119 - Sparta vs. Stoicism
On how the Spartans achieved emotional mastery, long before Stoicism was invented.
May 07, 2026•12 min•Ep. 119
Cost of Glory
The most influential biographies ever written, admired by leaders, creators, soldiers, and thinkers for nearly 2,000 years: Plutarch’s Parallel lives. Essential listening for anyone striving after greatness. Alex Petkas, former professor of ancient philosophy and history, revives and dramatically retells these unforgettable stories for modern audiences. The subjects are statesmen, generals, orators, and founders; pious and profane, stoics and hedonists. The stakes bear on the future of Western civilization. The cost of glory is always great. Visit costofglory.com to find out more.
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Episodes
118 - Is Julius Caesar in Heaven?
-Lessons both personal and political from the life of Caesar. -The Net Worth of Caesar's Estate -Also, could he be in heaven? What should a Christian's, or any modern man's attitude be toward Caesar? -Thanks to sponsors Shokworks and Dr. Richard Johnson! -Shout out to Ward Farnsworth, author of The Practical Stoic, Classical English Rhetoric, and more! Find out more about The Classical Society: https://theclassicalsociety.com...
Mar 30, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 118
117 - Alexander's Sack of Thebes, w/ Victor Davis Hanson
A conversation with American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator Victor Davis Hanson. We discuss: Why Epaminondas remains one of the most underrated commanders in Greek history, and how the loss of Plutarch's Life of Epaminondas has obscured his legacy The pivotal liberation of Thebes in 378 BC: how a small band of conspirators overthrew the Spartan-backed oligarchy and sparked a democratic revolution Epaminondas's strategic masterstroke at Leuctra — the deep o...
Feb 21, 2026•52 min•Ep. 117
116 - Caesar 3: Divus Julius
Part 3 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. Did Caesar want to be a King? A god? What was his vision for Rome? Was there a way he could have prevented his assassination? In this episode: Caesar returns to Rome His Triumphs His Reforms His Clemency His Final War in Spain; the Batle of Munda The Octavius Question The Plots, Dreams, Portents, The men he trusted; the men who betrayed him Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs . Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power soluti...
Jan 24, 2026•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 116
115 - Aristotle, Thiel Fellowship, and Human Greatness w/ Michael Gibson
In this episode: Michael Gibson's origin story Meeting Peter Thiel and launching the Thiel Fellowship The importance of Aristotle Aristotle on "The Gigachad" Is intelligence enough? Failure of philosophy is present in Plato's work...not Aristotle's Alexander the Great's major influence Inspiration from the immortals Why victory is better than happiness Friends as a second self
Nov 07, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 115
114 - Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss
A conversation with the bestselling author, classicist and the military and naval historian Barry Strauss about his latest book Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire . We explore: Why Julius Caesar became a key patron of the Jews and how his support shaped Jewish life in the Roman Empire The pivotal moment when Antipater (Herod's father) saved Caesar in Egypt, and how it changed Jewish-Roman relations Caesar's assassination: the personal ambitions and fea...
Oct 24, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 114
113 - Cato and his Stoicism: w/ Johnathan Bi
A conversation with Johnathan Bi (Cosmos Institute, The Great Books podcast) for a deep dive into Stoicism through the life and philosophy of Cato the Younger. We explore: Why Stoicism continues to attract modern audiences Jonathan’s personal journey with Stoicism—and why he ultimately turned to other philosophies Nietzsche’s critique of Stoicism as a coping mechanism How Cato embodied Stoic principles (and where he may have fallen short) The tension between Stoic theory and Stoic practice in fi...
Oct 03, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 113
112 - The Psychology of Envy and the Fall of Caesar: w/ Rob Henderson
A conversation with Rob Henderson — Air Force veteran, psychologist, and author of the bestselling "Troubled". In this episode: Rob's journey from foster care to Cambridge and lessons about status, envy, and human nature The psychology of envy and jealousy - from Julius Caesar's assassination to modern politics Difference between dominance and prestige in human behavior Why envy is one of the most powerful yet unacknowledged human emotions How these dynamics shape personal relationships and soci...
