Classical Wisdom Speaks

Can Ancient Philosophy Teach Us How to Succeed? | Tom Morris on Aristotle, Stoicism & Living Well

What does it actually mean to succeed in life? And could Aristotle, the Stoics and other ancient thinkers have better answers than our modern obsession with money, status and achievement?

In this episode, Anya Leonard speaks with Tom Morris, public philosopher, former Notre Dame professor and bestselling author of If Aristotle Ran General Motors. Together they explore what happens when ancient philosophy leaves the classroom and enters everyday life: from business and leadership to personal success, politics and the search for meaning.

Drawing on Aristotle, Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and others, Tom challenges conventional ideas of success and offers a deeper vision rooted in developing our talents, helping others and pursuing genuine human flourishing.

The conversation also explores the extraordinary modern revival of Stoicism, whether we can separate great ideas from the flaws of the people who held them, and how ancient concepts of virtue, community and responsibility might help us navigate the divisions of modern society.

Key Topics:
Why ancient philosophy still speaks to modern problems
What happened when Tom brought Aristotle into corporate America
Why success isn't simply about money, power or status
Aristotle, eudaimonia and the meaning of human flourishing
How to find the useful “gold nuggets” in ancient philosophy
Should we reject thinkers whose values don't match our own?
Philosophy, patriotism and the search for shared values
Can ancient wisdom help us move beyond political extremes?
Why Stoicism has become a worldwide phenomenon
The forgotten philosophical traditions we should rediscover

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – From philosopher to corporate America
05:03 – Why ancient wisdom connects with people
10:53 – Our hunger for meaningful ideas
14:08 – What is true success?
16:13 – The Seven C's of Success
17:52 – Eudaimonia & human flourishing
18:46 – If Aristotle Ran General Motors
20:13 – “Cherry-picking” ancient wisdom
24:04 – Can we learn from flawed thinkers?
28:07 – Philosophy, patriotism & shared values
32:17 – Can philosophy overcome division?
42:11 – Why Stoicism is booming
46:38 – Stoicism & political division
49:25 – Can individuals change society?
53:29 – Finding the middle ground
58:54 – What lies beyond Stoicism?
1:00:30 – Final thoughts

What does success mean to you? And which ancient philosopher has given you the most useful guidance for modern life? Let us know in the comments.

If you enjoy conversations that bring ancient wisdom to modern problems, subscribe to Classical Wisdom for more interviews on philosophy, history, Stoicism and the ideas of the ancient world.

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👉 Discover Books by Tom Morris: https://www.tomvmorris.com/

About Tom Morris

Tom Morris is a public philosopher, speaker and bestselling author who has spent decades bringing philosophical ideas into business, leadership and everyday life. A Yale-trained philosopher and former professor at the University of Notre Dame, he has written more than 30 books, including True Success, The Stoic Art of Living, The Everyday Patriot and If Aristotle Ran General Motors.

How Did Beliefs Really Work in the Ancient World?| Michael Satlow on Ancient Religion & Ritual

For people in Late Antiquity, gods, spirits and invisible forces weren't simply matters of faith: they were part of everyday reality. 

What would life feel like if gods, spirits, demons and other invisible beings were as real to you as the people around you? Professor Michael Satlow explores the enchanted world of Late Antiquity, and what it can teach us about our increasingly secular lives…

In this episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya speaks with Michael Satlow, Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies at Brown University and author of An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity. Together they explore how Jews, Christians, Greeks and Romans navigated a world infused with spiritual beings, and why familiar labels like "magic", "superstition" and even "religion" can prevent us from understanding how ancient people actually experienced their lives. 

From protective amulets and ancient spells to disease, fear, ritual and the need for human connection, Satlow challenges our assumptions about ancient belief. Could ancient approaches to awe, ritual and community reveal something we've lost along the way?

