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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Androcles and the Lion (Version 2)</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/androcles-and-the-lion-version-2--7143329</link><description><![CDATA[Explore the intricate relationship between mercy and justice in "Androcles and the Lion (Version 2)," a podcast that invites you to delve into themes of compassion, faith, and the human experience. Inspired by the titular play, each episode features a new complete audiobook that examines the nuances of belief and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in the face of adversity. This rotating collection showcases a variety of narratives that reflect on the complexities of kindness, sacrifice, and the societal structures that shape our understanding of right and wrong. With every episode, listeners are encouraged to engage with diverse perspectives and historical contexts, enriching their appreciation for the timeless struggles of humanity. Discover a new book with every episode and embark on a journey that challenges preconceived notions while celebrating the enduring power of empathy and courage.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7143329/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Satire Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg</url><title>Androcles and the Lion (Version 2)</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/androcles-and-the-lion-version-2--7143329</link></image><lastBuildDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:23:32 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Satire Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker80@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Explore the intricate relationship between mercy and justice in "Androcles and the Lion (Version 2)," a podcast that invites you to delve into themes of compassion, faith, and the human experience. Inspired by the titular play, each episode features a...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Explore the intricate relationship between mercy and justice in "Androcles and the Lion (Version 2)," a podcast that invites you to delve into themes of compassion, faith, and the human experience. Inspired by the titular play, each episode features a new complete audiobook that examines the nuances of belief and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in the face of adversity. This rotating collection showcases a variety of narratives that reflect on the complexities of kindness, sacrifice, and the societal structures that shape our understanding of right and wrong. With every episode, listeners are encouraged to engage with diverse perspectives and historical contexts, enriching their appreciation for the timeless struggles of humanity. Discover a new book with every episode and embark on a journey that challenges preconceived notions while celebrating the enduring power of empathy and courage.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"/><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"><itunes:category text="Christianity"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>4290994a-4ebb-54b8-b1d8-c77ac381888e</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Androcles and the Lion-George Bernard Shaw</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/androcles-and-the-lion-george-bernard-shaw--74633613</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74633613</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:03:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74633613/androcles_and_the_lion_george_bernard_shaw.mp3" length="47600821" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5944</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Bartlett Mystery-Louis Tracy</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bartlett-mystery-louis-tracy--74600740</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74600740</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:03:23 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74600740/bartlett_mystery_louis_tracy.mp3" length="233966508" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29217</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Inspector-General-Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/inspector-general-nikolai-vasilievich-gogol--74568014</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. 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It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74568014</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:02:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74568014/inspector_general_nikolai_vasilievich_gogol.mp3" length="101002499" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12612</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Three Sisters-May Sinclair</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/three-sisters-may-sinclair--74536723</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74536723</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:09:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74536723/three_sisters_may_sinclair.mp3" length="262288321" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>32753</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Knickerbocker's History of New York, Vol. 1-Washington Irving</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/knickerbocker-s-history-of-new-york-vol-1-washington-irving--74505209</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74505209</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:08:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74505209/knickerbocker_s_history_of_new_york_vol_1_washington_irving.mp3" length="201525849" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25166</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>St Augustine's Treatise on the City of God-Saint Augustine of Hippo</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/st-augustine-s-treatise-on-the-city-of-god-saint-augustine-of-hippo--74466609</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74466609</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:08:01 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74466609/st_augustine_s_treatise_on_the_city_of_god_saint_augustine_of_hippo.mp3" length="75416574" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9418</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Adventures of Master F.J-George Gascoigne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/adventures-of-master-f-j-george-gascoigne--74433885</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74433885</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:08:48 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74433885/6897_adventures_of_master_f_j_george_gascoigne.mp3" length="105210464" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>13138</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Introduction to The Philosophy of