Media & Podcast Appearances

July 31, 2026

Based on a True Story — “The Odyssey with Neil Laird”

Neil returns to Based on a True Story to explore the real history, archaeology and geography behind Homer’s Odyssey, drawing on more than three decades making ancient-history documentaries around the world.

April 20, 2026

Creativity Found — “Ancient Worlds and New Chapters with Neil Laird”

Neil talks about reinventing himself creatively at 50 after decades in documentary television, the influence of David Bowie, and finding the courage to become a novelist later in life. A conversation about changing direction in midlife, taking creative risks and discovering that it’s never too late to start something new.

August 17, 2026

A Lady Well-Travelled — “Beyond the Headlines: Understanding the Middle East Through History, Culture & Travel”

Drawing on decades of filmmaking and travel, Neil discusses Egypt, Jordan, Petra, Syria, Iran and what more than 30 years working throughout the Middle East taught him about the region beyond the headlines.

April 26, 2026

One More Thing Before You Go — “The Intersection of Adventure and History Through Filmmaking”

A conversation about Neil’s three decades making documentaries around the world, the adventures and challenges behind historical television, and how a career spent chasing real stories eventually led him into fiction.

July 22, 2025

Lost in the Groove — Episode 241: “Interview with Documentary Filmmaker Neil Laird”

A wide-ranging conversation about documentary filmmaking, archaeology, Egypt, Pompeii, mythology, queer history and what really goes into telling stories about the ancient world on television.

April 15, 2025

Based on a True Story — “Troy with Neil Laird”

A deep dive into the history behind Troy: what Homer tells us, what archaeology reveals, and where Hollywood takes liberties. Neil brings his experience as a documentary filmmaker and author of Prime Time Troy to the search for the real world behind Achilles, Patroclus and the Trojan War.

August 7, 2026

The Gaily Show — “Neil Laird’s Prime Time Troy”

Neil discusses Prime Time Troy, his documentary career, queer history and the challenge of recovering LGBTQ+ stories that have often been overlooked or erased from conventional accounts of the past.

October 11, 2025

Amateur Traveler — “Travel to Cairo, Egypt” — Episode 965

Neil draws on decades filming archaeology and history in Egypt to guide listeners through Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur, Alexandria and some of the extraordinary ancient sites beyond the standard tourist itinerary.

September 22, 2024

Winging It Travel Podcast — Episode 157

Neil talks about traveling to more than 70 countries, making documentaries around the world, his adventures on the road and how those experiences have shaped both his television work and his novels.

January 2, 2026

WROTE Podcast — Neil Laird Interview

Neil discusses his journey from Emmy-nominated documentary television to fiction, finding evidence of queer lives in the ancient world, and combining history, adventure, satire and romance in the Prime Time Travelers series.