Combat and Classics Podcast

Ep. 82 Homer's "Iliad" Book 24 Jul 05, 2023

It's here: our last episode on the Iliad! Achilles continues to mourn Patroclus, and to try to disfigure Hector's body. After days of this, Apollo intervenes, and the gods help Priam to retrieve his son's body from Achilles' tent. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff consider Achilles' "foreign policy" in his dealings with Priam, and the meaning of Homer's epic as a whole. Does the end of the Iliad portray a decline to a world run by liars and dancers, or an ascent to an almost joyful tragic insight into human power? In the final analysis, is it better to be a human being than to be a god? Do we need to read the Odyssey together to answer these questions?

Ep. 81 Homer's "Iliad" Book 23 Jun 23, 2023

After our antepenultimate Iliad episode comes... the penultimate episode! In Book 23, Hector is dead, and Achilles mourns Patroclus, who comes to Achilles in a dream and demands a funeral. So Achilles organizes funeral games: chariot and foot races, boxing and wrestling, and more. The Argives compete, and contend over the justice of their competition. We ask: why does Homer's description of the chariot race take up half of the book? Does Achilles do a good job of managing this race and judging its outcome? Join Brian, Shilo, and Jeff as they discuss the "domestic policy" of the post-wrath, or dead, Achilles. Does he now permit pity and skill to come to the fore, and is this a sign of growth or decline? Is the world of pity and skill a world where one person can be good at everything?

Ep. 80 Homer's "Iliad" Book 22 Jun 14, 2023

Here's our antepenultimate episode on the Iliad! In Book 22, Apollo, disguised as Agenor, lures Achilles away from Troy. When he sees through the deception, Achilles goes after Hector, and chases him around the city's walls. This goes on until Athena disguises herself as Deiphobus, and tricks Hector into facing Achilles. Then Achilles kills Hector, and drags his corpse around behind his chariot. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff ask: why does Hector decide to face Achilles, rather than taking refuge within the walls of Troy? We discuss whether his choice makes sense, and whether he is driven by a just (or an unjust) shame. We also consider whether Hector could have gotten help, whether he could have negotiated with Achilles, and whether he and Achilles, under different circumstances, could have been friends.

Ep. 79 Homer's "Iliad" Book 21 Jun 02, 2023

We're back, with our preantepenultimate episode on the Iliad! In Book 21, we get into the action. Achilles kills so many Trojans that the river Scamander protests the mess he is making. So Achilles fights the river, and nearly dies. Then there is a war between the gods; they lay it on without restraint. Meanwhile, Achilles kills two of Priam's sons, as he watches. And the Trojans are driven back into the gates of Troy. Join Brian, Shilo, and Jeff as they talk about what it might look like to fight a river, and wonder why Achilles cares about how his body looks after he dies. Is Achilles driven by justice in this book, or the noble, or both? Is excellence more visible in a contest between equals, or between unequals? And does Zeus enjoy the suffering of the gods because it makes them better?

Ep. 78 Homer's "Iliad" Book 20 May 26, 2023

In Book 20, Achilles gets new armor from his mom, and rejoins the battle. Zeus tells the gods to take sides, and to go nuts. And Achilles faces Aeneas and Hector, and fights them, so that the gods have to save them. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff talk about why Achilles' single combat with Aeneas is the centerpiece of the book, and why Achilles and Aeneas talk so much before they fight. Does the combat between Achilles and Aeneas prompt Poseidon to change sides? We also talk about why Zeus wants to see the spectacle of all the soldiers at Troy and all the gods fighting one another. Does Zeus find the suffering of soldiers and gods to be pleasant?

Ep. 77 Homer's "Iliad" Book 19 May 20, 2023

We're back! And so is Achilles. But what is he back for? Join Brian, Shilo, and Jeff as we ask why the Iliad isn't over, now that Achilles says his wrath is done. We discuss whether Achilles has a new cause for wrath, against Hector, for the death of Patroclus', and whether this new cause is the same or different from his old cause for wrath, against Agamemnon, for the theft of Briseis. Are both causes for wrath based on an injustice? Who really is responsible for Patroclus' death? We also consider how the gods use nectar and ambrosia to embalm Patroclus' corpse and spare Achilles the need to eat. Are the gods' bodies dead?

Ep. 76 Homer's "Iliad" Book 18 Feb 26, 2023

Achilles is crushed by Patroclus' death. Thetis, his mother, helps him to revenge himself on Hector by asking Hephaestus to make Achilles some new armor. We ask about the elaborate and famous description of Achilles' shield. How should we understand the details on this shield, which looks like the world of the living? Does the shield conceal the world of the dead, who are under the shield just like Achilles is? We also think about Hephaestus' intentions in making Achilles' shield. Is he the artisan who makes the artifact that must fail? Is Hephaestus the wisest god because he can sum up human life?

