Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Alex Petkas is a historian, writer, and podcaster.
What’s the real story behind The Odyssey? As the ancient epic returns to the big screen, a historian reveals the original tale, the world that shaped it, and the timeless lessons hidden within it.
Expect to learn why The Odyssey is such an important story, what type of person and writer Homer was, who the important women of The Odyssey were and which ones were benevolent, heroic, or dangerous, why revenge and justice are the key underlying themes in the story, what a real historian thinks of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey and much more…
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Get up to $350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 at eightsleep.com/modernwisdom
Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom
Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at join.whoop.com/modernwisdom
Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom
Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at chatgpt.com
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0:00 Why The Odyssey Still Matters Today
6:19 What Happens in The Odyssey?
9:41 Did Homer Write The Iliad First?
15:20 How Much of The Odyssey is Just Retelling?
16:31 Why is Penelope the Ultimate Prize?
21:43 Telemachus’ Quest to Live Up to His Father
36:19 How Order Can Slip into Anarchy
37:21 Why Odysseus Walked Away From a Goddess
54:13 The Power of Cunning
01:01:09 How Odysseus Outsmarted the Cyclops
01:07:35 The One Mistake That Cursed Odysseus
01:09:23 Is Family the True Heart of The Odyssey?
01:24:57 How Odysseus Finally Returns Home
01:27:48 The Reunion of Odysseus and Telemachus
01:29:57 The Fall of the Suitors
01:42:12 Is Penelope the Real Hero of the Story?
01:46:25 Why Divine Favour Changes Everything
01:49:02 The Hidden Role of Oral Storytelling
01:53:24 Why Nolan’s Films Divide Audiences
01:57:52 Is Emily Wilson’s Translation Accurate?
02:01:26 Has the Classic Hero Disappeared?
02:11:09 Why We Need to Beware Modern Sirens
02:19:48 Where to Find Alex
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Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - spotify.modernwisdom.com or Apple Podcasts - apple.modernwisdom.com
Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - neutonic.com/modernwisdom
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Get in touch in the comments below or head to...
Instagram: instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: twitter.com/chriswillx
Email: chriswillx.com/contact
Alex Petkas is a historian, writer, and podcaster.
What’s the real story behind The Odyssey? As the ancient epic returns to the big screen, a historian reveals the original tale, the world that shaped it, and the timeless lessons hidden within it.
Expect to learn why The Odyssey is such an important story, what type of person and writer Homer was, who the important women of The Odyssey were and which ones were benevolent, heroic, or dangerous, why revenge and justice are the key underlying themes in the story, what a real historian thinks of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey and much more…
-
Get up to $350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 at eightsleep.com/modernwisdom
Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom
Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at join.whoop.com/modernwisdom
Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom
Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at chatgpt.com
-
0:00 Why The Odyssey Still Matters Today
6:19 What Happens in The Odyssey?
9:41 Did Homer Write The Iliad First?
15:20 How Much of The Odyssey is Just Retelling?
16:31 Why is Penelope the Ultimate Prize?
21:43 Telemachus’ Quest to Live Up to His Father
36:19 How Order Can Slip into Anarchy
37:21 Why Odysseus Walked Away From a Goddess
54:13 The Power of Cunning
01:01:09 How Odysseus Outsmarted the Cyclops
01:07:35 The One Mistake That Cursed Odysseus
01:09:23 Is Family the True Heart of The Odyssey?
01:24:57 How Odysseus Finally Returns Home
01:27:48 The Reunion of Odysseus and Telemachus
01:29:57 The Fall of the Suitors
01:42:12 Is Penelope the Real Hero of the Story?
01:46:25 Why Divine Favour Changes Everything
01:49:02 The Hidden Role of Oral Storytelling
01:53:24 Why Nolan’s Films Divide Audiences
01:57:52 Is Emily Wilson’s Translation Accurate?
02:01:26 Has the Classic Hero Disappeared?
02:11:09 Why We Need to Beware Modern Sirens
02:19:48 Where to Find Alex
-
Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - spotify.modernwisdom.com or Apple Podcasts - apple.modernwisdom.com
Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - neutonic.com/modernwisdom
-
Get in touch in the comments below or head to...
Instagram: instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: twitter.com/chriswillx
Email: chriswillx.com/contact
