Episodes

  • 100 - Cato I: A Strange Boy
    Nov 22 2024

    Join us in Austin for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat. January 23-26. Theme: Caesar https://costofglory.com/retreat

    Thanks Reid Powers - who sponsors this episode in honor of his father, the late Bill Powers, past president of UT Austin.


    Episode 1 of the Life of Cato the Younger, Rome's great Stoic statesman.

    In this episode:

    • Cato's earliest years and the murder of his uncle
    • His first encounter with Sulla as a precocious youth
    • Cato establishes his reputation: in military service and as Quaestor
    • A Principled stand against Julius Caesar


    On this centennial episode, I'd like to thank all of my listeners and patrons. On to the next hundred!

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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • 99 - On Progress - Against Stoicism
    Nov 6 2024

    Join us in Austin for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat. January 23-26. Theme: Caesar https://costofglory.com/retreat


    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

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    22 mins
  • 98 - Gallic Wars 8: Finale
    Oct 21 2024

    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:

    • Final skirmishes with the Bituriges and the Carnutes
    • Siege of a hill-fort, and Caesar takes arms (literally)
    • Conclusion of a bloody chapter, and some takeaways

    Cost of Glory is an Infinite Media production — and big thanks to Dr. Richard Johnson of the great city of New York for sponsoring this episode and many others in this series!


    Coffee + Great Heroes of History = Imperium Coffee. They make great roasts and are big fans of CoG - use code COSTOFGLORY when you checkout for a discount.

    See my favorite, Sertorius Roast - co-designed by yours truly.
    https://imperium.coffee/roasts/sertorius/

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    38 mins
  • 97 - Gallic Wars 7: Vercingetorix and the Great Revolt
    Sep 30 2024

    Caesar faces the Gallic Grande Armée through fire and snow, in part 7, the climax 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:

    • Slaughterings begin at Cenabum
    • The Incendiary Tactics of Vercingetorix
    • Rebellion amongst Roman Allies
    • Caesar loses Gregovia…
    • …but clinches victory at Alesia
    • Vercingetorix falls, sealing the fate of Gaul

    Thanks to our sponsor Shokworks ! - Shokworks provides consulting and development to offer ROI - positive, enterprise-grade custom software solutions for companies of any size. To find out more, reach out to sales@shokworks.io or visit https://shokworks.io.

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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • 96 - Gallic Wars 6: Manhunt
    Sep 12 2024

    Join us in Austin for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat. January 23-26. Theme: Caesar https://costofglory.com/retreat


    Caesar fights through enemy tribes and orders a Purge in his manhunt for Ambiorix, in part 6 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:

    • The hunt for the crafty Ambiorix and his renegade tribe
    • The exploits of Titus Labienus and of Publius Sextius Baculus
    • Hints of Civil War…
    • (and Druids and ancient cows)

    Thanks to Ancient Language Institute and long time CoG fan Dr. Richard Johnson for sponsoring this episode!

    P.S.—If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode, feel free to get in touch, any support is highly appreciated as it helps me create more high quality work.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • 95 - Gallic Wars 5: Uprisings
    Aug 26 2024

    Join us in Austin for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat. January 23-26. Theme: Caesar https://costofglory.com/retreat


    The mighty Caesar returns to Britain, and faces uprisings and deadly skirmishes in Gaul, in part 5 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:

    • Caesar’s return to Britain
    • A deep personal loss
    • The worst disaster of the entire Gallic Campaign

    Subscribe to the CoG Substack to get high quality transcripts w/ MAPS AND IMAGES. Here's the transcript for this episode.

    P.S.—If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode, feel free to get in touch, any support is highly appreciated as it helps me create more high quality work.

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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • 94 - Gallic Wars 4: Amphibious Assault
    Jul 31 2024

    Join us in Austin for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat. January 23-26. Theme: Caesar https://costofglory.com/retreat


    Caesar crosses two major bodies of water (and he hasn’t even gotten to the Rubicon yet), in part 4 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:

    • The Suebi and their strange ways
    • Caesar builds a bridge
    • Caesar’s first landing in Britain

    Subscribe to the CoG Substack to get high quality transcripts w/ MAPS AND IMAGES.
    Here's the transcript for this episode.

    (Ep. cover art by Peter Jackson)

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    59 mins
  • 93 - Gallic Wars 3: Caesar At Sea
    Jul 19 2024

    Join us in Austin for the Cost of Glory Men's Retreat. January 23-26. Theme: Caesar https://costofglory.com/retreat


    Caesar faces enemies at home and on sea, in part 3 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:

    • Caesar faces the sea-faring people of Veneti
    • Caesar plays political games
    • Ship technology, and military strategy

    Subscribe to the CoG Substack to get high quality transcripts w/ MAPS AND IMAGES. Transcript for this episode here.

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    1 hr and 5 mins