Cost of Glory

Alex Petkas
  • 4.8 (433)
  • History

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.

  1. Sep 14

    123 - Odyssey 2: Man of Wiles

    A goddess offers Odysseus immortality. He says no. Eight years on Calypso's island. Paradise, more or less. And he spends his days sitting on the beach, weeping for a rocky little kingdom he may never see again. Welcome to Part 2 (of 6!) of our series on Homer's great epic. Part 2 covers Books 5 to 8. We finally meet the man himself, and he arrives naked, half drowned, and buried under a pile of leaves. Why would anyone choose death over eternal life? And why does the greatest hero of the age get home on charm rather than force? Follow Odysseus as he builds his own raft, survives Poseidon's wrath, and talks his way into the most powerful household on the island of the Phaeacians. Meet the women who hold the real power: Calypso, the princess Nausicaa, and Queen Arete, honored like no woman of Homer's own day. Plus King Alcinous, and the blind bard Demodocus, whose song brings Odysseus to tears. Christopher Nolan cut three of these four books from his film. They may be the ones that tell you most about who Odysseus really is. Timestamps: 00:57 Women, Power and Odysseus 03:19 Hermes Visits Calypso 05:25 Odysseus Trapped and Weeping 06:14 Zeus Orders Release 11:03 Calypso's Final Offer 14:07 Why Mortality Matters 17:45 Raft Building and Agency 20:32 Poseidon's Storm and Shipwreck 23:29 Phaeacia's Backstory 24:10 Nausicaa's Dream 28:10 Nausicaa Meets Odysseus 30:54 Winning Nausicaa's Trust 39:47 Athena Guides Odysseus 40:53 Bronze Age Heroic Lens 43:48 Arete and Royal Honor 46:32 Palace Splendor and Supplication 49:19 Clothes Test and Charm 52:53 Cleos and the Bard 56:12 Feast and Demodocus Song 01:02:04 Games and Odysseus Flexes 01:06:46 Aphrodite and Ares Trap 01:13:03 Gifts and Nausicaa's Farewell 01:14:56 Trojan Horse Song and Tears 01:22:43 Closing Thoughts Callouts: Special thanks to Dr. Richard Johnson for his longtime support of the show. You are Caesar and Odysseus's Top Guy!Special thanks also to the team at ZCash, who are building a digital network to transfer money with complete privacy. I've used their wallet Zodl, and it's worth checking out.In tribute to the life and aspirations of Savitha Shanmugasundaram, a University of Texas at Austin honors student who died tragically in the March 1 mass shooting, her parents have established the Savitha Shan Endowed Scholarship at UT Austin. The fund is intended to extend Savitha’s legacy by supporting the educational journeys of future UT Austin students. Please consider donating if you can.

    123 - Odyssey 2: Man of Wiles

  2. Jul 7

    122 - Odyssey 1: Society on the Brink

    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 absence1:08 Introducing the show1:25 Book One: Athena visits Ithaca4:05 Telemachus welcomes the stranger7:33 The poem's opening lines and Odysseus's epithets10:06 Odysseus and the wrath of Poseidon11:43 The Council of the Gods13:58 Athena's plan to help Telemachus17:20 Athena's instructions: call an assembly19:08 The story of Orestes and Telemachus's zeal22:08 Penelope's first appearance27:00 Telemachus finds his courage29:25 Book Two: The Assembly begins31:56 Antinous defends the suitors35:59 The omen of the eagles37:55 Telemachus's plan revealed40:16 Athena returns as Mentor45:15 Telemachus sets sail for Pylos46:48 Book Three: Arrival at Pylos52:41 The story of Agamemnon and Aegisthus1:02:17 Book Four: Arrival in Sparta1:05:28 Helen's grand entrance1:11:41 Helen's magic drug1:19:50 Menelaus and Proteus, the shapeshifting sea god1:27:08 Menelaus's fate: the Elysian Fields1:32:09 The suitors plot to kill Telemachus1:33:23 Closing thoughts Callouts: Special thanks to Dr. Richard Johnson for his longtime support of the show. You are Caesar and Odysseus's Top Guy!In tribute to the life and aspirations of Savitha Shanmugasundaram, a University of Texas at Austin honors student who died tragically in the March 1 mass shooting, her parents have established the Savitha Shan Endowed Scholarship at UT Austin. The fund is intended to extend Savitha’s legacy by supporting the educational journeys of future UT Austin students. Please consider donating if you can.

    122 - Odyssey 1: Society on the Brink

  3. Jun 4

    121 - Plutarch and Shakespeare, w/ The Base Creates

    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:  TheBaseCreates YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBaseCreates TheBaseCreates X: https://x.com/thebasecreatesSubscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history Get in touch at: Website: https://costofglory.com X: https://x.com/costofglory

    121 - Plutarch and Shakespeare, w/ The Base Creates

  4. May 14

    120 - The Modern Roman Legion? w/ "Monastery of the Damned" author Nicholas Tobias

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

    120 - The Modern Roman Legion? w/ "Monastery of the Damned" author Nicholas Tobias

  5. May 7

    119 - Sparta vs. Stoicism

    On how the Spartans achieved emotional mastery, long before Stoicism was invented.

  6. Mar 30

    118 - Is Julius Caesar in Heaven?

    -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

  7. Feb 21

    117 - Alexander's Sack of Thebes, w/ Victor Davis Hanson

    A conversation with American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator Victor Davis Hanson. We discuss: Why Epaminondas remains one of the most underrated commanders in Greek history, and how the loss of Plutarch's Life of Epaminondas has obscured his legacyThe pivotal liberation of Thebes in 378 BC: how a small band of conspirators overthrew the Spartan-backed oligarchy and sparked a democratic revolutionEpaminondas's strategic masterstroke at Leuctra — the deep oblique phalanx on the left — and how it shattered 200 years of Spartan military supremacyHow freeing the Messenian Helots and building Megalopolis, Mantinea, and Messene permanently encircled and emasculated Sparta as a great powerThe fatal miscalculation of 335 BC: why Thebes revolted against Alexander on the basis of a false rumor, and how every potential ally abandoned themThe recurring pattern of doomed civilizations — from Thebes to Carthage to Constantinople — that share delusions about allies, enemies, and their own declineWhat ancient history reveals about America's current strengths and vulnerabilities, from demographic pressures to the China threatSubscribe 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.comX: https://x.com/costofglory

    117 - Alexander's Sack of Thebes, w/ Victor Davis Hanson

  8. Jan 24

    116 - Caesar 3: Divus Julius

    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: Caesar returns to Rome His TriumphsHis Reforms His Clemency His Final War in Spain; the Batle of MundaThe Octavius QuestionThe Plots, Dreams, Portents, The men he trusted; the men who betrayed him 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!

    116 - Caesar 3: Divus Julius
See All (124)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
433 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Petkas
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021 Parnassus LLC
  • Show Website
    Cost of Glory

You Might Also Like