In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate sits down with historian and author Raymond Ibrahim to discuss his book Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam.

Ibrahim explores the lives of legendary figures such as Richard the Lionheart, El Cid, and John Hunyadi—warriors who shaped the clash between civilizations.

Together, they examine how these men balanced faith, honor, and duty in the face of overwhelming odds, and what their stories reveal about courage and cultural identity today.

A powerful conversation on history, heroism, and the defense of Western civilization.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate welcomes Dr. Shaun Rieley of Hillsdale College for a thought-provoking discussion on St. Thomas More’s Utopia.

Together they explore More’s vision of the ideal society—its paradoxes, political commentary, and enduring questions about human nature and governance.

Dr. Rieley unpacks the historical context of Utopia, revealing how More used fiction to challenge both Renaissance realism and modern ideology.

This conversation bridges philosophy, politics, and faith, offering listeners timeless insight into the tension between moral order and the pursuit of a perfect world.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Sean E. Lake for an in-depth exploration of Homer’s Iliad—the timeless epic of honor, wrath, and fate.

Together, they unpack the poem’s enduring power: the heroism of Achilles, the tragedy of Hector, and the moral vision that shaped Western thought.

Dr. Lake brings fresh insight into Homer’s language, cultural context, and the human questions that still resonate today.

This conversation dives deep into the heart of ancient Greece, where poetry, war, and the pursuit of glory converge.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate welcomes Dr. Alex Petkas, classical scholar and host of The Cost of Glory podcast, for an engaging discussion on Plutarch’s Life of Pericles.

Together they explore how Pericles became the embodiment of Athenian greatness—his vision for democracy, his leadership during the city’s Golden Age, and the moral lessons Plutarch offers for modern readers.

This conversation bridges ancient biography and timeless wisdom, revealing how Pericles’ life still challenges our understanding of power, virtue, and civic duty.