Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
The Goddess Sets the Journey in Motion (Homer’s The Odyssey, Book I – Part 3)
Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer’s The Odyssey
Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey into Homer’s The Odyssey is a daily read-along podcast for anyone who’s ever thought, “I should really read The Odyssey someday.”
Every day for one year, host Landen Celano reads one page from The Odyssey, (using Butcher & Lang English prose translation), then follows it with smart, spoiler-aware commentary: close reading, Greek mythology context, Homeric weirdness, and whatever tangents the text demands.
If you’re here because you’re hyped for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Odyssey film: welcome. This show isn’t about the movie. It’s about finally experiencing the ancient story itself, in order, one page at a time.
Read along on YouTube (the text appears on screen), or grab the same Butcher & Lang translation from Project Gutenberg. Want a more traditional audiobook experience? Patreon subscribers get commentary-free audio at the end of each chapter.
New episodes daily. Despite rain, sleet, snow, and hydra encounters.
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Episodes
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
A divine argument sharpens the fate of a man far from home. As the gods debate justice and mercy, the suffering of Odysseus is brought fully into view—lonely, trapped, and aching for the sight of his own land once more.
In this passage from The Odyssey, Book I continues with Athene speaking in defense of Odysseus before Zeus, recounting his isolation on a distant island and the sorrow that nearly breaks his will. Zeus responds by clarifying the true source of Odysseus’ torment: the enduring anger of Poseidon, born from the blinding of the Cyclops Polyphemus, and tempered only by the limits of divine consensus.
This moment matters because it sets the terms of Odysseus’ return—his survival assured, his journey still contested, and the gods themselves poised to intervene.
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New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://theodysseypodcast.com
Want to talk theories, themes? Join the conversation on our Discord: https://discord.gg/Sg2prdm
Support the project on Patreon and receive full-length, story-only audio after each book: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or follow along on YouTube
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Odyssey is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Homer’s classic epic — every day. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Odyssey.
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
A poet’s invocation opens the door to a long-delayed homecoming, shaped as much by divine will as by human error. In this opening passage of The Odyssey, the Muse is called upon to tell of Odysseus—his wanderings after Troy, the losses of his companions, and the single mistake that sealed their fate. While the rest of the Greek heroes have returned home, Odysseus remains stranded, held by the nymph Calypso, as the gods quietly turn their attention back toward him.
Set during a council of the gods in Book I, this passage establishes the moral framework of the epic: mortals suffer not only by fate, but by their own choices. Zeus reflects on the recent death of Aegisthus—killed by Orestes despite clear divine warnings—underscoring a central theme of responsibility that will echo throughout the poem.
This is the moment where the story formally begins: Odysseus is remembered, judged, and finally set back into motion.
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New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://theodysseypodcast.com
Want to talk theories, themes? Join the conversation on our Discord: https://discord.gg/Sg2prdm
Support the project on Patreon and receive full-length, story-only audio after each book: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC036TeD3DkuF1VSCQJfKGtw
⸻
Odyssey is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Homer’s classic epic — every day. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Odyssey.
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
What if you finally read The Odyssey, one page at a time?
Welcome to Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer’s The Odyssey, and more, a daily read-along podcast for anyone who’s ever meant to read one of the most influential stories ever written… and never did.
Starting Monday, January 20, 2026, this show releases one new episode every day for a full year.
Each episode features:
A reading of one page from The Odyssey
Followed by commentary exploring the story as it unfolds
Using Butcher & Lang's public-domain English prose translation, this podcast offers a natural, accessible way to experience Homer’s epic without pressure and without homework.
Along the way, expect:
Story breakdowns and close reading
Greek mythology and mythic characters
Cultural and historical context
Personal reflections and unexpected tangents
Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can read along on YouTube, where the text appears on screen. Patreon subscribers can also enjoy commentary-free audio at the end of each chapter for a clean audiobook-style experience.
Whether you’re discovering The Odyssey for the first time, revisiting it because it keeps showing up in modern culture, looking for a daily literary ritual, or just here because Christopher Nolan is adapting this story... consider this is an invitation to take the long way home.
New episodes every day.
Support the show and get bonus content at patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Available on our website our wherever you listen to podcasts: https://theodysseypodcast.podbean.com