Sep 23, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 112
111 - Caesar's Civil War III: Came Saw Conquered
Part 3 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. From triumph to near-disaster. Caesar's Egyptian entanglement transforms him from a glorious victor to a desperate challenger. In this episode: Pompey's assassination in Egypt and Caesar's unexpected grief over his former ally's death Cleopatra's legendary entrance in a bed-sack and her political seduction of Caesar The brutal urban warfare trapping Caesar in the palace quarter for six months The burning of the Great Library during the harbor battles—400...
Sep 11, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 111
110 - Caesar's Civil War II: Bloody Pharsalia
Part 2 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. After his lightning conquest of Italy, Caesar faces his greatest challenge yet as Pompey masses a vast army in Greece. In this episode: Caesar's second dictatorship and revolutionary reforms in Rome—citizenship grants, debt relief, and restoration of the proscribed The dangerous winter crossing of the Adriatic, splitting his forces against Pompey's naval supremacy The siege of Dyrrhachium and Caesar's ambitious 17-mile circumvallation to trap Pompey The ...
Jul 12, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 110
109 - Caesar's Civil War I: Breakdown
Part 1 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. The die is cast—Caesar crosses the Rubicon and plunges Rome into civil war. In this episode: The political crisis of 51-50 BCE as Caesar's enemies demand his recall from Gaul Curio's shocking defection and proposal that both Caesar and Pompey lay down arms The breakdown of negotiations and Pompey's fateful acceptance of command against Caesar His lightning campaign through Italy as cities surrender without a fight The siege of Corfinium and Caesar's revo...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 109
108 - Caesar 2: Law and Nature
Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. In this episode: Caesar forms the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus, uniting Rome's most powerful men His revolutionary consulship of 59 BCE bypasses Senate opposition through popular assemblies The brilliant staging of the Gallic conquest, using allies and tribal conflicts as pretexts for expansion His management of Rome through letters while commanding armies across Gaul The death of Julia and Crassus fractures the political alliance holding Ro...
May 10, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 108
107 - Caesar 1: Man of Destiny
The much awaited series on Julius Caesar begins, with the inaugural episode: "Man of Destiny". In this episode: Caesar's formative years in the shadow of Sulla's dictatorship His early political boldness and refusal to divorce Cornelia The capture by pirates and his merciless revenge Caesar's rise through the ranks of Roman politics as Quaestor and Aedile The Catilinarian conspiracy and Caesar's narrow escape from execution His famous ambition: "I would rather be first man here than second at Ro...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 107
106 - The New Indiana Jones - w/ Dr. Brent Seales
A conversation with Dr. Brent Seales , professor of computer science at the University of Kentucky and a modern day Indiana Jones who has been using advanced technology to restore and redeem cultural and historical artifacts from the ravages of time. In this episode: The 'virtual unwrapping' of the Vesuvius scrolls Unearthing an entire new Renaissance Brent's encounters with Silicon Valley and some DOGE members The long-term future of this project...
