Hello friends,In this episode of The Artidote Podcast, I speak with Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys, authors of Alexandrian Sphinx: The Life of C.P. Cavafy — the first major biography of one of the twentieth century’s greatest poets.Together we explore the hidden life behind the polished verse:how Cavafy transformed loneliness into art, guarded his privacy while pursuing immortality, and re-imagined Hellenism for the modern age.We talk about:How Alexandrian Sphinx reveals the man behind the mythCavafy’s secret methods and his rewriting of Greek poetic traditionThe tension between fame and solitudeWhy “Ithaca”, “The City”, and “Myris: Alexandria, A.D. 340” still speak to our centuryCavafy teaches us that the journey matters more than arrival, and that art — not applause — redeems a life.🎧 Listen to the full conversation📖 Alexandrian Sphinx by Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys — available now💬 Subscribe for more conversations on poetry, philosophy, and the art of living.00:00 Introduction — Discovering C.P. Cavafy01:10 The Magic of Bookshops & First Encounter with Cavafy02:10 Why Cavafy Matters Today04:05 Who Was Cavafy? A Poet for the 21st Century05:00 Cavafy as a Modern & Queer Poetic Voice06:30 Why Cavafy Foretold Globalization07:30 Why Has No Biography Been Written Until Now?08:40 Writing Alexandrian Sphinx — Birth of the Book10:00 Writing the Biography Thematically vs Chronologically11:40 How the Archive Shaped the Story13:10 How the Authors Personally Discovered Cavafy15:10 The Meaning of “The City”19:40 The Power Cities Have Over Us20:40 Most Surprising Discoveries About Cavafy22:10 Sacrifice, Ambition & the Price of Art24:40 Transactional Relationships & Friendship26:50 Co-Authoring a Biography — Disagreements & Granite vs Rainbow32:10 Myth-Making & Breaking: Who Was the Real Cavafy?36:30 Solitude vs Sociability — Was He Really a Recluse?38:00 Cavafy’s Writing Process & Rewriting His Life’s Work41:30 Why He Burned His Early Poems44:10 Lines & Poems That Stay With Us46:10 Dividing Cavafy’s Life & Evolution of Themes48:50 What Would We Ask Cavafy If He Were Here?50:30 Was Fame Worth the Sacrifices?53:00 Self-Promotion and the Apostles of Cavafy59:40 Is Cavafy Accessible to Modern Readers?1:02:10 Recommended Poems to Start With1:09:00 Cavafy’s Advice on Life1:10:10 Book Recommendations from the Authors1:13:10 Upcoming Projects1:14:30 Closing Reflections#Cavafy #GreekPoetry #AlexandrianSphinx #ArtidotePodcast #ModernGreekPoetry #Ithaca #PoetryPodcast

Willpower will define whether your ideas become real or die in your mind.

How to Have Willpower is a book about what makes the difference between ideas that die in our heads and the few that become life. In this episode, Vashik Armenikus speaks to Michael Fontaine, classicist at Cornell University and translator of How to Have Willpower: An Ancient Guide to Not Giving In.

Together we ask a practical question: what did the Greeks and Romans actually do to resist temptation, and can those moves still work today?

Fontaine pairs Plutarch’s direct advice on social pressure with Prudentius’s vivid poem Psychomachia where virtues fight vices. The result is a field manual for self-command that you can test in daily life.

Get How to Have Willpower 👉 https://amzn.to/3JhUqZq

In this conversation you’ll hear:

🧠 Why many ancients treated vice as voluntary self-harm, and how that view clashes with today’s medicalized habits.

⚔️ The unforgettable set pieces of Psychomachia: Faith vs. Worship of the Old Gods, Patience vs. Anger, Temperance vs. Indulgence, Humility vs. Pride, Chastity vs. Lust.

✋ Plutarch’s practical scripts for saying no: set the glass down after the toast, agree when someone calls you a “chicken,” practice refusing small asks so you can refuse big ones later.

🧘 Stoic perspective shifts from Marcus Aurelius, Dante-like imagery for moral clarity, and a starter reading list Fontaine recommends.

Website: artidote.uk/episode/mike-fontaine

Willpower will define whether your ideas become real or die in your mind.

How to Have Willpower is a book about what makes the difference between ideas that die in our heads and the few that become life. In this episode, Vashik Armenikus speaks to Michael Fontaine, classicist at Cornell University and translator of How to Have Willpower: An Ancient Guide to Not Giving In.

Together we ask a practical question: what did the Greeks and Romans actually do to resist temptation, and can those moves still work today?

Fontaine pairs Plutarch’s direct advice on social pressure with Prudentius’s vivid poem Psychomachia where virtues fight vices. The result is a field manual for self-command that you can test in daily life.

Get How to Have Willpower 👉 https://amzn.to/3JhUqZq

In this conversation you’ll hear:

🧠 Why many ancients treated vice as voluntary self-harm, and how that view clashes with today’s medicalized habits.

⚔️ The unforgettable set pieces of Psychomachia: Faith vs. Worship of the Old Gods, Patience vs. Anger, Temperance vs. Indulgence, Humility vs. Pride, Chastity vs. Lust.

