Classical Stuff You Should Know
- Episodes
- 300
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 10, 2026
About the podcast
A.J., Graeme, and Thomas discuss everything having to do with the classical world. Our aim is to help both educators and laypeople enjoy the classical world as much as they enjoy fine ales and good tales.
Episodes 300
311: Kierkegaard's "The Sickness Unto Death" Part II
In this episode, A.J. finishes talking about sin and despair. So, you know, mostly fun stuff.
310: The Tower of Babel
Ever heard of a Chiasm? I hear it was the basis for naming the band "Kris Kross."
309: How to Rite Goodest
In this episode A.J. dives into the nuts and bolts of what makes writing good or bad. In Graeme's words, this episode was "shorter than it felt." So . . . buckle up for fun.
308: Wise Blood
Thomas guides us through a book that would only improve with Daniel Day Lewis in the cast.
307: Planet Narnia: Saturn, Mercury, and Venus
In this episode we finish Graeme's series on Lewis and his planets.
306: Planet Narnia: Moon and Sun
Did C.S. Lewis organize his Narnia books around the medieval planets? Graeme sure thinks so. Thomas doesn't. This episode covers the two books connected to the sun and moon.
304: Kierkegaard's "The Sickness Unto Death," Part One
In this episode, we discuss part one of the book, in which we find out that we're all despairing, even it you are pretty sure you're not. Rosy book, this one.
303: Planet Narnia: Jupiter and Mars
In this book, Graeme teaches us Michael Ward's theory about Narnia---how each book corresponds to one of the planets. Sounds like something Lewis would do. He's a nerd.
302: Of Mice and Men
In this episode, A.J. talks about George and Lennie and their unfortunate run-in with wannabe boxer.
301: Crime and Punishment Part 2: Electric Boogaloo
In this episode, Graeme finishes what he began in episode 299: a full retelling of Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." Honestly, I would listen to more audiobooks if they were just Graeme telling me stories.
299: Crime and Punishment: Raskolnikov the Edgelord
In this episode, we dive into Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." We've never really done the whole book in an episode before, so this is (part 1) of a great little introduction for those thinking about …
Show notes
In this episode, we dive into Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." We've never really done the whole book in an episode before, so this is (part 1) of a great little introduction for those thinking about reading the book or teaching it to a few edgelords of your own.298: Federalist Papers #10
In this episode, Graeme walks us through the complicated world of factions. How do we make sure that everybody . . . and nobody . . . gets what they want?
297: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Fall of the House of Usher"
In this episode we cover a little of Poe's life, then two of his famous stories.
296: Coleridge's "Kubla Khan"
In this episode, we discuss how Coleridge's poem "Kubla Khan" relates to the victory of Romanticism. That, and we giggle sometimes.
295: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
In this episode, we discuss ol' Robinson Crusoe, how he lived on the island, and escaped twenty-eight years later. It's . . . kinda good?
294: The Servile State, by Hilaire Belloc
In this episode, Graeme introduces us to "The Servile State," by Hilaire Belloc. All I know is that living in the woods has always been attractive to me, and now Graeme introduces fishing? Hot diggity, look for …
Show notes
In this episode, Graeme introduces us to "The Servile State," by Hilaire Belloc. All I know is that living in the woods has always been attractive to me, and now Graeme introduces fishing? Hot diggity, look for me near the trees, boys!292: Nominalism and William of Ockham
In this episode, we learn about William of Ockham's ridiculous notion that our words don't mean anything. Then why am I even writing this, WILLIAM. WHY DO WE EVEN TALK. You can tell that I (A.J.) am a big fan …
Show notes
In this episode, we learn about William of Ockham's ridiculous notion that our words don't mean anything. Then why am I even writing this, WILLIAM. WHY DO WE EVEN TALK. You can tell that I (A.J.) am a big fan of this theory.291: J.R.R. Tolkien's "Letters from Father Christmas"
Apparently Tolkien is a fabulous illustrator. Who knew? I've seriously looked up prints, and they are weirdly hard to find . . . but enchanting. Oh, this episode is about Christmas. Merry Christmas!
290: Civil Disobedience by David Henry Thoreau
In this episode, we learn how to---as Graeme would say---RIP THE SYSTEM. Well, at least until an aunt bails us out.
289: John Bunyan and Babe le bœuf bleu
In this episode, we talk about allegory and cattle. Oh, and Pilgrim's Progress
288: Macbeth Inverted
In this episode, Graeme talks us through a framework in which we can experience Macbeth (you know, that Scottish play). Turns out that when you kill a Scottish king, everything goes topsy turvy.
287: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving
Ever heard of the headless horseman? Did you know he was a Hessian Soldier? Do you know where the Jack-o-lantern comes from? FIND OUT IN THIS SPOOOOOOOKY EPISODE.
285: The Democratic Man: Plato's Republic Revisited
In this episode, Graeme discusses the degradation of man as a reflection of the degradation of the state suggested in Plato's Republic, Book VIII. Apparently true freedom is bloodshed.
284: Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"
In this (far too long) episode, we play a quiz show with a cake as a prize. Because really, that's what every war is about: cake.
283: Beauty and the Beast
Thomas continues his series on children's books with the (an?) original Beauty and the Beast tale. It's pretty lovely. Is it bad if I want to be Thomas's kid?
282: Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen
In this episode, we discuss Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility," along with a bunch of doofy males. I mean we discuss them, we don't podcast with them.
These are the latest 40 of 300 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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