Amanda is hard at work perfecting her next book, which will release on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group). Season 5 of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast will release in early 2025, but in the meantime, you can continue to connect with her through social media, the RHA® website, and her monthly email,…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about the Neo-Babylonians’ defeat by the Persian Empire and how that changed all exiles’ lives; understand the differences between the terms “Hebrew,” “Israelite,” and “Jew”; and consider why Chronicles is critical to the re-development of Jerusalem in the 6th and 5th centuries. Ep…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn how both Egypt and the Southern Kingdom fell to Nebuchadnezzar of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, what ancient documents help us to better understand the biblical narrative of ancient Israel’s fall, and where some traditions locate the Ark of the Covenant today. Episode links: “Why the …

The Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast will return with the final 2 episodes of season 4 in January. Until then, connect with her and other listeners on the RHA social media pages at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaHopeHaley/ and https://www.instagram.com/redhairedarchaeologist/

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about Josiah's religious reforms and military interactions. Consider what the "book of the law" looked like and contained, how the Neo-Assyrian Empire lost ground to the growing Neo-Babylonians, why Egypt flipped from friend to foe, and where the first (and last?) battle in recorde…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about Hezekiah’s successor and son, Manasseh. Consider why a wicked man was allowed to be the longest-reigning monarch in ancient Israel, when and where the stories of his life were recorded, and how sibling rivalry may have been the beginning of the end of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about one of the Southern Kingdom’s most righteous kings, Hezekiah. Understand what he did to restore right-worship of Israel’s God to his nation, why the mighty Neo-Assyrians didn’t conquer Jerusalem, and how his final actions foreshadowed Jerusalem’s future fall to the Neo-Babylo…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about the collapse of the Northern Kingdom to the Neo-Assyrians. Understand why the conquerors are “neo,” where the “lost tribes of Israel” went, and how the Samaritans’ culture developed. Episode links: “House of David“ inscribed on a victory stele, (now at the Israel Museum): htt…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about the Northern Kingdom’s most infamous king and queen: Ahab and Jezebel. Find out where Samaria’s capital city was built, how Phoenician religion and trade affected the nation, and why we think of Jezebel as a seductress instead of a powerful politician. Episode links: The Miri…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn what caused the ancient United Kingdom of Israel to split into the North and the South, why religion impacted that action, where the Northern tribes attempted to worship God, and how Israel’s dead were buried. Episode links: “Two Riddles of the Queen of Sheba,” tapestry from Strasb…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about the extrabiblical evidence of David and Solomon, including the Tel Dan Stele and Solomon’s “great” cities of Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer. Then consider the differences between what Scripture says about the first Temple and the Queen of Sheba and how other traditions have influe…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn why David was up on his roof staring at Bathsheba, what made Hebron so important to Israelite leaders, and how lamps were made and used in antiquity. Episode links: “Tour” a 4-Room House at Harvard’s Museum of the Ancient Near East: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=sQamX7QGS2v Mat…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn how "ruddy" David was chosen to be Israel’s second king, why there is confusion about Goliath’s height, what happened in a cave in En Gedi, and where the City of David is located. Episode links: Edward Burne-Jones, “David and Goliath” (1872), Vyner Memorial Window, Christ Church Ca…

During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn why the Iron Age got its name, how Israel changed from a confederation of tribes to a unified kingdom, and what makes Samuel and Saul so important to Israel's history. See one of the earliest pieces of proto-Hebrew writing, and learn how "lots" were actually used for decision makin…

Amanda is coming back with Season 4 of The Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast in October! She's titled the season, "Kings of the Iron Age: From Tabernacle to Temples." Watch for a preview of what is to come.Show notes:Lahav Harkov, “Rocking out under the Iron Dome,” Jerusalem Post (12 May 2023), https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-7428…

Travel: why it's important, why I love it, and a promise to my readers and listeners...

Egypt's interaction with Israel isn't limited to the biblical and classical periods of history. The two nations have continued to be intertwined in recent history and modern politics. Listen to this last full episode of Season 3 to learn how Egypt transitioned from Christianity to Islam, and how Arab politics continue to impact the State of Israel.…

Herod the Great may have pushed Joseph, Mary, and Jesus into exile in Egypt, but tradition says it was Mark the Evangelist who brought Christianity to the nation. Learn how Egypt moved from worshipping gods to worshipping God during the final centuries of the Roman Empire. Episode links: To order signed copies of Amanda's books, visit https://amand…

The entrance of Alexander the Great into Egypt was not the "liberation" the native Egyptians expected. The conqueror and his successors, the Ptolemies, Hellenized Egypt's culture, people, and government. Episode links: For help making your podcast sound as good as this one, contact Nicholas Allaire at nicholasjallaire@gmail.com…

In today's episode, Egypt encounters the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires--with Israel always in the middle. Episode links: For help making your podcast sound as good as this one, contact Nicholas Allaire at nicholasjallaire@gmail.com

During the Third Intermediate Period, when Egypt's imperial power was waning, Israel’s tribes were unifying under kings Saul, David, and Solomon. Although Egypt doesn’t mention Israel in its records from this time period, Israel mentions Egypt and some pharaohs several times. Episode links: Archaeology of Gezer: https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/…

The writings and images on Egypt's Medinet Habu are about a group of marauding invaders whom scholars have called the “Sea Peoples” since the end of the 19th century. These were 9 distinct groups of people from the western and eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean, and maybe even Cyprus. They were fierce warriors who were responsible for bringing the L…

