Best Dr. Lantern Jack Podcasts (2024)

1
55 Fire in the Cradle of Democracy (The Persian Wars, Part 1) 51:55

28d ago51:55

51:55

The three decades from 508-478BC were possibly the most consequential in all of ancient history. In this episode and the next, we tell the story of the Greco-Persian Wars through the eyes of Themistocles, the Athenian mastermind who guided the Greeks to victory. Contents of the episode, with timestamps: [04:50] Themistocles' Childhood and the Athen…

1
AGD "Persian Wars" Tour in Greece! Jan. 3-11, 2025 6:37

2M ago6:37

6:37

AGD is going back to Greece this January 3-11 for another epic adventure! This time we'll be exploring the Persian Wars and the profound effect they had on Greek civilization. We will visit all the major focal points of the Greco-Persian showdown (Marathon, the Acropolis, Eretria, Salamis, Thermopylae, Plataea, and Delphi) as well as a wide variety…

1
54 Were the Spartans Proto-Fascist Losers? w/ Bret Devereaux 56:09

10M ago56:09

56:09

Bret Devereux is a military historian at North Carolina State University and author of the recent viral article "Spartans Were Losers: The US Military's Admiration of a Proto-Fascist City-State is Based on Bad History." He joins us to explain why he thinks that the traditional image of Sparta as an egalitarian society of warrior badasses is a lie. …

1
53 Why Platonism and Stoicism Are Going Viral w/ John Vervaeke 1:21:55

1y ago1:21:55

1:21:55

As our world becomes increasingly hi-tech, more and more people have been turning to ancient wisdom traditions in search of meaning. There are two schools of ancient philosophy in particular that have seen a meteoric revival in recent years: Platonism and Stoicism. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke joins us to explore why this is happening. -------…

1
"Enemies of Athens" Tour Announcement Oct. 11-19, 2023 7:37

1+ y ago7:37

7:37

AGD is going back to Greece this fall (Oct. 11-19) for another epic adventure! This time we'll be exploring areas that in ancient times lay in the shadow of – or in direct conflict with – the Athenian hegemony. Check out our video from the first tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g-w7u6aQz0 To reserve your spot, email us at greecepodcast@gmail.…

1
52 A New Theory of Democracy's Origins (It Wasn't Greece) w/ David Stasavage 51:24

2y ago51:24

51:24

This time we're taking a little break from Greece to explore the broader history of democracy. Was democracy really a Greek invention? Historian David Stasavage, author of The Decline and Rise of Democracy, thinks it was not. And in today's episode he explains why. --------------- Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepo…

1
51 Anacyclosis – Polybius' Grand Unified Theory of History 54:00

2y ago54:00

54:00

Polybius' theory of anacyclosis is the most sophisticated theory of political (r)evolution to have emerged from ancient Greek and Roman political thought. ------------------ To watch the highlight real from the last AGD tour in Greece, click here. ------------------ To read the passage in Polybius where he discusses anacyclosis click here. --------…

1
Announcing the "Mountains and Oracles" Tour in Greece! Jan. 3-11 5:12

2y ago5:12

5:12

AGD is going back to Greece this winter (Jan. 3-11) for an epic tour of Greece's northern regions, focusing on mountains and oracles. For more information or to reserve your spot, email us at greecepodcast@gmail.com

1
R8 Does Democracy Lead to Tyranny? | Plato's Republic, book 8 1:00:09

2y ago1:00:09

1:00:09

Plato argued that the inevitable next step in political evolution after democracy is tyranny. Many political thinkers throughout history agreed with him. Were they right? ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/greecepodcast --------------- A full transcript…

1
49 When a Philosopher Ruled the World | Marcus Aurelius w/ Donald Robertson 1:13:12

2+ y ago1:13:12

1:13:12

Was Marcus Aurelius really the enlightened ruler that history books and modern movies portray him as? And is his brand of Stoic philosophy applicable to the modern world? With us to discuss these and other questions is Donald Robertson, a psychotherapist and the author of How to Think Like and Emperor and Verissimus. ------------------ Support Anci…

1
AGD Tour Update – Only a Few Spots Left! 7:00

2+ y ago7:00

7:00

An update on the AGD Tour happening in Greece from August 16-24 For an outline of the itinerary click here.

