The Sunday Stoic

Happy Saturnalia all!In honor of the holiday season I took a few minutes today to play my old acoustic cigar box guitar.

On this, the final episode of the Sunday Stoic Podcast, we reflect on making progress as Stoic practitioners. The readings this week are. Seneca Moral Letters #69 Epictetus Discourses: Book 2 #19 Meditations Book 2 #4 Thanks all for a great five years! Carpe Diem!The archive of all episodes can be found on YouTube or https://archive.org/details/220-philosophy-the-guide-of-life-wi

Duty is virtue put into action. This week we hear from the three late great Stoics as they discuss our duty as pursuers of virtue. Readings: Seneca Of Leisure 3 Meditations 6.39 Discourses 3.2.4

As a follow-up installment, guest contributor Jayce Basques expands on his discussion with Aaron Prim. Some things never change; other things need to change to be better understood.

Guest contributor Jayce Basques and his longtime friend and collaborator, Aaron Prim, have spent the last two years reading, implementing and interpreting a passage a week. The two refer to the original text to truly understand what was at the heart of Marcus Aurelius's "Notes to Self." What follows today is a discussion about music, meaning and lessons learned along the way.

This week Donald Robertson joins the podcast to discuss his new graphic novel Verissimus. This graphic novel follows the life and philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. We discuss the writing process, the life of Marcus Aurelius and Donald's new project Plato's Academy Center. https://platosacademy.org/For more information visit https://donaldrobertson.name/

A few updates about the show and a chance for you to ask questions to Donald Robertson!

Al from Scotland guest hosts this week to discuss using our rationality while we still have it!

This week we wrap up book 10 of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. We learn1. To keep good sayings handy 2. To accept what fate has in store3. That death is no bad thing4. Judge others (and ourselves) by our intentions5. To cultivate our minds

Ryan Racine joins the show to discuss his new book: The Stoic Teacher Ancient Mind Hacks to Help Educators Foster Resiliency, Optimism, and Inner Calm. We discuss the challenges and rewards of teaching, techniques to become a more resilient teacher and how to find and become a mentor.

We've made it to 1000,000 downloads! Thanks everyone!This week Marcus writes about 3 major topics.1. People just like you once existed, lived their lives and are now gone. Seize the day!2. People may say you are untrustworthy. Make sure they are lying! 3. Make use of what ever happens and use it to your advantage.

Journey's can take two forms. You can wander aimlessly and see where you end up or you can travel toward a particular destination. To ensure a well-lived life we should have a certain life-long destination in mind and we can then design the life we want to live to reach that destination. This is the essence of backward design.

This is my second try on this episode as the first had audio issues! This week Marcus reflects on three things1. Accepting reality as it is2. Acknowledging that death won't be depriving him of much3. Learning to control his annoyance and anger with others. Don't forget you can get the edited version of last weeks show on Spreaker https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-sunday-stoic

The 300th Episode! Thanks all to have written in and of course to all of the listers! This week Marcus discusses the importance of accepting fate by accepting everything that happens as if you chose it! He also discusses the things we will lose when we die and how to deal with vices in others. Email the show at sundaystoic@gmail.com

This week Marcus Aurelius reminds himself to stand firm and do his duty, to stand in awe of the Cosmos and to be content with the time he had on this Earth. We can endeavor to do the same!

Who controls you, is it your brain or your desires and aversions?

In this episode we'll talk about re-enchantment through night language vs. day language, travel and returning to our principles!

This week Marcus Aurelius discusses change, bringing powerful people down the size and dealing with difficult challenges.

Today Marcus Aurelius reminds us to1. Be a good example and do what is right2. Stop planning on how you will improve, start now!3. All things change

Accept the world as it is, with humility and discipline or else make a wretch of yourself! But remember you don't have to accept injustice to do this, the way the world is now is the springboard from which you can affect the future.

Marcus Aurelius tells himself to stay simple, to be just, to accept reality and to avoid distractions. This is the way to happiness!

Kevin Vost joins the podcast to discuss ancient memory techniques and how we can apply them to memorizing Stoic teachings (and anything else!)https://www.drvost.com/https://www.angelicopress.org/memorize-the-stoics-kevin-vost

We should be proud of our growth as we improve over time. That does not mean that we should brag about it it. Growth is proof that what we are doing is working and that our efforts are not in vain. Let your growth be fuel for further development!

Duff joints the show this week to discuss her new book Wise Up: Irreverent Enlightenment From a Mother Who's Been Through It. We discuss the writing process, Stoic parenting, surviving bear attacks and beating your inner pig-dog! Wise Up is available April 12 https://www.amazon.com/Wise-Up-Irreverent-Enlightenment-Through/dp/154162047X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BXINS2UFZLRU&keywords=wise+up+karen+duffy&qid=1649268920&sprefix=wise+up+karen+duffy%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1The video version of this episode can be found at: https://youtu.be/nehjesEuV98

This week Marcus Reflects on character traits that are needed for living well. To live well according to Marcus we must imitate the gods. Start cultivating these traits now to live well. 1. Prudence. 2. Acceptance 3. Magnanimity If you do this you will be on the path to living well.

