S8 Ep274: RIBBENTROP'S ARRIVAL AND SOCIAL DISASTERS Colleague Charles Spicer. Joachim von Ribbentrop arrived at Victoria Station as the new German ambassador with a cynical mission from Hitler to forge an alliance that would neutralize Britain while Germany conquer
RIBBENTROP'S ARRIVAL AND SOCIAL DISASTERS Colleague Charles Spicer. Joachim von Ribbentroparrived at Victoria Station as the new German ambassador with a cynical mission from Hitler to forge an alliance that would neutralize Britain while Germany conquered the continent. His tenure was immediately marred by clumsiness and a lack of humor; he gave ill-advised press remarks and famously delivered...
6m Jan 01
6m
S8 Ep274: LLOYD GEORGE AT THE BERGHOF Colleague Charles Spicer. In September 1936, Lloyd George traveled to Hitler's Alpine retreat, the Berghof, where he successfully charmed the dictator, who was delighted by the visit and the validation it offered. The meeting w
LLOYD GEORGE AT THE BERGHOF Colleague Charles Spicer. In September 1936, Lloyd George traveled to Hitler's Alpine retreat, the Berghof, where he successfully charmed the dictator, who was delighted by the visit and the validation it offered. The meeting was marked by mutual goodwill, with Lloyd George finding Hitler unpretentious and well-educated, a view he later publicized in the British pres...
12m Jan 01
12m
S8 Ep274: THE 1936 OLYMPICS AND DIPLOMATIC GAMES Colleague Charles Spicer. During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Nazi regime launched a charm offensive, wining and dining officials like Vansittart, who returned to London alarmed yet somewhat placated by Hitler's app
THE 1936 OLYMPICS AND DIPLOMATIC GAMES Colleague Charles Spicer. During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Nazi regime launched a charm offensive, wining and dining officials like Vansittart, who returned to Londonalarmed yet somewhat placated by Hitler's apparent desire for peace. Ribbentrop, desperate for promotion, hosted lavish events but was viewed by British diplomats as an intellectual lightw...
8m Jan 01
8m
S8 Ep274: GRAHAM CHRISTIE AND THE RISE OF MILITARISM Colleague Charles Spicer. Graham Christie is introduced as a brilliant WWI air ace and engineer who, after suffering from war trauma, dedicated himself to understanding Germany and feeding intelligence to Sir Rob
GRAHAM CHRISTIE AND THE RISE OF MILITARISM Colleague Charles Spicer. Graham Christie is introduced as a brilliant WWI air ace and engineer who, after suffering from war trauma, dedicated himself to understanding Germany and feeding intelligence to Sir Robert Vansittart, the head of the British Foreign Office. By 1935, the British protagonists were appalled by the Nuremberg Laws but chose to lob...
12m Jan 01
12m
S8 Ep274: COMMERCE AND THE ORIGINS OF THE FELLOWSHIP Colleague Charles Spicer. The Anglo-German Fellowship was headquartered at the Metropole Hotel in London in 1935, immediately attracting major business interests, including Unilever, which had vast assets in Germ
COMMERCE AND THE ORIGINS OF THE FELLOWSHIP Colleague Charles Spicer. The Anglo-German Fellowship was headquartered at the Metropole Hotel in London in 1935, immediately attracting major business interests, including Unilever, which had vast assets in Germany and sought to avoid war to protect its commercial empire. While business leaders were initially anxious about the brutality of the Nazi re...
6m Jan 01
6m
S8 Ep274: THE AMATEUR SPIES AND THE 1934 DINNER Colleague Charles Spicer. In December 1934, Ernest Tennant, a British banker deeply scarred by the loss of friends and family in the First World War, attended a pivotal dinner in Berlin with Adolf Hitler and Joachim v
THE AMATEUR SPIES AND THE 1934 DINNER Colleague Charles Spicer. In December 1934, Ernest Tennant, a British banker deeply scarred by the loss of friends and family in the First World War, attended a pivotal dinner in Berlin with Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop. Tennant, along with fellow protagonist Philip Conwell-Evans, sought to prevent another continental war by fostering closer ties...
