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The Original Cynics

How does the etymology of avocado relate to the word protestant? What do the words genetics, genesis, and genuine all share in common? Does crocodile mean a pebble worm, and squirrel the shadow-tailed, and why? Plenty more of this available right here, right now.

Are you not entertained?

This episode is fact and fun-fueled.   Pt 1 - The rip-roaring Romans popping off after winning the euros, followed by a quick sidetrack of a history of parks from Ancient Rome to Mussolini’s fascist regime.   Pt 2 - The Circus Maximus - what raucous activities went down here then?   Pt 3 - An interview with Aldo Giannotti - the curator of the exhibition “Safe and Sound” in the Mambo Art museum. The exhibition explores surveillance. Why do we feel safe with cameras watching us?

Advice from Aristotle pt.2

They say curiosity killed the cat, and that’s why Advice from Aristotle Pt.2 is back. Aristotle gets a bad rep, but maybe his 'reason conquering all' is a useful logic to bring to the table? Why did Aristotle the investigator say “You can find beauty in the tiniest, ugliest thing?” So what’s up with moths the size of birds? What animals do you intuitively dislike? Who would you rather sit down for a meal with, Plato or Aristotle? Why do journalists do courses on Aristotle? Can Aristotle cancel “cancel” culture? How fine a line it is between patriotism and nationalism? Listen to the whole spectrum with me and the fantastic Olivia Fane.

Lostia in Ostia

What’s the difference between Plebeians and Patricians? Was emperor Claudius the first pro-immigration leader? Do dolphins disrupt fishing? Who are those fellas, Romulus and Remus then? Was Cicero such the cream of the crop? All these questions are answered and discussed walking around the ancient site of Ostia Antica.

Advice from Aristotle pt.1

Did Aristotle think women need to have orgasms to get pregnant? Or that masters can be more 'slavish' than their own slave? Does Aristotle like 'ugly' animals? There is no ancient thinker who can speak more directly to the concerns and anxieties of contemporary life than can Aristotle. Olivia Fane and I deliberate Aristotle’s approach to slavery, women, and animals. We chat about how his advice teaches us not to compare ourselves to others, to train ourselves to be good people and to have the different parts of our soul in harmony.