Working Over Time

This episode's topic is so literally monumental, we brought in three experts to help us bring it to life. We're going back more than 3,000 years, to New Kingdom Egypt, to visit two of the job sites that contributed to the production of some of the ancient world's most iconic monuments. We start with the dynamic duo of Dr Maria Nilsson and John Ward, Nat Geo Explorers and archaeologists who have spent over ten years uncovering the secrets of Gebel el Silsila, the little-known quarry site that supplied the stone for pretty much every major temple you'd see along a ‘hit parade' Nile River tour. Then, joined by Egyptologist Sofia Aziz, we zero in on the Valley of the Kings site, Deir el Medina, where extraordinarily detailed archaeological and historical records reveal the lives of one group of ancient Egyptian construction workers in astonishing detail. Think worker strikes and social media are a modern phenomenon? Think again. As with so many things, it seems the Egyptians did it first. So, let's tread the dust of two of their most prolific building sites. Like an Egyptian, of course.

In this episode, Karen talks with Master Mason Brad Steele about the ancient craft of building in stone, from its ancient origins through the medieval guilds which continue to provide fraternal and educational support to ensure its survival into the future.  

Karen explores the history and evolution of licensed brands and “intellectual property,” and hears about the latest IP trends in heritage attractions and art museums. Join the conversation with guest Georgina Dorothy, archaeologist and historian turned heritage IP executive at ARTiSTORY.

In this episode, Karen talks with actor, director, and theatre historian, Dr Kyle A Thomas. Join us for a peek behind the curtain of European theatre in the Middle Ages. Spoiler alert: piety wasn't the only value on display in medieval relgious dramas!

As we move through some holiday down time, celebrate with this WoT classic episode. It's the story of the department store, or mall, Santa - the origins of the job, who were the big players, and its lasting legacy on the industry of holiday joy. Join us as we talk with Dr. Sheila Hoffman, and hear the tale of the very first Department Store/Mall Santa, in a fireside story with Working Over Time Producer/Writer Aidan Laliberte. (recorded over zoom)

In today's episode, which is Part I of II, we examine blacksmithing from the perspectives of the legends and folklore forged from the same fires as the revolutionary iron tools that so fundamentally shaped human experience. What better way to dive into this topic than with our guest, Mark Norman, whose own podcast, The Folklore Podcast, has enjoyed over 1.25 million downloads to date, fueled by compelling content and, of course, a stellar host. With that, let's gather around the forge.  

Halloween *bonus* Working Right Now episode, with returning guest, Isabella Connor, 17th-19thc New England historian and writer. Isabella loves Salem, and Halloween. Just not together. Tune in to find out why.

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “public art?" What is it? Who is it for? What is its purpose, anyway? In this episode we explore these questions, and more, through the lens of ancient Greco-Roman sculpture with archaeologist and educator Laura Aitken-Burt. Spoiler alert: the place and influence of state-sanctioned art strikes us as one of those “universals” of human society, past and present.   

For much of human history, finding shelter was something everyone did on their own, to survive. But with increasing labor specialization in complex societies, the act of designing and building structures evolved into a distinct blend of art and science, becoming the discipline we know today as architecture.  But when did this job, as such, become a thing? Today's guest, Viviano Villarreal-Bueron, has a ripping good take on that, replete with drama, intrigue, and bruised egos aplenty. So - hard hats on - we're headed to the eternal magnificence of Renaissance Rome.

Classical historian and baker-in-residence, Dr Owen Rees, walks Karen through the ancient past and present pleasures of breadmaking. 

We're in the throes of a new space race, and it's a whole new ballgame from the 1960s Cold War version, when the world's superpowers duked it out to see who could be the first to send a man into space. Fast-forward to today, and we're in the wild west of a “space tourism” race. The SpaceX Inspiration4 mission, slated to lift off TODAY, September 15, 2021, promises to up the ante by launching the first all-civilian mission to orbit the earth, with the express goal of broadening access to space. And this one hits close to home, since Karen had the pleasure and privilege of hosting its Mission Pilot, Dr Sian Proctor, on the podcast last year. To hear more about Sian's personal journey to the stars, and the broader context of how women and people of color have fared in the evolution of space travel from the 1960s to the present, tune in to Working Over Time, episode 7. “They Promised Her The Moon:” The Hidden Women of the Space Race.  

