Podcast appearances and mentions of Ryan Holiday

One of history's most powerful rulers was shaped by a teacher he never met. In this episode, Ryan talks with Professor William O. Stephens about how Marcus Aurelius discovered Epictetus, why the former slave's teachings hit him so deeply, and how those ideas about freedom, power, and self-mastery helped shape the philosopher king.William O. Stephens is a philosopher specializing in Stoicism, ethics, and ancient philosophy. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and spent over 30 years teaching at Creighton University, where he is now Professor Emeritus. His work spans topics like friendship, ecology, and human nature, with a focus on Stoic thought. His latest book is Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-King (2025), and he is also the author of Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed, Epictetus's Encheiridion: A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics, and Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom. Check out more of William Stephens' work at https://WilliamOStephens.com/

A master does not actually master anything. The Stoics understood this.

Don't wait. Don't hold back. Tell them. Tell them again.

Change is hard but it doesn't mean you have to be hard on yourself.

Make the memory. Play the game. Because this is what it's about.

The Stoics understood that the wealthiest person can still be a pauper—poor in peace, poor in contentment, poor in perspective.

If the point is for our family to be together, if the point is for us to have fun together, to relax together, to get closer together, we need to start much earlier.

You don't need to be an egotistical asshole to be successful. History is filled with powerful people whose pride ultimately destroyed them, from Caligula and Nero to Xerxes and Mussolini. The Stoics believed the antidote to ego was humility, self-awareness, reflection, and honest introspection. In this episode, Ryan explores the dangers of ego and the timeless practices that can help you keep it in check, stay grounded, and remain a good person as you become more successful.

In this episode of the Builder's Bookshelf, we break down Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle Is the Way and translate Stoic resilience into the real world of construction, where delays, conflicts, and pressure are part of the job. You'll learn how to shift your perception, take disciplined action, and become the kind of leader who turns obstacles into the very path forward.Enjoy Today's Episode and #BeNEXT

What destroyed the Roman Republic was not one man or one moment, but a slow collapse of trust, duty, and shared values. In this episode, Ryan and ancient historian Barry Strauss discuss the broken civic bargain, economic strain, political violence, and personal ambition that pushed Rome toward civil war. They also talk about Cato's refusal to compromise, Caesar's decision to cross the Rubicon, and the warning the fall of the Roman Republic still holds for us today.Barry Strauss is a bestselling author, classicist, military and naval historian, and one of the leading authorities on leadership lessons from the ancient world. He is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, and a leading expert on ancient military history. Barry is the author of ten books on ancient history, translated into twenty languages, including The War That Made the Roman Empire, Ten Caesars, The Death of Caesar, and his latest book, Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire.Follow Barry on Instagram | @barrystrauss

Your kids don't need you to pretend you have it all figured out. In this episode, Ryan talks with Jon Gustin, creator of The Tired Dad, about losing your temper, apologizing, repairing after mistakes, and why showing your kids that you're human can make them feel safer, not less secure. Jon Gustin is the founder of The Tired Dad LLC and the voice behind The Tired Dad, a movement built around showing up for what matters most. His book, The Tired Dad.: 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most, is out now!Follow Jon Gustin on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.Listen to The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Podcast | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

Discipline, as a virtue, is related to the other virtues. By controlling our urges or wants or lifestyle, we're actually in a better position to be courageous or just.

What matters isn't how you see yourself or how others see you. What matters is that you be what, and who, they need you to be.

Discipline, in this way, isn't just about action; it's about control. Control over our impulses, our desires, and even our most deeply ingrained habits.

You can always find a way if you try. And it's going to be an important moment.

Marcus Aurelius was checked by philosophy, but if he hadn't been, he could have easily been a Nero or a Caligula. The American Founders knew this well.

With Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey hitting theaters this week, now is the perfect time to hear the Stoic lessons hidden within this ancient story. In this episode, Ryan travels through Greece and Ithaca to share 12 lessons about ego, perseverance, discipline, temptation, and what it really means to make it home.

It's not our job as parents to give them everything they want. It is our job to help them with these very reasonable feelings. Listen to the full podcast episode with Dr. Becky Kennedy

“First, say to yourself what you would be,” Epictetus says, “and then do what you have to do.”

