Athenaeum Book Club – Details, episodes & analysis

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Athenaeum Book Club

Athaenum Book Club

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/17d. Total Eps: 19

The Athenaeum Book Club is a podcast for curious minds who love history, big ideas, and the stories that shaped our world. Hosted by Jeremy Ryan Slate, the show features engaging conversations with historians, authors, and thinkers about classic books and pivotal moments—from ancient epics and medieval chronicles to the rise and fall of civilizations. Each episode brings timeless ideas to life, connecting the past to the present through storytelling, clear explanation, and lively discussion. Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just starting to explore history’s greatest works.

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Apple

Data updated on 03/09/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - Personal Journals
04/09/2026
#71
🇨🇦 Canada - Personal Journals
03/09/2026
#53
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Personal Journals
03/09/2026
#98
🇨🇦 Canada - Personal Journals
02/09/2026
#45
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Personal Journals
02/09/2026
#62
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Personal Journals
13/08/2026
#78
🇺🇸 USA - Personal Journals
13/08/2026
#98
🇺🇸 USA - Personal Journals
12/08/2026
#96
🇨🇦 Canada - Personal Journals
11/08/2026
#78
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Personal Journals
11/08/2026
#63

Spotify

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Score global : 48%

Publication history

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Auron MacIntyre - The Prince

Episode 19

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Duration 49:49

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Auron MacIntyre to explore Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, one of history’s most influential, and misunderstood, works on power.

Together they examine the turbulent world of Renaissance Italy, Machiavelli’s firsthand experience with politics, and his famous ideas about fear, fortune, virtue, and leadership.

They also explore Machiavelli’s fascination with Cesare Borgia, whom he personally observed during his dramatic rise to power.

Is The Prince a cynical handbook for rulers, or an honest examination of politics as it actually works?

A conversation about power, leadership, and human nature.

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Alex Petkas - The Odyssey

Episode 18

Thursday, August 6, 2026 • Duration 01:02:29

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Alex Petkas for an exploration of Homer’s The Odyssey, one of the foundational works of Western literature.

Together they journey through Odysseus’ epic voyage home, examining the poem’s timeless themes of courage, perseverance, identity, and the longing for home.

Dr. Petkas provides insight into Homer’s world, the oral tradition that preserved the epic, and the enduring wisdom behind one of history’s greatest stories.

A compelling conversation on heroism, human nature, and why The Odyssey continues to captivate readers nearly three thousand years after it was composed.

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Dr. Joshua Phillips - The Old Man and the Sea

Episode 17

Saturday, July 25, 2026 • Duration 55:31

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Joshua Phillips for a thoughtful exploration of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.

Together they examine Hemingway’s timeless story of Santiago, an aging fisherman whose struggle with a great marlin becomes a profound meditation on perseverance, dignity, and the meaning of true success.

Dr. Phillips unpacks Hemingway’s understated prose, rich symbolism, and enduring philosophy, revealing why this Pulitzer Prize-winning novella continues to inspire readers around the world.

A compelling conversation on resilience, purpose, and the quiet strength of the human spirit.

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Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson - The Brothers Karamazov

Episode 16

Saturday, July 25, 2026 • Duration 44:00

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson for a deep discussion of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, one of the greatest novels ever written.

Together they explore the book’s profound questions about faith, doubt, freedom, suffering, and the search for truth.

From the unforgettable parable of the Grand Inquisitor to the complex relationships between the Karamazov brothers, Dr. Wilson reveals why Dostoevsky’s masterpiece remains as relevant today as when it was first published.

A rich conversation on morality, human nature, and the enduring struggle between belief and skepticism.

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Johan Kurtz - Leaving a Legacy

Episode 14

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 45:21

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate sits down with author Johann Kurtz to discuss his book, Leaving a Legacy.

Together they explore what it means to build a life that matters, examining themes of purpose, responsibility, family, leadership, and the impact we leave on future generations.

Kurtz shares the experiences and ideas that inspired the book, offering practical wisdom on living with intention in an age often focused on short-term success and personal achievement.

This conversation challenges listeners to think beyond accomplishment and consider the deeper question: what kind of legacy are we creating every day?

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Liza Libes - Crime and Punishment

Episode 15

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Duration 55:09

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Liza Libes for a deep exploration of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.

Together they examine the psychological, philosophical, and spiritual dimensions of one of literature’s greatest novels, following the tortured journey of Rodion Raskolnikov as he wrestles with guilt, morality, and redemption.

Libes unpacks Dostoevsky’s critique of radical individualism and his profound understanding of the human soul, revealing why the novel remains as relevant today as when it was first published.

A compelling conversation on conscience, suffering, justice, and what it truly means to be human.

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Fr. Calvin Robinson - C.S. Lewis' Ransom Trilogy

Episode 13

Friday, May 15, 2026 • Duration 40:02

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Fr. Calvin Robinson for a deep exploration of The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis.

Together they examine the trilogy’s powerful themes of morality, spiritual warfare, technology, and the struggle between the sacred and the modern world.

From Out of the Silent Planet to That Hideous Strength, Lewis uses science fiction to confront timeless questions about human nature, power, and truth.

Fr. Robinson offers insight into why the trilogy remains strikingly relevant today—and what modern readers can learn from Lewis’ cosmic vision of good and evil.

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Jeremy Tate - Death Comes for the Archbishop

Episode 12

Thursday, April 9, 2026 • Duration 46:13

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Jeremy Tate for a reflective discussion on Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop.

Together they explore the novel’s quiet power, following Bishop Latour’s mission in the American Southwest and the deeper themes of faith, friendship, and vocation that shape his journey.

Tate offers insight into Cather’s restrained style and her vision of spiritual life lived through daily devotion rather than dramatic events.

This conversation reveals why this understated classic continues to resonate, offering timeless lessons on purpose, leadership, and building something that endures.

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Dr. Joshua Philips - War and Peace

Episode 11

Sunday, March 22, 2026 • Duration 56:05

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Joshua Phillips of Penn State University for a deep exploration of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace—one of the greatest novels ever written.

Together they unpack the sweeping story of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, while examining Tolstoy’s deeper questions about history, fate, leadership, and the search for meaning.

Dr. Phillips brings clarity to the novel’s vast cast of characters and philosophical depth, revealing why War and Peace remains as relevant today as ever.

A rich conversation on power, human nature, and the forces that shape our lives.

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Andrew N. Snyder - Lord of the Rings

Episode 10

Thursday, March 5, 2026 • Duration 43:13

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate sits down with scholar Andrew N. Snyder to explore J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings—one of the most beloved works of modern literature.

Together they discuss the world Tolkien built in Middle-earth, the themes of courage, friendship, sacrifice, and the corrupting nature of power that run through the story, and why the trilogy continues to resonate with readers across generations.

Snyder offers insight into Tolkien’s imagination, his intellectual influences, and the deeper meaning behind the epic journey of Frodo and the Fellowship.

A thoughtful conversation on myth, morality, and enduring storytelling.

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Athenaeum Book Club – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Athenaeum Book Club – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify