Combat and Classics Podcast
102 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago - ★★★★★ - 74 ratingsCombat and Classics is a series of podcasts and free online seminars for active duty, reserve, and veteran U.S. military members, sponsored by St. John’s College. The podcasts and seminars encourage deep thought and reflection by leaders in the company of their peers. In the discussion-based seminars devoted to what a leader must be and know, participants study historical and fictional leaders from the great books of the western canon. We examine techniques and examples of persuasion and fundamental questions on the nature of man. When participants take the time to reflect, with their peers, on the principles of leadership, they find that they return to their lives and professional positions energized and focused, with a deeper understanding of the context of their decisions, decision-making processes, and leadership roles. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
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Episodes
Ep. 42 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book II with Shilo Brooks
June 26, 2020 04:14 - 50 minutes - 41.3 MBShilo Brooks returns to continue our exploration of Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book II where Cyrus goes to war against the Assyrians and we try to tease out what fundamentals of warfare Cyrus discovers versus what he's taught by the Persians. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 41 Xenophon's "Education of Cyrus," Book I
June 18, 2020 02:00 - 48 minutes - 39.5 MBShilo Brooks returns to the pod to discuss Book I of Xenophon's "Education of Cyrus" examining the early upbringing of Cyrus and the nature of government. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 41 Xenophon's "Education of Cyrus," Book I, with Shilo Brooks
June 18, 2020 02:00 - 48 minutes - 39.5 MBShilo Brooks returns to the pod to discuss Book I of Xenophon's "Education of Cyrus" examining the early upbringing of Cyrus and the nature of government. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 40 The Sicilian Expedition
June 17, 2020 16:45 - 50 minutes - 41.5 MBAndrea Radasanu returns to discuss the Sicilian Expedition from Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian War." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 40 The Sicilian Expedition, with Andrea Radasanu
June 17, 2020 16:45 - 50 minutes - 41.5 MBAndrea Radasanu returns to discuss the Sicilian Expedition from Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian War." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 39 The Wright Brothers, with Shilo Brooks
June 17, 2020 16:28 - 34 minutes - 27.6 MBJeff and Brian are joined by Shilo Brooks, Director of the Engineering Leadership Program at the University of Colorado - Boulder, to discuss the role of engineering in the liberal arts and his lovely essay on the Wright Brothers for Scientific American: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/why-did-the-wright-brothers-succeed-when-others-failed/ https://www.colorado.edu/herbst/shilo-brooks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 39 The Wright Brothers
June 17, 2020 16:28 - 34 minutes - 27.6 MBJeff and Brian are joined by Shilo Brooks, Director of the Engineering Leadership Program at the University of Colorado - Boulder, to discuss the role of engineering in the liberal arts and his lovely essay on the Wright Brothers for Scientific American: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/why-did-the-wright-brothers-succeed-when-others-failed/ https://www.colorado.edu/herbst/shilo-brooks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 38 Thucydides Part I with Andrea Radasanu
June 17, 2020 05:07 - 49 minutes - 40.4 MBJeff and Brian are joined by Dr. Andrea Radasanu, Acting Director of the University Honors Program at Northern Illinois University, to discuss Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian War," specifically the Athenian plague and Pericles funeral oration. For more info on Andrea and NIU, click here: https://www.niu.edu/honors/about/staff.shtml --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 37 Claudia Hauer "Strategic Humanism"
June 14, 2020 04:01 - 47 minutes - 41.3 MBBrian and Jeff are joined by Claudia Hauer, St. John's College Tutor and Visiting Professor at the United States Air Force Academy to discuss her new book "Strategic Humanism: Lessons of Leadership from the Ancient Greeks." To pre-order, click below: https://www.politicalanimalpress.com/product/strategic-humanism/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 36: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
March 18, 2020 16:34 - 55 minutes - 48.6 MBJoin Brian, Ashley Johnson (https://www.writethinkdream.com/) and Anne Kniggendorf (twitter: @annekniggendorf) in their discussion of the 19th century classic, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 35 In Memoriam: Lise van Boxel
March 11, 2020 03:16 - 21 minutes - 25.3 MBOur dear friend, co-founder, co-host and great souled human, Lise van Boxel, has passed away. We present our humble tribute. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Episode 34 Iliad, Book 6
January 07, 2020 10:53 - 56 minutes - 66.1 MBANNOUNCEMENT: We recently learned that C&C co-founder Lise van Boxel has been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment. If you would like to help and express your support, please visit the GoFundMe page created for her benefit. In this episode, Brian is joined by guest Scott Hambrick, founder of Online Great Books. Brian will be teaching a seminar through Scott's website starting in January. Sign up here and receive a 25% discount. Brian and Scott discuss...