12m Jan 01
12m
S8 Ep273: THE 1975 COLLAPSE AND THE WAR'S STRATEGIC FAILURE Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. Following the 1973 peace deal and US withdrawal, Congressional aid to South Vietnam plummeted, leaving the ARVN deprived of essential logistics and air support. When the NVA laun
THE 1975 COLLAPSE AND THE WAR'S STRATEGIC FAILURE Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. Following the 1973 peace deal and US withdrawal, Congressional aid to South Vietnam plummeted, leaving the ARVN deprived of essential logistics and air support. When the NVA launched their final offensive in 1975, the US did not intervene, leading to a chaotic collapse of the South Vietnamese military and the fall of Sa...
9m Jan 01
9m
S8 Ep273: LAM SON 719 AND THE FAILURE OF VIETNAMIZATION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. The 1971 invasion of Laos (Lam Son 719) exposed the failure of Vietnamization, as South Vietnamese troops were routed without US ground support, proving they lacked the leadership and
LAM SON 719 AND THE FAILURE OF VIETNAMIZATION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. The 1971 invasion of Laos (Lam Son 719) exposed the failure of Vietnamization, as South Vietnamese troops were routed without USground support, proving they lacked the leadership and logistics to fight alone. By 1972, only massive American air power, reinstated by Nixon during the Easter Offensive, saved South Vietnam from ...
11m Jan 01
11m
S8 Ep273: THE CAMBODIAN INCURSION AND DOMESTIC UNREST Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1970, Nixon authorized an incursion into Cambodia to destroy NVA sanctuaries and supply lines, but the operation failed strategically as the enemy simply retreated deeper into the co
THE CAMBODIAN INCURSION AND DOMESTIC UNREST Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1970, Nixonauthorized an incursion into Cambodia to destroy NVA sanctuaries and supply lines, but the operation failed strategically as the enemy simply retreated deeper into the country and returned later. While the invasion widened the war and ignited massive domestic unrest, including the fatal shootings at Kent State, ...
7m Jan 01
7m
S8 Ep273: NIXON'S SABOTAGE AND HAMBURGER HILL Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. Richard Nixon won the 1968 election by using Henry Kissinger to secretly sabotage LBJ's peace talks, eventually accepting the same terms in 1973 after four more years of bloodshed. Once in powe
NIXON'S SABOTAGE AND HAMBURGER HILL Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. Richard Nixon won the 1968 election by using Henry Kissinger to secretly sabotage LBJ's peace talks, eventually accepting the same terms in 1973 after four more years of bloodshed. Once in power, Nixon's continuation of "search and destroy" tactics led to the Battle of Hamburger Hill in 1969, where troops captured a meaningless objec...
11m Jan 01
11m
S8 Ep273: THE TET OFFENSIVE AND THE SIEGE OF KHE SANH Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1968, North Vietnam launched the Tet Offensive to deliver a knockout blow; while a military disaster for the communists, the televised breach of the US Embassy shattered American cla
THE TET OFFENSIVE AND THE SIEGE OF KHE SANH Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1968, North Vietnamlaunched the Tet Offensive to deliver a knockout blow; while a military disaster for the communists, the televised breach of the US Embassy shattered American claims of progress and turned public opinion. Simultaneously, the siege of Khe Sanh symbolized the war's futility, as US forces fought fiercely to...
9m Jan 01
9m
S8 Ep273: SEARCH AND DESTROY AND THE FAILURE OF ATTRITION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. General Westmoreland implemented a strategy of attrition aimed at reaching a "crossover point" where enemies were killed faster than they could be replaced, requiring the constructi
SEARCH AND DESTROY AND THE FAILURE OF ATTRITION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. General Westmoreland implemented a strategy of attrition aimed at reaching a "crossover point" where enemies were killed faster than they could be replaced, requiring the construction of massive infrastructure and thousands of firebases. However, this "search and destroy" tactic largely failed because the enemy avoided co...
10m Jan 01
10m
S8 Ep273: THE BATTLE OF IA DRANG AND NVA ADAPTATION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1965, the US introduced combat troops and air mobility tactics, showcased at the Battle of Ia Drang, where General Westmoreland used infantry as "tethered goats" to draw the enemy out
THE BATTLE OF IA DRANG AND NVA ADAPTATION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1965, the US introduced combat troops and air mobility tactics, showcased at the Battle of Ia Drang, where General Westmoreland used infantry as "tethered goats" to draw the enemy out for destruction by artillery. However, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) quickly adapted by "hugging" American lines to neutralize superior US f...
