The Psychology of Envy and the Fall of Caesar: w/ Rob Henderson
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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The Cost Of Glory Episodes

Gallic Wars 8: Finale
Caesar ties all loose ends in his Gallic Campaign, in part 8, the final episode of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.In this episode:Final skirmishes with the Bituriges and the CarnutesSiege of a hill-fort, and Caesar takes arms (literally)Conclusion of a bloody chapter, and some takeawaysCost of Glory is an Infinite Media production — and big thanks to Dr. Richard Johnson of the great city of New York for sponsoring this episode and many others in this series!

Gallic Wars 7: Vercingetorix and the Great Revolt
Caesar faces the Gallic Grande Armée through fire and snow, in part 7, the climax of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the ...

Gallic Wars 6: Manhunt
Caesar fights through enemy tribes and orders a Purge in his manhunt for Ambiorix, in part 6 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propagan...
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.
