The Roman Empire looms large in the history of the Western world. Despite its collapse in the 5th century CE, its legacy continues to influence everything from architecture and politics to literature and religion. Much of this impact was shaped by the rulers who transformed the Roman Republic into one of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen. In the 10 lectures of The Best and Worst of the Roman Emperors, you will meet 10 of the most notable—and notorious—rulers of Rome and assess their legacies.

Interactuar con personas en el trabajo puede ser una de las mayores alegrías de la vida… y también una de las mayores frustraciones. Algunos compañeros nunca confían en que hagamos bien nuestro trabajo, o nunca responden a solicitudes de información, o nos hacen perder el tiempo con decenas de correos innecesarios. El costo: nuestros resultados laborales y nuestra salud mental.

En algún momento de la vida, la mayoría de nosotros hemos sentido que nos abruma la cantidad de cosas que tenemos que hacer y la falta de tiempo para hacerlas. Y, aunque la tecnología ha avanzado enormemente, ofreciéndonos nuevas formas de organizar nuestras tareas y nuestras vidas, estos avances también traen consigo aún más demandas sobre nuestro tiempo.

Hoy en día muchos de nosotros sentimos que simplemente existimos en lugar de prosperar, y ahí es donde entra en juego una mentalidad orientada a un propósito. Vivir con propósito significa usar tus dones, de acuerdo con tus valores, para tener un impacto positivo en la vida de los demás. Pero no es fácil. La mitad del trabajo de cultivar un mayor propósito en la vida implica enfrentar preguntas personales y profundas. ¿Qué es lo que más me importa? ¿Qué valoro en otras personas y por qué? ¿Qué cambio positivo quiero ver en el mundo?

Tenemos conversaciones todos los días, pero ¿cuántas de ellas pueden considerarse efectivas? La conversación adecuada puede ayudarte a establecer relaciones sólidas, resolver probl….

How often do you pop into your local grocery store to grab a few necessary items? Now, how often do you think about how amazing it is that you can do that at a moment’s notice? In truth, we seldom stop to think about all the cultural, commercial, and technological factors that have converged to give us easy access to an incredible range of food and other products, all in one place. As you will discover in The History of Grocery Stores and Food Access in America, we shouldn’t take the neighborhood grocery store for granted.

Barbara Millicent Roberts was born in 1959. Her image is instantly recognizable almost anywhere in the world. She has held hundreds of jobs across the last six decades, from teen model to astronaut to movie star. She’s been adored, criticized, mocked, reinvented, memed, protested, and celebrated—sometimes all at once. Who is this remarkable woman? Well, you might know her better by her nickname: Barbie.

In Wives, Witches, and Whirlpools: The Powerful Women of Homer’s Odyssey, Professor Jessica Blum-Sorensen helps you explore this classic work with fresh eyes, focusing not on the eponymous hero, but on the many women whose voices and motivations invite us to rethink traditional ideas of heroism. Across seven lectures, you’ll reexamine some of the foundational themes of the literary canon from a new perspective and discover why the deities, wives, maidens, witches, and monsters who populate Homer’s Odyssey are more than a match for its hero.

Yoga originated in the Indus Valley more than 5,000 years ago. It wasn’t until the 20th century, however, that it found its way to the West, gradually growing from a fringe interest among countercultural youth to a mainstream fitness phenomenon that’s still going strong. We’ve all heard the countless benefits of yoga touted by lifestyle magazines and wellness influencers, but what does science have to say about the effects of this ancient mind-body practice? That is what you will explore in 10 Scientific Benefits of Yoga.

In the six lectures of How to Bring Your Creative Ideas to Life, Dr. Sharon Kim will dig into how creativity emerges and evolves, how individuals generate and refine ideas, and what it takes to bring yours to life. As you explore the science and art of creativity, you’ll not only engage with research and behavioral studies, but you’ll also hear real-world stories and gain practical tips you can use to spark creativity in your own life and work.

The medication family known as semaglutide or GLP-1 was first approved by the FDA to treat diabetes in 2005. Across the six lessons of Unlock the Potential of Weight-Loss Medications, Dr. Nordgren guides you through the history, science, and application of these increasingly popular medications to help you better understand how they work, who they can help, and how to use them as safely and effectively as possible.

