Podcasts about stoic philosophy

To the untrained eye, ego can be mistaken for confidence. In reality, the person doesn't feel that way inside at all.

Looksmaxxing promises to make you more attractive, more confident, and more powerful. But at what point does self-improvement become obsession? In today's episode, Ryan looks at what the Stoics would say about this viral trend, the dangers of chasing external validation, and what it actually means to become your best self.

Ambition can open doors, but your principles determine where you go from there. In today's episode, Ryan talks with entrepreneur and investor Codie Sanchez about how the four Stoic virtues of courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom can serve as a guide for building a successful career, leading well, and creating a life you actually want. They discuss why most professional risks are less dangerous than they seem, how to stop undervaluing your work, and what it means to pursue success without sacrificing your values, relationships, or reputation. Codie Sanchez is an entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Contrarian Thinking, where she teaches people how to build wealth through business ownership. After starting her career in journalism and later working in finance at firms like Goldman Sachs and Vanguard, Codie went on to buy, build, and invest in Main Street businesses. She is also the author of Main Street Millionaire and host of the BigDeal Podcast. Follow Codie Sanchez on Instagram @codiesanchez, on TikTok @Codie_Sanchez, and on YouTube @CodieSanchezCTCheck out Ryan's episode on BigDeal by Codie Sanchez

You will have to face facts. You will have to get uncomfortable. You will have to take up the burden of history. This will not always be fun.

Heading into the weekend, here's a reminder that not everything you do has to be useful, efficient, or productive. In this bonus episode, Ryan and Chris Guillebeau talk about making space for fun, following strange impulses, and doing the small things that make you feel more alive.Watch the full episode with Chris Guillebeau here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHyEgbTg-BAChris Guillebeau is the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup, Side Hustle, and The Happiness of Pursuit, which have sold over one million copies worldwide. During a lifetime of self-employment that included a four-year commitment as a volunteer executive in West Africa, he visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his thirty-fifth birthday. His latest book, Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live, Chris offers a bold path for redefining our relationship with the clock.Check out Chris' new book Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live and grab copies of The $100 Startup, Gonzo Capitalism, The Art of Non-Confirmity, 100 Side Hustles at The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.comFollow Chris on Instagram @193Countries and on X @chrisguillebeau.

Every “yes” is a trade. Every obligation takes its cut. Every distraction leaves with something.

The Stoics remind us that everything has its compensation…if we choose to see it, if we choose to welcome it.

Everyone has something they're trying to quit, whether it's a habit, compulsion, or addiction. But what if the secret to getting clean and breaking free from that kind of slavery dates back more than 2,000 years?

Do not trade your soul away. Because once it's gone, you cannot get it back.

We could do it later. We could get serious later. But why? Why not do it while we have the chance?

The easier life gets, the less prepared we may be for what's hard. In today's episode, Ryan talks with David Epstein about “desirable difficulties,” the challenges that make learning slower and more frustrating in the moment but lead to greater growth over time. David Epstein is the author of the #1 New York Times best seller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. His new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, is out now!

82 years ago, thousands of young men crossed the English Channel and stepped into one of the most consequential days in history. In today's episode, Ryan shares the Stoic lessons behind D-Day and Dwight D. Eisenhower's leadership. He explains how Eisenhower prepared for failure, took responsibility before the outcome was known, stayed steady under unimaginable pressure, and saw opportunity where others saw disaster.

We are in desperate need of good, courageous people. Can you fill that need?

It is harder to be courageous when all you see are examples of cowardice. Well, the Stoics can help us with this.

The world has always been uncertain, but we have never had this much access to everything that might go wrong. In today's episode, Ryan talks with the hosts of The Imperfects about what Stoicism can teach us when the world feels like too much. They discuss doomscrolling, AI anxiety, the difference between worrying and actually taking action, and how to stay engaged with the world without letting it pull you away from the life and people right in front of you.

Moral compromise is never a single act. It creates a precedent…and then another, and another.

 Stop extrapolating. Stop adding in the lens of anxiety.

For most of its history, Stoicism was a spoken, conversational philosophy. It was meant to be heard, discussed, and worked through in the back and forth.

After recording in studio for The Daily Stoic Podcast, Ryan and Maria Semple went next door to The Painted Porch to talk about the Stoic-themed novels everyone should read.

In today's episode, Ryan answers questions about how to apply Stoicism to the real problems life throws at us. How do you stay Stoic when the obstacle is emotional, personal, and human? What does “doing the work” look like when you're exhausted, burned out, or discouraged? How do you know what's in your control, what you can influence, and where your energy is best spent? Plus more.

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.

A Stoic thinks about what's right. They don't ask, “Is this safe?” They say, “That's wrong.”

The ancients are there to guide us. We can struggle to live up to their expectations. We can learn from their mistakes

The more powerful our tools become, the more important our judgment becomes. In today's episode, Ryan talks with Jeremy Utley and Henrik Werdelin, hosts of Beyond the Prompt, about what the Stoics can teach us about AI, modern technology, and the skills we can't afford to outsource.Beyond the Prompt is hosted by Henrik Werdelin, an entrepreneur known for co-founding BarkBox, prehype, and other startups, and Jeremy Utley, a lecturer at Stanford and author of Ideaflow.

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.