Ep. 34 Homer's Iliad, Book 6
January 07, 2020 10:53 - 56 minutes - 66.1 MBANNOUNCEMENT: We recently learned that C&C co-founder Lise van Boxel has been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment. If you would like to help and express your support, please visit the GoFundMe page created for her benefit. In this episode, Brian is joined by guest Scott Hambrick, founder of Online Great Books. Brian will be teaching a seminar through Scott's website starting in January. Sign up here and receive a 25% discount. Brian and Scott discuss ...
Ep. 33: Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra
November 25, 2019 10:09 - 50 minutes - 49 MBWe begin our next "close read" series with the first two sections of Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, which conclude with the famous line "God is dead." Lise, Jeff, and Brian discuss Nietzsche's imagery, allusions, and treatment of questions of love, envy, and humanity. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 32: Veterans Education Project
August 22, 2019 10:17 - 30 minutes - 23.3 MBBrian interviews Daniel Elkins, founder and director of the Veterans Education Project, which works to address issues faced by veterans in higher education. You can find more information on the Project's website. And tune in to the Project's podcast "Coffee with Congress" here, where it shares conversations with members of Congress about everything but politics. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 32: Veterans Education Project
August 22, 2019 10:17 - 30 minutes - 23.3 MBBrian interviews Daniel Elkins, founder and director of the Veterans Education Project, which works to address issues faced by veterans in higher education. You can find more information on the Project's website. And tune in to the Project's podcast "Coffee with Congress" here, where it shares conversations with members of Congress about everything but politics. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 31: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
July 30, 2019 09:45 - 59 minutes - 46.6 MBWe're joined today by actor Matt Eitzen who is also a Shakespeare and Roman history aficionado. You can catch Matt in upcoming productions at The Guinea Pig Theater in Dallas, Texas through this link: https://www.facebook.com/theguineapigdallas/ You can rent Brian's favorite interpretation, "Caesar Must Die" on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVY_edU8vZA --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 30: Shakespeare's King Lear
June 12, 2019 17:37 - 53 minutes - 39.3 MBBrian is joined by guest George Eckerle, St. John's grad and co-founder (with Brian) of the Plato Project, a series of online seminars for discussion of Plato's complete works. In this episode they discuss one of William Shakespeare's most well-known tragedies, King Lear. Referenced Links: Peter Burke version of King Lear - https://youtu.be/0DWCn6H_KZM Ismail Kadare "Essays on World Literature" - https://www.amazon.com/Essays-World-Literature-Aeschylus-Shakespeare/dp/1632061740 --- S...
Ep. 29: Emerson's Divinity School Address
April 30, 2019 09:55 - 49 minutes - 53.1 MBHow does speech move the human soul? How can a leader use speech inspire others to action? Lise, Jeff, and Brian tackle those questions in their discussion of Ralph Waldo Emerson's address to the graduating class of Harvard's divinity school in 1838. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 28: Aristotle’s Politics Bk. I, part 4
March 08, 2019 12:32 - 58 minutes - 66.3 MBJeff, Lise, and Brian continue our "close-read" series on Aristotle's Politics. They continue to tackle Aristotle's discussion of slavery, which raises questions about nature, law, and virtue. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 27: Interview with Jennifer Wright
November 26, 2018 11:17 - 34 minutes - 29.8 MBBrian sits down with St. John's College alum Jennifer Wright, who is a writer and the author of several books including It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History. They talk about Ms. Wright's informed and fun take on history, as well as her career path from SJC to professional writer. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 26: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher"
November 19, 2018 10:45 - 50 minutes - 58 MBWhat is the relationship between the natural world and the human world? In this belated Halloween episode, Lise, Jeff, and Brian discuss Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 25: Aristotle's Politics, part 3
October 28, 2018 12:07 - 56 minutes - 65 MBWhat is slavery? What does slavery have to do with the household or the state? Brian, Lise, and Jeff dig deeper into the Politics in Part 3 of their discussion of this series. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 24: Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants"
October 21, 2018 10:13 - 41 minutes - 43.7 MBHow do human beings confront a crisis? Anne Kniggendorf and Matt Young join Brian for a conversation about Ernest Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants." In case you missed it: Tune in to Brian's interviews with Anne and Matt in previous episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 23: Aristotle Politics Bk. I, part 2
October 09, 2018 09:14 - 43 minutes - 49.4 MB“Man is by nature a political animal.” Lise, Jeff, and Brian continue their conversation about Book I of Aristotle’s Politics, in which that famous line appears. They address Aristotle’s discussion of how a city comes to be, and his assertion that humans reach their full potential by living in a city. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 22: Interview with Matt Young
August 21, 2018 10:09 - 43 minutes - 41.1 MBBrian interviews Matt Young, Marine Corps veteran, English professor, and author of Eat the Apple, an memoir that has been described as "The Iliad of the Iraq war." They begin by discussing maintaining your humanity (or not) while serving in and returning from war. They go on to talk about the relationship between civilian and military citizens and how literature and writing can help veterans to manage anger and build empathy after military service. Contains explicit language. --- Supp...