1
48 Time Traveling to the Ancient World 47:48

2+ y ago47:48

47:48

Thirty three scholars, philosophers, and archaeologists answer the question: If you could time travel to the ancient world, who would you want to meet? Scholars featured + the timestamps when they appear: 2:10 Edith Hall 3:36 Eric Cline 4:30 Andromache Karanika 5:45 Josiah Ober 6:48 Rush Rehm 7:30 Ian Morris 8:02 Rebecca Newberger Goldstein 9:20 Pa…

1
R7.5 The Forms, the Matrix, and AI w/ John Vervaeke 1:02:38

2+ y ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Philosophers today often dismiss Plato's Theory of Forms as an outdated and failed attempt by a pre-modern thinker to explain knowledge. However, cognitive scientist John Vervaeke offers a radically different take on Plato's theory and how it ties in with recent debates about the nature of intelligence. John Vervaeke is a professor at the Universit…

1
AGD Trip to Greece! August 16–24 5:46

2+ y ago5:46

5:46

An announcement about the upcoming Ancient Greece Declassified tour in Greece this summer.

1
R7 The Cave | Plato's Republic, book 7 w/ Ben Morison 1:01:37

2+ y ago1:01:37

1:01:37

The cave analogy, which takes up the majority of book 7 of the Republic, is one of the most famous passages in all of western philosophy. In this episode, we are joined by Ben Morison, professor of philosophy at Princeton, to dive deep into the allegory and unpack its various levels of meaning.

1
R6.5 Why People Hate Plato 1:07:17

2+ y ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Plato is at once the most loved and possibly the most hated philosopher of all time. This episode explores five reasons why he drives some people mad. Contents of the episode, with timestamps: Reason 1: Who should rule? [7:30] Reason 2: What political system is best? [12:20] The Ship of State [15:10] Reason 3: What is truth? [20:20] Reason 4: What …

1
44 The Invention of Duty 1:15:13

3y ago1:15:13

1:15:13

Where does the notion of 'moral duty' come from? In this conversation with Simon E. Drew we dive deep into the history of the concept and discuss my recent book The Invention of Duty. This episode was originally published on The Walled Garden podcast and is here republished as a crosscast.

1
R6 The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful | Plato's Republic, book 6 w/ Gabriel Richardson Lear 1:05:24

3y ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Book 6 of the Republic is the work’s core section where Plato lays out his metaphysics. Appealing to his signature Theory of Forms, Plato offers a transcendent vision of the Good as the ultimate source of human knowledge. Joining us to help us unpack this theory is Gabriel Richardson Lear, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago and au…

1
42 The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova 59:28

3y ago59:28

59:28

Was Homer was influenced by the stories of civilizations to the east of Greece? Joining us to discuss the Hittites and their potential (direct and indirect) influences on the Greek epic tradition is Mary Bachvarova, professor of classics at Willamette University and author of From Hittite to Homer: The Anatolian Background of Ancient Greek Epic ---…

1
R5 Philosopher Queens | Plato's Republic, book 5 w/ Mary Townsend 53:48

3y ago53:48

53:48

The most controversial part of Plato's Republic is its fifth book, wherein Socrates argues for the political equality of men and women, the abolition of the nuclear family, a strange eugenics program, and the idea that philosophers kings and philosopher queens should be put in charge of political affairs. With us to discuss book 5 is Mary Townsend,…

1
R4.5 Anatomy of the Soul | Plato's Republic, book 4 w/ Jonathan Lear 59:40

3y ago59:40

59:40

In book 4 of the Republic, Plato sets forth perhaps the most famous psychological theory from Greco-Roman antiquity: the tripartite model of the human soul. But how good of a model is it? How does it hold up from the perspective of modern psychology? With us to discuss these questions and more is Jonathan Lear, professor of philosophy at the Univer…

1
R4 Hogwarts and Kallipolis | Plato's Republic, book 4 1:13:20

3y ago1:13:20

1:13:20

What do Plato's Republic, Sigmund Freud, and the Harry Potter saga have in common? Find out in this episode, which offers an exploration of book 4 of Plato's Republic and its many parallels in modern literature and psychology.