Ep. 75 Homer's "Iliad" Book 17 Jan 29, 2023

Shilo gets a new gig, and we offend a whole county! But back in the Iliad, Patroclus is dead, and the Greeks and Trojans fight over his body. Why is a whole book concerned with Patroclus' body? And why do we care about the armor and the horses of Achilles? Brian, Shilo and Jeff talk about how this book contributes to the suspense of the story, and about the meaning of Patroclus' embodiment. Is Patroclus his body, or is he different from his body? Are human bodies different from those of the gods? We explore the strange image of the stretched bullhide, and whether Patroclus' body is a valuable commodity.

Ep. 74 Homer's "Iliad" Book 16 Jan 22, 2023

In this book, Achilles comes upon the crying Patroclus, and pities and chides him. Then Patroclus puts on Achilles' armor, joins the fight, is stunned by Apollo, and killed by Hector. Brian, Shilo and Jeff ask why Achilles lets Patroclus join the fight wearing Achilles' armor, when Achilles himself says he is ready to return to battle? We explore Achilles' thinking: what is it like to be far superior to everyone around you? Does Achilles want everyone around him, Greek or Trojan, dead -- except Patroclus? We learn why Plato's Socrates warns against identifying with Achilles' wrath, and how superior human beings dangerously test their friends.

Ep. 73 Homer's "Iliad" Book 15 Jan 06, 2023

Zeus wakes up, and gives us a spoiler of the rest of the Iliad. Then he sets his will in motion. Apollo fills Hector with chutzpah, and he leads the Trojans to fight among the Greek ships. In this episode, Brian, Shilo, and Jeff ask about the smile of Zeus. Has he caught Hera in a lie? Does his smile mean that he thinks he is superior to all the other gods? Is it boring to be by far the greatest of the gods?

Thanks to our supporters and donors! You can support the show at combatandclassics.org. And if you have questions, you can email us at combatandclassics@gmail.com, or you can call and leave a voicemail at 703.677.8645.

Ep. 72 Homer's "Iliad" Book 14 Nov 27, 2022

Poseidon interferes with the will of Zeus because Hera has seduced the king of the gods with a sexy belt. Also, the battle between the Greeks and Achaeans continues to escalate.

We return to the question of "who should be in charge?" and try to figure out why someone should be in charge of something (war, sports, business) generally. We think especially about taking feedback on your decisions as a leader.

Thanks to our supporters and donors! You can support the show at combatandclassics.org.

Ep. 71 Homer's "Iliad" Book 13 Nov 08, 2022

We wonder why Book 13 doesn't have a cool name like Book 12 did.

Then we turn to other questions, like what is on the minds of both sides of this conflict? is it true that military prowess, or military virtue, gives you other virtues, such as skill at deliberation? Or are the two things separate?

Said another way and using the example of sports, why isn’t the best player the coach?

And as it relates to the Iliad: who should be in charge of the Greek army?

Email us at combatandclassics@gmail.com, or you can call and leave a voicemail question at 703.677.8645.

Ep. 70 Homer's "Iliad" Book 12 Oct 29, 2022

Shilo, Jeff and Brian continue their read through of Homer's Iliad. We try to figure out why Book 12 exists as the midpoint of the story and how Homer is using it to build on his themes and continue the narrative. Specifically we ask why is the book so short compared to the others? Why all the similes about war and the natural world and is war a natural phenomenon?

You can rate us on iTunes or follow us on social @combatandclassics. You can also leave a voicemail question at 703.677.8645.

Ep. 69 Homer's "Iliad" Book 11 Oct 11, 2022

[Yell-y war voice] "CARNAGE ON THE BATTLEFIELD!!!!"

Our opening question from Jeff is "can we spoil the Iliad?"

We try to understand what's going on with the story in terms of the hierarchy of Greek heroes on the battlefield and who the "good guys" and the "bad guys" are. We also try to understand what's happening with Achilles, who said that he'd return to the fight once the Trojans were at the ships and we seem to be at that moment but Achilles just sends Patroclus to find out who a wounded Greek is and we get a long story from Nestor.

Brian also mentions his guest hosting of Shakespeare Dallas' "Shakespeare Decoded" pod which you can listen to here.

You can follow us on IG/FB via @combatandclassics.

Ep. 68 Bonus Pod Q&A with Mr. Mark Eleveld's AP Literature Class at Kankakee High School Oct 04, 2022

We got some calls! Thanks a ton to Mark Eleveld and his students at Kankakee High School. Truly honored that you all took the time to call or write in your questions on our Episode 62 on the Iliad Book 5 where we discussed the apparent blurring of gods and mortals and especially Diomedes wounding of a god as well as the difference between courage and the absence of fear.

If you have questions for us you can call in at 703.677.8645 or email us at combatandclassics@gmail.com.

