Podcasts about stoic philosophy

Corruption is everywhere, from politics and business to sports and universities. But as modern as it all feels, the Stoics saw the same thing happening thousands of years ago. So how did they resist it without becoming part of it themselves?

Some of the greatest American heroes are people most of us have never heard of. In today's episode, Ryan talks with retired Brigadier General and military historian Ty Seidule about five remarkable Americans whose stories embody courage, sacrifice, service, and leadership. They also talk about why the people we choose to honor matter, what the renaming of military bases reveals about American history, and why telling the truth about the past does not mean giving up on greatness.Ty Seidule served in the U.S. Army for more than three decades, retiring as a brigadier general in 2020. He is a professor emeritus of history at West Point and served as vice chair of the Congressional Naming Commission, which was tasked with renaming Department of Defense assets that honored Confederates.Ty Seidule is the author of A Promise Delivered: Ten American Heroes and the Battle to Rename Our Nation's Military Bases and Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause.

We live in busy, stressful, unnerving times. We can't let that rattle or rush us.

We have an impulse. We have a provocation…and before we act, we should consider it. How is this really going to go?

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

When false information spreads faster than the truth, knowing how to think matters more than knowing what to think. In this episode, Ryan talks with David Pakman, host of The David Pakman Show, about how to think for yourself in a world shaped by spin, outrage, algorithms, and misinformation. They discuss how to separate news from commentary, recognize when you are being manipulated, question your first reaction, and get closer to the truth.David Pakman is a political commentator, author, and host of The David Pakman Show. David has built one of the largest independent political media platforms in the country, reaching millions across radio, podcasting, and YouTube. He is the author of The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America and Pay Attention: How the Algorithms and Media Wars Are Suppressing Truth and Rewiring Your Brain.

Money isn't evil. It can do real good. But it is a tool, not a measure of life. It can tell you what something costs, but not what it is worth.

Some people have everything they thought they wanted and still feel like they're losing. In this bonus episode, hear an excerpt from Ryan's conversation with Sahil Bloom, author of The 5 Types of Wealth. Together, they talk about the strange way success can distort your sense of what is enough, why the easiest things to measure often matter the least, and how quickly the life you once dreamed about can start to feel like it still isn't enough.Check out the full episode with Sahil Bloom | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeSahil Bloom is the owner of SRB Holdings, the managing partner of SRB Ventures, and author of The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life.Follow Sahil on Instagram and X @SahilBloom

People have been doing the same things for as long as there have been people.

One of Stoicism's most famous ideas does not sit right with bestselling author Kate Bowler. In this episode, Ryan and Kate discuss the pressure this idea can place on people facing illness, grief, and impossible circumstances, the limits of personal agency, and how to find meaningful action without pretending we are in control of everything.Kate Bowler is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, and professor of religious history at Duke University. She is the host of the podcast Everything Happens, where she has honest conversations about grief, joy, faith, love, and the realities of being human. Grab signed copies of Kate's books Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved, No Cure For Being Human (And Other Truths I Needed To Hear), and her latest book Joyful, Anyway at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/Follow Kate Bowler: Instagram, YouTube

Virtue is like any other skill. It's not something you either have or you don't. It's something you practice, and the more you practice it, the better you become. This was Aristotle's fundamental insight: excellence is not innate. It is a habit.

You're the king now. The Republic is in your hands. Can you keep it?-- Featured guests in order of appearance: Kenny Curtis | Full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeStephen Greenblatt | Full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Chris Hayes | Full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeRobert Greene & Ryan Holiday Live | Daily Stoic Live Tickets

According to the Stoics, we humans have a higher obligation—not to the gods but to each other.

If we want people to change, we have to give them a way to see the truth for themselves.

