Podcasts by Classical Stuff You Should Know

247: Heart of Darkness from 2023-11-21T11:00

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."

246: The War of the Roses 9: A Secret Marriage from 2023-11-14T11:00

Graeme is back with everybody's favorite historical saga. This time featuring: bro king, a secret marriage, and angry advisors.

245: The Birds, by Aristophanes from 2023-10-17T10:00

Aristophanes is a hoot. GET IT!? A HOOT.

244: Verbs from 2023-10-10T10:00

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.

243: De Anima, part 3 from 2023-10-03T10:00

This is the last bit of Aristotle's De Anima. I think we've finally got it cracked. Sort of.

242: The Frogs, by Aristophanes from 2023-09-27T13:58:37

In this episode , Thomas walks us through "The Frogs," by Aristophanes. We also make animal noises.

241: Dogma and the Tripartite Soul from 2023-09-19T10:00

In this episode, we revamp an old episode and discuss dogma. Typing with only my left hand is hard.

240: De Anima 2 from 2023-09-12T10:00

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.

239: Hermeneutics from 2023-08-29T10:00

In 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 from 2023-08-09T03:53:21

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 ...

237: War of the Roses 8: The King of Bling from 2023-07-25T10:00

Donaldson 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 from 2023-07-19T11:00

"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 ...

235: Human Rights from 2023-07-11T10:00

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?

234: The War of the Roses 7: Everybody Loses Their Lead from 2023-07-04T10:00

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 go...

233: Love What Lasts: An Interview with Josh Gibbs from 2023-06-06T10:00

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 ...

232: The Fed from 2023-05-30T10:00

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...

231: The Plague from 2023-05-23T10:00

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...

230: The Gold Standard from 2023-05-02T10:00

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.

229: Thought Experiments from 2023-04-25T10:00

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.

228: The Pomposity of ChatGPT from 2023-03-28T10:00

In this episode, we review some common writing errors . . . errors that robots commit. Darn Robits are stealin' our jerbs.

227: The final Kantdown from 2023-03-14T10:00

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.

226: War of the Roses 6: Wormwood from 2023-03-07T11:00

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.

225: Festschrift from 2023-02-21T11:00

In this episode, we discuss the collection of essays written in honor of Andrew Kern, "Liber Amicorum."

224: Kant IV: Get them endsssss from 2023-02-14T11:00

In 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 from 2023-01-25T02:19:20

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...

222: Leaf by Niggle by Tolkien from 2023-01-17T11:00

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...

221: The Discarded Image from 2022-12-20T11:00

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.

220: I Kant Stop: "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals" pt. DEUX from 2022-12-13T11:00

In 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 from 2022-11-16T05:23:14

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.

218: I just Kant: "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals" from 2022-11-01T17:46:34

Ever 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 from 2022-10-25T10:02

In 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 from 2022-09-27T10:00

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.

215: Learning in Wartime from 2022-09-20T10:00

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.

214: Plato's Apology from 2022-09-13T10:00

He's God's gift to Athens, so punish him with free meals.

213: Coleridge and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner from 2022-09-06T10:00

In this episode: zombies, insane children, opium addicts, constipation, and A.J.'s awful mariner accent

212: Plato's Dialogue, "Euthyphro" from 2022-08-30T10:00

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 excus...

211: War of the Roses 3: The Romantic Queen and the Monkish King from 2022-08-23T13:49:30

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.

210: Children's Lit - Live at Paideia! from 2022-08-16T10:00

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.

209: The Social Contract: Rousseau goes ham all over Christianity from 2022-08-10T05:00:02

Christians are bad for government, I guess.

208: War of the roses: The Battle of Agincourt from 2022-08-02T22:47:51

This episode is the continuation of the War of the Roses, and it tells the story of Henry V and The Battle of Agincourt.

207: Nietzsche, Leopardi, and the Meaning of Meaning from 2022-07-26T21:29:06

In this episode, we complete our series on "The Genealogy of Morals." We talk about the heritage of Schopenhauer and how that has affected Freddy's philosophy.

206: War of the Roses: The Roots from 2022-07-19T10:00

The long awaiting continuance of the Plantagenets series finally arrives! Graeme plunges us back into a little UK history.

205: The Social Contract 2: Electric Boogaloo from 2022-07-12T10:00

This is part two of the short series on Jean Jacques Rousseau's "The Social Contract." Just one more!

204: Frederick Douglass on the 5th of July from 2022-07-05T22:47:50

In this episode, Thomas walks us through the context and performance of Frederick Douglass's speech given to the ladies of the "Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society" in Corinthian Hall on July 5th...

203: Bronowski's "The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination" from 2022-06-28T10:00

"WHAT IS MATH!?" hollers the girl on TikTok. Turns out she's right. Any system requires reference to an external system to make itself consistent, but any system is only a metaphor for the whole. T...

202: Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "The Social Contract" (Compact?) from 2022-06-21T10:00

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "The Social Contract" laid the political ground for the French Revolution and probably the American Revolution too. This is just part 1 . . . MORE TO COME.

201: On the Genealogy of Morality from 2022-06-15T16:50:22

In this episode, we discuss Nietzsche's work, "On the Genealogy of Morality," in which he discusses the history of morality through tracing the words used to describe it. We also talk about a recen...

200: What are Wordsworth? from 2022-05-31T10:00

In this episode we track Wordsworth's view of how to stay happy in life, specifically through two poems: "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey," and "Elegiac Stanzas Suggested by a Picture...

199: The Master and Margarita from 2022-05-24T10:00

During Stalin's regime in Russia there was one author daring enough to write a Satire . . . one that I can't quite nail down. I ask Graeme to help me.

198: The Proslogion from 2022-05-03T10:00

The Proslogion contains Anselm of Canterbury's Ontological Argument, which is still argued about in philosophical circles today. It's not really convincing, except that it is.

197: Sympathy and Satan from 2022-04-26T10:00

We discuss the romantic movement and how they interpret Paradise Lost to be other than what it really is. Also, we get cranky about bad guys.

196: Giacomo Leopardi from 2022-04-19T10:00

This one is about an Italian hunchback who lives with his mom and writes nihilistic poetry about women he can't get. You can't make this stuff up.

