The Time Traveller's Almanac
This is The Time Traveller's Almanac, a podcast from the ESHCC history department celebrating 110 years of Erasmus University Rotterdam.
To build a sustainable future, we have to tackle many problems in the present: the climate crisis, threats to democracies around the world, backslash against migration, and more… In this podcast, we look into history to help addressing these issues, so that we avoid mistakes and learn from insights from the past.
Listen to the trailer!
Episodes
Season 3 (live on 25 June 2025)
In this episode, Rima Rassi discusses how Lebanon's political structure, shaped by sectarian differences and the memory of the Civil War, influenced the country's response, or lack thereof, in addressing Syrian refugee influx. Join us as she delves into the "policy of no policy," investigates the classification of refugee status, and looks at how Lebanon's parliament impacted national reaction.
Find more of Rima Rassi's work here.
In this episode, Vivian Chen discusses whether gaming is truly toxic or if the conversation around toxicity is oversimplified. Tune in for a critical look at the complexities of online play as she dives into the social dynamics of gaming and how context, gender, and friendships shape interactions and the surprising ways these behaviors spill over into workplaces.
Find more of Dr Vivian Chen's work here.
In this episode, Simone Driessen explores how fandoms, once celebrated for their creativity and engagement, have grown to shape cultural narratives, influence power structures, and even fuel polarization. Join us as she unpacks how fandoms engage with extremism, cancel culture, and how subtle cues become markers of allegiance.
Find more of Dr Simone Driessen's work here.
In this episode, Camila Andrea and Naomi Oosterman explore the complications of decolonial techniques in Latin American, Caribbean, and European museums. Tune in to look at how decolonization involves more than just restitution of stolen goods and the Silence and Discomfort strategy, which aims to promote difficult conversations regarding colonialism, community involvement, and cultural narratives.
Find more of Camila Andrea's work here.
Find more of Dr Naomi Oosterman's work here.
Season 2
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Toni Weller, a research fellow in history at De Montfort University, who explains how complicated it was to be a woman during a time when sexually transmitted illnesses and wars reduced female bodies to the status of information items.
Find more of Dr Toni Weller's work here.
In the next episode, we sit down with Dr Alex van Stipriaan, a emeritus professor and specialist in Afro-Caribbean history, to talk about Rotterdam's past with slavery, which has been neglected within history.
To find publications, media products and more, visit Dr van Stipriaan's website.
In the second episode, we interview Dr Tina van der Vlies and discuss whether historical narratives in history textbooks are really neutral. Join us for this episode for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges what you know about the past and its implications for the future.
You can find more about Dr Tina van derl Vlies' work here.
In episode 1, Anne Heslinga joins us to discuss the gaming industry in the Netherlands, from its beginnings to the present. We explore issues faced by game developers and the future prospects for the industry.
Find more about Anne Hesliga's work here.
Season 1
In episode 4, Pieter van den Heede discusses how we can productively engage with historical analogies. He does so by introducing the 'Magic Yarn Ball' as a metaphorical intervention.
Check out his article (co-written with Sara Polak) in Journal of Applied History here.
In episode 3, Maria Avraamidou discusses how Europe's migration crisis in 2015 was debated on Twitter.
Check out her article in the European Journal of Cultural Studies here.
In episode 2, Paul van de Laar discusses the migration history of Rotterdam from the 1600s to the present.
Check out his book on the topic (written together with Peter Scholten) here.
In episode 1, we are joined by Vincent Baptist! Vincent will discuss the history of Rotterdam's entertainment culture and the history of the Zandstraat-neighbourhood.
Contact
Email us at podcast@eshcc.eur.nl