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
Serial Killers of the Ancient World... with Debbie Felton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:10
From the highway killers confronted by the Greek hero Theseus, such as Procrustes, who tortured and mutilated their victims to the Sphinx, or “strangler,” from the story of Oedipus.. Or child-killing demons and witches a…
How to Tell a Story... According to Aristotle: With Philip Freeman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
Not just for dinner parties and sleepy children, learning how to tell a story is an essential component of understanding literature... but do we only become great at it when we break the rules? We discuss Aristotle's nec…
How have Plato and Socrates influenced Stoicism? With Nancy Sherman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:30
Many people don’t see the connection between the key ancient philosophers, Plato, Socrates and Aristotle and the growing trend of Stoicism - but how was Stoicism influenced by these earlier thinkers? Nancy Sherman, who h…
Bringing Beauty to Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:22
Has our modern system of education become obsessed with the practical and technical to the detriment of a contemplative view of education? Can we help students find awe, curiosity, contemplation - and most important of a…
Are Ancient Languages Necessary? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:40
In 2021 Princeton University scrapped the Ancient Greek and Latin requirements for Classics students... and this sparked a huge debate, both within the classics community and the general classics loving public as well. W…
How Stoicism Can Help: Finding a Philosophy for Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:06
If Seneca said Luck is when preparation meets opportunity... is Resilience when preparation meets struggle? Even if you aren't suffering pain, loss, or anxiety now... the reality is one day you will, and how you handle i…
Ancient Greek Myths... REVISED [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:59
The Time has come... to tell the other side of the myth... the one where Medea isn't so bad... but Penelope is. What if Pandora didn’t have a box? And it wasn’t even filled with evils? What if Helen of Troy (nay Sparta)…
How Marcus Aurelius Got His 'Insulting' Nickname: ​​Verissimus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:37
Donald Robertson's upcoming Graphic Novel tells the tale of Marcus Aurelius like never before... How did Marcus Aurelius get his nickname? And why was it such a slap in the face... to his brother? And how does this new m…
Is the Myth of Atlantis TRUE? With Angie Hobbs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:21
The Myth of Atlantis has captured the imagination since ancient times... when even then people questioned whether it was true or not. Renowned British philosopher and academic, Angie Hobbs delves into the validity of Pla…