This episode explores Meditations 3.9, where Marcus Aurelius urges us to revere our rational faculty. In Stoicism, rationality is our greatest gift—it’s the tool that allows us to pursue Virtue, shape our moral character, and ultimately live in accordance with Nature. But how do we cultivate this faculty, especially when our environment doesn’t support moral growth? I discuss how we are shaped by our surroundings, often without realizing it. If we’re immersed in Stoic teachings, the path to mora...
Mar 04, 2025•29 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast Modern interpretations of Stoicism are often wildly inaccurate, reducing the philosophy to a life hack for suppressing emotions, a tool for productivity-obsessed entrepreneurs, or a justification for toxic masculinity. But do any of these portrayals hold up under scrutiny? In this episode, I break down these misconceptions by turning to the words of ancient Stoic thinkers—Musonius Rufus, Zeno of Citium, and others—who show us that Stoicism is far more profound and ethical than pop culture sugges...
Feb 25, 2025•22 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.8 and the idea of preparing for death—not as a morbid fascination, but as a necessary step toward living justly and without fear. Marcus Aurelius describes the Stoic sage as someone unshaken by fate, someone who meets the end of life without hesitation or regret. But how does this apply to the rest of us, who are still progressing in our practice? “In the understanding of a man of chastened and purified spirit you will find, no trace of festering wound, n...
Feb 18, 2025•20 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.7, where Marcus Aurelius reminds us that nothing should take priority over Virtue. Many misunderstand Stoicism as a philosophy of detachment, resilience, and isolation, but in truth, it is profoundly prosocial. Being a Stoic means fulfilling our roles within the broader human community, not retreating from it. I challenge the popular but misguided idea of Stoicism as a philosophy for lone survivalists, demonstrating how its core teachings—from Zeno to Epi...
Feb 11, 2025•18 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.6 and the challenge Marcus Aurelius presents to those seeking the Good life: is there anything higher than justice, truth, temperance, and fortitude? If we find something greater, we should pursue it wholeheartedly. But if not, then we must commit ourselves fully to Virtue. I also address the common misconception that Stoicism promotes emotional repression or toxic perfectionism. True Stoicism is about disciplined reasoning, self-improvement, and moral al...
Feb 04, 2025•21 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Tanner explores Meditations 3.5 by Marcus Aurelius, diving into its core teachings about Stoic ethics and virtuous living. The meditation emphasizes acting with integrity, examining one’s motives, and focusing on moral reasoning rather than outcomes. Tanner reflects on Marcus’s invocation of the “God within” as a call to internalize virtue and gratitude, encouraging listeners to appreciate life, even during adversity. The discussion underscores the Stoic principle of striving fo...
Jan 28, 2025•11 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Tanner answers a listener question from Wyatt Bennett: “What does Stoicism say about human nature? Are humans naturally selfish?” Exploring this through the Stoic concept of Oikeiôsis and the Circles of Concern, Tanner explains how our understanding of responsibilities expands as we mature. Starting from self-concern in infancy, we grow to care for family, friends, community, humanity, and even the planet. Tanner challenges Thomas Hobbes’ pessimistic view of human nature, offeri...
Jan 21, 2025•14 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Tanner explores the rich insights of Meditations 3.4 by Marcus Aurelius, focusing on four main Stoic principles. Marcus warns against wasting time on unnecessary concerns about others, emphasizing opportunity cost and the importance of focusing on appropriate external and internal matters. Tanner also discusses the practice of habituating virtuous thoughts—those we would not be ashamed to express openly—as a step toward moral excellence. The meditation highlights the innate rati...
Jan 14, 2025•19 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 3.3 from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, exploring its central themes: the inevitability of death, the futility of fearing it, and the Stoic imperative to live well while we can. Marcus reminds us that even the most accomplished and revered figures—be they healers, conquerors, or philosophers—ultimately succumb to mortality. Their stories serve as a humbling reminder of our shared fate and an encouragement to prioritize virtue over fame, power, or fear. Key...
Jan 07, 2025•17 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I discuss Meditation 3.2 from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. This meditation reflects on the inherent beauty in all things that align with Nature, even when they might seem imperfect or undesirable to us at first glance. Marcus uses examples such as cracks on a freshly baked loaf of bread or the ripe, oozing fig to illustrate how side effects of Nature’s processes carry their own grace and fascination. I explore two key takeaways: I. Understanding Natural Processes – By studying ...
Dec 24, 2024•10 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast Today we begin Book 3 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Meditation 3.1 reminds us that our time is limited—not just by death, but by the potential loss of our rational faculty as we age. Marcus writes that even if life continues, our ability to reason, comprehend, and adapt to events may diminish. He urges us to press forward with our pursuit of Virtue while we still have the capacity to live thoughtfully and intentionally. Memento Mori—the practice of remembering our mortality—grounds Stoic pr...
Dec 17, 2024•18 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I discuss Meditation 17 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the transient and uncertain nature of life. Marcus reminds us that our lives are brief and unpredictable, with the physical and spiritual aspects of existence constantly in flux. In the face of this, Marcus asserts that only Philosophy can serve as our guide through life, providing us with the means to keep our spirit unharmed, act with purpose, and accept the inevitable changes and dissolution...
Dec 10, 2024•23 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I examine Meditation 16 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the ways in which a person’s soul—or daemon, in Stoic terminology—can harm itself. Marcus lists five key actions that damage the soul, emphasizing that such harm occurs when we act contrary to Nature and our rational purpose. The first way we harm ourselves is by separating from Nature, acting as though we are independent of the Universe’s interconnected system. The second is by turning against...
