Classical Wisdom Speaks

Classical Wisdom Speaks

Author: Classical Wisdom Language: English Episodes: 100
There's a quiet conversation happening across the centuries, and tuning into Classical Wisdom Speaks lets you overhear it. This isn't a dry lecture series, but a place where the vivid stories, enduring philosophies, and complex lives of the ancient world are examined for what they can tell us today. Each episode, brought to you by Classical Wisdom, feels like a thoughtful discussion with experts who are passionate about making these ideas accessible and relevant. You'll hear about the strategic dilemmas faced by Athenian generals, the poetic insights of Sappho, or the ethical questions posed by Stoic thinkers, all framed in a way that connects directly to contemporary life. The goal is to listen to these foundational voices not as historical artifacts, but as active participants in our own modern dilemmas. This history podcast thrives on the belief that the struggles for meaning, justice, and a good life are timeless, and that the ancients still have a lot to say if we know how to listen. The dialogue between past and present is surprisingly lively, and each episode invites you to join in, finding unexpected guidance and perspective from some of history's most profound minds.
Episodes
The Truth About the Life of Plato [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:09
They say all philosophy is but a series of footnotes to Plato. Yet the remarkable story of the great philosopher’s life has remained untold—until now. On today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya is joined by independent sch…
Ancient Greece's Most Complicated Women? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
Take a deep dive into three of ancient Greece's most fascinating women - both historical and mythological. What can we discover about Sappho, Medea and Antigone by studying the original texts? Join Diane Rayor, an extrem…
Did Socrates Teach Morality? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:12
In a world brimming with information and rapidly shifting beliefs, the lessons from Socrates resonate more than ever. How do we seek knowledge in an age of uncertainty? How can we engage in meaningful dialogue that encou…
How Should We Treat Animals? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:41
The ancients had plenty of thoughts about animals... but are their insights helpful to us now? How did they treat animals? What did they think of them? And should we eat meat? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is w…
The Story of Thebes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:28:46
Everyone knows Athens and Sparta...and yet, THEBES is not the common household name it should be. From its captivating mythology to its fantastic history, we’ll look at the archeology, the military, the legends and the t…
Magnus Maximus & Roman Britain in the 4th Century AD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:44
In the boom time in Roman Britain, 3rd century AD, one Roman Emperor made his mark on the chaotic island before he was canceled in his own time... and afterwards. But was the treatment of Magnus Maximus unfair? Was he ju…
Why Myths Matter - With Stephen Fry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:26
The famed actor and comedian, Stephen Fry, discusses the ancient languages, etymology, and the joy of discovering the Classics through ancient Greek. We question whether Odysseus... or any of the other great names were r…
Who Was Julian? Rome’s Last Pagan Emperor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:15
Flavius Claudius Julianus turned the world upside down. Also known as Julian the Apostate as well as Julian the Philosopher, he ruled Rome as sole emperor for just a year and a half, from 361 to 363. Nonetheless, his imp…