Best University Teaching Edition Podcasts (2025)

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S8 Ep171: Dallas the Spoodle Befriends Local Magpies as Cockatoos Target Neighbors: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that Dallas, an 11-year-old spoodle, continues to expand his "village" of avian friends ... 7:56

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23m ago7:56

7:56

Dallas the Spoodle Befriends Local Magpies as Cockatoos Target Neighbors: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that Dallas, an 11-year-old spoodle, continues to expand his "village" of avian friends, now joined by teenage magpies who actively run to greet him during walks, theorizing that the territorial magpies view the friendly dog as a "force multipli…

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S8 Ep171: Australia Dominates England in First Ashes Test Amidst Heat and Humidity: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that Australia has taken a commanding lead in the Ashes, scoring 511 runs to England's ... 9:36

23m ago9:36

9:36

Australia Dominates England in First Ashes Test Amidst Heat and Humidity: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that Australia has taken a commanding lead in the Ashes, scoring 511 runs to England's opening 334, attributing the English team's struggle to the harsh Australian environment ranging from 100-degree dry heat in Perth to tropical humidity in Bri…

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S8 Ep171: Miraculous Escape: Girl Survives Dry Bite from Deadly Tiger Snake in Perth: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that an 11-year-old girl in Perth miraculously survived a tiger snake encounter while ... 10:07

1h ago10:07

10:07

Miraculous Escape: Girl Survives Dry Bite from Deadly Tiger Snake in Perth: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that an 11-year-old girl in Perth miraculously survived a tiger snake encounter while riding her scooter; although the snake, whose venom can kill 200 humans and clot blood within 30 minutes, bit her leg, she received a rare "dry bite" where n…

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S8 Ep171: Early Bushfires Destroy Homes on Central Coast Despite La Niña Forecast: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that despite forecasts of a wet La Niña summer, New South Wales is facing intense early ... 11:15

33m ago11:15

11:15

Early Bushfires Destroy Homes on Central Coast Despite La Niña Forecast: Colleague Jeremy Zakis reports that despite forecasts of a wet La Niña summer, New South Wales is facing intense early bushfires driven by high winds and hot, dry conditions; a fire near Kulaw on the Central Coast has already destroyed 12 homes, spreading rapidly through groun…

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S8 Ep170: Competition and the Human Struggle with Death: Colleague Emily Wilson discusses the poem's end, where Achilles processes grief through funeral games that replace lethal combat with competition ... 6:55

19m ago6:55

6:55

Competition and the Human Struggle with Death: Colleague Emily Wilson discusses the poem's end, where Achilles processes grief through funeral games that replace lethal combat with competition, analyzing Achilles giving Agamemnon a prize without contest—possibly a "sick burn"—and the final focus on women's lamentations, emphasizing the enduring hum…

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S8 Ep170: The Death of Patroclus and Achilles' Vengeance: Colleague Emily Wilson examines the climax, starting with Patroclus's fatal decision to fight and his death, describing Achilles' return to battle ... 12:45

8m ago12:45

12:45

The Death of Patroclus and Achilles' Vengeance: Colleague Emily Wilson examines the climax, starting with Patroclus's fatal decision to fight and his death, describing Achilles' return to battle with Hephaestus-forged armor, his terrifying slaughter that clogs the river god, and his vengeful dragging of Hector's body, driven by an insatiable desire…

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S8 Ep170: Visceral Combat and the Sanctity of the Dead: Colleague Emily Wilson focuses on the visceral violence of battle scenes and the significance of caring for the dead, detailing the warrior ethos ... 7:15

12m ago7:15

7:15

Visceral Combat and the Sanctity of the Dead: Colleague Emily Wilson focuses on the visceral violence of battle scenes and the significance of caring for the dead, detailing the warrior ethos regarding proper burial versus the desecration of corpses to deny closure, also touching upon the gods bleeding "ichor" and the struggle over armor as a symbo…

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S8 Ep170: Agamemnon's Quarrel and Divine Politics: Colleague Emily Wilson explains the catalyst for the Iliad's plot: the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles over a "prize" woman, leading to Achilles ... 10:35

12m ago10:35

10:35

Agamemnon's Quarrel and Divine Politics: Colleague Emily Wilson explains the catalyst for the Iliad's plot: the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles over a "prize" woman, leading to Achilles' withdrawal, discussing the divine politics between Zeus and Hera that seal Troy's fate and analyzing Agamemnon's flawed, burdened leadership amidst the pres…

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S8 Ep170: Gods, Warriors, and the Brutality of Patroclus: Colleague Emily Wilson discusses the gods' involvement, specifically Aphrodite and Ares representing base instincts on the battlefield, characterizing ... 7:20

