Podcast appearances and mentions of Marcus Aurelius

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! What is Stoicism? Why does Stoicism matter? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss why Stoicism matters.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com 

https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2026/07/30/frank/If you have searched for help with anxiety or overthinking, YouTube has probably offered you ten Stoic principles that will change your life, or Taoism explained as going with the flow, sometimes in an approximation of Alan Watts's voice.My guest is Frank P. Saunders Jr., a philosopher who works on Chinese thought and who has spent the past couple of years making videos about philosophy and public philosophy. We began with McStoicism, the version of Stoicism made to go down easily and keep you coming back. Of the distortions he identifies, the one he thinks does the most damage is the promise that this is not difficult. When the ten tips do not work, people conclude that Stoicism does not work for them, or that they are the kind of person for whom nothing works. His formulation is that the results were overstated and the effort was understated.The second thing that gets removed is God. Surrendering to a world that is indifferent to you is a different act from aligning yourself with a world that is going somewhere.On emotions, the Stoics did say you should let go of certain feelings, but only because they thought doing so would make you a genuinely better person, someone who could not be shaken by loss or circumstance. The popular version keeps the letting go and loses the point of it. Stoicism was about becoming brave, honest, fair, and useful to the people around you. Marcus Aurelius keeps saying you do this for your community, not for your own calm. However, these are rarely mentioned online in the fast food versions of Stoicism, which ask nothing of you, though they may also give little back. The second half of our chat turns to the problems with AI-generated Alan Watts video and perennialism. Watts would tell a Taoist story, then a Zen story, then something about a Christian choir, and make them all point the same way. Frank's objection is that the traditions are not saying the same thing.On wu wei: Frank argues that nothing done at an expert level is effortless. What changes with mastery is where the effort goes, because the expert knows what to attend to.  Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com/Imi Lo:  imiloimilo.comSister Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Zcl8ZUsu4AePugDoWtXcgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eggshelltransformationsNewsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRzDisclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers  Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content to be clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute professional consultation, psychotherapy, diagnosis, or any mental health intervention.  Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views, and they reserve the right to change their opinions. The opinions of the guest do not reflect the position of this channel or Imi. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken strictly at your own risk.  For a full disclaimer, please refer to: https://www.eggshelltherapy.c...

Marcus Aurelius lacked a freedom that we so readily take for granted...

Hey friends, Chase here. Every summer, I revisit conversations from the archive that have stood the test of time. Not because I'm nostalgic, but because the best ideas don't expire. They deepen. This is another installment of Summer School—the set of episodes I personally return to the most when I'm stuck and need something true to lean on. This one with Ryan Holiday is high on that list. I've gone back to it multiple times this year alone. Ryan is a legend—author, media strategist, New York Times bestselling writer, and the person who brought Stoic philosophy into popular culture for a generation of creatives and entrepreneurs. This conversation is from 2017, before he'd fully hit the stride we know him for now. He'd already published something like six books in five years. He was already a force. And yet you can hear, in this episode, exactly where his work was headed. What stands out isn't just marketing tactics. It's framing. Good marketing isn't only writing good copy or taking a nice product photo. It's making work that starts a discussion. It's asking better questions before you begin. And it's using your own mindset—perception, action, will—to keep going when the creative path gets hard. Those tools were spot on then. They're truer now. Nobody cares what you're thinking about doing. Talk about your ideas after you've started them and then show people what you've done. Summer School: Ryan Holiday on Stoicism, Marketing, and Creating Work That Lasts Ryan dropped out of college at 19 to work with Robert Greene, became director of marketing at American Apparel, and later built Brass Check, advising clients like Google, Tim Ferriss, and Tony Robbins. Then he did something that looked, on paper, like career suicide: he wrote Trust Me, I'm Lying—a book about how marketers, companies, and politicians manufacture and manipulate attention online. Instead of burning his marketing career down, it opened writing as a profession. He began identifying as a writer first—keeping a hand in marketing so he wouldn't only comment from the sidelines. That tension runs through the whole episode: how information spreads, what it means to compete for attention, and how to build work that doesn't disappear after the launch week. At the center is Perennial Seller—the art of making and marketing work that lasts. Not the fidget-spinner hit. Not the trend piece. The Original Pantry Cafe that never closes. The book that sells more copies year after year because it solves a real problem. The boot that gets better the longer you wear it. If you're a creator, entrepreneur, or leader trying to make something that matters—and survive the noise long enough for it to land—this episode is still one of the sharpest in the archive. What You'll Hear in This Episode Why Ryan left New York for a cattle ranch outside Austin—and how distance, physical work, and humility made him better at the cerebral work How Trust Me, I'm Lying mapped the attention economy years before "fake news" became a daily phrase Why modern marketing is less about perfect product shots and more about starting conversations A practical crash course in Stoicism: perception, action, and will Ego vs. confidence—and how to market without marketing to yourself Austin Kleon's line: you can't be the noun without doing the verb What makes a perennial seller—and why industries obsess over "new" while most of their money comes from what lasts The "other 50%": craft gets you in the door; packaging, positioning, relationships, and community finish the race Two questions before every project: Who is this for? What does this do for them? Three Stoic Disciplines for Creatives Ryan's version of Stoicism is deliberately practical. Not academic debate—the art of living. Philosophy for the role you're already in: photographer, founder, writer, leader. He walks through three disciplines: 1. Perception How do you look at the situation? Someone is rude. Your company is in trouble. Your work isn't getting seen. Do you decide it's unfair, impossible, purely negative—or do you look for what you can actually use? The Stoics' move: there's no inherent good or bad—there's how we look at things. We don't control most of what happens to us. We do control the last crucial part: what we tell ourselves it means. Marcus Aurelius did that work through writing—Meditations as a private practice of catching your own mind in the act. 2. Action Seeing differently isn't enough. What do you do with the information? Ryan's favorite cut: Casey Neistat telling someone pitching a business idea, essentially—don't tell me the idea. Tell me when you've started it, then show me what you've made. Thinking about running a marathon doesn't count. Starting does. This is the discipline that kills the fantasy. Ideas are cheap. Execution is the only proof. 3. Will How do you handle the moments when life kicks your ass and you can't reverse them? Ryan tells the Edison story: factory on fire, son shell-shocked, Edison telling him to get his mother—she'll never see a fire like this again. Even what you can't control can still transform you. Hardship is often the filter that keeps everyone who doesn't want it as badly as you do from finishing. If it were easy, there'd be more amateurs—and less value. Perennial Seller (and the Other 50%) The face-palm insight behind Perennial Seller: the New York Times bestseller list doesn't track perennial sellers—yet a huge share of publishing income comes from books that came out years or decades ago. Industry attention chases "new." Durable value often lives elsewhere. Ryan's frame for durable work is almost annoyingly clear: This is a blank that does blank for blank. Who is it for—really? Not "everyone" or "smart people." Actual humans. Where they live. What they do. What does it do for them? His editor's line: it's not what a book is—it's what a book does. Then comes Chase's "other 50%," which Ryan amplifies: making the thing is a marathon. Finishing it doesn't mean you've won. There's a second marathon waiting—marketing, packaging, relationships, platform, the bridge from your desk into someone else's life. "If you build it, they will come" has killed a lot of great work. You're not just competing with peers who launched this week. You're competing with time-tested work that already lives on Netflix, in bookstores, in cultural memory. Title, cover, logo, copy, collaborators—these aren't afterthoughts. They're part of the creative expression. Books have covers because people judge them. Your work does too. And if you're already hunting for shortcuts before you've started? That's a signal. Principles over formulas. The shortcuts get exploited the moment they work for everyone. Timecodes So You Can Jump Around 00:00 – Welcome and why this episode is part of Summer School 04:52 – Ryan Holiday joins; life on a ranch outside Austin 09:14 – From renegade marketer to writer: Trust Me, I'm Lying and how attention spreads 15:05 – Why marketing today means starting a discussion 16:58 – Stoicism as a practical art of living 21:54 – Discipline one: perception 25:34 – Discipline two: action (start it, then show it) 28:47 – Discipline three: will (Edison's fire and transforming hardship) 31:36 – Ego vs. confidence; marketing without marketing to yourself 37:01 – Fall in love with the verb, not the noun 40:14 – Perennial Seller: the art of making work that lasts 47:08 – "This is a blank that does blank for blank" 51:07 – Habits of people who make great work (editors, collaborators, objectivity) 54:47 – The other 50%: craft plus packaging, relationships, and community 01:04:35 – Frameworks: Who is this for? What does this do? 01:19:05 – Daily Stoic, memento mori, and closing thoughts Why This Conversation Still Matters In 2017, Ryan was already describing an attention landscape where your best work competes with cats, outrage, porn, fake news, and infinite other options in the feed. That landscape didn't calm down. It accelerated. What still cuts through is the opposite of trend-chasing: work built on timeless problems, principles that survive platform changes, and the humility to keep doing the verb while everyone else celebrates the noun. When I'm stuck—when the world feels noisy and my own next project feels either too precious or too thin—I come back to this episode for the same reminders: Control how you see it. Take action. Let the hard parts transform you. Ask who it's for and what it does. Don't confuse finishing the making with finishing the work. Fall in love with the craft more than the identity. And don't wait until you feel safe to do the honest version of the thing. That's why it's Summer School material. The platforms changed. The books multiplied. The stakes got louder. The questions held. Keep Going Deeper If this conversation resonates: Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work That Lasts The Obstacle Is the Way Ego Is the Enemy Trust Me, I'm Lying Daily Stoic: dailystoic.com Ryan online: ryanholiday.net Follow Ryan: Website | X/Twitter | Facebook Questions to Reflect On Am I still stuck in "thinking about" the project—or have I started something I can show? Where am I treating a hard situation as a verdict, instead of as information I can act on? Am I marketing to an audience—or marketing to myself? Have I fallen in love with the noun (author, founder, photographer) more than the verb? If I had to fill in "This is a ___ that does ___ for ___," could I do it clearly—today? Where have I finished the making and abandoned the second marathon: positioning, packaging, relationships, community? Am I building on timeless problems—or on platforms and tactics that may not survive the next cycle? The Core Idea Work that lasts isn't the work that wins the news cycle. It's the work that keeps solving something real for someone specific—long after the launch adrenaline fades. Ryan's invitation in this conversation is both simple and demanding: sharpen your perception, take action before you announce, let difficulty refine you, kill the ego that wants applause without evidence, and build for durability instead of novelty. If there's one lesson worth carrying forward from this Summer School session, it's this: Make something that starts a conversation—and lasts long enough to deserve one.

