307: Planet Narnia: Saturn, Mercury, and Venus

307: Planet Narnia: Saturn, Mercury, and Venus

Author: A.J. Hanenburg, Graeme Donaldson, and Thomas Magbee September 8, 2026 Duration: 1:05:37
In this episode we finish Graeme's series on Lewis and his planets.

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: 50

Classical Stuff You Should Know
Podcast Episodes
286: Prince Darling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:36
Faeries. Stay away from them or you'll have your finger pricked all to heck.
285: The Democratic Man: Plato's Republic Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:38
In this episode, Graeme discusses the degradation of man as a reflection of the degradation of the state suggested in Plato's Republic, Book VIII. Apparently true freedom is bloodshed.
284: Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:24
In this (far too long) episode, we play a quiz show with a cake as a prize. Because really, that's what every war is about: cake.
283: Beauty and the Beast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:14
Thomas continues his series on children's books with the (an?) original Beauty and the Beast tale. It's pretty lovely. Is it bad if I want to be Thomas's kid?
282: Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:40
In this episode, we discuss Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility," along with a bunch of doofy males. I mean we discuss them, we don't podcast with them.
280: Raskolnikov and Narcissism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:43
In this episode, Graeme tells us of the Narcissism of Raskolnikov. I mean, Graeme tells you, but A.J. had all the ideas (please give him validation).
279: Aesop's Fables [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
In this episode, we talk about ants, grasshoppers, scorpions, and a fish named Chris.