Classical Stuff You Should Know
296 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 595 ratingsA.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
258: Plantagenets 12: Three Kings in Three Months
April 16, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 140 MBThis 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.
257: Plantagenets 11: Bleeding to Death from a Broken Heart
March 19, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 150 MBTurns 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
256: Genghis Khan 3: Loki and the Frat Battle
March 12, 2024 10:00 - 58 minutes - 134 MBIn 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!
255: Winnie the Pooh
March 05, 2024 11:00 - 46 minutes - 107 MBWhere does the Pooh part come from? A swan. That's all the explanation you'll get.
254: Kristin Lavransdatter 2: "I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL"
February 27, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 102 MBIn 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..
253: Beatrix Potter
February 13, 2024 11:00 - 57 minutes - 132 MBIn this episode, Thomas walks us through the storied life of Beatrix Potter. We also discuss a bully rabbit.
252: Genghis Khan 2: The Coat Khan and a Wife Named Borte
February 06, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 147 MBIn this episode, we cover the origins and a chunk of the childhood of Temujin; that's Genghis Khan for all you noobs out there.
251: Kristin Lavransdatter 1
January 23, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 150 MBKristin 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.
250: Genghis Khan 1
January 16, 2024 11:00 - 59 minutes - 136 MBThis 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.
249: War of the Roses 10:
December 25, 2023 11:00 - 56 minutes - 129 MBGraeme continues the saga of the War of the Roses. Let me encourage you to receive the caresses of fortune with mild endurance.
248: An interview with Pastor C. R. Wiley about his book, "In the House of Tom Bombadil"
December 20, 2023 23:11 - 13 minutes - 31.4 MBThis 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!
247: Heart of Darkness
November 21, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 142 MBJoseph 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."
246: The War of the Roses 9: A Secret Marriage
November 14, 2023 11:00 - 55 minutes - 127 MBGraeme is back with everybody's favorite historical saga. This time featuring: bro king, a secret marriage, and angry advisors.
245: The Birds, by Aristophanes
October 17, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 140 MBAristophanes is a hoot. GET IT!? A HOOT.
244: Verbs
October 10, 2023 10:00 - 59 minutes - 136 MBIn 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.
243: De Anima, part 3
October 03, 2023 10:00 - 58 minutes - 135 MBThis is the last bit of Aristotle's De Anima. I think we've finally got it cracked. Sort of.
242: The Frogs, by Aristophanes
September 27, 2023 13:58 - 57 minutes - 131 MBIn this episode , Thomas walks us through "The Frogs," by Aristophanes. We also make animal noises.
241: Dogma and the Tripartite Soul
September 19, 2023 10:00 - 49 minutes - 112 MBIn this episode, we revamp an old episode and discuss dogma. Typing with only my left hand is hard.
240: De Anima 2
September 12, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 112 MBIn 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.
239: Hermeneutics
August 29, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 147 MBIn this episode, Graeme walks us through Bible reading strategies. My hand is injured. This is short.
238: De Anima 1: A Number that Moves Itself
August 09, 2023 03:53 - 37 minutes - 86.1 MBIn 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.
237: War of the Roses 8: The King of Bling
July 25, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 142 MBDonaldson regales us with tales of Edward IV, the "Bro King." He loves the ladies. He loves the cash. He loves his bros.
236: "The Clouds," by Aristophanes
July 19, 2023 11:00 - 49 minutes - 84.1 MB"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.
235: Human Rights
July 11, 2023 10:00 - 56 minutes - 130 MBHuman 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?
234: The War of the Roses 7: Everybody Loses Their Lead
July 04, 2023 10:00 - 54 minutes - 124 MBIn 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.
233: Love What Lasts: An Interview with Josh Gibbs
June 06, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 122 MBCan 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/
232: The Fed
May 30, 2023 10:00 - 50 minutes - 116 MBGraeme 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).
231: The Plague
May 23, 2023 10:00 - 58 minutes - 134 MBIn 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.
230: The Gold Standard
May 02, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 153 MBIn 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.
229: Thought Experiments
April 25, 2023 10:00 - 49 minutes - 114 MBIn this episode we discuss a few of the famous thought experiments and their purpose in general. Also, it's totally not the same boat.
228: The Pomposity of ChatGPT
March 28, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 157 MBIn this episode, we review some common writing errors . . . errors that robots commit. Darn Robits are stealin' our jerbs.
227: The final Kantdown
March 14, 2023 10:00 - 58 minutes - 134 MBThis 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.
226: War of the Roses 6: Wormwood
March 07, 2023 11:00 - 59 minutes - 136 MBIn 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.
225: Festschrift
February 21, 2023 11:00 - 53 minutes - 123 MBIn this episode, we discuss the collection of essays written in honor of Andrew Kern, "Liber Amicorum."
224: Kant IV: Get them endsssss
February 14, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 150 MBIn this episode, we continue with chapter two of Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, by Immanuel Kant. Our Hackles. They are raised.
223: The War of the Roses 5: The Mad King
January 25, 2023 02:19 - 59 minutes - 135 MBGraeme 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.
222: Leaf by Niggle by Tolkien
January 17, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 119 MBTolkien 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.
221: The Discarded Image
December 20, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 149 MBIn 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.
220: I Kant Stop: "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals" pt. DEUX
December 13, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 156 MBIn this episode, we continue to journey through a small work by Kant that he thought had great potential for popularity. I DOUBT IT.
219: War of the Roses 4: The Bookish King Lands a Hottie
November 16, 2022 05:23 - 1 hour - 149 MBIn 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.
218: I just Kant: "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals"
November 01, 2022 17:46 - 1 hour - 65.4 MBEver have trouble deciding the right course of action!? LUCKILY, Kant is here to help with a handy tool!
217: The Nicomachean Ethics on why children are bad
October 25, 2022 10:02 - 56 minutes - 129 MBIn this episode, Graeme walks us through how our happiness is a rational thing, and since kids can't be rational . . . they bad.
216: Plato's Crito
September 27, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 149 MBWe finish out the saga of Socrates's trial and death. In this one, Socrates defends why he's sticking around to guzzle some hemlock.
215: Learning in Wartime
September 20, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 140 MBIn 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.
214: Plato's Apology
September 13, 2022 10:00 - 57 minutes - 131 MBHe's God's gift to Athens, so punish him with free meals.
213: Coleridge and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
September 06, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 149 MBIn this episode: zombies, insane children, opium addicts, constipation, and A.J.'s awful mariner accent
212: Plato's Dialogue, "Euthyphro"
August 30, 2022 10:00 - 56 minutes - 129 MBAs 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.
211: War of the Roses 3: The Romantic Queen and the Monkish King
August 23, 2022 13:49 - 57 minutes - 133 MBIn this episode, we follow the aftermath of the death of Henry V. His son, Henry VI, likes hiking, and his widow, Catherine, likes dudes.
210: Children's Lit - Live at Paideia!
August 16, 2022 10:00 - 41 minutes - 39.9 MBThis episode was recorded live at the Paideia conference at Veritas Academy in 2022. In this episode, we roast a critic who hates fun things.
209: The Social Contract: Rousseau goes ham all over Christianity
August 10, 2022 05:00 - 57 minutes - 132 MBChristians are bad for government, I guess.