Podcasts about Stoicism

The most fearless philosopher in the ancient world didn't rule an empire or write books. He lived on the street and begged for food. And yet, he was bold enough to challenge Alexander the Great to his face. In today's episode, we're talking about Diogenes, the philosopher who rejected status, comfort, and approval and may have understood freedom better than anyone who came after him.

You're tough. You're firm. You don't get bothered by things. You keep yourself under control. Good. But you're missing something else just as important and perhaps more impressive.

If your New Year motivation didn't make it to February, this episode is for you. Ryan and his business partner and longtime friend, Brent Underwood, talk about how waiting for permission, perfect conditions, or external validation quietly turns into procrastination, even for high performers. They discuss why open-ended ambitions are harder than deadlines, how success can actually make starting new things scarier, and the trap of telling yourself, “I'll get to it later.”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.

From corruption to tyranny, the Stoics refused to sit on the sidelines. They tried to change things.

With social media constantly reminding us of what we lack, it's easy to fall into the "happiness gap." Today I talk about the balance of ambition and wanting more vs being satisfied with what you already have.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

Few writers understand American culture like Chuck Klosterman, which is why he joins Ryan ahead of the Super Bowl to talk about how football reshaped American culture.In this episode, Chuck and Ryan discuss what football really reveals about American culture, power, and the stories we tell ourselves about expertise and control. Chuck shares his observations, strange historical parallels, and personal stories that connect sports to technology, identity, and how monocultures form and eventually fade.

It's always been a dilemma: Why should I be honest when no one else seems to be? Why should I play by the rules when others are so visibly breaking them? Why should I be respectful or kind or fair when nobody else is?

Obstacles, adversaries, pitfalls, and bad luck. It's going to be there. It's going to happen.

Get Huel today with this exclusive offer for New Customers of 15% OFF with code alexoconnor at https://huel.com/alexoconnor (Minimum $50 purchase).Come to my tour in February: https://www.livenation.co.uk/alex-o-connor-tickets-adp1641612.For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: https://www.alexoconnor.com. - VIDEO NOTESJohn Sellars is a Reader in philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, a visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Member of Wolfson College, Oxford. His books include Lessons in Stoicism, The Fourfold Remedy, Aristotle and his work has been translated into over a dozen languages.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Tour00:32 – Did Socrates Found Stoicism?08:03 – The Three Eras of Stoicism17:50 – Stoic Logic26:19 – Empiricism: How the Stoics Got Knowledge34:33 – Materialism: Only Physical Things Exist43:00 – How Reason Fundamentally Animates the Universe48:43 – Did the Stoics Believe in God?59:37 – Do the Stoics Contradict Themselves?01:08:17 – Stoic Ethics01:24:24 – How Did the Stoics Deal With Evil?01:36:32 – Can You Choose Your Outcome If Everything Is Determined?

Lately the ancient philosophy of Stoicism is having a bit of a resurgence. This hour we learn about the philosophy, why people are drawn to it, and how to live like a Stoic. Plus, we look at how Stoicism appears in music. GUESTS: Massimo Pigliucci: The K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. He is the author of books including Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers, How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life, and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk. He also writes the Substack “Figs in Winter: Stoicism and Beyond.” Melinda Latour: Associate Professor of Musicology at Tufts University. She is author of The Voice of Virtue: Moral Song and the Practice of French Stoicism, 1574-1652. She is also editor of The Relentless Pursuit of Tone: Timbre in Popular Music. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe, Dylan Reyes, and Coco Cooley contributed to this show, which originally aired on July 9, 2025.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have to stay at it. We have to accept the losses that come…without accepting the status quo. We should not give up.

When jarred by circumstances, Marcus Aurelius writes, we have to revert back to ourselves. We have to come back to the rhythm. We have to intervene. We can't let the challenges win.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.

