Cost of Glory

Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest Man in Rome.  The plot thickens in the contest with Pompey, and Crassus takes on new allies: Catiline and Julius Caesar. In this episode: -How to defuse the resentment of opponents you've beaten -The power of debt at Rome -Fighting for the hardest prizes, but playing it like a game -Cicero's mortgage and homeowner headaches Thanks to Sponsors: Ancient Language Inst...

The story of Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest man in Rome. In this episode: -The Real Spartacus -How to make a fortune, ancient style -Why Crassus was a better spender than modern billionaires Thanks to our Sponsor! Copythat, learn copywriting from the classics: https://copythat.com/ For a discount (and to let them know I sent you), use this code: glory Some Sources: Barry Strauss, The Spartacus W...

Plutarch gives more examples of how to get it right, from Great Leaders of Greece & Rome -Phocion,  -Agathocles,  -Pericles,  -Sulla,  -Themistocles, 

You know you want to do it.  But how?  Plutarch offers a few key examples.

Highlights from Rome's Deadliest Conspiracy, the Catilinarian conspiracy. Featuring speeches by Julius Caesar and Cato the Younger.

Get into one of the great moments of history - highlights from Cicero's speech Against Catiline.  Featuring a quote or two from the original Latin.

The Conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Republic at the height of its power.  Catiline and his associates challenge Cicero and Cato.  Rumors were that Crassus and Caesar were involved...  Part I: Highlights from Sallust's War with Catiline. ANNOUNCING - New Megaseries:  Visions of Caesar.  I am beginning an arc on the biographies of all the most prominent of the era of Caesar, including The Man hims...

The Greatest hero of all, Hercules - told by Seneca: Billionaire, Politician, Stoic Philosopher, and... Tragic Playwright. Highlights and power quotes from Seneca's "The Madness of Hercules":   in a new, brilliant, poetic translation by one of America's great poets, Dana Gioia Get a copy here: https://amzn.to/42TEUqJ (and support the show thereby) More about Dana Gioia and his work here: https://d...

The Finale: Xenophon's Anabasis, book 7 of 7.  Highlights for the High Life.  In this episode: -Sailing to Byzantium  -How to Tame a Mob  -Spartan Indecision -Drinking more wine from big horns with dangerous men  -Raiding with Thracians  -Fire attack at night  -How to lose a good friend for good  -What all gyms should aspire to be like  -The importance of keeping your horse 

Highlights from Book 6 of Xenophon's Anabasis In this episode: -Drinking parties, War Dances  -Why every modern gentleman should sacrifice to the gods -How to gracefully decline a promotion  -Hercules in Hell -On keeping the Fellowship together -Isolated sheep rustling incident threatens to start an international war  -The value of a cool head 

Xenophon, Anabasis 5.  #1 Highlights for Life Success.  In this episode: -Fending off chaos in all its forms -Dealing with a power vacuum -The Source of the Golden Fleece -The BEST way to spend Sacred Funds (Hint: Real Estate) -Artemis and her 7 wonders Temple at Ephesus (cult statue here ) -Sampling Local Delicacies (as always)  -Pale white children as wide as they are tall -Dreams of city foundi...

Top 4 takeaways from the life of Agesilaus.  Also, further reading: Plutarch, "On Sparta": https://amzn.to/3Ni3RaO -Cornelius Nepos, Lives of the Great Commanders (trans. Quintus Curtius): https://amzn.to/3AtrqpO -Xenophon, Hellenica: https://amzn.to/41YXmOx -Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire (historical novel): https://amzn.to/3V0gCsH -Paul Cartledge, Agesilaos and the Crisis of Sparta: https://am...

Agesilaus, old King of Sparta, faces his final enemy, and greatest foe of all: the Theban commander Epaminondas. Map Key People:  Agesilaus, king of Sparta  Demaratus, king of Sparta  Artaxerxes, King of Persia  Epaminondas, Theban Statesman  Pelopidas, Theban Statesman  Antalcidas  Xenophon, the Philosopher-warrior  Gryllus, son of Xenophon  Nectanebo, Pharaoh of Egypt  Menelaus, king of Sparta ...

