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Standard Issue Podcast

SIM Ep 765 Chops 263: Natalie Haynes and the monstering of Medusa

Standard Issue Podcast

Standard Issue

Society & Culture

4.71.1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 September 2022

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Back last May, when Mick interviewed classicist, comedian and author Natalie Haynes about Pandora’s Jar – her anthology of women in Greek myths – she asked who Natalie’s favourite woman from Greek myth is and the answer was swift: Medusa.  And it’s easy to see why. Medusa, best known as a monster with snakes for hair and the ability to turn living creatures to stone with just a look, was actually a young woman, horribly wronged, terribly punished and then painted as a villain.  Stone Blind is Natalie’s new novel, a sharp, warm, funny and incredibly moving take on Medusa’s story.  She and Mick also chat religion, capricious deities, goddess alter-egos, knitting, and how to research the women in Greek myths when women in the Classics tend to get pretty short shrift.  Stone Blind is out on September 15, but you can also listen to Natalie on her excellent Radio 4 series Natalie Haynes Stands Up For The Classics, available on BBC Sounds.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/standardissuespodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Waitrose have added more of your favourites to their new lower prices.

0:03.6

Or is it new, new, lower prices, or newer, new, lower prices?

0:07.9

Well, they've added more, so it could be more, newer, new, lower prices.

0:11.7

Or even the newest of new, lower prices on more.

0:14.2

Ernie, whoo! Waitrose have new, new, lower prices on hundreds of your favourites,

0:19.4

like apples, chicken, and those cheeky ginger nuts. Waitrose.

0:23.0

Food to feel good about.

0:25.0

Selected stores, subjects with availability, prices may vary in a little Waitrose channel islands and concessions.

0:29.9

Hello, hello, Mickey here, welcoming you to this week's Sunday Chops.

0:50.1

Welcome, come on in, we have, as ever, a bloody smatter of a listen for you.

0:55.4

Yes, I'm biased, but do you know what else I am?

0:58.4

I'm right.

0:59.5

But last May, when I interviewed classicist comedian and author Natalie Haynes about Pandora's jar,

1:04.8

her anthology of women in Greek myths, I'm very mainly asked for her favourite woman from Greek myth.

1:10.4

And, without hesitation, she said, Medusa.

1:14.1

And even if, like me, you've only really had a passing knowledge of Medusa,

1:18.1

the woman with snakes for hair and the ability to turn living creatures to stone with just a look,

1:22.9

you can understand why.

1:24.7

She's a powerful woman, horribly wronged, and then painted as a monster.

1:28.7

I know how times have changed, eh, oh, oh.

1:33.4

Stoneblind is Natalie's brilliant, sharp, warm, funny, and incredibly moving novel about Medusa's story.

1:40.2

Natalie and I also chat religion, capricious deities, goddess alterie goes knitting,

...

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