In this episode, Karen is joined by Sam Wilson and Jem Duducu to take a look at the job and role of the medieval knight. Listen in as they compare the enduring myth of knights and the chivalric code to the brutal reality. 

For decades now, the independent toymaker has been eclipsed by corporate toy marketers in a position to fund defense-department-sized ad budgets across print, radio, TV, and, today, the internet bannerscape. In this episode, we have a conversation with thoroughly modern indie toymaker Bobby Vala, giving us hope that this hopelessly stacked landscape is shifting, finally, as savvy small operators find ways to harness the power of story to hook and retain players, and to build authentic grassroots fan engagement, through the leveling effects of social media and the internet more generally, as a two-way communications channel. This is surely good news for players everywhere, from the smallest child to the youngest-at-heart “kidult.” 

In this episode we talk with Nigel Hetherington, Historian and Agent. Nigel is the head of Past Preservers, and production partner of this Podcast. If you've wanted to learn about getting into television presenting as an expert, this is the episode for you. Join us for a behind the scenes look at both the podcast, and unscripted, factual television. Grab a drink, and we'll see you in the breakroom.

Have you ever seen an ad - on TV, in a magazine, or online - that was so clever it made you laugh out loud?  Or just hit so close to home it took you by surprise?  What about an ad that was so unbelievably “off” that you couldn't believe anyone ever thought it was a good idea, much less got it greenlit and broadcast into the great collective consciousness? (that Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad, anyone….?). If you've ever wondered where this peculiarly capitalist form of communication came from, wondered why certain marketing campaigns “work” while others crash and burn, or just been curious about the complex psychology behind getting people to open their wallets… well, this is the episode for you. Popular historian and old friend Jem Duducu brings us to the inner sanctum of New York City's 1920s “Ad Men,” and traces their legacy straight on through to today's consumer economy, predicated on universal social media channels that paradoxically target individual communications more precisely than ever before.  So, grab your fedora and follow me onto the swinging streets of New York City in the Jazz Age, to learn how we got here, and, as always,  to think about where we might be headed in the future.

This episode takes us to some of the deepest, darkest and most awe-inspiring settings planet Earth has to offer. We’re doing a deep dive into, deep diving, as it happens. Specifically, the perilous quest to discover and map unexplored caves in our oceans’ harshest, most remote corners. Our guide is the intrepid Jill Heinerth, a renowned underwater explorer and cave mapper whose projects span decades, and whose insistence that discovery is the driving force of human advancement is an inspiration to us all. Jill’s taking us back to the earliest days of her profession - that’s all the way back to 350 BCE - when ancient divers employed astonishingly complex tools and techniques to explore the oceans whose surfaces were inscrutable, but whose depths yielded deep sea resources and the intangible rewards of piercing that watery veil, to behold an entirely different world. We’ll also examine how the modern profession of underwater exploration is transforming our understanding of what really lies beneath the water that covers over 70% of Earth’s surface, and how what’s -down there- relates to what’s happening -up here-, past, present, and future. So, strap on those “rebreathers” and join our plunge into the vast, uncharted seas. With Jill leading the way, it’s sure to be an adventure to remember.

Welcome to the emergent beauty industry of the early 20th century: a veritable Wild West that played fast and loose with the latest scientific darling,  a new element called radium,  which (spoiler alert) exposed users to concerning levels of radiation. Historian Lucy Jane Santos is with us today, to dish on how radium became the secret sauce in a dizzying range of beauty and personal care products, and remained so even after the health hazards were well-understood. So - Without further ado, let’s learn all about the killer cosmetics of the early 20th century beauty industry. Music by Max Richter

