Classical Wisdom Speaks

How Do You Cope When Everything Falls Apart? | Philip Freeman on Boethius & Ancient WisdomWhat can philosophy do for you when you have lost everything—your power, your freedom, your friends, and perhaps even your life?In this live episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard speaks with classical scholar and award-winning translator Philip Freeman about one of antiquity's most...

Why Is Marcus Aurelius Still So Powerful Today? | Aaron Poochigian on Stoicism & MeditationsNearly 2,000 years after his death, Marcus Aurelius still speaks directly to millions of readers. But why?In this episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard sits down with poet, classics scholar and translator Aaron Poochigian to explore his new translation of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations—and...

Can Ancient Philosophy Teach Us How to Succeed? | Tom Morris on Aristotle, Stoicism & Living WellWhat does it actually mean to succeed in life? And could Aristotle, the Stoics and other ancient thinkers have better answers than our modern obsession with money, status and achievement?In this episode, Anya Leonard speaks with Tom Morris, public philosopher, former Notre Dame professor and...

How Did Beliefs Really Work in the Ancient World?| Michael Satlow on Ancient Religion & RitualFor people in Late Antiquity, gods, spirits and invisible forces weren't simply matters of faith: they were part of everyday reality. What would life feel like if gods, spirits, demons and other invisible beings were as real to you as the people around you? Professor Michael Satlow explores the...

What Did Roman Houses Reveal About the People Who Lived Inside Them? | Ancient Architecture & MoralityRoman houses were more than places to live—they were reflections of identity, values, status, and ideas about how to live a good life.In this fascinating conversation, Marden Nicholls explores what ancient Roman homes can teach us about architecture, morality, social values, and the...

Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World | The Ancient Civilization That Still Shapes Your LifeMesopotamia changed the world.Many of the systems you use every day began thousands of years ago between the Tigris and Euphrates.Assyriologist Selena Wisnom explains why Mesopotamia was far more than the "cradle of civilization." Discover how cuneiform writing, libraries, mathematics, literature,...

Do we truly have free will, or are our choices shaped by biology, habits, and unconscious forces? This fascinating panel explores one of humanity's oldest and most important questions.Join philosopher Tamar Gendler, psychologist Jeffrey Schaler, and classicist Michael Fontaine as they debate free will, consciousness, Aristotle, and what ancient wisdom can teach us about making better decisions...

The Amarna Letters: Love, War & Diplomacy in the Bronze Age World | Eric ClineWhat can 3,400-year-old diplomatic letters teach us about international politics, trade, misinformation, and human nature?Archaeologist and historian Eric Cline reveals the extraordinary story of the Amarna Letters: hundreds of clay tablets that uncovered a thriving, interconnected Bronze Age world. From royal...

What can Homer's Odyssey teach us about resilience, trauma, grief, purpose, and living a meaningful life in the modern world?Clinical psychologist Dr. Sam Akbar joins Classical Wisdom Speaks to explore why The Odyssey remains one of the most powerful guides to human psychology ever written. Drawing on her work with trauma survivors and refugees, she reveals how Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus...

Intellectual Slaves in Ancient Rome: The Hidden Minds Behind Roman Literature & PowerWhat is an intellectual slave, and why did some of the most educated people in ancient Rome live in bondage?In this fascinating conversation, Princeton classics professor Harriet Flower reveals the overlooked world of learned slaves and educated freedmen in Republican Rome. Discover how enslaved scholars,...