Cost of Glory

Something is very wrong in the opening scenes of the Odyssey. 

The master of the house is gone. His wife is besieged. His son is powerless. And the men eating him out of house and home are waiting for the right moment to strike. 

Welcome to Part 1 (of 6!) of our new series, where we cover Homer's great epic. 

Part 1 covers Books 1 to 4, the monsters haven't arrived yet — but the groundwork for everything is laid here. What does it take to reestablish order once it has fallen? What kind of man can do it? 

Follow Telemachus as he learns to speak, to threaten, and to travel among serious men, and meet the figures who shape his fate: Athena, Penelope, Nestor, Menelaus, Helen, and the doomed suitors led by Antinous. 

As Christopher Nolan's film approaches, it's a perfect time to dust off a copy of Homer's Odyssey, and follow along this epic story in our 6-part retelling.

Timestamps:
0:00 Why the Odyssey begins with Odysseus's absence
1:08 Introducing the show
1:25 Book One: Athena visits Ithaca
4:05 Telemachus welcomes the stranger
7:33 The poem's opening lines and Odysseus's epithets
10:06 Odysseus and the wrath of Poseidon
11:43 The Council of the Gods
13:58 Athena's plan to help Telemachus
17:20 Athena's instructions: call an assembly
19:08 The story of Orestes and Telemachus's zeal
22:08 Penelope's first appearance
27:00 Telemachus finds his courage
29:25 Book Two: The Assembly begins
31:56 Antinous defends the suitors
35:59 The omen of the eagles
37:55 Telemachus's plan revealed
40:16 Athena returns as Mentor
45:15 Telemachus sets sail for Pylos
46:48 Book Three: Arrival at Pylos
52:41 The story of Agamemnon and Aegisthus
1:02:17 Book Four: Arrival in Sparta
1:05:28 Helen's grand entrance
1:11:41 Helen's magic drug
1:19:50 Menelaus and Proteus, the shapeshifting sea god
1:27:08 Menelaus's fate: the Elysian Fields
1:32:09 The suitors plot to kill Telemachus
1:33:23 Closing thoughts

Callouts:

A conversation with Morgan Watkins of TheBaseCreates and George Carter from Old Sovereign Publishing about the importance of re-enchanting the world through theatre and the tradition of the classics, specifically focusing on a new drama competition called "The Great Panathenaea". 

Links: 

Subscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history

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My conversation with author, soldier, and scholar, Nicholas Tobias.

This is the first public interview with Nicholas, and he agreed to speak on condition that we'd preserve his alias and therefore his anonymity. 

Hence there is no video of him, and the sound quality from his undisclosed location was not perfect. 

But this was a fascinating conversation that I'm going to be thinking about for a long time.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Subscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history: https://costofglory.substack.com/

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Website: https://costofglory.com
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On how the Spartans achieved emotional mastery, long before Stoicism was invented.

-Lessons both personal and political from the life of Caesar.  
-The Net Worth of Caesar's Estate
-Also, could he be in heaven? What should a Christian's, or any modern man's attitude be toward Caesar?

-Thanks to sponsors Shokworks and Dr. Richard Johnson!
-Shout out to Ward Farnsworth, author of The Practical Stoic, Classical English Rhetoric, and more!

Find out more about The Classical Society: https://theclassicalsociety.com

A conversation with American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator Victor Davis Hanson.

We discuss:

Subscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history: https://costofglory.substack.com/

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X: https://x.com/costofglory

Part 3 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. 

Did Caesar want to be a King? A god? What was his vision for Rome? Was there a way he could have prevented his assassination? 

In this episode:

Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs. Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power solutions for your SMB to Enterprise level business.  Powered by Shokworks.

Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series.

And check out Warlords of History podcast here!

In this episode:

A conversation with the bestselling author, classicist and the military and naval historian Barry Strauss about his latest book Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire.

We explore:

For Barry's previous appearance, check out episode 81.

Subscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history: https://costofglory.substack.com/

Get in touch at:
Website: https://costofglory.com
X: https://x.com/costofglory

A conversation with Johnathan Bi (Cosmos Institute, The Great Books podcast) for a deep dive into Stoicism through the life and philosophy of Cato the Younger.

We explore:

Subscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history: https://costofglory.substack.com/

Get in touch at:
Website: https://costofglory.com
X: https://x.com/costofglory

A conversation with Rob Henderson — Air Force veteran, psychologist, and author of the bestselling "Troubled". 

In this episode:

Subscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history: https://costofglory.substack.com/

Get in touch at:
Website: https://costofglory.com
X: https://x.com/costofglory

Part 3 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. From triumph to near-disaster. Caesar's Egyptian entanglement transforms him from a glorious victor to a desperate challenger. In this episode:

As Caesar recounts, the Republic's future dictator came very close to destruction in the palaces and canals of Alexandria. While Rome descended into chaos under Mark Antony's drunken rule, Caesar fought for his life against war elephants and Numidian cavalry, transformed by his liaison with the living goddess Cleopatra. The man who emerged from Egypt was no longer merely a Roman general, he had consorted with divinity and fathered the son of a pharaoh. 

As Cicero wrote in frantic letters to Atticus: "Where am I to look for solace?" The final campaign that would cement Caesar's supremacy began with the most dangerous gamble of his career.

Works Cited: (Affiliate links - support the show!)

Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs. Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power solutions for your SMB to Enterprise level business.  Powered by Shokworks.

Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series!

Part 2 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. After his lightning conquest of Italy, Caesar faces his greatest challenge yet as Pompey masses a vast army in Greece. In this episode:

Caesar's own account reveals a commander pushed to his absolute limits, saved only by the loyalty of soldiers who would "rather eat tree bark than let Pompey slip through our fingers." The battle that destroyed the old Republic hinged on a single morning's decisions, proving that world history sometimes turns on the choices of one man in command. As Caesar stood over the carnage at Pharsalus, he reportedly said: "This is what they chose. After so many deeds in the service of my country, they would have me, Julius Caesar, condemned as a criminal, unless I sought the protection of an army."

Works Cited: Gareth Sampson, The Battle of Pharsalus Matthias Gelzer, Caesar: Politician and Statesman James Froude, Caesar: A Sketch,Raaflaub (ed.) Landmark Caesar. (Affiliate links - support the show!)

Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs. Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power solutions for your SMB to Enterprise level business.  Powered by Shokworks.

Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series!

Part 1 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. The die is cast—Caesar crosses the Rubicon and plunges Rome into civil war. In this episode:

Caesar's own account reveals a man driven not by revolutionary ambition, but by wounded dignity and the desperate need to defend his honor against enemies who would destroy him through partisan prosecution.

As Lucan wrote of this cosmic struggle: "Of civil wars and worse waged on Thessalian fields / Of crime made law we sing, how a powerful people / Turned on its own heart its conquering hand."

The war that would transform Rome forever begins not with grand ideology, but with Caesar's refusal to submit to humiliation—and his enemies' fatal miscalculation of the man they sought to crush.

Works Cited

Kurt Raaflaub (ed.), The Landmark Julius Caesar
Matthias Gelzer, Caesar: Politician and Statesman
Erich Gruen, Last Generation of the Roman Republic

Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs. Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power solutions for your SMB to Enterprise level business.  Powered by Shokworks.

Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series!

Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. In this episode:

Caesar transforms both Rome and Gaul forever through calculated strategy, personal magnetism, and relentless ambition—all while his enemies in Rome, led by Cato, plot his downfall and convince Pompey to turn against him, setting the stage for civil war.

Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs. Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power solutions for your SMB to Enterprise level business.  Powered by Shokworks.

Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series!

The much awaited series on Julius Caesar begins, with the inaugural episode: "Man of Destiny".

In this episode:

A tale of charm, audacity, and calculated risk as a young aristocrat from a modest branch of an ancient family navigates the treacherous waters of late Republican politics. Caesar—stylish, charismatic, deeply in debt, and dangerously ambitious—sets himself against the legacy of Sulla while methodically building a coalition that would eventually transform Rome forever.

Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs. Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power solutions for your SMB to Enterprise level business.  Powered by Shokworks.

Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series!

A conversation with Dr. Brent Seales, professor of computer science at the University of Kentucky and a modern day Indiana Jones who has been using advanced technology to restore and redeem cultural and historical artifacts from the ravages of time.

In this episode:

A conversation w/ Kevin Dolan on Kings of Sparta, Anti-Natalist Roman Aristocrats, and whether Christianity destroyed or saved Rome.

Join me at the Natal Conference, March 28-29, 2025, in Austin, TX!  https://natalism.org

Find Kevin on X at https://x.com/extradeadjcb

A conversation with Doyle Glass, author of Swift Sword, The True Story of the Marines of MIKE 3/5 in Vietnam, 4 September 1967. 