This episode is brought to you by Strong Coffee Company, Supp Co, and WHOOP. In this episode of Ever Forward Radio, psychologist and addiction expert Dr. Adi Jaffe reframes addiction, compulsive behavior, and self-sabotage as intelligent coping strategies rather than personal failures. He explains why labeling people as "addicts" creates shame and traps identity, how early childhood and even preverbal experiences shape adult behavior, and why most habits don't change through awareness alone. Dr. Jaffe introduces his SPARROW Behavioral Loop—stimulus, perception, activation, response, outcome—to show how emotions and bodily sensations, not events themselves, drive behavior. Together, they explore identity, responsibility without blame, growth mindset, emotional regulation, stoicism, belief systems, and why sustainable change comes from reshaping perception and nervous system responses rather than fighting behaviors directly. This conversation offers a compassionate, practical framework for breaking patterns and moving forward—without shame. Follow Adi @dradijaffe Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- 00:00 – Addiction Is Not Your Identity 02:00 – Why Calling Someone an "Addict" Causes Harm 05:10 – The Thing Is Never the Thing 07:30 – Coping Starts Earlier Than You Remember 10:00 – Attachment, Safety, and Early Nervous System Wiring 14:45 – Resilience vs. Disconnection 17:20 – It's Not Your Fault, But It Is Your Responsibility 19:50 – The Sphere of Control Framework 23:30 – Perception Shapes Reality 25:45 – Introducing the SPARROW Behavioral Loop 29:15 – Why Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior 33:00 – Emotional Menus & Coping Patterns 35:20 – Changing Beliefs to Reduce Triggers 38:40 – Stoicism, Detachment & Emotional Regulation 41:30 – Identity Change Without All-or-Nothing Thinking 44:50 – Becoming Someone Who Can Change 48:05 – Choosing Your Hard 49:30 – How to Know You're on the Right Path ----- Episode resources: 15% off organic coffee and lattes with code CHASE at https://www.StrongCoffeeCompany.com FREE supplement companion app at https://www.Supp.Co/everforward  $30 off physical activity tracker 5.0 at https://www.Join.WHOOP.com/everforward Watch and subscribe on YouTube Learn more at AdiJaffe.com

Immigration is a complicated issue. Crime is complicated. But this is not complicated.

We're within the Self-Consciousness chapter of The Phenomenology of Spirit, specifically starting at sec. 206 on the Unhappy Consciousness. This comes after the famous Master-Slave section as well as sections about Stoicism and Skepticism, and it depicts a dividedness within the self stemming from a faulty view of the relation between self and world. Subscribe to Closereads at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy; follow us there via the free tier to get episodes like this ad free, or pay us to get future installments in this series and everything else we've recorded. (Alternatively, support both PEL and Closereads at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife for a nice combo deal.)

I am a public philosopher, it is my only job. I am enabled to do this job, in large part, thanks to support from my listeners and readers. You can support my work, keep it independent and online, at https://stoicismpod.com/members Looking for more Stoic content? Consider my 3x/week newsletter "Stoic Brekkie": https://stoicbrekkie.com Musonius Rufus Discourse 12: https://archive.org/details/MUSONIUSRUFUSSTOICFRAGMENTS In this episode, I respond to a candid listener email asking about the Stoic position on sex work. The question is not framed with hostility or judgment, and for that reason I take it seriously. This is not an episode condemning women, sex workers, or anyone's personal choices. It is an attempt to think clearly and Stoically about consent, justice, harm, and choice. I begin by clarifying what the listener is actually asking. He is not asking whether men are wrong to engage sex workers, but whether women selling sex is unjust from a Stoic perspective. That distinction matters. Stoicism is not interested in purity rules or guilt. It is interested in whether actions are chosen rationally, freely, and without injustice. I then address my own bias. I do not like sex work as a practice, largely because I am skeptical that it is ever entirely free from coercion, manipulation, or long-term harm. I make that bias explicit so it can be accounted for rather than hidden. A Stoic answer requires setting personal discomfort aside and asking whether something is unjust, not whether it feels distasteful. To explore the classical position, I turn to Musonius Rufus and his extremely restrictive views on sex. Musonius argues that sex is only justified within marriage and only for procreation. I explain why I find this position impractical, overly rigid, and inconsistent with the rest of Stoic ethics. Stoicism is about rational choice, not outcome fixation, and reducing sex to reproduction ignores human health, intimacy, and context. From there, I outline what Stoicism actually cares about. Sex is unjust only when it involves harm, coercion, deception, addiction, or unfair leverage. If a sex worker is freely choosing her work, has the power to refuse clients, is not being forced by circumstance or threat, and if the client is acting honestly and without deception, then no injustice is clearly present. In that case, there is no Stoic violation simply because money is exchanged. I also stress that moral clarity does not end with permissibility. Just because something is not unjust does not mean it is automatically wise, healthy, or worth repeating. Stoicism asks us to remain attentive to who we are becoming through our choices. Avoiding injustice does not excuse us from remaining pro-social, reflective, and responsible for our future character. I conclude by emphasizing that Stoicism offers very little in the way of sexual rules, but a great deal in the way of ethical reasoning. The question is not whether sex work is “unstoic” in the abstract. The question is always whether a choice is rational, just, non-harmful, and aligned with the kind of person we are trying to become. Listening on Spotify? Leave a comment! Share your thoughts. Podcast artwork by Original Randy: https://www.originalrandy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bert Kreischer and Ryan continue their conversation about the tension between discipline and indulgence, why Bert sometimes feels better hungover than sober, and the pull of routines built around punishment and excess. Bert talks about quitting drinking, the daily “witching hour,” and why good news can be just as unsettling as bad.Bert Kreischer is a stand up comedian, actor, and podcast host of 2 Bears, 1 Cave. You can watch both his movie 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