15m ago7:20

7:20

Gods, Warriors, and the Brutality of Patroclus: Colleague Emily Wilson discusses the gods' involvement, specifically Aphrodite and Ares representing base instincts on the battlefield, characterizing Patroclus not merely as gentle but as a brutal warrior, also examining the status of enslaved women like Briseis and the deep intimacy between Achilles…

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S8 Ep170: Mortal Tragedies and Divine Manipulations: Colleague Emily Wilson explores key character dynamics, including Helen's weaving as a metaphor for poetry and her strained relationship with Paris ... 12:20

17m ago12:20

12:20

Mortal Tragedies and Divine Manipulations: Colleague Emily Wilson explores key character dynamics, including Helen's weaving as a metaphor for poetry and her strained relationship with Paris, analyzing the tragic parting of Hector and Andromache, the rage of Hecuba, and the role of gods like Thetis and Hera in manipulating mortal fates through pray…

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S8 Ep170: The Homeric Question and Narrative Choices: Colleague Emily Wilson addresses the "Homeric Question," describing the transition from oral tradition to written text around the 8th century BCE ... 8:25

8m ago8:25

8:25

The Homeric Question and Narrative Choices: Colleague Emily Wilson addresses the "Homeric Question," describing the transition from oral tradition to written text around the 8th century BCE, discussing how the Iliad subverts audience expectations by omitting famous events like the Trojan Horse, focusing instead on a brief period of intense conflict…

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S8 Ep170: Grief, Games, and Lamentation: The Iliad's Conclusion: Colleague Emily Wilson discusses the Iliad's conclusion, focusing on Achilles' processing of grief through the funeral pyre and games, analyzing ... 6:55

7m ago6:55

6:55

Grief, Games, and Lamentation: The Iliad's Conclusion: Colleague Emily Wilson discusses the Iliad's conclusion, focusing on Achilles' processing of grief through the funeral pyre and games, analyzing the shift from violence to regulated competition, Achilles' ambiguous gesture of giving Agamemnon a prize without competition, and the poem ending wit…

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S8 Ep169: Octavian Becomes Augustus: Colleague Barry Strauss explains that Octavian adopts the title Augustus, carefully avoiding the labels of king or dictator while establishing authority; he erases ... 14:01

11m ago14:01

14:01

Octavian Becomes Augustus: Colleague Barry Strauss explains that Octavian adopts the title Augustus, carefully avoiding the labels of king or dictator while establishing authority; he erases Antony's public memory, while Octavia raises Antony's children, securing a lineage that leads to future emperors like Nero, with the fate of Cleopatra's statue…

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S8 Ep169: The Deaths of Antony and Cleopatra: Colleague Barry Strauss recounts that back in Alexandria, negotiations fail as Octavian closes in to secure Egypt's treasury; Antony's remaining forces defect ... 9:26

13m ago9:26

9:26

The Deaths of Antony and Cleopatra: Colleague Barry Strauss recounts that back in Alexandria, negotiations fail as Octavian closes in to secure Egypt's treasury; Antony's remaining forces defect, leading to his suicide in Cleopatra's arms, and realizing Octavian plans to parade her in Rome and kill her son Caesarion, Cleopatra commits suicide, like…

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S8 Ep169: Agrippa's Brilliant Attack on Methone: Colleague Barry Strauss details the logistical maneuvers preceding Actium, noting Antony's defensive posture in western Greece, with Agrippa executing a ... 9:16

17m ago9:16

9:16

Agrippa's Brilliant Attack on Methone: Colleague Barry Strauss details the logistical maneuvers preceding Actium, noting Antony's defensive posture in western Greece, with Agrippa executing a brilliant surprise attack on Methone, a key supply base, crippling Antony's supply lines; this amphibious raid forces Antony to shift focus to the north, sett…

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S8 Ep169: Antony's Political Error and the Path to Civil War: Colleague Barry Strauss recounts that Antony commits a major political error by divorcing Octavia, allowing Octavian to frame the conflict ... 6:00

18m ago6:00

6:00

Antony's Political Error and the Path to Civil War: Colleague Barry Strauss recounts that Antony commits a major political error by divorcing Octavia, allowing Octavian to frame the conflict as a defense of Roman values against a foreign queen; despite internal objections, Cleopatra remains with the fleet at Ephesus, cementing the inevitability of …

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S8 Ep169: Antony's Marriage and Octavian's Information War: Colleague Barry Strauss explains that to maintain peace, Antony marries Octavian's sister Octavia, though tensions persist; while Antony suffers ... 14:34

