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This is what philosophy is about, what discipline is as a virtue: Doing things you don't want to do.Let's not write the year off just yet. The Daily Stoic New Year New You challenge is opening back up for a limited time. Learn more and sign up today at dailystoic.com/challenge.
Bert Kreischer wants to be Stoic. It just doesn't come naturally. In this episode, he talks with Ryan about why Stoicism feels almost impossible for him, why criticism still gets under his skin, his hot take on why Nero may have been a good emperor, and some truly insane stories from his life.Bert Kreischer is a stand up comedian, actor, and podcast host of 2 Bears, 1 Cave. You can watch both his comedy special The Machine and now his latest show, Free Bert, on Netflix! Follow Bert on Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube Bert's new series Free Bert is officially out on Netflix! Watch Here: https://www.netflix.com/title/81696123
What does it mean to live wisely in a loud, distracted, and often reactive world?Ryan Holiday—bestselling author and modern Stoic philosopher—returns to explore how wisdom actually works… not as a theory or a prize of age, but as a daily practice of reflection, humility, and courage.Ryan breaks down why wisdom takes work, how Stoic philosophy applies to modern parenting and leadership, and why the ability to think deeply and act deliberately might be the rarest skill in today's world. This conversation goes beyond ideas — it's about living wisely when life feels anything but quiet.You'll learn:How to treat wisdom as a practice, not an identityWhy wisdom demands both courage and humilityThe key to raising thoughtful kids in a noisy worldHow to find calm and clarity in times of distraction and divisionWhy discernment is the superpower for the age of AI and misinformation__________________________________________________Links & ResourcesSubscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This is how teenagers have been for all time. So why do we take their personality so personally?Let's not write the year off just yet. The Daily Stoic New Year New You challenge is opening back up for a limited time. Learn more and sign up today at dailystoic.com/challenge.
Forget party, forget class, forget any perceived differences: We must speak loudly and with one voice against those who intimidate, those who violate, those who abuse and discriminate. If we're not going to fight for the little guy, for the other, and do what we can for them, who will?
It's never too late to make a change, to start a new career, to quit a bad habit, to get in shape, to apologize, to mend relationships, to try that new thing you've always wanted to try, or to finally invest in yourself.Let's not write the year off just yet. The Daily Stoic New Year New You challenge is opening back up for a limited time. Learn more and sign up today at dailystoic.com/challenge.
En este episodio de Libros con Prisa, exploramos por qué el ego es el obstáculo invisible que sabotea tu éxito justo cuando crees que vas ganando. Discutimos cómo la arrogancia nos impide aprender y por qué la actitud con la que enfrentas un libro —o un reto— es más importante que cualquier ranking de ventas.
You're tired. You're busy. It would be easier to stay home...It's the perfect excuse. Unless, of course, you are disciplined.Let's not write the year off just yet. The Daily Stoic New Year New You challenge is opening back up for a limited time. Learn more and sign up today at dailystoic.com/challenge.
Taking care of yourself is contagious. It will spread throughout your house. And so too will a bad example, if that's what you choose to set.
Pain and hardship are part of life. From ancient Greece and Rome to now, people have faced plagues, wars, illness, and loss. The question has never been how to avoid it, but how to endure it and find meaning through it. In today's episode, Ryan shares practical Stoic methods that have been tested for centuries to help reduce anxiety, anger, and stress, build real resilience, and become stronger when life gets hard.
You've seen Jaimie Alexander as the tough, unstoppable character on screen, but what was happening off camera tells a completely different story. In this episode, Ryan sits down with actress Jaimie for one of the most honest conversations she's ever shared publicly. She opens up about a near-death experience, years of hidden alcoholism, and the moment she realized the life she was pushing through wasn't sustainable anymore. Jaimie also talks about how Stoic philosophy became a grounding force in her recovery, how curiosity helped replace fear, and more. Jaimie Alexander is known for her role as Lady Sif in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), as well as the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Kyle XY, and Blindspot.Follow Jaimie on Instagram @JaimieAlexander and subscribe to her Substack called "In The Hallway"
When your kids are struggling, your first instinct is to step in and make it better. In today's episode, Mel Robbins explains why that instinct can actually make things harder. Mel breaks down how the Let Them Theory applies to parenting, shares honest stories about moments she wanted to protect her kids at all costs, and how “letting them” doesn't mean abandoning your role as a parent.Listen to Mel and Ryan's full episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or watch it on YouTubeMel Robbins is the creator and host of the award-winning The Mel Robbins Podcast, one of the most successful podcasts in the world, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. The Let Them Theory was the top selling book of 2025 according to Publisher's Weekly, with +7 million copies sold within nine months of its release date. Tune into The Mel Robbins Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Follow Mel Robbins on Instagram and TikTok
January is January. A slump is a slump. They're not fun, but neither are they the whole world…or forever.
It's easy to forget how many people would love to be in your position, who are dreaming of the opportunity to have what can so often feel like a burden or a struggle.
It's important to remember that Stoicism isn't about judging other people. It's not a moral philosophy you're supposed to project and enforce onto the world. No, it's a personal philosophy that's designed to direct your behavior.