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/

When did we stop asking what we could do better and start looking for someone else to blame? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we examine one of the most common and costly habits in modern life: the blame game, and what Stoic philosophy says about how to break it.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode is an honest look at how blame keeps us stuck, why it feels so comfortable, and what taking real responsibility for our lives actually looks like in practice.The shift did not happen overnight. A teacher approaching retirement described how in her early years, parents would tell underperforming children to work harder. Over time, that finger moved from the child to the teacher, from the self to everything outside it. That shift is not just happening in schools. It is happening in our relationships, our careers, and our inner lives.Epictetus placed blame squarely on the discipline of assent; we are not adding the correct judgment to what is happening. The discipline of desire reminds us that chasing externals makes blaming externals inevitable. And Epictetus described three stages of progress: the beginner blames everyone else, the intermediate blames themselves, and the advanced person simply does the work.The moment you stop blaming is the moment you start growing.Support the showviastoica.comYouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.comNote: In the episode, I attributed the three stages of blame to Marcus Aurelius. This is actually from Epictetus, Enchiridion 5. The wisdom is the same; the source just needed correcting.

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! Are you experiencing an existential crisis? You might feel lost, anxious, depressed, and/or hopeless. Danny and Randy discuss how to overcome an existential crisis.  Check out the Cleveland Clinic's article featured in this episode: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ways-to-overcome-an-existential-crisis/Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com  

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.

Send us Fan MailMost people think legacy is something you build at the end — a monument, an inheritance, a name on a building "someday." That's the first lie. The second one is even more common: legacy is what you leave behind.In this solo episode, I break down the two lies about legacy almost everyone believes — and why both of them are keeping you from building one right now.Inside this episode:• The moving-truck moment that made me question everything I'd chased• The three questions I asked myself in the field — and the sad answer to all three• Why your legacy is a Kairos problem, not a Kronos problem• What Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Deuteronomy actually say about inheritance (hint: it's not the greeting-card version)• Marcus Aurelius vs. the Spartans — and the tension that reframes how you should live today• The one question to ask yourself before you go to bed tonightIf this hit you, share it with one person who needs to hear it today.

In this podcast we will be talking about 7 Ways To Live Like A King from the philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius was an emperor of Rome and a devout student of the philosophy of Stoicism. He constructed a series of autobiographical writings, now known as the Meditations. So here are 7 Ways To Live Like A King  from the philosophy of Marcus Aurelius - 01. Deconstruct the Illusion of Luxury02. Use money as a tool03. Focus on what you can control04. Take a "View from Above"05. Reclaim your Present 06. Choose discomfort07. Do your dutyWe hope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and hope this video, from the philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, helps you live like a king. Even though Marcus Aurelius wrote it 2,000 years ago — his insights on Stoicism still carry strong weight today. Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. Even though it is over 2000 years old, more and more people are discovering how Stoicism is not only relevant to modern times, but can be applied in very simple, yet strong ways. 

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.

The Meditations of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius are perhaps the best-selling self-help book of all time. Rooted in the rational philosophy of the Stoics, the 12 books offer a stream of personal musings on everything from cultivating self-discipline to being a successful leader. Following their episode on Resilience, Nadia, Keir and Jem offer a weird-left perspective on the Meditations, looking at their influence on western thought and current popularity among tech bros and the alt-right. Sign up to the ACFM newsletter: https://novaramedia.com/newsletters Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support

The Meditations of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius are perhaps the best-selling self-help book of all time. Rooted in the rational philosophy of the Stoics, the 12 books offer a stream of personal musings on everything from cultivating self-discipline to being a successful leader. Following their episode on Resilience, Nadia, Keir and Jem offer a weird-left perspective on the Meditations, looking at their influence on western thought and current popularity among tech bros and the alt-right. Sign up to the ACFM newsletter: https://novaramedia.com/newsletters Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support

May the puns be with you. Shayne and Jay crack open a cold one and dig into five Star Wars quotes that hit way harder than you'd expect from a franchise with laser swords and a guy in a black helmet who breathes like he needs a nap. From Qui-Gon Jinn's focus philosophy to Leia's thoughts on hope, this round goes deep. Like, Marcus Aurelius deep.**Topics include:**Why your focus literally determines your reality (and why Anakin forgot that)Obi-Wan's "from a certain point of view" and whether that makes him a liarLeia dropping wisdom bombs in The Last JediA gut-punch quote from Andor that neither of them fully understood but loved anywayThe saddest thing Obi-Wan ever said on Mustafar**Round 321**~~~~~~~**Want more Beer Thursday?** Join the Patreon and get access to bonus content. The next 17 Patrons who sign up at the $10 level get access to the exclusive Beer Thursday Facebook group. Don't miss your spot.