It always feels like the traditional values are slipping away…Maybe they are. Maybe they aren't.

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic wisdom helps us navigate modern life. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus' reminder:“In a similar way, you too should remind yourself that what you love is mortal, that what you love is not your own. It is granted to you for the present while and not irrevocably, not forever, but like a fig or a bunch of grapes in the appointed season. And if you long for it in the winter, you are a fool.” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 3, Chapter 24.86The message is simple and powerful: everything we enjoy, relationships, possessions, circumstances, is temporary. Suffering arises when we cling to what is gone or long for what is not present. Stoicism teaches us to align our desires with reality, appreciate what is here now, and avoid missing the present moment while chasing something absent.This connects directly with the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: want only what is within your power, question the judgments that create attachment, and act with gratitude toward what you have today. Practically, this means giving attention to the people around you, appreciating what is in your life now, and remembering that everything we love is given to us only for a time.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoic desire and attachment:https://viastoica.com/how-to-practice-the-stoic-discipline-desire/And if you're looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you'll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! Have you ever struggled with your own negative thoughts? Have you said things to yourself that you would never say to someone you love? How can we quiet our negative inner monologue? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss quieting the mind.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

Sometimes life happens, but here's your second chance. Now is the best time to start being the person you want to be. 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.

Unlock the secrets to resilience with insights from Byron Athene and Grandpa Bill. Discover how your mindset can transform challenges into opportunities for growth. Are you ready to redefine your limits and embrace a resilient future? What small changes can you make today to enhance your mental strength? Resilience, Mental Strength, Stoicism, Emotional Mastery, Mindset Shift, Personal Growth, Adversity, Psychological Capacity #Resilience, #MentalStrength, #Stoicism, #GrowthMindset, #OvercomeAdversity, #EmotionalMastery, #PersonalGrowth,Explore the power of resilience with Byron Athene and Grandpa Bill. Learn how to cultivate a mindset that thrives in adversity and turns setbacks into stepping stones. How can ancient wisdom guide your modern challenges? What role does your belief system play in your resilience journey?Grandpa Bill Asks

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

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.

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.

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson examines one of philosophy's most provocative questions: Was Seneca a hypocrite? Through the lens of Stoic philosophy and Roman history, Marcus explores the dangerous cognitive trap of hypocrisy bias and challenges listeners to examine their own inconsistencies before judging others. Episode Highlights [0:45] The Seneca Question: Was the wealthy Roman philosopher who forced loans on conquered peoples truly living by Stoic principles, or was he a hypocrite? [2:10] Understanding Hypocrisy Bias: How our tendency to judge others' inconsistencies more harshly than our own blinds us to truth and derails meaningful discussions. [6:16] The Marcus Aurelius Paradox: Even the revered philosopher-emperor struggled with anger daily and made questionable decisions like allowing his son Commodus to take power. [7:38] 30-Day Reflection Challenge: Three critical questions to examine your own hypocrisy, how you judge others, and whether imperfect messengers can still deliver truth. 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.

This episode reframes Stoicism not as a quest for unreachable perfection, but as a practice of steady progress. Drawing on the ancient idea of the prokoptōn—the one who makes progress—we explore why even Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius saw themselves as students rather than sages. Stoic philosophy, we discover, is less about arriving and more about returning: again and again, to reflection, correction, and effort. To live as a Stoic is simply to desire progress, and to keep good company along the way.

