The Case for Classics
Hi! Welcome to The Case for Classics ! I'm your host, Maira Zaidi.
I created this podcast to inspire a new generation of learners to discover the enduring value of Classical Studies. Through conversations with leading scholars, educators, students, and professionals, I explore how the ancient world is not a relic of the past but a living legacy that continues to shape our language, literature, philosophy, politics, and culture.
At its heart, the podcast seeks to make Classics more accessible and inclusive by introducing Latin, Greek, and Ancient History to students from all backgrounds, especially those who may never have encountered them before. By sharing insights from people across the field, I hope to demonstrate how the study of antiquity remains relevant to the questions and challenges we face today.
My goal is to make the case that an education in Classics develops intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking, cultural understanding, and clear communication—qualities that prepare students not only to succeed in careers such as academia, law, medicine, public service, journalism, business, and science, but also to become thoughtful, engaged citizens capable of understanding the complexities of the modern world.
Through this podcast, I hope to inspire young people to discover the ancient world as part of our shared global heritage and recognize that Classics remains one of the most relevant and rewarding fields of study today.
Thank you so much for listening. Whether you're a lifelong Classicist or you're just discovering the ancient world for the very first time, I'm so glad you're here. Let's make the case for Classics together!
Maira Zaidi
Founder, Acta Diurna Classics – An Archive of Classical Inquiry
Follow: Acta Diurna— Gazette | @actadiurnaclassics
Read: Veritas — Blog | www.actadiurnaclassics.com
Listen: The Case for Classics — Podcast | www.actadiurnaclassics.com
Episodes
6 episodes
Who Owns the Ancient World? Johns Hopkins Prof. Nandini Pandey Makes the Case for Classics
What happens when the ancient world becomes a place to discover not only the past, but something about yourself? In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Johns Hopkins Professor Nandini Pandey for a deeply personal con...
Ancient Texts, Modern Lives: Brown University Prof. Johanna Hanink Makes the Case for Classics
In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Brown University Professor Johanna Hanink, classicist, author, and host of Lesche: Ancient Greece, New Ideas, to explore how the ancient world continues to live, change...
Latin, Travel & the Art of Learning: Calder Classics Founder Cindy Calder Makes the Case for Classics
In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Cindy Calder, founder of Calder Classics, whose programs have personally shaped the way I experience the ancient world. After years of studying Latin in the classroom, traveling...
From Homer to Hip-Hop: University of Pennsylvania Prof. Ralph Rosen Makes the Case for Classics
In this episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with the President of the Society for Classical Studies & University of Pennsylvania Professor Emeritus of the Humanities and Classical Studies, Ralph Rosen, to explore why the a...
From Latin to Hollywood: Elizabeth Murphy makes the Case for Classics
In the inaugural episode of The Case for Classics, I sit down with Elizabeth Murphy - Brown University graduate, professional actress (The Notebook, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS), Latin teacher, academic coach, and founder of Pretty Smartly - to explor...