195: Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" from 2022-04-12T10:00

Asimov's excellent sci-fi trilogy is worth a read. Plus, space capitalism!

194: Ulysses, by James Joyce from 2022-04-05T10:00

I have finally tackled the (rumored) most difficult book in the English language. Feel free to send me any money you've got for the service I just rendered you.

An Interview with Joshua Gibbs from 2022-03-29T10:00

Thomas was kind enough to reach out to Joshua Gibbs for an interview, and the results speak for themselves. Joshua is a renowned figure in the classical world, and we're happy to have him (and his ...

193: So Your Parents are Thinking of Sending You to a Classical Christian School from 2022-03-22T10:00

Josh Gibbs decided to write a pamphlet to kids trembling at the notion of going to a classical school. We, clearly a bunch of children, decided to read it.

QUARANTINE . . . STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW from 2022-03-15T05:52:24

I FEEL SO ALONE

192: Waiting for Godot from 2022-03-08T11:00

Nothing to be done.

191: Atlas Shrugged and the Therapeutic Man from 2022-03-01T11:00

In this episode, drawing three books together, Graeme leads us through a discussion about Atlas Shrugged in light of the Therapeutic man . . . and Raskolnikov.

190: Herodotus IV: Cambyses "The Passable" from 2022-02-22T11:00

In this installment of Thomas's series on the Landmark Herodotus, we talk about the reign of Cambyses, who gave bad gifts, had bad spies, and couldn't pull back a fancy bow. He was cranky about it.

189: Leibniz and the best of all possible worlds from 2022-02-15T11:00

Leibniz's theory of the best of all possible worlds helps to explain the problem of evil in Theism. "Oh nuh uh" says Voltaire. He wrote Candide in response.

188: Four reasons why classical education can't happen from 2022-02-08T11:00

In this episode, we discuss David Hicks's (yep, THAT David Hicks, the one who wrote "Norms and Nobility") article "Is Classical Education Still Possible?" If we agree with him, it could mean that t...

187: Atlas Shrugged: BECOME A TITAN OF INDUSTRY from 2022-02-01T11:00

In Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged," a character gives a two-hundred-page-long speech on objectivism, her philosophy. Hey, if you're looking for an ethos that gives you both independence AND cash, you'r...

PSA: No episode this week! from 2022-01-25T11:00

Ol' Tommy had a kiddo (his wife helped), and Ol' Graemepa was exposed to COVID. No episodes for anybody.

186: The Tao Te Ching from 2022-01-18T11:00

This is our first real venture into eastern philosophy. The Tao Te Ching is from the 4th century BC, and lemme tell ya, I've never wanted to be simple like an infant more.

185: Causation from 2022-01-11T11:00

In this episode, we ponder the four causes and unravel the mysteries of the universe. Well, Thomas does. We ruffle his feathers while he does good work.

Christmas Stuff You Should Know: "Of Consolation: To Helvia" from 2021-12-14T11:00

Seneca writes a letter in exile to his mother. He doesn't pull any punches, then he talks about food for a while. This is part one.

Christmas Stuff You Should Know: Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses from 2021-12-09T17:03:47

As we are all apart for the holidays, I'm going to read a few of my favorite essays and stories to keep your appetite for content sated. This one is by Mark Twain.

184: Advice from a Deep Friar from 2021-11-30T11:00

Sometimes you have feelings. Romeo is one such person who has feelings. Graeme, inspired by a previous episode, ponders on whether Romeo is an existentialist, meaning that the philosophy is immature.

183: Existentialism is a Humanism from 2021-11-23T11:00

Existence precedes essence. If you don't know what that means, you're making a statement about how all men should be, you non-existentialist, you. DID YOU KNOW THAT!?!?

Two weddings and no episode from 2021-11-18T03:44:23

Sorry about the brief lull in content! We're back soon!

182: Herodotus III: Egypt and Water Horses from 2021-11-02T10:00

Continuing on in the Landmark Herodotus, we get to a chapter which earns him the moniker, "Father of Lies." Overstating it a bit, don't you think?

181: Great Expectations from 2021-10-26T10:00

In this episode, we discuss Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations." But you know, if you keep your expectations low, it's harder to be disappointed. I guess, in a way, that's the point of this book.

Just call me PSA.J. from 2021-10-19T10:00

180: Herodotus II: Cyrus the Virus from 2021-10-12T10:00

In this second episode on the Landmark Herodotus, we discuss the exploits of Cyrus the great. You can look forward to: baby swapping, kid kingdom, and blood wine for the dead!

179: The Enchiridion, by Epictetus from 2021-10-05T10:00

The writings of Epictetus are some of the only stoic manuscripts that survive. The Enchiridion is his essential handbook for the budding acolyte of Stoicism.

178: Foil from 2021-09-28T10:00

A literary foil is something in the story that exists to highlight the characteristics of the protagonists. COULD IT BE that literature is a foil for us!? I THINK YES.

177: How to Solve the Trolley Problem from 2021-09-21T10:00

The Trolley problem presents a perfect study case from which to look at different ethical viewpoints. But . . . come on. You know you'd pull the lever. It's just the right thing to do.

176: The Communist Manifesto from 2021-09-14T10:00

In 1848, a small group of social philosophers publish a little pamphlet with big wings: The Communist Manifesto. This podcast is about that thing.

175: Sir Gawain and the Decent Film from 2021-09-07T10:00

In this episode we talk about the differences in theme and construction between the recent (pretty solid) film about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the poem by the same name.

174: Herodotus, History, and Happiness from 2021-08-31T10:00

Herodotus put together a pretty stellar history, and the Landmark version is a stellar translation of it. In this episode we discuss the book and several stories from it.

173: The Happy Equation from 2021-08-24T10:00

Arthur Brooks, a researcher of happiness at Harvard, has distilled his research about happiness into a simple equation. Want to know how to be happy? Turns out this is the way.

172: Intro to the Epics from 2021-08-17T19:40:36

The Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid are all part of one story. That story was common knowledge for the Greeks, but mostly unknown to us moderns. This episode is that story, giving the context necessary ...

A quick announcement from 2021-08-09T06:11:42

It's an announcement. A speedy one.