Send us a textOn Saturday 24th January 2026 we attended an event called 'A Modern Day Pursuit of Love, Meaning & Happiness' at Asylum Chapel. It was a collaboration between Elliot Bewick (The Next Generation) and Discourse Collective, featuring guest speakers including Joe Folley (Unsolicited Advice) and Jonny Thomson (Philosophy Minis).In this conversation, we reflect on what was said on the night. We consider the battle between Epicureanism and Stoicism and how Paul responds to both of those philosophies in Acts 17. Featuring Glen Scrivener, Thomas Thorogood and for the first time on The Speak Life Podcast, Naomi Brehm!Check out the 321 course at: 321course.comSubscribe to the Speak Life YouTube channel for videos which see all of life with Jesus at the centre: youtube.com/SpeakLifeMediaSubscribe to the Reformed Mythologist YouTube channel to explore how the stories we love point to the greatest story of all: youtube.com/@ReformedMythologistDiscord is an online platform where you can interact with the Speak Life team and other Speak Life supporters. There's bonus content, creative/theological discussion and lots of fun. Join our Discord here: speaklife.org.uk/discordSpeak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world. Learn more about us here: speaklife.org.ukSupport the show

What happens when “being professional” quietly turns into “being unseen”?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Mark Anthony Neal, Black Studies scholar, writer, and professor at Duke University, joins Ashanti for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about masks we wear in education, what students have lost (and gained) in the post-pandemic classroom, and why freedom with language can be a pathway to belonging.In this episode, they cover:Growing up working class in the South Bronx: a father who wasn't verbal, but spoke through Sunday breakfast, gospel, and the Mets“Stoicism as a mask”: how Black men learn to control emotion by pretending they don't have anyWhy aging (and experience) shifted Dr. Neal's teaching: from gravitas and control → toward visible humanity and frailtyThe hidden cost of the attacks on Black Studies: not always bans—sometimes student fear and “natural attrition”Building the classroom as a vernacular space: language as freedom, not a barrier to participationImposter syndrome and “talking right”: how fear of sounding smart silences students before they ever start“Students are like iPhone updates”: why educators have to recalibrate pedagogy every few yearsPost-pandemic social gaps: why mentoring feels harder for students who didn't practice relationships outside their homesSave a Seat for Me: a love letter to Black fathers—and a new language for how Black men show up emotionally(0:01) Welcome + Dr. Mark Anthony Neal introduces himself (South Bronx roots, working-class parents, path from high school teaching to the academy)(1:45) Music as love language: Sunday breakfast, gospel, jazz/blues, and baseball as father-son connection(4:03) Upcoming book: Save a Seat for Me and why Black fatherhood is inseparable from American fatherhood(5:46) The “mask” framework: what we show vs. what we protect as educators(9:05) “Stoicism as control”: why many Black men learn to hide interiority (especially anger)(18:22) Teaching style shift: from “professorial gravitas” → toward conversational, accessible learning(20:24) Language & belonging: making the classroom a vernacular space (and why code-switching isn't the classroom goal)(27:57) Representation reality: brilliant Black women teachers early on—but no Black male teacher until Dr. Neal became one(32:16) “Higher expectations”: why lowering the bar is one of the most common ways schools fail Black students(54:31) Closing invitation: share your mask anonymously at Million Mask MovementConnect with Dr. Mark Anthony NealBook: Save a Seat for Me (Simon & Schuster) — publishing August 4, 2026Pre-order: Amazon, Simon & Schuster, and (hopefully) independent Black bookstoresInstagram: @BookerBBBrownTwitter: @NewBlackManResources & Ways to EngageThe Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.orgEducator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your schoolGlobal Young Men's Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spacesEver Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorshipConnect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Connect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/everforwardclub⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/⁠Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Clubhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #BlackStudies #BlackMaleEducators #BlackFatherhood #Masculinity #EmotionalSafety #HigherEd #TeacherLife #StudentBelonging #Mentorship #CodeSwitching #AIInEducation #ShowYourWork

This video is a clip of my stream "The Real Wild West: The Bloody Truth of Cowboys, Indians, and Outlaws." If you would like to watch the entire stream please click the following link. https://youtube.com/live/1whuZj1ezds

