Classical Stuff You Should Know

Episod

• 302: Of Mice and Men 18.05.2026 54min

  In this episode, A.J. talks about George and Lennie and their unfortunate run-in with wannabe boxer.
• 301: Crime and Punishment Part 2: Electric Boogaloo 12.05.2026 59min

  In this episode, Graeme finishes what he began in episode 299: a full retelling of Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." Honestly, I would listen to more audiobooks if they were just Graeme telling me stories.
• 300: 300 07.04.2026 59min

  COME BACK WITH YOUR SHIELD OR ON IT
• 299: Crime and Punishment: Raskolnikov the Edgelord 31.03.2026 1j 4min

  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.
• 298: Federalist Papers #10 03.03.2026 54min

  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?
• 297: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Fall of the House of Usher" 24.02.2026 1j 3min

  In this episode we cover a little of Poe's life, then two of his famous stories.
• 296: Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" 10.02.2026 59min

  In this episode, we discuss how Coleridge's poem "Kubla Khan" relates to the victory of Romanticism. That, and we giggle sometimes.
• 295: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe 03.02.2026 1j

  In this episode, we discuss ol' Robinson Crusoe, how he lived on the island, and escaped twenty-eight years later. It's . . . kinda good?
• 294: The Servile State, by Hilaire Belloc 20.01.2026 1j 2min

  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!
• 293: Cinderella 13.01.2026 47min

  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!
• 292: Nominalism and William of Ockham 30.12.2025 58min

  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.
• 291: J.R.R. Tolkien's "Letters from Father Christmas" 23.12.2025 49min

  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!
• 290: Civil Disobedience by David Henry Thoreau 16.12.2025 1j 4min

  In this episode, we learn how to---as Graeme would say---RIP THE SYSTEM. Well, at least until an aunt bails us out.
• 289: John Bunyan and Babe le bœuf bleu 09.12.2025 1j 3min

  In this episode, we talk about allegory and cattle. Oh, and Pilgrim's Progress
• 288: Macbeth Inverted 02.12.2025 1j 6min

  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.
• 287: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving 04.11.2025 56min

  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.
• 286: Prince Darling 07.10.2025 42min

  Faeries. Stay away from them or you'll have your finger pricked all to heck.
• 285: The Democratic Man: Plato's Republic Revisited 30.09.2025 1j 7min

  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.
• 284: Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" 09.09.2025 1j 18min

  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.
• 283: Beauty and the Beast 02.09.2025 1j 1min

  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?