Ep. 21: Aristotle's Politics Bk. I, part 1
August 06, 2018 02:26 - 54 minutes - 64.4 MBJeff, Lise, and Brian roll up their sleeves and dig in to Aristotle's Politics. How are this and other "Great Books" relevant to how we live our lives? What is good political rule? What does it mean to be "just" within a political system? What problems can politics solve? What problems can it not solve? The team tackles those questions and much more in this episode. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 20: Interview With Doug Lensing
July 01, 2018 22:48 - 56 minutes - 48 MBDouglas Lensing joins the show to talk about his path from the Navy to St. John's College and his paper "Passion and Mind: Homer's Formula for Victory in the Iliad." Doug joined the Navy on a Naval Special Warfare contract, but after failing to complete BUD/S went to Defense Language Institute, learned Farsi and worked at Fort Gordon, Georgia as a linguist. Doug will be starting his Ph.D. at Baylor University in Political Science in the fall of 2018. --- Support this podcast: https://...
Ep.19: Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
May 28, 2018 19:27 - 44 minutes - 51 MBIs human life "nada" - nothing? In their discussion of Hemingway's (very) short story, Brian, Lise, and Jeff examine the contrast between youth and old age and the states of being hurried versus unhurried. How are those distinctions related to the question of whether there is a difference between those who need a clean, well-lighted place and those who do not? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-wilson5/support
Ep.19: Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place"
May 28, 2018 19:27 - 44 minutes - 51 MBIs human life "nada" - nothing? In their discussion of Hemingway's (very) short story, Brian, Lise, and Jeff examine the contrast between youth and old age and the states of being hurried versus unhurried. How are those distinctions related to the question of whether there is a difference between those who need a clean, well-lighted place and those who do not? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 18: Racine's Phedre
April 03, 2018 00:32 - 51 minutes - 57.9 MBCan you simultaneously hate and love the same thing? What is the relationship between virtue and love? Lise, Jeff, and Brian tackle those questions and more in this episode on Jean Racine's play Phedre. Also, as promised, you can find Jeff's Frankenstein lecture here and the book with Lise's essay here. Enjoy! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 17: Freud's On Transience
March 20, 2018 10:17 - 48 minutes - 56.7 MBJeff, Lise, and Brian discuss Freud’s On Transience, in which Freud ruminates on the transitory nature life and beautiful things in life. The piece prompts a conversation about a variety of topics Freud raises, from death to libido to war. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 17: Freud's "On Transience"
March 20, 2018 10:17 - 48 minutes - 56.7 MBJeff, Lise, and Brian discuss Freud’s "On Transience," in which Freud thinks about the transitory nature of life and of the beautiful things in life. The piece prompts a conversation about a variety of topics Freud raises, from death to libido to war. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 16: Interview with Anne Kniggendorf
March 15, 2018 01:32 - 33 minutes - 32 MBBrian interviews St. John's College alum and U.S. Navy veteran Anne Kniggendorf. They have an engaging discussion about the relationship between liberal arts and the military. Check out Anne's website (https://annekniggendorf.com/) and Anne's article, mentioned in the pod (https://electricliterature.com/gracie-allen-and-john-denver-in-boot-camp-c45ee066e561). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 15: Shelley's Frankenstein
January 29, 2018 21:06 - 51 minutes - 62.9 MB“I beheld the wretch – the miserable monster whom I had created.” Why did Victor Frankenstein create his monster? What role did beauty, love, science, and education play in his endeavor? Join Lise, Brian, and Jeff in a discussion of this classic, widely known novel. As a follow up, listen to Jeff's lecture on the book here (http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3733) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 14: Chekhov's "Rothschild's Violin"
December 18, 2017 03:12 - 43 minutes - 51.5 MBHow should human life be valued? Is death something to suffer, or something that provides relief? Jeff, Lise and Brian discuss these questions and more in examining Anton Chekhov's short story "Rothschild's Violin" or "Rothschild's Fiddle." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 13: Plato's Phaedo
October 28, 2017 10:16 - 42 minutes - 48.4 MBShould we fear death? Jeff, Lise, and Brian discuss Plato's Phaedo, in which Socrates is joined by his friends to discuss that and other questions while awaiting the time for Socrates' execution later the same day. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 12: Sophocles' Philoktetes
September 28, 2017 02:28 - 43 minutes - 50.4 MBWhat role do lying and deception play in achieving strategic objectives? Jeff, Lise and Brian discuss that and other questions as raised by Sophocles in Philoktetes, in which a soldier (Philoktetes) is recovered from an island where he was left after being wounded. His significance arises from his possession is the famed bow of Heracles, which the characters Odysseus and Neoptolemus believe is necessary to win the Trojan war. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho...