Want to support the podcast? Join our Patreon or buy us a coffee. As an independent podcast, Shakespeare Anyone? is supported by listeners like you. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare repeatedly reminds us that Brutus is an honorable man. In this episode we will explore if this is true, how Shakespeare depicts both masculine honor and its early modern counterpart, feminine virtue, in the characters of Brutus and Portia, and how Portia's characterization by editors and theatremakers has changed over time.  First, we unpack how honor was defined for Shakespeare's audiences and how the play incorporates Early Modern anxieties about rhetoric throughout the plot. We then closely examine Brutus's desire to be perceived as honorable, how that shapes his choices, and whether or not he is ultimately honorable.  Then we will turn to Portia, tracing how editors and theatremakers have altered her language and characterization across time in order to make her virtue more palatable to the moral expectations of their moment. We look at what gets changed, what gets softened or erased, and what those choices reveal about how women are policed on stage and on the page.  Content Warning: Discussions of suicide and self-harm.  If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK  to 741741. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. For updates: Join our email list Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod Visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com Support the podcast: Become a patron at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone  Buy us a coffee Bookshop.org: Since 2020, Bookshop.org has raised more than $38 million for independent bookstores. Shop our Shakespeare Anyone? storefront to find books featured on the podcast, books by our guests, and other Shakespeare-related books and gifts. Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores. Libro.fm: Libro.fm makes it possible to purchase audiobooks through your local bookshop of choice. Use our link for 2 free audiobooks when you sign up for a new Libro.fm membership using our link. Find additional links mentioned in the episode in our Linktree. Works referenced: GRAY, PATRICK. "CONCLUSION TO PART I: SHAKESPEARE'S PASSION PLAY." Shakespeare and the Fall of the Roman Republic: Selfhood, Stoicism and Civil War, Edinburgh University Press, 2019, pp. 145–74. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctv7n09n2.9. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026. Sacharoff, Mark. "Suicide and Brutus' Philosophy in Julius Caesar." Journal of the History of Ideas, vol. 33, no. 1, 1972, pp. 115–22. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2709060. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026. Scott, Sarah K. "Portia and the Circulation of Virtue: 'Men May Construe Things after Their Fashion.'" Medieval & Renaissance Drama in England, vol. 32, 2019, pp. 219–38. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26800556. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.  Xiao, Xinyao. (2018). "Oxymoronic Ethos: the Rhetoric of Honor and Its Performance in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar." Philological Quarterly. 97. 263-285.    

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?

Send us a textA few months ago, I was in a conversation that started to go sideways. I could feel the tension rising—the tightening in my chest, my voice getting sharper. I knew exactly what was happening. I've studied this. I've taught this. I know what Marcus Aurelius would say. And in that moment, it was like I'd never read a word of Stoicism. If you've spent any time with this philosophy, you've probably had your own version of this experience. The email lands and you spiral. The criticism stings and you're devastated. Someone cuts you off and you react exactly the way Epictetus said not to. This is the gap between knowing and doing—and it's the central challenge of practicing philosophy. In this episode, I explore why the philosophy disappears when we need it most, what Seneca confessed about this exact problem 2,000 years ago, and why more reading isn't the answer. Spoiler: the Stoics weren't building a library. They were building a gymnasium for the soul. In this episode:The moment I knew exactly what to do—and didn't do it Why intellectual understanding is not the same as embodied skill What Seneca admitted about knowing vs. practicing The difference between studying Stoicism and training as a Stoic A reflection question to sit with after listening

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this episode, I'm joined by Jason Nelson, author of A Balm for Your Soul: Six Seeds for Happiness, for a calm and honest conversation about happiness, burnout, and what it really takes to live well.Jason shares his journey from corporate life in London to a slower, more intentional way of living, shaped by reflection, practice, and self-trust. Together, we explore his six seeds of happiness, self-care, self-mastery, boundaries, kindness, relationships, and connection, and how closely they align with Stoic philosophy. We talk about people pleasing, impostor syndrome, emotional awareness, and why being kind is not the same as being nice. This episode is a reminder that happiness is not a destination, but a daily practice rooted in honesty, courage, and care for yourself and others.A few reflections you can take from this episode:Pause before reacting and examine what you are feeling.Notice where boundaries are missing, especially in familiar relationships.Pay attention to which connections nourish you and which drain you.Reflect at the end of the day with reason and kindness, not judgment.Listen to the full episode and explore how Stoic wisdom and lived experience come together to support a happier, steadier life.You can read the related article on Via Stoica: https://viastoica.com/a-stoic-conversation-with-jason-nelson/You can follow Jason here: IG: @iamjasonnelsonAnd you can find the book here: Amazon: https://amzn.to/44Fh1XhSupport the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenYouTube: @viastoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

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.

