become more secure in his position.

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 Musonius Rufus for wedding advice. Learn about the truly shocking extent of patriarchy in Rome and how Rufus offers for his time a radical view of harmony in marriage.

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 the height of its power.

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 relationship advice for a friend. To see the letter we read and many more go to: http://www.medievalnubia.info

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 need for virtue, and whether God is sending the Vikings.

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.

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 piece of art, we delve into a world of ice and lions as we consider the amazing creative work of the iceage.

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 consider the role of translators, British imperialism, and how our attitudes to treaties have changed.

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.

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 Greeks have got wrong about her cult.

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 first European account of the black death.

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.