In this episode of Breaking Waves, John and Riley explore the meaning of nobility — from royal bloodlines and aristocracy to virtue, dignity and moral character in the modern world. Drawing on philosophy, etymology and cultural history, they trace how ideas of nobility evolved from ancient fame and greatness to ethics, behaviour and power.
The conversation moves through archetypes like the noble savage and noble beast, with nods to mythology, literature and pop culture — from Tarzan and Conan the Barbarian to lions, swans and ancient heroes. Along the way, they examine how nobility has been used to elevate, romanticise and sometimes dehumanise people.
Curious, reflective and wide-ranging, this episode asks whether nobility still matters today — or if shared ideas of virtue have quietly faded in a fragmented world.