Most speakers assume the flood of AI-generated content is bad news for them. In this solo episode, John Ball argues the opposite: as content gets cheaper and more abundant, a real human voice saying something only they could say becomes harder to ignore, not easier to overlook.John traces why speaking has held power for centuries, from Cicero to Churchill to Martin Luther King, and pulls in a callback to an early conversation with Stoic philosophy expert Donald Robertson on Marcus Aurelius, who treated rhetoric as a discipline rather than decoration. From there, John properly defines what a keynote actually is (and isn't), why the format exists, and why panels, workshops and webinars can't do the same job. He closes with a specific, evidence-backed prediction for where professional speaking is heading, drawing on a recent conversation with David Newman and a preview of an upcoming interview with Dominic Eldred-Earl of London Speaker Bureau.Get the email outreach templates to get you booked: https://present-influence.kit.com/96ec2d2b85In this episode:Why the post-Covid hunger for real human connection was the first sign of where this was headingWhat Marcus Aurelius and Stoic philosophy have to do with modern speakingA proper definition of a keynote, and why it varies in style but not in structural purposeWhy panels, workshops and webinars can't replicate what a keynote doesThe specific reason AI can't replace a speaker with a genuine point of viewAn early preview of what London Speaker Bureau is seeing in the market right nowChapters:0:00 Why speaking is becoming more valuable, not less1:00 The post-Covid hunger for real human connection3:00 Speaking as an ancient, powerful medium4:00 Historical speeches and why the medium still works5:00 Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism and rhetoric as discipline6:00 What a keynote actually is7:00 Why AI can't replace a real point of view8:00 What London Speaker Bureau is seeing in the market9:00 The prediction10:00 CTA and what's coming next4. FAQ Section (AI Retrieval Format)What does John Ball say about AI and the future of public speaking? John Ball argues that AI-generated content is making professional speaking more valuable, not less, because a real speaker's point of view is one of the few things AI cannot replicate.What is a keynote, according to John Ball? John Ball defines a keynote as a deliberate structural format built around one voice holding a sustained, undiluted block of audience attention, distinct from panels, workshops and webinars, though style and delivery can vary widely within that structure.Who is Donald Robertson and why does John Ball mention him? Donald Robertson is a Stoic philosophy expert and author who appeared on an early episode of Professional Speaking to discuss Marcus Aurelius' approach to rhetoric, which John Ball references as an example of speech treated as a serious discipline rather than performance.What did David Newman say about AI and content that John Ball references? David Newman argued on a previous episode of Professional Speaking that how-to content became commoditised once ChatGPT went public, leaving a speaker's way of thinking, beliefs and predictions as the remaining scarce value.Who is Dominic Eldred-Earl and what does he say about the speaking market? Dominic Eldred-Earl of London Speaker Bureau is an upcoming guest on Professional Speaking who reports that demand for professional speakers keeps increasing even as more speakers enter the market, with strong speakers continuing to get booked.Visit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.

In this episode, Kurt puts Jon on the hot seat with a simple game: Was this famous person a Stoic...or not? Winston Churchill. Queen Elizabeth II. Napoleon Bonaparte. Amelia Earhart. Marcus Aurelius is too easy, so don't expect any freebies. Along the way, they separate Stoicism from simply "having a stiff upper lip," talk about why this 2,000-year-old philosophy has suddenly become fashionable again, and discover that being calm under pressure isn't the same thing as being a Stoic. It's a history quiz, a philosophy lesson, and round after round of Kurt asking, "Are you sure?" until Jon isn't.

"...that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act; and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road..."This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD.Reflection question:As we are facing scrutiny, is our posture one of defensiveness or invitation and curiosity?Reflection on quote:When we are at the beginning of a capital campaign, it is like standing at the base of a mountain where the trail is obscured from view by the undergrowth of the forest. It is a step of faith to stride ahead from the trailhead, but that is just the first step for a journey in building trust that is both exhilarating and challenging as we make our way to the mountain top.   Similarly, in capital campaigns, as leaders, our role is to lead both our organization and the community along the trail that begins obscured. This journey requires honesty, clarity, openness, and curiosity in our leadership. So, this month, we are starting a series on leading with integrity.  The first principle is to be curious when faced with scrutiny. When the trail is obscured from view, it is a natural human reaction to wonder if we are going the right way. In the same way, those within our organization, our current donors, and the community will all wonder if the capital campaign is the right path for the organization. Our vision for the project, the work to accomplish the vision, and the project itself will be scrutinized.    We can either become defensive and see the scrutiny as hindrance and obstacle.  Or, we can lead with curiosity and invite the scrutiny to help us be successful in the capital campaign.  We can be curious to use the scrutiny to improve our planning.  And, we can be curious to understand the motivations behind the scrutiny.  Often, those who are scrutinizing the project when invited with curiosity to share their concerns and ask their questions will become the greatest advocates and allies to the capital campaign in our small towns.This work has entered the public domain.What do you think? Send me a text. To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

A new voluntary program at the U.S. Naval Academy is using Stoic philosophy to help midshipmen build resilience, moral clarity, and inner discipline during Plebe Summer. In this episode, we discuss how ancient ideas from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, and Vice Admiral James Stockdale are being applied to modern military leadership—and why spiritual readiness may need to evolve for an increasingly diverse and less religious force.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the fun you're chasing is actually working against you? This week I'm digging into why some fun fades the second it's over, while other fun sticks with you for years — and it comes down to a couple of things researchers can actually explain.I'm also giving you my go-to system, VERITAS, for building fun into your life on purpose — even when things are hard, even when you're short on time. If you've ever felt like you "used to" have more fun, this episode is for you.In This Episode●     Why fun is more than just pleasure — the real ingredients behind it (joy, engagement, and meaning)●     The research on intrinsic motivation (Self-Determination Theory) and why fun you choose beats fun you're told to have●     What the Stoics actually believed about pleasure, and why it still applies today●     My VERITAS system for building real, intentional fun into your life — step by stepQuote of the Week"Very little is needed to make a happy life. It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking and in your way of living."— Marcus AureliusCitations & Sources●     Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. — Self-Determination Theory, on intrinsic motivation and autonomy●     Deci, E. L., Koestner, R., & Ryan, R. M. (1999). A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychological Bulletin.●     Csikszentmihalyi, M. — Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, on flow states and optimal challenge●     Boothby, E. J., Clark, M. S., & Bargh, J. A. (2014). Shared experiences are amplified. Psychological Science.Let's go, let's get it done.Get more information at: http://projectweightloss.org

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

Whenever someone does something to us—minor or major—we always have this choice.