After recording their episode at The Daily Stoic Podcast studio, Ryan and Dr. Becky headed next door to The Painted Porch, where Ryan shared a few must-read book recommendations.Listen to the full podcast episode with Dr. Becky Kennedy

 How many of us wish we could tear ourselves away from our phones and spend more intentional time with our kids and families?

Ryan Holiday is a bestselling author and one of the most influential modern voices on Stoicism. His 12 books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and Stillness Is the Key, have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. He's also the founder of Daily Stoic, a media company that reaches millions through books, podcasts, newsletters, and YouTube. In 2025, Ryan completed his four-book Stoic Virtues series and followed it with a sold-out international speaking tour. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Sheath. The underwear of legends. Go to ⁠https://www.sheath.com/SRS⁠ and use code SRS for 20% off. Visit ⁠https://drinkag1.com/SRS⁠ to get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off with promo code SRS at ⁠https://shopmando.com⁠! #mandopod For problems worth solving — get started with Claude at — ⁠https://Claude.ai/srs⁠ Ready to upgrade your eyewear? Check them out at ⁠https://roka.com⁠ and use code SRS for 20% off sitewide. Ryan Holiday Links: Website - ⁠https://ryanholiday.net⁠ Daily Stoic - ⁠https://dailystoic.com⁠ Ryan Holiday IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday⁠ Daily Stoic IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/dailystoic⁠ Painted Porch Bookshop IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/paintedporchbookshop⁠ X - ⁠https://x.com/dailystoic⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ability to be content, to be grateful, to be happy? These are the real luxuries, if you think about it.

Children are a ticking clock. They are on their way to not being children.

The most powerful man in the world still needed rules to live by. In this episode, Ryan looks at the rules Marcus Aurelius seemed to return to again and again, especially when life was difficult, people were disappointing, and the responsibilities kept piling up.

Men may be looking for answers in all the wrong books. In this episode, Ryan is joined by bestselling author Steven Pressfield to talk about how great fiction can teach us about courage, honor, sacrifice, and the human experience in ways that facts and advice often cannot. Steven Pressfield is an American author of historical fiction, non-fiction, and screenplays. Steven wrote for 27 years before he got his first novel published. During that time he worked 21 different jobs in eleven states. Steven taught school, drove tractor-trailers, worked in advertising and as a screenwriter in Hollywood. He worked on offshore oil rigs, and picked fruit as a migrant worker. You can follow him on Instagram: @steven_pressfield and check out more of his work on his website: https://stevenpressfield.com/

Family fun hits different when there's a flight to catch. In this episode, Ryan and Sam talk about what happened when a spontaneous stop at a state park turned into tired kids, dragging feet, a looming flight, and Ryan suddenly rushing everyone through the family detour he had been excited for.

We should let our light shine…and also let sunshine keep us honest.

It can seem like they don't like what you like. It can even seem like they don't like you. That's what children do, after all, they try to discover what they like.

In this episode, Paul Andrews dives into a common struggle for guitarists at every stage: hitting a plateau. If you've felt stuck despite consistent practice, you're not alone! Paul Andrews explores why plateaus occur, why they're normal, and, most importantly, how you can break through them and keep moving forward in your guitar journey.Key TopicsWhat is a plateau and why does it happen?Seven main reasons guitarists plateauFive practical steps to break through stagnationThe importance of tracking progress and trusting the processPaul Andrews' personal experiences with plateausAcademy NewsAcademy Show: This month's Academy Show is now live! Members can catch up on community updates, member achievements, and upcoming improvements to Beginner Guitar Academy.Student Questionnaire: Paul Andrews shares highlights and insights from last month's student questionnaire in a new, member-only podcast.Practice Studio: Exciting updates on the new Practice Studio tool—track your practice, set goals, use a metronome, and receive personalized recommendations to guide your playing.The Seven Reasons Guitarists PlateauNot Challenging Yourself – Growth happens outside comfort zones.Only Playing Songs – Songs are great but don't cover every essential skill.Inconsistent Practice – Consistency beats intensity (06:11).Never Recording Yourself – Honest feedback comes from listening back.Avoiding Weaknesses – Progress is hidden in areas you tend to skip.Comparing Yourself to Others – Everyone is on their own journey.Losing Direction – Lack of structure leads to random progress.Five Steps to Start Improving AgainMeasure Your Progress – Use videos, journals, and tools to track growth.Choose One Weakness to Focus On This Week – Small, focused efforts drive results.Slow Everything Down – Prioritize accuracy over speed.Build a Balanced Practice Routine – Mix techniques and fun elements for holistic improvement.Trust the Process – Progress isn't linear; keep showing up, even when it feels slow.Challenge of the WeekWhat's the one thing you've been avoiding because it's difficult?Identify it.Spend at least 10 minutes each day working on it.Connect & JoinIf you're looking for a structured path, community support, and expert guidance, check out Beginner Guitar Academy for step-by-step lessons, practice tools, and more. Try it with a $1 two-week trial—visit beginnerguitaracademy.comResources MentionedMember-only Academy Show & Questionnaire InsightsNew Practice Studio (coming soon!)The G4 Guitar Method (10:11)Book Recommendation: The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday (07:56)Podcast Episode 289: Why You Can't Rely on Motivation (13:44)Final ThoughtsPlateaus are a sign of progress! Stay patient, keep practicing, and remember: your next breakthrough is just ahead (15:22).