In the six lectures of Cultivating Anti-Racist Communities, you’ll join Giovanna Fischer, PhD, of the Los Angeles LGBT Center to explore how each of us can contribute to building a fairer and more equitable world through community and connection. You’ll begin by gaining a better understanding of how racism operates on a systemic level, as well as what defines genuine anti-racist action. With this important foundation established, you’ll then move on to developing concrete strategies for transformation within your own reach and abilities.

Across the 16 practical and insightful lessons of Self-Care Strategies: Nourish to Flourish, self-care strategist Katie McDonald will show you how truly caring for yourself can improve nearly every part of your life. From your physical health and relationships to your career and financial goals, you’ll see how self-care is at the root of wellbeing and success. And, unlike the quick fixes promised by self-help gurus and social media influencers, Katie brings actionable steps, interactive tools, and personal experience to every facet of her holistic approach to self-care.

The invention of the telephone changed the world. That’s no exaggeration. Phones are such ubiquitous features of our lives now that it can be difficult to imagine life without them, or to understand just how astonishing this invention truly was in the 19th century.

The westward expansion of the United States has a far bigger and more complex history than Hollywood westerns and high school textbooks would have us believe. Even before the establishment of the British colonies on the nation’s eastern shore, the American West was beginning to take shape—including the arrival of the first people of African descent to set foot in North America in the late 1400s. From the very beginning, the history of the American West has been intertwined with the Black experience.

We’re living in a golden age of scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Now, you have the chance to dig into some of the most fascinating and important scientific advancements in recent years. Unexpected, consequential, and often counterintuitive, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything offers an inspiring introduction to science in the 21st century. Taught by Scientific American editor in chief Laura Helmuth, these eye-opening lectures will satiate even the most inquisitive mind.

Owing to the legacy of slavery, African Americans have faced significant obstacles to obtaining the fundamental rights of freedom and citizenship. The consistent struggle among African Americans to gain their human rights live at the heart of the American experiment in democracy. In the 24 compelling lectures of African American History: From the African Coast to the Civil War, take a penetrating look at the experience of African Americans in the colonial and antebellum eras

Sex. The word makes some people giggle or blush, while others may draw back in discomfort. So, why do we find it so difficult to talk openly about sex? Much of our reticence in discussing and acknowledging the realities of sex comes, at least in part, from a unique time and place: medieval Europe. In the 12 episodes of Sex in the Middle Ages, Professor Jennifer McNabb and a panel of experts in medieval history and literature will take you back to the period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance to explore the ideals and realities of sex and sexuality.

“Who are you?” Chances are you’d answer this question by describing the highlights of your personality and life experiences. But if you’d been asked this same question yesterday, you might have responded with a slightly different description. Does that mean you are a particular person today but were a different person yesterday? And what about tomorrow? Welcome to the slippery, shape-shifting nature of memory. As Professor Gabrielle Principe reveals, “you” are the conglomeration of the often-unreliable information your brain decides to feed you at any given moment.

Often in difficult conversations, be it a negotiation at work or an important talk with a family member, we’re eager to find the right words to change someone’s thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. But the most successful conversations and negotiations don’t come from how well you speak. They come from how well you listen. Listening is the most essential skill of any conversation, and it’s fast becoming a lost art. But Kwame Christian, recognized as one of the world’s top negotiation experts, believes that anyone with an interest in learning can master the power of effective listening.

The history of the Boston Tea Party is a hidden one. Why? Since it was a clandestine operation, all sorts of rumors and legends grew up around the event—many collected decades after the American Revolution had ended. At its core, however, the night of December 16, 1773, when colonials dumped tea from British ships into Boston Harbor, was more than a fight over tea and taxes. It was a struggle over the very nature of democracy and self-governance.

In The Culture of Knighthood and Medieval Romance, join scholar of medieval literature Larissa Tracy for a fascinating dive into the deeper context of narratives about knights and their world. Her Audible Original takes you through the evolution of knighthood and courtly literature, dispelling prevalent myths about chivalry and romance with an eye to revealing just how textured and complex these ideas actually were.

