Cost of Glory - Alex Petkas

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**Cost of Glory – Alex Petkas**

The most influential biographies ever written, admired by leaders, creators, soldiers, and thinkers for nearly 2,000 years: Plutarch’s Parallel lives. Essential listening for anyone striving after greatness. Alex Petkas, former professor of ancient philosophy and history, revives and dramatically retells these unforgettable stories for modern audiences. The subjects are statesmen, generals, orators, and founders; pious and profane, stoics and hedonists. The stakes bear on the future of Western civilization. The cost of glory is always great. Visit costofglory.com to find out more.

Latest Episodes:

103 - The Immortal Cato Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Cato's Afterlife, Takeaways, Sources.

Some Modern Sources:

Rome's Last Citizen, by Goodman and Soni
Uncommon Wrath, by Osgood
Cato the Younger by Drogula

102 - Cato III: The Senate's Ashes Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

The Finale, of the life of Cato the Younger. In this episode:

The burning of the Senate house after Clodius' murder in 52 BCE
Cato's failed bid for consulship and his hardline stance against Caesar
The outbreak of civil war and Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon
Cato's final days and dramatic suicide

A tale of principle and paradox, Cato's resolute stand for Republican values helped precipitate its own downfall. His death at Utica - dramatic, philosophical, and on his own terms - marked not just the end of his life but symbolically, the end of the Roman Republic itself.

Check out Becoming the Main Character. Here's a link to the Moby Dick episode.

101 - Cato II: Seducers of Rome Dec 21, 2024

Show notes

Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Cato the Younger. In this episode:

Cato confronts the rising power of Caesar and Pompey in the Senate
The scandalous note from Servilia that backfired on Cato
His principled handling of the Cyprus annexation mission
The formation of the First Triumvirate and Cato's resistance
His memorable year as Praetor and battles against corruption
The death of Julia and Crassus sets the stage for civil war

A story of political intrigue, street violence, and the struggle to preserve Republican institutions against the rising tide of populist strongmen. At the heart of it all stands Cato, refusing to compromise his principles even as Rome's political system crumbles around him.

100 - Cato I: A Strange Boy Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

Episode 1 of the Life of Cato the Younger, Rome's great Stoic statesman.

In this episode:

Cato's earliest years and the murder of his uncle
His first encounter with Sulla as a precocious youth
Cato establishes his reputation: in military service and as Quaestor
A Principled stand against Julius Caesar

On this centennial episode, I'd like to thank all of my listeners and patrons. On to the next hundred!

99 - On Progress - Against Stoicism Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

How to make progress, and know it. Featuring a few of Plutarch's critiques of some Stoics of his day - whether fairly or unfairly, you can decide.

Also featuring: Diogenes the Cynic, Aeschylus the Poet, Brasidas the Spartan Commander.

Also featuring: ZEAL

98 - Gallic Wars 8: Finale Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

Caesar ties all loose ends in his Gallic Campaign, in part 8, the final episode of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico).
This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller.

Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.

In this episode:

Final skirmishes with the Bituriges and the Carnutes
Siege of a hill-fort, and Caesar takes arms (literally)
Conclusion of a bloody chapter, and some takeaways

Cost of Glory is an Infinite Media production — and big thanks to Dr. Richard Johnson of the great city of New York for sponsoring this episode and many others in this series!

97 - Gallic Wars 7: Vercingetorix and the Great Revolt Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Caesar faces the Gallic Grande Armée through fire and snow, in part 7, the climax of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico).
This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller.

Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.

In this episode:

Slaughterings begin at Cenabum
The Incendiary Tactics of Vercingetorix
Rebellion amongst Roman Allies
Caesar loses Gregovia…
…but clinches victory at Alesia
Vercingetorix falls, sealing the fate of Gaul

Thanks to our sponsor Shokworks ! - Shokworks provides consulting and development to offer ROI - positive, enterprise-grade custom software solutions for companies of any size. To find out more, reach out to sales@shokworks.io or visit https://shokworks.io.

96 - Gallic Wars 6: Manhunt Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Caesar fights through enemy tribes and orders a Purge in his manhunt for Ambiorix, in part 6 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico).
This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller.

Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.

In this episode:

The hunt for the crafty Ambiorix and his renegade tribe
The exploits of Titus Labienus and of Publius Sextius Baculus
Hints of Civil War…
(and Druids and ancient cows)

Thanks to Ancient Language Institute and long time CoG fan Dr. Richard Johnson for sponsoring this episode!

P.S.—If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode, feel free to get in touch, any support is highly appreciated as it helps me create more high quality work.

95 - Gallic Wars 5: Uprisings Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

The mighty Caesar returns to Britain, and faces uprisings and deadly skirmishes in Gaul, in part 5 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico).
This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller.

Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.

In this episode:

Caesar’s return to Britain
A deep personal loss
The worst disaster of the entire Gallic Campaign

Subscribe to the CoG Substack to get high quality transcripts w/ MAPS AND IMAGES. Here's the transcript for this episode.

P.S.—If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode, feel free to get in touch, any support is highly appreciated as it helps me create more high quality work.

94 - Gallic Wars 4: Amphibious Assault Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

Caesar crosses two major bodies of water (and he hasn’t even gotten to the Rubicon yet), in part 4 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico).
This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller.

Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.

In this episode:

The Suebi and their strange ways
Caesar builds a bridge
Caesar’s first landing in Britain

Subscribe to the CoG Substack to get high quality transcripts w/ MAPS AND IMAGES.
Here's the transcript for this episode.

(Ep. cover art by Peter Jackson)

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