8m Jan 01
8m
S8 Ep273: VIETNAM AS A POLITICAL WAR AND THE GULF OF TONKIN DECEPTION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. Geoffrey Wawro explains that the Vietnam War was a political war of choice, where the Johnson administration manipulated the Gulf of Tonkin incident to secure a "blank c
VIETNAM AS A POLITICAL WAR AND THE GULF OF TONKIN DECEPTION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. Geoffrey Wawro explains that the Vietnam War was a political war of choice, where the Johnson administration manipulated the Gulf of Tonkin incident to secure a "blank check" from Congress. The administration presented a US-provoked skirmish and a fictitious second attack as unprovoked aggression, using the de...
10m Jan 01
10m
S8 Ep272: MCNAMARA'S REDEMPTION AT THE WORLD BANK Colleague William Taubman. After leaving the Defense Department, McNamara sought redemption as President of the World Bank, shifting its focus to aiding the "poorest of the poor" and combating diseases like river bl
MCNAMARA'S REDEMPTION AT THE WORLD BANK Colleague William Taubman. After leaving the Defense Department, McNamara sought redemption as President of the World Bank, shifting its focus to aiding the "poorest of the poor" and combating diseases like river blindness. He viewed this humanitarian work as an attempt to explain the lives lost in Vietnam, later admitting that the bombing campaigns he ov...
7m Jan 01
7m
S8 Ep272: MCNAMARA'S PRIVATE TURN AGAINST THE WAR Colleague William Taubman. By 1966, McNamara had privately turned against the war, confessing to aide John McNaughton his desperate desire to "bring the boys home," yet he maintained public support for the conflict
MCNAMARA'S PRIVATE TURN AGAINST THE WAR Colleague William Taubman. By 1966, McNamara had privately turned against the war, confessing to aide John McNaughton his desperate desire to "bring the boys home," yet he maintained public support for the conflict out of loyalty to the presidency. He faced intense anti-war hostility, including a confrontation at Harvard where he was trapped by students, ...
12m Jan 01
12m
S8 Ep272: MCNAMARA, THE KENNEDYS, AND JACKIE'S PLEA Colleague William Taubman. Fearing a political challenge from Robert Kennedy in 1964, Johnson used McNamara to monitor the Kennedys' intentions, specifically sending him to determine if Jackie Kennedy would public
MCNAMARA, THE KENNEDYS, AND JACKIE'S PLEA Colleague William Taubman. Fearing a political challenge from Robert Kennedy in 1964, Johnson used McNamara to monitor the Kennedys' intentions, specifically sending him to determine if Jackie Kennedy would publicly support an RFK nomination. Despite acting as Johnson'sagent, McNamara maintained a deep, emotionally complex relationship with Jackie, serv...
8m Jan 01
8m
S8 Ep272: MCNAMARA AND JOHNSON'S DANGEROUS FEEDBACK LOOP Colleague William Taubman. Following JFK's assassination, Lyndon Johnson retained McNamara, relying on his efficiency and self-confidence to counter his own insecurities and depressive episodes. A dangerous f
MCNAMARA AND JOHNSON'S DANGEROUS FEEDBACK LOOP Colleague William Taubman. Following JFK's assassination, Lyndon Johnson retained McNamara, relying on his efficiency and self-confidence to counter his own insecurities and depressive episodes. A dangerous feedback loop developed where McNamara, eager to please his new boss, adopted Johnson's "tone for action" regarding Vietnam, providing brillian...
10m Jan 01
10m
S8 Ep272: MCNAMARA JOINS THE KENNEDY CABINET Colleague William Taubman. In 1960, Robert Kennedy and Sargent Shriver recruited a reluctant McNamara for the Kennedy cabinet; despite McNamara's insistence that he was unqualified for the Treasury or Defense posts, he a
MCNAMARA JOINS THE KENNEDY CABINET Colleague William Taubman. In 1960, Robert Kennedy and Sargent Shriver recruited a reluctant McNamara for the Kennedy cabinet; despite McNamara's insistence that he was unqualified for the Treasury or Defense posts, he agreed to meet the President-elect. He accepted the position of Secretary of Defense on the condition that he could appoint his own staff based...
