Lexie chats with Troy Baker, the voice of Joel in the popular video game series 'The Last of Us.' The conversation explores a range of topics, from childhood narratives and their impact on personal growth to the philosophical and historical influences that shape storytelling. Troy dives deep into his own nostalgic triggers, the importance of simple yet profound narratives, and the experience of loss and empathy in 'The Last of Us Part II.' They also touch on the critical balance between player agency and linear storytelling in video games. This episode provides a rich exploration of how ancient and modern stories continue to resonate today, all through the lens of a beloved video game series.

Dr. Christian Langer, a trained Egyptologist and professor in the Classics department at the University of Georgia, joins Lexie to discuss his interest in ancient Egypt's political economy, forced migration, and the nuanced interplay between Egyptian and Nubian relations, contemporary issues of decolonizing academic fields such as Egyptology, and the ongoing challenges of integrating diverse perspectives in a traditionally Western-dominated discipline.

Dr. Johanna Hanink, a professor of Classics at Brown University, joins Lexie for a podcast centric episode, in which we dive into the origins and inspirations that led to the creation of her podcast Lesche. Our conversation covers the inspirations she took from other podcasts like Byzantium and Friends, the challenges of balancing academic rigor with creating accessible content, to her approach to preparing for interviews. It also highlights the importance of fostering a hype culture within academia and future plans for the podcast.