Sales is not about being pushy, aggressive, or unethical. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that “sales” is about nurturing, solving problems, helping, and building relationships. When you learn the right strategies to sell something, you’ll make your own life better because we are all constantly selling—whether it’s getting a promotion, working on a team project, or even just selecting the restaurant of your choice with friends.

In a field known for startling ideas, the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics may take the prize. It holds that parallel to our own world are a large number of other universes, almost identical to ours but with small variations. Copies of each of us inhabit a myriad of these worlds. But they are not us exactly; they share our past history, but they are different people who have unique futures. Although these realms are invisible and can’t communicate with each other, prominent physicists are convinced they must exist.

Interacting with people at work can be one of life’s greatest joys—and greatest frustrations. Some coworkers never trust us to do our jobs, or never respond to requests for information, or waste our time with dozens of unnecessary emails. The cost: our work results and personal sanity. How can you approach workplace interactions with more empathy and less resentment? How can you become more successful when working with “annoying” or “difficult” coworkers?

In London in the Time of Dickens, you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience the British capital through the eyes of a literary master whose work is inextricably tied to the city and its rich history. Throughout 12 lectures taught by Professor Lillian Nayder of Bates College, you’ll tour the city of London in a time of rapid transformation through the life and work of Charles Dickens, uncovering the history of the metropolis, while also witnessing the everyday experiences of Londoners from all walks of life as Dickens represents them.

As an award-winning host of NPR’s All Things Considered, Ari Shapiro knows the power of storytelling better than most. And the longer he’s worked in the field, the more convinced he’s become of storytelling’s primal importance. In 12 fascinating lessons, this master of the craft reveals the storytelling secrets he’s learned over the course of his career as a reporter and performer, from finding a good story and choosing the right characters to conducting interviews and even delivering a story effectively out loud.

Mescaline, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms. There’s been a lot of discussion in the medical world lately about the potential benefits of these and other drugs for certain medical conditions, such as anxiety and depression. As we consider the place of psychedelics in the future, we can draw insight and guidance from the history of how psychedelics have been described, sought after, applied, and prohibited over the centuries. Erika Dyck, professor of history at the University of Saskatchewan, introduces you to the world of hallucinogens.

Over the course of 24 in-depth lectures, Professor Emily Graham, an Associate Professor of History at Oklahoma State University, surveys the global history of Christian sainthood. As you’ll discover, the stories of Christian saints are not just fascinating—they’re also an integral part of Christian history.

10 interview-based episodes that take ancient designs and applies them to modern lives. Your expert is Prince EA, an artist and inspirational speaker who’s spent the greater part of his career thinking about the ancient world.

While we’ve made progress on social equity, some workplaces still don’t operate in the most inclusive ways. And when bias and discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, go unresolved, they disrupt not just our health and productivity, but that of our entire organization. Navigating Bias at Work is designed to help you work and thrive in places where bias runs rampant.

There was a time, not too long ago, when talking openly about race was considered in poor taste. If you had good manners, you just didn’t talk about politics, religion, or race—not with your family or friends, and certainly not with your coworkers. Even now, many people feel the topic of race is better left alone. Professor Anita Foeman understands those worries. In How to Talk about Race, she addresses those specific concerns and others, giving common-sense guidance and step-by-step instructions you can employ to develop safe and productive dialogue about race.

From its inception, hip-hop has challenged ideas about morality, religion, and truth. Genuinely, it’s a philosophical genre. Both philosophers and hip-hop artists think about God, death, and justice, among other things. But rarely do members of these two groups talk to one another about these issues. This is a shame, given that both hip-hop and philosophy have a rich history in deep thinking and have produced exemplary thinkers.

The United States Navy has played an essential role both in resolving conflicts and in peacekeeping throughout the entire history of the United States. Today, the US Navy, the world’s most powerful naval force, remains a critical tool of American foreign policy, and a key player in preserving geopolitical stability throughout the world. In The History of the United States Navy, Professor Craig L. Symonds brings alive the extraordinary saga of America’s naval forces, from the first naval shipbuilding on Lake Champlain in 1775 to the present age of nuclear-armed submarines.