Ep. 67 Homer's "Iliad" Book 10 Oct 04, 2022

The Night Raid! Important book in the kinda middle of the story with lots of action. Agamemnon wakes up in the middle of the night and convenes a war planning committee. Nestor says the Greeks should send some spies out, Diomedes and Odysseus volunteer.

Hector also calls for a spy to go look at the what the Greeks are up too, and Dolon volunteers.

We talk about the asymmetries between the Greek mission and the Trojan mission and the visualization of Diomedes killing sleeping soldiers and ask what role beauty plays in this book. We also ask what the goal of war is: to kill the enemy or to defeat the enemy's war to fight.

If you'd like to call us and leave a voicemail with a question, you can call us at ‪(703) 677-8645‬.

Ep. 66 Homer's "Iliad" Book 9 Oct 04, 2022

The Trojans have pushed the Greeks all the way back to their ship. Night falls, and a panicked Agamemnon and Menelaus need a plan. They decide to send an embassy to Achilles, to beg him to rejoin the fighting. And (spoiler alert) the embassy fails -- but interestingly. It looks like Achilles' position softens; but if so, why doesn't Odysseus report this to the rest of the Greeks? Does Achilles have a moment of philosophic insight about the superiority of the contemplative life? Or is he just a prisoner on the beach, like Odysseus and the rest of the heroes? How does Achilles want to be remembered?

You can find our back episodes at combatandclassics.org and follow us on social @combatandclassics. And if you like what we do, you should also definitely check out Vydol, a close-reading app and online philosophical community. Take a look at vydol.com, or join directly using our affiliate link here.

Ep. 65 Homer's "Iliad" Book 8 Sep 07, 2022

The gods assemble on Mount Olympus after the Trojans put a whooping on the Greeks. The Greeks decide to build defensive fortifications for the first time in the nine year war. Zeus gives a speech to the other gods warning them about going against his will.

What do we think of Zeus as a leader? How does he compare to the leaders of the Greeks and Trojans?

You can find our back episodes at combatandclassics.org and follow us on social @combatandclassics.

Ep. 64 Homer's "Iliad" Book 7 Sep 07, 2022

Book 7 opens with a duel. The Greeks draw lots to fight Hector and (supposedly) end the war. Nine Greeks volunteer to fight and lots are drawn. Ajax wins the lottery and fights Hector. Ajax seems to be winning but the fighters make a truce and decide to take a day off to bury and honor the dead.

Our opening question is: Who are the Greeks without Achilles?

Some followup questions are: Does this book set up Nestor being wrong in the future? Does having Achilles around damage the other heroes?

You can call into our phone number and leave a voicemail with your questions that we may play on the show: 703.677.8645. Or email us at combatandclassics@gmail.com.

You can also donate at combatandclassics.org.

Ep. 63 Homer's "Iliad" Book 6 Aug 17, 2022

Oh hey! You can call us now! 703.677.8645. Leave a voicemail with your question and we may play it on the air and try to answer it.

You can also email us at combatandclassics@gmail.com

In this week's episode we find the Trojans getting beat pretty badly by the Greeks, so Helenus (a soothsayer and Hector's brother) tells Hector to go back to Troy and get the women to sacrifice to Athena. While he's back in town Hector visits his brother and chastises him for not returning to the battlefield. But then Hector goes and visits his wife and newborn son.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Agamemnon chastises Menelaus for taking prisoners, and Diomedes and Glaucus fight, but find out their grandpappies were buddies... so they decide to exchange armor and agree to a personal truce.

We try to tease out in this episode: who is Hector? How does he compare to Agamemnon and Achilles?

You can donate to support the show at combatandclassics.org. Thanks for listening!

Ep. 62 Homer's "Iliad" Book 5 Aug 10, 2022

We've reached Book 5, and Diomedes isn't playing around. He even stabs Ares himself. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff ask: what does it mean to have a war in which men and gods fight one another? We consider whether war is an uncanny world where the gods can be wounded, where men act like gods and gods act like men, and where the one can be mistaken for the other. Are the Homeric gods really not radically different from human beings? Oh: and the Trojans push further from Troy than they have ever gone.

Ep. 61 Homer's "Iliad" Book 4 Aug 02, 2022

Athena appears to cause an end to the truce by wounding Menelaus. Brian, Shilo and Jeff look at how "the will of Zeus is fulfilled" through the wrath of Achilles and through Zeus' lying.

In Book I we framed the wrath of Achilles in terms of his mortality, and achieving immortal greatness. And we see Zeus, an immortal, using duplicity to continue the conflict so his promise to Thetis is kept.

So we ask "why does Zeus lie?" And is there a parallel between Agamemnon's behavior and Zeus'? Is there also a parallel between Hector chastising his brother in front of the troops and what Agamemnon does in Book 4 to Odysseus?

