logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
1h 10m

An Odyssey without an Ithaca

Spencer Klavan
About this episode

Virgil, master of the setup, is now laying the groundwork for some of the Aeneid's major setpieces: the love affair with Dido, the voyage into the underworld. But first Aeneas has to pass a different milestone, one that people sometimes miss: he has to say goodbye to his father. It's one of the most human moments of the poem--something every single one of us has to go through--elevated to magisterial significance in the hero's journey. Follow along with us to the end of Book III as Aeneas enters a new stage in his adventure. Plus: a firsthand update from the Ivies after my trip to Ithaca to give a speech at Cornell.

Check out our Sponsor, The Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/heretics

Order Light of the Mind, Light of the World (and rate it five stars): https://a.co/d/2QccOfM

Subscribe to be in the mailbag: https://rejoiceevermore.substack.com

 

Up next
Oct 31
Is This the End of the Aeneid?
It's time to talk about the shocking, the dramatic, the THRILLING and also, the kind of confusing end of Virgil's Aeneid. What a journey it's been! The story is never truly over, but as we leave Aeneas behind we have to ask--did Virgil mean for it to end this way? With Turnus' bl ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 17
Doin' It Live
The planets are aligning, the moment is almost here, the fates are sealed...or are they?? Today, in our penultimate episode, right as Aeneas looks poised to take up the mantle of his destiny and live out the greatness that Augustus will one day inherit, everything seems to fall a ... Show More
1h 11m
Oct 6
Aeneas Gets a Hot Latina Baddie
Today on Young Heretics: a violent and unjust seizure of indigenous land!!! At least, according to Juno and the Furies, goddesses of retribution and blood guilt. Actually, the situation in Rome and in the Aeneid is a lot more complicated than that, which is one reason why the con ... Show More
1h 8m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 13
50 American Food Words You Need to Know!
🎁 Download FREE lesson PDF 😃 Vocabulary Builder Courses ✨ Espresso English ACADEMY What do Americans eat every day? In this video, I'll teach you vocabulary for 50 common food names in English - including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, sides and desserts - to improve your En ... Show More
8m 14s
Oct 13
904 - How come we can say foods, hairs, and freedoms?
Did you know? Eating healthy foods can make you healthy, but I heard that drinking certain wines with cheeses can make you happy. Foods? Wines? Cheeses?You know, English is a strange language sometimes. Like, words that are usually uncountable suddenly show up with an “s” on the ... Show More
11m 14s
Aug 2011
Nerd vs Geek (rebroadcast) - 15 August 2011
SUMMARYWhat do the words marathon, paisley, and bikini have in common? They're all words that derive from the names of places. Martha and Grant talk toponyms. Also, what's the difference between a nerd and a geek? Why do some Marines greet each other with the word "Yambo"? And wh ... Show More
52m 24s
May 2020
Speak Lesson 65 | Food (Vocabulary Sprint)
<p>In this vocabulary sprint lesson, Leyla and her husband Chris go over Persian/ Farsi vocabulary associated with food. Food is an important topic of conversation in Persian culture, as Iranians have a rich history of gathering and celebrating food. In this lesson, we go over di ... Show More
20m 23s
Jul 2024
Your English Five a Day #37.4
tail spinning
14m 4s
Jun 2025
#328 The Fascinating Origins of 8 English Words
<p>This is an episode I&apos;ve been planning for a long time and I&apos;m quite excited to share. We&apos;ll be looking at the origins of 8 different English words and the deep stories behind them. </p><p>Each word originally comes from another language or culture, and it was br ... Show More
46m 57s
Aug 26
215. Two-Letter Words
<p>Listener Erica commented: "Perhaps an idea for a bonus ep of Four Letter Word season would be one on two-letter words: there’s an established list that Scrabble nerds end up memorizing, and it’s full of weirdness." In fact, there are TWO established lists, NASPA, the North Ame ... Show More
19m 25s
Sep 1
Questions of English & Listener Comments 🙋Bits & Bobs 4 [951]
Dealing with some questions from listeners about pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary, namely how to know when 'd is had or would (in writing and pronunciation), the curious origins of the word podcast and a vocabulary lesson about the word cast including various collocations an ... Show More
1h 21m