Classical Wisdom Speaks

How much of what we think we know about Cleopatra comes from history?  And how much was created by Roman propaganda, Shakespeare, and centuries of storytelling? In this fascinating episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, host Anya Leonard speaks with international bestselling author Natasha Solomons about her novel I Am Cleopatra, the extraordinary life of Egypt's last pharaoh, and the challenge...

What Counts as Classical? | Dan-El Padilla Peralta on the Future of Classics Why do we call ancient Greece and Rome “classical”? And who decided that their literature, art and philosophy should hold such a privileged place in our understanding of history? Is there a difference between studying the ancient world and treating it as uniquely authoritative? In this thought-provoking episode of Classic...

What Can Greek Myth Teach Us About Being Human? | Why Myth Matters Why have stories of gods, monsters, heroes and tragedy survived for thousands of years? For the ancient Greeks, myth wasn't simply entertainment. It helped people understand the gods, society, suffering, morality and the unpredictability of human life. In this special extended Classical Wisdom event, Why Myth Matters, Anya Leo...

Have We Misunderstood the Women of Ancient Athens? | Katherine Backler on Their Forgotten Lives Were women in ancient Athens simply wives and mothers, largely confined to the home? Or does the surviving evidence reveal a much richer picture? In this episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard speaks with ancient historian Katherine Backler, author of Athena’s Sisters: Reclaiming the Women of...

Where Should You Go in Greece for Ancient History? | Aristotle Koskinas on Hidden Gems & Must-See Sites Planning a trip to Greece? Some of its greatest archaeological treasures are hiding in plain sight—and even at famous sites like Delphi, visitors can walk straight past monuments that changed Greek history. So where should an ancient history lover actually go? In this episode of Classical Wi...

How Do You Cope When Everything Falls Apart? | Philip Freeman on Boethius & Ancient Wisdom What can philosophy do for you when you have lost everything—your power, your freedom, your friends, and perhaps even your life? In this live episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard speaks with classical scholar and award-winning translator Philip Freeman about one of antiquity's most extra...

Why Is Marcus Aurelius Still So Powerful Today? | Aaron Poochigian on Stoicism & Meditations Nearly 2,000 years after his death, Marcus Aurelius still speaks directly to millions of readers. But why? In this episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard sits down with poet, classics scholar and translator Aaron Poochigian to explore his new translation of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations—a...

Can Ancient Philosophy Teach Us How to Succeed? | Tom Morris on Aristotle, Stoicism & Living Well What does it actually mean to succeed in life? And could Aristotle, the Stoics and other ancient thinkers have better answers than our modern obsession with money, status and achievement? In this episode, Anya Leonard speaks with Tom Morris, public philosopher, former Notre Dame professor and best...

How Did Beliefs Really Work in the Ancient World?| Michael Satlow on Ancient Religion & Ritual For people in Late Antiquity, gods, spirits and invisible forces weren't simply matters of faith: they were part of everyday reality.  What would life feel like if gods, spirits, demons and other invisible beings were as real to you as the people around you? Professor Michael Satlow explores the...

What Did Roman Houses Reveal About the People Who Lived Inside Them? | Ancient Architecture & Morality Roman houses were more than places to live—they were reflections of identity, values, status, and ideas about how to live a good life. In this fascinating conversation, Marden Nicholls explores what ancient Roman homes can teach us about architecture, morality, social values, and the relation...

Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World | The Ancient Civilization That Still Shapes Your Life Mesopotamia changed the world. Many of the systems you use every day began thousands of years ago between the Tigris and Euphrates. Assyriologist Selina Winsome explains why Mesopotamia was far more than the "cradle of civilization." Discover how cuneiform writing, libraries, mathematics...

Do we truly have free will, or are our choices shaped by biology, habits, and unconscious forces?  This fascinating panel explores one of humanity's oldest and most important questions. Join philosopher Tamar Gendler, psychologist Jeffrey Schaler, and classicist Michael Fontaine as they debate free will, consciousness, Aristotle, and what ancient wisdom can teach us about making better decisi...