14m ago14:34

14:34

Antony's Marriage and Octavian's Information War: Colleague Barry Strauss explains that to maintain peace, Antony marries Octavian's sister Octavia, though tensions persist; while Antony suffers military losses in Parthia, Octavian's general Agrippa defeats Sextus Pompey and succeeds in Illyricum, with Octavian launching an information war portrayi…

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S8 Ep169: Cleopatra's Spectacular Introduction to Antony: Colleague Barry Strauss describes Cleopatra's spectacular introduction to Antony and her background as the ruthless, wealthy queen of the Ptolemaic ... 7:52

30m ago7:52

7:52

Cleopatra's Spectacular Introduction to Antony: Colleague Barry Strauss describes Cleopatra's spectacular introduction to Antony and her background as the ruthless, wealthy queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty, noting that Antony values her resources and acknowledges her son Caesarion as Julius Caesar's child, highlighting Cleopatra's wealth display with…

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S8 Ep169: Power Struggle After Caesar's Death: Colleague Barry Strauss introduces the power struggle following Caesar's death, featuring the established noble Mark Antony and the ambitious, though physically ... 10:51

4m ago10:51

10:51

Power Struggle After Caesar's Death: Colleague Barry Strauss introduces the power struggle following Caesar's death, featuring the established noble Mark Antony and the ambitious, though physically slight, Octavian, detailing the Second Triumvirate and Antony's military prestige after Philippi, contrasting it with Octavian's reliance on political c…

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S8 Ep168: Views on America and Marxist Dogma: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts explains that Stalin admired American production and the Constitution, viewing the U.S. as a progressive capitalist state; however ... 7:31

19m ago7:31

7:31

Views on America and Marxist Dogma: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts explains that Stalin admired American production and the Constitution, viewing the U.S. as a progressive capitalist state; however, Stalin remained a Marxist dogmatist who edited texts to fit his ideology, with Roberts ultimately characterizing Stalin as an intellectual whose worldview …

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S8 Ep168: Rehabilitating Ivan the Terrible: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts reports that Stalin favored the narrative history of Robert Vipper, who rehabilitated Ivan the Terrible as a state-builder rather ... 12:59

7m ago12:59

12:59

Rehabilitating Ivan the Terrible: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts reports that Stalin favored the narrative history of Robert Vipper, who rehabilitated Ivan the Terrible as a state-builder rather than a cruel tyrant; Stalin criticized Eisenstein's film sequel for portraying Ivan as weak, insisting Ivan's terror was a necessary defense of the state, a vi…

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S8 Ep168: Historical Influences: Bismarck and Realpolitik: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts discusses how Stalin studied Bismarck as a fellow modernizer who executed a "revolution from above" to build a strong ... 10:43

10m ago10:43

10:43

Historical Influences: Bismarck and Realpolitik: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts discusses how Stalin studied Bismarck as a fellow modernizer who executed a "revolution from above" to build a strong state, arguing that regarding Machiavelli, Stalin did not need The Prince to learn cynicism or power politics, as he had already learned those lessons effec…

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S8 Ep168: Rediscovering the Scattered Library: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts explains that after 1956, Stalin's library was dispersed, leaving only about 5,500 identifiable books, some containing his pometki ... 8:04

11m ago8:04

8:04

Rediscovering the Scattered Library: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts explains that after 1956, Stalin's library was dispersed, leaving only about 5,500 identifiable books, some containing his pometki or markings; while Yuri Sharapov revealed the library in 1988, no "smoking gun" explains Stalin, with Roberts arguing the library proves Stalin was a serio…

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S8 Ep168: Personal Tragedy and the Dacha Library: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts recounts that following the suicide of his wife Nadia in 1932, Stalin became more isolated, moving his routine to the Blizhnyaya ... 6:43

4h ago6:43

6:43

Personal Tragedy and the Dacha Library: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts recounts that following the suicide of his wife Nadia in 1932, Stalin became more isolated, moving his routine to the Blizhnyaya dacha, which became the "center of gravity" for his books eventually numbering around 25,000, suggesting that like Machiavelli, Stalin felt most among fri…

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S8 Ep168: Classifying the Dictator's Collection: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts reports that Stalin hired Lenin's former librarian to organize his growing collection, creating a handwritten classification ... 13:52

17m ago13:52

13:52

Classifying the Dictator's Collection: Colleague Geoffrey Roberts reports that Stalin hired Lenin's former librarian to organize his growing collection, creating a handwritten classification scheme that prioritized Marxist thinkers, surprisingly ranking his rival Trotsky highly on this reading list; the Bolsheviks seized control of publishing to ma…