Mar 23, 2025•51 min•Ep. 106
105 - Breeding Future Statesmen: Interview w/ Kevin Dolan on the EXIT podcast
A conversation w/ Kevin Dolan on Kings of Sparta, Anti-Natalist Roman Aristocrats, and whether Christianity destroyed or saved Rome. Join me at the Natal Conference , March 28-29, 2025, in Austin, TX! https://natalism.org Find Kevin on X at https://x.com/extradeadjcb
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 105
104 - Heroic Struggles in Vietnam, w/ Doyle Glass
A conversation with Doyle Glass, author of Swift Sword, The True Story of the Marines of MIKE 3/5 in Vietnam, 4 September 1967 . Intro Story featuring BlackJack Mulligan . ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjack_Mulligan ) In this episode: Mastering Fear in Combat A lawyer's journey to becoming an artist and an author The ambush begins: "The tree line stood up" Clear headed leadership of Lieutenant Murray The heroic Father Capodanno Larry Peters' Sacrifice to Save His Squad The powerful psycho...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 104
103 - The Immortal Cato
Cato's Afterlife, Takeaways, Sources. Some Modern Sources: Rome's Last Citizen , by Goodman and Soni Uncommon Wrath , by Osgood Cato the Younger by Drogula
Feb 06, 2025•25 min•Ep. 103
102 - Cato III: The Senate's Ashes
The Finale, of the life of Cato the Younger. In this episode: The burning of the Senate house after Clodius' murder in 52 BCE Cato's failed bid for consulship and his hardline stance against Caesar The outbreak of civil war and Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon Cato's final days and dramatic suicide A tale of principle and paradox, Cato's resolute stand for Republican values helped precipitate its own downfall. His death at Utica - dramatic, philosophical, and on his own terms - marked not just t...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 102
101 - Cato II: Seducers of Rome
Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Cato the Younger. In this episode: Cato confronts the rising power of Caesar and Pompey in the Senate The scandalous note from Servilia that backfired on Cato His principled handling of the Cyprus annexation mission The formation of the First Triumvirate and Cato's resistance His memorable year as Praetor and battles against corruption The death of Julia and Crassus sets the stage for civil war A story of political intrigue, street violence, and the struggle to preserv...
Dec 21, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 101
100 - Cato I: A Strange Boy
Episode 1 of the Life of Cato the Younger, Rome's great Stoic statesman. In this episode: Cato's earliest years and the murder of his uncle His first encounter with Sulla as a precocious youth Cato establishes his reputation: in military service and as Quaestor A Principled stand against Julius Caesar On this centennial episode, I'd like to thank all of my listeners and patrons. On to the next hundred!
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 100
99 - On Progress - Against Stoicism
How to make progress, and know it. Featuring a few of Plutarch's critiques of some Stoics of his day - whether fairly or unfairly, you can decide. Also featuring: Diogenes the Cynic, Aeschylus the Poet, Brasidas the Spartan Commander. Also featuring: ZEAL
Nov 06, 2024•20 min•Ep. 99
98 - Gallic Wars 8: Finale
Caesar ties all loose ends in his Gallic Campaign, in part 8, the final episode of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. In this episode: Fin...
Oct 21, 2024•36 min•Ep. 98
97 - Gallic Wars 7: Vercingetorix and the Great Revolt
Caesar faces the Gallic Grande Armée through fire and snow, in part 7, the climax of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. In this episode: S...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 97
96 - Gallic Wars 6: Manhunt
Caesar fights through enemy tribes and orders a Purge in his manhunt for Ambiorix, in part 6 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. In this...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 96
95 - Gallic Wars 5: Uprisings
The mighty Caesar returns to Britain, and faces uprisings and deadly skirmishes in Gaul, in part 5 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. I...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 95
94 - Gallic Wars 4: Amphibious Assault
Caesar crosses two major bodies of water (and he hasn’t even gotten to the Rubicon yet), in part 4 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. I...
Jul 31, 2024•58 min•Ep. 94
93 - Gallic Wars 3: Caesar At Sea
Caesar faces enemies at home and on sea, in part 3 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. In this episode: Caesar faces the sea-faring peop...
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 93
92 - Gallic Wars 2: Conspiracy
Caesar almost loses it all, in part 2 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. In this episode: -A conspiracy of the powerful, warlike Belgae...
Jul 03, 2024•52 min•Ep. 92
91 - Gallic Wars 1: Caesar's Chance
The beginning of a new series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic Wars (De Bello Gallico). It’s a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen. I’m having a blast revisiting this classic, and I think you will too. Subscribe to the...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 91
90 - Heroes are Dangerous: Rousseau & Nietzsche with Johnathan Bi
Johnathan Bi left success in the startup world to focus on researching the deep ideas that power the world, and has recently launched his series on the Great Books of the West, starting with his lecture on Nietzsche. In this episode: What is Rousseau’s impact on the world? Johnathan’s Journey towards the Great Thinkers and their Books The Duality of Heroism & Rousseau as Hero Worshipper Rousseau’s balanced treatments of Nietzsche’s Ideas Why do we need Heroes? The Difference between Desire f...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 90
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