8m Jan 01
8m
S8 Ep272: THE WHIZ KIDS AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY Colleague William Taubman. After the war, Tex Thornton recruited McNamara as part of the "Whiz Kids" team to modernize Ford Motor Company using statistical control methods, a role in which McNamara excelled and eventua
THE WHIZ KIDS AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY Colleague William Taubman. After the war, Tex Thorntonrecruited McNamara as part of the "Whiz Kids" team to modernize Ford Motor Company using statistical control methods, a role in which McNamara excelled and eventually rose to the presidency. Unlike his peers who settled in the executive enclave of Grosse Pointe, McNamara chose to live in the academic comm...
11m Jan 01
11m
S8 Ep272: MCNAMARA'S ACADEMIC BRILLIANCE AND PERSONAL DRIVE Colleague William Taubman. Taubman details McNamara's academic brilliance, noting his induction into Phi Beta Kappa at Berkeley and his status as the top student at Harvard Business School, where he sought
MCNAMARA'S ACADEMIC BRILLIANCE AND PERSONAL DRIVE Colleague William Taubman. Taubmandetails McNamara's academic brilliance, noting his induction into Phi Beta Kappa at Berkeley and his status as the top student at Harvard Business School, where he sought to combine business with public service. His drive was shaped by a cold father and a mother who pushed him relentlessly to excel, while his wi...
8m Jan 01
8m
S8 Ep272: MCNAMARA'S ROLE IN THE FIREBOMBING OF TOKYO Colleague William Taubman. William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's service in the Pacific during World War II, specifically his role as a statistician under General Curtis LeMay in the Marianas. McNamara's a
MCNAMARA'S ROLE IN THE FIREBOMBING OF TOKYO Colleague William Taubman. William Taubmandiscusses Robert McNamara's service in the Pacific during World War II, specifically his role as a statistician under General Curtis LeMay in the Marianas. McNamara's analysis revealed that B-29 bombers were missing targets because they flew too high, advising LeMay to order low-altitude firebombing raids on T...
9m Jan 01
9m
S8 Ep271: PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT: Professor William Taubman discusses his new book, McNamara at War, recounting a vivid episode from 1967-68. McNamara traveled to Harvard Yard to address students but unexpectedly encountered a hostile anti-war mob, a surprising
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT: Professor William Taubman discusses his new book, McNamara at War, recounting a vivid episode from 1967-68. McNamara traveled to Harvard Yard to address students but unexpectedly encountered a hostile anti-war mob, a surprising confrontation that the professor remembers vividly to this day. 1962. JFK AND BOB MCNAMARA VISIT LIVERMORE LAB.
2m Dec 31, 2025
2m
S8 Ep271: PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT: Historian Geoffrey Wawro details how North Vietnamese troops used human wave attacks to "cling" to American perimeters. By holding Americans "by the belt," they neutralized US artillery and air power, making it impossible for th
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT: Historian Geoffrey Wawro details how North Vietnamese troops used human wave attacks to "cling" to American perimeters. By holding Americans "by the belt," they neutralized US artillery and air power, making it impossible for the US to bomb the enemy without hitting their own troops. 1968 WIA RETURNS.
1m Dec 31, 2025
1m
S8 Ep271: PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT: Geoffrey Wawro argues Nixon's diplomacy with Mao focused specifically on achieving peace in Vietnam rather than just triangulating superpowers. Following North Vietnamese refusal to bow to these plans, Nixon authorized the deva
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT: Geoffrey Wawro argues Nixon's diplomacy with Mao focused specifically on achieving peace in Vietnam rather than just triangulating superpowers. Following North Vietnamese refusal to bow to these plans, Nixon authorized the devastating Linebacker II bombing campaign, aiming to destroy Hanoi. 1972 LINEBACKER ORDNANCE
2m Dec 31, 2025
2m
S8 Ep270: PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT THE FAILED OSTER CONSPIRACY OF 1938 Colleague Charles Spicer. Charles Spicer discusses the 1938 Oster Conspiracy, a plot by Hitler's opponents to utilize police and army units to arrest him. This coup depended on Hitler attacking
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT THE FAILED OSTER CONSPIRACY OF 1938 Colleague Charles Spicer. Charles Spicer discusses the 1938 Oster Conspiracy, a plot by Hitler's opponents to utilize police and army units to arrest him. This coup depended on Hitler attacking Czechoslovakia, but Neville Chamberlain's arrival and appeasement policy destroyed the conspirators' necessary casus belli, ruining a vital c...