[Note: we mention in this episode our Xenophon pods, which we were originally recording at the same time as our Iliad pods - but decided to release all the Xenophon pods prior to releasing the Iliad pods. So if you're confused...sorry. You can find all our Xenophon pods in our feed and the next several weeks will be all Iliad pods.]

Ep. 60 Homer's "Iliad" Book 3 Jul 21, 2022

In this episode, Paris and Menelaus duel over Helen and the fate of Troy. Menelaus wins (yeah, he does) -- so why doesn't the war end here? Brian, Shilo, and Jeff discuss what this book of the Iliad teaches us about the difference between Greeks and Trojans: are the Greeks all about anger, and the Trojans all about sex? Also: who is the better leader: Priam, Agamemnon, or Hector? Who is better at using shame to motivate his followers?

You can ask us questions on our pod by emailing us at combatandclassics.org and follow us on social media @combatandclassics.

Ep. 59 Homer's "Iliad" Book 2 Jun 24, 2022

Would Agamemnon have made a bad Marine? Join Brian, Shilo, and Jeff as we discuss Brian's question: why does Agamemnon get a dream from Zeus telling him to test his troops before Troy, but the Trojans hear from a disguised messenger direct from the gods? We think about the different physical and moral situations of the Greeks and the Trojans after nine years of fighting. Then we ask: is Agamemnon crazy, or does he have a plan? Does Nestor think he's crazy and plan to undermine him, or is he onboard? If Agamemnon can't motivate his troops with justice or vengeance, is he left with shame? Or does he just want to go home?

Ep. 58 Homer's "Iliad" Book 1 Jun 21, 2022

We embark on our journey through Homer's "Iliad," humanitiy's longest surviving poem on war.

We ask "why is human rage a good subject for a war poem, and not the wrath of gods?"

You can ask us questions on our pod by emailing us at combatandclassics.org and follow us on social media @combatandclassics.

Ep. 57 Xenophon's "Anabasis" Book 7 May 26, 2022

In the last book of Xenophon's "Anabasis" we look back at the three challenges Xenophon has experienced: going to war alongside Cyrus, marching the Greeks through enemy territory, and the army by the sea trying to get home.

We explore what Xenophon wants and the idea of leadership in these three situations and ask "what's the difference between a military leader and a political leader?"

You can support our work exploring classical literature for veterans by donating at combatandclassics.org.

Ep. 56 Xenophon's "Anabasis" Book 6 May 10, 2022

How are dance parties related to diplomacy?

The schisms continue in Book 6 within the Greek army, but some schisms seem better than others. Some try to make friends with the locals, some go for help, some go raiding.

Xenophon turns down the generalship of the whole army.

Ep. 55 Xenophon's "Anabasis" Book 5 May 06, 2022

The rebels have arrived at the Black Sea, but through betrayal and bad decisions, things go awry.....

Xenophon leads an expedition for provisions, but the ships they are waiting for don't show up. We flash forward to Xenophon the writer, who's bought some land in exile and wants to build a temple to Artemis. Xenophon toys with the idea of founding a city where the army is camped - who knows if he was serious or if this was some weird diplomatic move. Move bickering and playing the blame game continue until Xenophon gives a speech and the army is (apparently) purified.

Our opening question is: when an army doesn't have an enemy, do they fight themselves?

Ep. 54 Xenophon's "Anabasis" Book 4 Jan 14, 2022

Xenophon and the Greek host begin their march north, out of the Persian king's territory, through the icy highlands of Armenia, until at last, from a mountain, they catch sight of "the sea! the sea!" So how do the demands of the terrain and weather impose necessities on the Greeks, and how does Xenophon deal with these necessities? Is this easier, or harder, than dealing with human beings, who can be rougher than the terrain and colder than the snow? Do we see evidence of Xenophon's humanity in this book, or of his inhumanity? Join Brian, Shilo, and Jeff as they discuss these questions, and attack the gaps rather than the surfaces!

Ep. 53 Xenophon's "Anabasis" Book 3 Oct 24, 2021

The Greek army has been beheaded: all its generals are dead. The remaining soldiers lie down on the ground in despair. And Xenophon has a dream, one that somehow leads him to reanimate the Greeks and start them on their march north out of Persia. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff talk about how Xenophon revives the troops, why he's in Persia, and whether he disobeyed Socrates' advice to go there.

Ep. 52 Xenophon's "Anabasis" Book 2 Aug 04, 2021

At the beginning of Book 2, Cyrus is dead, but the Greeks are victorious. By the end of Book 2, every Greek general is dead through Tissaphernes' treachery. How did this happen? What does this have to do with Clearchus, the de facto Greek general, and in particular with his piety? And what is the hidden meaning of... palm trees? Join us for the next episode in our reading of Xenophon, in which the author himself makes another brief appearance!

