For centuries, all sorts of people—generals and politicians, athletes and coaches, writers and leaders—have looked to the teachings of Stoicism to help guide their lives. Each day, author and speaker Ryan Holiday brings you a new lesson about life, inspired by the thoughts and writings of great Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca the Younger. Daily Stoic Podcast also features Q+As with listeners and interviews with notable figures from sports, academia, politics, and more. Learn more at DailyStoic.com.
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We plan to do it. We mean to do it. We just tell ourselves that we’ll do it tomorrow. The problem, as the Stoics remind us, is that we don’t control tomorrow. 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 📔 Pick up your own leather bound signed edition of The Daily Stoic ! Check it out at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 🎙️ Follow The...
Haven’t you been wrong before? Haven’t you done stuff that in retrospect seems dumb or weird? Of course you have. 📚 Books Mentioned: Great Gatsby: 100th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays Translation) The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://da...
Meditating on death isn’t depressing, it’s clarifying. In this episode, Ryan explains how the Stoic practice of Memento Mori will sharpen your priorities, push you to stop wasting time, and remind you to live with character now, not later. 🪙 We have a collection of items in the Daily Stoic store to help you in your own memento mori practice , check them out here: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock a...
The greatness of Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius was not perfection but progress. They were imperfect men committed to self-discipline and self-correction. Today's episode explores how Antoninus shaped Marcus through steady example and daily discipline, and what their lives reveal about the kind of character a person chooses to build. 📕 You can grab the Discipline Is Destiny ebook for just $1.99 right now ! Or if you prefer reading hardcover books, we have signed copies available over at the Dail...
Power doesn’t wait for the perfect person to raise their hand. Someone will wield it. Someone always does. 📚 Looking for stories to teach your kids about Stoicism? Check out Ryan Holiday’s books: The Boy Who Would Be King and The Girl Who Would Be Free: A Fable About Epictetus 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎥 Watch the video episodes on Th...
Is this what we’re here for? To be the passions’ slave? To be the plaything of emotions and impulses? It can’t be! 📓 Pick up a copy of The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on The Art of Living : https://store.dailystoic.com/ 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎥 Watch the video episodes on The Daily Stoic YouTube channel ...
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee introduces three powerful daily journaling questions designed to enhance life within a week by cultivating alignment, contentment, and control. He emphasizes focusing on a sense of internal control rather than external circumstances. The questions guide individuals to practice gratitude, identify their single most important task for the day, and intentionally choose a quality to embody, fostering a positive relationship with oneself and the day.
How do you hold a country together when it’s tearing itself apart? In this episode, Ryan sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to talk about Abraham Lincoln’s self-education, his emotional discipline, and how he managed anger, ego, and public pressure without losing himself. Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize–winning presidential historian and bestselling author. Her latest #1 New York Times bestseller, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960...
People are the way they are. They will always be this way. We don’t control that. 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎥 Watch the video episodes on The Daily Stoic YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic/videos 🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast ✉️ Want Stoic wisdom deliver...
The past is gone, and no amount of calculation will bring it back or make it fair. What we do have is agency right now. 🎥 Watch the video of today's episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1zgKBx93rY 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast ✉️ Want St...
The Daily Stoic discusses the importance of starting each day with discipline, using the example of civil rights activist Diane Nash. It emphasizes the Stoic lesson from Marcus Aurelius and Euripides that circumstances do not care about our feelings, urging listeners not to let external events provoke anger or dictate their reactions. The episode encourages focusing energy on what can be controlled, rather than wasting it on the uncontrollable.
Ryan Holiday delves into timeless Stoic wisdom, offering actionable rules for living, such as avoiding complaints, comparisons, and overindulgence. He outlines essential habits like reflection, deep work, and continuous learning, alongside strategies to conquer procrastination. The episode also provides insights on gracefully handling criticism and avoiding common pitfalls, ultimately guiding listeners toward a more intentional and successful life.
If you think history is boring, irrelevant, or just not your "thing", this episode is for you. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with Kenny Curtis, host of the new podcast History Snacks , to make the case for history. They discuss why history isn’t about memorizing dates or dusty textbooks, but a superpower that gives you perspective, clarity, and calm. 🎥 Watch Kenny Curtis’ episode on The Daily Stoic Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAu5_O-KZNg 👉 Check out the National Geographic Ki...
It’s discouraging. It’s distracting. All the stuff that’s happening in the world. But you know what you can’t do? You can’t give up your work, your freedom of thought, your freedom of choice pre-emptively. 🎥 Watch the video of this episode on Ryan Holiday's YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEgYzLYPmO4 📚 You can find all the books mentioned in this episode at Ryan's bookstore, The Painted Porch : https://www.thepaintedporch.com/ 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicis...
We should pride ourselves on our ability to put up with these people, to be able to be nice to people who are not nice, to be able to turn the other cheek and not be made bitter and cynical. 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎥 Watch the video episodes on The Daily Stoic YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic/videos 🎙️ Follow Th...
The Daily Stoic podcast examines the Stoic principle of focusing on individual actions and internal control, rather than dwelling on external negativity or the actions of "awful people." It features a reading from Seneca's letter "On the Futility of Halfway Measures," which cautions against procrastination, partial commitments, and the human tendency to cling to the burdens of ambition despite complaining about them. The episode encourages decisive action towards freedom and living nobly.