171: A Retrospective from the Ombudsman of Fun from 2021-07-13T10:00

Thomas has recently left his position as the Dean of Student Life at Veritas. These are the things he's learned.

170: John Donne and a Crash Course to Poetry from 2021-07-06T10:00

A.J. has always struggled with his views of poetry as a genre. He might have finally sorted it out with the help of John Donne.

169: Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling" from 2021-06-29T10:00

Kierkegaard faced the absurdity of the universe, the absurdity of faith, and held both in tension. In this episode we explore his book "Fear and Trembling" as it traces the mystifying story of Abra...

168: The Tempest from 2021-06-22T10:00

Shakespeare's "The Tempest" is a bit of a mystery of a play, especially since nothing really happens.

167: How We Got the Book of Common Prayer from 2021-06-17T10:00

The Book of Common Prayer is for those of us who don't always know what to say. So . . . all of us. Thomas gives us a little history, then a quick rundown of the book.

166: Machiavelli's "The Prince" 2: Pie Fortress from 2021-06-08T10:00

This is the second half of A.J.'s series on Machiavelli's "The Prince." It addresses how a prince can establish a reputation. We also chat about pie.

165: The Great Divorce from 2021-06-01T10:00

"The Great Divorce," by C.S. Lewis, recounts a bus trip to heaven. We discuss the Problem of Evil in the perspective of the book.

164: Euclid and his "Elements" from 2021-05-25T10:00

Euclid's "Elements" was the math text for over a thousand years. We all try to do a proof, and we end up with something looking like an Eiffel Tower.

163: Machiavelli's "The Prince" or "How to kill friends and influence people." from 2021-05-18T10:00

Machiavelli was a statesman that wanted back into the good graces of the Medici. It half worked. This is a discussion of the work that was supposed to do the job of charming the prince. It's entitl...

162: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen from 2021-05-11T21:30:45

Jane Austen is a delight, and her novel Pride and Prejudice is no exception. In this episode, we review the book and talk about what it takes to change as drastically as Elizabeth and Darcy.

161: Rodin's Gates of Hell from 2021-05-04T10:00

While "The Gates of Paradise" mark one of the first uses of perspective in sculpture, Rodin's "Gates of Hell," made much later in response, chronicle the existential despair of human suffering, so ...

160: Modern Maths from 2021-04-27T15:18:06

"A Mathematician's Lament," by Paul Lockhart, mourns the way we teach math to children. In many ways, he's right. A.J. will probably still find something to complain about, though.

159: Satan in Despair, from Milton's Paradise Lost from 2021-04-20T10:00

We all get depressed sometimes. We take a look at when Satan gets the feels in Milton's Paradise Lost.

158: Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise from 2021-04-13T10:00

Lorenzo Ghiberti sculpted what are perhaps the most famous doors of human history. You can see them in Florence (if you go to a museum), or you can listen to this podcast and see them in your mind'...

157: The Intellectual Life from 2021-04-06T10:00

Even smart people need a little direction sometimes (except for Graeme, who is perfect always), and The Intellectual Life by A.G. Sertillanges helps us all in the disciplines of intellectualism.

156: The Faust and the Furious 2: Mopey Ol' Stiff from 2021-03-30T10:00

The rest of Goethe's Faust is flat bananas, and it ends with a devil flirting with Angels. I can't even. (Also, please don't miss my rhyming pun with "Tokyo Drift." I'm convinced puns are extra goo...

156: The Faust and the Furious 2: Mopey Ol' Stiff from 2021-03-30T10:00

The rest of Goethe's Faust is flat bananas, and it ends with a devil flirting with Angels. I can't even. (Also, please don't miss my rhyming pun with "Tokyo Drift." I'm convinced puns are extra goo...

155: The Cathars, or "Helios's Acolytes of Love" from 2021-03-23T10:00

Let's talk about gnosticism. Let's talk about heresy. Let's talk about Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie's book, "Montaillou, Cathars and Catholics in a French village, 1294-1324." Let's talk about starting ...

154: Herding cats the right way according to Milton from 2021-03-16T10:00

As the archangel Michael boots Adam and Eve from Paradise, he gives Adam a vision of the future to, you know, make him feel better. Adam then says that he knows what is right now, and that man only...

A Quick Update from 2021-03-02T12:00

Here's a list of the recommended episodes:
Episode 36: The History of the Plantagenets
Episode 129: The Poetic Edda: "Odin's Pickled Head"
Episode 132: The Poetic Edda 2: An Otter Named...

153: The Faust and the Furious 1 from 2021-02-09T11:00

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust is a breathtaking German masterpiece of literature written by a rock collector. In this episode, we do the first bit of part one.

152: Bamboozled by "A History of Private Life" from 2021-02-02T11:00

"A History of Private Life" is a look at the culture of Rome from the perspective of the commoner. What was it like to be a regular ol' Joe during the time of the Caesars?

QSYSK: Purging Pride from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thomas continues his journey with Dante through Purgatory, specifically the circle of Pride. Also, Francis Ford Coppola

QSYSK: The Gates of Purgatory from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How will we let our own Purgatory affect us? What will our habits be on the other side?

QSYSK: Andreuccio Buys a Horse from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A young man from Perugia makes his way to Naples to purchase a horse and gets entangled with his newfound sister.

QSYSK: A Luckless Pirate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Landolfo Rufolo turns to a life of piracy after making a disastrous effort as a merchant.

QSYSK: Fortune Smiles on the Moneylender from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A trio of brothers get money, lose money, get more money, lose that money, then finally get bailed out of debtors jail by their young cousin who meets a suspicious abbot . . . then meets the pope.

QSYSK: St. Julian Does a Solid from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A merchant falls in with some shady characters, but his patron saint, St. Julian, sees him through safely.

QSYSK: A Thorough Shellacking from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Three Florentines get themselves into trouble when they visit the body of a dead porter everyone believes is a saint.

QSYSK: A Leeky Widow from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this final story of day 1, Pampinea tells the story of an old doctor enamored of a young widow. She tries to poke fun at him, but he cleverly turns the tables.

QSYSK: King Hugh I of Cyprus from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A woman takes a journey to the Holy Land, only to be attacked. She decides to appeal to the king for help.

QSYSK: Ermino Miser from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A court entertainer turns a miser's life around with one sassy quip.