In this episode, we’ll consider the events of the Exodus: When might Moses fit in Egyptian history? What may (or may not!) have "caused" the plagues? And why do charlatans keep claiming to find Pharaoh’s army at the bottom of the Red Sea? Episode links: Learn about the Red Sea / Reed Sea at https://redhairedarchaeologist.com/the-red-sea-of-reeds/ T…

Happy Labor Day Weekend! Join me next week to hear all about the Exodus, and sign up NOW to get this month's freemium: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6272d642ec93244248595d95

Learn about the reign of Akhenaten, the monotheistic pharaoh, and how his unusual life changed Egyptian society. Episode links: https://daw.philhist.unibas.ch/de/news/details/nachruf-prof-erik-hornung/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-used-facial-reconstruction-technology-reveal-king-tuts-fathers-face-180977349/ https://www.bas…

During the Second Intermediate Period, Egypt was ruled by foreign "shepherd kings" who were not beloved by the Egyptian people. Could the Hyksos have been the descendants of Jacob? Episode links: https://redhairedarchaeologist.com/speaking For help making your podcast sounds as good as this one, contact Nicholas Allaire at nicholasjallaire@gmail.co…

Encounter "Egypt" in its first two instances in the Bible--as a person and as a country. You'll learn about some of the challenges translators face when working with Scripture, think about Abram's strange interaction with an unnamed pharaoh, and consider when the events of Genesis 12 may have occurred. Episode links: https://redhairedarchaeologist.…

Egypt was first founded in 3100 BCE when Narmer united the Red Land with the White Land. For the next 3000 years, it grew into a wealthy empire whose culture impacted the nations around it and inspired some great films! Enjoy this short primer on Egyptian history!

Get caught up with Amanda Hope Haley, and learn what is ahead for The Red-Haired Archaeologist Podcast! In season 3, we will be discovering one of Israel's closest neighbors and biggest rivals, Egypt, and exploring the places where Egyptology and biblical archaeology intersect. Episode links: https://redhairedarchaeologist.com/tours/…

This season, we will be learning about all the ways the lands of Israel and Egypt have intersected in ancient history, archaeology, and Scripture. New episodes will launch on Thursdays beginning July 28 wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.

In the final episode of season 2, learn about the violent history and politically charged present of the Jews’ most important artifact. Episode links: https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/37/2/7 ; https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/temple-at-jerusalem/the-temple-mount-in-the-herodian-period/…

Christians know that Jesus resurrected, but where did His body rest for the 3 days following His crucifixion? Listen and learn about 3 possible locations of that most-famous empty tomb.

In ancient Hebron, Abraham bought the first bit of the Promised Land, David unified Israel’s tribes into a nation, and Herod built a structure that now straddles the border between Israel and Palestine.

Nazareth doesn’t get a lot of ink in the Bible, but it has a long history. It was a 1st-century Jewish “puritan” city, has attracted Christian pilgrims since 360, and is the largest Muslim city inside Israel today. Episode links: https://madainproject.com/sisters_of_nazareth_archaeological_site; https://www.nazarethvillage.com/about/research-and-ar…

Wine was discovered almost 8,000 years ago in Turkey and has been cultivated in and around Israel ever since. Learn how it was used in ancient society and how it relates to biblical narratives. Episode links: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/digs-2015/excavating-the-ancient-near-easts-oldest-wine-cellar-the-results-of-the-2015-season-at-te…

Peel away the false salacious reputation you may have been told about Mary of Magdala, and learn about the real 1st-century prosperous and devout city that was her home. Episode links: https://www.magdala.org/

This bonus episode will tell you all you want to know about the newly revealed scroll fragments, mummified child, and Neolithic basket from Qumran’s so-called Cave of Horror. Episode links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/bible-scroll-fragments-among-dazzling-artifacts-found-in-dead-sea-cave-of-horror/…

Written by rebels, ransomed by thieves, and hoarded by scholars. Hear the stories of the creation, discovery, and publication of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Episode links: https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/learn-about-the-scrolls/introduction https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/44/2/3…

Explore Masada, the winter palace of Herod the Great, king of Judaea in the 1st century BCE. Learn the background of his biographer, Josephus--who was more Roman propagandist than Jewish sentimentalist. Episode links: https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/masada-national-park/

The ancient cities of Maresha and Bet Guvrin hosted civilizations from 700 BCE through the Islamic period, making thorough use of a system of 500+ hand-dug caves.

Listen to what Amanda has been up to since Season 1 ended. You'll hear some fun stories from her time digging and traveling in Israel, learn a little about her next book, and get a preview of what is to come in Season 2.

Israelite burials were functionally and symbolically different from modern practices. Episode links: https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/12/2/1 https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/28/6/1

Scripture says that Rahab lived "on" or "in" Jericho's city wall. What does that mean, and what can we learn about her from the "neighborhood" where she lived? Episode links: https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/39/5/5

Ancient gates weren't just hinged pickets as we may imagine when we read Scripture today. They were buildings unto themselves, where some of the most important city activities happened every day. Episode links: https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/14/2/3 https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/9/4/2…

Learn how some temples built in other regions of the Levant can help us understand the Bible's descriptions of Solomon's temple. Episode links: https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/26/3/1 https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/special-report-current-status-tell-ain-dara-temple/…

For decades, many archaeologists doubted the historical existence of David and Solomon. Listen and learn what evidence proves them wrong! Episode links: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/the-tel-dan-inscription-the-first-historical-evidence-of-the-king-david-bible-story/

When you read about the golden calf the Israelites made in Exodus, do you envision Cecil B. DeMille's glossy statue from The Ten Commandments? Find out how this traditional Easter film got most of the details wrong. Episode links: https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/17/2/4

Meet author and archaeologist, Amanda Hope Haley! Episode links: http://www.telshimronexcavations.com/