The Amarna Letters: Love, War & Diplomacy in the Bronze Age World | Eric Cline What can 3,400-year-old diplomatic letters teach us about international politics, trade, misinformation, and human nature? Archaeologist and historian Eric Cline reveals the extraordinary story of the Amarna Letters: hundreds of clay tablets that uncovered a thriving, interconnected Bronze Age world. From royal marr...

What can Homer's Odyssey teach us about resilience, trauma, grief, purpose, and living a meaningful life in the modern world? Clinical psychologist Dr. Sam Akbar joins Classical Wisdom Speaks to explore why The Odyssey remains one of the most powerful guides to human psychology ever written. Drawing on her work with trauma survivors and refugees, she reveals how Odysseus, Penelope, and Telema...

Intellectual Slaves in Ancient Rome: The Hidden Minds Behind Roman Literature & Power What is an intellectual slave, and why did some of the most educated people in ancient Rome live in bondage? In this fascinating conversation, Princeton classics professor Harriet Flower reveals the overlooked world of learned slaves and educated freedmen in Republican Rome. Discover how enslaved scholars, po...

Why Did Ancient Civilizations Worship Bulls? From the Minotaur to Taurus, explore how bull symbolism shaped mythology, religion, power, and identity across the ancient world. This episode is for anyone fascinated by ancient mythology, symbolism, religion, and the hidden meanings behind ancient cultures. Author and researcher Stephen Palmer explores the history of bull worship in the ancient world,...

Should philosophy start in childhood? Discover how philosophy for children can improve critical thinking, empathy, communication, and emotional resilience in the modern world. This episode is for parents, teachers, students, and anyone interested in philosophy, education, psychology, and child development. Dr. Maria Kasmirli explores why philosophy should be introduced to children from an early ag...

What Is the Future of Ancient History?  In this deep, thought-provoking discussion, leading historians and philosophers explore what “ancient history” really means, how it’s taught today, and why it matters more than ever.  If you’re interested in history, philosophy, education, or the future of the humanities, this episode will challenge how you think about the ancient world—and your place in it....

What Did Ancient People Believe About Death and the Afterlife? Robert Garland explores how Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and other ancient cultures understood death, grief, burial, and the afterlife.  This episode is for anyone fascinated by ancient history, mythology, religion, and the human experience of death.  Classicist Robert Garland discusses how ancient civilizations approached mortality: fro...

This episode is for anyone interested in ancient Greece, democracy, political history, and rhetoric, especially if you want to understand how the past connects to modern political challenges.  You’ll learn who Demosthenes was, how he rose to power through oratory and persuasion, and why he became known as democracy’s defender during the rise of Macedon under Philip II. This conversation explores t...

What does the story of Demeter really tell us about loss, power, and the human experience?  In this episode, renowned translator and classicist Diane Rayor unpacks the Homeric Hymn to Demeter: one of the most powerful and enduring myths from ancient Greece.  Far more than just a story about gods, this hymn explores grief, motherhood, identity, and the fragile balance between life and death. Diane...

What is the point of studying Classics today?  Mary Beard explains why the ancient world still shocks, challenges, and reshapes how we think. Discover how Greek and Roman history can change your perspective, without offering easy answers.  In this conversation, renowned classicist Mary Beard explores how ancient Greece and Rome remain deeply relevant today, not as a guidebook for life, but as a wa...

An age of apocalyptic thinking, a clash of empires, and a legacy that still shapes the world today...  Today Anya is joined by Professor Barry Strauss to discuss the Jewish Revolts against the Roman Empire. Discover what fueled these uprisings, and how their dramatic outcome has shaped centuries.  Barry Strauss is the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University...

Barbarian, witch, murderer… and mother. Today Anya is joined by author and broadcaster Natalie Haynes to discuss one of Greek mythology’s most famous and dramatic characters, Medea.  Discover the complex legends and legacy of Medea, from her daring love story with Jason to its dark aftermath… and how the Greek tragedian Euripides transformed her how her story is told, forever. Natalie Haynes is th...

What were the secrets of Roman warfare? What is the best way to defeat an enemy… and what does all this have to do with aqueducts? Today Anya is joined by George Thomas to discuss the life of Frontinus, an ancient Roman general and governor of Roman Britain. In particular, they’re looking at Stratagems , his manual for war, which looked to ancient history to distil key lessons in military strategy...