The current shifting season is the perfect backdrop for our first episode of the season:Greco-Roman Winemakers of the ancient world. Because - who doesn’t need a drink after the last decade *cough cough* We mean "year." That said, people have had lots of reasons to wine (and whine) since - well - ever. And today, we have Dr. Emlyn Dodd, a Greco-Roman Archaeologist who’s gonna take us through the ancient, fascinating, and ever-timely traditions and technologies around wine cultivation, as practiced in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.(recorded over zoom) Music by Rolfe Kent

On today’s episode - our last of this season - we’re addressing an age-old question: “Privateer or Pirate?” Ok, maybe not age old, exactly, but it’s a question I didn’t even know to ask until I spoke with maritime archaeologist Neil Dobson, whose work spans decades of deep-water shipwreck exploration and recovery. In his all his years of studying ships and their legendary captains, none has captured Neil’s imagination, and heart quite so much as that of the famous Captain William Kidd, who was a “privateer” wrongly convicted as a pirate and, as Washington Irving writes in our opening passage, hanged for his “crimes.” If you’re wondering what the heck a privateer is, how one could be confused with a pirate, and above all, why that would be such a terrible thing in the eyes of the law, you’ve come to the right time machine. So - Hoist the sails! Yo ho ho and a bottle of... beer? Well, that’s what Neil says, anyway. 

For the past 60 years, following the trail blazed by Sputnik, we’ve put thousands of satellites into orbit, looping sentinels that serve critical functions in modern society, transmitting TV and radio signals, tracking the weather, and providing communications and positioning channels that serve a range of military and civilian needs. In this episode, we talk about one such technology, which has transformed everyday life for the 4billion people – nearly half the globe’s population - who use smartphones. That’s the GPS tracking feature which means most of us couldn’t get lost, even if we wanted to; and which is making good old paper maps (the ones you never could fold right anyway) increasingly obsolete. Join Karen as she speaks with guest Richard Easton, who brings a unique viewpoint on the roots of this innovation, having grown up as the son of a Naval Research Laboratories physicist who led the charge in developing America’s first satellites in the 1950s, in the Silicon Valley of its time. So - get those white jackets on, we’re headed to the lab! (recorded over zoom)

Today, we’re going to swim with some of the earliest and most intrepid explorers the world has ever known. We're talking about the brave souls who plunged to the ocean floors, beginning thousands of years ago, as free divers, collecting sponges, pearls, and the stuff to make princely dyes which could be found nowhere else on the planet. The human desire to reach the deep has never waned, but fortunately, the technology to make underwater activities easier and safer has evolved to the point that today, pretty much anyone can acquire the skills to do it, whether for work or pleasure. So take a deep breath, and join Dr. Karen Bellinger in following maritime archaeologist Ziad Morsy down this long, watery path of discovery. (recorded over zoom)Music by rozen

Join Karen and her guest Jem Duducu for a conversation about a unique element of the Ottoman Empire- a central but often misconstrued aspect of this traditional Muslim household - called the harem - and the sometimes surprising influence it had on Ottoman politics. The members of the harem - the sultan’s many wives, concubines, and servants - were enmeshed in a dizzying web of responsibilities and - for those savvy enough - unique opportunities for political maneuvering in a world where the alternative to being attached to the Ottoman ruling machinery was… well, pretty much, yikes. (recorded over zoom)You can listen to Jem's Condensed Histories @: https://shows.acast.com/condensed-histories

In this episode, we take a look at the job of the “Attagirls” female pilots in World War II, which have feet even deeper in history, over a hundred years before, and it’s no exaggeration to say that World War II might well have ended very differently without their courageous contributions. Join us as we speak with archeologist and historian Georgina Dorothy for a memorable trip through time. (recorded over zoom)music by bear mccreary

On this episode, Karen talks with Sofia Aziz, an expert on the thriving business of death and funerary work in Ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom. We’ll cover everything you thought you knew about Egyptian mummification and burial, based on the incredible new biomedical technologies used by Sofia and her colleagues at the University of Manchester’s KNH Centre to learn more about this central concern of an eternally fascinating culture. (recorded over zoom)Follow today's guest on Twitter @SofiaAziz5 & IG @sofia_aziz_We're on Patreon! Learn how to join our community and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/workingovertime