2m Dec 31, 2025
2m
S8 Ep270: PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY IN THE RHINELAND Colleague Charles Spicer. In 1936, Hitler violated treaties by moving troops into the Rhineland. Despite prior warnings, London and Paris failed to react due to prevailing pacifist sentimen
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY IN THE RHINELAND Colleague Charles Spicer. In 1936, Hitler violated treaties by moving troops into the Rhineland. Despite prior warnings, London and Parisfailed to react due to prevailing pacifist sentiment. Spicer explains that because Hitler's soldiers lacked live ammunition, standing up to this aggression could have easily prevented the traged...
3m Dec 31, 2025
3m
S8 Ep270: PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT RIBBENTROP'S DESCENT FROM ANGLOPHILE TO ENEMY Colleague Charles Spicer. Joachim von Ribbentrop served as Hitler's ambassador to Britain, initially acting as a sophisticated Anglophile. However, after social gaffes and influence f
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT RIBBENTROP'S DESCENT FROM ANGLOPHILE TO ENEMY Colleague Charles Spicer. Joachim von Ribbentrop served as Hitler's ambassador to Britain, initially acting as a sophisticated Anglophile. However, after social gaffes and influence from his wife, his admiration turned to vitriolic hatred. Spicerdetails how this irrational shift influenced decisions leading up to the war an...
3m Dec 31, 2025
3m
S8 Ep270: PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT UNILEVER AND THE ANGLO-GERMAN FELLOWSHIP Colleague Charles Spicer. Corporations like Unilever, fearing war and seeking to protect massive profits, formed the Anglo-German Fellowship to maintain dialogue with Berlin. Spicer explai
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT UNILEVER AND THE ANGLO-GERMAN FELLOWSHIP Colleague Charles Spicer. Corporations like Unilever, fearing war and seeking to protect massive profits, formed the Anglo-German Fellowship to maintain dialogue with Berlin. Spicer explains how business leaders, hoping to "civilize" the Nazis, misinterpreted events like the Night of the Long Knives as signs of a stabilizing, le...
3m Dec 31, 2025
3m
S8 Ep269: SHOW 12-30-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THESDHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF WAR-MAKING AS EXPRESSED MOURNFULLY BY HECTOR'S WIFE ANDROMACHE... SHOW 12-30-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR TRANSLATION AND THE SEARCH F
SHOW 12-30-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THESDHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF WAR-MAKING AS EXPRESSED MOURNFULLY BY HECTOR'S WIFE ANDROMACHE... SHOW 12-30-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR TRANSLATION AND THE SEARCH FOR TROY Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. John Batchelor interviews Professor Emily Wilson about her new iambic pentameter translation of the ...
6m Dec 31, 2025
6m
S8 Ep268: THE WOMEN OF THE JULIO-CLAUDIAN DYNASTY Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn profiles the powerful women of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Livia is portrayed as Augustus's essential political partner and diplomat. The segment covers the tragic life of Julia, the lech
THE WOMEN OF THE JULIO-CLAUDIAN DYNASTY Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn profiles the powerful women of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Livia is portrayed as Augustus's essential political partner and diplomat. The segment covers the tragic life of Julia, the lechery of Caligula, and the notorious reputation of Messalina. Finally, Agrippina the Younger is described as a co-emperor to her son Nero before ...
