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.

Thanks to our sponsor <a href="https://sens.ai/">SensAi</a> (<a href="https://sens.ai/">https://sens.ai/</a>): a neurofeedback brain training system that can change your life.  I'm a user.Use the code GLORY at checkout to get a $100 off discount on one of their headsets Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Cato the Younger. In this episode:<ul><li>Cato confronts the rising power of Caesar and Pompey in the Senate</li><li>The scandalous note from Servilia that backfired on Cato</li><li>His principled handling of the Cyprus annexation mission</li><li>The formation of the First Triumvirate and Cato's resistance</li><li>His memorable year as Praetor and battles against corruption</li><li>The death of Julia and Crassus sets the stage for civil war</li></ul>A story of political intrigue, street violence, and the struggle to preserve Republican institutions against the rising tide of populist strongmen. At the heart of it all stands Cato, refusing to compromise his principles even as Rome's political system crumbles around him.

Cost of Glory

101 - Cato II: Seducers of Rome

Join us in Austin for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat. January 23-26.  Theme: Caesar  <a href="https://costofglory.com/retreat">https://costofglory.com/retreat</a>Thanks Reid Powers - who sponsors this episode in honor of his father, the late <a href="https://news.utexas.edu/2019/03/10/ut-mourns-former-president-william-c-powers/">Bill Powers</a>, past president of UT Austin. Episode 1 of the Life of Cato the Younger, Rome's great Stoic statesman

100 - Cato I: A Strange Boy

Fill out an application for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat - "SELL IT LIKE CAESAR".  January 23-26th.  <a href="https://forms.costofglory.com/2025-retreat">Apply here.</a>  More details to follow soon.  (URL here: <a href="https://forms.costofglory.com/2025-retreat">https://forms.costofglory.com/2025-retreat</a> ). How to make progress, and know it. Featuring a few of Plutarch's critiques of some Stoics of his day - whether fairly or unfairly, you can decide.Also featuring: Diogenes the Cynic, Aeschylus the Poet, Brasidas the Spartan Commander. Also featuring: ZEAL

99 - On Progress - Against Stoicism

Caesar ties all loose ends in his Gallic Campaign, in part 8, the final episode of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico).    This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.In this episode:<ul><li>Final skirmishes with the Bituriges and the Carnutes</li><li>Siege of a hill-fort, and Caesar takes arms (literally)</li><li>Conclusion of a bloody chapter, and some takeaways</li></ul>Cost of Glory is an Infinite Media production — and big thanks to <a href="http://midatlanticfund.com/wp/richard-johnson/">Dr. Richard Johnson</a> of the great city of New York for sponsoring this episode and many others in this series!

Alex Petkas

Cost of Glory by Alex Petkas

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