We fool ourselves that none of these individual decisions matter. We fool ourselves that the consequences are manageable…which they are until suddenly, they are not.
Be wary whom you go to work for. Moral compromises add up and eventually destroy you.
David Mamet is one of the most influential writers of the last half-century, so when he talks about craft, discipline, and courage, it's worth listening. In this episode, David joins Ryan to talk about acting, writing, Stoicism, and why most people make things far more complicated than they need to be. David breaks down his blunt philosophy on performance and life, why courage matters more than talent, why “just saying the words” is often the hardest part, and the Stoic question he literally engraved on his watch. David Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize for Glengarry Glen Ross and first broke through in the 1970s with plays like American Buffalo and Sexual Perversity in Chicago. He's also written and directed films including House of Games, The Spanish Prisoner, and Heist, and wrote the screenplays for The Verdict and The Untouchables. Most recently, David released the film Henry Johnson and published the novel Some Recollections of St. Ives: A Novel.
In this episode, I'm thinking out loud about why so many of us feel stuck, especially at the start of a new year. I talk about information overload, trying to fix too many things at once, making our goals too big to sustain, and why showing up (especially in relationships) matters more than being “ready.” I also share how living by a code, asking for support, and making things smaller has changed my life. As always, take what you need and leave the rest. Mentioned in this episode: Love Is Not a Luxury (Substack essay) Episode 112 — my conversation with Ryan Holiday on living by a code Need support beyond the podcast?I created Bring Your Work, a live group coaching space where you bring the real thing you're stuck on and we work it through together.$99/month • cancel anytimeLearn more at myleik.com → Coaching Want to write in?Email me at hey@myleik.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's never too late to change and improve, but we should also be aware that the clock is ticking, the windows are closing.
We can train. We can prepare. This will not be enough. Because more will be expected of us still, more will be piled onto our plates.
In the course of a day as parents, we make hundreds, thousands of assumptions. Most of these assumptions are faulty. We're just making them up…even though they make us miserable!
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in America. It's worth taking a minute today to consider one particularly brilliant and inspiring part of King's approach to civil rights.
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in America—a day we reflect on his life and legacy. One particular lesson from Dr. King can help us better connect with our kids each day.
Thirteen years ago I was surfing online when I stumbled on a blog post called "How To Read More — A Lot More" by someone I'd never heard of named Ryan Holiday. I started reading the post and got sucked in. He had a point! Many great points, actually. And he was young. 26 years old! A 26-year-old young man telling the world to read more books? In an era where most twenty-something men read, uh, none? I found Ryan to be a breath of fresh air. I immediately began to copy everything he did! He launched a monthly book club. I launched a monthly book club! (With his blessing, of course.) He was talking about reading fifty then a hundred and then hundreds of books a year. Well, I started reading five books and then ten books and then fifty books a year. I began cancelling news subscriptions and consciously put my phone away. I installed a bookshelf at my front door. I moved my TV to the basement! And, of course, I started this podcast—all about reading. In a way 3 Books would not exist without Ryan Holiday. In some ways I can probably trace my rediscovered passion for reading all the way back to that 2013 blog post. But Ryan is not just a blogger anymore. He's not just a writer guy on the internet anymore. Ryan Holiday has sold over 10 million books (!) and essentially leads the repopularization of stoic philosophy. Some of his books include 'The Obstacle Is The Way', 'Ego Is The Enemy', 'Stillness Is The Key', 'Discipline is Destiny', and his new book, out just a few months ago, 'Wisdom Takes Work'. Ryan also runs DailyStoic.com, the consulting company Brass Check, Daily Dad, and The Painted Porch indie bookstore in Bastrop, Texas. He and his wife Sam live with their two sons in nearby Austin. He's become a friend and I have definitely caught his bug. So in Chapter 38 of 3 Books we're going to fly down to Ryan's home in Austin and get 4 of his most formative books. (You'll hear why on the show.) Among other things Ryan shares how to decide who to trust, how he got fired from his first job, and why we shouldn't turn parenting into a job. I hope you enjoy this classic chapter of 3 Books with Mr. Ryan Holiday.
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In today's episode, you'll hear about 7 traits that the Stoics actually lived by, and why they shaped leaders we're still learning from 2,000 years later.
From writing with David Goggins to working alongside Rich Roll, Adam Skolnick's success didn't make imposter syndrome disappear. In this episode, Adam opens up to Ryan about his path as a writer, the years of underreported stories and side gigs, how self-doubt still shows up, and the unbelievable true story that inspired his new novel American Tiger. Adam Skolnick has written about travel, adventure sports, human rights and the environment for outlets like The New York Times, Outside, Lonely Planet, ESPN, BBC, and Men's Health. He is best known as the ghostwriter and audiobook narrator for David Goggins memoirs Can't Hurt Me and Never Finished. He is also the author of One Breath - Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits and now his debut novel, American Tiger, is officially out. Check out Adam's new novel American Tiger and follow him on Instagram @AdamSkolnick
Growing up with a disability meant Ezra Frech was made to feel different from a very young age. What gave him unshakeable confidence wasn't his athletic talent, but how his parents chose to raise him.In this episode, Ryan sits down with Paralympian Ezra Frech to talk about the impossible decisions his parents had to make early in his life and how those choices shaped his confidence.Ezra Frech is an American track and field athlete who competes in high jump, long jump and sprinting events. He is a two-time Paralympian, having competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and won two gold medals at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. Ezra co-created and produced a three-part docuseries called Adaptive with NBC Sports + Peacock. Check it out here! Follow him on Instagram and TikTok @EzraFrech and on YouTube @ItsEzraFrech
Now is for certain. Later is a lie. It's only going to get harder the longer you wait.