Ep. 51 Xenophon's "Anabasis" Book 1 Jul 26, 2021

Brian, Shilo, and Jeff start their reading of Xenophon's great adventure story, "The Anabasis" -- or "Ascent" -- "of Cyrus." We have a new Cyrus; is he the same as the old Cyrus? How is Cyrus the Younger different from Cyrus the Great? (Is he Cyrus the not-so-Great?) And whose ascent is Xenophon's title talking about, since Cyrus the not-so-Great (spoiler alert!) dies at the end of Book 1? Lastly, what is Xenophon, that other student of Socrates, doing in Cyrus' army of ten thousand Greek mercenaries? Answers to all these questions, and more! Oh, and if you're wondering where Episodes 51 and 52 are, they're part of our half-hour Iliad series. Watch for it; these episodes will drop soon.

Ep. 50 Warspeak by Lise van Boxel Dec 18, 2020

Brian and Jeff are joined by Michael Grenke, St. John's College - Santa Fe, to discuss Lise van Boxel's posthumously published book "Warspeak" from PoliticalAnimalPress.com. Purchase your copy here.

Ep. 49 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book VIII with Shilo Brooks Aug 12, 2020

All good things must come to an end -- but so must all bad things, and Cyrus' empire ends badly. Was Cyrus happy? Is it possible to rule human beings the way he did, like a god, and also make yourself and them happy? And why did such a cold king have two sons? Brian, Shilo, and Jeff have answers, and these answers raise new and interesting questions, and point to another of Xenophon's books.

Ep. 48 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book VII with Shilo Brooks Aug 04, 2020

Abradatas is hacked to pieces, and Panthea kills herself over his corpse. Croesus is defeated by Cyrus, and tries to teach him what "know thyself" means. And Cyrus surrounds himself with a bodyguard... of eunuchs? In this episode, Brian, Shilo, and Jeff finally confront the question of what "the education of Cyrus" really means. To suffer is to learn... but do any of these people really learn anything?

Ep. 47 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book VI with Shilo Brooks Jul 21, 2020

Brian, Shilo and Jeff get together to talk more about the difference between sexual and political love, or eros, and about the connection between eros and gratitude. We end on another cliffhanger, as Cyrus' army, complete with siege engines, is about to attack the Assyrian host. And Jeff admits to a crackpot theory about the connection between love, chariots, and... Plato?

Ep. 46 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book V with Shilo Brooks Jul 14, 2020

Shilo Brooks returns for the next podcast in our series on Xenophon's Education of Cyrus. We talk about Book V, the love book -- easy now -- and especially about the differences between sexual and political love. Cyrus' special friend returns, as does his boyfriend, and the Susan woman. And the book ends with another kiss! We also learn the secret of when Cyrus, and Xenophon, use names.

Check out our newsletter by signing up on our website, combatandclassics.org. You can follow us on Instagram too, @combatandclassics.

Ep. 45 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus," Book IV with Shilo Brooks Jul 09, 2020

Shilo Brooks returns for Book IV of Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus." We discuss Cyrus' attack on the Assyrians, consolidation, cavalry, and Cyrus' first boyfriend returns (::kiss::kiss::) and the Susan woman.

For more info check out combatandclassics.org. We now have a newsletter, Instagram (@combatandclassics), and twitter (@combat_classics).

Ep. 44 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book III with Shilo Brooks Jun 30, 2020

Shilo Brooks returns for another episode of "The Education of Cyrus" by Xenophon. We discuss moderation, virtue, risk and a brief mention of the ugly boyfriend.

Ep. 43 Pierre Manent's "The Metamorphoses of the City" with Dr. Joseph Wood Jun 30, 2020

Dr. Joseph Wood (Institute for World Politics and Cana Academy) joins Brian and Jeff to discuss Pierre Manent's "The Metamorphoses of the City," Chapter 2: The Poetic Birth of the City.

We discuss the relationships between war and politics, especially as it relates to The Iliad.

Ep. 42 Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book II with Shilo Brooks Jun 26, 2020

Shilo Brooks returns to continue our exploration of Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book II where Cyrus goes to war against the Assyrians and we try to tease out what fundamentals of warfare Cyrus discovers versus what he's taught by the Persians.

Ep. 41 Xenophon's "Education of Cyrus," Book I, with Shilo Brooks Jun 18, 2020

Shilo Brooks returns to the pod to discuss Book I of Xenophon's "Education of Cyrus" examining the early upbringing of Cyrus and the nature of government.

Ep. 40 The Sicilian Expedition, with Andrea Radasanu Jun 17, 2020

Andrea Radasanu returns to discuss the Sicilian Expedition from Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian War."

