Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchFaith Seeking Understanding: The Reluctant Archbishop, St. Anselm of Canterbury
Episode 1060
In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109), a Benedictine monk, philosopher, and the "Father of Scholasticism". We trace his journey from his early years at t…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
The Thinking Reed: Blaise Pascal on Math, Machines, and the Wager
Episode 1059
In this episode, we explore the short but brilliant life of 17th-century polymath Blaise Pascal, a child prodigy whose work spanned geometry, fluid dynamics, and theology,. We discuss his early inven…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
The Heretic’s Lens: Baruch Spinoza, "God or Nature," and the Birth of Modernity
Episode 1058
In July 1656, the Jewish community of Amsterdam issued a harsh writ of herem (excommunication) against 23-year-old Baruch Spinoza, permanently expelling him for his "abominable heresies" and "monstro…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
The Last Universal Genius: Calculus, Monads, and the Best of All Possible Worlds (Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz)
Episode 1057
In this episode, we profile Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716), a German polymath often cited as the "last universal genius" for his mastery across diverse fields before the era of specialized lab…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
Infinite Heresy: The Life, Death, and Cosmos of Giordano Bruno
Episode 1056
On February 17, 1600, the Roman Inquisition burned a former Dominican friar alive in Rome's Campo de' Fiori, silencing a tongue he had used to challenge the fundamental order of the universe. In this…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
The Philosopher King: Marcus Aurelius and the Twilight of the Pax Romana
Episode 1055
In this episode, we explore the life and reign of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor who ruled from 161 to 180 AD and is remembered as a dedicated Stoic philosopher. We trace his unique path to the t…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
The Slave Who Freed His Mind: Epictetus and the Foundations of Stoicism
Episode 1054
How does a man born into slavery become the mentor of emperors and the architect of inner freedom? In this episode, we explore the life of Epictetus (c. 50 – c. 135 AD), a Greek Stoic philosopher who…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
The Opulent Stoic: Seneca the Younger, Nero’s Mentor, and the Art of Dying
Episode 1053
Join us as we examine the contradictory life of Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 BC – AD 65), the Roman statesman, dramatist, and philosopher who attempted to guide the erratic Emperor Nero. In this episo…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
Pliny the Elder: Admiral, Naturalist, and Encyclopedist
Episode 1052
Pliny the Elder was a prominent Roman polymath who balanced a distinguished military and political career with an obsessive dedication to scientific study. He is most famous for authoring Natural His…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
Herodotus: Life and Legacy of the Father of History
Episode 1051
Often hailed as the "Father of History," Herodotus was a 5th-century BC Greek scholar famous for writing the Histories. This foundational work chronicles the Greco-Persian Wars while incorporating a …
Published on 1 week, 2 days ago