Ep. 11: Rousseau's "First Discourse on the Arts and Sciences"
August 07, 2017 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBJeff, Lise, and Brian are joined by the distinguished Dylan Casey and Wes Alwan for this crossover episode with the Partially Examined Life. They discuss the First Discourse on the Arts and Sciences, in which Rousseau argues that the arts and sciences tend to lead to "moral corruption". What is "moral corruption"? What does it mean for a human being to be "whole"? How can a society be structured to allow individual humans to achieve wholeness? What role do the arts and sciences play in that ...
Ep. 11: Rousseau's Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts
August 07, 2017 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBJeff, Lise, and Brian are joined by the distinguished Dylan Casey and Wes Alwan for this crossover episode with the Partially Examined Life. They discuss the Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, or First Discourse, in which Rousseau argues that the arts and sciences tend to lead to "moral corruption". What is "moral corruption"? What does it mean for a human being to be "whole"? How can a society be structured to allow individual humans to achieve wholeness? What role do the arts and scie...
Ep. 10: Anton Chekhov's "The Student"
July 05, 2017 10:00 - 40 minutes - 44.3 MBIn this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss “The Student,” a (very) short story by Anton Chekhov. The central character is Ivan, a student, or disciple, whose depression is transformed into elation during the course of his conversation with a peasant mother and daughter about the suffering of Peter as he realizes his betrayal of Jesus. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 9: Joseph Conrad's "Typhoon"
July 05, 2017 09:58 - 40 minutes - 46.4 MBLise, Jeff and Brian discuss another work by Joseph Conrad, a rip-roaring, seafaring tale! In his novella Typhoon, Conrad tells the story of Captain McWhirr, his crew, and his ship’s brawling passengers as they sail through a typhoon. The work raises questions about leadership in the face of human conflict and natural disasters. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 8: Joseph Conrad's "The Secret Sharer"
July 05, 2017 09:56 - 42 minutes - 49.1 MBIn this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss Joseph Conrad’s short story “The Secret Sharer,” which features a psychological drama between an young, unnamed captain who is uncertain of his ability to lead his ship and a mysterious man named Leggatt who swims up to the side of the ship, naked and adrift. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 7: Shakespeare's Coriolanus
July 05, 2017 09:53 - 43 minutes - 50.2 MBHow do military leaders relate to the civilians they protect? In this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss that and other questions raised by this Shakespearean tragedy. The story of Coriolanus, a Roman general, starts with a heroic victory for Rome, but ends with exile, defection to the enemy, and ultimately death. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 6: Plato's Symposium
July 05, 2017 09:39 - 49 minutes - 57.5 MBJoin Lise, Jeff and Brian for another Platonic dialogue! Socrates and Alcibiades reappear at a party attended by several characters who decide to take turns praising Eros, who is often referred to in English as the “god of love.” As the dialogue progresses, we learn there is much more to love, or rather to “eros,” than sexual desire, and the characters’ conversation moves on to numerous other topics, including politics, law, and philosophy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spo...
Ep. 5: Aristophanes' "Birds"
June 19, 2017 17:48 - 51 minutes - 53.4 MBWhat can we learn from a farce about banishment? Where do politics, nature and religion collide with the absurd? Check out our discussion on Aristophanes' "Birds." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 5: Aristophanes' Birds
June 19, 2017 17:48 - 51 minutes - 53.4 MBWhat can we learn from a farce about banishment? Where do politics, nature and religion collide with the absurd? Check out our discussion of Aristophanes' Birds. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 4: Plato's Alcibiades I
June 19, 2017 17:47 - 48 minutes - 52 MBLet's do some more Plato! Alcibiades is one of the most famous figures in military history. An incredibly successful Athenian general who fled to Athens' enemy Sparta after being charged with with sacrilege. He and Socrates had a very "complicated" relationship. This particular dialogue raises questions about the nature of justice and who is worthy to lead. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support
Ep. 3: Interview with Professor Martin L. Cook
June 19, 2017 17:44 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBJoin us for a discussion with Martin L. Cook, Distinguished Visiting Professor at United States Air Force Academy. Prior to that, Professor Cook was Admiral James B. Stockdale Professor of Professional Military Ethics at the College of Operational and Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Naval War College. He is also co-editor of The Journal of Military Ethics. Cook was previously a professor of philosophy and deputy department head at the Philosophy Department of the U.S. Air Force Academy fr...
Ep. 2: Plato's Republic
June 19, 2017 17:41 - 46 minutes - 49.2 MBJoin Lise, Jeff and Brian for a conversation on Book I of the Republic. BUT FIRST! How to approach the "Great Books": How do you start from scratch with no background or without a group? We hope you like it! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian-wilson5/support