Cost of Glory
By 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.
9 episodes
All Episodes
Artists, Not Scholars, Are Reviving Cultural Meaning Through Risk
Culture isn't saved by preserving the past, but by risking irrelevance to create something new from it. The revival isn't happening in institutions--it's alive in basements, theaters, and competitions where creation becomes re-enchantment.
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The Hidden Costs of Comfort: Why Easy Paths Lead to Ruin
Genuine growth and strength are forged in excruciating, humiliating experiences, not comfort. Modern society's aversion to difficulty erodes resilience and purpose, creating a crisis of masculinity and societal fragility.
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Sparta vs. Stoicism: Directed Passion Fuels Peak Performance
Spartans reveal that suppressing emotion (*apatheia*) may hinder peak performance; harnessing directed passion (*thumos*) fuels ambitious goals and offers a competitive edge.
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Endurance as Strategic Speed--Caesar's Lesson for Leaders
True advantage comes from embracing difficulty, not avoiding it. Discover how Caesar's legendary speed was built on extraordinary endurance, offering a framework for sustainable success beyond quick wins.
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Civilizations Fall From Fatal Disconnect With Reality
Civilizations fall not to external force, but to a fatal disconnect with reality, miscalculating allies and enemies. Understand the hidden vulnerabilities that precede collapse.
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Caesar's Radical Reforms Dismantled Republic, Paved Way for Empire
Caesar's radical reforms aimed to forge a new Roman order, but his consolidation of power and departure from tradition ultimately dismantled the Republic, paving the way for empire.
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Aristotle's Greatness of Soul Fuels Entrepreneurial Impact
Traditional education drains intellectual vitality, while Aristotle's philosophy reveals how ambition, true friendship, and action forge character and drive impactful achievements.
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Roman Power Struggles Shaped Judea Through Caesar and Herod
Caesar's patronage reshaped Roman-Jewish relations, but his assassination ignited power struggles. Herod the Great navigated this chaos, balancing Romanization with Temple rebuilding, all while ruthlessly securing his reign.
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Stoicism's Appeal as a Coping Mechanism and Its Paradoxes
Stoicism offers a low-cost coping mechanism for anxiety by devaluing external circumstances, but its adherence reveals paradoxes even among its greatest proponents.
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