Intro Story featuringBlackJack Mulligan.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjack_Mulligan)

In this episode:
Mastering Fear in Combat

A lawyer's journey to becoming an artist and an author
The ambush begins: "The tree line stood up"
Clear headed leadership of Lieutenant Murray
The heroic Father Capodanno
Larry Peters' Sacrifice to Save His Squad

The powerful psychology of accepting death in combat
"With the Old Breed" war classic by Eugene Sledge

Man of Mystery Robert Benoist

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

In this episode:

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

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

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:

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

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:

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. 

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:

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.

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:

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.

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:

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)

Caesar faces enemies at home and on sea, in part 3 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:

Subscribe to the CoG Substack to get high quality transcripts w/ MAPS AND IMAGES. Transcript for this episode here.

Caesar almost loses it all, in part 2 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:
-A conspiracy of the powerful, warlike Belgae (Belgian tribes).
-The battle of the Sabis, against the Nervii
-Caesar's terrifying siege tactics

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

This episode is sponsored by our very generous sponsor, Dr. Richard Johnson, an avid Cost of Glory listener. Thanks Richard!

The beginning of a new series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic Wars (De Bello Gallico). It’s 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.

I’m having a blast revisiting this classic, and I think you will too.

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

This episode is sponsored byAncient Language Institute. If you want to be like Caesar, you should learn an ancient language (Caesar knew Greek in addition to his native Latin). The Ancient Language Institute will help you do just that. Registration is now open (till August 10th) for their Fall term where you can take advanced classes in Latin, Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, and Old English.

Johnathan Bi left success in the startup world to focus on researching the deep ideas that power the world, and has recently launched his series on the Great Books of the West, starting with his lecture on Nietzsche.

In this episode:

Resources mentioned:

Subscribe to our Substack for transcripts and updates!
Show transcript here

An interview with Johnny Burtka, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. He is a graduate of Hillsdale College, and his most recent book is titled “Gateway to Statesmanship—Selections from Xenophon to Churchill”.

In this episode:

Books Mentioned:

For the episode transcript, be sure to subscribe to mySubstack!

Thanks to our sponsorIntercollegiate Studies Institute! Check out their programs on supporting quality thought and intellectual life in and after your college years.

An interview with Nat Friedman, former CEO of GitHub and creator of the Vesuvius Challenge, which aims to crack the riddles of the Herculaneum Papyri.

In this episode:

For the episode transcript, be sure to subscribe to mySubstack!

An interview with Pano Kanelos, the founding president of the University of Austin and the former President of St. John’s College, Annapolis.

In this episode:

In which we follow the lead of Plutarch and study Pompey's character and analyze what we can learn from the life of Pompey the Great, by comparing him to King Agesilaus of Sparta, whom Plutarch paired him with. 

Sources and Further Reading for the Life of Pompey:  

John Leach, Pompey the Great: https://amzn.to/3UxOsW8 

Robin Seager, Pompey: a Political Biography: https://amzn.to/3UPpeUg 

Gareth Sampson: Rome's Great Eastern War, Lucullus, Pompey and the Conquest of the East: https://amzn.to/3wrVGD1 

-The Battle of Dyrrhachium: https://amzn.to/3wp4Wro 

-The Battle of Pharsalus: https://amzn.to/3ULWJHk 

-"Rome in Crisis" Penguin edition of Plutarch: 

https://amzn.to/4b2WgGv  (feat. Lives of Sertorius, Lucullus, and Cato the Younger) 

 -"Fall of the Roman Republic" Penguin Plutarch Volume: https://amzn.to/4a7vpYw  (feat. Lives of Sulla, Crassus, Pompey, Caesar, and Cicero) 

Life of Pompey Part 3 of 3: Pompey's final rise to the heights of Roman power, his war with his friend Julius Caesar, and his final downfall.  

