The Daily Stoic

Anyone who has had a run of bad luck knows the feeling. It's frustrating and annoying and sometimes deeply unfair, but there is also something freeing about it.

It would be wonderful if we had more Stoic heads of state but a far more attainable goal is Stoic heads of companies, of families, of communities, of organizations and institutions.

While in Athens, Ryan had a near-death experience that reminded him just how short life really is. In today's episode, he shares 9 Stoic reminders about Memento Mori for you to think about today.

Self-doubt is just one of the 5 voices you can't afford to keep listening to. Former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Michelle Curran and Ryan continue their conversation, breaking down the five inner critics that fuel fear, doubt, and perfectionism and show you how to rise above them. They talk about what people get wrong about courage, the myth of shortcuts, the illusion of importance, and how to push past the voices telling you you're not enough. Michelle “MACE” Curran is a former United States Air Force fighter pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of F-16 flying time. She flew combat missions in Afghanistan and honed her skills across the globe, becoming the second woman in history to serve as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's elite demonstration team. Known for her signature upside-down maneuvers, Mace performed for millions, inspiring audiences at airshows and flyovers like the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and Indy 500.You can follow her on Instagram @Mace_Curran and learn more about her work at https://macecurran.com/

Seneca advises us to look in a mirror when we're angry to see how we've transformed. What we often find is shocking—a face distorted by rage, barely resembling our true selves.

Today, on the 24th anniversary of 9/11, let's honor Brian Sweeney and the thousands of others we lost by striving to be, as Marcus said, "free of passion and yet full of love."

In today's bonus episode, Gen. Dan Caine reflects on being one of the first pilots in the air on 9/11 and what that moment taught him about courage, leadership, and service.General Dan Caine is the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has flown more than 100 combat hours in F-16 aircraft. His total flight hours are 2,800. Throughout his career he was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Put one foot in front of the other. Do your best. Make a tiny contribution.

When failure can mean life or death, you learn fast what ego and fear really cost. In today's episode, Ryan talks with Michelle “MACE” Curran about the brutal reality of fighter pilot training, how she battled imposter syndrome in a male-dominated world, the mistake that gave her a call sign for life, and why fear is an essential part of real courage.Michelle “MACE” Curran is a former United States Air Force fighter pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of F-16 flying time. She flew combat missions in Afghanistan and honed her skills across the globe, becoming the second woman in history to serve as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's elite demonstration team. Known for her signature upside-down maneuvers, Mace performed for millions, inspiring audiences at airshows and flyovers like the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and Indy 500.You can follow Michelle Curran on Instagram @Mace_Curran and learn more about her work at https://macecurran.com/

Even with natural gifts or prestigious education, wisdom isn't guaranteed. As Seneca wrote, "much toil remains," and to grow wiser, you must lavish all your waking hours and all your efforts toward this goal.

How has Stoicism impacted your life? In this special bonus episode, listeners share their own journeys with the philosophy. Want to be featured in a future episode? Send us an audio recording at podcast@dailystoic.com.*By submitting, you are consenting to your voice and story being shared on the podcast.

A Stoic doesn't always win, but they never go quietly along.

In this very personal chapter from his book Soul Boom, Rainn Wilson reflects on life and death as he is preparing his father's body for burial. Rainn Wilson is an actor, comedian, author, podcaster, writer, and director. He is most known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the NBC sitcom The Office (2005-2013), for which he earned three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

In today's Part 2 episode with astronaut and Senate candidate Terry Virts, Ryan and Terry talk about the difference between physical and moral courage, why so many leaders fail the test of honor, and what it truly means to serve your country. They discuss the hard truths about politics in Texas and refusing to stay silent when the stakes are highest.At 17, Terry Virts joined the Air Force and went on to become an F-16 fighter pilot and test pilot. He has flown combat missions over Iraq, tested the world's fastest jets and commanded the International Space Station. He's orbited Earth 3,400 times and has spent 213 days in space total. His military decorations include the NASA Space Flight Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, et al. He retired from NASA in August 2016 and is currently running for U.S. Senate from Texas. Follow Terry on Instagram @Astro_Terry and you can learn more about his campaign at https://www.terryvirts.com/

Life is difficult. People are obnoxious. Stuff is going to piss you off. But can you keep your cool anyway?

The Stoics understood that the boundary between "me" and "you" is thinner than we realize.

This special tribute episode celebrates the life and wisdom of George Raveling, bringing together some of his most powerful lessons shared over the years in his conversations with Ryan on The Daily Stoic Podcast.