10m Dec 31, 2025
10m
S8 Ep268: ANTONY, FULVIA, AND CLEOPATRA'S END Colleague Daisy Dunn. The conversation turns to Mark Antony's unpopular affair with Cleopatra and his wife Fulvia, who instigated a war in Italy to counter Octavian. Dunn highlights the Roman propensity for public emoti
ANTONY, FULVIA, AND CLEOPATRA'S END Colleague Daisy Dunn. The conversation turns to Mark Antony'sunpopular affair with Cleopatra and his wife Fulvia, who instigated a war in Italy to counter Octavian. Dunn highlights the Roman propensity for public emotion and early marriage. Following Antony's botched suicide, Cleopatra takes her own life to avoid being paraded as a trophy by Octavian. Dunn su...
9m Dec 31, 2025
9m
S8 Ep268: CLEOPATRA AND CAESAR Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn describes Cleopatra's dramatic entrance from a rug to meet Caesar and secure her rule in Egypt. Despite her intelligence and linguistic skills, the Romans viewed her with suspicion and distaste, labeling her
CLEOPATRA AND CAESAR Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn describes Cleopatra's dramatic entrance from a rug to meet Caesar and secure her rule in Egypt. Despite her intelligence and linguistic skills, the Romans viewed her with suspicion and distaste, labeling her a "whore queen." Dunn challenges the Hollywood image of Cleopatra's beauty, noting coin portraits show a hooked nose, and argues her power la...
8m Dec 31, 2025
8m
S8 Ep268: CORNELIA AND SERVILIA: MOTHERS OF ROME Colleague Daisy Dunn. This segment focuses on Cornelia, the educated "one-man woman" who raised the reforming Gracchi brothers to challenge the Roman elite. Dunn notes Cornelia's heartbreak as she tried to dissuade h
CORNELIA AND SERVILIA: MOTHERS OF ROME Colleague Daisy Dunn. This segment focuses on Cornelia, the educated "one-man woman" who raised the reforming Gracchi brothers to challenge the Roman elite. Dunn notes Cornelia's heartbreak as she tried to dissuade her second son from following his assassinated brother's path. The discussion shifts to Servilia, Caesar's long-term mistress and mother of Bru...
9m Dec 31, 2025
9m
S8 Ep268: DIDO AND THE FOUNDING OF CARTHAGE Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn recounts the story of Dido, the clever founder of Carthage who tricked a local king to secure land. When Aeneas abandons her to fulfill his destiny, Dido curses him, foreshadowing the Punic Wars
DIDO AND THE FOUNDING OF CARTHAGE Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn recounts the story of Dido, the clever founder of Carthage who tricked a local king to secure land. When Aeneas abandons her to fulfill his destiny, Didocurses him, foreshadowing the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage. The segment explores her tragic suicide on a pyre, noting the societal judgment against her for breaking vows of ce...
7m Dec 31, 2025
7m
S8 Ep268: ETRUSCANS AND THE WOMEN OF EARLY ROME Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn discusses the Etruscans, noting their advanced dentistry and the shock Greeks felt at Etruscan men and women dining together openly. Transitioning to Rome, they recount the violent founding
ETRUSCANS AND THE WOMEN OF EARLY ROME Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn discusses the Etruscans, noting their advanced dentistry and the shock Greeks felt at Etruscan men and women dining together openly. Transitioning to Rome, they recount the violent founding myth of the Rape of the Sabine Women. The segment details the tragedy of Lucretia, whose rape and subsequent suicide led Brutus to overthrow t...
13m Dec 31, 2025
13m
S8 Ep268: SAPPHO OF LESBOS Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn explores the life of Sappho, debunking myths about her appearance and suicide. She explains that Sappho was exiled due to her family's aristocratic background during a time of political revolution. The conversat
SAPPHO OF LESBOS Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn explores the life of Sappho, debunking myths about her appearance and suicide. She explains that Sappho was exiled due to her family's aristocratic background during a time of political revolution. The conversation covers Sappho's disapproval of her brother's relationship with the courtesan Doricha and her professional jealousy when students left her ...
