Classical Wisdom Speaks

Today children already have so many expectations. From excelling in school, practicing sports and hobbies, to learning languages that can give them the ‘competitive’ edge, there simply isn't enough time as it is to fit it all in. In their modern overloaded schedules, it's extremely difficult to see how ancient Greek and Latin feature in young people's lives. But if we can't ins...

How do you define a Rebel? Are should we glorify them? Or not? Are they heroes or anti-heroes? Have some done better in the history books than others? Today's Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with Stephen Dando-Collins, the award-winning and very prolific author of over 40 books, including Rise of an Empire, on which the major motion picture 300: Rise of an Empire was based, as well as his...

Why should we say “no”? What is the importance of being able to do so? And can the ancient philosophy of cynicism help us with our modern ills? Today we’ll look at one of the most controversial philosophers from the classical world - Diogenes the Dog - and how his example can be good for us...? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with M. D. Usher is the Lyman-Roberts Professor of Classical...

Is Democracy dying? Polls show that Americans on both sides of the political spectrum feel it’s under attack... but does the situation have to be so dire? Professors Brook Manville and Josiah Ober offer a guide to democratic renewal in order to guarantee civic rights of freedom, equality, and dignity. Tracing the long progression toward self-government through four key moments in democracy’s histo...

Public bathhouses embodied the Roman way of life, from food and fashion to sculpture and sports. The most popular institution of the ancient Mediterranean world, the baths drew people of all backgrounds....but were all welcome there? Using the Roman bathhouse - a place suffused with nudity, sex, and magic - as a social laboratory, Professor Yaron Eliav reveals how Jews (and Christians) interacted...

What’s a day on one of the most exciting and famous archaeological sites in the world? Let’s take a tour with the man running the show at the Athenian Agora.. Today's Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with John K. Papadopoulos, Distinguished Professor of Archaeology & Classics, UCLA, and the newly appointed Director of the Athenian Agora Excavations. You can learn more about this excitin...

Why are video games set in the ancient world? What are some of the major examples? How are women represented in these games? And why does this matter?  I honestly know nothing about video games, with or without classical references. And yet, I enjoyed a fascinating conversation with Professors Cook and Draycott which revealed quite a lot about both the ancient world and the modern players who love...

From the Corporate to the Political - how can we find our modern values in ancient lessons? What if Plato ran Facebook? Or Socrates was in charge of Apple? Can you imagine Aristotle running Amazon or  General Motors? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks' guest has thought of just that... and how these ancient thinkers can help with both the corporate and the political world today.... And maybe mor...

How did the ancient Egyptians handle war, plague and inequality? How did their unique geography shape their history? What was their community 'glue'? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Dr. Kathlyn (Kara) Cooney. Professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA, Kara Specializes in craft production, coffin studies, and economies in the ancient world. Cooney produced a compa...

What is the role of philosophy in history? Do philosophers come up with ideas that spread and influence the world? Or are their works the cumulation of the advances of society? How do good ideas spread? And is this a time for optimism? Today’s episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks is with Robert Tracinski, editor of Symposium, a journal of liberalism, author of the The Tracinski Letter ( https://trac...

 Vitaliy Katsenelson, a podcaster and expert on value investing, and the author of a recent book on Stoicism called Soul in the Game, discusses how Stoicism has influenced his perspective, his book and his investing.  To learn more about Vitalyi’s work,  please check his website: https://contrarianedge.com/ You can learn more about Classical Wisdom and sign up for our free newsletter here:  https:...

The story of Medusa has captivated us for thousands of years, that of the beautiful woman turned into a monster... Why has this myth permeated culture so much... and why do we need to revisit this ancient tale? This week's Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with Natalie Haynes, author of several books, including A Thousand Ships, which was a national bestseller and shortlisted for the 2020 Wo...

Is the West in Decline? Is it the end of days or media hype? And what is the "West" anyways? In this episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks with Spencer Klavan, we discuss how ancient wisdom is necessary to solve modern crises, why ordinary people are the essential component to the solution and whether we can/should save the West. Spencer Klavan is a classicist with a Ph. D. from Oxford, and...