This week Marcus reminds himself that change is part of nature, it is inevitable and should not be feared. This is the 5 year anniversary episode of the Sunday Stoic. Thank you all for listening!

This week Marcus reflects on two basic principles. he is part of the Cosmos and he is part of society. We could do well to reflect on these same principles each day.

Marcus Aurelius admonishes himself for not making sufficient progress and then reflects on what it necessary to align his biological, animal and human nature to form a solid Stoic Foundation.

The Stoics believed that as we mature we shift from focusing on our instinctual desire for self protection to using reason to act as a member of the community. This week we'll take a look at oikeiosis. The episode will come to an ironic end, as I discuss a parents love of their children and cut my discussion short as I run off to help my son....

This week we summarize the known teachings of Musonius Rufus, the teacher of Epictetus!

This week Musonius Rufus shares his idea that all humans are capable of virtue and that we all seek it. It is the one thing he claims, that we all claim to possess even if we've never studied philosophy. Go here to read the translation for yourself: https://archive.org/details/MUSONIUSRUFUSSTOICFRAGMENTS

Today Musonius Rufus tells us to explain things clearly and simply when explaining philosophy to others. If we know our philosophy well we should be able to explain it with few words. https://archive.org/details/MUSONIUSRUFUSSTOICFRAGMENTS

This week we hear from Philo of Alexandria and we get a glimpse of what life would look like if we truly made progress in our pursuit of wisdom. Today's reading: http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book28.htmlcontact me at sundaystoic@gmail.com

This week we read Seneca's Letter #69 to Lucilius. he warns us, if we want to make progress we must remove temptations and distractions otherwise we will never make noticeable progress. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_69

This week Simon Drew of the Walled Garden Podcast joins the show to discuss his new book The Poet and the Sage. We discuss the writing process, inspiration, philosophy and much more. Get yourself a copy of this great book at https://thewalledgarden.store/products/copy-of-the-poet-the-sage#:~:text=Delivered%20through%20the%20time%2Dtested,is%20most%20divine%20about%20us.

Join me on my commute to work as I discuss the importance of constantly being aware of your thoughts and actions. The first few seconds of audio are very rough, but it clears up quickly!

This week Epictetus reminds us to focus on what is important. If we remember what is truly important, we can live a happy life and not even an Emperor can take away our happiness. If we focus on the wrong things, even a loud bird can ruin our day.

Donald Robertson joins the podcast this week to discuss his new book. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. We'll talk about Marcus's life and times, his studies of philosophy and what we can learn from him today. You can get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250196620/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Tp9KCbRY0NSRQTo see the video of this interview go to: https://youtu.be/aYLAVXWjMVUSupport the show by donating on PayPal (sundaystoic@gmail.com) I will return with a new episode next week!

A rebroadcast of an early episode where I had a chance to chat with the brilliant Brittany Polat about Stoicism and parenting. Check out her book Tranquility Parenting here https://www.amazon.com/Tranquility-Parenting-Staying-Mindful-Engaged/dp/1538112426Brittany also has a website! https://www.livinginagreement.com/about

As we begin the new year we must reflect on what is truly important, our thoughts, our intentions and our actions.

This week we continue our discussion of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Book 5. This week he zooms out to remind himself of the Big Picture, the will of the Gods and the fate of the universe.

This week Marcus reflects on three things1. His inner divinity2. Remembering that others have inner divinity as well3. Living your life starting now

This week, Marcus reflects on three things. 1. His ego's relationship to the Universe, His relationship to other people and his relationship to his own body.

This week we'll discuss anxiety, the ultimate and our impending death. Sounds fun right? Carpe Diem!

A reading of the full Enchiridion. The full text can be found here https://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/dep/index.htm. This was originally recorded as a reward for my Patrons.

Marcus Aurelius focuses on externals, his relationships with humanity and making the best of bad situations.

This week Marcus reworks several Stoic ideas to better internalize them. 1. Watch your thoughts2. Externals are not important3. We are here to work together4. Death is not an evil5. Don't expect the impossible

Marcus reminds himself that though he is temporary, he is part of something indestructible.

Emperor Marcus Aurelius asks himself "What soul have I"? and "What would happen if I had all the good things that others crave?"

The truth is hard to come by, but one thing we know for sure is that change is inevitable and that philosophy is our compass for navigating in an uncertain world.

Take heart, Marcus Aurelius failed to live up to his high standards on a daily bases. What does he suggest he do in these circumstances? Return to philosophy and try again.