Imagine a Museum of Lost Art. If this imaginary museum contained just the artwork we knew was lost— whether from theft, purposeful destruction, vandalism, war, or the forces of nature—it would still contain more masterpieces than those in all the world’s current museums combined. Imagine that! In Lost Art: The Stories of Missing Masterpieces, art historian Noah Charney guides you through just such an imaginary museum. In 12 fascinating lectures, you will hear the stories behind the theft and/or destruction of some of the world’s most famous pieces of art.

What explains the brain-body connection? How is it that something intangible like stress can really kill? How about the fact that we can and often do worry ourselves sick? And how can we take advantage of the mind’s connection to the body to reduce pain, boost physical performance, and even treat disease? Answer these questions and more in The Power of Mind over Body, a 12-lecture course that will change the way you think about physical health and the brain.

Thought experiments are “what if” scenarios that invite us to look carefully at how we think and view the world. They’ve been used throughout history by philosophers and other thinkers to explore our intuitions and ways of reasoning, to find solutions to problems, and to expand our knowledge of ourselves and the world. In these 24 eye-opening lectures, Professor Breyer takes you deeply into the historical tradition of thought experiments, shining a light on both the purpose and the outcomes of these compelling mental voyages.

Carrie Dennett, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), shares the evidence behind mindful eating and, more important, the tools you need for incorporating this practice into your life. Over six lessons, Carrie will introduce you to the concept of mindfulness, while helping you tune into your internal cues for hunger and satiety. She also will help you to establish a mindful eating practice, identify challenges to mindful eating, and examine how eating mindfully can also help you eat more nutritiously.

Embark on a journey to the very beginning of writing as a tool of language and see how the many threads of history and linguistics came together to create the alphabet that forms the foundation of English writing. Your guide is Professor John McWhorter of Columbia University and in the 16 lectures of Ancient Writing and the History of the Alphabet, he will help you navigate the complex linguistic and cultural history behind one of our most crucial tools of communication.

Propaganda and Persuasion gives you a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the powerful, fascinating, and at times dangerous world of influence. Taught by Professor Dannagal G. Young of the University of Delaware, these 12 eye-opening lectures arm you with the tools of effective communication and the insight to understand—and perhaps resist—persuasion in all its forms.

In the nine lectures of Slow Down: How Doing Nothing Makes Us Better Humans, Constance Kassor, of Lawrence University in Wisconsin, shows you how to do what so many of us desperately need: Take a step back, reassess your priorities, and take some time for yourself. Each lecture focuses on an area in which you can learn how to form better habits, striking a balance between what needs to be done and what you need to thrive. These areas include getting better sleep, cultivating relationships, engaging in creative tasks, incorporating mindfulness into your everyday routine, and much more.

Social anxiety is the perception that something is wrong with us or that we’re deficient in some way in a group setting. And unless we work hard to conceal that perceived flaw, it will be revealed, and people will judge or reject us for it.

To truly understand the United States of America, you must explore its literary tradition. Now, in this grand collection of 84 fascinating lectures, you'll get the chance to finally become familiar with America's true literary masterpieces (some you may already be familiar with, others you have yet to discover). Professor Weinstein has crafted these lectures to explain why some works become classics while others do not, why some "immortal" works fade from our attention completely, and even why some contemporary works now being ignored or snubbed by critics may be considered immortal one day.

It’s quite common to struggle with stress and anxiety in everyday life. To regret things you can’t change. To worry about things that could go wrong in the future. But instead of feeling stuck in thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow, it’s possible to be more present in the rich experiences of today. The key is simple: mindfulness. In Mindfulness for Daily Stressors, mindfulness coach Rachael Kable shares practical and powerful strategies for managing stress in your life, and for cultivating mindfulness to develop greater resilience, energy, and enjoyment.

In the 10 lectures of Wolves and Werewolves in History and Popular Culture, author and teacher Shannon Scott will take you around the world to explore the many ways humans have created and shared stories of wolves, shape-shifting, and lycanthropy.

Malcolm X. Marcus Garvey. Charles Hamilton Houston. Diane Nash. For every well-known figure of the Civil Rights Movement, there are dozens of lesser-known, yet no less significant, activists who helped advance America’s social views and helped shape race relations in this country. Most listeners have only skimmed the surface of these deeply complex, influential, and world-changing figures. Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries of The Ohio State University delves into their stories, presenting an intimate study of the men and women who led half a century of social change.