The Hellenistic Age History Podcast
A solo-narrated deep dive into the political and military history of the Mediterranean world from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra.
A detailed, chronological narrative history podcast covering the often-overlooked 300-year period between Alexander the Great and the Roman conquest of Egypt. The show focuses on the complex dynastic struggles, political machinations, and military conflicts of the Hellenistic kingdoms like the Ptolemies, Seleucids, and Antigonids, as well as their interactions with rising powers like Rome and Parthia. It's a dense, academic-style production that relies on historical sources to tell the story.
“Its singular focus on the Hellenistic period sets it apart from broader ancient history podcasts. The solo-narrated, deeply-researched, and chronological format provides a university-level survey of the era, eschewing interviews and chat for dense storytelling.”
Who hosts this show
The Hellenistic Age Podcast is a passion project created and hosted by Derek Latal, a self-described lifelong enthusiast of the ancient world. While not a formally trained historian, Latal holds a BSc in Biological Sciences and an MBA, and dedicates his evenings and weekends to researching, writing, and producing the show. He aims to provide an accessible yet comprehensive history of the period by synthesizing primary sources and modern research.
Credentials & credits
- BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba
- MBA, University of Manitoba
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01122: Ptolemaic Egypt - The Good, the Bad, and the FattyJun 19, 2026 · 30 min
- 02121: The Seleucid Empire - The Man They Called SidetesMay 26, 2026 · 43 min
- 03120: The Seleucid Empire - Writing on the WallMay 5, 2026 · 44 min
- 04119: The Rise of the Parthian Empire - From Arsaces to Mithridates IApr 15, 2026 · 44 min
- 05118: Graecia Capta - The Roman Conquest of GreeceMar 25, 2026 · 39 min
- 06117: Antigonid Macedon - The Vergina Sun Never Sets...Feb 23, 2026 · 20 min
- 07116: The Third Punic War - Dido's LamentFeb 8, 2026 · 37 min
- 08115: The Third Punic War - Delenda EstJan 20, 2026 · 34 min
Notable episodes
- 01122: Ptolemaic Egypt - The Good, the Bad, and the Fatty
A compelling look at the brutal internal politics and succession crises of the Ptolemaic dynasty, focusing on the violent reign of Ptolemy VIII.
- 02121: The Seleucid Empire - The Man They Called Sidetes
This episode exemplifies the show's focus on military campaigns and the efforts of Hellenistic rulers to hold their vast, fracturing empires together.
- 03119: The Rise of the Parthian Empire - From Arsaces to Mithridates I
Demonstrates the podcast's scope by detailing the rise of a major rival to the Hellenistic kingdoms, providing crucial context for the era's geopolitics.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is a solo-narrated, scripted history podcast with no guest interviews. Each episode tackles a specific event, ruler, or conflict in a broadly chronological fashion, often referencing primary sources like Josephus or numismatic evidence to reconstruct events. The host, Derek Latal, maintains a steady, academic tone throughout.
Topics covered repeatedly
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The reviewed episodes contained no sponsorships or advertisements. The host maintains a Ko-Fi and an Amazon Wish List for listener support.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
h•••@•••.comFree: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.
People also ask
- Who is the host of the podcast?
- The host is Derek Latal, a history enthusiast with a background in biological sciences and business.
- What is the podcast about?
- It's a history podcast dedicated to the Hellenistic period, covering the 300 years from the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.) to the Roman conquest of Egypt (30 B.C.).
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a solo-narrated, chronological history podcast. It does not feature interviews, focusing instead on a scripted narrative.
- Does the host have formal history credentials?
- No, the host Derek Latal states he is not a trained historian but a passionate enthusiast who synthesizes primary sources and modern research for the show.
- Is the podcast still being produced?
- Yes, the podcast is active, releasing episodes on a monthly basis.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on its official website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]The Hellenistic Age Podcast Official Websitehellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com
- [02]The Hellenistic Age History Podcast - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [03]Hellenistic Age Podcaster: Why the Hellenistic Age Is Specialgreekreporter.com
- [04]The Hellenistic Age Podcast on Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [05]Reddit Post by Host Derek Latalreddit.com
Podcasts like The Hellenistic Age History Podcast
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered
A history storyteller who narrates short, engaging videos about forgotten events and figures, typically in 15 minutes or less.
Game Wisdom
Game Wisdom
A game design author and analyst offers in-depth reviews and mechanical breakdowns of indie and AAA video games.
Hamsa Vasishta
Hamsa Vasishta
A Kannada-language interview show that demystifies Hindu mythology, spiritual practices, and alternative wellness for a modern audience.
Empire • World History
Two British authors, a historian and a journalist, interview academic experts to dissect the rise, fall, and modern legacy of global empires.
YTMahendra Podcast
A Hindi-language interview podcast from Rajasthan that explores controversial social, religious, and personal transformation stories in India.
From First Principles Podcast
Krishna Choudhary
A weekly podcast where two hosts break down complex science news from first principles, alternating between deep dives and expert interviews.
Patrick Boyle
Patrick Boyle
A hedge fund manager and finance professor breaks down complex market events, from AI economics to Brexit, using data-driven video essays.
Scottish Independence Podcasts: IndyPod Extra
A weekly podcast from two retired Scots volunteers covering the politics, culture, and activism of the Scottish independence movement.