✋ Plutarch’s practical scripts for saying no: set the glass down after the toast, agree when someone calls you a “chicken,” practice refusing small asks so you can refuse big ones later.

🧘 Stoic perspective shifts from Marcus Aurelius, Dante-like imagery for moral clarity, and a starter reading list Fontaine recommends.

Website: artidote.uk/episode/mike-fontaine

How do you survive the court of a tyrant?In this interview, classicist Dr. James Romm discusses his book Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero—a gripping portrait of Stoic philosophy stress-tested inside imperial power. We explore Seneca’s survival strategies as Nero’s adviser: what he taught, what he compromised, and what we can learn about living under volatile authority today. You’ll learn:🏛️ The real Seneca–Nero relationship and how influence rose, then cracked. 🏛️ Why Seneca’s Stoicism is not escapism but a toolkit for ethics under pressure. 🏛️ Practical takeaways from Dying Every Day for modern life: managing proximity to power, drawing red lines, and preparing for moral tests. If you’re into Stoicism, ancient Rome, leadership ethics, or resilience under bad bosses, this conversation is for you. For more on Seneca and Nero, see other Romm interviews and lectures that frame the political context and contemporary relevance. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly philosophy & classics: https://armenikus.substack.com/ 🎧 Podcast (authors & scholars): artidote.uk📚 Book: Dying Every Day by James Romm :https://amzn.to/4pFC84F

Dr. John Sellars is a lecturer in philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, and is a leading expert in ancient philosophy, with a particular focus on Stoicism. In this interview, we'll be delving into the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, discussing its relevance to modern life, and exploring how we can apply its teachings to our daily lives. We'll also be discussing Sellars's books, "Lessons in Stoicism," "The Art of Living", and his most recent book on Aristotle. 

All of them provide a practical guide to applying Stoic philosophy in our modern world.

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode!

You can get John Sellars's   book here

John's ARTIDOTE page

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Ruth Millington’s wonderful book uncovers the hidden figures behind art history’s masterpieces. We tend to forget that each great artist, whether from the past or present, has their own unique muse who inspires them, gives them energy and influences their creativity.

For Picasso it was Dora Maar; for Rodin it was Camille Claudel; for Frida Kahlo it was her illness. Those muses had a significant impact on the artists we love, but they often get hidden behind the shadows of giants whom they inspired.

In this interview, Ruth and I talked about Muses who inspired artists such as Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Lucian Freud, Tim Walker, and many others.

Ruth spent years researching the relationship between artists and their Muses. I asked her to give us some tips about how you and I can mimic great artists so we can connect with our own Muses too.

You can get Ruth's  book here

Ruth's ARTIDOTE page

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In this episode, Adriana Barton - a journalist and former staff reporter at Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail - tells Vashik Armenikus how we can get reconnected with the healing powers of music. 

She tells us about the power of music by combining medical studies, discoveries by pioneering neuroscientists, and research from biology and anthropology. She also tells us her personal story of studying cello for nearly two decades, a pursuit she had to leave with physical injuries and emotional scars.

And since we are getting very close to the Christmas holidays, I’ve to say that this book is a perfect gift for a person who’s passionate about music.

You can get Adriana's  book here

Adriana's ARTIDOTE page

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In this episode Vashik Armenikus sits down with philosopher David Fideler, who wrote a brilliant book called Breakfast with Seneca.

Seneca was a stoic philosopher who is widely recognised as the most humane writer of the Stoic tradition. He teaches us to live with freedom and purpose.

In Breakfast with Seneca , David Fideler explores Seneca’s ideas in a series of focused chapters, clearly explaining Seneca’s ideas without oversimplifying them.

Those chapters can help you to overcome grief; find meaningful friendships; cope with anxiety; and live a truly fulfilling life.

Note: This conversation comes in two parts. In the first part we discuss Seneca and Stoic philosophy and in the second part we focus on David's next book on the Renaissance and how we can replicate it in our modern world. The part 2 will be released in a week.

You can get David Fideler's book here

David's ARTIDOTE page

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Rumi was a 13th-century Persian poet whose wisdom continues to echo and inspire souls around the world. 

Every person who has read at least a single line written by Rumi knows that his verse can heal one's heart. 

We wouldn't have known about Rumi and these mystical powers if not for talented translators like Haleh Liza Gafori.

Her recent beautiful translation of Rumi's poetry 'Gold' was published by The New York Review of Books in March 2022.  In this episode she told Vashik Armenikus how Rumi can heal our hearts by teaching us the religion that could unite all of us - the religion of Love.

You can find more about Haleh, her work and her book recommendation in the link below. 

Hope you will enjoy listening to this episode!

Vashik Armenikus

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How to lead a meaningful life?  How can we lead a good life and enjoy happiness in a world without a providential God?

"In Think Least of Death, Pulitzer Prize–finalist Steven Nadler connects Spinoza’s ideas with his life and times to offer a compelling account of how the philosopher can provide a guide to living one’s best life."

All the show notes  👉 https://artidote.uk/episodes/steven-nadler

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