History-Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/introduction-to-the-philosophy-of-history-georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel--74392425</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74392425</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:03:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74392425/introduction_to_the_philosophy_of_history_georg_wilhelm_friedrich_hegel.mp3" length="132379077" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>16530</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Prejudices, Second Series-H. L. Mencken</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/prejudices-second-series-h-l-mencken--74349785</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74349785</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:46:54 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74349785/prejudices_second_series_h_l_mencken.mp3" length="171404269" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21404</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Sincere Huron (L'Ingénu)-Voltaire</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/sincere-huron-l-ingenu-voltaire--74209553</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74209553</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:09:12 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74209553/sincere_huron_l_inge_nu_voltaire.mp3" length="76798864" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9590</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>On The Predestination Of The Saints-Saint Augustine of Hippo</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-the-predestination-of-the-saints-saint-augustine-of-hippo--74163169</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74163169</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:09:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74163169/on_the_predestination_of_the_saints_saint_augustine_of_hippo.mp3" length="56426192" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7046</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Basket of Flowers-Christoph von Schmid</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/basket-of-flowers-christoph-von-schmid--74118899</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74118899</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:44:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74118899/basket_of_flowers_christoph_von_schmid.mp3" length="87279138" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10899</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Mrs. Warren's Profession (Version 2)-George Bernard Shaw</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mrs-warren-s-profession-version-2-george-bernard-shaw--73398855</link><description><![CDATA[Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw delves into the complex dynamics of morality, societal expectations, and the choices women face in a patriarchal world. The play centers on the life of Mrs. Warren, who has made controversial decisions to secure financial stability for herself and her daughter, prompting a thought-provoking examination of the sacrifices made for independence. Its themes of economic survival and the critique of social norms remain relevant today, as they challenge listeners to reflect on the ongoing struggles for women's rights and autonomy. Shaw's incisive wit and keen observations make this work an enduring classic that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73398855</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:19:59 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73398855/mrs_warren_s_profession_version_2_george_bernard_shaw.mp3" length="82122161" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw delves into the complex dynamics of morality, societal expectations, and the choices women face in a patriarchal world. The play centers on the life of Mrs. Warren, who has made controversial decisions...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw delves into the complex dynamics of morality, societal expectations, and the choices women face in a patriarchal world. The play centers on the life of Mrs. Warren, who has made controversial decisions to secure financial stability for herself and her daughter, prompting a thought-provoking examination of the sacrifices made for independence. Its themes of economic survival and the critique of social norms remain relevant today, as they challenge listeners to reflect on the ongoing struggles for women's rights and autonomy. Shaw's incisive wit and keen observations make this work an enduring classic that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10255</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Androcles and the Lion Version 2 - George Bernard Shaw</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/androcles-and-the-lion-version-2-george-bernard-shaw--72759971</link><description><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72759971</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:52:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72759971/androcles_and_the_lion_version_2_george_bernard_shaw.mp3" length="48843169" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/3ae0a66b-cce4-436e-94db-e8c67dd2c53b/3ae0a66b-cce4-436e-94db-e8c67dd2c53b.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/3ae0a66b-cce4-436e-94db-e8c67dd2c53b/3ae0a66b-cce4-436e-94db-e8c67dd2c53b.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/3ae0a66b-cce4-436e-94db-e8c67dd2c53b/3ae0a66b-cce4-436e-94db-e8c67dd2c53b.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>George Bernard Shaw</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Androcles and the Lion satirical play written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw. It is set in Ancient Rome, and on the surface it appears to be a retelling of a parable of the same name in which a runaway slave is thrown to a lion in the Coliseum but spared because of his earlier kindness shown to that same lion in the wild. Shaw uses this Roman parable to, in his own words, represent "...the Roman persecutions of the early Christians, not as the conflict of a false theology with a true, but as what all such persecutions essentially are: an attempt to suppress a propaganda that seemed to threaten the interests involved in the established law and order..." It is a complex, quick-witted, and deeply human play which explores different types of faith through Christian martyrs with vastly different understandings of their religion -- a humanitarian naturalist, a fearless freethinker, a rigid moralist, and a blackguard debauchee -- set against upholders of the status quo who are represented by a Captain, the Emperor, and other participant in imperial cruelty, from gladiators to patricians to arena managers. - Summary by Phil Surette]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6106</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>androcles,debauchee,lion,parable,patricians,persecutions,satire,shaw,surette,upholders</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/58d69d2debf1b07e08704746e7269afc.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
