Episode 109: Cornerstones

Literature and History

#Literature #Doug Metzger #Arts #Books #Storytelling #Books and Writing #History #Society #Classical

26:18

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

13 days ago 2:09:42

MP3•Episode home

Episode 109 brings our long season on Late Antiquity to a close, reviews the past 24 programs on the beginnings of the Middle Ages, and introduces our new season on early Islamic History. The Actual First Novels Bonus Series: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content#tafn Literature and History's Upcoming Seasons: https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/ Episode 109 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-109-cornerstones Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

110 episodes

Literature and History

Episode 109: Cornerstones

Literature and History

522 subscribers

published 13 days ago

MP3•Episode home

110 episodes

#Literature #Doug Metzger #Arts #Books #Storytelling #Books and Writing #History #Society #Classical

All episodes

Literature and History

1
Episode 110: Questions 2:20:50

6 days ago2:20:50

2:20:50

In Episode 110, Literature and History host Doug Metzger answers dozens of listener questions about making the show, books, and how and why the podcast came to be. Literature and History's Upcoming Seasons: https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/ The Actual First Novels Bonus Series: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content#tafn Episode 110 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-110-questions Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 109: Cornerstones 2:09:42

13 days ago2:09:42

2:09:42

Literature and History

1
Episode 108: Isidore of Seville 2:14:12

6 weeks ago2:14:12

2:14:12

One of the great scholars of Late Antiquity, Isidore (c. 560-636) left behind a compendium called the Etymologies, an encyclopedia of his epoch’s knowledge, a book second only to the Bible during the Middle Ages. Episode 108 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-108 Episode 108 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-108-isidore-of-seville Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 107: Venantius Fortunatus 2:12:04

10 weeks ago2:12:04

2:12:04

The Merovingian court poet Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530-600), at work in Francia in the late 500s, shows us the world of the Middle Ages blooming from Roman ruins. Episode 107 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-107 Episode 107 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-107-venantius-fortunatus Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 106: Gregory of Tours, Part 2 2:07:57

15 weeks ago2:07:57

2:07:57

The second half of the History of the Franks (591) is a deep dive into the grime and intrigue of the Merovingian dynasty, written in a style that's as medieval as it is classical. Episode 106 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-106 Episode 105 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-106-gregory-of-tours-part-2 Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 105: Gregory of Tours, Part 1 2:27:06

20 weeks ago2:27:06

2:27:06

Gregory of Tours (c. 539-594) completed The History of the Franks in 591. The long book's account of Clovis and the Merovingian Dynasty has been one of our most important sources on early Medieval History, ever since. Episode 105 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-105 Episode 105 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-105-gregory-of-tours-part-1 Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 104: An Introduction to the Talmud 2:21:51

33 weeks ago2:21:51

2:21:51

Second only to the Tanakh, the 63 Tractates of the Talmud are the main text of Rabbinic Judaism, containing the teachings of thousands of ancient rabbis. Upcoming Seasons: https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/ Episode 104 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-104 Episode 104 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-104-introduction-to-the-talmud Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 103: Boethius 2:21:10

2 years ago2:21:10

2:21:10

In the twilight of the Western Empire, Boethius (c. 476-523) served as consul, but ended his life imprisoned by the Ostrogothic King Theodoric, writing The Consolation of Philosophy. Episode103 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-103 Episode 103Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-103-boethius Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 102: An Old Man's Book (Augustine's City of God, Part 2 of 2) 2:27:38

2 years ago2:27:38

2:27:38

Augustine’s City of God , Part 2 of 2. The second half of the City of God contains some of Late Antiquity’s most influential writings – most notably Augustine’s take on Original Sin. Episode 102 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-102 Episode 102 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-102-an-old-mans-book Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 101: Against the Pagans (Augustine's City of God, Part 1 of 2) 2:15:31

2 years ago2:15:31

2:15:31

Augustine’s City of God , Part 1 of 2. The first half of the City of God is a broadside against paganism – its culture, religion, and history, subjects about which Augustine had much to say. Episode 101 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-101 Episode 101 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-101-against-the-pagans Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 100: Late Have I Loved You (Augustine's Confessions, Books 9-13) 2:05:20

2 years ago2:05:20

2:05:20

Augustine’s Confessions, Part 2 of 2. The second half of Augustine’s Confessions contains some of the most famous theology in Christian history. Episode 100 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-100 Episode 100 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-100-late-have-i-loved-you Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 99: The Boy Who Stole Pears (Augustine's Confessions, Books 1-7) 1:55:25

2 years ago1:55:25

1:55:25

Augustine’s Confessions , Part 1 of 2. The first half of Augustine’s Confessions tells of his wayward early years, his intellectual journey, and his spiritual awakening. Episode 99 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-099 Episode 99 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-099-the-boy-who-stole-pears Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 98: The Life and Works of Saint Jerome 2:09:43

2 years ago2:09:43

2:09:43

Polyglot Jerome (347-420) had a gigantic impact on all subsequent Christian history, leaving behind a huge body of works, including the Latin Bible. Episode 98 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-098 Episode 98 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-098-saint-jerome Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory Ancient Greece Declassified Tour: https://www.greecepodcast.com/tour/…

Literature and History

1
Episode 97: Blood and Ivy (Nonnus' Dionysiaca, Books 25-48) 2:32:27

3 years ago2:32:27

2:32:27

The Dionysiaca , Part 2 of 2. The last surviving Greek epic of antiquity draws to a close with Dionysus fighting wars far to the east, in India. Episode 97 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-097 Episode 97 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-097-blood-and-ivy Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory…

Literature and History

1
Episode 96: The Last Pagan Epic (Nonnus' Dionysiaca, Books 1-24) 2:13:58

3 years ago2:13:58