In this episode, we look at what Stoicism has to say about resisting the urge for revenge and reclaiming our inner freedom. With help from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Diogenes, we examine why retaliation degrades us and how self-mastery is a better path to strength. Instead of reacting impulsively to harm or misfortune, we can learn to respond with integrity, turning adversity into opportunities to build character. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Mic...
Jul 02, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 197
In this episode, we dig into the meaning behind Kurt Vonnegut’s famous line “so it goes” and how it’s more than just a catchphrase. Drawing from Slaughterhouse-Five , Stoic ideas, and the book The Courage to Be Disliked , we talk about how accepting what we can’t control can actually help us take better control of what we can. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: ☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: How To Always Get What Y...
Jun 25, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 196
In this episode, we explore the life and teachings of Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher born into slavery who found unshakable strength from within. His story reminds us that while true resilience begins in the mind, Stoicism also embraces the power of connection, encouraging us not just to endure, but to give and receive support as part of a greater whole. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: ☀️ Micro Morning Medita...
Jun 18, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 195
I try to answer this question each week in different ways. For this episode, however, I wanted to step back and provide a more general overview. I hope you find it useful! 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: ☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Don't Mistake Glamour For Beauty https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-dont-mistake Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 11, 2025•7 min•Season 1Ep. 194
Have you ever woken from a nightmare only to feel deep relief that it wasn’t real? In this episode, we explore what Marcus Aurelius and Anne Lamott can teach us about illusion, imagination, and insight—how dreams, fears, and even our thoughts can mislead us, and how journaling and Stoic reflection can help us wake up to deeper clarity and purpose. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: How To Live Freely https://whati...
Jun 04, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 193
In this episode, we explore how our judgments—not external events—shape our emotional world, from a child’s toy envy to ancient Stoic parables and the quiet wisdom of Nan Shepherd. Using Epictetus’s insights and Shepherd’s meditative reflections, we examine how reclaiming control over our perceptions can free us from needless suffering and open us to a richer, more grounded experience of life. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations her...
May 28, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 192
In this episode, we look at the Stoic principle of focusing only on what lies within our control, using the weather as a vivid metaphor for life’s unpredictable externals. Drawing on insights from George Gissing, Epictetus, Seneca, Mac Miller, and even Derren Brown, we reflect on how to maintain inner peace in a world that constantly tempts and tests us. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Micro Morning Meditation:...
May 21, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 191
This episode explores how anxiety can quietly hold us back from the things that matter most—and how Stoic wisdom offers a path through it. Drawing on insights from Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, we look at how changing our judgments, not just our circumstances, empowers us to act despite fear and grow stronger in the process. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Micro Morning Meditation: Is It The Thought That Count...
May 14, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 190
When life feels overwhelming or uncertain, our minds often jump to the worst-case scenario. In this episode, we explore the Stoic art of "decatastrophizing"—challenging our initial impressions, stepping back from fear-driven thoughts, and learning to respond with clarity and calm. With guidance from Epictetus and Seneca, we understand how to navigate misfortune not just with acceptance, but with strength, reason, and grace. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest dail...
May 07, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 189
What if the things that trouble us most are really just tremendous trifles ? In this episode, we explore how shifting our perspective can turn everyday stress into a source of clarity—with a simple story of boiling water and a reminder that life is too short to sweat what won’t matter tomorrow. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: The Power To Live As One Wishes https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-me...
Apr 30, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 188
We all have our own command center. Our own thoughts are within our control. Knowing this, we can break free from the impulses and influences trying to send us in different directions. We can accept our present fate and do what is within our control to flourish in that situation, whatever it may be. In this episode, we look at how this line of thinking can benefit us. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: It's Not A ...
Apr 23, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 187
In his Discourses , the Stoic teacher Epictetus explains that a person is making progress when they understand a simple Stoic principle: we desire what we see as good, and we avoid what we see as bad. In this episode, we look at how this advice can drastically reduce the chances of being disturbed by what happens around us. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: It's Not A Joyless Philosophy https://whatisstoicism.sub...
Apr 16, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 186
It's an unfortunate truth: many so-called leaders expect things from others that they don’t expect from themselves. In this episode, we look to the Stoics and an old story about Mahatma Gandhi to see how true leaders lead by example. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Unbroken Tranquility And Unending Freedom https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-unbroken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Apr 09, 2025•4 min•Season 1Ep. 185
The ancient Stoic’s prerequisite for getting the most out of each of life’s experiences was to consider the possibility that it would be the last time they would ever have that particular experience. In this episode, we look at some practical ways to achieve this. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Amongst Friends All Things In Common https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-amongst Hosted on...
Apr 02, 2025•4 min•Season 1Ep. 184
In this episode, I talk to Gregory B. Sadler. Through his public speaking, content production (including videos for a YouTube channel with over 150,000 subscribers), consulting, and philosophical counseling, Greg makes classical and contemporary philosophy accessible to non-philosophers. I really enjoyed this conversation, in which we mainly discussed the many misconceptions there are about what Stoicism really is. Greg did a great job of clearing these misunderstandings up, so I think this will...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 183
If we want to break free from our old opinions, or at least confirm if they are still valid, we must be willing to accept that our way of seeing things might not be OK as it is. We must be willing to examine judgments, let go of long-held views, and potentially give up on an outdated version of ourselves. In this episode, we look at how Stoicism helps us do this. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Amongst Friends ...