Sparta's greatest king, from his grandest moments, to his most challenging setbacks.  394-371 BC. In this episode: -Isolating your enemies -Working through intermediaries -The power of culture -Democracy vs. Oligarchy -personal integrity vs state integrity Thanks to our Sponsor, Ancient Language Institute:  https://ancientlanguage.com/register-greek/ Here's a nice map of ancient Greece   Places: ...

The story of Sparta's greatest king. Sponsors: -The Excellent How To Take Over The World Podcast ;  -Ancient Life Coach Rome Retreat   In This Episode: -Inspiration from a rough childhood -The Spartan youth training system -The Spartan art of consensus building -The Iliadic vision of a Panhellenic King -Getting enemies to finance your war effort -War and Friendship among Greeks and Persians People...

Xenophon's Anabasis 4: The best parts of all, with analysis for action. In this Episode: -How to cross a guarded river -The mindset of people who push through massive stress and pain -Distinguishing yourself as middle management -The Sea, The Sea -Lawrence of Arabia, Xenophon admirer -Psychedelic Bees

Apply for the Rome Retreat: https://ancientlifecoach.com/retreat Announcing a new partnership! Alex gets interviewed by Ben Wilson of How to Take Over the World In this episode:  -What's in store -What Alex is listening to -Why Cost of Glory exists -Why biography is energizing -What the greats, ancient and modern, have in common -The true meaning of Zeal

Xenophon's Anabasis Book 3 - The best highlights, the Power Highlights. For Power Listeners. In this Episode: -The power of public speaking -What Socrates told Xenophon before he left -Xenophon's inner monologue in GREEK -Motivating your managers -Finding resources you didn't know you had -Lost cities of Mesopotamia -Goat and donkey balloons -The Original Kurds? Amazon links (Click, Buy -> Supp...

Best highlights, power quotes, and notes from a leadership and adventure classic, Xenophon's Anabasis 2.  Featuring: -Deciding who won a battle -How to deceive the wise -The noble and the base among Greek leaders -The hazards of date palm wine Amazon links (Click, Buy -> Support this show!) Landmark Xenophon's Anabasis https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg Old Penguin Anabasis: https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg Loeb E...

Best highlights, power quotes, and notes from a leadership and adventure classic, Xenophon's Anabasis 1.  Featuring: -How to get people to take real risks on your behalf -How ancient army logistics worked -Love affairs with foreign queens -Hunting the Ostrich -Qualities of good leaders, in Xenophon's opinion Amazon links (Click, Buy -> Support this show!) Landmark Xenophon's Anabasis https://am...

The moment when someone obscure and untested realizes, in a crisis, that they can handle this.  An autobiographical story from someone who was both a great writer and great leader, Xenophon.

Persevere when you are surrounded by enemies, like the other Santa Claus, Saint Basil of Caesarea.  A Christmas special, from the Cost of Glory.

A Spartan story about a conspiracy.  Whether it's a hostile corporate takeover, a plot to overthrow a president, or a school board coup, how do you make sure your conspiracy doesn't fail?  Learn this lesson or be sorry later.  Also featuring commentary from Aristotle's Politics.

How do you buy yourself some time when you can't afford to tell people the reason why?  A strategy used by a Spartan commander, Dercylidas.  Brought to you by the Greek philosopher-historian-warrior Xenophon.

How should we look at the lives of “problematic” great figures?  Join us as we join the ancient philosopher Plutarch, in sizing up two incredible men of action.  Who wins?       Shout out to sources and inspirations:    Ancient:  Plutarch, life of Sulla Plutarch, life of Marius Plutarch, life of Sertorius Plutarch, life of Pompey Plutarch, life of Lucullus Appian, Civil Wars Appian, Mithridatic Wa...