The Iliad by Homer

What drives conflict - strategy, necessity, or something more human?In this episode, we explore The Iliad by Homer, one of the foundational texts of Western literature, and a profound study of anger, honour, and the psychology of escalation.Rather than telling the full story of the Trojan War, The Iliad focuses on a single, volatile emotion: the rage of Achilles. From this starting point, the poem unfolds into a wider examination of pride, status, and the unintended consequences of wounded identity.We unpack the deeper meaning behind the epic, why honour systems create instability, how ego shapes decision-making, and what the story reveals about leadership, conflict, and human behaviour.This isn’t just an ancient war story. It’s a mirror of how people still think, compete, and clash today.If you’ve ever seen a small disagreement spiral into something far bigger, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar, and highly relevant.