Most people dream of being an astronaut. Terry Virts actually lived it. In this episode, Ryan sits down with former NASA astronaut and USAF F-16 Pilot Terry Virts to talk about the brutal selection process to become an astronaut, why thrill seekers don't make good astronauts, and the dangerous loss of ethics in government leadership. At 17, Terry Virts joined the Air Force and went on to become an F-16 fighter pilot and test pilot. He has flown combat missions over Iraq, tested the world's fastest jets and commanded the International Space Station. He's orbited Earth 3,400 times and has spent 213 days in space total. His military decorations include the NASA Space Flight Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, et al. He retired from NASA in August 2016 and is currently running for U.S. Senate from Texas. Follow Terry on Instagram @Astro_Terry and you can learn more about his campaign at https://www.terryvirts.com/

It's been generations upon generations now. For thousands and thousands of years, humans have been doing the same things, the Stoics observed. Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content coming soon: dailystoic.com/premium

Wisdom is not a destination. It's a method—a practice, a lifelong commitment to learning, questioning, and improving.

Take your much deserved break today. We are human beings after all, not human doings.

If your money is stained in blood, you are not free. You really don't know who you are until you know what you won't do for money.Read today's episode here: https://ryanholiday.net/you-are-what-you-wont-do-for-money/

What can a comedian teach you about ego, shame, and philosophy? In today's episode, Ryan sits down with Chad from Going Deep with Chad and JT to talk about the hilarious way they met, why playing a character without shame is liberating, what stand-up teaches us about ego, self-consciousness as a performer, and much more. Listen to Ryan's episodes on the podcast Going Deep With Chad and JT:Listen to Ep.99 Listen to Ep.206See Chad and JT live in a city near you! Find tour dates on their website: https://www.chadandjt.com/Follow Chad on Instagram @ ChadGoesDeep, on TikTok @ChadAndJT, and on YouTube @ChadAndJTGoDeepSubscribe to Going Deep with Chad and JT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp6COGFcWCnEx9JbPIoYJLwSubscribe to Academy of Chad on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@academyofchadWatch Chad and JT Go Deep on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81087423

Once you let anger into your life, once you let it motivate or animate you, it's very hard to get rid of. It's hard to find a substitute that measures up. It's hard to let it go.

What good are you doing? What courage are you showing?

It's been eight years since The Daily Stoic Podcast launched. In today's bonus episode, Ryan looks back on the journey to 2,600+ episodes and shares what's next.

What made Lincoln great wasn't power or genius, it was his moral fiber. Historian and bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin joins Ryan to explore why Lincoln stands above the rest, how ambition can be twisted toward selfishness or greatness, and how moments of pain and principle shape true leaders. Ryan and Doris discuss the pressures of writing about legendary figures, Doris's years working for LBJ, and what it takes to bring history to life for future generations.Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize–winning presidential historian and bestselling author. Her latest #1 New York Times bestseller, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, is being adapted into a feature film, while her earlier works, Team of Rivals, The Bully Pulpit, and No Ordinary Time, have won some of the nation's highest literary honors and inspired leaders worldwide. She has served as a White House Fellow to President Lyndon Johnson, produced acclaimed docuseries for the HISTORY Channel, and earned countless awards for her contributions to history and leadership.She has a new book out called The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became Presidents in which she shares the different childhood experiences of Abraham Lincoln. Theodore Roosevelt. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Lyndon B. Johnson, and how they each found their way to the presidency. Grab copies of Doris' books Team of Rivals and Leadership at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.comFollow Doris on Instagram @DorisKGoodwin and check out more of her work on her website doriskearnsgoodwin.com

Extrapolation, we have to understand, is the enemy.Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content coming soon: dailystoic.com/premium

Life lessons aren't handed to us, they're earned the hard way. In this bonus episode, Ryan shares the eight truths he had to learn through failure, patience, and timeSupport the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content coming soon: dailystoic.com/premium

People will inspire you one moment and utterly disappoint you the next. You can't let this confuse you.

How much worse getting mad is than the things that caused it, Seneca said.

Seneca writes that we think life is short, when in reality we just waste it. The present moment—it is the most valuable thing you own. It is the only thing you have. Don't waste it. Seize it. Live it. In today's episode, you will learn some of the time techniques Seneca used to make the most of his time.Read this article on The Daily Stoic website: https://dailystoic.com/time-management-6-techniques-from-the-stoic-philosopher-seneca/Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content coming soon: dailystoic.com/premium

The test of character is simple: what do you do when you have nothing to lose… or everything? Ryan and General Stanley McChrystal continue their conversation about what true leadership demands, why “later” never comes, how parenting tests your values, and the lessons McChrystal carried into life after the military.General McChrystal is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command in the mid-2000s. He established a consultancy firm, McChrystal Group, in 2011 and advises senior executives at multinational corporations on navigating complex change and building stronger teams.