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

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

Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Ed Hinman, Marine infantry officer veteran, public figure protection specialist, historian, and author of The Barbarian in You. Ed shares how his time at the Naval Academy, deployments across Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Africa, and a pivotal reckoning with ego and identity led him to build a life around three core principles: vigor, wonder, and fellowship. Drawing on history, philosophy, and hard experience, Ed makes the case that living a full life is not about optimization — it's about reconnecting with the most primal, truest parts of yourself. The conversation weaves through the creative life, the craft of writing, the mentorship of Steven Pressfield, the wisdom of Montaigne, Emerson, and Marcus Aurelius, and the courage it takes to follow what resonates rather than what looks good on paper. Episode Highlights: 1:54 - Ed and Marcus discuss the mentorship of Steven Pressfield and the discipline required to show up for the creative life 29:44 - Ed introduces his three-part philosophy of vigor, wonder, and fellowship as a framework rooted in how pre-civilized humans actually lived 49:23 - Ed recounts his Marine Corps career, the ego-driven disappointment of deployments that went nowhere, and how psychosomatic pain forced him to ask what he actually wanted 58:58 - Ed and Marcus explore the idea of listening to intuition over empirical evidence, following resonance rather than a prescribed path, and why the barbarian in you is the truest version of yourself Ed Hinman served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps, graduating from the Naval Academy and deploying five times across Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Africa before earning a master's degree in history and building a career in public figure protection with Gavin de Becker's firm. He is the author of The Barbarian in You and the founder of the Barbarian in You blog, where he writes about history, strength, friendship, and the philosophy of living with vigor, wonder, and fellowship. Visit barbarianinyou.com to find Ed's book, blog, and writings. Follow him on Instagram at ed_hinman. Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What if almost everything you've been told about happiness is wrong? Most people spend their lives trying to avoid discomfort. Jerzy Gregorek argues the opposite: the harder the choices you willingly make, the happier, stronger, and more resilient your life becomes. World Champion weightlifter, philosopher, poet, therapist, and author Jerzy Gregorek explores the mindset principles that helped him survive political persecution in Communist Poland, overcome alcoholism, fight for freedom, coach elite athletes, and transform countless lives through what he calls the Happy Body philosophy. Jerzy explains why confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you earn through difficult choices. He reveals why most people sabotage their own happiness through expectations and complaint, why tiny daily improvements create extraordinary lives, and why true freedom begins the moment you take complete ownership of your choices. --- 00:00 Why Hard Choices Create an Easier Life 01:29 Recovering From Injury Starts With the Right Goal 05:22 Why Most People Never Build Real Resilience 07:02 The Stoic Philosophy of Constant Progress 08:01 Why You Need Bigger Goals 10:21 Building Confidence Through Personal Proof 13:19 The Power of Micro Progressions 15:18 The Incredible Story of Rebuilding a Life From Scratch 25:00 At 71 Years Old: Why Jerzy Still Olympic Lifts Every Day 30:03 How Poetry Became a Tool for Healing Trauma 36:18 "The Mind Makes the Body" 40:47 Viktor Frankl on Finding Meaning Through Suffering 45:20 Fighting for Freedom in Communist Poland 47:48 Helping People Recover From Addiction, PTSD & Darkness 54:54 Can You Become Your Own Hero? 56:17 The Books That Changed Jerzy's Life 58:12 Why Expectations Create Suffering 59:18 Stop Complaining, Start Taking Ownership 01:03:21 Choosing Happiness Is a Skill 01:07:22 What "Ever Forward" Really Means 01:10:47 The Value of Mentors 01:13:28 Jerzy's Daily Happy Body Practice ---- Episode resources: Timeline - get MitoPure with urolithin A for less than $75/month with code EVERFORWARD  Watch and subscribe on YouTube

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everyone is new to this. We're all figuring it out as we go.

The Stoics studied powerful people not to worship them, but to learn from them. In this episode, Ryan looks at Elon Musk through the lens of courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom, and what his life reveals about the difference between success and virtue.

Ezra Klein is one of the sharpest voices in American politics, but this conversation is not about left versus right. It's about virtue, responsibility, and character. Ryan and Ezra talk about why virtue matters in a democracy, what liberalism has lost by failing to speak clearly about responsibility, and why institutions alone can't save a society if the people inside them abandon restraint, honesty, and self-critique. They also get into what Ezra thinks Stoicism gets right, where it falls short, and why Stoicism, or any philosophy, has to be tested in real life.Ezra Klein is a New York Times columnist and the host of The Ezra Klein Show. He is also the co-founder of Vox, where he served as editor-in-chief and later editor-at-large, and previously worked at The Washington Post, The American Prospect, Bloomberg, and MSNBC.

In this bonus episode, Ryan is takes you inside his office and walks through the books, objects, notes, and reminders that shape how he works and lives.

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

Will we help or hinder? Will we support or stab in the back? Will we open doors or close them?