QSYSK: Bergamino's Clothes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Bergamino, a performer, is slighted by Messer Cane, so he tells the story of Primasso and the Abbot.

QSYSK: The Broth-Drowned Inquisitor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this story, a rather innocent rich man is fleeced by a Franciscan monk. The rich man finds vengeance when he needles him good in front of his buddies.

QSYSK: The King Eats Hens from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Marchioness is one beautiful woman, and her reputation reaches a king who makes plans to visit her on the sly.

QSYSK: The Monk and The Abbot from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A young monk who is just too vigorous for monastery life has a quick fling with a girl. Intrigue ensues when the abbot gets involved.

QSYSK: Melchisedech and Saladin Become Friends from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Saladin was once in want of some cash, so he tries to trap Melchisedech into giving him some cash.

QSYSK: Abraham and Giannotto from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this story, a wealthy Parisian cloth merchant convinces a Jewish friend to convert to Christianity after he visits Rome.

Quarantine Stuff You Should Know: The Notary Priest from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This is story one of the Decameron, about a thug who became a saint.

Quarantine stuff you should know: Intro to the Decameron from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This is the first installment of Quarantine Stuff You Should Know. To help with the quarantine doldrums, A.J. will be giving you a story almost daily from the Decameron. This episode serves as an i...

151: Is the Bible Busted? from 2021-01-26T11:00

The Bible has passages that are seemingly contradictory. In this episode, Graeme leads us through a case study of one of such contradiction and why it might be exactly what it seems.

150: The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus from 2021-01-19T11:00

Christopher Marlowe was a contemporary of Shakespeare's, and he wrote poorly. Specifically, he wrote eponymous play for this episode. Not only that but SPY STUFF?!?

149: Perelandra from 2021-01-12T11:00

In this episode we discuss C.S. Lewis's Perelandra and learn how to punch evil in the mouth.

148: Ackbethmay (I'm sitting in a theater) from 2021-01-05T11:00

Bubble Bubble, Toil and Trouble, Graeme discusses witches' stubble. Tells to Burg and 'splains to Bees, That's all that we do this week. Okay, so we talk about Macbeth and how all of the weird ...

147: 'Sall Good from 2020-12-29T11:00

Magbee worries that A.J. is a little too fascinated with evil, so A.J. leaned into it and investigated how we currently think of evil. We follow the train of thought from Augustine to Aquinas. Turn...

146: A Defense of Christmas from 2020-12-22T11:00

Josh Gibbs, a favorite of ours, just put out a new book containing essays on Christmas. We discuss them here. Because Christmas is awesome, and you should awesome too.

145: Planting the Seeds of Poetry and "The Fall of Rome" from 2020-12-15T11:00

In this episodes, we discuss how biography and the artist affect our interpretation, or really, how it shouldn't. We also read W.H. Auden's "The Fall of Rome." It's good I guess.

144: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest from 2020-12-08T11:00

Alright, don't get cross with me. I did a more modern book. It's interesting, though, and we talk a little about LSD, some about busses, and a bunch about gambling. See? It's fun.

143: Purgatoryhohoho from 2020-12-01T11:00

We've reached the final summit of Purgatory, and lemme tell ya. Things get a little weird in this one. We've got eagles, random giants, a parade, and more!

142: Purgatorybro from 2020-11-24T11:00

we're nearing the top of the mountain of Dante's Purgatorio with the illustrious Thomas Magbee leading the charge. We talk to some more sinners, walk through some fire, and leave Virgil behind. Plu...

141: Camus's "The Myth of Sisyphus" from 2020-11-17T11:00

First, I get it, I hate the extra s after the apostrophe, but what're you gonna do, the MLA team are a bunch of nut jobs. That said, it doesn't matter anyway. We're all just doomed forever.

140: Till [The Romantics] Have Faces from 2020-11-10T11:00

Graeme wrote his grad thesis on C.S. Lewis's "Till We Have Faces." Prepare to laugh your way through an episode, because--hoo boy--Graeme's grad paper was a doozy. It's like reading "Modeland" by ...

139: Purgatory, Yo from 2020-11-03T11:00

Turns out, purgatory is great for fitness. In this episode, Thomas continues to guide us through Dante's Purgatorio, and we learn about Envy, Pride, Sloth, and Wrath.

138: The Stranger from 2020-10-27T10:00

In Camus's excellent (and refreshingly brief) novel, he embraces the absurd. Also, murder! Days at the sea! A.J. wonders if he's broken at his core!

137: I See Satan Fall Again, or "Lightning Does Strike Twice" from 2020-10-20T10:00

In this episode we finish discussing man's tendency to let our mimetic rivalry escalate into scandal, leading to an eventual sacrificial scapegoat. Honestly, it all seems kinda fun to me.

136: Crime and Punishment from 2020-10-13T13:30:19

In the middle of Dostoyevsky's excellent book, the main character discusses an article he's written on "The Great Man," so we decide to do the same thing (while adding a little background and summa...

135: Pastoral Theology and the Classical Tradition from 2020-10-06T10:00

Magbee, a counselor in his own right, discusses Andrew Purves's book. How should one view counseling and brain chemistry, pastoring and sin? It's a toughy, and that's coming from somebody with SAD....

134: I See Satan Fall Like Lightning from 2020-09-29T10:00

Whenever Graeme likes to say something intelligent, one thing that I apparently love to do is fasten on one small element of his argument and dig my heels in. This week, it's about birds that love ...

133: Don Quixote from 2020-09-22T10:00

Don Quixote is a fun book about an old guy who hates windmills. Or maybe it's an epoch defining work of genius. Or maybe it's a book about the dangers of romance.

132: The Poetic Edda 2: An Otter Named "Otter" from 2020-09-15T10:00

The second part of The Poetic Edda concerns the exploits of one family of Norse Heroes. Intrigue? Check. Regicide? Check. A pair of shape-shifting brothers, one of whom is an otter that loves munch...

131: Intellectus for the Rest of Us from 2020-09-08T10:00

Philosophers always say that the best life is the life of a philosopher, the life of contemplation. I have always disagreed. Listen to Graeme change my mind (this is A.J., by the way).