Send us Fan MailJoin your host Clifton Pope as he is back with another solocast as the return of The Spiritual Enlightment Series for the May 2026 installment is finally here!In this month's episode, Clifton Pope dives into the big question: How do we hear God's voice in a world full of noise??This question is broken down in scripture, wisdom and practical truth!Not to mention, the parallel is drawn in how Christianity, Buddhism, Stoic Philosophy, and the Quran all point us towards attentiveness, discipline, and surrender for true spiritual enlightment!This is an episode you don't want to miss!Keep up with every conversation on Apple/Spotify Podcasts/Rumble so you don't miss any details!Receive your copy of the Fitness Mirage on Amazon now and leave a review as a free way to support the book plus help more readers get their copy as well with link below!https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY1FZZPKIf you love the show, please leave a rating/review so more people can tune in!Thank you for the love and support!Support the showhttps://athleticism.com/HEALTHFWEALTHBhttps://coolgreenclothing.com/HEALTHFITNESSWEALTHBUSINESShttps://normotim.com/HEALTHFIThttps://www.portablemeshnebulizer.com/pages/collab?dt_id=2573900official affiliates of the HFWB Podcast SeriesPlease support the mission behind each product/services  as it helps grow the HFWB Podcast Series to where the show can continue to roll along!

The question for you today (and always) is: what do you pledge your sacred honor to? What are you fighting for?

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.

Was Nero really that bad, or has history been telling the same story for 2,000 years without asking who started it? In today's episode, Ryan looks at the myths, accusations, and contradictions behind Nero's reputation, and asks whether he was really a monster, a scapegoat, or a warning.

This is your life that sits before you. Time is ticking away.

The Stoics had high standards. They also understood that perfection was not possible.

Empathy is not the opposite of Stoic strength. It's part of what keeps that strength from becoming coldness. In today's episode, Ryan talks with Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, about why empathy is one of the most powerful skills a leader can build. They discuss why hospitality is really about making people feel seen, the Stoic idea of slowing down to speed up, the importance of not wasting adversity, and why we should never let someone else's bad behavior pull us away from the person we want to be.Will Guidara is a restaurateur, speaker, and the author of Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect and the new Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide. He is the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, which earned three Michelin stars and was named the number one restaurant in the world.Will's work on hospitality has been featured in his TED Talk, The Secret Ingredients of Great Hospitality, and his book Unreasonable Hospitality was featured in the hit series The Bear.

Maybe you don't think it's making much of a difference. Maybe it's terrifying and exhausting. Maybe it's costing you a lot—friends, followers, peace of mind. Still, it is worth doing.

The four virtues serve as a compass for how to act, who to be, and how to respond in any situation.  Have we found anything better?

You think they have everything they could possibly want. But the rich, the powerful? They are actually incredibly jealous people.

In today's episode, Ryan shares timeless lessons from the ancients on how to ask better questions, think more clearly, and make the most of AI without losing your ability to discern what's true.

The real test of philosophy is not what it teaches us in quiet moments, but what it demands from us when power, pressure, and ego enter the room. In today's episode, Ryan talks with Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, about Stoicism, leadership, responsibility, and the dangers of power without introspection. They discuss ego, the crisis facing young men, the loss of shared rituals and institutions, and why philosophy still matters in public life.

Think about what your anxiety costs you. Think about it honestly and painfully.

What's left of Stoicism today is, if anything, more robust than it was in the ancient world.

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.

The four Stoic virtues are not supposed to be pursued in isolation. Instead, they come together under the idea of virtue itself.

In a recent interview, Daniel Radcliffe talked about the book "How To Hide an Empire" which has been one of Ryan's favorite reads lately. Here are some of his takeaways.You can grab a copy of How To Hide an Empire at Ryan's bookstore, The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.com/

You thought you were supposed to be doing this. You thought your job was to do that. But then what happened? Life happened. Stuff happened. Other people happened.

Great leaders don't just build winning teams, they build people who can go on to lead without them. In today's episode, Ryan talks about the idea of “growing a coaching tree” and what it means to create a culture that outlasts you. Using the San Antonio Spurs as a real-life example, Ryan looks at how the best leaders teach, empower, and develop others, not just for their own success, but for the success of everyone who comes next.

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

Jon Gustin got sober at the beginning of 2023, but as he explains in today's episode, getting sober was not the end of the struggle. It was the beginning of finally facing everything he had spent years avoiding. Jon talks with Ryan about his unhealthy relationship with substances, the emotional rock bottom that forced him to change, and the daily practices that helped him stay sober and focus on being a better husband and father. Jon Gustin is the founder of The Tired Dad LLC and the voice behind The Tired Dad, a movement built around showing up for what matters most. His book, The Tired Dad.: 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most, is out now! Follow Jon Gustin on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Cato's life was his philosophy, and the Stoics never stopped looking to his example. In today's episode, Ryan explores why Cato the Younger became one of Stoicism's most admired figures, and what his life can teach us about courage, character, and standing for what's right.

These are impersonal forces. This is fortune and fate. It's not targeting you. It's not favoring or picking on you.

Arete. To the Greeks, it meant excellence. It was the ultimate expression of human greatness—moral, physical, spiritual. It's what the Stoics were chasing. It's what you're chasing today. But how do we get there?