The Strangest Secret was released in 1956. Earl Nightingale’s 35-minute, six-and-a-half-thousand-word recording was one of the earliest motivational tapes. It sold more than a million copies and became the first spoken-word recording to achieve Gold Record status. The recording was released during a period of post-war economic expansion in the United States. Consumer culture was booming, and suburban home ownership was rising. The promise of upward mobility felt tangible for a growing American middle class encouraged to live a story about abundance, opportunity, and individual advancement. In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I look at some of the ideas and assumptions running through The Strangest Secret, and how they echo themes that have become deeply embedded in self-help culture over the past century. https://youtu.be/-t_aynxdw9E What interests me is less whether Nightingale’s advice works than the story he tells about success, failure, responsibility, and human potential. It’s a format followed by generations of motivational speakers, coaches, entrepreneurs, and personal development enthusiasts. It continues to influence how many of us think about ourselves and the world today. I heard about The Strangest Secret through a video by Sean Munger titled The Tools Cult: History of the Amway Motivational Tape Scam. My attention was caught by a reference to Napoleon Hill, who inspired Nightingale when he read Think and Grow Rich in 1948. That book, as well as Nightingale’s tape, became important resources on the Amway reading list. Nightingale’s Definition of Success “When we say about 5% achieve success, we have to define success, and here's the definition. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” This is a reasonable concept. To act in the service of bringing a worthy ideal into being provides a flexible definition that can be applied in many ways. Nightingale says he believes that success is a life lived with a specific sense of purpose and direction. So it’s confusing when he seems to undermine this by viewing success through a financial lens. He suggests that if you follow 100 men between the ages of 25 and 65, you would witness a desire for success at the start of life, but by the time they’re 65, one will be rich, four will be financially independent, five will still be working, and 54 will be broke. This underpins his position that only 5% of people are successful. So which is it? Being financially independent by age 65 or progressively realising a worthy ideal? Those things are not necessarily linked. An artist, a teacher, a carer, or a community organiser, and anyone who does something despite the lack of guaranteed financial reward. By Nightingale’s own definition, these people may well be successful. They are realising a worthy ideal. Yet his framework shifts from an existential definition of success to an economic one, where in reality, a person can only be deemed successful if they make lots of money. Self-Help Tropes Nightingale’s talk conforms with many of the self-help tropes we are becoming familiar with on this journey. The Secret “If you understand completely what I'm going to tell you from this moment on, your life will never be the same again. You will suddenly find that good luck just seems to be attracted to you. The things you want just seem to fall in line and from now on you won't have the problems, the worries, the knowing lump of anxiety that, perhaps, you have experienced before. Doubt, fear, well they'll be things of the past.” The idea of a secret runs through the history of self-help. There is always some missing piece, some hidden principle that, once understood and applied, will change everything. The details vary slightly from book to book, but the structure remains remarkably similar. The reader is invited to believe that happiness, peace, prosperity, confidence, healing, or fulfilment are all waiting on the other side of a single insight. It’s a compelling promise. Nice if true. Metaphor As Evidence Self-help authors often lean on metaphors in ways that make them seem like evidence for a position. Nightingale says, “People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going,” and compares successful people to ships sailing towards a predetermined destination. He then imagines a ship without a captain, crew, or destination and concludes that it will drift aimlessly. The comparison sounds persuasive until you stop and think about it. A ship is designed for a destination. Human beings are not. Some of the richest experiences in life emerge through experimentation, curiosity, accident, and changing direction. A ship without a crew and a destination isn’t fulfilling its literal purpose and reason for existing (built by humans as a logistical tool). A human is not the same. There are many reasons people choose not to structure their lives around the pursuit of goals. “The man who has no goal, who doesn't know where he is going and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion and anxiety and fear and worry, becomes what he thinks about. His life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry and if he thinks about nothing, he becomes nothing.” I would suggest that many successful people function effectively without the kind of goals Nightingale advocates. And people who have focused so obsessively on a single drive that they’ve lost important things like their health, relationships, and meaningful hobbies. Cherry-Picked Quotes Like many self-help authors, Nightingale draws on the authority of famous thinkers. One example is his quotation of Marcus Aurelius: “a man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” I couldn’t find this in any of the translations of Meditations I checked, suggesting it is more likely a paraphrase than a direct quotation. The same pattern appears in his use of William James. Nightingale focuses on James’s claim that if you wish to be rich, learned, or good, you can become those things. “If you only care enough for a result, you will almost certainly ascertain it. If you wish to be rich, you will be rich. If you wish to be learned, you will be learned. If you wish to be good, you will good. Only you must then really wish these things and wish them exclusively and not wish at the same time a hundred other compatible things just as strongly.” To achieve something extraordinary requires excluding countless other possibilities. What happens when wealth becomes the exclusive organising principle of a life? What gets pushed aside? Relationships? Leisure? Health? Community? James seems at least as interested in that question as he is in achievement itself. Nightingale doesn’t acknowledge this. The Strangest Quote of Them All Perhaps the most confusing quote he uses is from George Bernard Shaw, who said, “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them, make them.” It sounds like Shaw was spouting a self-help slogan. But this sounded strange to me because Shaw was a committed socialist and a leading member of the Fabian Society. He spent much of his life criticising the idea that individuals simply rise or fall according to personal merit. He repeatedly explored how economic and social structures shape people’s lives in his plays. Throughout his work, Shaw explored the relationship between individual agency and the social conditions people inherit. So where did this quote come from? It is actually a line spoken by the character Vivie Warren in Mrs Warren’s Profession, not by Shaw directly. As with any playwright, author, or comedian, we need to be careful about treating a character’s words as the artist’s personal philosophy. Charles Dickens (Fagin – Oliver Twist) The Obligatory Call To Action (and disclaimer) Like any good self-help talk, Nightingale finishes with a challenge. Write down what you want more than anything else. Carry it with you. Look at it every day. Maintain a positive outlook and give more than you’ve ever given before. The framework handles failure with a familiar disclaimer. If the method works, it gets the credit. If it doesn’t work, responsibility falls back on the individual. You didn’t believe enough, weren’t committed enough, lost focus, or didn’t give what was required. This secret is neither particularly strange nor surprising. It is a derivative of Napoleon Hill. In fact, it’s almost identical to what he wrote in Think and Grow Rich. There is always another level of effort required and another reason success remains just beyond reach. The possibility that the promise itself might be flawed rarely enters the conversation. My Enduring Question There is a gap between the question Nightingale starts with and the answer he arrives at. As a child growing up in poverty, he wanted to understand why some people prospered while others struggled. It’s an interesting question to explore. It opens up the potential to probe into themes of opportunity, power, ownership, luck, and the socio-economic landscape of society itself. Yet by the end of The Strangest Secret, that complexity has been replaced by a one-dimensional explanation and cure. Inequality is a direct product of our thoughts, goals, and willingness to work in the service of our personal dream. This move has become so familiar within self-help culture that it can be difficult to notice. Social questions become personal. Structural problems are solved by mindset. Inequality becomes a failure of ambition, and burnout becomes a failure of attitude. More than seventy years after The Strangest Secret was released, people are still being sold variations of the same promise. Support My Work It takes me time to research, produce, and edit these episodes. You can support me by sending a one-off donation or join us in the membership.

During the 170s of the common era, while ruling an empire and often away from Rome, Marcus Aurelius wrote notes to himself in Greek. What survived is not a public book. It is a private notebook, the Meditations, sentences a man wrote to remind himself how to live.This is a short morning practice built from eight lines drawn from the Meditations. Some are close to verbatim, others are rendered in modern English to be repeatable in the mouth and the mind. Between each line there is a little silence. At the end, one quiet commitment for the day ahead.These were notes he wrote to himself. We are not the first to need them. Free 7-Day Stoic Challenge: stoicchallenge.coThe Stoic Vault: stoicvault.com

Bible Thumper Thursday

This episode explores the Stoic partnership between foresight and acceptance. Preparing for setbacks doesn't mean expecting misery—it means building the resilience to meet difficulty without being overwhelmed. With Philo's calm readiness, Rumi's guest house, and Marcus Aurelius's reminder that obstacles can become part of the path, we can meet whatever arrives with confidence and imagination.