We haven't been who we want to be. The routine slipped, the momentum disappeared, and before long, we weren't just off track, we'd given up. How do we fix it?

We say our kids are important—but words don't matter. Our choices are what matter.

You can be successful and still not be flourishing. In this episode, Ryan talks with leadership expert Dan Coyle about the difference between living like a machine and living like a human being. They talk about why high performance can become hollow, where real meaning comes from, and why simple mantras matter more than we think. They also discuss the importance of community, the role of “yellow door” moments, and how the words you use shape the way you show up.Daniel Coyle is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestsellers The Culture Code, The Talent Code, and his NEW book Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment. Check out more of Dan's work on his website https://danielcoyle.com/

Maybe you don't get the job. Maybe that person says “no” to a date. Maybe you find out you don't actually enjoy playing the piano. So what?

They need literature. They need to know the myths. They need to know the riveting moments of human history.

As Epictetus said, “First tell yourself what kind of person you want to be, then do what you have to do.”

How often are you saying “no” when they want to connect, when they want to do something, when they ask for attention or time together?

There are all the things that wealthy people buy with their money. They buy nice cars and enormous homes. They pay for access. They hire help. But there is one thing that they cannot buy.

Our job is to drag them around, to expose them to things, to get them to where they need to be…but aren't they also doing the same thing for us?

Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Michael Lukich, a marketing analytics leader with more than 20 years across consulting, data, and strategy, explains why the fix for a struggling team is almost never more effort. He walks through the closed-loop trap he built early in his management career, the systems thinking tools he now uses to find leverage points, and why over-measuring single marketing channels quietly starves the top of the funnel. Drawing on the Cabreras' DSRP model, Donella Meadows, and nearly 25 years at the poker table, he shows how to see a whole system instead of optimizing one piece to the detriment of the goal. Listeners come away with a practical way to map any system, pick a single North Star metric, and design loops that let a team improve on its own. About the Host Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Key Takeaways Michael Lukich's early management trap was a closed loop with no exit: he could not step away until the team improved, and the team could not improve until he stepped away, which pushed him to 75-hour weeks before he redesigned the loop instead of adding effort. Accepting work at roughly 70 percent of his own output, paired with a tighter review cadence, let his team feel the consequences of their own decisions and turned him from a micromanager into a player coach. The "if you can't measure it, it doesn't exist" credo pushes budget toward easily measured lower-funnel channels and leaves the top of the funnel leaky, because no one can defend upper-funnel spend in a boardroom. The fix is whole-system measurement through multi-channel attribution and mixed models, not more measurement. Zynga over-relied on data and stacked Black Hat Core Drives that drive urgency and scarcity, a reminder that an A/B test measures one week, not how a feature performs as a system over two years. Derek and Laura Cabrera's DSRP model (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) gives a four-part way to map almost any system, then find the bottleneck where one move has the biggest outsized effect. Poker trains decision-making under uncertainty and incomplete information, including the faulty learning loop where playing well can still lose and playing poorly can still win, which is why Michael says half the frameworks in his book started at the poker table. Topics Covered 0:00 — The loop you cannot escape 0:20 — Meet Michael Lukich: data, teaching, poker 2:41 — Designing your own life as a system 5:46 — Promoted into a trap with no exit 11:14 — The marketing measurement trap 13:53 — Frankenstein products, Zynga, and Black Hat 17:34 — A practical system: pick one metric 18:56 — Mapping systems with DSRP 22:23 — The strategy dashboard and the North Star 24:07 — James Clear, Ryan Holiday, and one book 26:54 — Translation and poker as the perfect game 30:25 — Where to find Michael and closing advice Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD About Michael Lukich Michael Lukich is a marketing analytics leader with more than 20 years across consulting, data, and business strategy, currently running marketing analytics for a major US marketing agency. He spent five years as an adjunct professor and has played poker for nearly 25 years, two habits that shaped how he thinks about teaching and making decisions under uncertainty. He writes the Stoic Systems Thinker newsletter, where ancient Stoic philosophy meets modern systems thinking, and is the author of the book of the same name. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and two daughters. Find Michael Lukich Online The Stoic Systems Thinker (website and newsletter) LinkedIn The Stoic Systems Thinker on Substack Mentioned in This Episode Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows James Clear and Atomic Habits Ryan Holiday Poker The Stoic Systems Thinker by Michael Lukich Derek and Laura Cabrera's DSRP model (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Zynga The Octalysis Framework and Black Hat Core Drives Kaizen and Kaikaku (continuous improvement versus radical change) Free Resources and Get in Touch Core Drives in the Wild: Professor Game Free Guide Get Daily Value on Your Email Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question