130: Why English teachers ARE liars from 2020-09-01T10:00

In this episode, we discuss a psychological reading of Beowulf, and why it fails to approach the text honestly. Weirdly, we all agree. The whole crew. It's strange.

129: The Poetic Edda: "Odin's Pickled Head" from 2020-08-25T10:00

The Poetic Edda are the primary source for most of our information on Norse Mythology. They also happen to be the most heavy-metal myths you've ever heard. Half-corpse god of Hell named "Hel"? Yes,...

128: Antonio Gramsci from 2020-08-18T11:00

Antonio Gramsci was a Marxist, and we see some of his theories finding purchase today. Don't worry, we don't really get political, but we do discuss the ideas themselves.

127: Plato X - "Er Goes to Hell" from 2020-08-11T11:00

In book X of Plato's Republic, he rails on imitative poetry some more, argues for the immortality of the soul, and tells a creepy story about a guy named "Er."

126: Patronage from 2020-08-04T11:00

In the old'n days, an artist was like a parasite, but a friendly one. You know, like those birds who clean the teeth of alligators. In this episode we discuss the relationship between patron and ar...

125: Plato IX: Tyrone from 2020-03-31T10:00

We're almost there, guys, and this is the penultimate chapter of Plato's republic. This one is all about tyranny. A tyranny named Tyrone.

124: Government Shmovernment from 2020-03-24T10:00

As a follow up to book IX of the republic, Graeme leads us on a thought journey to the medieval land of government. So strap on your cassock and let's get weird.

123: Purgatorio: not just what a happy, Italian cat says from 2020-03-17T08:31:04

We've done Dante's Inferno before, so Thomas introduces us to his Purgatorio in this episode. Doesn't "Purgatorio" sound like the Italian version of famous horror movie "The Purge"? It isn't, though.

122: Plato VIII: Aaron, Timmy, Ollie, Dmitri, and Tyrone from 2020-03-10T10:30

In book eight of Plato's Republic, Socrates discusses the degradation of an Aristocracy into more mediocre forms of government. Spoiler, democracy is not near the top.

121: The Ballad of The White Horse, or "Black Beauty II, The Prequel" from 2020-03-03T11:00

There's a big ol' white horse made of rocks in the UK, and Chesterton wrote some poem about it or whatever. It's okay I guess. Maybe worth a quick jaw wag.

120: Climbing Parnassus Two: Electric Boogaloo from 2020-02-25T06:54:44

Thomas leads us further up the mountain as we discuss "Climbing Parnassus" by Tracy Lee Simmons. Greek and Latin, he argues, are the organizing principle for classical education. Also, it impresses...

119: Plato VII: Math till you're thirty. from 2020-02-18T11:08

Plato finally gets us to the allegory of the cave. We find out that we're just dudes, dudes in a cave, dudes staring at a wall.

118: What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more. from 2020-02-11T11:00

Did you know that humans used to be eight limbed creatures that rolled around like silly marshmallows? Yeah, neither did we.

117: Potty. I mean pottery. Wait . . . poetry. Nailed it. from 2020-02-04T11:00

In this actually good episode, Graeme talks about readings of poetry. How do you balance a traditional reading with your own experience? With scales, friend. Scales.

116: Plato VI: Philosophers are Wasters and Charlatans from 2020-01-28T11:00

Because of an unexpected illness, A.J. is back on the Plato train till he can get some Mongolian epic ready.

115:After Virtue from 2020-01-21T11:00

Graeme summarizes the book that is once removed from Lewis's "Abolition of Man": "After Virtue." And I give an awkward intro, as always. Sheesh.

114: Climbing Parnassus from 2020-01-14T11:00

Thomas guides us through "Climbing Parnassus," a defense of classical education and . . . uh . . . THE ELITE?

Advent from 2019-12-03T15:51:26

A house, a play, a baby: three reasons why this advent season we're taking a little bit of a break. We'll be back in January with season 2 of Classical Stuff.

113: Knights Templar, Part III: Friday the 13th. For serious. from 2019-11-19T11:00

This is the final episode in the Templar trilogy, and we finally find out what happened to those rascally Templar. Basically, they became the illuminati and Kanye joined. Wait. Just kidding. No he ...

112: The Republic V: Plato and the Battle Children from 2019-11-12T11:00

Plato just keeps getting weirder. This chapter seems to be an aside addressing something he glossed over earlier: having women and children in common. That, and he's probably the first true feminis...

111: Harold Bloom, Clearly a Gardener from 2019-11-05T11:00

The recent passing of Harold necessitates a bit of a memorial from the Classical Stuff boys. In this episode we discuss Harold's legacy, anxiety, and reading.

110: The Republic, Book IV from 2019-10-29T10:00

This is the fourth installment of our series on Plato's Republic. In this one we finally get to the meaning of justice. We also feel bad for some of the warriors. They're getting a pretty raw deal.

109: Divergence, Convergence, and Wisdom from 2019-10-22T10:00

In this episode, Thomas reads from "A Guide for the Perplexed." We discuss how seemingly contradictory viewpoints are sometimes not so contradictory.

108: The Knights Templar, Part II, or "It's Pronounced 'Kinnigget'" from 2019-10-15T10:00

We continue our long journey toward Jerusalem with the Templar. In this episode: Assassins who would vote in favor of the "legalize it" legislation, leper kings, a bunch of bros who go to Jerusalem...

107: The Knights Templar, Part I from 2019-10-08T11:00

The Knights Templar weren't always the folks running our governments and engineering the weather. Once upon a time, they were holy mercenaries.

106: St. Francesco from 2019-10-01T11:00

St. Francis lived a colorful life, one full of passion, boldly stated vows, and animal congregations.

105: The Republic, Book III from 2019-09-24T11:00

This is the continuation of the series on Plato's Republic. Book III is where Plato goes a little off the rails. Got a terminal disease? Might as well kick the bucket.

104: Commonplace from 2019-09-17T11:00

The commonplace book is a compendium of knowledge gleaned from years of reading, but it has to start somewhere.

103: Something They Will Not Forget from 2019-09-10T11:05

In this episode we discuss Josh Gibbs's excellent book, "Something They Will Not Forget." Check it. It's pretty solid.

102: The Republic: Book 2 from 2019-09-03T11:00

This episode is the continuation of A.J.'s series on Plato's Republic.