We made a decision to have kids many years ago and then for years, that decision works on us, shaping, changing, transforming us.
People probably thought Marcus Aurelius was strange. The time he spent alone in his room. The long walks he took by himself. There would be no Meditations without this quiet solitude, but more alarming, there would have been no Marcus Aurelius, either.
What's the difference between self-awareness and self-consciousness? In today's bonus episode, Ryan shares an excerpt from his conversation with high-performance expert Steve Magness on how to spot the difference.
Later, they might not want to anymore. Later the opportunity might not exist.
Our feet will always move in the direction of our focus. So look where you want to go. Stay focused on the path, keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other.
Most productivity advice promises that if you just find the right system, you'll finally catch up. In today's episode, Ryan sits down with Oliver Burkeman who explains why that feeling never arrives and why that is not a personal failure. They discuss the productivity lie that keeps so many people feeling behind every single day, how hustle culture quietly creates anxiety, and why the goal of getting “on top of everything” is impossible. Oliver explains why urgency often makes life worse, not better, how saying no is harder than it should be, and what actually changes when you stop trying to win time and start accepting your limits.Oliver Burkeman is the author of the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking, and Meditations for Mortals. Follow Oliver on Instagram and X @OliverBurkemanGrab signed copies of Meditations for Mortals and Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman at The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.com/
They should be able to be maniacs…because that's what kids are. And you, as a well-regulated mature adult, should be able to handle this.
Focus on what you can control. Keep your cool. Do the right thing. Be brave. Because if you're not going to do it now, when will you?
Leave an Amazon Rating or Review for my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Check out the full episode: https://greatness.lnk.to/1171Ryan Holiday shares transformative Stoic ideas that individuals can incorporate into their daily lives. Stoicism, an ancient philosophy, offers practical wisdom for achieving personal growth, resilience, and inner peace.Sign up for the Greatness newsletter: http://www.greatness.com/newsletterFor more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
When did we get so jaded? Why don't we acknowledge the little stuff anymore?
You went to school. You worked hard. You sacrificed. You got really good at what you do. And yet…despite this success, this track record, this leverage you have, your life is so backwards.
Kids are kids. Always have been and always will be.
The year ahead is unknown, but one thing you can control is how you show up. In this episode, Ryan breaks down 26 timeless Stoic rules you can rely on when things feel overwhelming, chaotic, or out of your control.
Most people think manipulation only works on other people. That belief is exactly what makes it dangerous. In this episode, Ryan sits down with historian and human behavior expert Rebecca Lemov to talk about what actually happens when people are pushed, pressured, or slowly pulled into systems of control. From prison camps and cults to propaganda and social pressure, they discuss how people break in ways that still feel rational, why belonging can override reason, and why almost everyone believes they are immune right up until they are not.Rebecca Lemov is a historian of science at Harvard University. Her research explores data, technology, and the history of human and behavioral sciences.
You can live these years without writing anything down, but you will miss more than you think. In this episode, Ryan and Sam talk about why journaling is one of the most underrated practices for parents, how small entries reveal patterns you cannot see day to day, and why even one line a day can change how you understand yourself as a parent.
Marcus Aurelius wrote about how the philosopher is one with their weapon—like a boxer, more than a swordsman. A boxer just clenches their fist. A fencer has to pick something up. Through repetition, through absorption, we're trying to fuse ourselves with our philosophy.
You probably wish you didn't have to. Of course, you didn't want it to happen. It would be nicer if things went as planned. As we've said before, this is what we trained for!
As Marcus would say, we can't be satisfied with just “getting the gist” of things we read. Read deeply. Read repeatedly.
After recording in-studio, Mel Robbins and Ryan Holiday headed to the Bastrop Opera House for a live conversation and audience Q&A. They discuss the biggest misconceptions about the Let Them Theory, why Stoicism isn't about suppressing feelings, and how self-control is really about creating space between what you feel and how you respond. Mel also opens up about how learning to pause changed her relationships, her parenting, and her sense of peace after years of living on edge.Mel Robbins is the creator and host of the award-winning The Mel Robbins Podcast, one of the most successful podcasts in the world, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. The Let Them Theory was the top selling book of 2025 according to Publisher's Weekly, with +7 million copies sold within nine months of its release date. It is on pace to have the best non-fiction book launch of all time. She is also the author of the multimillion-copy-selling The 5 Second Rule, The High 5 Habit, and seven #1 audiobook releases on Audible.
They knew that life was tough. They knew that a fragile person would not survive. But does that mean the Stoics were unfeeling? Utterly disconnected? Harsh and invulnerable?