Bishop Jim's insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow In Part 3 of the Seated in Heavenly Places series, delivered on Father’s Day and the Summer Solstice, Bishop Jim Swilley teaches that heaven is not a future destination but a present reality that believers are called to manifest on earth. Using the story of the rich young ruler, reflections on fatherhood, chosen family, and principles from Marcus Aurelius, he challenges listeners to release victimhood, abandon unmet expectations, protect their joy, and embrace their divine identity. The message centers on the idea that fullness of joy is found when we stop allowing past injuries and other people’s limitations to define us and instead recognize that we are already seated in heavenly places. Key Quote “There’s nothing holier than protecting your joy and keeping your joy at the highest level.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Scriptures Referenced Main Text Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Heaven on Earth Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Binding and Loosing Matthew 18:18 “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Rich Young Ruler Mark 10:17-31 Hundredfold Family Mark 10:29-30 “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother… but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time…” Firstborn Among Many Brethren Romans 8:29 The Great I AM John 18:4-6 The Fall Through Misperception Genesis 3:5 Genesis 3:11 Abiding in What Was Heard From the Beginning 1 John 2:24 Kingdom of God Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Soft Answer Proverbs 15:1 Whole Armor of God Ephesians 6:11 Symbolic Allusions Revelation 21:18-21 (streets of gold, gates of pearl, precious stones) Main Takeaways 1. You Are Already Seated in Heavenly Places The foundation of the message is that heaven is not something believers are trying to reach after death. According to Paul, we are already seated in heavenly places. Bishop teaches that heaven is our point of origin, not our destination. Rather than waiting to experience heaven someday, we are called to express heaven through our lives right now. Scripture: Ephesians 2:6 2. Your Purpose Is to Bring Heaven to Earth Bishop emphasized that each person carries a unique expression of heaven that only they can release into the world. When Jesus taught: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” He was teaching believers to become agents of heaven’s influence. You were born to bring something into the earth that did not exist before you arrived. Scripture: Matthew 6:10 3. Stop Comparing Your Journey to Someone Else’s Every person has a unique calling and destiny. Bishop reminded listeners that Jesus was completely original, and believers are called to walk in that same confidence. “Never let the Pharisees in your life shake you.” The goal is not imitation but authenticity. Scripture: Romans 8:29 4. The Rich Young Ruler’s Problem Was Attachment In Mark 10, the rich young ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Bishop points out that Jesus was not creating a doctrine about money. Instead, He was exposing the man’s attachment to something he was unwilling to release. Anything we refuse to release can become a barrier to spiritual freedom. Scripture: Mark 10:17-31 5. Chosen Family Is Part of the Kingdom One of the most powerful Father’s Day themes involved Jesus’ promise that those who lose family relationships will receive fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers in return. Bishop explained that many people spend their lives waiting for parents or relatives to become something they were never capable of being. Healing begins when we stop demanding from people what they cannot provide. The Kingdom supplies family in unexpected ways. Scripture: Mark 10:29-30 6. Let Go of Unmet Expectations A major thread throughout the message was learning to release expectations. Whether it’s children, parents, friends, or spouses, constantly expecting others to fulfill emotional needs creates disappointment. Bishop shared personal stories about Father’s Day and choosing gratitude instead of waiting for validation. Joy increases when expectations decrease. 7. Reject the Sense of Injury Quoting Marcus Aurelius, Bishop taught: “Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.” This does not mean denying injustice. It means refusing to build an identity around being wounded. Many people continue suffering from events long after the event itself has passed because they continually replay the injury. Freedom begins when we stop identifying as victims. 8. Forgiveness Is About Freedom Forgiveness is not saying someone was right. Forgiveness is refusing to continue paying emotional interest on an old debt. Bishop explained that bitterness often hurts the wounded person more than the original offender. When we forgive, we reclaim our power. 9. Protect Your Holy of Holies Bishop compared the human spirit to the Temple. Not everyone deserves unrestricted access to your inner world. Healthy boundaries are not selfish. Healthy boundaries are stewardship. Some people must be loved from a distance if they continually threaten your peace. Scripture: Ephesians 6:11 10. Joy Is Your Responsibility One of the strongest messages of the morning was that no one else is responsible for your joy. Not your parents. Not your spouse. Not your children. Not your employer. Not society. You are the steward of your own emotional and spiritual environment. Protecting your joy is sacred work. Scripture: Romans 14:17 Father’s Day Application Bishop encouraged listeners to bless their fathers regardless of the complexity of the relationship. Rather than focusing on what was missing, he challenged people to honor the role those relationships played in bringing them to where they are today. “They were part of your journey to get you here. Bless them with a yes.” The message was not about pretending pain never happened. It was about refusing to allow old wounds to determine present joy. Final Thought The heart of this message is that fullness of joy becomes possible when we stop viewing ourselves through the lens of injury and start seeing ourselves through the lens of heaven. You are not trying to get to heaven. You are already seated there. Now the assignment is to bring that reality into every relationship, every challenge, every conversation, and every part of your life. “The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)

For free masterclass : Click here People-pleasing isn't a habit you can simply decide to quit. It's your nervous system running a survival program that was wired in long before you ever had a say in it. And the moment you understand that, everything starts to shift, because you finally stop fighting the wrong thing.In this episode I walk you through the six faces this survival response wears, the disguises your nervous system learned to put on to keep you safe. You'll almost certainly recognise yourself in more than one, and maybe in all of them. Then I show you what's actually happening in your brain when you live this way, why every wisdom tradition on earth points to the same way back, and the one small practice that starts to bring you home to yourself.The six faces: The Perfectionist. The Peacekeeper. The Caretaker. The Performer. The Chameleon. And the Lone Wolf, the one almost nobody even calls people-pleasing.In this episode:Why "set boundaries, stop caring, just love yourself" never actually worksWhat people-pleasing really is, the fawn response, and why these patterns are blends, not boxesWhat chronic people-pleasing does to your brain, and how safety brings your thinking back onlineWhy losing connection to yourself quietly costs you in every area of your lifeHow presence brings you home, and the simple daily practice that starts itKey takeaways:People-pleasing is not a character flaw or a willpower problem. It's the fawn response, a survival reaction named by therapist Pete Walker.It shows up in six forms: the Perfectionist, the Peacekeeper, the Caretaker, the Performer, the Chameleon, and the Lone Wolf. Most people are a blend of several.Chronic people-pleasing keeps the brain in a low-grade threat state, which reduces access to the prefrontal cortex, the part you think and decide with.Reconnecting to yourself is a trainable act of attention called interoception, not a vibe or a mood.Losing touch with your own needs measurably lowers self-esteem and wellbeing, shown in Jennifer Campbell's research on self-concept clarity.The way back is presence, the same answer every major wisdom tradition arrived at independently.FAQ: Q: What is the fawn response? A: The fawn response is a survival reaction in which you keep yourself safe by keeping other people happy. Therapist Pete Walker named it as a fourth response alongside fight, flight, and freeze, and it's the pattern underneath chronic people-pleasing.Q: What are the six types of people-pleaser? A: The Perfectionist, the Peacekeeper, the Caretaker, the Performer, the Chameleon, and the Lone Wolf. They're not rigid boxes. Most people are a blend, and they all share one root, a lost connection to yourself.Q: Is people-pleasing a trauma response? A: Often, yes. People-pleasing frequently develops early as a way to stay safe in an unpredictable or high-conflict environment, which is why willpower alone rarely changes it.Q: How do you actually stop people-pleasing? A: Not by forcing more boundaries, but by rebuilding your connection to yourself through presence. A simple start is to pause three times a day and ask your body one question, what is true for me here, before you answer for anyone else.Mentioned in this episode:Pete Walker, Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving (the fawn response)Meg Josephson, LCSW, Are You Mad at Me? (the six types)Amy Arnsten, Yale (stress and the prefrontal cortex)Bud Craig (interoception and the insula)Jennifer Campbell (self-concept clarity)The wisdom traditions: the Upanishads, Buddhist buddha-nature, Marcus Aurelius, Psalm 46, the Qur'an, Rumi, and EmersonFurther reading on interoception:Sarah Garfinkel and Hugo Critchley (interoceptive accuracy and emotion)Lisa Feldman Barrett (interoception and the constructed sense of self)Ready to come home to yourself? I've created a free masterclass that walks you through the steps. Watch it here: https://www.amenkaur.com/masterclassStarting Over, Being You with Dr Amen Kaur bridges neuroscience and grounded spirituality for women rebuilding their sense of self. New episodes weekly.people pleasing, people pleaser, how to stop people pleasing, fawn response, fawn trauma response, nervous system, nervous system regulation, survival mode, boundaries, self-abandonment, perfectionism, caretaker, codependency, presence, self-connection, interoception, anxiety, self-worth, Meg Josephson, Pete Walker

