On this episode of the Evolution of Excellence podcast, host Matt Demaiter introduces the audience to the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC between the Greeks and the Persians. This battle was an important battle in the Greco-Persian wars and helped keep the ideology of democracy alive. The strategy and outcome of this battle on the plains of Marathon are discussed and it is revealed that the Greeks reign victorious despite all odds. Matt then introduces the legend of Pheidippides, and tells about his role in the battle of Marathon. Ultimately resulting in death from exhaustion, Pheidippides' story is one of epic athletic proportions and leaves many wondering if it could have actually been possible. At the conclusion of the story, Marathon runner and friend of the podcast Jessica Mills joins Matt for a conversation about running. Physical and Mental benefits, as well as the accessibility of running and the running community are discussed.

TOPICS

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:47) - Episode overview

(01:45) - Battle of Marathon

(04:10) - The story of Pheidippides

(06:12) - Reasons for the name and distance of the marathon

(06:45) - Introducing guest Jessica MIlls

(07:30) - Jessica's background in running

(08:25) - How to enjoy running

(09:55) - Physical benefits of running

(11:00) - Mental benefits of running

(14:50) - Running recovery

(16:22) - Conclusion

SOURCES

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/battle-of-marathon

https://www.history.com/news/why-is-a-marathon-26-2-miles#

https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Marathon

https://youtu.be/2cubGxusJhw?si=4U8jQoplkhshyK8y

PEOPLE MENTIONED

Jessica Mills - Runner & Friend of The Podcast

On this episode of the Evolution of Excellence podcast, host Matt Demaiter introduces the audience to the world of the Samurai. Specifically, the history of the Samurai class is introduced with a focus on late feudal japan, and the early edo period (late 1500s - early 1600s). Topics such as armour, the evolution of the class, and the Samurai identity are discussed. Miyamoto Musashi is then introduced as an influential Samurai warrior turned philosopher. Miyamoto Musashi's life history is discussed before Matt looks at his life and his writing to look for applicable learnings to modern life. We learn four lessons, two from his work in the dokkōdō, and two from his life. We learn the importance of avoiding greed and regret. From the go-rin-no-sho we apply Musashi's belief that art is the way to fill your emptiness. Lastly, we talk about how to improve your physical abilities through the famous Musashi quote "One thousand days to forge, Ten thousand days to refine".

TOPICS

(00:00) - Welcome back

(00:30) - Introduction

(01:12) - Samurai equipment

(02:28) - History of the Samurai

(04:50) - The life of Miyamoto Musashi

(08:10) - The Book of Five Rings (Go-Rin-No-Sho)

(10:16) - The Path Walked Alone (Dokkōdō)

(11:36) - Learnings from Musashi on greed

(12:30) - Learnings from Musashi on regret

(13:23) - Learnings from Musashi on fulfillment

(13:55) - Learnings from Musashi on physical training

(15:00) - Conclusion

SOURCES

Book: The Complete Musashi: The Book of Five Rings and Other Works by Alexander Bennett

https://www.worldhistory.org/Edo_Period/

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2127.html#:~:text=The%20samurai%20(or%20bushi)%20were,and%20symbol%20was%20the%20sword.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_armour

https://livrustkammaren.se/en/royal-history/royal-histories/arms-and-armour/japanese-swords/#

PEOPLE MENTIONED

Alexander Bennett - Japanologist / Author

Malcom Gladwell - Author

Theodore Rosevelt - 26th U.S. President

Join host Matt Demaiter as he explores the fascinating stories of ancient cultures, legendary athletes, and techniques that have played a part in the age-old quest for physical and mental excellence. The mission of this podcast is to educate and inspire, through understanding the training methods and wisdom that have stood the test of time. Insightful interviews with experts, scholars, and athletes, will help us bridge the gap between antiquity and modern training practices to inform and elevate our pursuit of a more successful and fulfilling lifestyle.

On this first episode of the Evolution of Excellence podcast, we learn what the phrase evolution of excellence means, and what this podcast is about. A general layout and expectations about the podcast going forward are provided. The next part of the episode features Julius Caesar, specifically who he is, what he did, why we care, what we can learn from his life, and how we can apply what we learned about him to better ourselves. Three main learnings are taken from Caesar's eventful and successful life. The first is that influential speaking and writing can be a very useful tool for success in the workplace, and life in general. From this, eight tips for persuasive writing are shared. The second lesson from Caesar's life is that a healthy body is the first step to a productive mind. Caesar exemplified excellence in both physical and mental ability, which everyone should try to emulate. The last lesson of Caesar that we can apply to our lives is to keep expanding. A lot of Caesar's success can be attributed to his relentless consistency, and the fact that he never stopped, which is applicable to modern life as well.

Topics

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:27) - About the podcast

(02:10) - Brief introduction of host

(03:17) - History of Julius Caesar

(08:20) - What can we learn about Julius Caesar

(09:45) - Applying our learnings

(13:20) - About the host

(15:00) - Next episode

For the sources of historical content discussed in this episode visit the websites below:

https://www.britannica.com/event/Gallic-Wars

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/julius-caesar/

https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Triumvirate/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julius-Caesar-Roman-ruler/Personality-and-reputation

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED328915