Mar 19, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 182
“To live a good life: We have the potential for it,” writes Marcus Aurelius in his Meditations . “If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.” This good life is exactly what the ancient Stoics believed the practice of philosophy would allow us to pursue. In this episode, we look at how Stoicism can bring us internal clarity, the value of which far outweighs the pursuit of externals like material gain, wealth, reputation, and status. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Che...
Mar 12, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 181
Erick Cloward is the host of the popular Stoic Coffee Break podcast where every week he discusses how to live a more resilient and happy life using ancient Stoicism and modern wisdom. He's also a Leadership Coach and Speaker, as well as an author who’s just realised a new book called Stoicism 101. In this episode, I talk to Erick about his book, his Stoic background, the problem with Broicism, and more. I hope you enjoy. Erick's book can be found here: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/St...
Mar 05, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 180
There's an old Spanish proverb that says: "Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence." With such restraint comes a question: what should we redirect our attention toward at times when we judge that externalizing our thoughts isn’t necessary? In this episode, we look at how self-reflection can be a worthy alternative. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Amongst Friends All Things In Common https://whatisstoi...
Feb 26, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 179
In this episode I talk to Benny Voncken, a writer, speaker, and practicing Stoic who's originally from the Netherlands. He's also the co-founder of an online Stoicism platform called Via Stoica, which offers personalized Stoic coaching services, an online Stoic community, live conversations on X, and their own Via Stoica podcast. I really enjoyed talking with Benny. In the conversation, he shares some of the difficulties he's been through that led to him taking Stoicism seriously as a philosophy...
Feb 19, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 178
The most common misunderstanding about Stoicism is that it’s all about suppressing or burying our emotions. This tends to come from the confusion between Stoicism (upper case ‘S’) and stoicism (lower case ‘s’); the former is the ancient Greek philosophy that we learn about and practice, the latter is simply a “stiff-upper-lip” coping style. In this episode, we look at why it's better to understand and process our emotions rather than dismiss and suppress them. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CON...
Feb 12, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 177
It can be useful to find parallels between our philosophical pursuits that are inspired by ancient practices and the more modern messages we’re exposed to in our daily lives. Relating things like art, sport, and entertainment to Stoic principles often helps us to remember the concepts and perhaps even better understand how they pertain to modern life. In this episode, we look at two such examples. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://whatisstoi...
Feb 05, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 176
The more we do, the Stoic philosopher Seneca tells us in his book On Tranquility of Mind , the more we put ourselves in Fortune's power, the more we tempt her. In other words, the more tasks we take on, the more journeys we make, the more objectives we pursue, the more things there are that can go wrong. In this episode, we look at why that doesn't mean we should limit our ambitions or give up altogether. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://wh...
Jan 29, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 175
If we practice philosophy, it’s up to us to get to know ourselves. It’s up to us to know the principles by which we live and, by extension, what we find reasonable and unreasonable. In this episode, we look at what Epictetus had to say about this responsibility and how our efforts each day can help us live an examined life. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...
Jan 22, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 174
When those unfamiliar with Stoicism learn about the four cardinal virtues of Wisdom, Justice, Temperance, and Courage, they are sometimes disturbed that kindness isn’t among them. Kindness, however, is indeed a huge part of Stoicism. In this episode, we look at how it is essentially a subdivision of the virtue of Justice, which governs how we should treat others. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. ...
Jan 15, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 173
It can sometimes be challenging to remember what it actually means to “do philosophy.” To some, it’s an abstract concept. When it comes to Stoicism, however, it’s very much a practical pursuit that impacts our daily lives. In this episode, we look at how we can achieve a productive balance between theory and practice. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 08, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 172
In this episode, we examine Stoic ways of mentally preparing for the unexpected events that each day presents. It's then possible to resolve to meet them with acceptance rather than struggling against them and creating difficulty for ourselves. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 01, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 171
"If you seek tranquillity, do less. More accurately, do what’s essential...and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do isn’t essential. Ask yourself at every moment, Is this necessary?" —Marcus Aurelius, 4.24 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 18, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 170
The Stoics liked to draw parallels between the practice of philosophy and other, more physical pursuits that require concentrated effort to improve one’s ability. One popular analogy was to present Stoicism as a type of training similar to that an athlete would undertake. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus's comparison of life to the Olympic Games, and Musonius Rufus's use of Stoicism as a means of strengthening one’s soul. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism...
Dec 11, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 169
To prepare for the day ahead, the Stoic Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius would often remind himself of the type of people he was likely to come into contact with. “At the start of the day,” he wrote in his Meditations . “Tell yourself: I shall meet people who are officious, ungrateful, abusive, treacherous, malicious, and selfish.” In this episode, we look at why we might want to develop a similar practice. 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENT Check out What Is Stoicism? on Substack: https://wha...
Dec 04, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 168