Who’s ready to start this year off with a good old-fashioned, relaxing “Roman rubdown?” Today we welcome returning guest, Tim Moller, to lead us through all the delightful distractions of an ancient Roman bathhouse. From lubing up for massages, poolside dining, shopping, politicking, and public posturing, the Roman bathhouses were central hubs of personal and cultural, as well as economic exchange: They were dim, dank, but also discreet venues where people from all walks of life could mix and mingle, dropping the cares of everyday life along with their togs. So - grab that bikini or speedo, and let’s head in for a well-deserved day of rest and relaxation, ancient Roman style. (recorded on zoom)Music by Joe Hisaishi

It’s the story of the department store, or mall, Santa - the origins of the job, who were the big players, and its lasting legacy on the industry of holiday joy. Join us as we talk with Dr. Sheila Hoffman, and hear the tale of the very first Department Store/Mall Santa, in a fireside story with Working Over Time Producer/Writer Aidan Laliberte. (recorded over zoom)

We’re talking with Dr. Boria Sax about all things alchemy, from its medieval roots to what it actually was, what it represented, and how those in the not-so-distant past could make a heck of a career out of it. First, you’ll need some supplies:  Go grab one part Fiery Dragon, a few Doves of Diana, and seven Eagles of Mercury. Now, mix them together. What do you get? According to a recently discovered manuscript by none other than famed physicist Isaac Newton, you’ve got the basis for the legendary Philosopher’s stone. We'll also hear a little from the journals of a young alchemist in training and some of the patrons he had to deal with. (recorded over zoom)Music by Yasunori Nishiki

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about archaeology and an artifact class that I nerd out over every time - pottery! We’re trekking back to 17th-century Liverpool with Dr. Liz Stewart, who researches the work and lives of the pottery artisans who lived in Rainford, a nearby village that played a key role in the emergence of Liverpool as a major international port. And you thought the Beatles were the first big thing out of Liverpool... Time to fire up the kiln and get right to it! (recorded over zoom)Music by Yo Yo Ma

We’re riding the time machine straight back to Ancient China, to discuss the origins and evolution of one of the world’s oldest industries: Tea. Today’s show is all about the work of ancient Chinese tea farmers, guided by Dr. Justin Hill - author, historian, and tea aficionado (Writer; Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny & The Drink and Dream Teahouse). We’ll cover what was - and still is - required to source and prepare a dizzying array of tea varieties. And we’ll explore the origins of the world’s first global commodity, and its continued cultural importance in China, and around the world. So - grab a nice warm cup of your favorite infusion, sit back, and enjoy our ancient tales of tea. (recorded over zoom)Music by Samuel Kim

Today we have an appointment with the doctor in Ancient Rome, when the practice of medicine was a little bit different than it is today. Antibiotics, we love you! But, despite their less sophisticated understanding of medical science, the tools and techniques of Ancient Romans hit surprisingly close to the mark, in terms of human anatomy and its ailments. In fact, they were pretty darned effective with cinnamon, scalpels, and the odd bone axe.(recorded over zoom)Music by Thomas Newman

The elite tiger hunting corps of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, which ruled for five centuries beginning around the year 1400. As always, we’ll talk about the job itself, but we’ll focus more than usual on the job’s place within its cultural and historical contexts. The human-tiger relationship in Korea always has been rich and complex. While having posed a deadly threat to human life and limb over the centuries they roamed the Korean peninsula, Tigers also symbolized everything from traditional Korean values to its people, and the nation’s geography itself. Once plentiful, wild tigers are believed to be extinct in Korea. As such, in our conversation today, we’ll touch on all the usual suspects:  economy, trade, and culture, but we’ll do so from the unique perspective of conservation biology.Music by Devlin & Kelly Valleau

