Podcasts about Stoicism

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?

Send us Fan MailMost messages aimed at young men today split into two dead ends: become a sensitive, apologetic non-threat, or go to war and reclaim dominance. Zan thinks both camps hold a fragment of truth and neither offers a boy anything to actually hope for — which is why, more and more, he finds himself wanting to talk to thirteen-to-eighteen-year-olds instead of grown men.In this episode, Jordan asks Zan directly: what's the message? What do you actually say to a generation of boys who've been told their masculinity is the problem, who are retreating to their rooms, whose only two options seem to be surrender or rage?Zan's answer moves through some of the widest philosophical territory this podcast has covered — the concept of worship, stripped from religion and rebuilt around beauty itself. Petrarch and Dante, both of whom had their entire life's work ignited by seeing a woman he barely knew. The 1,500-year-old volcanic winter that blacked out the sun across Europe, and how people found meaning through it anyway. The uniculture problem — why knowing about every disaster on Earth simultaneously might be worse for the human nervous system than knowing only what happened in your own village. And a genuinely moving true story: a twelve-year-old boy, a short walk to a candy store, and one sentence from Zan that a mother said changed her son for weeks afterward.Watch until the end for what Zan calls the real message underneath everything — not optimism, not denial, but gratitude for what you have precisely because it won't last.

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

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.

James and Jimmy sit down with Vance Taylor of Stoic Cigars. We catch up with Vance and find out how his first two yeas in the cigar industry have gone and what lessons he's learned in that time. We then turn our attention to the "dark side" of Stoicism. What does Stoicism and Nihilism have in common? Can James not road rage? How do Stoics look at tragedy. It is a high level conversation over different philosophies and how to approach life and business.

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! Are you in pain? Do you suffer from chronic pain? Pain can cause suffering, frustration, and so much more... In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss how to deal with pain.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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Have you ever stopped enjoying something that once gave your life meaning?Maybe it's the guitar that now gathers dust. The running shoes that haven't left the closet. The books you used to devour but can't seem to pick up anymore.In this episode, I explore why our interests naturally change throughout life, why there's nothing wrong with losing a passion, and what Stoicism has to teach us about work, play, gratitude, and non-attachment.Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do isn't force ourselves back into an old hobby—it's to let it go, trust the season we're in, and welcome it back if life ever calls us there again.We discuss:• Why we don't choose what fascinates us • The difference between work and play • Why joy is deeply Stoic • Letting go without losing yourself • Following curiosity instead of obligation • Why gratitude is wiser than possession

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

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

What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn't the economy, your competitors, or rising costs—but your own mindset? In this solo episode of 365 Driven, host Tony Whatley challenges business owners and entrepreneurs to rethink how they view problems, success, and personal growth. Drawing from his own journey of growing up in a lower-middle-class family, working construction to pay his way through engineering school, and eventually building and selling multi-million-dollar businesses, Tony shares the mindset shifts that helped him escape scarcity thinking and create lasting success. Throughout the episode, Tony explains why so many people stay trapped in a "poor mindset" by giving too much emotional energy to small problems while ignoring the bigger opportunities that can transform their lives. Using practical examples—from arguing over gas prices to stressing about restaurant menus—he illustrates how successful entrepreneurs learn to assign value to their problems, focus on what they can control, and continually "graduate" to solving larger, higher-value challenges. You'll also discover why increasing your income is less about working harder and more about developing the skills to solve bigger problems, why companies pay more for people who can manage greater risk, and how investing in knowledge—not excuses—creates long-term wealth. Tony also dives into the principles of Stoicism, emotional discipline, and personal accountability, offering practical strategies to stop reacting to distractions and start responding like the person you aspire to become. If you're a business owner who wants to stop wasting energy on low-value distractions, build a stronger mindset, and focus on the opportunities that truly move the needle, this episode will challenge the way you think—and help you level up both your business and your life. Key highlights: How to escape a poor mindset and think like a successful entrepreneur. Why small distractions keep business owners from bigger opportunities. The concept of "graduating" to solving higher-value problems. How emotional discipline and Stoicism improve business decision-making. Why increasing your income starts with developing valuable skills. The connection between solving bigger problems and earning more. How to stop wasting energy on things outside your control. Practical mindset shifts to create more focus, peace, and long-term success. Connect with Tony Whatley: Website: 365driven.com Instagram: @365driven Facebook: 365 Driven

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

If you just let go of everything that's out of your control … can you truly be happy? Maria Semple tests that philosophy in her new novel, Go Gentle. The story follows Adora Hazzard, a Stoic philosopher in her 50s who lives a calm, mostly happy life with her teen daughter and a coven of women friends. If you think a book about Stoicism might bore you, don't speak too soon. This one also has art heists, divorce, a toxic Hollywood comedy scene … and the philosophy stuff might be more relatable than you think. This week, Maria tells Mattea Roach about her interest in Stoicism, her long career in TV writing and how her daughter inspired a character in the story.Liked this conversation? Keep listening:Curtis Sittenfeld is fascinated by fame Would a tradwife influencer survive in 1855? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

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.

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

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

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! Do you prepare for challenges? What can you do to better prepare? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss preparing for difficulties.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 

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

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

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/

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

Send us Fan MailMost men have been trained to see the “male gaze” as something to apologize for — a coarse, objectifying reflex to suppress or perform your way out of. Either you're the bro who can't see past a woman's body, or you're the guy in the loafers and matcha latte performing a “female gaze” so hard it becomes its own kind of costume.In this episode, Jordan revisits a line from The Alabaster Girl that's followed him for thirteen years — women have a beauty song — and asks Zan whether it still holds. What follows is one of the most philosophically dense conversations on the podcast: gratitude as the lens that transforms looking into witnessing, the difference between a woman posed as a nude and a woman caught naked and unguarded, and why Zan refuses to be embarrassed about the fact that his eyes are drawn to the female form.They get into the man in the coffee shop who watches a woman order her latte and lets her walk out the door without chasing her — and why Zan calls that moment “code complete.” The phrase Zan wrote in his new book: a woman's walk is the oldest promise in the world. Freud's split between exhibitionism and voyeurism, and why every peep show needs a pervert. And Zan's answer to the discourse around male gaze versus female gaze — which he'd never even heard of before Jordan brought it up.Watch until the end for Zan's real-time reinterpretation of John Berger's “nude vs. naked” distinction — and his own bikini-versus-underwear version of it.__________________________________________________Ars Amorata, Summer '26:Text Her — Stan's course on apps and messaging: from swipe right to archetype. Opens soon.https://amorati.me/courses/text-her/Perception, Openness, Beauty — Online weekend intensive with Jordan, 18-19 July. Inside the Guild.https://arsamorata.com/guild/Desire in the Afternoon — Private salon-consultation with Jordan. 25-26 July, Bali. (Two-day option with embodied women's feedback newly added.)https://desireintheafternoon.carrd.co/Amorati Guild Summer Holiday — A beach weekend in Vama Veche with Zan. 21-23 August, Romania.https://arsamorata.com/guild/____________________________________________________Need a gunslinger? Someone who rides into town, completely solves your problem, then rides off into the sunset. Contact Zan Perrion personally to inquire about his incredibly effective one-on-one Laser Coaching. Find him here: https://arsamorata.com/gunslinger/__________________________________Get instant access to our 4 part mini-course with Zan Perrion

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

Dr. Kirk Honda and Humberto respond to listener questions about Stoicism, and whether Kirk's voice has changed over the years, before revisiting the ending of Game of Thrones. He also reads a moving email from a first responder to the 2024 Fall City family murders who found unexpected relief after watching the PIS episode on family annihilators. July 20, 2026This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/KIRK to get 10% off your first month.00:00 Does all of stoicism suck? 04:15 Did Dr. Kirk intentionally change his voice?16:57 Thoughts on Game of Thrones40:41 First responders & family annihilators Support us by... Become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOUZWV1DRtHtpP2H48S7iiw/joinBecome a patron: https://www.patreon.com/PsychologyInSeattleContact us/more info... Email: https://www.psychologyinseattle.com/contactAbout Dr. Kirk: https://www.psychologyinseattle.com/about-dr-kirk-hondaWebsite: https://www.psychologyinseattle.comGet stuff... Merch: https://psychologyinseattle-shop.fourthwall.com/KIRKgram (like Cameo): https://www.psychologyinseattle.com/kirkgramThe Psychology In Seattle Podcast ®Trigger Warning: This episode may include topics such as assault, trauma, and discrimination. If necessary, listeners are encouraged to refrain from listening and care for their safety and well-being. Disclaimer: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, therapy, diagnosis, or creates a counselor-client relationship. Topics discussed may generate differing points of view. If you participate (by being a guest, submitting a question, or commenting) you must do so with the knowledge that we cannot control reactions or responses from others, which may not agree with you or feel unfair. Your participation on this site is at your own risk, accepting full responsibility for any liability or harm that may result. Anything you write here may be used for discussion or endorsement of the podcast. Opinions and views expressed by the host and guest hosts are personal views. Although we take precautions and fact check, they should not be considered facts and the opinions may change. Opinions posted by participants (such as comments) are not those of the hosts. Readers should not rely on any information found here and should perform due diligence before taking any action. For a more extensive description of factors for you to consider, please see www.psychologyinseattle.com

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

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.

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! What do you do when you have a bad day? Do you face challenges head-on, or do you bury your head in the sand? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss challenges they face and what to do when life is challenging.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

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.

https://linktr.ee/csjosephWhat's up, you hackers? In this episode of the C.S. Joseph Podcast, we dive into the natural mistrust and enmity between Subconscious Developed (SD) men and Unconscious Developed (UD) men — and exactly how SD men can finally learn to trust the right UD men.SD men see UD men as dangerous “soldier ants” and live in fear of them coalescing into wolf packs. This dynamic fuels feminism, societal blame games, fatherlessness, and the erosion of strong male spaces. We break down the worker ant vs soldier ant psychology, the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, Stoicism vs the Socratic method, why women are actually attracted to dangerous UD men, biblical parallels (Jacob, Leah & Rachel), and the critical difference between real wolf packs and lone wolves (plus why you must avoid “harmony hell”).If you're an SD man craving real growth, accountability, and iron sharpening iron instead of staying comfy and stagnant — this episode shows you the path forward.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & Cat Cameo01:20 - The Dangerous Nature of UD Men & Why SD Men Play It Safe03:50 - Feminism as a Product of SDism & The Worker/Soldier Ant Dynamic06:30 - Historical Example: 300 Spartans at Thermopylae08:10 - Stoicism vs Socratic Method for Psychological Completeness09:50 - The Blame Game: Fatherlessness, Abortion & Boomer SD Psychosis12:00 - Bloodlines, Female Attraction to Dangerous Men & Biblical Parallels14:20 - The Key: Wolf Packs Over Lone Wolves (Avoid Harmony Hell)16:40 - What Wolf Packs Actually Provide: Accountability, Leadership & Earned Safety18:10 - Practical Advice: Rituals, Challenge Coins & Identifying Real UD Packs19:20 - Outro & Resources(19:36)Take the Octagram test to discover whether you're SD or UD: https://octagram.me (Note: Results are currently being updated for greater accuracy. A new AI chatbot for psychoanalyzing yourself and others is coming very soon!)Join the premium Skool community for deeper content & Season 42: https://skool.com/csjosephThis episode will help you stop judging UD men by “vibe” and start building real trust and growth through authentic male wolf packs.

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.

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

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

Ryan Holiday is a bestselling author and one of the most influential modern voices on Stoicism. His 12 books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and Stillness Is the Key, have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. He's also the founder of Daily Stoic, a media company that reaches millions through books, podcasts, newsletters, and YouTube. In 2025, Ryan completed his four-book Stoic Virtues series and followed it with a sold-out international speaking tour. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Sheath. The underwear of legends. Go to ⁠https://www.sheath.com/SRS⁠ and use code SRS for 20% off. Visit ⁠https://drinkag1.com/SRS⁠ to get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off with promo code SRS at ⁠https://shopmando.com⁠! #mandopod For problems worth solving — get started with Claude at — ⁠https://Claude.ai/srs⁠ Ready to upgrade your eyewear? Check them out at ⁠https://roka.com⁠ and use code SRS for 20% off sitewide. Ryan Holiday Links: Website - ⁠https://ryanholiday.net⁠ Daily Stoic - ⁠https://dailystoic.com⁠ Ryan Holiday IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday⁠ Daily Stoic IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/dailystoic⁠ Painted Porch Bookshop IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/paintedporchbookshop⁠ X - ⁠https://x.com/dailystoic⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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?

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?

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/