Quintus Curtius

In this podcast I answer an email from a reader. He enjoyed a great job as a bartender before the Covid crisis hit, and now has to go back to work with greatly reduced hours and uncertain prospects. He isn't sure whether to go back, or to try something new. We discuss. We also talk about Plato's five components of happiness, and how they relate to his situation.

The world is a provider of necessities. Just when you think you've hit rock bottom, things have a way of turning around if you keep fighting and stay in the game. The only way to lose is to be a quitter. Have faith in the world's fructifying ability to provide for our needs.

This podcast is a reading of A. Conan Doyle's tale of the supernatural, "The Ring Of Thoth." First published in 1890, it recounts the horrific consequences of an ancient Egyptian priest's discovery of the secret to eternal life.

When you are leading, you have to make the big decisions. You have to make the call, not sit back and cover your ass. That's why you're there. In this podcast, we discuss: 1. Why you need to know your job and lead from the front. 2. Why your total focus should be on obligations, not your privileges. 3. Why the ass-covering mentality is so destructive.

This podcast is a reading of H.G. Wells's short story "The Door In The Wall." Published in 1911, it is considered one of his finest short pieces. It describes a young boy's discovery of a secret door that led to an enchanted land, and the effect that this secret revelation had on the rest of his life.

In this podcast, I read two short poems by William Butler Yeats. Listen, relax, and let your mind roam to some other place.

This podcast is a reading of A. Conan Doyle's terrifying tale "The Brazilian Cat." Published in 1898, the story describes the ordeal of a young heir to a fortune who is deliberately locked in a cage with a ferocious jungle cat by a sinister relative determined to murder him.

In this podcast, I read H.G. Wells's short story "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid." It is a weird tale of imaginative fiction that relates the story of a mild-mannered orchid enthusiast who buys an unknown species of jungle orchid. As he cultivates it, he finds out that he got more than he bargained for.

When things have reached a state of paralysis or gridlock, it is often necessary to shatter the paralysis by taking decisive, muscular action. Real leaders do not sit on their hands and wait to test the prevailing winds of opinion. Have the moral courage to act. Many today who call themselves "leaders" ignore or have forgotten this principle. This podcast discusses three examples taken from Winston Churchill's "The World Crisis." They show how he harnessed this principle in 1919 to break through the paralysis that had come to surround some critical issues.

In this podcast, I read H.G. Wells's short story "The Diamond Maker." The tale raises questions about the price that creative people have to pay for their efforts. Have a listen, and see what you think.

You asked for it, and you got it. This is the latest installment in the G Manifesto tweet reading podcasts, and it's called "Lockdown Edition." Tune in and catch the vibe.

I state what I believe are the six most critical leadership traits that anyone in a position of authority needs to master. They can be applied to nearly any circumstance or situation.

This is a crucial moment. You will be judged by how you conduct yourself over the next few months. As for philosophy, you want to talk the talk, but have you really internalized the messages? We discuss shipwrecks, some lessons from the movie "The Edge," and the crucial importance of maintaining a rigorous, disciplined schedule. More than ever before, you have to be self-starter. Your time is now.

Captain Adolf Von Schell was an infantry officer in the German Army during the First World War. In 1930 he gave a series of lectures on battle leadership to American officers at the Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. These presentations were later collected into a book called "Battle Leadership." In this podcast, I read a short selection from Capt. Von Schell's book, and discuss its relevance for today.

A reader has some questions about some possible choices in his life. We comment on this, and talk about: (1) how having too many choices can inhibit progress; (2) why you should focus on internals, and not externals; (3)why character and determination are all-important; and (4) how you need to shock yourself out of the self-imposed ruts you can very easily slip into.

A reader asks why he feels pangs of regret for not yet being married and having a family. I respond by explaining that (1) everyone's path is different; (2) if you really wanted to do it, you would do it; (3) the real reason for your regret is deeper, and lies elsewhere, and (4) focus on being the best version of yourself you can be.

Are you holding yourself accountable every day by living a good life, a productive life? Are you actions congruent with your words? We talk about that slime bag mentality, how it holds you back, and how those little voices in your head can lead you down the path of vices. There are no shortcuts, no days off, no letups. You need to be putting in work, and not retreating one inch. Ever.

In this podcast we talk about the origins of anger, and how best to manage your anger issues. Most anger can be traceable to: Failure to hold yourself accountable Your lack of self-respect Your lack of self-discipline Desire for revenge Sense of loss Sense of guilt

In this podcast, I talk about the documentary film "Sad Hill Unearthed," and what conclusions we should draw from it. The movie describes how four friends found and restored the cemetery in Spain used for the iconic climax to the 1965 Sergio Leone film "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly." We discuss how art can work to nurture dreams, and why you should follow your visions, no matter what other people may think.

My book "Digest," a collection of my most important essays from 2016 to January 2020, has just been released. This podcast describes the book and its contents. Links to find the book can be found at: www.qcurtius.com