What does it really mean when a man says, "That's just who I am"? In this episode of The Upgraded Man, host Chris Anderson sits down with Arky Jones, founder of Personality Peak and a lifelong student of stoicism, to unpack why that phrase is usually an excuse rather than an identity. Born in England and now based in Australia, Arky brings a hard-won perspective shaped by military training, a serious injury, and a complete rebuild of his life and purpose. Together they explore how self-awareness, radical ownership, and small daily upgrades can pull any man out of complacency and into a fuller, more deliberate way of living. This is a direct, no-excuses conversation about change, responsibility, and becoming the man you actually want to be. In this episode: Why "personality is a mirror, not a label" and how seeing yourself clearly changes everything The truth about self-awareness for men and why it is not the "woo woo" stuff you think How the locus of control separates what you can own from what you must release Stoicism made practical, from Marcus Aurelius's Meditations to the choices you make every day Why surrender can be a strength instead of a weakness The hidden danger of comfort and how it quietly kills growth, hunger, and purpose Needs versus wants, and how chasing image and status drains your life energy Facing your "unopened bills" and demons head-on instead of delaying the consequence Why modern men have lost their tribe, their role, and their mission, and how to begin reclaiming it The 1% better philosophy you can apply in any moment of any day to compound real change Arky's story of shattering his pelvis in Royal Marines training and the pivot that rebuilt his life Connect with Arky Jones at Personality Peak (personalitypeak.com) to take the free five-minute personality insight tool and uncover your blind spots. This episode may or may not be sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, meaning we'll receive a small commission if you buy something.===========================⚡️ PODCAST: Subscribe and listen on all major platforms⚡️ Want to be a guest on The Upgraded Man? Apply here ➡ https://upgraded-man.com/guest⚡️ For support or business inquiries, email us ➡ chris@upgraded-man.com Our mission at The Upgraded Man is simple — help men upgrade every area of their life through real conversations, honest stories, and actionable insight from men who have done the work.The content on The Upgraded Man is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not constitute professional legal, financial, medical, or therapeutic advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on information discussed on this podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some fathers show us who to become. Others show us who not to become.In this Father's Day weekend episode, Ryan looks at two very different examples of fatherhood. First, he reflects on Marcus Aurelius and the extraordinary influence of Antoninus Pius, the adopted father who taught him compassion, humility, discipline, responsibility, and how to hold power without being changed by it.Then Ryan talks with Tom Junod about the harder side of inheritance: what it means to love a father who caused pain, kept secrets, inspired fear, and still shaped the man his son became. Tom's new book, In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man, is about masculinity, moral injury, family secrets, and the lifelong work of deciding which parts of your father you carry forward and which parts you refuse to repeat.Tom Junod is senior writer for ESPN, where his work has won an Emmy and the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting. He is a two-time winner of the National Magazine Award for Feature Writing, and a winner of the James Beard Award for essay writing. Previously he was a staff writer at GQ and Esquire. The film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood was based on his article in Esquire. Follow Tom on Instagram | @tom_junod

Get The 1.6:1 Ratio System: https://go.justinegliskis.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=book_funnelApply to work 1:1 with me: https://calendly.com/egliskiscapital/90-day-gameplan-sessionEmail: hey@justinegliskis.com to get in contact with meNew episodes out every Monday and Thursday at 10 AM Eastern TimeLegacy is not what you leave, it's what you live. Obsessing over how you'll be remembered is missing the point entirely.The part of you that wants to be remembered is the part preventing you from remembering what you actually are. Marcus Aurelius: don't burden yourself imagining your entire future at once. Get with it or get dragged by it—you're in a current, the question is how quickly you stop swimming against God's intelligence. Tribulation, no quit. Tribulation, no quit. The shadow is the T-shirt that hasn't been wrung out yet—just squeeze it till the water's gone. It wasn't overnight. And then it was.King Arthur sent his knights into the darkest part of the forest voluntarily. That's the presence principle—living so fully now that the future takes care of itself. Small things: clean, mop, get the haircut, write down 8 birthdays, show up when no one's watching.Listen if you're ready to stop building a legacy and start living one. I love you. Let's fucking go.Discover a podcast designed for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, offering insights on stress management, health and wellness, and overcoming imposter syndrome, while emphasizing work-life balance, energy alignment, and inner peace; explore topics like burnout recovery, business automation, scaling a business, business growth strategies, client management, mental resilience, overcoming anxiety, and achieving clearer thinking for sustainable success, using the blade of awareness, solving emotional dysfunction and unveiling the trickster within. Experience transformative solitude for entrepreneurs who seek to overcome loneliness while embracing spiritual isolation as a pathway to energy alignment and emotional clarity; learn to thrive alone and awaken in solitude through purposeful mental reset practices that cultivate an abundance mindset and build emotional resilience rooted in inner peace and deep self-inquiry, enabling mindful business growth through productivity that flows from peace rather than pressure, offering essential burnout recovery and healing alone strategies with specialized alignment coaching focused on deep listening skills that unlock success in silence and develop a resilient entrepreneur mindset capable of sustainable achievement.

This episode explores gratitude as a Stoic practice, emphasizing the transformative power of attention. By imagining what we might have already lost—or even our own death—we can reawaken appreciation for ordinary moments: a conversation, a child's question, a walk with a pet. Marcus Aurelius calls this the “bonus” life, a reminder that presence and awareness turn the everyday into something precious.