8m Dec 31, 2025
8m
S8 Ep268: FEMALE AUTHORSHIP AND THE TROJAN WOMEN Colleague Daisy Dunn. Daisy Dunn discusses the legend of Phantasia, a rumored female source for Homer, and the myth of Leda and the Swan. She argues that the Trojan War likely reflects real historical conflicts at th
FEMALE AUTHORSHIP AND THE TROJAN WOMEN Colleague Daisy Dunn. Daisy Dunn discusses the legend of Phantasia, a rumored female source for Homer, and the myth of Leda and the Swan. She argues that the Trojan Warlikely reflects real historical conflicts at the site of Hisarlik. The segment highlights key female figures: Andromache, who offers military advice to Hector, and Briseis, the enslaved woma...
10m Dec 31, 2025
10m
S8 Ep268: GRIEF, GAMES, AND ACCEPTANCE Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. After Hector's death, Achilles finds a form of healing through funeral games, which offer a non-lethal model of competition. He even awards Agamemnon a prize without a contest, possibly as a s
GRIEF, GAMES, AND ACCEPTANCE Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. After Hector's death, Achilles finds a form of healing through funeral games, which offer a non-lethal model of competition. He even awards Agamemnon a prize without a contest, possibly as a slight. The poem concludes not with victory, but with a "humanitarian pause" for Hector's funeral. Wilson notes the ending focuses on women's l...
7m Dec 31, 2025
7m
S8 Ep268: THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS AND HECTOR Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. The tragedy culminates with Patroclus ignoring Achilles' warning, leading to his death by Hector and the loss of Achilles' armor. Wilson describes Achilles' terrifying return to battle, e
THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS AND HECTOR Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. The tragedy culminates with Patroclus ignoring Achilles' warning, leading to his death by Hector and the loss of Achilles' armor. Wilson describes Achilles' terrifying return to battle, equipped with new armor from Hephaestus, and his slaughter of Trojans. The segment covers the final confrontation where Achilles kills Hector a...
13m Dec 31, 2025
13m
S8 Ep268: THE GORE AND GLORY OF BATTLE Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. Wilson discusses translating the Iliad's vivid violence, drawing on insights from combat veterans regarding the trauma of battlefield death. A central theme is the treatment of corpses; posses
THE GORE AND GLORY OF BATTLE Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. Wilson discusses translating the Iliad'svivid violence, drawing on insights from combat veterans regarding the trauma of battlefield death. A central theme is the treatment of corpses; possessing and stripping a dead enemy's armor is the ultimate sign of dominance. The conversation touches on the physical nature of the gods, who ble...
7m Dec 31, 2025
7m
S8 Ep268: AGAMEMNON'S FAILURE AND DIVINE POLITICS Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. This segment details the plot's catalyst: Agamemnon seizing Briseis from Achilles, causing the hero to withdraw from battle. Wilson explains the divine politics, including Hera trad
AGAMEMNON'S FAILURE AND DIVINE POLITICS Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. This segment details the plot's catalyst: Agamemnon seizing Briseis from Achilles, causing the hero to withdraw from battle. Wilson explains the divine politics, including Hera trading three Greek cities to Zeus to ensure Troy's destruction. They analyze Agamemnon's flawed leadership; while he blames Zeus for his bad deci...
11m Dec 31, 2025
11m
S8 Ep268: APHRODITE, PATROCLUS, AND TROPHY WOMEN Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. Wilson examines Aphrodite's intervention on the battlefield and her representation of baser instincts like lust. The discussion shifts to Briseis, a "trophy" of war, and her relation
APHRODITE, PATROCLUS, AND TROPHY WOMEN Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. Wilson examines Aphrodite's intervention on the battlefield and her representation of baser instincts like lust. The discussion shifts to Briseis, a "trophy" of war, and her relationship with Patroclus, whom Wilson refuses to classify as a "beta male" despite his kindness. Patroclus is described as a brutal killer and Achi...
7m Dec 31, 2025
7m
S8 Ep268: TRAGIC COUPLES AND DIVINE INTERVENTION Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. The segment explores key character pairings, starting with Helen's complex view of Paris and her weaving as a metaphor for the story. Wilson analyzes the tragic relationship between
TRAGIC COUPLES AND DIVINE INTERVENTION Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. The segment explores key character pairings, starting with Helen's complex view of Paris and her weaving as a metaphor for the story. Wilsonanalyzes the tragic relationship between Hector and Andromache, emphasizing Hector's choice of duty over family. They discuss the gods' roles, particularly Thetis's prayer to Zeus whic...
