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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258: Plantagenets 12: Three Kings in Three Months
This is the penultimate episode of Graeme's series on the war of the roses. There's only one more. It's the end of an era. I, for one, grieve.
2024-04-16Link to episode
257: Plantagenets 11: Bleeding to Death from a Broken Heart
Turns out that a king who is good at war sometimes wins wars. Sometimes that means kids beg for their lives. Sometimes that mean someone gets bludgeoned. BUT WE JUST HAVE TO LET THE KING LIVE HIS LIFE OKAY
2024-03-19Link to episode
256: Genghis Khan 3: Loki and the Frat Battle
In this episode, we see the slow degradation of brotherhood, the lamentable breakdown of relationship. Also in this episode: spine cracking wrestling; young love; beating people up with sticks; and knucklebones, the game!
2024-03-12Link to episode
255: Winnie the Pooh
Where does the Pooh part come from? A swan. That's all the explanation you'll get.
2024-03-05Link to episode
254: Kristin Lavransdatter 2: "I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL"
In this episode, I admit that while I, Graeme, have some good points, A.J. is ultimately right. He's convinced me with the gravity of his intellect couched in both wit and charm. What a great guy, that A.J..
2024-02-27Link to episode
253: Beatrix Potter
In this episode, Thomas walks us through the storied life of Beatrix Potter. We also discuss a bully rabbit.
2024-02-13Link to episode
252: Genghis Khan 2: The Coat Khan and a Wife Named Borte
In this episode, we cover the origins and a chunk of the childhood of Temujin; that's Genghis Khan for all you noobs out there.
2024-02-06Link to episode
251: Kristin Lavransdatter 1
Kristin Lavransdatter is a three-volume story by Sigrid Undset. This episode covers volume one. And oh, so much happens. Vows are given. Babies conceived. Fathers hoodwinked. We've got fires. Vagabonds. Poison. Oh, it's good.
2024-01-23Link to episode
250: Genghis Khan 1
This is the first episode of a series on "The Secret History of the Mongols," the primary source for a big chunk of our knowledge about Genghis Khan. This episode lays the groundwork for the actual book.
2024-01-16Link to episode
249: War of the Roses 10:
Graeme continues the saga of the War of the Roses. Let me encourage you to receive the caresses of fortune with mild endurance.
2023-12-25Link to episode
248: An interview with Pastor C. R. Wiley about his book, "In the House of Tom Bombadil"
This is an excerpt from Thomas's recent interview with Pastor C. R. Wiley about his book, "In the House of Tom Bombadil." The full interview is on our Patreon! We'll have another new episode next week!
2023-12-21Link to episode
247: Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is better than you might think. Just as depressing, but probably better. Also, I feel bad for calling Graeme out on "Aprehensious."
2023-11-21Link to episode
246: The War of the Roses 9: A Secret Marriage
Graeme is back with everybody's favorite historical saga. This time featuring: bro king, a secret marriage, and angry advisors.
2023-11-14Link to episode
245: The Birds, by Aristophanes
244: Verbs
In this episode, we discuss how using the right verbs can elevate your writing. It is something useful. You should be a person who uses active verbs. They are great things.
2023-10-10Link to episode
243: De Anima, part 3
This is the last bit of Aristotle's De Anima. I think we've finally got it cracked. Sort of.
2023-10-03Link to episode
242: The Frogs, by Aristophanes
In this episode , Thomas walks us through "The Frogs," by Aristophanes. We also make animal noises.
2023-09-27Link to episode
241: Dogma and the Tripartite Soul
In this episode, we revamp an old episode and discuss dogma. Typing with only my left hand is hard.
2023-09-19Link to episode
240: De Anima 2
In this episode, we discuss Aristotle's definition of a soul. Only one more book to go and we'll pretty much have the soul solved.
2023-09-12Link to episode
239: Hermeneutics
In this episode, Graeme walks us through Bible reading strategies. My hand is injured. This is short.
2023-08-29Link to episode
238: De Anima 1: A Number that Moves Itself
In this episode (recorded live at Paideia!), we discuss book one of Aristotle's "On the Soul," where he dismantles all the other theories about what a soul is before he provides his answer in book two.
2023-08-09Link to episode
237: War of the Roses 8: The King of Bling
Donaldson regales us with tales of Edward IV, the "Bro King." He loves the ladies. He loves the cash. He loves his bros.
2023-07-25Link to episode
236: "The Clouds," by Aristophanes
"The Clouds" is the famous play that helped doom poor Socrates. Thomas leads us through the bawdy ancient comedy. By the way, this episode includes a little content that may not be appropriate for all ages. We did edit a little of it out with some jaunty music in the middle, but if you're listening with small children, you were warned.
2023-07-19Link to episode
235: Human Rights
Human rights are oft trumpeted, but who really knows what they are? Where do they come from? How do they exist? Who gets them? Can I have one?
2023-07-11Link to episode
234: The War of the Roses 7: Everybody Loses Their Lead
In the latest installment of Graeme's historical episodes on the War of the Roses, we have several battles, bloodthirsty children, and beheadings. Add Nicolas Cage and you've got yourself a stew going.