People:

(M. Tullius) Cicero 

(Titus Pomponius) Atticus 

C. Julius Caesar 

Cn. Pompeius Magnus (Pompey) 

Julia, Caesar's Daughter 

(M. Licinius) Crassus 

(L. Domitius) Ahenobarbus - Optimate Stalwart (Cos. 54) 

(M. Porcius) Cato "The Younger" - the Stoic 

(M. Calpurnius) Bibulus - Cos. 59 

P. Clodius Pulcher - Populist Thug lord 

(T. Annius) Milo - Pompey's Thug lord 

M. Caelius (Rufus) - Cicero's young political analyst friend 

Publius Licinius Crassus - The Richest Man's Son 

Cornelia - Pompey's final wife 

(Q. Caecilius) Metellus (Pius) Scipio - Pompey's new Father in Law 

Aulus Gabinius - Pompey's friend, exiled after Egyptian expedition 

Ptolemy XII Auletes ("The Piper") - exiled king of Egypt 

(C. Scribonius) Curio - Optimate turncoat, Caesar's tribune 

M. Antonius (Mark Antony) 

M. Claudius Marcellus - Optimate stalwart (Cos 51) 

C. Claudius Marcellus - Optimate stalwart (Cos. 50, cousin of Cos. 51) 

M. Favonius - "Stamp, Pompey!" Senator 

Themistocles - Athenian statesman 

Camillus - 4th c. BC Roman statesman 

T. Labienus - Caesar's general, deserted to Pompey 

(M. Junius) Brutus - Future Conspirator 

Theophanes of Mytilene - the Historian 

Crassianus - Caesar's centurion at Pharsalus 

Cratippus of Pergamon - Philosopher at Mytilene 

Ptolemy XIII - Boy king of Egypt 

Potheinus - Ptolemy XIII's Eunuch 

Achillas - Ptolemy XIII's General 

Theodotus - Ptolemy XIII's Rhetoric Teacher 

Philippus - Pompey's freedman   

Places: 

The Roman Forum 

The Tiber River 

Parthia 

Carrhae (Battle of) - in Mesopotamia (Parthian Empire) 

Gaul (Mod. France) 

Pompey's Theater ("Temple of Venus") 

Alesia (Battle of) - in Gaul 

Naples (Neapolis) 

Ravenna (N. Italy, "Cisalpine Gaul" then) 

Rubicon River 

Ariminum (Rimini) 

Corfinium - Italian town in the Apennines 

Brundisium - Eastern Port in Italy 

Dyrrhachium (Mod. Durrës) - in Epirus (Rom. province of Macedonia) 

Thessaly - large plain in central Greece 

Pharsalus - town in Thessaly 

Tempē - Valley in Thessaly 

Mytilene - City on island of Lesbos 

Pompey becomes Rome’s greatest conqueror, and empire builder, but faces even greater trials back home in Rome. 

People 

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, "Pompey the Great"
Sulla Felix, the Dictator 

Pompey 

The Pirates 

Posidonius the Stoic 

Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus 

Lucius Licinius Lucullus 

Cicero, the Orator 

Manilius, the Tribune 

Julius Caesar 

Theophanes of Mytilene 

Queen Monime 

Tigranes the Great of Armenia 

Tigranes the Younger, Prince 

Albani(ans) of Caucasus 

Iberians of Caucasus 

King Phraates of Parthia 

The Parthians 

Antiochus XIII, Seleucid King 

Aretas, King of the Nabatean Arabs 

Aristobulus of Judea 

Hyrcanus of Judea 

Aulus Gabinius 

Josephus (Jewish Historian) 

Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest Man in Rome 

Marcus Porcius Cato (the Younger) 

Metellus Celer 

Metellus Nepos 

M. Calpurnius Bibulus 

Publius Clodius Pulcher, Slum Lord 

Milo 

Julia 

Domitius Ahenobarbus 

Places 

Sicily 

Sardinia 

Corsica 

North Africa 

Rhodes 

Cilicia 

Cappadocia 

Galatia 

Armenia 

Artaxata  

Mt Ararat 

Sophene 

Syria 

Bithynia 

Pontus 

Caucasus 

Colchis 

Albania (Caucasus) 

Iberia (Caucasus) 

Bosphoran Kingdom (Crimea / Azov) 

Damascus 

Petra (Arabia) 

Judea 

Jordan River Valley 

Jericho 

Jerusalem 

Campus Martius 

Alban Hills / Lake / Villa 

Luca 

Image: The Triumph of Pompey, Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, 1765. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pompey, the Great.  Part 1 of 3.  Pompey's rise to become one of Rome's greatest generals - before he's even old enough to hold office.  How he got the nickname of "Kid Butcher" or "The Butcher Boy".