Ep. 39 The Wright Brothers, with Shilo Brooks Jun 17, 2020

Jeff and Brian are joined by Shilo Brooks, Director of the Engineering Leadership Program at the University of Colorado - Boulder, to discuss the role of engineering in the liberal arts and his lovely essay on the Wright Brothers for Scientific American:

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/why-did-the-wright-brothers-succeed-when-others-failed/

https://www.colorado.edu/herbst/shilo-brooks

Ep. 38 Thucydides Part I with Andrea Radasanu Jun 17, 2020

Jeff and Brian are joined by Dr. Andrea Radasanu, Acting Director of the University Honors Program at Northern Illinois University, to discuss Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian War," specifically the Athenian plague and Pericles funeral oration.

For more info on Andrea and NIU, click here: https://www.niu.edu/honors/about/staff.shtml

Ep. 37 Claudia Hauer "Strategic Humanism" Jun 14, 2020

Brian and Jeff are joined by Claudia Hauer, St. John's College Tutor and Visiting Professor at the United States Air Force Academy to discuss her new book "Strategic Humanism: Lessons of Leadership from the Ancient Greeks."

To pre-order, click below:

https://www.politicalanimalpress.com/product/strategic-humanism/

Ep. 36: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert Mar 18, 2020

Join Brian, Ashley Johnson (https://www.writethinkdream.com/) and Anne Kniggendorf (twitter: @annekniggendorf) in their discussion of the 19th century classic, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.

Ep. 35 In Memoriam: Lise van Boxel Mar 11, 2020

Our dear friend, co-founder, co-host and great souled human, Lise van Boxel, has passed away. We present our humble tribute.

Ep. 34 Homer's Iliad, Book 6 Jan 07, 2020

ANNOUNCEMENT: We recently learned that C&C co-founder Lise van Boxel has been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment. If you would like to help and express your support, please visit the GoFundMe page created for her benefit.

In this episode, Brian is joined by guest Scott Hambrick, founder of Online Great Books. Brian will be teaching a seminar through Scott's website starting in January. Sign up here and receive a 25% discount.

Brian and Scott discuss questions raised about war in Book 6 of Homer's Iliad.

Ep. 33: Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra Nov 25, 2019

We begin our next "close read" series with the first two sections of Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, which conclude with the famous line "God is dead." Lise, Jeff, and Brian discuss Nietzsche's imagery, allusions, and treatment of questions of love, envy, and humanity.

Ep. 32: Veterans Education Project Aug 22, 2019

Brian interviews Daniel Elkins, founder and director of the Veterans Education Project, which works to address issues faced by veterans in higher education. You can find more information on the Project's website. And tune in to the Project's podcast "Coffee with Congress" here, where it shares conversations with members of Congress about everything but politics.

Ep. 31: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Jul 30, 2019

We're joined today by actor Matt Eitzen who is also a Shakespeare and Roman history aficionado. You can catch Matt in upcoming productions at The Guinea Pig Theater in Dallas, Texas through this link: https://www.facebook.com/theguineapigdallas/

You can rent Brian's favorite interpretation, "Caesar Must Die" on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVY_edU8vZA

Ep. 30: Shakespeare's King Lear Jun 12, 2019

Brian is joined by guest George Eckerle, St. John's grad and co-founder (with Brian) of the Plato Project, a series of online seminars for discussion of Plato's complete works. In this episode they discuss one of William Shakespeare's most well-known tragedies, King Lear.

Referenced Links:

Peter Burke version of King Lear - https://youtu.be/0DWCn6H_KZM
Ismail Kadare "Essays on World Literature" - https://www.amazon.com/Essays-World-Literature-Aeschylus-Shakespeare/dp/1632061740

Ep. 29: Emerson's Divinity School Address Apr 30, 2019

How does speech move the human soul? How can a leader use speech inspire others to action? Lise, Jeff, and Brian tackle those questions in their discussion of Ralph Waldo Emerson's address to the graduating class of Harvard's divinity school in 1838.

Ep. 28: Aristotle’s Politics Bk. I, part 4 Mar 08, 2019

Jeff, Lise, and Brian continue our "close-read" series on Aristotle's Politics. They continue to tackle Aristotle's discussion of slavery, which raises questions about nature, law, and virtue.

Ep. 27: Interview with Jennifer Wright Nov 26, 2018

Brian sits down with St. John's College alum Jennifer Wright, who is a writer and the author of several books including It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History. They talk about Ms. Wright's informed and fun take on history, as well as her career path from SJC to professional writer.

Ep. 26: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" Nov 19, 2018

What is the relationship between the natural world and the human world? In this belated Halloween episode, Lise, Jeff, and Brian discuss Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Ep. 25: Aristotle's Politics, part 3 Oct 28, 2018

What is slavery? What does slavery have to do with the household or the state? Brian, Lise, and Jeff dig deeper into the Politics in Part 3 of their discussion of this series.