Whether you are planning a trip to Greece, if you've been and want to see if you got the 'must-see' spots, or you fancy some fun armchair travels, this Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is a MUST LISTEN for ancient history lovers. Leading us through the archeological sites is veteran guide, Aristotle Koskinas. With 20 years in the field and hundreds of sites under his belt, Aristotle...

How do the major ancient Greek philosophies really compare? Are some more applicable to our modern lives than others? Today we'll try to step back and get the 'bigger' picture in our attempt to understand, analyze and compare the major ancient Greek philosophies... all in one podcast. Fortunately, we have none other than the very gifted and knowledgable Gregory Sadler, the President...

What does the ancient Greek philosophy have to do with African Proverbs and the concept of Ubuntu? Perhaps in more ways than you may think... This week's Classical Wisdom Speaks episode is with Tiišetšo Maloma from South Africa, who is an Innovation Scholar, Product Creator, Entrepreneur and author of several books, including ‘ Introducing Ubuntu Stoicism: Gain Joy, Resilience, Productivity,...

How can we be more virtuous? Can we teach our children virtue? And what about politicians? Well, the latter is probably the most difficult, but continuing our current cycle of cynicism isn't exactly helping us out either... So what can we *actually* do to make a better society for ourselves... and for the next generation? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Massimo Pigliucci, the...

Are you ready to take on a musical journey from the Patagonian Mountains that will immediately transport you to the ancient world? This is a podcast unlike any you have heard before... We know the importance of music in ancient Greece; the backdrop to every ceremony, festival and religious endeavor it also accompanied dinners, symposiums, and literature itself. Indeed, the plays and poems we love...

How to Grieve: From Cicero and Stoicism to Modern practices, How Can Philosophy HELP US Handle Loss? Panel Discussion In 45 BCE, the Roman statesman Cicero fell to pieces when his beloved daughter, Tullia, died from complications of childbirth. But from the depths of despair, Cicero fought his way back. In an effort to cope with his loss, he wrote a consolation speech―not for others, as had always...

From the highway killers confronted by the Greek hero Theseus, such as Procrustes, who tortured and mutilated their victims to the Sphinx, or “strangler,” from the story of Oedipus.. Or child-killing demons and witches and historical figures such as Locusta of Gaul, the most notorious poisoner in the early Roman Empire....Who are the serial killers of the ancient world?  From the highway killers c...

Not just for dinner parties and sleepy children, learning how to tell a story is an essential component of understanding literature... but do we only become great at it when we break the rules? We discuss Aristotle's necessary components for storytelling... and why...or why not they matter. This week's Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Phillip Freeman, Professor of Humanities and F...

Mark Antony and Cleopatra on one side... Octavian and his brilliant general on the other. It's one of the most riveting, decisive and climatic moments in ancient history... and yet still such a mystery. How was it that Cleopatra and Mark Antony were defeated... when they had much larger forces? What were the pivotal - never discussed - moments beforehand that gave Octavian the upper hand? And...

Many people don’t see the connection between the key ancient philosophers, Plato, Socrates and Aristotle and the growing trend of Stoicism - but how was Stoicism influenced by these earlier thinkers? Nancy Sherman, who holds the rank of a distinguished University Professor at Georgetown university, and has been elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, discusses the pract...

Has our modern system of education become obsessed with the practical and technical to the detriment of a contemplative view of education? Can we help students find awe, curiosity, contemplation - and most important of all - meaning? It’s time to recover the role of Beauty in education, to show how a liberal arts education can form us as integral persons—mind, body, and soul. Featuring Margarita M...

In 2021 Princeton University scrapped the Ancient Greek and Latin requirements for Classics students... and this sparked a huge debate, both within the classics community and the general classics loving public as well. We ask: Should ancient Greek and Latin be required for Classics students? What is the future of ancient languages? It used to be that you couldn't even enter university without...