Thanks to our Sponsor, Intercollegiate Studies Institute! www.isi.org

Key Names: 
Agesilaus of Sparta 
Julius Caesar 
Alexander the Great 
Pompeius STRABO (father) 
Social War 
Gaius MARIUS (populist consul) 
Lucius Cornelius CINNA (populist consul) 
Lucius Cornelius SULLA (optimate consul & dictator) 
MITHRIDATES - King of Pontus 
Gnaeus Papirius CARBO (populist consul)  
Antistia (first wife) 
Marcus Licinius CRASSUS 
Marcus Aemilus LEPIDUS (rebel consul) 
Marcus Junius BRUTUS (Father of the conspirator) 
Quintus Lutatius CATULUS (optimate stalwart) 
Quintus Sertorius
Quintus Caecilus METELLUS PIUS (P's fellow general in Spain)
Marcus PERPERNA (populist ally of Sertorius)
Spartacus
Marcus Terentius VARRO (the scholar)
Lucius Licinius LUCULLUS (rival general)
Quintus HORTENSIUS Hortalus (optimate stalwart) 
Aulus GABINIUS (P's tribune buddy)
The Pirates
"Quirites" (the Roman citizenry) 

Key Places: 
Rome 
Picenum 
Asculum 
North Africa
Mutina
Spain 
Lauron
Sucro River
Ostia (Rome's port)

[Jeremy Giffon on Invest like the Best Podcast, ep. 336: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Vdv5i250hF6EfzOTML9RE?si=98bacff34a7244e9]

Check out Ralston College's FUNDED MA program: https://www.ralston.ac/humanities-ma !

...Plutarch offers some advice on how to choose your friends, and how to be a good one.  Examples include Alexander the Great, Cato, Carneades, Plato, Dionysius the Tyrant, and more.

(Here depicted: the monument of Philopappus in Athens, to whom Plutarch's essay is dedicated)

An interview with Barry Strauss, Spartacus expert, and author of The Spartacus War

In this episode: 

-How Spartacus' Slave revolt almost failed in its early stages
-Overcoming short term thinking as a leader
-Spartacus' influence on modern leaders

A method for reading that can transform your life.

W/ help from Dana Gioia, California Poet Laureate, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts 2003-2009.

Get his new book Sentences from Seneca, here!

Some Sources:

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_108
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Sallust/Bellum_Jugurthinum/3*.html
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/Sayings_of_Spartans*/main.html
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/Sayings_of_Spartans*/Agesilaus.html
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Agesilaus*.html
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Lysander*.html
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Sertorius*.html

Why does Achilles, slaughterer of men, play the lyre? A conversation with Spencer Klavan of the Young Heretics podcast.

Check out the Cost of Glory Men's Leadership Retreat: costofglory.com/retreat !

Spencer on Twitter: @spencerklavan
In this conversation, we discuss:
-Spencer & Alex's common ground training as classicists
-How one gets into these ancient books in the first place
-The theory of "Art for Art's Sake": Why it's interesting, plausible, and wrong.
-Epic heroes singing Epic Poetry
-Great books for busy dads

And much, much more...

The fall and political struggles of the great Lucullus, rival of Pompey and Caesar.

Cost of Glory Men's Retreat 2024 application open! - costofglory.com/retreat 

Thanks to our sponsor Ancient Language Institute - Tutoring now available:

Latin: https://ancientlanguage.com/latin-tutorials/ 

Ancient Greek: https://ancientlanguage.com/ancient-greek-tutorials/ 

Cicero's Pro Archia

https://www.attalus.org/cicero/archias.html 

People in this episode: 
Mithridates, King of Pontus 
Tigranes, King of Armenia 
Clodius, the Brother in Law 
Pompey 
Clodia, the Bad Wife
Servilia, also a Bad Wife 
Cato the Younger 
Cicero 
Caesar 

Places in this episode:
Tigranokert 
Artaxata 
Nisibis 
Pontus 
Armenia 
Rome 

Lucullus drives Mithridates out of Pontus, and war escalates

In this episode:
-The power of concentration
-Nothing is more important than sleep
-Bold Barbarian Queens
-The value of bad news
-Battle of Tigranocerta

Book Rec - Gareth Sampson, Rome's Great Eastern War

Lucullus, Conqueror of Armenia.  Highlights from Plutarch's biography of the great foe of Pompey

Thanks to our sponsor Ancient Language Institute - Tutoring now available:

Latin: https://ancientlanguage.com/latin-tutorials/ 

Ancient Greek: https://ancientlanguage.com/ancient-greek-tutorials/ 

In this episode: 
-How to get noticed early on in your career 
-Seducing your way to warlord status 
-Taking the time to do the math 

The vice of "dysopia" brings down even the strongest.  Plutarch gives some advice on how to fortify ourselves against it. 