2023-07-04Link to episode
233: Love What Lasts: An Interview with Josh Gibbs
Can you believe Josh came back on the podcast? Neither can we. Thomas and Josh discuss Josh?s newest book (Love What Lasts), music, and Die Hard.
Links discussed in this episode:
To buy a copy of the book: https://circeinstitute.org/product/love-what-lasts/
To sign up for Josh?s summer conference: https://www.gibbsclassical.com/conference
For all things Gibbs: https://www.gibbsclassical.com/
2023-06-06Link to episode
232: The Fed
Graeme explains why the central bank is generally not a scary thing via the historical Knickerbocker Panic. I always thought that's what it's called when you realized you don't have any clean pants for work. Apparently not (Badum-tisssssss).
2023-05-30Link to episode
231: The Plague
In this episode, we discuss a central question in "The Plague" by Camus. Luckily, we avoid the central tenets of existentialism which now apparently raise the hackles of both Graeme AND Thomas. A.J. still likes it, though, and since he's writing this description, he gets to say that the other guys are ninnies, and he's right.
2023-05-23Link to episode
230: The Gold Standard
In this episode, we discuss how the different monetary paradigms have affected history. Turns out, it's kinda hard to make things run if you are just trading shoes back and forth.
2023-05-02Link to episode
229: Thought Experiments
In this episode we discuss a few of the famous thought experiments and their purpose in general. Also, it's totally not the same boat.
2023-04-25Link to episode
228: The Pomposity of ChatGPT
In this episode, we review some common writing errors . . . errors that robots commit. Darn Robits are stealin' our jerbs.
2023-03-28Link to episode
227: The final Kantdown
This is the last of the four part series on Kant's "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals." While I don't feel like I nailed the first bit, I think we ended in a good place.
2023-03-14Link to episode
226: War of the Roses 6: Wormwood
In this episode, Graeme continues his series on the War of the Roses. The catatonic king finally wakes up, a guy fights the king in order to save him, and Clifford doesn't make an appearance.
2023-03-07Link to episode
225: Festschrift
In this episode, we discuss the collection of essays written in honor of Andrew Kern, "Liber Amicorum."
2023-02-21Link to episode
224: Kant IV: Get them endsssss
In this episode, we continue with chapter two of Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, by Immanuel Kant. Our Hackles. They are raised.
2023-02-14Link to episode
223: The War of the Roses 5: The Mad King
Graeme continues his series on the War of the Roses. New this week: a dude who fights without armor on, a military parade, and the mad king. It's like Game of Thrones, except real and sadly lacking Peter Dinklage.
2023-01-25Link to episode
222: Leaf by Niggle by Tolkien
Tolkien once wrote a story that totally isn't an allegory. Not even one bit. We discuss that story (totally an allegory) in this episode. Also, Horticulture! We don't discuss it, just been thinking about it lately.
2023-01-17Link to episode
221: The Discarded Image
In C.S. Lewis's "The Discarded Image," he discusses the complex medieval notion of the cosmos. So . . . we do it too in this episode. Boom.
2022-12-20Link to episode
220: I Kant Stop: "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals" pt. DEUX
In this episode, we continue to journey through a small work by Kant that he thought had great potential for popularity. I DOUBT IT.
2022-12-13Link to episode
219: War of the Roses 4: The Bookish King Lands a Hottie
In this episode, we talk about the exploits of Henry VI, the bookish king. He gets a best friend, a lady, and he gives away some land. Things get crazy.
2022-11-16Link to episode
218: I just Kant: "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals"
Ever have trouble deciding the right course of action!? LUCKILY, Kant is here to help with a handy tool!
2022-11-01Link to episode
217: The Nicomachean Ethics on why children are bad
In this episode, Graeme walks us through how our happiness is a rational thing, and since kids can't be rational . . . they bad.
2022-10-25Link to episode
216: Plato's Crito
We finish out the saga of Socrates's trial and death. In this one, Socrates defends why he's sticking around to guzzle some hemlock.
2022-09-27Link to episode
215: Learning in Wartime
In 1939, C.S. Lewis gave a sermon to some Oxford boys about whether it's okay to study books when there are Nazis to fight.
2022-09-20Link to episode
214: Plato's Apology
213: Coleridge and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
In this episode: zombies, insane children, opium addicts, constipation, and A.J.'s awful mariner accent
2022-09-06Link to episode
212: Plato's Dialogue, "Euthyphro"
As Socrates waits in line for his own trial, he chats up a fellow named Euthyphro who plans to denounce his own father. They end up discussing the definition of piety until Euthyphro politely excuses himself from the conversation.
2022-08-30Link to episode
211: War of the Roses 3: The Romantic Queen and the Monkish King
In this episode, we follow the aftermath of the death of Henry V. His son, Henry VI, likes hiking, and his widow, Catherine, likes dudes.
2022-08-23Link to episode
210: Children's Lit - Live at Paideia!
This episode was recorded live at the Paideia conference at Veritas Academy in 2022. In this episode, we roast a critic who hates fun things.
2022-08-16Link to episode