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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
69 snips
Sep 14, 2026 • 1h 24min
123 - Odyssey 2: Man of Wiles
Odysseus turns down immortality for a chance to return to rocky Ithaca. After building a raft and surviving Poseidon’s fury, he washes ashore naked and must charm his way into Phaeacian royalty. Along the way, Calypso, Nausicaa, and Queen Arete reveal the power of women, while songs of Troy bring the wily hero to tears.
158 snips
Jul 7, 2026 • 1h 34min
122 - Odyssey 1: Society on the Brink
A close reading of Books 1–4 of the Odyssey, where household order has collapsed and a young man must find his voice. Scenes cover Athena's intervention, a tense assembly, rites of passage, and ritual hospitality at Pylos and Sparta. Stories of Agamemnon, Orestes, Helen's uncanny power, and Proteus's shape‑shifting set the stakes for a long journey to come.
18 snips
Jun 4, 2026 • 1h 5min
121 - Plutarch and Shakespeare, w/ The Base Creates
George Carter, founder of Old Sovereign Publishing, revives Plutarch with a new edition and a drama contest. Morgan Watkins, co-leader of The Base Creates, stages bold classical theatre in London. They discuss the Great Panathenaea contest, recreating ancient voting and festival spirit, turning brief Plutarch anecdotes into plays, and using theatre to re-enchant modern audiences.
21 snips
May 14, 2026 • 1h 17min
120 - The Modern Roman Legion? w/ "Monastery of the Damned" author Nicholas Tobias
Nicholas Tobias, former French Foreign Legionnaire and U.S. Army infantry officer turned scholar and author, discusses military culture and rites of passage. He explores Roman and Legion parallels, the humbling power of basic training, cohesion and ritual in fighting units, gender integration limits in high-intensity war, and Christianity’s tension with the warrior ethos.
24 snips
May 7, 2026 • 12min
119 - Sparta vs. Stoicism
A lively dive into how Spartans engineered emotional mastery long before Stoic theory. They explore Plutarch's critique of Stoic passionlessness and why passions can drive action. Stories like Odysseus illustrate reason timing emotion. The conversation covers Lycurgus's radical social reforms, Spartan education and music designed to stir collective resolve. Practical tips on modern cues to ignite determination are offered.
55 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 1h 1min
118 - Is Julius Caesar in Heaven?
A lively tour of Julius Caesar’s life, from blazing military speed and massive payouts to the political isolation his genius created. The host weighs Caesar’s estate and net worth in modern terms. He connects Roman incentives to today’s political disillusion and asks whether Caesar’s legacy fits Christian ideas of providence, judgment, and civic virtue.
55 snips
Feb 21, 2026 • 52min
117 - Alexander's Sack of Thebes, w/ Victor Davis Hanson
Victor Davis Hanson, American classicist and military historian, reflects on Epaminondas and Thebes. He recounts the dramatic liberation and democratic revolution in 378 BC. He explains the tactical genius at Leuctra and the strategic encirclement of Sparta. He traces Thebes’s fatal gamble against Alexander and draws parallels to modern geopolitical and demographic risks.
64 snips
Jan 24, 2026 • 2h 26min
116 - Caesar 3: Divus Julius
A dramatic sweep through Caesar’s return to a fractured Rome and his spectacular triumphs. Discussion of sweeping reforms from land grants to calendar change and massive public works. Tension over succession, the rise of Octavius, and debates about divinity and kingship. A tense recounting of omens, plots, the Battle of Munda, and the conspirators’ violent finale.
107 snips
Nov 7, 2025 • 1h 9min
115 - Aristotle, Thiel Fellowship, and Human Greatness w/ Michael Gibson
Michael Gibson, co-founder of the Thiel Fellowship and author of 'Paper Belt on Fire,' explores the intersection of philosophy and entrepreneurship. He discusses Aristotle's influence on character and virtue, emphasizing that intelligence alone isn't enough for greatness. Fascinatingly, he connects Alexander the Great's ambition as a model for modern creators. The conversation also tackles the value of friendship in startups and the importance of evaluating character through action over test scores, offering a fresh perspective on success in the entrepreneurial world.
27 snips
Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 5min
114 - Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss
In this lively discussion, military historian Barry Strauss dives into his book, Jews vs. Rome. He reveals how Julius Caesar's patronage influenced Jewish life in the Roman Empire, particularly through Antipater's pivotal rescue of Caesar in Egypt. Barry uncovers the personal ambitions behind Caesar's assassination and Herod's remarkable political maneuvering post-Caesar. He also explores the darker side of Herod's reign, including his brutal executions, and questions the historical plausibility of the 'slaughter of the innocents,' shedding light on Herod's complex character.