Ep. 24: Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" Oct 21, 2018

How do human beings confront a crisis? Anne Kniggendorf and Matt Young join Brian for a conversation about Ernest Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants."

In case you missed it: Tune in to Brian's interviews with Anne and Matt in previous episodes.

Ep. 23: Aristotle Politics Bk. I, part 2 Oct 09, 2018

“Man is by nature a political animal.”

Lise, Jeff, and Brian continue their conversation about Book I of Aristotle’s Politics, in which that famous line appears. They address Aristotle’s discussion of how a city comes to be, and his assertion that humans reach their full potential by living in a city.

Ep. 22: Interview with Matt Young Aug 21, 2018

Brian interviews Matt Young, Marine Corps veteran, English professor, and author of Eat the Apple, an memoir that has been described as "The Iliad of the Iraq war." They begin by discussing maintaining your humanity (or not) while serving in and returning from war. They go on to talk about the relationship between civilian and military citizens and how literature and writing can help veterans to manage anger and build empathy after military service.

Contains explicit language.

Ep. 21: Aristotle's Politics Bk. I, part 1 Aug 06, 2018

Jeff, Lise, and Brian roll up their sleeves and dig in to Aristotle's Politics. How are this and other "Great Books" relevant to how we live our lives? What is good political rule? What does it mean to be "just" within a political system? What problems can politics solve? What problems can it not solve? The team tackles those questions and much more in this episode.

Ep. 20: Interview With Doug Lensing Jul 01, 2018

Douglas Lensing joins the show to talk about his path from the Navy to St. John's College and his paper "Passion and Mind: Homer's Formula for Victory in the Iliad."

Doug joined the Navy on a Naval Special Warfare contract, but after failing to complete BUD/S went to Defense Language Institute, learned Farsi and worked at Fort Gordon, Georgia as a linguist.

Doug will be starting his Ph.D. at Baylor University in Political Science in the fall of 2018.

Ep.19: Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" May 28, 2018

Is human life "nada" - nothing? In their discussion of Hemingway's (very) short story, Brian, Lise, and Jeff examine the contrast between youth and old age and the states of being hurried versus unhurried. How are those distinctions related to the question of whether there is a difference between those who need a clean, well-lighted place and those who do not?

Ep. 18: Racine's Phedre Apr 03, 2018

Can you simultaneously hate and love the same thing? What is the relationship between virtue and love? Lise, Jeff, and Brian tackle those questions and more in this episode on Jean Racine's play Phedre.

Also, as promised, you can find Jeff's Frankenstein lecture here and the book with Lise's essay here. Enjoy!

Ep. 17: Freud's "On Transience" Mar 20, 2018

Jeff, Lise, and Brian discuss Freud’s "On Transience," in which Freud thinks about the transitory nature of life and of the beautiful things in life. The piece prompts a conversation about a variety of topics Freud raises, from death to libido to war.

Ep. 16: Interview with Anne Kniggendorf Mar 15, 2018

Brian interviews St. John's College alum and U.S. Navy veteran Anne Kniggendorf. They have an engaging discussion about the relationship between liberal arts and the military.

Check out Anne's website (https://annekniggendorf.com/) and Anne's article, mentioned in the pod (https://electricliterature.com/gracie-allen-and-john-denver-in-boot-camp-c45ee066e561).

Ep. 15: Shelley's Frankenstein Jan 29, 2018

“I beheld the wretch – the miserable monster whom I had created.”

Why did Victor Frankenstein create his monster? What role did beauty, love, science, and education play in his endeavor? Join Lise, Brian, and Jeff in a discussion of this classic, widely known novel.

As a follow up, listen to Jeff's lecture on the book here (http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3733)

Ep. 14: Chekhov's "Rothschild's Violin" Dec 18, 2017

How should human life be valued? Is death something to suffer, or something that provides relief? Jeff, Lise and Brian discuss these questions and more in examining Anton Chekhov's short story "Rothschild's Violin" or "Rothschild's Fiddle."

Ep. 13: Plato's Phaedo Oct 28, 2017

Should we fear death? Jeff, Lise, and Brian discuss Plato's Phaedo, in which Socrates is joined by his friends to discuss that and other questions while awaiting the time for Socrates' execution later the same day.

Ep. 12: Sophocles' Philoktetes Sep 28, 2017

What role do lying and deception play in achieving strategic objectives? Jeff, Lise and Brian discuss that and other questions as raised by Sophocles in Philoktetes, in which a soldier (Philoktetes) is recovered from an island where he was left after being wounded. His significance arises from his possession is the famed bow of Heracles, which the characters Odysseus and Neoptolemus believe is necessary to win the Trojan war.