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.

I am a public philosopher, it is my only job. I am enabled to do this job, in large part, thanks to support from my listeners and readers. You can support my work, keep it independent and online, at https://stoicismpod.com/members Looking for more Stoic content? Consider my 3x/week newsletter "Stoic Brekkie": https://stoicbrekkie.com The Iris Council: https://iriscouncil.com In this episode, I focus on the Stoic virtue of Justice and why it matters so urgently right now. Justice, in Stoicism, is not about legality or compliance with the law. It is about fairness. When we confuse what is legal with what is just, we risk excusing serious wrongdoing simply because it has been ratified by those in power. I explain why laws themselves can be unjust, especially when they are created or enforced by leaders who are not acting as protectors and benefactors of their people. If a law is out of alignment with what is fair, then the injustice lies with the law, not with those who recognize its unfairness. This is where Stoicism demands courage rather than passive acceptance. To ground this discussion, I turn to Musonius Rufus and his lecture On That Kings Too Should Practice Philosophy. Musonius argues that rulers must study philosophy because only philosophy teaches justice, self-control, courage, and rational judgment. A good king must be a good person, and a good person, by necessity, is a philosopher. Leadership without moral wisdom is not merely flawed; it is dangerous. I then broaden the lens to our responsibility as Stoics. Stoicism is not withdrawal or indifference. It is rational engagement with the world. The Cardinal Virtues work together: courage enables just action, temperance guides when to act, justice clarifies what is fair, and wisdom grounds us in our role as social beings. Leaders who divide humanity into “our kind” and “not our kind” fail this test of justice, regardless of what the law permits. Finally, I argue that our response to unjust leadership must itself be just. That requires self-examination. Before judging leaders, we must be capable of judging ourselves. A society that does not understand goodness cannot expect just leaders, and leaders drawn from such a society will reflect that confusion. What we need is not blind obedience or reckless outrage, but a serious moral recalibration rooted in Stoic philosophy. Listening on Spotify? Leave a comment! Share your thoughts. Podcast artwork by Original Randy: https://www.originalrandy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Modern Wisdom: Read the notes at at podcastnotes.org. Don't forget to subscribe for free to our newsletter, the top 10 ideas of the week, every Monday --------- Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, an author and an expert on ancient philosophy. Why are we so anxious in the safest time in human history? Our brains evolved for real danger, predators, hunger, survival, not notifications and deadlines. So what are the modern tools for calming our primitive nervous system in a modern world? And is the answer something our ancestors already knew? Expect to learn what Donald wishes more people knew about anxiety, how it works and what causes it, how CBT might be the best therapy to combat chronic anxiety, what the main problem with the major psychoanalytic theorists is, why CBT is just a modern extension of Stoicism, why modern American culture has become extraordinarily passive aggressive, how people can keep their life in alignment with their values and much more… Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠ Get 10% discount on all Gymshark products at https://gym.sh/modernwisdom (use code MODERNWISDOM10) Get up to $50 off the RP Hypertrophy App at https://rpstrength.com/modernwisdom Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at https://join.whoop.com/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠ Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/43hv6y59⁠ #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/2rtz7avf⁠ #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/3ccn5vkp⁠ - Get In Touch: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠ Email: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/contact⁠ - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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"

Part 3 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. Did Caesar want to be a King? A god? What was his vision for Rome? Was there a way he could have prevented his assassination? In this episode:Caesar returns to Rome His TriumphsHis Reforms His Clemency His Final War in Spain; the Batle of MundaThe Octavius QuestionThe Plots, Dreams, Portents, The men he trusted; the men who betrayed him Thanks to our sponsor, Ai Labs. Visit austinlab.ai to chat with a team member about custom Agentic AI power solutions for your SMB to Enterprise level business.  Powered by Shokworks.Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series.And check out Warlords of History podcast here!

At the time of writing, Sara/Firecrotch-y has finished season 1 of Heated Rivalry and having cried during the penultimate episode, is now wondering if maybe the whole thing is a work of genius after all? Laughs and cries is the classic combo but cries and turn-ons? If this is the direction 2026 is going, we (I) don't hate it. Maybe the toppermost TV echelon is Sopranos, Succession, The Wire, Six Feet Under, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Heated Rivalry, but not for the dialogue, only for the wanks-'n-tears. SEE YOU AT THE LIVE SHOW RIGHT?! Tickets here: https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/firecrotch-normcore-they-like-to-watch-live-sun-8th-feb-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202602081530/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January is January. A slump is a slump. They're not fun, but neither are they the whole world…or forever.

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.

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 episode 519 of the podcast I'm joined by astrologer Reverend Lindsay Turner to discuss the story of the Magi, the birth of Jesus, and the astrology surrounding the Nativity story. We explore the celebration of Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, and analyze the Gospel of Matthew's account of the astrologers from the East who followed a star to Bethlehem. We discuss the distinction between approaching the Nativity as a historical event versus a literary narrative, and how the author of Matthew partially used the story of the Magi to legitimize Jesus as a king in the 1st century. We also look at technical astrological terms found in the Greek text, such as anatole or "at its rising," and how this relates to Hellenistic astrology. We also talk about the relationship between early Christianity and astrology, including the non-canonical Acts of Paul and Thecla, the liturgical seasons aligning with the Zodiac, and how modern Christians can reconcile their faith with astrological practice. Lindsay's Website https://badpastor.me Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro00:00:34 Epiphany and Three Kings Day traditions00:01:45 The Nativity story and the Star of Bethlehem00:03:50 Historical vs. literary approaches to the Gospels00:05:41 The Gospel of Matthew and Hebrew prophecy00:08:05 Reading the Magi passage (Matthew 2:1-12)00:10:52 Who were the Magi? Astrologers vs. Persian priests00:12:00 The context of natal astrology in the 1st Century00:13:30 The political subversion of the Nativity story00:16:27 "At its rising" (Anatole) as a technical astrological term00:18:23 Crossover between New Testament Greek and astrological texts00:20:14 Theories on the Star: Comets, conjunctions, and novae00:26:27 The solar eclipse at the crucifixion00:31:00 Astrology used to legitimize Jesus in Matthew00:33:30 Did the Magi renounce astrology?00:36:51 The Manger nebula in the constellation Cancer00:39:19 The Thema Mundi and the birth chart of the cosmos00:41:05 The debate over the date of Jesus' birth00:48:25 The Acts of Paul and Thecla and lost Christian texts00:54:38 Mary Magdalene and the seven daimons01:02:15 Fate, free will, and Stoicism in the ancient world01:05:45 Early Christianity as social rebellion01:09:30 Identity in Christ vs. astrological identity01:15:33 Liturgical seasons and the Zodiac01:17:28 Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, and the origins of Christmas01:21:50 Stigma against astrology in the modern church01:29:50 The shared origins of Christianity and Hellenistic astrology01:32:00 Astrology as a bridge between science and religion01:35:10 Lindsay's upcoming book and contact info01:36:35 Sponsors and credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J68CV7YYm0 - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Today's conversation is a homecoming—back to the body, back to character, and back to what it means to be a man. My guest, Mark Walsh, challenges the modern habit of living entirely in our heads—cut off from sensation, boundaries, and responsibility. We talk embodiment not as fitness or aesthetics, but using physical training to develop character, emotional regulation, and presence. From Stoicism and shadow work to doing hard things on purpose, this episode is about reclaiming awareness, expanding range, and building the discipline required to choose better behavior. We also confront the cult of modernity: hyper-individualism, happiness culture, pleasure-seeking that produces pain, and the loss of religion, community, and moral formation. Mark makes the case that happiness is secondary to meaning and commitment and that true freedom is forged through discipline, not the absence of limits. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Opening & Introduction 02:31 - What Embodiment Really Means 05:44 - Objectification & Modern Culture 08:13 - The Four Disconnections 11:49 - How to Come Home to the Body 15:08 - Training Beyond Comfort Zones 18:15 - Freedom, Range, and Choice 22:27 - Culture, Tribe, and Identity 27:13 - Modernity as a Death Cult 31:00 - Structure, Religion, and Meaning 34:24 - Happiness vs Purpose 36:57 - Rock Bottom of Modern Society 41:44 - Family, Institutions, and Masculinity 46:10 - Get Offline and Live Fully 49:30 - Emotions, Stoicism, and Control 52:00 - War Zone Story & Masculine Instinct 55:14 - Practices for Becoming Human 56:46 - Where to Find Mark Walsh Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready  

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.

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.

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.