This week, we’re heading to the deep blue sea! We’ll join the captain and crew of a 19thc clipper ship, an iconic maritime innovation that revolutionized sailing and global trade, despite being something of a flash in the pan itself. Boatbuilder and maritime archaeologist Graham McKay joins us to navigate a not-so- distant past, stormy seas and all. Jimmy Buffett aside, the life of a Clipper ship sailor was anything but easy-breezy. This was soul-deep hard work. So - let’s rig up and set out on another grand adventure, nothing but the vast horizon ahead as we ride the wind! (recorded over zoom)Music by Yasunori Nishiki

We’re heading to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London. That’s right, we’re talking about the life and work of Elizabethan stage actors with our guest, Clive Greenwood, who in addition to being a Museum Heritage Educator, happens to be an actor himself. Turns out that learning lines as a Shakespearean actor was a lot more than that. For starters, in those days, they rarely even had a full script to work from! The stage that Shakespeare wrote for had to be a uniquely dynamic and versatile space. Put simply, it had to be an entire world. And was it ever for the actors who trod it. (recorded over zoom) Music by Max Richter

Guess what! IT’S ELECTION TIME. Finally. So, what better job to cover than President of the American Republic. In this episode, we discuss this one-of-a-kind job with Kenny Ryan, a journalist and fellow podcaster whose own show examines the lives and work of each of the former U.S. presidents. How did this job work? How was it intended to work? How has it changed? So many questions. So let’s dive in to the very best civics lesson we’ve ever had. Seriously. Remember Schoolhouse Rock? Well, Kenny rocks civics ten times harder. (recorded over zoom)Music by Naoki Satō 

Bloodsports!!! It's the match of last century! Maya Ball Players vs Gladiators! Join Dr. Karen Bellinger as she speaks with Andrew Kinkella and Cody Amens about what it took be an athlete in two different times and places, and whether or not one match would mean certain death. (recorded over zoom)

With Halloween fast approaching, what better time to dive into today’s topic - the role of religious ministers in the Salem Witch Trials of  Puritan New England. 17th-century New England is a time and place that many find hugely fascinating. Join Dr. Karen Bellinger as she has the privilege of exploring it from a new perspective with our guest, historian and author Isabella Connor. As scary as witches and demons are, it’s the human stuff - the devastating effects of mass hysteria and unchecked wielding of political power - that frightens me the most. So. Let’s hop onto our broomsticks and zoom back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the winter of 1692! (recorded over zoom) Music: Danny Elfman

Karen with Dr. Elic Weitzel about the 17th-century Plymouth Colony, founded 400 years ago by a tiny group of  ‘Pilgrims’ determined to carve a “New” England from wilderness that had long been occupied, in highly sustainable fashion, by tens of thousands of Native Americans. The immediate burden of dealing with these settlers fell to local chiefs, or Sachems. But the impacts of this small colonial enterprise’s changes to the land track straight through to today’s climate crises. So let’s dive in. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.  (recorded over zoom)Music by Yasunori Nishiki

Welcome to Season TWO of Working Over Time, where we examine society through the lens of work, over time, and across cultures. In this episode, join Dr. Karen Bellinger as she kicks things off with historian and playwright Danielle Wirsansky, who illuminates the astonishing world of Britain’s World War II women spies. That’s right, we’ll hear about all kinds of state-sanctioned espionage, a few eyebrow-raising Winston Churchill quotes, and a figure named Blonde Poison who, despite her name, is not a Marvel superhero. Not yet, at least. (recorded over zoom)Music from Alison Sparrow & Max Richter

An off season, behind the scenes peek episode, featuring insights from the Working Over Time team, as well as two peers within the podcast/live stream heritage content community. Get to know LittleFire and Past Preservers a little bit more and learn what motivated the team to create the show. (recorded over zoom).

