295: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

295: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

Author: A.J. Hanenburg, Graeme Donaldson, and Thomas Magbee February 3, 2026 Duration: 1:00:08
In this episode, we discuss ol' Robinson Crusoe, how he lived on the island, and escaped twenty-eight years later. It's . . . kinda good?

Three friends, A.J. Hanenburg, Graeme Donaldson, and Thomas Magbee, gather for the kind of wide-ranging conversation that happens after a good book or a shared idea. Their Classical Stuff You Should Know podcast is built on the belief that the ancient world isn't a sealed relic but a living conversation that touches everything from art and literature to the deeper questions of faith and philosophy. You’ll hear them explore mythology, history, and classical texts, but always through a lens that feels immediate and accessible. They connect these enduring ideas to the categories that shape our lives, whether that's education, creative arts, or personal spirituality. The tone is less like a lecture and more like joining a discussion among knowledgeable pals who genuinely enjoy unpacking these topics together. This approach makes the podcast a resource for teachers looking for engaging angles and for anyone simply curious about how ancient thoughts on Christianity, ethics, and storytelling still resonate. Each episode feels like an invitation to pull up a chair and think along with them, finding richness in the classical tradition that goes far beyond dusty textbooks.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Classical Stuff You Should Know
Podcast Episodes
15: The seven deadly sins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:57
In this episode, we discuss the classical understanding of the seven deadly sins and their import today.
14: Logical Fallacies, Part Deux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:30
In this episode, we cover the fallacies of ambiguity and the fallacies of form.
13: Logical Fallacies, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:24
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.
12: What IS classical? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:32
Thomas leads us through the criteria for calling a work classical.
11: Ethos, Logos, Pathos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:59
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 thre…
10: The House of Atreus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:52
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.
9: The Spheres [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
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 ma…
8: Metaphors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:48
In this episode, Graeme discusses the different parts of a metaphor.
7: Iliad book XXII [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:24
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.