The world feels broken, and it's easy to believe nothing is ever going to change. In this audiobook excerpt from Soul Boom, Rainn Wilson makes the case for a spiritual revolution and pushes us to wonder what would happen if we rejected cynicism and stopped building so much of our world around competition, greed, and ego.Rainn Wilson is an actor, comedian, author, podcaster, writer, and director. He is most known for his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office, for which he earned three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. You can follow Rainn on Instagram @rainnwilson and Twitter @rainnwilson, and on soulboom.com. Listen to Rainn's Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Watch on YouTubeIf you like this chapter

For the Fourth of July, we're revisiting Ryan's conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Thomas Ricks about America's founding, the ancient ideas that shaped it, and the first principles the founders were trying to build into the country.In this episode, Ryan and Thomas talk about First Principles: What America's Founders Learned From the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country, and why figures like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison looked to the ancient world for models of courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom.

Kids have big emotions. Parents do too. The work is not pretending those feelings are not there, but learning how to stay in the driver's seat when they show up. In this episode, Ryan talks with Dr. Becky Kennedy about deeply feeling kids, why so much “bad behavior” is really a lack of skills, and how parents can respond with more patience.Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and the founder and CEO of Good Inside, a parenting platform that gives parents practical tools for raising emotionally healthy kids. Named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME, Dr. Becky is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and host of the chart-topping podcast Good Inside with Dr. Becky.

July 3, 2026 - 8am: Trump continues defending his wealth after $2-billion-dollar disclosure Recap of Former Special Counsel Jack Smith sitting down exclusively with MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace for a wide-ranging interview National Park money funding Trump's DC renovations Ryan Holiday gives us his summer reading list Presidential Historian Doris Kearns Godwin joins live from North Dakota to discuss the opening of the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt.  Maryland Gov. Wes Moore discusses his planned speech tomorrow to serve as counterprogramming to President Trump with a message that Democrats cannot cede 'Patriotism' to Trump To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Life is going to ask you to wait sometimes. There will be people ahead of you. There will be things you need to learn. To be able to do this will take all of the Stoic virtues.

Enjoy it while you have it. Because you're losing a little bit of it everyday.

 If we don't believe we're capable of change, then we are definitely not capable of change.

We are what we do. What we do determines who we can be.

Jo Ellis spent years serving her country as an Army National Guard aviator and Black Hawk helicopter pilot. She wanted to fly, serve, and be part of something bigger than herself. Then, after a deadly aircraft collision over the Potomac, a false rumor spread online claiming Jo was responsible. She was not involved. She was not even there. But because she was a trans service member, the internet turned her into a target.In this episode, Ryan talks with Jo about service, identity, courage, and what it feels like to have your life turned upside down by a lie. They talk about her path from helicopter mechanic to pilot, the SERE training experience that forced her to confront the truth about herself, the cost of being publicly scapegoated, and why one of the most Stoic things we can do is resist the urge to have an opinion about everything.Follow Jo Ellis on Instagram | @JoEllisReallyWatch Jo Ellis on Kill Tony | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WYC-flN8Nc

People fall prey to the same traps—the ones that have existed since the days of Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, indeed for all time.