The Daily Stoic discusses how wanting less increases gratitude, echoing Epictetus's teachings on escaping the hedonic treadmill. By embracing moderation and taking only what is needed, one can find freedom and contentment, avoiding the burden of excessive desire. The episode uses vivid metaphors like a banquet and a candy jar to illustrate the importance of the "right amount" in all aspects of life.
The Daily Stoic discusses the importance of pausing before reacting in anger, citing ancient advice to avoid impulsive communication that leads to regret. It then delves into the concept of conditional happiness, illustrating how constant yearning for future achievements or possessions prevents present contentment. The episode encourages listeners, especially the ambitious, to embrace 'enough' and find happiness in the present moment, rather than perpetually chasing an unachievable horizon.
All that we see must be illuminated by the calm light of mild philosophy. So we can see what it really is. So we don’t do anything we regret. 📚 Pick up a copy of Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography by William Lee Miller at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com 📕 Grab copies of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s books Team of Rivals and Leadership at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Pre...
Most people don’t read that many books, maybe a few a year at most. So if you’re only going to read a couple books this year, the decision of which ones you choose becomes really important. In today’s episode, Ryan shares a handful of books he’s confident are worth your time. They’ve changed him, made him better, and he believes they’ll make you better too in a lot of different areas of your life. 👉 Sign up for Ryan’s free monthly reading list newsletter: https://ryanholiday.net/the-reading-lis...
Discover how Stoic philosophy offers practical wisdom for a thriving love life, emphasizing actions over emotions. Learn key rules like knowing yourself, choosing a partner wisely, and continuously working on personal growth. The discussion also covers giving unconditionally, managing what's within your control, and accepting the inevitable changes and impermanence in relationships.
Marcus Aurelius said that if you ever found anything better in life than courage , discipline , justice , and wisdom —the four virtues—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed. Which raises the question: is there anything better? 👉 Read Rick Jervis' latest piece here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/29/immigrant-families-conditions-detention-sick-kids/88405597007/ 📚 Buy a copy of Rick Jervis’ book The Devil Behind The Badge at The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.c...
Ryan Holiday and Dan Harris discuss the Stoic principle of "Do Not Delay," highlighting the importance of Memento Mori for clarity and urgency. They explore the elusive definition of wisdom, contrasting it with intelligence through the example of Socrates' social missteps. The conversation culminates in wisdom being the foundational virtue that informs and guides courage and justice, exemplified by the efforts of abolitionists like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Clarkson.
Why do the same patterns keep showing up in completely different centuries? In this episode, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Stephen Greenblatt joins Ryan to discuss how power, fear, ego, and insecurity keep producing the same patterns. They talk about why dangerous leaders do not look dangerous at first, how great thinkers learned to survive unstable rulers, and why some of the most important ideas in history had to be hidden inside art, literature, and fiction just to stay alive. Stephen Gree...
The Daily Stoic explores the concept of 'rhythm' or 'logos' in Stoicism, explaining how external circumstances can rattle us, making us feel lost or hopeless. Drawing on Marcus Aurelius and Zeno, the episode encourages listeners to revert to themselves, find their inner harmony, and reclaim a sense of direction amidst life's inevitable challenges and betrayals.
It would be wonderful if the world was naturally just, if people were automatically good, always doing the right thing. But of course, they don’t. 📕 Read more stories that will inspire you to live with justice in Right Thing, Right Now | https://store.dailystoic.com/ 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎥 Watch the video episodes on The Daily St...
The Daily Stoic podcast delves into the fundamental Stoic belief that our emotions are our responsibility, not dictated by external events or people. It highlights the practice of pausing and reflecting before reacting, and how guarding our perceptions is crucial for protecting our peace of mind, clarity, and freedom. Drawing on Epictetus and Seneca, the episode discusses the challenge of finding inner stillness while actively engaged with the world, encouraging discernment in what we choose to care about to achieve true stoic tranquility.
After recording their episode , Ryan and Bert Kreischer stopped by The Painted Porch , where Ryan shared some must-read books with Bert. Watch this episode on Ryan Holiday's YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VH7tzlzRwY 📚 Books mentioned: The Crack-Up The Annotated Great Gatsby: 100th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Confederacy of Dunces In a Sunburned Country Pappyland The Cost of These Dreams Daily Dad Five Year Reflection Journal 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism ...
This episode delves into the life and radical philosophy of Diogenes the Cynic, an ancient philosopher known for his extreme self-sufficiency and fearless questioning of societal norms. Living on the streets and challenging figures like Alexander the Great, Diogenes championed true freedom and individual excellence over material possessions and status. The discussion also explores the historical and philosophical connections between Cynicism and Stoicism, highlighting Diogenes's enduring lessons on rigor, continuous learning, and the courage to change one's mind.
This episode explores how Stoic philosophy underpins peak performance, drawing examples from NFL teams and players. It highlights the importance of emotional regulation, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the unexpected tenderness of figures like Marcus Aurelius. The discussion emphasizes that true greatness stems from obsessive dedication and a disciplined focus on what one can control, rather than just innate talent.