101: Mimesis, Kind of from 2019-08-27T11:00

In this episode, Graeme teaches us about the notion of teaching through mimesis, which is that knowing the soul of the learner and teaching through example are paramount.

100: Enneagrammar from 2019-08-20T11:00

Thomas takes us further into the Enneagram, and teaches us about all the extra information that comes with the Ennegram that makes it useful for practical counselling and life in general.

99: The Eight Tempting Thoughts from 2019-08-13T21:51:37

This is a little history of the seven deadly sins and the seven virtues. I know we've hit this topic before, but . . . uh . . . here it is again.

98: "Herman Who?" LIVE! from 2019-08-06T21:24:22

It's Paideia week at Veritas, which means we get to record a live podcast. Graeme is at the helm for this one, and we discuss hermeneutics.

97: Augustine, The Great Hippo Lord from 2019-07-30T11:00

In this episode, we review the life and heresies of Augustine of Hippo, who's apparently far more relatable than OTHER saints I could mention.

96: The Republic: Book 1 from 2019-07-23T11:00

This is the first episode of a series on Plato's Republic. I swear it's not as boring as it sounds. We'll see how far we get before A.J. gets distracted and decides to do something else.

95: Discipline from 2019-07-16T11:00

The Romans thought much of discipline, and we can learn from them a good way to balance the Folly we talked about last episode.

94: The Praise of Folly from 2019-07-09T11:00

Desiderius Erasmus is a great name, and he wrote a satire in which the goddess Folly gives an extemporaneous speech in praise of herself. It's great. Let's get silly.

93: Braver New World from 2019-07-02T11:00

We didn't get into the story of Brave New World in the last podcast about Huxley's excellent novel, but we do in this one! Take some Soma, hop in your Ford, and come along.

Arthur Graeme Donaldson Hanenburg Magbee III from 2019-06-25T11:00

No episode this week. See you next week!

92: Thomas Stearns Eliot from 2019-06-18T10:29

In this episode, we return to T.S. and learn a little about his later poetry and stuff. Turns out he's a pretty neat guy (who had a four year stint of crazy no-poetry-time).

91: The Argonautica (Jason and the Golden Fleece) from 2019-06-11T10:39

Jason and his homies needed a golden fleece. What better way to get it than with the help of a crazy witch priestess, a talking ship, and a trip to Libya?

90: Brave New World from 2019-06-04T11:06

This is all about our current world. Just kidding, it's about a dystopian world invented by Aldous Huxley.

89: Another Sort of Learning from 2019-05-28T11:00

Thomas has been reading some James Schall lately, and walks us through his book, "Another Sort of Learning." We have heated debates about grades and what a student owes a teacher (Money. The answer...

88: The Heroides from 2019-05-21T11:01

Here I am at . . . Camp Granada!

87: Distributism from 2019-05-14T11:00

We are on the brink of a new slavery, but Graeme is here to save us.

86: The Picture of Dorian Gray from 2019-05-07T11:00

Oscar Wilde is an interesting study in contradictions, and his book, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," is an absolute hoot.

85: Mimetic Teaching from 2019-04-30T11:00

Thomas walks us through some thoughts on mimetic learning. In other words, the teacher is the curriculum.

Easter! from 2019-04-23T11:00

We're taking a break this week. See you next week!

84: Plantagenets VI: Richie the Two from 2019-04-16T11:00

Dude. ol' Richie the Two is a pretty interesting character. You ever cow an entire army with your majesty? Probs not. He did.

83: More chaw, sir? from 2019-04-09T11:00

While we skip a couple of stories (the Miller and Reeve are bawdy fellows), it turns out that a lawyer and a cereal widow are pretty good at spinning a yarn.

82: The Wasteland from 2019-04-02T11:00

I tried so hard And got so far But in the end It doesn't even matter

81: Chaw, Sir! from 2019-03-26T11:00

You guys. It's spring. If you find yourself ready to take a walk, go on a journey, or otherwise just be outside, you're no different from anyone in the 1300s. In this episode, we'll journey with Ch...

80: Everyone's a Critic from 2019-03-20T00:14:49

So, who IS allowed to pass judgment on great works of art? Is the layman? Is a college freshman? Where does the dollar stop?

79: Plantagenets V: The Black Death and Pedro the Cruel from 2019-03-12T11:00

The saga of English kings continues, and in this one they go to France! Granted, it's to take over, but that's cool, right?

78: Cicero's "On Doody" 3: Buyer Beware from 2019-03-05T12:00

The third part of Cicero's "On Duty" doesn't fail to disappoint. Or, at least, it wasn't what A.J. was expecting going in. On the other hand, we get to go through some fun moral cases involving ver...

77: I See Hair Again, or "Heresy 2, the Re-schisming" from 2019-02-26T12:00

One of our last episodes elicited more listener emails than we've ever received, and a fair bit of consternation. We address a little of that here.

76: Plantagenets 4, or "ROCKY GOES MEDIEVAL" from 2019-02-19T12:00

In the fourth installment of the Plantagenet series, we learn about Edward Longshanks and his son, Edward Shortshanks.

75: St. Valentino, the Italian from 2019-02-12T12:00

Take just a short pause from smooching, listener to aurally imbibe these ancient tales of ardent amory. .

74: Cicero, On Doody . . . number two from 2019-02-05T12:05

The first book of Cicero's "On Duty" concerns what is morally right for men to do. The second is what is expedient, or how to get what you want. Cicero isn't exactly a face-melter, so it's easier t...

73: Pandemonium from 2019-01-29T12:00

In Milton's Paradise Lost, the demons hold council after the fall to decide their next course of action. Three demons stand and make suggestions. We discuss their infernal ideas.

72: Hair-I-see from 2019-01-22T12:00

Turns out that the heretics weren't usually burned at the stake. Sure, sometimes they got punched in the mouth by Santa, but most of the time they lived happy lives. Let's chat about em.

71: Cicero's "On Doody" [sic], Book I from 2019-01-15T12:00

Cicero was a legendary statesman and orator. He wrote a treatise on moral philosophy to his son in the hopes that his son would follow in his footsteps. In this episode, we review part one (with pa...

