The John Batchelor Show

1:17

S8 Ep1071: Preview for Later Today: John Hardie. John...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Preview for Later Today: John Hardie. John Hardie reports on a fuel crisis in occupied Crimea following Ukrainian strikes on Russian logistics. These targeted attacks on fuel trucks and infrastructure disrupt military operations and undermine Russia's ability to govern.1917

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3:26

S8 Ep1071: Preview for Later Today: David Maxwell....

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Preview for Later Today: David Maxwell. David Maxwell examines North Korean construction in the DMZ, noting South Korean concern. He critiques the U.S. tendency to minimize these incidents to prioritize stability, potentially undermining deterrence to avoid direct conflict.1951 KOREAS

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1:43

S8 Ep1071: Preview for Later Today: Henry Sokolski....

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Preview for Later Today: Henry Sokolski. Henry Sokolski warns that Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant poses a proliferation risk. He notes the facility's spent fuel contains plutonium for hundreds of bombs, which could be chemically extracted for weapons relatively quickly.1920 BUSHEHR

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10:15

S8 Ep1070: The Fragility of the Union and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Fragility of the Union and the Dismantling of the Republic. Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. Reflecting on the anniversary of Gettysburg, the speakers suggest that the "sacred" unity and mission established by Lincoln and later reinforced by D-Day are being abandoned. The current leadership is depicted as "whipsawed" between a desire to be a "peace president" and the political risk of appearing defeated on the world stage. The "imperial court" in Washington is described as

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19:29

S8 Ep1070: The Nation in Arms and the Decline into...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Nation in Arms and the Decline into the Imperial Model. Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus.The speakers contrast the historical "American way of war" with its modern imperial iteration. From the Civil Warthrough World War II, war was a "religious crusading war" requiring total national mobilization and immense sacrifice, as seen in the 600,000 dead during the Civil War—"missionary moments" intended to redeem humanity. Following the Vietnam War, Germanicus argues, the United States

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30:10

S8 Ep1070: The Drone Contest and the Existential War...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Drone Contest and the Existential War in the East. Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The speakers examine the significant shift in modern warfare embodied by the "drone contest" between Russia and Ukraine. This new form of engagement has produced a fuel crisis in Russia, with reports of diesel rationing and shortages in Crimea following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and storage facilities. Despite these disruptions, the front lines remain relatively static, as mass drone

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6:56

S8 Ep1069: Mortality and the End of the Iliad....

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Mortality and the RAGE OF ACHILLES. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The conclusion of the Iliad explores the resolution of Achilles' rage following the death of Hector. Initially, Achilles attempts to prolong Hector's humiliation by dragging his body behind a chariot and refusing to allow a proper burial. However, the funeral games for Patroclus mark a shift toward maturity, as Achilles provides a space for competition that does not end in death. He even shows a degree of grace—or perhaps a subtle

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12:46

S8 Ep1069: The Fall of Patroclus and the Killing...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Fall of Patroclus and the Killing Machine. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The turning point of the epic occurs when Patroclus enters the battle wearing Achilles' armor to deceive the Trojans and save the Greek ships. Ignoring Achilles' warning to return quickly, Patroclus is driven by a desire for honor and continues his assault until he is stripped of his armor by Apollo and killed by Hector. This loss transforms Achilles into a terrifying "killing machine" who returns to the field for

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7:16

S8 Ep1069: The Gore of Battle and the Sanctity of the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Gore of Battle and the Sanctity of the Dead. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The Iliad features vivid and gory battle scenes that Wilson rendered by consulting with combat veterans to understand the visceral nature of death. Homeremphasizes the specific details of how each man dies, often juxtaposing the brutality of a spear through an eyeball with beautiful similes from the natural world. A major theme is the treatment of the dead; the poem views the corpse as the person, requiring those who

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10:36

S8 Ep1069: The Plot Begins: Rage and Divine Bargains....

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Plot Begins: Rage and Divine Bargains. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The plot of the Iliad is ignited by a clash of egos between Agamemnon and Achilles. When Agamemnon is forced to return his own war prize to appease Apollo, he seizes Achilles' enslaved woman, Briseis, to recoup his lost face. This action causes Achilles to withdraw from the fighting, perversely restoring his honor by demonstrating how much the Greeks suffer without him. This human conflict is mirrored by divine bargaining; for

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7:21

S8 Ep1069: Goddesses, Trophies, and the Bond of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Goddesses, Trophies, and the Bond of Achilles. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The gods in the Iliad often represent extreme human instincts, such as Aphrodite representing lust and Ares representing aggression. These deities are sometimes depicted as ridiculous because they flee the battlefield when wounded, whereas mortals must face their pain heroically. Within the Greek camp, the social structure is built around honor and "trophies," specifically enslaved women like Briseis, who are parceled out

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12:21

S8 Ep1069: Character Pairings and the Pressure of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Character Pairings and the Pressure of Honor. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The Iliad features vivid character relationships that function with the depth of a novel. Helen is portrayed as an ironic thinker and a storyteller who weaves the sufferings of the war into her textiles, much like the poet himself. She possesses a unique perspective on her own fate and the limited power mortals have against the whims of gods like Aphrodite. In contrast, Hector and Andromacheform a tragic pairing;

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8:26

S8 Ep1069: The Homeric Question and Epic Tradition....