Cathy and Todd discuss Gladiator, released in 2000 and directed by Ridley Scott, it stars Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the Emperor’s son Commodus, who murders his own father Marcus Aurelius to seize power, then orders the execution of Maximus and his entire family. Sold into slavery and forced into the arena, Maximus fights his way back to Rome for one purpose: vengeance. With a box office of $466 million, five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe, and a Hans Zimmer score that became one of the bestselling soundtracks of all time, the film didn’t just succeed, it reinvented an entire genre and inspired everything from HBO’s Rome to The Hunger Games. It’s filled with unforgettable lines like, “What we do in life echoes in eternity” and “Are you not entertained?”, and it happens to be one of Cathy’s all-time favorite movies. Subscribe to Cathy's weekly Zen Moment and upgrade to hear a weekly Zen Moment podcast hosted by Cathy and Todd! Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World

Have you ever used AI to get answers to philosophical questions? What are the top ten philosophical questions people ask AI? In this episode, Danny and Randy answer the top ten philosophical questions people ask AI.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com

Want to work with Muscle Intelligence?  Apply Now Most men try to out-discipline their emotions and wonder why they still snap, freeze, or stew at the worst possible moment. Donald Robertson, the cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist who wrote the book on thinking like a Roman emperor, has spent three decades proving there's a better operating system. Drawing on the same Stoic playbook that ran an empire, he and Ben discuss why composure isn't suppression, why the calmest man in the room is almost never the one trying hardest to stay calm, and where the real leverage hides inside every reaction you have. The edge, it turns out, lives in a gap most people never notice… the split second between what happens to you and what you make it mean. Robertson breaks down the two-phase machinery behind anger and anxiety, the reason your meditation practice keeps failing you the moment you actually need it, and the counterintuitive move Marcus Aurelius used to command loyalty when his own generals turned against him. If you've built the career, the body, and the bank account and still get hijacked by your own nervous system, this is the conversation that explains why — and what the most self-possessed men in history did about it. 5 Key Takeaways Why every emotion arrives in two phases and why elite composure is decided entirely in the second one The reason willpower backfires, and what Stoics trained instead Why your meditation and journaling don't transfer to high-pressure moments (and the fix) The leadership move that made Marcus Aurelius untouchable even during a civil war How to model real composure for your kids without pretending to be perfect Chapters 0:00 Meeting Donald Robertson 4:30 From Therapy to Stoicism 7:47 Virtue As the Only True Good 10:14 Why Success Can Feel Empty 14:25 Why Meditation Leaves You Exposed 16:00 The Pause Before You React 22:21 Why Only Three Stoics Survived 27:16 Marcus Aurelius: Power and War 38:08 How an Emperor Truly Led 45:44 Stoicism in the Therapy Room 50:49 Is Anything Really "Bad"? 55:13 The Socratic Test of Success 1:00:41 A Lightning Tour of Philosophy 1:09:42 Modeling Wisdom for Your Kids 1:16:00 The Two Phases of Emotion 1:21:50 Why Studying Stoicism from Soundbites Fail You 1:29:01 Where to Find Donald Connect with Donald Substack – https://donaldrobertson.substack.com Website – https://donaldrobertson.name

Join us at the intersection of Stoic philosophy and Masonic practice. Bro. Franklin Rings discusses how Marcus Aurelius' writings on “Vices” inform the use of our Working Tools. Learn how to view vices not as unique failures, but as common distractions that challenge the independence of the mind.Show notes and links: Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our FREE American History "Summer School" online course with Arizona State University, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!Yes, we're on Instagram.Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.

Marcus Aurelius is the most quoted philosopher on the internet, and his private journal shows a man who kept failing at the thing he's famous for. He struggled to get out of bed. He needed ten separate strategies to manage his temper. Near the end of his life he wrote, to himself, that he was "far from philosophy."In this episode I read the passages most Stoicism channels skip. The two getting-out-of-bed debates, four books apart. The brutal self-talk about caring what people think. The procrastination confession. The contradiction of Commodus and the gladiatorial games. And the old distinction that makes sense of all of it: the sage versus the Stoic in training. Marcus knew which one he was.If you've ever felt like a fraud for relearning the same lesson again and again, this one is for you.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/h1Rm4Cv_aQY Free 7-Day Stoic Challenge: stoicchallenge.coThe Stoic Vault: stoicvault.com

You haven't done anything yet, and the voice is already running its commentary. Too slow, too weak, not enough. The day hasn't started and you're already failing in advance. This guided Stoic practice works with the inner critic directly — not to silence it, but to strip it of the authority it doesn't deserve.You'll practise the Stoic technique of examining your impressions: separating the bare facts from the judgements your mind adds automatically. Drawing on Epictetus's principle that it's not events but our judgements about them that disturb us, and on Marcus Aurelius's habit of asking "what is this thing in itself, stripped of my story?" — you'll learn to recognise the critic's voice as opinion, not fact.For best results, listen every morning for 30 days. The critic gets quieter when you stop agreeing with it.For mornings when the issue is letting go of what already happened, try "Stoic Morning Practice: Let Go Of What You Can't Control" — part of the same daily series.Free 7-Day Stoic Challenge: stoicchallenge.coThe Stoic Vault: stoicvault.com

This episode returns philosophy to its ancient meaning: not something merely studied, but something lived. Pierre Hadot shows that figures like Marcus Aurelius practiced philosophy through daily self-examination rather than abstract theory. With four simple Stoic reminders—unity, moral good, human kinship, and the present moment—we offer a practical foundation for living like a philosopher.

A CMO Confidential Interview with Joe Gagliese, Co-Founder and CEO at Viral Nation, a full-service digital and social agency. Joe discusses the concept of social as "the people's media," details why he believes "discovery begins with social" and outlines how brands might think about becoming "social centered." Key topics include:Why social has become a prerequisite for certain categoriesQuestions to ask your social agencyWhy measurement is still a bit of an Achilles heelHow to think of social as a living organism which works in concert with the rest of your marketingTune in to hear why social is so important for autos and thoughts on reading Marcus Aurelius.⏱️ Chapters01:12 - Introduction to CMO Confidential01:42 - Introducing Joe Gagliese02:46 - Defining "Social First"05:40 - Social Strategy as a Behavioral System08:03 - The Prerequisite of Radical Transparency12:11 - Transitioning to a Social-First Organization15:03 - Maintaining Authenticity with Creators17:33 - Steps to Develop a Social-First Strategy20:20 - Determining Brand Readiness22:01 - Measuring Social Performance and Conversion25:18 - Five Questions to Ask Social Agencies28:28 - Common Mistakes in Social Marketing30:10 - Practical Advice and Closing RemarksThis episode is sponsored by Typeface - the agentic AI marketing platform that turns one idea into thousands of on-brand assets. Learn more: typeface.ai/cmo.Subscribe for weekly episodes featuring world-class marketing leaders, board members, and C-Suite executives.#CMOConfidential, #MarketingLeadership, #BrandStrategy, #CorporateActivism, #MarketingStrategy, #CMO, #AIinMarketing, #ExecutiveLeadership, #BrandReputation, #ConsumerTrust, #DigitalMarketing, #MarketingInsights, #ThoughtLeadership, #BusinessStrategy, #CustomerCentricSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Born in 103, he was a philosopher from the Samaritan town of Shechem in Palestine, who had devoted his life to the search for truth, trying many philosophical schools and sources of human wisdom: the Stoics, the Peripatetics, the Pythagoreans and finally the Platonists. One day an old man (whose name and origin are unknown) appeared to him and spoke to him of the Prophets and Apostles who had learned of God not by their own wisdom, but by revelation of God Himself. He read the scriptures and was convinced of the truth of the Faith, but he would not be baptised or call himself a Christian until he had tested all the pagans' arguments against Christianity. To this end he traveled to Rome, where he engaged in debate at philosophical gatherings, impressing all with his wisdom. In Rome he also witnessed the martyrdom of Sts Ptolemy and Lucian; this moved him to write an Apologia for the Christian faith and the Christian people, which he gave to the Emperor Antoninus and the Senate. They were so moved by this document that the Emperor ordered that persecution of Christians should cease.   For the remainder of his life, Justin devoted all his skills to the proclamation of the Gospel and the defense of Christians. To the end of his life, wherever he preached Christ, he always wore his philosopher's garb. In addition to his Apologia, he wrote a number of other learned defenses of the faith.   Eventually he was imprisoned following the false accusations of Crescens, a jealous Cynic philosopher. He died (one source says by beheading, another by poison) in Rome in 167 under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, successor to Antoninus.

