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.

  1. 115 - Aristotle, Thiel Fellowship, and Human Greatness w/ Michael Gibson

    11/07/2025

    115 - Aristotle, Thiel Fellowship, and Human Greatness w/ Michael Gibson

    In this episode: Michael Gibson's origin storyMeeting Peter Thiel and launching the Thiel FellowshipThe importance of AristotleAristotle on "The Gigachad"Is intelligence enough?Failure of philosophy is present in Plato's work...not Aristotle'sAlexander the Great's major influenceInspiration from the immortalsWhy victory is better than happinessFriends as a second self

    1h 9m
  2. 114 - Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss

    10/24/2025

    114 - Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss

    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: Why Julius Caesar became a key patron of the Jews and how his support shaped Jewish life in the Roman EmpireThe pivotal moment when Antipater (Herod's father) saved Caesar in Egypt, and how it changed Jewish-Roman relationsCaesar's assassination: the personal ambitions and fears that drove the conspirators beyond Republican ideologyHerod the Great's extraordinary political survival skills: switching allegiances from Antony to Octavian and always landing on his feetThe ruthless pragmatism of Herod's reign, including the execution of his own talented sonsThe historical plausibility of the "slaughter of the innocents" story and what it reveals about Herod's characterFor 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.comX: https://x.com/costofglory

    1h 5m
  3. 113 - Cato and his Stoicism: w/ Johnathan Bi

    10/03/2025

    113 - Cato and his Stoicism: w/ Johnathan Bi

    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: Why Stoicism continues to attract modern audiencesJonathan’s personal journey with Stoicism—and why he ultimately turned to other philosophiesNietzsche’s critique of Stoicism as a coping mechanismHow Cato embodied Stoic principles (and where he may have fallen short)The tension between Stoic theory and Stoic practice in figures like Seneca and Marcus AureliusSubscribe 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

    1h 8m
  4. 112 - The Psychology of Envy and the Fall of Caesar: w/ Rob Henderson

    09/23/2025

    112 - The Psychology of Envy and the Fall of Caesar: w/ Rob Henderson

    A conversation with Rob Henderson — Air Force veteran, psychologist, and author of the bestselling "Troubled".  In this episode: Rob's journey from foster care to Cambridge and lessons about status, envy, and human natureThe psychology of envy and jealousy - from Julius Caesar's assassination to modern politicsDifference between dominance and prestige in human behaviorWhy envy is one of the most powerful yet unacknowledged human emotionsHow these dynamics shape personal relationships and societyWhy men are drawn to history and the Great Man theoryWhat academia misses in its focus on present-day issuesLuxury beliefs, status games, and why successful people downplay hard workAttention spans in the digital age and effects of TikTok and short-form mediaWhy biographies and long-form stories matter for character developmentHow reading about great and troubled historical figures helped Rob navigate teenage hardshipInsights on history, psychology, and the hidden forces shaping societySubscribe 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

    1h 12m
  5. 111 - Caesar's Civil War III: Came Saw Conquered

    09/11/2025

    111 - Caesar's Civil War III: Came Saw Conquered

    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: Pompey's assassination in Egypt and Caesar's unexpected grief over his former ally's deathCleopatra's legendary entrance in a bed-sack and her political seduction of CaesarThe brutal urban warfare trapping Caesar in the palace quarter for six monthsThe burning of the Great Library during the harbor battles—400,000 volumes lostCaesar's desperate swim to safety while clutching precious documents above waterYoung King Ptolemy XIII's tragic fate and the consolidation of Cleopatra's powerThe lightning campaign against Pharnaces in Asia—"Veni, Vidi, Vici"The veterans' mutiny outside Rome and Caesar's masterful psychological manipulationCato's final stand in Africa and his defiant suicideThe decisive Battle of Thapsus and the strategic genius of fighting on narrow groundThe massacre of surrendering enemies as Caesar's clemency finally failsAs 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!) Gareth Sampson, The Battle of Pharsalus Matthias Gelzer, Caesar: Politician and Statesman James Froude, Caesar: A Sketch, Raaflaub (ed.) Landmark Caesar 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!

    1h 33m
  6. 110 - Caesar's Civil War II: Bloody Pharsalia

    07/12/2025

    110 - Caesar's Civil War II: Bloody Pharsalia

    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 second dictatorship and revolutionary reforms in Rome—citizenship grants, debt relief, and restoration of the proscribedThe dangerous winter crossing of the Adriatic, splitting his forces against Pompey's naval supremacyThe siege of Dyrrhachium and Caesar's ambitious 17-mile circumvallation to trap PompeyThe catastrophic defeat that nearly ended Caesar's career—his worst loss yetThe brilliant strategic retreat showcasing the iron discipline of Caesar's veteransYoung Curio's tragic death in Africa, highlighting Caesar's reliance on inexperienced lieutenantsThe fateful convergence at Pharsalus as both armies march into ThessalyThe decisive moment when Caesar's hidden fourth line shattered Pompey's cavalry chargeThe fall of the Roman Republic as 15,000 Romans died by Roman swordsCaesar'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!

    1h 32m
  7. 109 - Caesar's Civil War I: Breakdown

    06/04/2025

    109 - Caesar's Civil War I: Breakdown

    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: The political crisis of 51-50 BCE as Caesar's enemies demand his recall from GaulCurio's shocking defection and proposal that both Caesar and Pompey lay down armsThe breakdown of negotiations and Pompey's fateful acceptance of command against CaesarHis lightning campaign through Italy as cities surrender without a fightThe siege of Corfinium and Caesar's revolutionary policy of clemency toward enemiesPompey's strategic retreat to Greece, abandoning Rome and splitting the RepublicThe brilliant Spanish campaign at Ilerda, showcasing Caesar's military geniusThe brutal siege of Marseille and Caesar's appointment as DictatorCaesar'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 CaesarMatthias Gelzer, Caesar: Politician and StatesmanErich 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!

    1h 49m
  8. 108 - Caesar 2: Law and Nature

    05/10/2025

    108 - Caesar 2: Law and Nature

    Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. In this episode: Caesar forms the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus, uniting Rome's most powerful menHis revolutionary consulship of 59 BCE bypasses Senate opposition through popular assembliesThe brilliant staging of the Gallic conquest, using allies and tribal conflicts as pretexts for expansionHis management of Rome through letters while commanding armies across GaulThe death of Julia and Crassus fractures the political alliance holding Rome togetherVercingetorix's rebellion culminates in the decisive siege of Alesia, securing Gaul for RomeCaesar 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!

    2h 10m
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
367 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    116
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021 Parnassus LLC
  • Show Website
    Cost of Glory

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