Reach out to alex@ancientlifecoach.com for more info on the 2024 Cost of Glory Men's retreat in Rome!

Link to a translation of Plutarch's text : https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/De_vitioso_pudore*.html

What happened to Crassus' captured soldiers?  To his family?  What can we learn from his successes and his world-historic failure? 

ANNOUNCEMENT! Cost of Glory Men's Leadership Retreat in Rome - July 2024.  Reach out to alex@ancientlifecoach.com if you're interested.

Buy the books:

-Penguin edition of Plutarch including Life of Crassus
-Sallust's war with Catiline
-Tom Holland's Rubicon
-Barry Strauss' book on Spartacus
-Edward Watts's Mortal Republic
-Gareth Sampson, "The Defeat of Rome" on Parthian Expedition
-Peter Stothard, The First Tycoon 

See also Gruen, Last Generation of the Roman Republic; Ward, Crassus and the Late Roman Republic; Rawson, Crassorum Funera (in journal Latomus).

Pictured: Roman Soldier next to a Han noble, statue group in Liqian, China.  Photo: Natalie Behring

Crassus' famous campaign against the Parthians - what motivated it?  What happened at Carrhae?  What can we learn from it?

Thanks to our Sponsor!

Ancient Language Institute:
https://ancientlanguage.com

Key Figures
Marcus Licinius Crassus - The Protagonist 
Gaius Pompeius Magnus - Pompey, the Rival 
Lucius Licinius Crassus - the Orator 
Publius Licinius Crassus - Crassus' father 
Publius Licinius Crassus - Crassus' Son 
Publius Clodius Pulcher - The Playboy Mobster 
Titus Annius Milo - Anti-Mobster 
Marcus Tullius Cicero - The Mentor 
Gaius Julius Caesar - The Triumvir 
Marcus Porcius Cato - The Nemesis 
Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus - The Challenger 
Ptolemy XII "Auletes" - The Piper King 
Aulus Gabinius - Pompey's Crony in Syria 
Trebonius - Willing Tribune 
Ateius (Capito) - Unwilling Tribune 
Gaius Cassius Longinus - The Assassin 
Octavius - The Junior Officer 
Orodes II - King of Parthia 
Mithradates IV - Parthian Usurper 
Surena - the Parthian Commander at Carrhae 

Key Places 
Rome 
Ravenna - City in Northern Italy (cisalpine Gaul) 
Luca - City in Northern Italy (Etruria/Cisalpine Gaul) 
Curia - The Senate house 
Syria - Roman Province 
Mesopotamia 
Iraq 
Seleucia 
Babylon 
Ctesiphon 
Carrhae 
Euphrates River 

Italian quote at the beginning: Dante, Purgatorio XX

Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest Man in Rome.  The plot thickens in the contest with Pompey, and Crassus takes on new allies: Catiline and Julius Caesar.

In this episode:
-How to defuse the resentment of opponents you've beaten
-The power of debt at Rome
-Fighting for the hardest prizes, but playing it like a game
-Cicero's mortgage and homeowner headaches

Thanks to Sponsors:

Ancient Language Institute:
https://ancientlanguage.com

--
Copythat, learn copywriting from the classics:
https://copythat.com/
For a discount (and to let them know I sent you), use this code: glory

The story of Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest man in Rome.

In this episode:
-The Real Spartacus
-How to make a fortune, ancient style
-Why Crassus was a better spender than modern billionaires

Thanks to our Sponsor!
Copythat, learn copywriting from the classics:
https://copythat.com/
For a discount (and to let them know I sent you), use this code: glory

Some Sources:
Barry Strauss, The Spartacus War
Plutarch, Life of Crassus

Plutarch gives more examples of how to get it right, from Great Leaders of Greece & Rome

-Phocion, 
-Agathocles, 
-Pericles, 
-Sulla, 
-Themistocles, 

You know you want to do it.  But how?  Plutarch offers a few key examples.

Highlights from Rome's Deadliest Conspiracy, the Catilinarian conspiracy.

Featuring speeches by Julius Caesar and Cato the Younger.

Get into one of the great moments of history - highlights from Cicero's speech Against Catiline.  Featuring a quote or two from the original Latin.

The Conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Republic at the height of its power.  Catiline and his associates challenge Cicero and Cato. 