1
38 Alexander the Great: Inherited Glory w/ Adrian Goldsworthy 1:01:45

3+ y ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Was Alexander the Great really that *great* on his own? Or did he owe much of his success to the work of his father Philip II of Macedonia? Joining us to discuss the matter is Adrian Goldsworthy, military historian and author of the new book Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors. A video version of this episode is available on YouTube at: http…

1
R3.5 Food for the Soul | Plato's Republic, book 3 w/ Angie Hobbs (pt. 2) 41:08

3+ y ago41:08

41:08

In the second half of book 3 of the Republic, Plato lays out the controversial theory of mimesis, which states that all art, man-made objects, and cultural products in our environment have profound effects on the health of our souls. With us to help us unpack, analyze, and evaluate Plato’s arguments is, once again, Angie Hobbs, professor of the pub…

1
R3 Who Guards the Guardians? | Plato's Republic, book 3 w/ Angie Hobbs 44:42

3+ y ago44:42

44:42

Following Socrates' claim that the ideal republic should be ruled by a class of "guardians," the question naturally arises: Who or what will keep these guardians in check? How do you prevent the government from becoming an unaccountable and oppressive regime? Our exploration of Plato's Republic continues, this time with Angie Hobbs, professor of th…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dr. Lantern Jack Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

201
Ancient Greece Declassified

Dr. Lantern Jack

1
55 Fire in the Cradle of Democracy (The Persian Wars, Part 1) 51:55

1
AGD "Persian Wars" Tour in Greece! Jan. 3-11, 2025 6:37

1
54 Were the Spartans Proto-Fascist Losers? w/ Bret Devereaux 56:09

1
53 Why Platonism and Stoicism Are Going Viral w/ John Vervaeke 1:21:55

1
"Enemies of Athens" Tour Announcement Oct. 11-19, 2023 7:37

1
52 A New Theory of Democracy's Origins (It Wasn't Greece) w/ David Stasavage 51:24

1
51 Anacyclosis – Polybius' Grand Unified Theory of History 54:00

1
Announcing the "Mountains and Oracles" Tour in Greece! Jan. 3-11 5:12

1
R8 Does Democracy Lead to Tyranny? | Plato's Republic, book 8 1:00:09

1
49 When a Philosopher Ruled the World | Marcus Aurelius w/ Donald Robertson 1:13:12

1
AGD Tour Update – Only a Few Spots Left! 7:00

1
48 Time Traveling to the Ancient World 47:48

1
R7.5 The Forms, the Matrix, and AI w/ John Vervaeke 1:02:38

1
AGD Trip to Greece! August 16–24 5:46

1
R7 The Cave | Plato's Republic, book 7 w/ Ben Morison 1:01:37

1
R6.5 Why People Hate Plato 1:07:17

1
44 The Invention of Duty 1:15:13

1
R6 The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful | Plato's Republic, book 6 w/ Gabriel Richardson Lear 1:05:24

1
42 The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova 59:28

1
R5 Philosopher Queens | Plato's Republic, book 5 w/ Mary Townsend 53:48

1
R4.5 Anatomy of the Soul | Plato's Republic, book 4 w/ Jonathan Lear 59:40

1
R4 Hogwarts and Kallipolis | Plato's Republic, book 4 1:13:20

1
38 Alexander the Great: Inherited Glory w/ Adrian Goldsworthy 1:01:45

1
R3.5 Food for the Soul | Plato's Republic, book 3 w/ Angie Hobbs (pt. 2) 41:08

1
R3 Who Guards the Guardians? | Plato's Republic, book 3 w/ Angie Hobbs 44:42

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