Voices of Ancient Egypt
Welcome to Voices of Ancient Egypt — the podcast for people who don’t just want to learn about ancient Egypt, but want to understand it at a deeper, more meaningful level.
Your podcast host, Melinda Nelson-Hurst, Ph.D., is an Egyptologist with years of experience teaching at the university level, working in Egypt, and training students around the world to read real ancient Egyptian texts. She’s spent decades studying this civilization in a traditional academic setting so you don’t have to — and so you can access knowledge that’s usually locked behind academic walls.
With a blend of solo deep-dives and conversations with experts and everyday Egyptophiles, this podcast brings ancient Egyptian history, beliefs, and language to life — and shows you how learning hieroglyphs is possible, no matter your age, background, or schedule.
Whether you want to read hieroglyphs in museums, on social media, or on your next trip to Egypt, you’ll find the tools, stories, and encouragement to make it real.
Let’s hear the voices of the ancient world — together.
Voices of Ancient Egypt
001: How I became an Egyptologist, university professor, & serial traveler
In this debut episode of the Voices of Ancient Egypt podcast, Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst shares her personal journey from a young child enamored with a "beat-up" museum catalog to becoming a professional Egyptologist with a Ph.D.
She opens up about the real-life challenges of pursuing a career in academia, the sensory-rich experience of living in Cairo, and her mission to break down the "academic walls" that keep ancient knowledge hidden.
Whether you are a longtime fan of ancient history or a curious newcomer, this episode reveals why understanding the authentic voices of the past—their beliefs, families, and daily lives—is more accessible than you ever thought possible.
In this episode, you will learn:
• The "Spark" That Changed Everything: Discover how a single traveling exhibition in Boston ignited a lifelong obsession and why a well-loved, worn-out book remains the most important item in Melinda’s library.
• Overcoming the "Academic Wall": Learn how Melinda navigated the elite world of Ivy League Ph.D. program and how she overcame the feeling of being "out of her element".
• The Introvert’s Guide to Cairo: Find out what happens when a "huge introvert" moves to one of the most sensory-overloaded cities in the world and how that pivotal experience transformed her from a risk-averse student into a confident expert.
• Behind the Scenes of Archaeological Fieldwork: Hear what it's really like to work six days a week at the remote site of Abydos and the awe-inspiring experience of seeing the massive columns of Karnak Temple for the first time.
• Filling the "Missing Gap" in Egyptology: Discover why most information about ancient Egypt is either too basic or too academic, and how Melinda is building a bridge to provide deep, meaningful knowledge without the jargon.
• The Secret to Mastering Hieroglyphs: Learn why learning to read ancient texts doesn't have to be "excruciatingly detailed" or painful.
• Unexpected Career Detours: Hear about the surprising paths Melinda almost took—from accounting to becoming a flight attendant—before realizing that ancient Egypt was the only career that could satisfy her curiosity.
My 6-month, next-level hieroglyph reading program, Master Scribes, is opening for enrollment very soon. In this program you'll go from reading the basics to reading next-level texts, like literature, letters, and the Book of the Dead with confidence.
Space is very limited due to the high level support with me, so jump on the waitlist now to be ready for applications to open: www.masterscribes.com