Watch the FULL, EXTENDED EPISODE by becoming a Classical Wisdom Member today:

👉 Become A Member: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1
👉 Full podcast: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/can-we-return-to-an-enchanted-world
👉 Buy Michael Satlow's book, An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691256597/an-enchanted-world?srsltid=AfmBOor8t_N4hIPDmIeFEW9uavx769LCOATvQqsRtQbiBjh_JznfJr-

KEY TOPICS COVERED
• What did an "enchanted world" actually mean? 
• How religion shaped everyday life in Late Antiquity 
• Gods, demons, spirits and supernatural beings 
• Why "magic" and "superstition" are problematic labels 
• Ancient spells, prayers and protective amulets 
• How people sought protection from disease and misfortune 
• What Jews and Christians shared despite religious differences 
• Why religious history isn't only a story of conflict 
• Science, rationality and the disenchantment of modern life 
• Can rituals still have meaning without belief? 
• The psychological value of awe and humility 
• What ancient spirituality can teach the modern world 

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Meet Michael Satlow
01:26 Entering an "enchanted world"
04:37 Gods, spirits & invisible beings
08:16 Is "magic" really the right word?
10:20 Spells or prayers?
11:44 Amulets & protection
13:05 Everyday vs. official religion
15:30 Why do humans create religion?
18:02 A shared religious world
20:13 Fear, disease & scapegoating
22:01 Rethinking religious conflict
24:03 Has science disenchanted us?
26:52 Ritual without belief
29:12 Awe & well-being
30:41 What can the ancient world teach us?
33:41 Final thoughts

What do you think? Has modern life become too disenchanted, or are we better off seeing the world through science and reason? Let us know in the comments.

Subscribe for more conversations with leading historians, classicists, philosophers and thinkers exploring what the ancient world can teach us today.

GUEST:
Michael Satlow: Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies at Brown University. He is the author of How the Bible Became Holy and An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity, the book at the heart of this conversation.

What Did Roman Houses Reveal About the People Who Lived Inside Them? | Ancient Architecture & Morality

Roman houses were more than places to live—they were reflections of identity, values, status, and ideas about how to live a good life.

In this fascinating conversation, Marden Nicholls explores what ancient Roman homes can teach us about architecture, morality, social values, and the relationship between our surroundings and ourselves. Discover how Roman writers viewed the house as a mirror of character, why design choices mattered, and what ancient ideas about sustainable building and meaningful spaces can teach us today.

Perfect for anyone interested in Roman history, ancient architecture, archaeology, classical literature, philosophy, and the everyday lives of people in the Roman world, this episode reveals how the spaces we inhabit shape the way we think, act, and understand ourselves.

KEY TOPICS COVERED
What Roman houses reveal about identity and values
Ancient Roman architecture and social life
The connection between homes and morality
How Roman authors used houses as reflections of character
Architecture, environment, and sustainability
Ancient ideas about living well
How private spaces shaped public identity
Roman construction methods and lasting materials
What ancient architecture can teach modern society
The relationship between surroundings and personal improvement

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction & Roman homes
03:00 The meaning of the Roman house
08:00 Architecture, identity & social values
15:00 Ancient texts and household ideals
22:00 How Romans viewed wealth and status
30:00 Materials, sustainability & construction
36:10 Architecture, environment & modern lessons
38:00 The home as a reflection of morality
40:00 Public spaces, private spaces & human behavior

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more discussions on Ancient Rome, classical literature, archaeology, philosophy, and the lessons the ancient world still offers today.

Comment below: Do you think the spaces we live in influence the people we become?

🔗 LINKS

👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1
👉 Full podcast: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/what-does-your-home-say-about-you
👉 Buy How to Make a Home: An Ancient Guide to Style and Comfort: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691249124/how-to-make-a-home?srsltid=AfmBOooKQLgpvMeBjjc_IamYBxRqF5xQrwRX-elm-pZ-j8MLosxuql5w 

🎙️ GUEST

Marden Nicholls — Scholar of Classics and ancient Roman culture whose work explores Roman literature, architecture, domestic spaces, and the ways ancient texts reveal ideas about identity, morality, and daily life.

🔖 HASHTAGS

#AncientRome #RomanArchitecture #Classics #AncientHistory #Archaeology

Do we truly have free will, or are our choices shaped by biology, habits, and unconscious forces? 

This fascinating panel explores one of humanity's oldest and most important questions.

Join philosopher Tamar Gendler, psychologist Jeffrey Schaler, and classicist Michael Fontaine as they debate free will, consciousness, Aristotle, and what ancient wisdom can teach us about making better decisions today. 

Whether you're interested in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, ethics, or personal development, this conversation offers thought-provoking insights into how we become the people we choose to be.