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Homeric Question and Epic Tradition. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The identity of Homer remains a subject of intense scholarly debate, as the Iliad emerged from a long oral tradition that existed before the return of literacy to Greece in the 8th century BCE. For centuries, performing poets developed stories of heroes like Achilles and Agamemnon, using dactylic hexameter to aid memory and performance. The Iliad is a monumental written poem that takes a sophisticated approach to these familiar

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6:56

S8 Ep1069: Mortality and the End of the Iliad. Guest:...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Mortality and the End of the Iliad. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The final stages of the Iliad focus on Achilles' intense grief and the rituals surrounding death. Following the violent funeral pyre for Patroclus, Achilles organizes funeral games, which Wilson suggests represent his growing realization that all mortals are ultimately "losers" in the face of death. These games provide a new model for competition where skillful men can win prizes without the conflict ending in the destruction of

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8:41

S8 Ep1068: The Philippics, a Tragic Alliance, and a...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Philippics, a Tragic Alliance, and a Heroic End. Guest Author: Josiah Osgood. In the chaotic aftermath of Caesar's death, Cicero delivered the Philippics to trash Mark Antony's reputation. In an attempt to destroy Antony, Cicero formed an alliance with Caesar's young heir, Octavian. He believed he could use the boy to further his own political goals, but this strategy backfired. Octavian eventually joined forces with Antony and Lepidus, and together they ordered Cicero's execution as an act of

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11:01

S8 Ep1068: Civil War, the Ides of March, and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Civil War, the Ides of March, and the Spiritual Godfather. Guest Author: Josiah Osgood. Cicero eventually returned to Rome, but the republic was sliding toward civil war between Caesar and Pompey. Although Cicero tried to remain neutral, he eventually joined Pompey's side but was pardoned by Caesar after the latter's victory. Cicero was present in the Senate on the day Julius Caesar was assassinated. While he was not part of the conspiracy, he celebrated the act and was famously hailed by Brutus as

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8:56

S8 Ep1068: Exile, Humiliation, and the Power of the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

Exile, Humiliation, and the Power of the Tribune. Guest Author: Josiah Osgood. Seeking revenge for the Bona Dea trial, Clodius Pulcher transferred his status from patrician to plebeian to run for the office of tribune. Once elected, he passed legislation that targeted anyone who had put Roman citizens to death without a trial. This law was aimed directly at Cicero for his actions during the Catiline conspiracy. Recognizing the danger, Cicero fled Rome and went into exile, during which Clodius's

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8:55

S8 Ep1068: The Bona Dea Scandal and the Creation of a...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Bona Dea Scandal and the Creation of a Lifelong Foe. Guest Author: Josiah Osgood. Despite his careful rise to power, Cicero made a significant error during the aftermath of the Catiline conspiracy. He arrested five high-ranking collaborators who had remained in Rome to facilitate a coup. Cicero, feeling invincible after his recent successes, pushed for these men to be executed as traitors to the republic. He argued that by conspiring against Rome, they had forfeited their rights as citizens and

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7:41

S8 Ep1068: The Catiline Conspiracy and the Perils of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Catiline Conspiracy and the Perils of Invincibility. Guest Author: Josiah Osgood. The rivalry between Cicero and Catiline represented a clash between a "new man" and an established aristocrat. Catiline was a brave soldier from an ancient family who felt humiliated after losing the consular election to the newcomer Cicero. As the economic situation in Italy worsened due to a credit crisis, Catiline adopted a populist platform, calling for debt reform and the cancellation of loans. Cicero, who was

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12:06

S8 Ep1067: The Defeat of Verres Through Storytelling....

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/29

The Defeat of Verres Through Storytelling. Guest Author: Josiah Osgood. In 70 BCE, Cicero prosecuted Verres in a trial that showcased his masterful use of storytelling and emotional appeal. Rather than overwhelming the jury with complex financial data about embezzlement, Cicero created a vivid image of Verres as a negligent leader. He recounted how Verres ignored his duties during a pirate raid on Syracuse, choosing instead to party with local women in seaside tents. This narrative portrayed Verres

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