Classical Wisdom Speaks

Classical Wisdom

A Podcast dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. This podcast is provided by Classical Wisdom, to learn more check out www.classicalwisdom.com

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28 episodes
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Avg 52 min
English

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April 17 · 27 min
Mary Beard: Why You Should Argue With the Ancients
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 way to see modern problems differently. You’ll learn how to approach classical history without intimidation, why “the shock of the old” still matters, and how anyone can join the conversation. If you’ve ever wondered how ancient history connects to today’s world, this episode will change how you think about the past and the present. KEY IDEAS: • Why studying Classics isn’t about finding “answers” • The idea of “The Shock of the Old” and why it still matters • How ancient texts like Medea continue to unsettle us • The danger of over-revering Greek and Roman history • How Classics helps challenge modern “presentism” • Can the ancient world teach us anything useful today? • How to get into Classics without knowing Latin or Greek • Why Classics has no single political agenda • How the past has been used by both left and right movements • Finding wonder (“thauma”) in ancient history TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Mary Beard & Talking Classics 00:23 Why the Classics still matter 01:24 Why we should revere the ancient world less 02:39 The “shock” of ancient culture (Medea example) 04:48 Wonder and awe in the ancient world 05:44 The Egyptian bread story (first encounter with history) 07:29 Making Classics accessible to everyone 08:43 Do the Greeks and Romans offer life lessons? 10:06 Using Classics to rethink modern problems 11:37 Presentism vs learning from the past 13:22 How to start engaging with Classics 15:04 Podcasts, media, and entry points into history 16:20 Seeing the classical world all around us 19:08 Technology (VR) and experiencing the past 21:05 Is Classics political? 22:25 How different ideologies use ancient history 24:48 Classics and democracy, revolution, and reform 25:38 Who “owns” the past? 26:18 Final thoughts If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe for more deep dives into history and ideas. Learn More! Check out these LINKS 👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 👉 Watch the full episode: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/mary-beard-why-you-should-argue-with 👉 Mary Beard's "Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old:: https://profilebooks.com/work/talking-classics/ What do you think: can the ancient world still teach us something today? Let me know in the comments. GUEST Mary Beard – One of the world’s most influential classicists, Professor Emerita at Cambridge, and bestselling author of SPQR and Twelve Caesars. Known for making ancient history accessible, relevant, and thought-provoking. #Classics #AncientHistory #MaryBeard #GreekHistory #RomanHistory
April 9 · 36 min
Rebellions Against Rome: The Jewish Revolts
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 as well as the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, where he is the former Chair of the Department of History as well as Professor of History and Classics. He is the author of many bestselling books, including most recently Jews Vs Rome, which you can buy HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Jews-vs-Rome-Centuries-Rebellion/dp/1668009595 Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. Become a Member HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 And access the extended version of this episode HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/jews-vs-rome
April 2 · 54 min
Natalie Haynes on Medea: Greek Tragedy's Most Shocking Heroine
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 the author of several acclaimed books about women in Greek mythology, including Divine Might, Stone Blind, and most recently No Friend to This House, her own much-anticipated retelling of the myth of Medea. You can buy a copy HERE: https://www.amazon.com/No-Friend-This-House-Novel/dp/0063258447 Natalie Haynes is an author and comedian as well as a broadcaster for the BBC, and she has written for The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, and The Observer. Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/
March 26 · 38 min
The Roman Guide to War
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 and leadership. George Thomas, also known by his pen name, Quintus Curtius, is an acclaimed translator of ancient texts, including those by Cicero, Sallust, and Cornelius Nepos. He is an MIT graduate, a former officer in the US Marine Corps, a founding partner of the law firm, Phillips and Thomas. His most recent work is a translation Frontius' Stratagems, of which we speak about today. You can buy it HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Stratagems-Translation-Sextus-Julius-Frontinus/dp/B0FPBTNCY5 Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. Become a Member HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe And access the extended version HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/a-forgotten-roman-masterclass-in
March 12 · 1 hr 21 min
What Can Ancient History Tell Us About Revolutions?
Long before crowds stormed Bastille or Winter Palace, Greek thinkers treated revolution as the ultimate civic nightmare. So how did an existential danger morph into a promise of liberation—and what happens when that promise curdles into violence? In this dynamic online forum, Dan Edelstein, Professor of French at Stanford University, is joined by classical-political heavyweights Josiah Ober, Professor of Political Science and Classics at Stanford University, and Melissa Lane, Professorship of Politics at Princeton University, to excavate the deep past of an idea that still jolts headlines and rattles parliaments. Hosted by Anya Leonard. Brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. Learn more about our mission and sign up for the free newsletter here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/
February 26 · 41 min
Slave of God: Should We Rethink St. Augustine?
Existing at the very edge of the Classical world, in both time and geography, Saint Augustine has proven to be immensely influential on the modern world… but not always in a good way. Today Anya is joined by Tony Alimi to discuss the life and philosophy of Saint Augustine, how he was influenced by Roman philosophers, and the ‘entanglements’ that complicate his legacy. In particular, how his theology was used to justify slavery. Discover how philosophy has been abused by history, and why Augustine still isn't through with us today... Tony Alimi is assistant professor in the Sage School of Philosophy at Cornell University and author of Slaves of God: Augustine and Other Romans on Religion and Politics. You can buy it HERE: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691244235/slaves-of-god?srsltid=AfmBOoqe902LK8mqeBd3lUa4L8I9roc6Ouy7KmiNS3xrG-xnotPz5BRw Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. Become a Member HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe And access the extended version HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/slave-of-god-rethinking-augustine
February 12 · 47 min
How Plato Explains the Modern World
What can Plato tell us about life TODAY? Quite a lot, it turns out… Today Anya is joined by Professor Angie Hobbs to discuss the essential and enduringly relevant nature of Plato’s ideas. Discover how they are infused in our modern world, in everything from politics to our personal lives. Angie Hobbs is Professor Emerita of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield and author of Plato and the Hero, Plato’s Republic: A Ladybird Expert Book, and most recently, Why Plato Matters Now. You can buy a copy HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Plato-Matters-Now-Interfaces/dp/1399403370 Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. Become a Member HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe And access the extended version HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/why-plato-matters-now-more-than-ever
February 1 · 49 min
Man or Myth? King Arthur and Rome's Legacy in Britain
Was King Arthur real? What can his story tells us about British history and identity? And what exactly happened to Britain after the Romans left? Today Anya is joined by Murray Dahm, an independent academic researcher and freelance historian based in Sydney, Australia. Discover how the era of post-Roman Britain is both a beginning and an ending, the thin line between history and myth, and how the dark age was MUCH shorter than commonly thought. Murray Dahm is the author of several books, including Finis Britanniae: A Military History of Late Roman Britain and the Saxon Conquest. You can buy it HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Finis-Britanniae-Military-History-Conquest/dp/1398118273 Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. This can be found here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/roman-britain-origin-or-decline

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