70: Hamlet, the Emo Teen from 2019-01-08T12:00

Hamlet is a complicated play, and probably, besides the star-crossed-lovers, his most famous. Graeme helps us understand Hamlet's web of lies.

69: Know Thyself (and thine own patronus) from 2019-01-01T12:00

All those tests you take on the internet might be helpful, but we take some serious beef with the Meyers-Briggs test and its implications.

68: Saint Nick and the Barrel Children from 2018-12-25T12:00

Merry Christmas from all of us at Classical Stuff! In this episode, we fight through the background noise of a vigorous floor buffing to bring you tales of Ol' Saint Nicholas, who was real. . . and...

67: Chronological Snobbery from 2018-12-18T12:00

We discuss whether the classical movement, or even a preference for old things (books especially), is really just veiled chronological snobbery.

66: The Funeral Oration of Pericles from 2018-12-11T12:00

Thucydides wrote down, best he could, the funeral oration of Pericles, one of the greatest rulers(ish) of Athens. You'll hear the whole thing, then we discuss.

65: Satire from 2018-12-04T12:00

Satire: can it ever be virtuous? We submit that it can.

64: Blake's Marriage (of Heaven and Hell) from 2018-11-27T12:00

William Blake was a printer and a precursor to the Romantics. In this episode, we discuss his "Marriage of Heaven and Hell."

63: Plantagenets III from 2018-11-20T15:58:01

As the history of the Brits continues, so does our podcast about it. In this episode, Graeme tells us about how Edward's shanks were indeed long.

62: How to Be Unlucky from 2018-11-13T12:00

Josh Gibbs is a scholar we're all fond of, and in this episode we discuss his new book.

61: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight from 2018-11-06T12:00

Sir Gawain was a member of King Arthur's court . . . and a pipsqueak. This is his story.

60: The Song of Roland from 2018-10-30T11:06

The Song of Roland is one of the oldest examples of French literature. It also has some of my favorite things: swords, horses, war horns and Nicolas Cage. Just kidding, there are no swords.

59: Antigone from 2018-10-16T11:00

In the last play of the Theban cycle, Antigone, a bunch of folks die because of one already dead dude. Also, we discuss law.

58: Frankestein from 2018-10-09T11:00

Frankenstein is a warning against ambition. And science. Mostly science. Also, Satan is in there somewhere.

57: Mike's Last Judgment from 2018-10-02T23:01:43

Michelangelo painted some pretty sweet things on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but the wall is probably cooler still.

56: Oedipus at Colonus from 2018-09-25T11:00

Bees leads this one on a Sophoclesian (just made that word up, and it's awesome) play. You can see the title of the play in the title of the podcast episode. It's just right up there.

55: The Abolition of Man Pt. 3 from 2018-09-18T11:00

Turns out that all this gene editing is a good way to destroy ourselves. Lewis was dealing with conditioning, but it's pretty much the same thing, right?

54: The Abolition of Man Pt. 2: The Tao from 2018-09-11T11:00

The Illustrious A.J. Hanenburg summarizes Lewis's thoughts on the Tao. Sounds like a noodle dish, but I swear it's pretty neat.

53: The Abolition of Man Pt. 1: Men Without Chests from 2018-09-04T11:00

Graeme Says some stuff about C.S. Lewis's Abolition of man. It's important stuff folks, and he's a smartypants.

52: The Consolation of Philosophy from 2018-08-28T11:00

This is both our one year anniversary and our first (successfully recorded) live episode! This took place at the annual Paideia Conference at Veritas Academy. We hope to see you there next year!

51: The Complexities of Oedipus from 2018-08-21T11:00

Bees takes us on a journey with an ancient Greek fellow who just wouldn't listen to the oracles. Listen to the prophets, bro. Listen to the prophets.

50: Wit from 2018-08-14T11:00

Graeme discusses the common topic of comparison as it's divided into judgment and wit.

49: Gilgamesh from 2018-08-07T11:00

In this episode, A.J. walks us through mankind's oldest story.

48: On Fairy Stories from 2018-07-31T14:01:58

Beez walks us through Tolkien's Article, "On Fairy-Stories," and we discuss the nature of humanity as it relates to fiction.

47: How to Read a Book from 2018-07-24T11:00

In this episode, we discuss the four ways to read a book.

46: Shakespeare the Plagiarist from 2018-07-17T11:00

One of the greatest military minds of all time, Julius Caesar, was written about by two greats: Shakespeare and Plutarch.

45: Why English Teachers Aren't Liars from 2018-07-10T11:00

The most common criticism of English courses is that some of the things we teach sound made up. How do you know what is symbolic in a book and what isn't?

44: Translation from 2018-07-03T11:00

Bees answers the question, should we try and learn a language on our own, or be okay with reading translations? Personally, I think we should speak our own made up language. But that's just me. Gri...

43: Beowulf from 2018-06-26T11:00

Beowulf is one of those epics that is needlessly intimidating. It's a story about a big guy who kills monsters. What's not to love?

42: Aristotle's Four Causes from 2018-06-19T11:00

Aristotle's four causes are a nifty way to think about definition. What, in its essence, is a thing? Anything? Well, Aristotle took a crack at it. We four high school teachers weigh in.

41: The Grand Inquisitor from 2018-06-12T11:00

The "Grand Inquisitor" chapter (paired with the "Rebellion" chapter) in Dostoevsky's "Brother's Karamazov is a scathing criticism of Christianity and the central crux of the book. We discuss.

40: What is Classical Education? from 2018-06-05T11:00

Thomas takes us through what, exactly, classical education is. Sure, we've done the trivium, but beyond that, what is different about a classical school?

39: How to Rite Gooder from 2018-05-29T11:00

In this episode, A.J. gives some tips on Style, the third canon of rhetoric. If followed, these tips will improve your prose.

38: What are people for? from 2018-05-22T11:00

In this episode, we discuss a few essays from the prominent thinker, Wendell Berry.

37: The History of the Plantagenets II from 2018-05-15T11:00

In this episode, Graeme finishes (or comes near finishing) a brief history of the house of Plantagenet, the house that helped to found the British Empire.

36: The History of the Plantagenets from 2018-05-08T11:00

Graeme reviews the beginnings of the British empire, focusing mainly on awesome kings and royal drama. You know, the good stuff.