There are some situations where panic is not an option. In today's episode, Ryan talks with Senator Mark Kelly about what his years as a Navy pilot, test pilot, and NASA astronaut taught him about fear, focus, humility, and staying calm under pressure. They discuss the lessons of spaceflight, the danger of ego in high-stakes moments, Marcus Aurelius' “view from above,” and what real leadership requires in today's world.Senator Mark Kelly is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. Before entering public service, he served as a U.S. Navy combat pilot, test pilot, and captain. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996 and flew four space shuttle missions: STS-108, STS-121, STS-124, and STS-134, commanding the final two. Over the course of his NASA career, he spent more than 54 days in space. After his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was shot in an assassination attempt in 2011, Kelly retired from the Navy and NASA later that year. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 in the special election for the seat once held by Senator John McCain, and was reelected to a full term in 2022.

Stoic Morning Meditation — Ancient Wisdom for Anxiety Relief | Calm Your Mind | Guided Meditation━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Our A2A Course is live and at 40% off until Friday, May 29th at 1pm ET. Visit https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course to sign up NOW!!Marcus Aurelius said it nearly two thousand years ago: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own. On this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider sit down with Andy Riise... army officer, mental performance coach for NFL athletes including the Chicago Bears, and host of the Skull Sessions podcast... to break down the approval trap and why it's quietly running most men's lives.Will lays the biological foundation. Fear of negative evaluation, FNE, is one of the most studied patterns in clinical psychology. Your brain processes social rejection through the same neural circuits it uses for physical pain. Getting dismissed in a meeting registers the same way getting punched does. That's evolutionary wiring, not weakness.The guys get into the spotlight effect (Cornell research showing people overestimate how much others notice them by roughly double), Andy's story of deliberately sitting with a different group at the West Point prep school mess hall, and Alyssa Liu's gold medal comeback after quitting figure skating to rediscover why she loved it in the first place.Jon, Will, and Andy walk through how FNE shows up in daily life: the yes-man pattern at work that stalls careers, the reassurance-seeking in relationships that erodes attraction, the Disney dad trap of buying approval instead of earning respect, and the deepest layer... the ghost. Most men are performing for one or two specific people from their past, and they've been doing it for decades.Andy teaches the BASS framework he uses with NFL athletes for real-time emotional regulation. Will adds a values audit and a spotlight effect experiment. And Jon talks about how purpose is the single biggest antidote to approval-seeking, which ties directly into the A2A (Awareness to Action) course launching through Focus Now Training.What you'll hear in this episode:Why social rejection activates the same brain circuits as physical painThe spotlight effect: half as many people are watching you as you thinkAndy's West Point mess hall story and why crossing social lines is the real macho moveAlyssa Liu's gold medal run and the next-play mindsetHow FNE shows up at work, in relationships, with kids, and in communityThe ghost concept: who you're still performing for decades laterBASS framework: Breathe, Accept, Separate, ShiftMotivational interviewing basics: OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summarizing)Purpose as the antidote to approval-seekingAndy's podcast: Skull Sessions (available everywhere) Andy's TEDx talk: Fight to Win the War from WithinFull episode: https://pod.fo/e/3abd25Text MTM to 33777 for updates on new episodes, the A2A course, and resources from Focus Now Training.Jon's book, DIAL in Your Leadership: 4 Non-negotiables for Leading with Clarity, Trust, and Purpose, is available now on Amazon. https://a.co/d/0hYwI2SzFollow Men Talking Mindfulness, Jon Macaskill, and Will Schneider for more.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Marcus Aurelius, despite being emperor of Rome, still made time every day to write in his journal, examining his thoughts and actions. He understood that wisdom required ongoing effort—not once, but continually throughout life.

Seneca and Marcus Aurelius and Cato were all concerned about their declining institutions. But unlike us, as we read about these historical events, they did not know how they would end.

This is the day to change your life. A new day is in front of us. As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, it's a tragedy to cling to being the person you've always been.

On Club Random Classics, Bill Maher and Jerry Seinfeld get into the gift Bill gave Jerry, Jerry's obsessive attention to detail, the car he picked Bill up in for Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and how both of their relationships to success, stand-up, and performing have evolved over time. They also talk about the mistakes Bill made reading comedy crowds, Lorne Michaels' philosophy on retirement, the ruthless side of Johnny Carson, whether bad crowds really exist, why people instinctively pick apart compliments, and the enduring wisdom of Marcus Aurelius. This episode originally aired May 5, 2024. Support our Advertisers: Head to https://www.superpower.com and use code RANDOM at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod Subscribe to the Club Random YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/clubrandompodcast?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch episodes ad-free – subscribe to Bill Maher's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://billmaher.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/ClubRandom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Club Random Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://clubrandom.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices ABOUT CLUB RANDOM Bill Maher rewrites the rules of podcasting the way he did in television in this series of one on one, hour long conversations with a wide variety of unexpected guests in the undisclosed location called Club Random. There's a whole big world out there that isn't about politics and Bill and his guests—from Bill Burr and Jerry Seinfeld to Jordan Peterson, Quentin Tarantino and Neil DeGrasse Tyson—talk about all of it.  For advertising opportunities please email: PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com ABOUT BILL MAHER Bill Maher was the host of “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC) from 1993-2002, and for the last fourteen years on HBO's “Real Time,” Maher's combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 40 Emmy nominations. Maher won his first Emmy in 2014 as executive producer for the HBO series, “VICE.” In October of 2008, this same combination was on display in Maher's uproarious and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, “Religulous.” Maher has written five bestsellers: “True Story,” “Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? Politically Incorrect's Greatest Hits,” “When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden,” “New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer,” and most recently, “The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass.” FOLLOW CLUB RANDOM https://www.clubrandom.com https://www.facebook.com/Club-Random-101776489118185 https://twitter.com/clubrandom_ https://www.instagram.com/clubrandompodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@clubrandompodcast FOLLOW BILL MAHER https://www.billmaher.com https://twitter.com/billmaher https://www.instagram.com/billmaher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

General Jim Mattis has spent his life proving that philosophy is not just for the classroom. In today's episode, Margaret Hoover interviews General Mattis, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, and Ryan about why philosophy matters most when things are difficult. They discuss how leaders fall back on their first principles in a crisis, and what Marcus Aurelius, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln can still teach us about courage, citizenship, and character today.

In honor of Mother's Day, Ryan talks with Donald Robertson about the powerful influence Marcus Aurelius' mother had on his life and philosophy. Even though Stoicism is usually talked about as a philosophy shaped by men, Marcus' mother may have been his first and most important model of Stoic character, shaping the virtues he would spend his life trying to practice.Donald Robertson is a writer, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and trainer. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). Donald specializes in teaching evidence-based psychological skills, and is known as an expert on the relationship between modern psychotherapy (CBT) and classical Greek and Roman philosophy.Listen to the full episode with Donald Robertson: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeSubstackX: @donjrobertsonIG: @donaldjrobertson