Hi, thanks for tuning in to ancient Greece Declassified.

Episode 61.

Who is Lantern Jack?

Hi, and thanks for tuning in to ancient Greece declassified. My name is Doug Metzker,

and normally I host the Literature and History Podcast. But today, I'm going to be interviewing

your normal interviewer. I first met Lantern Jack about seven years ago, and since then we've gone on conferences

together, we've gone on trips together, and we've helped each other out with a lot of projects

over the years. Jack is an author, a PhD podcaster, a semi-professional tour guide, and

although you might not know it from the thorough professional varnish of this show, a really fun and funny person to be around.

So, Lantern Jack, welcome to your own show, man.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to this reversal.

Well, let's start with some questions that I think a lot of podcast listeners would like to hear you answer as a host.

One of them is one that we get asked a lot as podcasters, which is you started this podcast for

a specific set of reasons, I'm sure. I know that you were in graduate school at Princeton studying

classics. So what made you begin the show in the middle of graduate school?

Well, I was nearing the end. I think I had like two years left of the program. So I could see

the light at the end of the tunnel, the distant light, but it was a very bleak light because

it became clear to me and all of my cohort that there were no jobs waiting for us. For every one

academic job opening, there were at least 10 applicants. So in order to have some options

upon graduation, I thought I should maybe start experimenting. At the same time, I loved podcasts.

I had recently discovered them they had they had helped me

there were a lot of great Latin and Roman history podcasts that helped me pass my you know general

...