302: Of Mice and Men
In this episode, A.J. talks about George and Lennie and their unfortunate run-in with wannabe boxer.
May 18, 2026•54 min•Season 1Ep. 302
Classical Stuff You Should Know
A.J., Graeme, and Thomas discuss everything having to do with the classical world. Our aim is to help both educators and laypeople enjoy the classical world as much as they enjoy fine ales and good tales.
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Episodes
301: Crime and Punishment Part 2: Electric Boogaloo
In this episode, Graeme finishes what he began in episode 299: a full retelling of Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." Honestly, I would listen to more audiobooks if they were just Graeme telling me stories.
May 12, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 301
300: 300
COME BACK WITH YOUR SHIELD OR ON IT
Apr 07, 2026•59 min•Season 1Ep. 300
299: Crime and Punishment: Raskolnikov the Edgelord
In this episode, we dive into Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." We've never really done the whole book in an episode before, so this is (part 1) of a great little introduction for those thinking about reading the book or teaching it to a few edgelords of your own.
Mar 31, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 299
298: Federalist Papers #10
In this episode, Graeme walks us through the complicated world of factions. How do we make sure that everybody . . . and nobody . . . gets what they want?
Mar 03, 2026•55 min•Season 1Ep. 297
297: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Fall of the House of Usher"
In this episode we cover a little of Poe's life, then two of his famous stories.
Feb 24, 2026•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 297
296: Coleridge's "Kubla Khan"
In this episode, we discuss how Coleridge's poem "Kubla Khan" relates to the victory of Romanticism. That, and we giggle sometimes.
Feb 10, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 296
295: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
In this episode, we discuss ol' Robinson Crusoe, how he lived on the island, and escaped twenty-eight years later. It's . . . kinda good?
Feb 03, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 295
294: The Servile State, by Hilaire Belloc
In this episode, Graeme introduces us to "The Servile State," by Hilaire Belloc. All I know is that living in the woods has always been attractive to me, and now Graeme introduces fishing? Hot diggity, look for me near the trees, boys!
Jan 20, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 294
293: Cinderella
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!
Jan 13, 2026•48 min•Season 1Ep. 293
292: Nominalism and William of Ockham
In this episode, we learn about William of Ockham's ridiculous notion that our words don't mean anything. Then why am I even writing this, WILLIAM. WHY DO WE EVEN TALK. You can tell that I (A.J.) am a big fan of this theory.
Dec 30, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 292
291: J.R.R. Tolkien's "Letters from Father Christmas"
Apparently Tolkien is a fabulous illustrator. Who knew? I've seriously looked up prints, and they are weirdly hard to find . . . but enchanting. Oh, this episode is about Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Dec 23, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 291
290: Civil Disobedience by David Henry Thoreau
In this episode, we learn how to---as Graeme would say---RIP THE SYSTEM. Well, at least until an aunt bails us out.
Dec 16, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 290
289: John Bunyan and Babe le bœuf bleu
In this episode, we talk about allegory and cattle. Oh, and Pilgrim's Progress
Dec 09, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 289
288: Macbeth Inverted
In this episode, Graeme talks us through a framework in which we can experience Macbeth (you know, that Scottish play). Turns out that when you kill a Scottish king, everything goes topsy turvy.
Dec 02, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 288
287: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving
Ever heard of the headless horseman? Did you know he was a Hessian Soldier? Do you know where the Jack-o-lantern comes from? FIND OUT IN THIS SPOOOOOOOKY EPISODE.
Nov 04, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 287
286: Prince Darling
Faeries. Stay away from them or you'll have your finger pricked all to heck.
Oct 07, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 286
285: The Democratic Man: Plato's Republic Revisited
In this episode, Graeme discusses the degradation of man as a reflection of the degradation of the state suggested in Plato's Republic, Book VIII. Apparently true freedom is bloodshed.
Sep 30, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 285
284: Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"
In this (far too long) episode, we play a quiz show with a cake as a prize. Because really, that's what every war is about: cake.
Sep 09, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 284
283: Beauty and the Beast
Thomas continues his series on children's books with the (an?) original Beauty and the Beast tale. It's pretty lovely. Is it bad if I want to be Thomas's kid?
Sep 02, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 283
282: Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen
In this episode, we discuss Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility," along with a bunch of doofy males. I mean we discuss them, we don't podcast with them.
Aug 26, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 282
281: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Evil deeds? Never. I would never do that. I mean, somebody else might. But I never would. Trample a child? Nah. Nope. Not me.
Aug 19, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 281
280: Raskolnikov and Narcissism
In this episode, Graeme tells us of the Narcissism of Raskolnikov. I mean, Graeme tells you, but A.J. had all the ideas (please give him validation).
May 20, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 280
279: Aesop's Fables
In this episode, we talk about ants, grasshoppers, scorpions, and a fish named Chris.
May 13, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 279
278: Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations"
Ever feel like reading the diary of a Roman emperor? Boy have I got the book for you.
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 278
277: "Emma," by Jane Austen
In this episode, Graeme tells us the story of Emma, a meddler, someone who doesn't know as much as she thinks she does. Join us, listener, as we take a journey with a socialite.
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 277
276: Dyskolos (my favorite DJ)
In this episode, A.J. is a grouch and falls in a well, Graeme is lovestruck, and Thomas talks us through Menander's play "Dyskolos."
Mar 11, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 276
275: Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener"
I would love to give you a summary of the episode, but I prefer not to.
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 275
274: The Lord of the Flies
So I MAY have missed that Satan is sometimes called the Lord of the Flies. I see that now. I admit I make mistakes. But hey, at least I caught on to the rest of the biblical imagery.
Feb 11, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 274
273: Against Christian Civilization
In this episode, we discuss Paul Kingsnorth's lecture about Christian civilization. Some are for it. Some against it. Settle it with a boxing match? Yes please.
Feb 04, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 273
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