KEY TOPICS COVERED
What free will actually means
Philosophy vs. psychology on human choice
Are our decisions determined by biology?
Consciousness and self-awareness
Addiction, habits, and responsibility
Aristotle, Plutarch, and ancient ideas of character
Can neuroscience explain behavior?
Moral responsibility and the justice system
Building better habits and exercising self-control
Ancient philosophy for modern life

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction & panel introductions
06:40 What is free will?
17:45 Ancient philosophy on choice
30:10 Habits, character & Aristotle
42:05 Neuroscience vs. free will
56:20 Addiction, agency & responsibility
01:10:35 Ozempic, habits & behavior change
01:12:32 Do we really choose our actions?
01:15:03 Audience Q&A begins
01:20:55 Consciousness & self-awareness
01:25:58 Plutarch on becoming better
01:27:08 Final reflections & closing

If you enjoyed this discussion, subscribe for more conversations exploring ancient wisdom, philosophy, psychology, and the ideas that continue to shape the modern world.

Comment below: Do you believe we truly have free will, or are our choices determined by factors beyond our control?

🔗 LINKS

👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1
👉 Buy Michael Fontaine's book 'How to Have Will Power': https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691220345/how-to-have-willpower
👉 Buy Jeffrey Schaler's book 'Addiction is a Choice': https://www.amazon.com/Addiction-Choice-Ph-D-Jeffrey-Schaler/dp/081269404X
👉 Buy Tamar Gendler's book 'Thought Experiment: On the Powers and Limits of Imaginary Cases': https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Experiment-Powers-Limits-Imaginary/dp/1138990337

🎙️ GUESTS

Michael Fontaine: Classicist and professor whose work connects ancient philosophy with contemporary questions about ethics, choice, and human behavior.

Tamar Gendler: Philosopher and cognitive scientist whose work explores belief, reasoning, habits, and the philosophy of mind.

Jeffrey Schaler: Psychologist, author, and leading voice on addiction, personal responsibility, and human agency.

#FreeWill #Philosophy #Psychology #Consciousness #Neuroscience

Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World | The Ancient Civilization That Still Shapes Your Life

Mesopotamia changed the world.

Many of the systems you use every day began thousands of years ago between the Tigris and Euphrates.

Assyriologist Selena Wisnom explains why Mesopotamia was far more than the "cradle of civilization." Discover how cuneiform writing, libraries, mathematics, literature, timekeeping, and the Epic of Gilgamesh helped shape the modern world. 

If you're interested in ancient history, archaeology, ancient literature, or the origins of human civilization, this episode reveals why Mesopotamia remains one of history's most influential cultures.

🔑 KEY TOPICS COVERED
What Mesopotamia actually was
Why it deserves more attention than it receives
The invention of cuneiform writing
How Mesopotamian knowledge shaped the modern world
The Epic of Gilgamesh and its enduring lessons
Ancient libraries and the preservation of knowledge
Learning cuneiform today
The origins of timekeeping, mathematics, and record-keeping
How ideas survive across thousands of years
What modern society still owes to Mesopotamia

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introducing Mesopotamia & Selina Winsome
01:27 Beyond the "cradle of civilization"
04:50 Cuneiform and the invention of writing
09:10 Why Mesopotamian literature matters
14:17 Learning cuneiform today
15:09 The Epic of Gilgamesh explained
19:56 Mesopotamia's impact on modern life
22:53 The Library of Ashurbanipal
24:24 How knowledge survives catastrophe
27:20 Preserving information in the digital age
30:30 The Memory of Mankind project
31:59 Final reflections & closing

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like and subscribe for more deep dives into ancient history, archaeology, mythology, philosophy, and the civilizations that shaped our world.

Comment below: What contribution from Mesopotamia do you think has had the biggest impact on modern life?

🔗 LINKS

👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1
👉 Full podcast: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/before-greece-and-rome-the-civilization
👉 Buy Selena’s book, The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World: https://www.amazon.com/Library-Ancient-Wisdom-Mesopotamia-Making/dp/0226849295/

ALSO: Some of the fantastic resources mentioned in the conversation are:

Selena’s Website: www.selenawisnom.com

Including a guide to learning cuneiform: https://www.selenawisnom.com/learning-cuneiform

🎙️ GUEST

Selena Wisnom:  Assyriologist, lecturer in Ancient Middle Eastern History at the University of Leicester, and author of The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World. Her research focuses on cuneiform literature, Mesopotamian culture, ancient libraries, and the intellectual legacy of the ancient Near East.

#Mesopotamia #AncientHistory #Cuneiform #EpicOfGilgamesh #Archaeology