Classical Stuff You Should Know
Three educators discuss books, philosophy, history, and art
A.J. Hanenburg, Graeme Donaldson, and Thomas Magbee · A.J. Hanenburg
Show overview
Classical Stuff You Should Know has been publishing since 2017, and across the 9 years since has built a catalogue of 302 episodes. That works out to roughly 290 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 243rd season.
Episodes typically run an hour to ninety minutes — most land between 56 min and 1h 3m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Arts show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 days ago, with 9 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2018, with 51 episodes published. Published by A.J. Hanenburg.
From the publisher
A.J., Graeme, and Thomas discuss everything having to do with the classical world. Our aim is to help both educators and laypeople enjoy the classical world as much as they enjoy fine ales and good tales.
Latest Episodes
View all 302 episodes301: Crime and Punishment Part 2: Electric Boogaloo
300: 300
S1 Ep 299299: Crime and Punishment: Raskolnikov the Edgelord
In this episode, we dive into Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." We've never really done the whole book in an episode before, so this is (part 1) of a great little introduction for those thinking about reading the book or teaching it to a few edgelords of your own.
S1 Ep 297298: Federalist Papers #10
In this episode, Graeme walks us through the complicated world of factions. How do we make sure that everybody . . . and nobody . . . gets what they want?
S1 Ep 297297: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Fall of the House of Usher"
In this episode we cover a little of Poe's life, then two of his famous stories.
S1 Ep 296296: Coleridge's "Kubla Khan"
In this episode, we discuss how Coleridge's poem "Kubla Khan" relates to the victory of Romanticism. That, and we giggle sometimes.
S1 Ep 295295: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
In this episode, we discuss ol' Robinson Crusoe, how he lived on the island, and escaped twenty-eight years later. It's . . . kinda good?
S1 Ep 294294: The Servile State, by Hilaire Belloc
In this episode, Graeme introduces us to "The Servile State," by Hilaire Belloc. All I know is that living in the woods has always been attractive to me, and now Graeme introduces fishing? Hot diggity, look for me near the trees, boys!
S1 Ep 293293: Cinderella
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!
S1 Ep 292292: Nominalism and William of Ockham
In this episode, we learn about William of Ockham's ridiculous notion that our words don't mean anything. Then why am I even writing this, WILLIAM. WHY DO WE EVEN TALK. You can tell that I (A.J.) am a big fan of this theory.
S1 Ep 291291: J.R.R. Tolkien's "Letters from Father Christmas"
Apparently Tolkien is a fabulous illustrator. Who knew? I've seriously looked up prints, and they are weirdly hard to find . . . but enchanting. Oh, this episode is about Christmas. Merry Christmas!
S1 Ep 290290: Civil Disobedience by David Henry Thoreau
In this episode, we learn how to---as Graeme would say---RIP THE SYSTEM. Well, at least until an aunt bails us out.
S1 Ep 289289: John Bunyan and Babe le bœuf bleu
In this episode, we talk about allegory and cattle. Oh, and Pilgrim's Progress
S1 Ep 288288: Macbeth Inverted
In this episode, Graeme talks us through a framework in which we can experience Macbeth (you know, that Scottish play). Turns out that when you kill a Scottish king, everything goes topsy turvy.
S1 Ep 287287: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving
Ever heard of the headless horseman? Did you know he was a Hessian Soldier? Do you know where the Jack-o-lantern comes from? FIND OUT IN THIS SPOOOOOOOKY EPISODE.
S1 Ep 286286: Prince Darling
Faeries. Stay away from them or you'll have your finger pricked all to heck.
S1 Ep 285285: The Democratic Man: Plato's Republic Revisited
In this episode, Graeme discusses the degradation of man as a reflection of the degradation of the state suggested in Plato's Republic, Book VIII. Apparently true freedom is bloodshed.
S1 Ep 284284: Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"
In this (far too long) episode, we play a quiz show with a cake as a prize. Because really, that's what every war is about: cake.
S1 Ep 283283: Beauty and the Beast
Thomas continues his series on children's books with the (an?) original Beauty and the Beast tale. It's pretty lovely. Is it bad if I want to be Thomas's kid?
S1 Ep 282282: Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen
In this episode, we discuss Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility," along with a bunch of doofy males. I mean we discuss them, we don't podcast with them.