PodCompanions
Discussions: 2026-W43 — page 36
Discussions added each week. These are publication dates here; the original episodes may be older.
- 2:10:00–2:15:00
Aldrete and Fridman discuss physical delivery and emotional persuasion, drawing comparisons with modern speakers.
- 2:05:00–2:10:00
Aldrete discusses emotional appeals, courtroom props and the role of gesture in Roman public speaking.
- 2:00:00–2:05:00
Aldrete considers changing attitudes toward Caesar’s conquest, later political imagery and Cicero’s oratory.
- 1:55:00–2:00:00
Aldrete examines the gap between republican forms and concentrated power, including Augustus’s account of his own achievements.
- 1:50:00–1:55:00
Aldrete discusses the recovery of Roman standards from Parthia and the governing example Augustus left to successors.
- 1:45:00–1:50:00
Aldrete discusses Cleopatra’s death, biases in accounts of powerful women and examples including Eumachia and Musa.
- 1:40:00–1:45:00
The conversation moves from Augustus’s long rule to Cleopatra’s dynasty and relationships with Caesar and Antony.
- 1:35:00–1:40:00
Aldrete describes Octavian’s struggle with Antony and his later use of offices, titles and public presentation.
- 1:30:00–1:35:00
Aldrete discusses Marius, Sulla, Pompey and Caesar, then the contest for power after Caesar’s assassination.
- 1:25:00–1:30:00
Aldrete connects inequality and political grievances to opportunities for powerful leaders, including Caesar.
- 1:20:00–1:25:00
Aldrete discusses manumission and slave collars before turning to human behaviour and tensions within the republic.
- 1:15:00–1:20:00
Aldrete discusses citizen privileges, categories of enslaved labour and the sources through which people entered slavery.
- 1:10:00–1:15:00
Aldrete discusses legal problems involving a barber, livestock and flooding, and describes the public character of Roman courts.
- 1:05:00–1:10:00
Aldrete considers the durability of Alexander’s empire, then introduces Roman law and examples preserved in legal texts.
- 1:00:00–1:05:00
The conversation moves from later uses of linen protection to Alexander, his inherited army and cultural incorporation.
- 55:00–1:00:00
Aldrete discusses variations in linen, uncertainty about adhesives and what reconstruction can reveal about ancient technology.
- 50:00–55:00
Aldrete describes the evidence behind his linen-armour project and how the team reconstructed and tested protection.
- 45:00–50:00
Aldrete contrasts the phalanx with Roman tactical flexibility and begins discussing the development of armour.
- 40:00–45:00
Aldrete examines Hannibal’s use of terrain and the encirclement at Cannae, then introduces infantry formations.
- 35:00–40:00
Aldrete recounts Hannibal’s victories, Roman responses and Scipio’s campaign leading to Zama.
- 30:00–35:00
Aldrete continues discussing service and citizenship, then introduces the conflict between Rome and Carthage.
- 25:00–30:00
Aldrete links Rome’s resilience in war to incorporation and discusses citizenship, provincial participation and military service.
- 20:00–25:00
Aldrete describes Greek and Etruscan influences and argues that incorporating other peoples helped Rome expand.
- 15:00–20:00
Aldrete examines social mobility and outlines Rome’s monarchy, republic and empire before discussing Greek influence.