112
The Psychology of Envy and the Fall of Caesar: w/ Rob Henderson
Episode Length:
72:47
A conversation with Rob Henderson — Air Force veteran, psychologist, and author of the New York Times bestseller "Troubled".
In this episode:
In this episode:
- Rob's journey from foster care to Cambridge and lessons about status, envy, and human nature
- The psychology of envy and jealousy - from Julius Caesar's assassination to modern politics
- Difference between dominance and prestige in human behavior
- Why envy is one of the most powerful yet unacknowledged human emotions
- How these dynamics shape personal relationships and society
- Why men are drawn to history and the Great Man theory
- What academia misses in its focus on present-day issues
- Luxury beliefs, status games, and why successful people downplay hard work
- Attention spans in the digital age and effects of TikTok and short-form media
- Why biographies and long-form stories matter for character development
- How reading about great and troubled historical figures helped Rob navigate teenage hardship
- Insights on history, psychology, and the hidden forces shaping society
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Website: https://costofglory.com
X: https://x.com/costofglory
The Cost Of Glory Episodes
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108
Episode Length:
130:03
May 10, 2025
Caesar 2: Law & Nature
Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. In this episode:Caesar forms the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus, uniting Rome's most powerful menHis revolutionary consulship of 59 BCE bypasses Senate opposition through popular assembliesThe brilliant staging of the Gallic conquest, using allies and tribal conflicts as pretexts for expansionHis management of Rome through letters while commanding armies across GaulThe death of Julia and Crassus fractures the political alliance holding Rome togetherVercingetorix's rebellion culminates in the decisive siege of Alesia, securing Gaul for RomeCaesar transforms both Rome and Gaul forever through calculated strategy, personal magnetism, and relentless ambition—all while his enemies in Rome, led by Cato, plot his downfall and convince Pompey to turn against him, setting the stage for civil war.
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107
Episode Length:
113:52
April 8, 2025
Caesar 1: Man of Destiny
The much awaited series on Julius Caesar begins, with the inaugural episode: "Man of Destiny".
A tale of charm, audacity, and calculated risk as a young aristocrat from a modest branch of an ancient family navigates the treacherous waters of late Republican politics. Caesar—stylish, charismatic, deeply in debt, and dangerously ambitious—sets himself against the legacy of Sulla while methodically building a coalition that would eventually transform Rome forever.
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106
Episode Length:
51:17
March 23, 2025
The New Indiana Jones - w/ Dr. Brent Seales
A conversation with Dr. Brent Seales, professor of computer science at the University of Kentucky and a modern day Indiana Jones who has been using advanced technology to restore and redeem cultural and historical artifacts from the ravages of time.
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History Contains Power
My name is Alex Petkas, and in The Cost of Glory, I present you with the best stories, analyses and takeaways, from the greatest and most influential figures from Greco-Roman antiquity.
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