Rumors were that Crassus and Caesar were involved... 

Part I: Highlights from Sallust's War with Catiline.

ANNOUNCING - New Megaseries:  Visions of Caesar.  I am beginning an arc on the biographies of all the most prominent of the era of Caesar, including The Man himself.  Crassus, Pompey, Cato, Caesar, Cicero, Brutus, Antony.

The Greatest hero of all, Hercules - told by Seneca: Billionaire, Politician, Stoic Philosopher, and... Tragic Playwright.

Highlights and power quotes from Seneca's "The Madness of Hercules":  
in a new, brilliant, poetic translation by one of America's great poets, Dana Gioia

Get a copy here: https://amzn.to/42TEUqJ
(and support the show thereby)

More about Dana Gioia and his work here:
https://danagioia.com/

The Finale: Xenophon's Anabasis, book 7 of 7.  Highlights for the High Life. 

In this episode:

-Sailing to Byzantium 
-How to Tame a Mob 
-Spartan Indecision
-Drinking more wine from big horns with dangerous men 
-Raiding with Thracians 
-Fire attack at night 
-How to lose a good friend for good 
-What all gyms should aspire to be like 
-The importance of keeping your horse 

Highlights from Book 6 of Xenophon's Anabasis

In this episode:
-Drinking parties, War Dances 
-Why every modern gentleman should sacrifice to the gods
-How to gracefully decline a promotion 
-Hercules in Hell
-On keeping the Fellowship together
-Isolated sheep rustling incident threatens to start an international war 
-The value of a cool head 

Xenophon, Anabasis 5.  #1 Highlights for Life Success.  In this episode:

-Fending off chaos in all its forms
-Dealing with a power vacuum
-The Source of the Golden Fleece
-The BEST way to spend Sacred Funds (Hint: Real Estate)
-Artemis and her 7 wonders Temple at Ephesus (cult statue here)
-Sampling Local Delicacies (as always) 
-Pale white children as wide as they are tall
-Dreams of city founding
-The metaphysical basis of international law
-Xenophon, hubris, and soldier punching

Don't forget to follow @costofglory on Twitter for updates and additional takeaways

Also - Leave a review if you like this!

Top 4 takeaways from the life of Agesilaus. 

Also, further reading:

Plutarch, "On Sparta":
https://amzn.to/3Ni3RaO

-Cornelius Nepos, Lives of the Great Commanders (trans. Quintus Curtius):
https://amzn.to/3AtrqpO

-Xenophon, Hellenica:
https://amzn.to/41YXmOx

-Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire (historical novel):
https://amzn.to/3V0gCsH

-Paul Cartledge, Agesilaos and the Crisis of Sparta:
https://amzn.to/3L3Wj9d

-John Buckler, Theban Hegemony:
https://amzn.to/3Lonc98

-James Romm, The Sacred Band:
https://amzn.to/3L1WoKA

-Charles Hamilton, Agesilaus and the Failure of Spartan Hegemony: https://amzn.to/3oDn38P

How to Take Over the World Podcast: Philip of Macedon

Agesilaus, old King of Sparta, faces his final enemy, and greatest foe of all: the Theban commander Epaminondas.

Map

Key People: 
Agesilaus, king of Sparta 
Demaratus, king of Sparta 
Artaxerxes, King of Persia 
Epaminondas, Theban Statesman 
Pelopidas, Theban Statesman 
Antalcidas 
Xenophon, the Philosopher-warrior 
Gryllus, son of Xenophon 
Nectanebo, Pharaoh of Egypt 
Menelaus, king of Sparta 

Key Places: 
Sparta 
Thebes 
Leuctra 
Athens 
Corinth 
Arcadia 
Mantinea 
Tegea 
Elis 
Achaea 
Mt. Taygetos 
Eurotas River 
Messenia 
Kalamata 
Messene 
Mt. Ithome 
Pamisos River / Valley 
Megalopolis 
Olympia 
Egypt 

Sparta's greatest king, from his grandest moments, to his most challenging setbacks.  394-371 BC.