It's the Season One Finale, and we’re ending with a bang, not a whimper! It’s pretty much common knowledge that Facebook violates its users’ basic data privacy rights. But did you know that Facebook also is one of the prime vectors for billions of dollars of criminal trafficking in looted artifacts, inflicting catastrophic economic and cultural damage on vulnerable populations in conflict regions across the Middle East, fueling regional violence and transnational terrorism?Whether your answer is yes or no, we implore you to listen in to hear impassioned Archaeoactivist and everyday hero, Katie Paul, on this vitally important but little known crisis, complete with pointers on what we all can do to combat this global security threat. Join her as she walks Karen through a day in the life of an ancient Egyptian tomb raider and brings to light some of the most important issues facing the future of both history, and those who love it.  For more information about these deeply important issues, visit www.atharproject.org and @ATHARProject on Twitter.(recorded over zoom)

The Roman Legionary: All that, and so, SO much more. Join Karen and guest Dr Simon Elliott as they discuss the astonishingly array of ways in which the fabled foot-soldier underpinned Roman society in more ways than you could ever have imagined! (recorded over zoom) 

If you can’t imagine an 18th-century “beauty influencer” as a precursor to today’s social media megastar, listen in as Laura Fitzachary dishes all the soap with Karen! Spoiler: The quest for beauty can be pretty ugly...

Free tickets to the Victorian Freak Show, courtesy of expert escort Dr John Woolf! Grab yours now. Guaranteed to provoke a bit of revulsion plus .... a measure of uncomfortable recognition. See how our obsession with celebrity can trace its roots back to Victorian Freak Show performers, and maybe even further. 

Beautiful girls executing ethereal dance steps. Intoxicating music. The frisson of a bare ankle atop a precipitous pointe shoe… Hot lights. Entitled patrons. Join Karen and Dr Sheila Hoffman for an exclusive tour of the backstage fin de siècle Paris ballet. The frothy tutus and bouquets were just the beginning of a day in the life of its ballerinas, who catered to wealthy male patrons as well as adoring audiences.

(recorded over zoom) Elephants, ivory, and war, oh my! Join Karen and historian Tim Moller as they discuss the ancient elephant trade sponsored by Ptolemaic Egypt nearly 3,000 years ago. An exotic earful, indeed!

(recorded over zoom) Join Dr. Karen Bellinger as she talks with Dr. Kathryn Ferry. when they explore the curiosities and pleasures of the 18th century British seaside, anchored by the brawny, colorful, and largely female “Dippers” who brokered middle and upper class beach visits.

Peek into the home lives of Industrial Age factory workers, led by house historian Melanie Backe-Hansen! Experience the last great shift in work-life balance, and how working class families managed the intersection of work and home life during a time of epic shifts in productive systems.

We look at more than just a typical day in the life of an average Hunter Gatherer. Join us and survival expert Klint Janulis as he helps us track the seriously ancient roots of modern human ingenuity, and its continued relevance for our species’ survival today. We’re going all the way to the Stone Age and back, in less than an hour, so hang on tight and enjoy the ride! (recorded over zoom).

(recorded over zoom) The women of the top-secret Mercury13 training program were as ready as their male counterparts to serve their country in the Cold War Space Race. But it was the early 1960s and they were passed over. It would be 20 more years before NASA accepted women into its astronaut ranks. Join host Karen Bellinger and guest Analog Astronaut Dr Sian Proctor to get the inside story of the largely unknown women who gave their all as pioneers in America’s race to be first into space.

(recorded over zoom) 19th-century “medicine shows” marketed cure-alls in a moveable feast of showmanship that compelled rural pain sufferers to exchange hard-earned cash for “miracle” elixirs, tonics, and liniments. Most of these treatments were dubious at best, dangerous at worst. But these shows were more than just a particularly vivid chapter in America’s long history of rewarding savvy hustlers peddling questionable products. The medicine show was also a vitally important social phenomenon, providing unique social and economic mobility for people who had talent, but were otherwise shut out from the opportunities of  post-Reconstruction America. Join Dr. Karen Bellinger as she speaks with writer and historian Deb Hunter about the role of Snake Oil Salesmen in the early days of the pharmaceutical industry.

The Ancient Greeks saw omens everywhere they looked: in the natural world, in their ritual sacrifice of animals, even in their own mundane actions, such as sneezing. They believed the accurate reading of such omens was essential to making decisions large and small. Manteis were freelance interpretive experts called upon to read these omens. For a price, of course. Would you believe that the most successful manteis were as skilled in reading people as they were signs?