35: The benefits of iliterasee [sic] from 2018-05-01T11:00

Thomas walks us through some thoughts on literacy and the appropriate time for entering the classical world.

34: The Odyssey Part 2 from 2018-04-24T11:00

A.J. walks us through the Hero's journey and outlines a the theory of the cosmic journey. Tableware also makes an appearance. Spoiler: it's gold.

33: The Odyssey, Part I from 2018-04-17T10:00

In this episode, A.J. brings us into the world of the Odyssey, noting some important scenes as we explore the story.

32: The Deep Joy of Romanticism from 2018-04-10T10:00

Graeme leads us through the notion of Deep Joy. It's shorthand for the experience that inspired the romantics.

31: University from 2018-04-03T10:00

In this episode, we discuss the purpose of college, beginning specifically with the changes in mission of a specific college.

30: Socrates from 2018-03-27T11:00

In this episode we discuss the person of Socrates. The man himself is a little tough to nail down, considering that he didn't write anything down.

29: Usury doesn't mean what you think it means. Probably. from 2018-03-20T11:00

We discuss the church's attitude toward lending, interest, and money. We also try to figure out definitions and how to survive the apocalypse.

28: Dante and his Comedy from 2018-03-13T11:00

We introduce you to Dante in this episode and give you a guide to understanding his best known work. Oh, also, it's a little bit about Hell, which is fun.

27: Adequatio from 2018-03-06T12:00

Adequatio is the notion that the understanding of the knower must be adequate to the thing known.

26: Milton's Fall from 2018-02-27T12:00

Graeme teaches us about the fall of man according to Milton. Our eighth-grade boys will be disappointed to hear that it isn't all Eve's fault.

25: The Memory Palace from 2018-02-20T12:00

In this episode, A.J. walks us through the ancient method of loci and its modern uses. Ever see Sherlock poke his brain and information comes out? Well, the memory palace is a real thing, but it do...

24: Acedia from 2018-02-13T12:00

In this episode, Thomas takes us through the ancient understanding of despair--both its symptoms and its remedies.

23: The Theology of Paradise Lost from 2018-02-06T12:00

In this episode, Graeme takes us through the theology of Milton's paradise lost. Even if you never plan on reading this mountain of a book, it's a good way to delve into the theology of Adam and Eve.

22: Classical Rhetorical Form from 2018-01-30T12:09

In this episode, A.J. takes us through an alternative to the five paragraph essay that is more useful for everyone, including those of us no longer in school. Need to convince someone of something?...

21: Friendship! from 2018-01-23T12:07

In this one, Bees walks us through a classical view of friendship.

20: The Four Senses of Scripture from 2018-01-16T08:07:30

Dante recorded what folks had been doing for a long time as they read scripture. In this episode, we run you through Dante's method for studying scripture.

19: Dorothy Sayers, or "THE TRIVIUM - REDUX" from 2018-01-09T10:59

Dorothy Sayers' "Lost Tools of Learning" is the article that helped to form a movement. We talk through it in this episode, and we end up talking a little more trivium while we're at it.

18: The Ideal Type from 2018-01-02T12:00

When we say , "The Ideal Type," it's really just a way of expressing in shorthand that we cling to the idea of an ideal: an ideal way to live, an ideal way for man to live in culture. This is a dis...

17: The Trivium from 2017-12-26T12:00

The Trivium--grammar, logic, and rhetoric--provides the three grand divisions upon which classical education is based. Sounds boring, I know, but it ain't so bad.

16: Leisure from 2017-12-19T12:18

In this episode, Bees walks us through Josef Pieper's book, "Leisure the Basis of Culture." A.J. takes issue with those uppity philosophers.

15: The seven deadly sins from 2017-12-12T14:39

In this episode, we discuss the classical understanding of the seven deadly sins and their import today.

14: Logical Fallacies, Part Deux from 2017-12-05T14:32

In this episode, we cover the fallacies of ambiguity and the fallacies of form.

13: Logical Fallacies, Part 1 from 2017-11-28T14:10

The logical fallacies can be bunched into a few headings. There are quite a few of them, and this episode isn't exhaustive, but we hit the biggies. In this episode, we focus primarily on the fallac...

12: What IS classical? from 2017-11-21T14:03

Thomas leads us through the criteria for calling a work classical.

11: Ethos, Logos, Pathos from 2017-11-14T14:51

This episode is a little different since I included an extra bit of conversation that we had been having with the audio off. It concerns economy and man. After that, we move on to the actual episod...

10: The House of Atreus from 2017-11-07T14:33

The House of Atreus is central to both the Iliad and the plays of Aeschylus. The story is a little crazy, so be warned: it's not really appropriate for kids.

9: The Spheres from 2017-11-07T14:26

Medieval man is much maligned for his cosmology. This episode describes this cosmology, helping the modern reader to understand references to the spheres in Milton and others, while at the same tim...

8: Metaphors from 2017-11-01T03:25:51

In this episode, Graeme discusses the different parts of a metaphor.

7: Iliad book XXII from 2017-11-01T03:16:44

The twenty-second book of the Iliad is a microcosm of the whole. The symbolism in this chapter captures all the major themes of the book.

6: Ratio and Intellectus from 2017-11-01T03:05:58

In this podcast, we discuss the ancient division between the two types of reason. Put simply, Intellectus refers to natural understanding or meditation, and Ratio refers to the working faculty of r...

5: The Common Topics from 2017-11-01T02:56:19

The Common Topics is the toolkit you use when you want to think of something to say. Got a speech to write? The common topics can help you out.

4: The Christian Knight from 2017-11-01T02:48:04

The notion of the Christian knight is central to several texts, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight among them. There were several moral expectations placed on knighthood in the middle ages, including ...

3: Intro to the Epics from 2017-11-01T02:36:13

The Odyssey, Iliad, and Aeneid all concern a single great story. This podcast covers the mythological background necessary to understanding these epics.

2: Homer from 2017-11-01T02:27:03

This one's all about Homer: who he is, where he came from, and most importantly, if he actually existed.

1: The Tripartite Soul from 2017-11-01T02:05:20

Plato theorizes that there are three parts to the human soul: the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive.