COST OF GLORY MEN’S LEADERSHIP RETREAT
Austin Retreat
Theme: Julius Caesar
This January, unlock your inner orator through ancient philosophy, with a tight-knit community of fellow enthusiasts. In this retreat we will place extra emphasis on discussing the life, mindset, and persuasion strategies of Julius Caesar. Join us in the serene hills of Austin.
Learn the Mindset and Methods of the Greatest Orators
We are excited to present our January 2025 Men's Leadership Retreat in Austin Here’s what you can expect from the event:
- Extensive practice on improving speaking skills
- Learn theory too: we teach the foundational principles of the ancient art of persuasion, “Rhetoric” – a 2500 year tradition devised by Greek & Roman statesmen
- Initiate lasting change with ancient philosophy
- Opportunity to pitch & test your best idea to the group in a capstone speech
- Led by 2 entrepreneurs w/ PhDs, 20+ years combined experience
- Successful Graduates are eligible to join our ongoing training community, The Rostra.
- Includes group Physical activities (Cold plunge, Hike, Callisthenics)
- Featured Orator: (Divus) Gaius Julius Caesar, Imperator, Dictator
We are looking for curious applicants that are on a personal mission to improve themselves and are willing to become inspiring figures in their own right.
JANUARY 23-26, 2025
Estate at Crystal Creek in Austin, TX
The ancient Romans retreated from their business and political affairs (their negotium) to spend some of their leisure time (their otium) in pleasant villas outside the city discussing philosophy, rhetoric, war, and other studies worthy of free men. In order to emulate that custom, we have booked an entire villa for our retreat.
Located in the hills to the west of Austin , the Retreat at Crystal Creek is a quiet and beautiful spot. A variety of houses, cabins, trailers, and fire pits surround the central pond of the property. We will hold classes in the main house.
Depending on the participant’s budget, both single rooms and shared rooms are available. Shared rooms are spacious, with separate beds. The retreat center's various meeting rooms, beautiful gardens, and porches, offer many quiet places places for reflection, reading, writing, and conversation.
Becoming an Orator
Ancient philosophers referred to the art of rhetoric (i.e. persuasion through speech) as “political philosophy” - that is, philosophy applied to public life.
We are reviving this lost tradition, and translating its insights into a practical system for modern leaders, entrepreneurs, and writers. Our programming aims not just at skill improvement, but at identity change.
To unlock your potential, you must become a Speaker, an Orator, as Cicero would say. This change is a psycho-physical process.
To help you accomplish this shift, we teach you a set of preparation methods, coach you through training exercises, and lead the group in discussions about what matters in persuasion and a life dedicated to it.
But as history shows, a community focused on cultivating the power of language is also the environment that naturally gives rise to philosophy and quality friendships, facilitating serious transformation.
You will emerge not only with a new set of skills and relationships with other talented men, but a clear understanding of how to continue to improve the way you speak, think, and act when you return home.
Theory
Participants will be provided with a modest (5-10 hours) amount of preparatory content beforehand (mostly Audio, some video & reading). Once on retreat, we will meet in a well-furnished seminar room to discuss key concepts and examples. Analysis of great examples will be a prominent theme, in particular, those offered by the life and writings of Julius Caesar.
Practice
Every participant will have multiple opportunities to apply the examples and concepts by speaking in front of his colleagues. Each participant will prepare a Capstone 8-minute speech; we encourage participants, if they desire, to work up and refine a short presentation of an important project or idea.
Physicality
Persuasion always happens in a physical setting shared by speaker and audience, which can often determine success or failure. Our retreat will include posture exercises and breathwork to maximize effectiveness in speaking. It will also include physical fitness challenges. You will be given more details, guidance on how to dress appropriately, after applying.
The Art of Rhetoric
Welcome Dinner, every participant offers a toast
- Seminar:
- Basic Concepts of Rhetoric and their Modern equivalents
- Understanding the Speech Situation (Intellectio)
- Training and Performing (Memoria, Actio)
- Seminars feature a mix of Theory (30%) and Practice (70%)
- Physical Challenge
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Speeches
- Seminar:
- Choosing the Right Words (Elocutio)
- Flow, Pace, Structure (Dispositio)
- Presentation of Participants’ Speeches.
- Calisthenics, Cold Plunge
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Speeches
Departures around noon
- 8-9am Final Callisthenics and Cold Plunge
- 9-10:30 AM goal setting session
- 10:30-12 closing Brunch, departures
Retreat Pricing
All Inclusive Price
Get startedMeet the Team
Alex Petkas is the host of the Cost of Glory podcast. He has been leading educational and professional development trips in the ancient Mediterranean world for 10 years. He has published extensively on classical rhetoric in both popular and peer-reviewed venues. He taught at various universities, eventually leaving a successful academic career and a tenure-track job to work in new media and leadership training. Alex co-founded the Cost of Glory Leadership Education Company with his long-time friend and business associate, Eric Hewett.
He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from Princeton University,
Eric Hewett co-founded the Paideia Institute, an educational startup in the field of Classics, and served as its Executive Director for many years before leaving to start other projects. He spent fifteen years living in Rome and studying its history, architecture, and topography, while leading tours, completing his doctorate, and starting a business there. He is fluent in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Latin. Eric co-founded the Cost of Glory Leadership Education Company with Alex Petkas, and also runs Polymnia Education, a travel experience company.
He holds a Ph.D. in Medieval Philosophy from the University of Salerno.