In this episode:
-Isolating your enemies
-Working through intermediaries
-The power of culture
-Democracy vs. Oligarchy
-personal integrity vs state integrity

Thanks to our Sponsor, Ancient Language Institute: 
https://ancientlanguage.com/register-greek/

Here's a nice map of ancient Greece 

Places: 

Thebes 

Corinth 

Athens (in Attica) 

Argos 

Sparta/Lacedaemon (in Laconia) 
Acrocorinth

Peloponnese 

Cadmeia 

Olynthus 

Piraeus (Port city of Athens) 
Elis
Arcadia

Mantinea 

Olympia 

Thespiae (in Boeotia) 

Plataea (in Boeotia) 

Leuctra (in Boeotia) 

People:  

Agesilaus 

Xenophon 

Antalcidas (of Sparta) 

Cynisca (of Sparta) 

Leontiades (of Thebes) 

Ismenias (of Thebes) 

Phoebidas - Spartan Commander 

Agesipolis - King of Sparta 

Pelopidas (of Thebes) 

Epaminondas (of Thebes) 

Sphodrias - Spartan Commander 

Cleonymus - son of Sphodrias 

Archidamus - son of Agesilaus 

Cleombrotus - King of Sparta 

The story of Sparta's greatest king.

Sponsors:
-The Excellent How To Take Over The World Podcast; 
-Ancient Life Coach Rome Retreat 

In This Episode:
-Inspiration from a rough childhood
-The Spartan youth training system
-The Spartan art of consensus building
-The Iliadic vision of a Panhellenic King
-Getting enemies to finance your war effort
-War and Friendship among Greeks and Persians

People:
Agesilaus
Pompey
King Archidamus (of Sparta)
King Agis (of Sparta)
King Leonidas (of Sparta)
Lysander
Alcibiades
Prince Cyrus
King Artaxerxes (of Persia)
Xenophon of Athens
Tissaphernes

Places:
Sparta 
Peloponnese (Peloponnesus)
Athens 
Mt Taygetos
Mantineia
Thebes (in Boeotia)
Aulis (in Boeotia)
Boeotia
Asia (Minor) 
Ephesus 
Lydia 
Sardis 
Phrygia 
Corinth
Argos
Haliartus (in Boeotia)
Hellespont
Thermopylae 
Orchomenus (in Boeotia)
Cnidus (Knidos)
Coroneia (in Boeotia)

Xenophon's Anabasis 4: The best parts of all, with analysis for action.

In this Episode:
-How to cross a guarded river
-The mindset of people who push through massive stress and pain
-Distinguishing yourself as middle management
-The Sea, The Sea
-Lawrence of Arabia, Xenophon admirer
-Psychedelic Bees

Apply for the Rome Retreat: https://ancientlifecoach.com/retreat

Announcing a new partnership!
Alex gets interviewed by Ben Wilson of How to Take Over the World
In this episode: 

-What's in store
-What Alex is listening to
-Why Cost of Glory exists
-Why biography is energizing
-What the greats, ancient and modern, have in common
-The true meaning of Zeal

Xenophon's Anabasis Book 3 - The best highlights, the Power Highlights. For Power Listeners.

In this Episode:
-The power of public speaking
-What Socrates told Xenophon before he left
-Xenophon's inner monologue in GREEK
-Motivating your managers
-Finding resources you didn't know you had
-Lost cities of Mesopotamia
-Goat and donkey balloons
-The Original Kurds?

Amazon links (Click, Buy -> Support this show!)

David Allen, Getting Things Done
https://amzn.to/3kIRpoH

Jocko's Extreme Ownership:
https://amzn.to/3SCmnLX

Landmark Xenophon's Anabasis
https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg

Old Penguin Anabasis:
https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg

Loeb Edition:
https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg

Key Characters
Xenophon
Proxenus (+)
Cheirisophus
Mithradates
Some Hater from Boeotia
A Rhodian Balloon smith
The Carduchians

Places: 
Nimrud
Nineveh (Mosul)
Tigris River

Best highlights, power quotes, and notes from a leadership and adventure classic, Xenophon's Anabasis 2. 
Featuring:

-Deciding who won a battle
-How to deceive the wise
-The noble and the base among Greek leaders
-The hazards of date palm wine

Amazon links (Click, Buy -> Support this show!)

Landmark Xenophon's Anabasis
https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg

Old Penguin Anabasis:
https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg

Loeb Edition:
https://amzn.to/3HLGAeg

Characters
Cyrus The Younger (RIP)
Ariaeus
Phalinus of Persia
Ctesias of Cnidos
Clearchus of Laconia/Sparta
Xenophon of Athens
Proxenus of Thebes/Boeotia
Menon of Thessaly
Tissaphernes
Ataxerxes, King of Kings