Pursuing Greatness — with Pano Kanelos
An interview with Pano Kanelos, the founding president of the University of Austin and the former President of St. John’s College, Annapolis.
In this episode:
- How founding a university is like running a diner
- The flourishing of American universities in the 19th century
- How old philosophers were men of action
- The Intellectual Foundations Program at UATX
- How The Brothers Karamazov explains our current moment
- Pursuing Greatness by finding your North Star
- Plutarch on self-reflection
- Why Heroes and Truth-tellers are needed when forming communities
- Analyzing the opening scene from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
The Cost Of Glory Episodes

Cato and his Stoicism: w/ Johnathan Bi
A conversation with Johnathan Bi (Cosmos Institute, The Great Books podcast) for a deep dive into Stoicism through the life and philosophy of Cato the Younger.

The Psychology of Envy and the Fall of Caesar: w/ Rob Henderson
A conversation with Rob Henderson — Air Force veteran, psychologist, and author of the New York Times bestseller "Troubled".

Caesar's Civil War III: Came Saw Conquered
Part 3 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. From triumph to near-disaster. Caesar's Egyptian entanglement transforms him from a glorious victor to a desperate challenger.
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.