Ep. 11: Rousseau's Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts Aug 07, 2017

Jeff, Lise, and Brian are joined by the distinguished Dylan Casey and Wes Alwan for this crossover episode with the Partially Examined Life. They discuss the Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, or First Discourse, in which Rousseau argues that the arts and sciences tend to lead to "moral corruption". What is "moral corruption"? What does it mean for a human being to be "whole"? How can a society be structured to allow individual humans to achieve wholeness? What role do the arts and sciences play in that endeavor? Join the group for a lively discussion of those questions and more!

Ep. 10: Anton Chekhov's "The Student" Jul 05, 2017

In this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss “The Student,” a (very) short story by Anton Chekhov. The central character is Ivan, a student, or disciple, whose depression is transformed into elation during the course of his conversation with a peasant mother and daughter about the suffering of Peter as he realizes his betrayal of Jesus.

Ep. 9: Joseph Conrad's "Typhoon" Jul 05, 2017

Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss another work by Joseph Conrad, a rip-roaring, seafaring tale! In his novella Typhoon, Conrad tells the story of Captain McWhirr, his crew, and his ship’s brawling passengers as they sail through a typhoon. The work raises questions about leadership in the face of human conflict and natural disasters.

Ep. 8: Joseph Conrad's "The Secret Sharer" Jul 05, 2017

In this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss Joseph Conrad’s short story “The Secret Sharer,” which features a psychological drama between an young, unnamed captain who is uncertain of his ability to lead his ship and a mysterious man named Leggatt who swims up to the side of the ship, naked and adrift.

Ep. 7: Shakespeare's Coriolanus Jul 05, 2017

How do military leaders relate to the civilians they protect? In this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss that and other questions raised by this Shakespearean tragedy. The story of Coriolanus, a Roman general, starts with a heroic victory for Rome, but ends with exile, defection to the enemy, and ultimately death.

Ep. 6: Plato's Symposium Jul 05, 2017

Join Lise, Jeff and Brian for another Platonic dialogue! Socrates and Alcibiades reappear at a party attended by several characters who decide to take turns praising Eros, who is often referred to in English as the “god of love.” As the dialogue progresses, we learn there is much more to love, or rather to “eros,” than sexual desire, and the characters’ conversation moves on to numerous other topics, including politics, law, and philosophy.

Ep. 5: Aristophanes' Birds Jun 19, 2017

What can we learn from a farce about banishment? Where do politics, nature and religion collide with the absurd?

Check out our discussion of Aristophanes' Birds.

Ep. 4: Plato's Alcibiades I Jun 19, 2017

Let's do some more Plato! Alcibiades is one of the most famous figures in military history. An incredibly successful Athenian general who fled to Athens' enemy Sparta after being charged with with sacrilege. He and Socrates had a very "complicated" relationship. This particular dialogue raises questions about the nature of justice and who is worthy to lead.

Ep. 3: Interview with Professor Martin L. Cook Jun 19, 2017

Join us for a discussion with Martin L. Cook, Distinguished Visiting Professor at United States Air Force Academy. Prior to that, Professor Cook was Admiral James B. Stockdale Professor of Professional Military Ethics at the College of Operational and Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Naval War College. He is also co-editor of The Journal of Military Ethics.

Cook was previously a professor of philosophy and deputy department head at the Philosophy Department of the U.S. Air Force Academy from 2004 to 2009. He was also a professor of ethics at the U.S. Army War College from 1998 to 2003 and the Elihu Root Chair of Military Studies in 2000.

In addition, Cook was assistant professor from 1982 to 1988 and associate professor from 1988 to 1998 at the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Santa Clara. He has also been an adjunct professor at Dickinson College and Fuller Theological Seminary in the Bay Area; visiting professor at the College of William and Mary; and a teaching assistant at The University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

Cook serves on the editorial boards of Parameters, the scholarly journal of the Army War College, and The Journal of Military Ethics. He is the author of The Moral Warrior: Ethics and Service in the U.S. Military and Issues in Military Ethics: To Support and Defend the Constitution and numerous scholarly articles and book reviews.

Ep. 2: Plato's Republic Jun 19, 2017

Join Lise, Jeff and Brian for a conversation on Book I of the Republic. BUT FIRST! How to approach the "Great Books": How do you start from scratch with no background or without a group? We hope you like it!

Ep. 1: Sophocles' Ajax Jun 12, 2017

Join Lise, Jeff and Brian as they discuss Sophocles' Ajax, the story of a great Greek warrior who takes his own life on the beach of Troy.

Also, check out Stringfellow Barr's "Notes on Dialogue" as a follow-up to the discussion at the beginning of the episode about the student-led seminars at St. John's College, which form a critical part of the education it offers.

Ep. 0: Introduction Jun 04, 2017

Join Lise, Jeff and Brian for the kick off podcast explaining a little what we're about. Spoiler alert: it's a strange brew of classical literature, military history and culture, and the human experience of war.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected