Episodes

3d ago

In this episode, we learn how to---as Graeme would say---RIP THE SYSTEM. Well, at least until an aunt bails us out.

Dec 9

In this episode, we talk about allegory and cattle. Oh, and Pilgrim's Progress

Dec 2

In this episode, Graeme talks us through a framework in which we can experience Macbeth (you know, that Scottish play). Turns out that when you kill a Scottish king, everything goes topsy turvy.

Nov 4

Ever heard of the headless horseman? Did you know he was a Hessian Soldier? Do you know where the Jack-o-lantern comes from? FIND OUT IN THIS SPOOOOOOOKY EPISODE.

Oct 7

Faeries. Stay away from them or you'll have your finger pricked all to heck.

Sep 30

In this episode, Graeme discusses the degradation of man as a reflection of the degradation of the state suggested in Plato's Republic, Book VIII. Apparently true freedom is bloodshed.

Sep 9

In this (far too long) episode, we play a quiz show with a cake as a prize. Because really, that's what every war is about: cake.

Sep 2

Thomas continues his series on children's books with the (an?) original Beauty and the Beast tale. It's pretty lovely. Is it bad if I want to be Thomas's kid?

Aug 26

In this episode, we discuss Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility," along with a bunch of doofy males. I mean we discuss them, we don't podcast with them.

Aug 19

Evil deeds? Never. I would never do that. I mean, somebody else might. But I never would. Trample a child? Nah. Nope. Not me.

May 20

In this episode, Graeme tells us of the Narcissism of Raskolnikov. I mean, Graeme tells you, but A.J. had all the ideas (please give him validation).

May 13

In this episode, we talk about ants, grasshoppers, scorpions, and a fish named Chris.

Apr 22

Ever feel like reading the diary of a Roman emperor? Boy have I got the book for you.

Mar 18

In this episode, Graeme tells us the story of Emma, a meddler, someone who doesn't know as much as she thinks she does. Join us, listener, as we take a journey with a socialite.

Mar 11

In this episode, A.J. is a grouch and falls in a well, Graeme is lovestruck, and Thomas talks us through Menander's play "Dyskolos."

Mar 4

I would love to give you a summary of the episode, but I prefer not to.

Feb 11

So I MAY have missed that Satan is sometimes called the Lord of the Flies. I see that now. I admit I make mistakes. But hey, at least I caught on to the rest of the biblical imagery.

Feb 4

In this episode, we discuss Paul Kingsnorth's lecture about Christian civilization. Some are for it. Some against it. Settle it with a boxing match? Yes please.

Jan 21

"Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?"

Jan 14

In this episode, you get a semi-faithful reproduction of the talk AJ did on the Socratic Method. TLDR: just ask questions and try not to be obnoxious.

Dec 17, 2024

Ever wonder what Socrates discussed with his buds before he drank the poison? Well, it was the soul. Now you know. You can skip the episode I guess.

Dec 10, 2024

Aristotle and Plato have very different approaches to epistemology. In this episode, we discuss the implications of each.

Oct 8, 2024

In this episode, we discuss the views of two famous dudes on Death. One is old and makes everyone else overthink everything. The other is young and overthinks everything himself.

Oct 1, 2024

In this episode, you'll recall (not learn) how Socrates and Meno try to figure out if Virtue can be taught. You'll remember that it can't.

Sep 10, 2024

In this episode, Thomas talks us through the new book by Josh Gibbs: A Parley with Youth. If I remember anything from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, "Parley" means something about booty.

Sep 3, 2024

In this episode, we talk about how the American dream will leave you dead in your swimming pool.

Aug 9, 2024

Thomas interviews Davies Owens and Keith McCurdy. Davies is the current host of Basecamp Live, and Keith is the founder of Live Sturdy, LLC. Both have various other credentials. Oh heck, just listen to the episode already.

Jul 30, 2024

We revisit a book we've done an episode on already. But here's the thing, folks: the book is so dang good, and Graeme walks us through the intricacies of a specific scene in this one. And it's good. Soooooo good. In my humble opinion.

Jul 9, 2024

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

Jul 2, 2024

In this episode we play the game of Life, explore notions on education, and interact with each other. But we do these things in a carefully cultivated environment designed to guide our inclinations toward growth and improvement.

May 14, 2024

Uh, yeah, we're obviously big fans of good ol' Tudor. Just come this way. No cops.

May 7, 2024

In this episode, the Khan sees his most cherished relationships deteriorate. Anda? Nah. More like dead.

Apr 16, 2024

This is the penultimate episode of Graeme's series on the war of the roses. There's only one more. It's the end of an era. I, for one, grieve.

Mar 19, 2024

Turns out that a king who is good at war sometimes wins wars. Sometimes that means kids beg for their lives. Sometimes that mean someone gets bludgeoned. BUT WE JUST HAVE TO LET THE KING LIVE HIS LIFE OKAY

Mar 12, 2024

In this episode, we see the slow degradation of brotherhood, the lamentable breakdown of relationship. Also in this episode: spine cracking wrestling; young love; beating people up with sticks; and knucklebones, the game!

Mar 5, 2024

Where does the Pooh part come from? A swan. That's all the explanation you'll get.

Feb 27, 2024

In this episode, I admit that while I, Graeme, have some good points, A.J. is ultimately right. He's convinced me with the gravity of his intellect couched in both wit and charm. What a great guy, that A.J..

Feb 13, 2024

In this episode, Thomas walks us through the storied life of Beatrix Potter. We also discuss a bully rabbit.

Feb 6, 2024

In this episode, we cover the origins and a chunk of the childhood of Temujin; that's Genghis Khan for all you noobs out there.

Jan 23, 2024

Kristin Lavransdatter is a three-volume story by Sigrid Undset. This episode covers volume one. And oh, so much happens. Vows are given. Babies conceived. Fathers hoodwinked. We've got fires. Vagabonds. Poison. Oh, it's good.

Jan 16, 2024

This is the first episode of a series on "The Secret History of the Mongols," the primary source for a big chunk of our knowledge about Genghis Khan. This episode lays the groundwork for the actual book.

Dec 25, 2023

Graeme continues the saga of the War of the Roses. Let me encourage you to receive the caresses of fortune with mild endurance.

Dec 20, 2023

This is an excerpt from Thomas's recent interview with Pastor C. R. Wiley about his book, "In the House of Tom Bombadil." The full interview is on our Patreon! We'll have another new episode next week!

Nov 21, 2023

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."

Nov 14, 2023

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

Oct 17, 2023

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

Oct 10, 2023

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.

Oct 3, 2023

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

Sep 27, 2023

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

Sep 19, 2023

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

Sep 12, 2023

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.

Aug 29, 2023

In this episode, Graeme walks us through Bible reading strategies. My hand is injured. This is short.

Aug 9, 2023

In this episode (recorded live at Paideia!), we discuss book one of Aristotle's "On the Soul," where he dismantles all the other theories about what a soul is before he provides his answer in book two.

Jul 25, 2023

Donaldson regales us with tales of Edward IV, the "Bro King." He loves the ladies. He loves the cash. He loves his bros.

Jul 19, 2023

"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.

Jul 11, 2023

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?

Jul 4, 2023

In the latest installment of Graeme's historical episodes on the War of the Roses, we have several battles, bloodthirsty children, and beheadings. Add Nicolas Cage and you've got yourself a stew going.

Jun 6, 2023

Can you believe Josh came back on the podcast? Neither can we. Thomas and Josh discuss Josh’s newest book (Love What Lasts), music, and Die Hard. Links discussed in this episode: To buy a copy of the book: https://circeinstitute.org/product/love-what-lasts/ To sign up for Josh’s summer conference: https://www.gibbsclassical.com/conference For all things Gibbs: https://www.gibbsclassical.com/

May 30, 2023

Graeme explains why the central bank is generally not a scary thing via the historical Knickerbocker Panic. I always thought that's what it's called when you realized you don't have any clean pants for work. Apparently not (Badum-tisssssss).

May 23, 2023

In this episode, we discuss a central question in "The Plague" by Camus. Luckily, we avoid the central tenets of existentialism which now apparently raise the hackles of both Graeme AND Thomas. A.J. still likes it, though, and since he's writing this description, he gets to say that the other guys are ninnies, and he's right.

May 2, 2023

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.

Apr 25, 2023

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.

Mar 28, 2023

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

Mar 14, 2023

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.

Mar 7, 2023

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.

Feb 21, 2023

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

Feb 14, 2023

In this episode, we continue with chapter two of Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, by Immanuel Kant. Our Hackles. They are raised.

Jan 25, 2023

Graeme continues his series on the War of the Roses. New this week: a dude who fights without armor on, a military parade, and the mad king. It's like Game of Thrones, except real and sadly lacking Peter Dinklage.

Jan 17, 2023

Tolkien once wrote a story that totally isn't an allegory. Not even one bit. We discuss that story (totally an allegory) in this episode. Also, Horticulture! We don't discuss it, just been thinking about it lately.

Dec 20, 2022

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.

Dec 13, 2022

In this episode, we continue to journey through a small work by Kant that he thought had great potential for popularity. I DOUBT IT.

Nov 16, 2022

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.

Nov 1, 2022

Ever have trouble deciding the right course of action!? LUCKILY, Kant is here to help with a handy tool!

Oct 25, 2022

In this episode, Graeme walks us through how our happiness is a rational thing, and since kids can't be rational . . . they bad.

Sep 27, 2022

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.

Sep 20, 2022

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.

Sep 13, 2022

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

Sep 6, 2022

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

Aug 30, 2022

As Socrates waits in line for his own trial, he chats up a fellow named Euthyphro who plans to denounce his own father. They end up discussing the definition of piety until Euthyphro politely excuses himself from the conversation.

Aug 23, 2022

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.

Aug 16, 2022

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.

Aug 10, 2022

Christians are bad for government, I guess.

Aug 2, 2022

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

Jul 26, 2022

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.

Jul 19, 2022

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

Jul 12, 2022

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

Jul 5, 2022

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. The speech does not suck.

Jun 28, 2022

"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. Trust me, it makes sense. This is a cool episode about math and science.

Jun 21, 2022

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.

Jun 15, 2022

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 recent film that's pretty good, and poor poor Leopardi again. Join us!

May 31, 2022

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 of Peele Castle in a Storm, Painted by Sir George Beaumont." Turns out he was idealistic when he was young and cranky when he was old. WHO KNEW

May 24, 2022

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.

May 3, 2022

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.

Apr 26, 2022

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.

Apr 19, 2022

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.

Apr 12, 2022

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

Apr 5, 2022

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.

Mar 29, 2022

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 great big bushy beard) on the podcast.

Mar 22, 2022

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.

Mar 8, 2022

Nothing to be done.

Mar 1, 2022

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

Feb 22, 2022

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.

Feb 15, 2022

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.

Feb 8, 2022

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 two of us are out of a job, and three of us are out of a podcast.

Feb 1, 2022

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're in the right place.

Jan 18, 2022

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.

Jan 11, 2022

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.

Nov 30, 2021

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.

Nov 23, 2021

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!?!?

Nov 2, 2021

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?

Oct 26, 2021

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.

Oct 12, 2021

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!

Oct 5, 2021

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.

Sep 28, 2021

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.

Sep 21, 2021

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.

Sep 14, 2021

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

Sep 7, 2021

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.

Aug 31, 2021

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.

Aug 24, 2021

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.

Aug 17, 2021

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 for understanding the Iliad, which begins in the middle of things.

Jul 13, 2021

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

Jul 6, 2021

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.

Jun 29, 2021

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 Abraham and Isaac.

Jun 22, 2021

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

Jun 17, 2021

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.

Jun 8, 2021

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.

Jun 1, 2021

"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.

May 25, 2021

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.

May 18, 2021

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 entitled, shockingly, "The Prince."

May 11, 2021

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.

May 4, 2021

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 that's great!

Apr 27, 2021

"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.

Apr 20, 2021

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

Apr 13, 2021

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's eye. If you want to view them online, we've included a link in the show-notes on our website.

Apr 6, 2021

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.

Mar 30, 2021

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 good if you have to explain them.)

Mar 23, 2021

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 our own cult.

Mar 16, 2021

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 has to obey. Was Milton making a statement about the ways in which we should conduct ourselves in regard to curiosity? I mean, probs.

Feb 9, 2021

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.

Feb 2, 2021

"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?

Jan 26, 2021

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.

Jan 19, 2021

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?!?

Jan 12, 2021

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

Jan 5, 2021

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 stuff that happens with Nature in this book is an inroads into the real themes of the play.

Dec 29, 2020

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. Turns out everything is pretty great.

Dec 22, 2020

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.

Dec 15, 2020

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.

Dec 8, 2020

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.

Dec 1, 2020

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!

Nov 24, 2020

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. Plus, fanboy.

Nov 17, 2020

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.

Nov 10, 2020

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 Tyra Banks, but with less mascara.

Nov 3, 2020

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.

Oct 27, 2020

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!

Oct 20, 2020

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.

Oct 13, 2020

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 summary at the same time).

Oct 6, 2020

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. Seriously. I have a thing called "S.A.D." that makes me sad.

Sep 29, 2020

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 each other. The rest of the podcast is a cool thing about psychological readings of scripture.

Sep 22, 2020

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.

Sep 15, 2020

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 munching fish? Double check.

Sep 8, 2020

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).

Sep 1, 2020

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.

Aug 25, 2020

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, please.

Aug 18, 2020

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.

Aug 11, 2020

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."

Aug 4, 2020

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 artist.

Mar 31, 2020

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.

Mar 24, 2020

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.

Mar 17, 2020

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.

Mar 10, 2020

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.

Mar 3, 2020

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.

Feb 25, 2020

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 people when you can tell them what all those words on the dollar bill mean.

Feb 18, 2020

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.

Feb 11, 2020

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

Feb 4, 2020

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.

Jan 28, 2020

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

Jan 21, 2020

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.

Jan 14, 2020

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

Dec 3, 2019

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.

Nov 19, 2019

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 didn't. Ignore that. Shoot. I'm going to answer to Kanye for this. Dang it! I've gotta keep my trap shut.

Nov 12, 2019

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 feminist. Oh wait. No he isn't.

Nov 5, 2019

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.

Oct 29, 2019

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.

Oct 22, 2019

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

Oct 15, 2019

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 to get gold, and REALLY INTENSE HANDSHAKES.

Oct 8, 2019

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

Oct 1, 2019

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

Sep 24, 2019

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.

Sep 17, 2019

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

Sep 10, 2019

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

Sep 3, 2019

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

Aug 27, 2019

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.

Aug 20, 2019

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.

Aug 13, 2019

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.

Aug 6, 2019

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.

Jul 30, 2019

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.

Jul 23, 2019

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.

Jul 16, 2019

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

Jul 9, 2019

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.

Jul 2, 2019

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.

Jun 25, 2019

No episode this week. See you next week!

Jun 18, 2019

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).

Jun 11, 2019

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?

Jun 4, 2019

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

May 28, 2019

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 is money.).

May 21, 2019

Here I am at . . . Camp Granada!

May 14, 2019

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

May 7, 2019

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

Apr 30, 2019

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

Apr 23, 2019

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

Apr 16, 2019

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

Apr 9, 2019

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.

Apr 2, 2019

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

Mar 26, 2019

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 Chaucer and his buddies on their trip to Canterbury.

Mar 20, 2019

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

Mar 12, 2019

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?

Mar 5, 2019

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 vermin, grain, and two drowning wise men having discussions about boards.

Feb 26, 2019

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.

Feb 19, 2019

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

Feb 12, 2019

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

Feb 5, 2019

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 to get the synopsis here than it is to read on your own (don't let me stop you, just don't say I didn't warn ya).

Jan 29, 2019

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.

Jan 22, 2019

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.

Jan 15, 2019

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 parts two and three to come), and make a few poop jokes. Heh. Doody.

Jan 8, 2019

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

Jan 1, 2019

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.

Dec 25, 2018

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 leaks.

Dec 18, 2018

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

Dec 11, 2018

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.

Dec 4, 2018

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

Nov 27, 2018

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

Nov 20, 2018

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.

Nov 13, 2018

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

Nov 6, 2018

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

Oct 30, 2018

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.

Oct 16, 2018

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

Oct 9, 2018

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

Oct 2, 2018

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

Sep 25, 2018

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.

Sep 18, 2018

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?

Sep 11, 2018

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

Sep 4, 2018

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

Aug 28, 2018

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!

Aug 21, 2018

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.

Aug 14, 2018

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

Aug 7, 2018

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

Jul 31, 2018

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

Jul 24, 2018

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

Jul 17, 2018

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

Jul 10, 2018

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?

Jul 3, 2018

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. Grizzleboomp.

Jun 26, 2018

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?

Jun 19, 2018

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.

Jun 12, 2018

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.

Jun 5, 2018

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?

May 29, 2018

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

May 22, 2018

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

May 15, 2018

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.

May 8, 2018

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

May 1, 2018

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

Apr 24, 2018

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.

Apr 17, 2018

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

Apr 10, 2018

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

Apr 3, 2018

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

Mar 27, 2018

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.

Mar 20, 2018

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

Mar 13, 2018

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.

Mar 6, 2018

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

Feb 27, 2018

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.

Feb 20, 2018

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 doesn't exactly work like that.

Feb 13, 2018

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

Feb 6, 2018

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.

Jan 30, 2018

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? You can use this.

Jan 23, 2018

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

Jan 16, 2018

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.

Jan 9, 2018

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.

Jan 2, 2018

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 discussion of that ideal.

Dec 26, 2017

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.

Dec 19, 2017

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

Dec 12, 2017

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

Dec 5, 2017

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

Nov 28, 2017

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 fallacies of distraction.

Nov 21, 2017

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

Nov 14, 2017

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 episode. It concerns the three modes of persuasion. If you ever hope to convince someone to do something, and do it with commitment, you're going to have to use these. Ethos concerns the trustworthiness of the speaker. Logos concerns the use of logic and avoidance of fallacy, and pathos concerns the emotions.

Nov 7, 2017

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.

Nov 7, 2017

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 time defending medieval man.

Nov 1, 2017

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

Nov 1, 2017

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.

Nov 1, 2017

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 reason.

Nov 1, 2017

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.

Nov 1, 2017

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 that of charity and fidelity.

Nov 1, 2017

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

Nov 1, 2017

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

Nov 1, 2017

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