12m Dec 31, 2025
12m
S8 Ep268: HOMER'S NARRATIVE CHOICES AND ORAL TRADITION Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. Wilson discusses the "Homeric Question," noting that oral stories existed for centuries before the alphabet arrived in the 8th century BCE. She highlights the Iliad's sophistic
HOMER'S NARRATIVE CHOICES AND ORAL TRADITION Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. Wilsondiscusses the "Homeric Question," noting that oral stories existed for centuries before the alphabet arrived in the 8th century BCE. She highlights the Iliad's sophisticated narrative structure, which omits famous events like the Apple of Discord and the Trojan Horse to focus intensely on a specific period of t...
8m Dec 31, 2025
8m
S8 Ep268: TRANSLATION AND THE SEARCH FOR TROY Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. John Batchelor interviews Professor Emily Wilson about her new iambic pentameter translation of the Iliad. They discuss the historical location of Troy in modern Turkey and the archaeol
TRANSLATION AND THE SEARCH FOR TROY Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. John Batchelor interviews Professor Emily Wilson about her new iambic pentameter translation of the Iliad. They discuss the historical location of Troy in modern Turkey and the archaeological layers discovered by Schliemann, who wrongly believed he found Agamemnon's mask. Wilson explains that while the Greeks viewed the Iliad...
9m Dec 31, 2025
9m
S8 Ep267: GEOENGINEERING, ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, AND DECOUPLING GROWTH FROM DESTRUCTION Colleague Gaia Vince. Vince outlines technological solutions for restoring the planet, such as ocean fertilization, which adds iron to oceans to boost algae growth and sequeste
GEOENGINEERING, ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, AND DECOUPLING GROWTH FROM DESTRUCTION Colleague Gaia Vince. Vince outlines technological solutions for restoring the planet, such as ocean fertilization, which adds iron to oceans to boost algae growth and sequester carbon, mimicking natural cycles previously aided by whales. She also describes enhanced weathering, where specific rocks are distributed on...
7m Dec 30, 2025
7m
S8 Ep267: A UNITED NATIONS AGENCY FOR MIGRATION AND THE FUTURE OF FOOD Colleague Gaia Vince. Batchelor and Vince discuss a vision for managed migration where a new United Nations agency allocates migrants to specific cities and industries based on labor needs. Vinc
A UNITED NATIONS AGENCY FOR MIGRATION AND THE FUTURE OF FOOD Colleague Gaia Vince. Batchelor and Vince discuss a vision for managed migration where a new United Nations agency allocates migrants to specific cities and industries based on labor needs. Vince suggests that migrants could initially work in essential sectors, such as green energy or care work, to foster social inclusion and economic...
13m Dec 30, 2025
13m
S8 Ep267: RETHINKING BORDERS AND THE ECONOMIC NECESSITY OF HUMAN MOBILITY Colleague Gaia Vince. Vince argues that while humans have migrated for hundreds of thousands of years, modern borders currently restrict the world's most valuable economic resource: human lab
RETHINKING BORDERS AND THE ECONOMIC NECESSITY OF HUMAN MOBILITY Colleague Gaia Vince. Vince argues that while humans have migrated for hundreds of thousands of years, modern borders currently restrict the world's most valuable economic resource: human labor. She suggests that removing these barriers could significantly boost global GDP, noting that current restrictions are ill-suited for a worl...
6m Dec 30, 2025
6m
S8 Ep267: THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE ANTHROPOCENE AND THE INEVITABILITY OF CLIMATE MIGRATION Colleague Gaia Vince. John Batchelor and Gaia Vince discuss her book, Nomad Century, which argues that climate migration is already underway and inevitable. Vince illustrates
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE ANTHROPOCENE AND THE INEVITABILITY OF CLIMATE MIGRATION Colleague Gaia Vince. John Batchelor and Gaia Vince discuss her book, Nomad Century, which argues that climate migration is already underway and inevitable. Vince illustrates this reality through Abel Cruz, a Peruvian farmer forced to migrate to a slum in Lima after drought destroyed his livelihood. She describes t...
9m Dec 30, 2025
9m