Sooner or later, it catches up with you. When you compromise with bad people, their consequences become yours.

Without wisdom, the other virtues cannot truly flourish—it is wisdom that guides our courage, moderates our discipline, and directs our sense of justice. Come see Ryan Holiday LIVE in Austin, Texas on September 17! | https://www.dailystoiclive.com/

We can't let our accomplishments fool us into thinking that we are immortal, that we can outthink, outrun, outwork death.

We control who we are. We control what we do. We control the standards we hold ourselves to. Ryan sits down with retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal to talk about the thing that makes or breaks every person: character. They explain what character actually is, why discipline matters more than raw talent, and how great leaders can lose their way.General McChrystal is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command in the mid-2000s. He established a consultancy firm, McChrystal Group, in 2011 and advises senior executives at multinational corporations on navigating complex change and building stronger teams.

A pause creates space. A pause creates clarity. A pause can change everything.

We're doing better than it sometimes feels. Let us marvel at the cooperation that is possible—considering the flawed and petty humans it depends on.

The Stoics remind us that time, especially the time we're healthy and able to actually enjoy life, is our most valuable resource. But knowing that isn't enough.

History has a way of looking calmer than it really was. In this PT. 2 episode, Ryan sits down with historian and author James Romm to talk about the messy, dangerous, and often absurd reality of life in ancient Greece and Rome, especially for the philosophers who tried to “advise” the powerful. From Plato's naïve trips to Syracuse, to Seneca's complicated dance with Nero, to Marcus Aurelius resisting the pull of corruption, they discuss the timeless tension between access and integrity. James Romm is an author, reviewer, and a Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale, NY. He specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization. His reviews and essays have appeared in the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, the London Review of Books, the Daily Beast, and other venues. He has held the Guggenheim Fellowship (1999-2000), the Birkelund Fellowship at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Writers and Scholars at the New York Public Library (2010-11), and a Biography Fellowship at the Leon Levy Center of the City University of New York (2014-15).Follow James on Instagram @James.Romm and check out more of his work at his website, www.jamesromm.com

When it comes to doing what's right, the timing is rarely perfect.

We want the stamp of approval—from the critics, from the crowd, from the market. This makes sense...except it doesn't.

The point is: It's always been rough. The point is: It always will be rough.

What makes smart, principled people work for the worst leaders? In this conversation, historian and author James Romm and Ryan dig into the timeless trap that's snared some of history's greatest minds, from Plato and Seneca to modern politics. They talk about the seduction of access, the slow erosion of integrity, and why walking away from a tyrant's court is so much harder than it looks.James Romm is an author, reviewer, and a Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale, NY. He specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization. His reviews and essays have appeared in the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, the London Review of Books, the Daily Beast, and other venues. He has held the Guggenheim Fellowship (1999-2000), the Birkelund Fellowship at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Writers and Scholars at the New York Public Library (2010-11), and a Biography Fellowship at the Leon Levy Center of the City University of New York (2014-15).Follow James on Instagram @James.Romm and check out more of his work at his website, www.jamesromm.com

It's only fools who fly off the handle, it's the immature who say the first thought that pops into their head, it's the irresponsible who act without thinking.

Ask yourself today: Where can you be less possessive? Where can you share the load, elevate someone else, or choose principle over pride?

Everything went wrong. But Ryan stayed calm. A real-time Stoic stress test, and a reminder that philosophy is for days just like this.

What happens when politics becomes performance and politicians become influencers? In today's Part 2 episode, former Marine and NYT bestselling author Elliot Ackerman joins Ryan to talk about the idea that “everything's a racket,” the collapse of institutional trust, and why restraint used to define real leadership. They talk about how cancel culture morphed into shamelessness as a superpower, why we might be living in a post-shame society, Ambrose Bierce's wild literary exit, and why modern media feels more like professional wrestling than journalism.Elliot Ackerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels 2054, 2034, Halcyon, Red Dress in Black and White, Waiting for Eden, Dark at the Crossing, and Green on Blue, as well as the memoirs The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan and Places and Names: On War, Revolution, and Returning. Elliot's books have been nominated for the National Book Award, the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and nonfiction, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, among others. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic, a Senior Fellow at Yale's Jackson School of Global Affairs, and a veteran of the Marine Corps and CIA special operations, having served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. Be sure to check out Elliot's latest book, SHEEPDOGS. Apple Studios has actually bought the rights to develop the book as a series with Tom Hanks production company. Grab signed copies of Elliot's books 2054 and 2034 at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/Follow Elliot Ackerman on Instagram and X @elliot.ackerman

The right time to do the hard thing, the courageous thing, the right thing? It's right now.

Guilt is about the past and the past is the one thing we cannot change. All we can do is do better now.