Dec 02, 2024•27 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 15 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius emphasizes that “all is opinion.” This principle, shared by the Cynic philosopher Monimus, suggests that our perception defines our reality. While this concept is intuitive, its true power lies in recognizing the control we have over how we frame our experiences. By adjusting our perceptions, we can transform how we respond to life’s challenges, even in situations of profound loss or injustice. I explor...
Nov 26, 2024•16 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I examine Meditation 14 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the nature of time and the present moment. Marcus emphasizes that we cannot lose the past, as it no longer exists, nor the future, as it has yet to arrive. The only thing we can truly lose is the present moment, which is fleeting and finite. He reminds us that regardless of the length of one’s life, everyone loses the same thing in death: the ability to exist in the present. This meditation enc...
Nov 18, 2024•19 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I review Meditation 13 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the futility of constantly seeking to understand or judge others instead of focusing on our own alignment with Nature. Marcus references Pindar to illustrate how some people waste their lives in endless speculation, failing to see that true fulfillment comes from connecting with the divine reason, or “Daimon,” within each of us. This Daimon represents our inner sense of virtue and alignment with...
Nov 13, 2024•22 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I discuss Meditation 12 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the transient nature of life, death, and the things we often fear or desire. Marcus emphasizes that everything in the Universe is impermanent, including our bodies, desires, and even the monuments we create. These fleeting aspects of life, he suggests, should be seen as trivial or “cheap” when compared to the pursuit of virtue. Marcus also contemplates death, framing it not as something to be f...
Nov 05, 2024•17 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I discuss Meditation 11 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reminds us to live each moment as if death could come at any time, encouraging a focus on living virtuously. Marcus addresses the nature of death and the existence of gods, framing them in a way that reduces fear. He explains that if gods exist, they are just, so there is no need to fear death. If gods do not exist, then life has no divine meaning, and death is a natural peace. Marcus implies that life is ...
Oct 28, 2024•27 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I cover Meditation 10 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the comparison between faults driven by anger and those driven by desire. He references Theophrastus, who argued that errors rooted in pleasure and appetite are graver than those caused by anger. I explore this idea, explaining how Stoics view actions driven by desire as more deliberate and habituated than those caused by reactive emotions like anger. When we act out of anger, it is often a respo...
Oct 21, 2024•22 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 9 from Book 2 of Meditations. Marcus Aurelius reminds us to always remember the nature of the Cosmos and our place within it. He emphasizes that the Cosmos is a rational and self-sustaining system, and as part of it, we share in that logic and beneficence. Marcus urges us to act in accordance with Nature, meaning that we should strive to be rational and beneficent, just as the Cosmos is. I explore how the Cosmos, though not consciously acting like a human...
Oct 15, 2024•13 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I discuss Meditation 8 from Book 2 of Meditations. Marcus Aurelius reflects on how people rarely suffer from not understanding the thoughts of others but are bound to suffer if they don’t observe their own thoughts. I explain how spending too much time worrying about what others think leaves us no energy to examine our own thoughts and work toward virtue. This meditation is not about ignoring others, but rather about prioritizing our mental energy wisely. We can care for others,...
Oct 07, 2024•10 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I discuss Meditation 7 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius advises us to give ourselves moments of quiet to focus on learning something good, while also warning against aimlessness. I explore how modern distractions—whether from media, politics, or content creators—are constantly vying for our attention. Marcus’ advice to focus on "something good" can be interpreted as learning about virtue, which helps quiet the noise of the world. Alternatively, it can mean focus...
Sep 29, 2024•12 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I explore Meditation 6 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on how we often fail to honor our own well-being, instead placing it in the hands of others. I dive into the Stoic concept of violence, explaining that true violence, in Stoic terms, is the damage we do to our own moral character through vice, not the physical acts we traditionally associate with violence. Using examples like murder, I explain how Stoicism teaches that no external action can harm a...
Sep 23, 2024•28 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I begin by correcting a mistake I made about the word "Prokoptôn," clarifying that it is the singular form, not the plural. We then dive into Meditation 5 of Book 2, which focuses on acting with precision, dignity, love, freedom, and justice in every moment, as if it were your last. I break down the importance of being aligned with nature and explain how Marcus Aurelius emphasizes the need to be in awe of the Cosmos, rather than "god-fearing" as some translations might suggest. ...
Sep 16, 2024•20 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's meditation, we explore Meditation 2.4 from Book 2 of the Meditations. The conversation centers around the inevitability of death, the urgency of utilizing the present moment, and the Stoic approach to perceiving and appreciating life on Nature’s terms. Meditation Quoted: "Remember how long you have been putting off these things, and how many times the gods have given you days of grace, and yet you do not use them. Now is it high time to perceive the kind of Universe whereof you ar...
Sep 09, 2024•28 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we delve into Meditation 2.3 of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. We explore the concepts of Providence and the interconnectedness of the universe as understood by the Stoics. We discuss how everything in the cosmos, including human life, is part of a logical and stable system governed by natural laws. Additionally, we touch upon the Stoic view of change and how it contributes to the stability of the universe. The practical takeaway? Embrace the logical nature of the cosmos, unders...
Sep 02, 2024•27 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we explore Meditations 2.2 by Marcus Aurelius, diving into the Stoic understanding of our bodies, the concept of the “god” in Stoicism, and the relationship between our physical body, life-sustaining breath, and rational mind. Marcus identifies these three parts of the human being and challenges us to take control of the only one we can—the governing self, or rational mind. We also touch on the Stoic concept of Logos, the naturalistic “god” that underpins the universe, and di...
Aug 26, 2024•31 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast In this first episode of Season 2, we dive into one of my favorite meditations from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1. I’ll be using the Farquharson translation throughout this season, and today, I’m excited to get started. Meditation Quoted: "Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today inquisitive, ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill. But I, because I have seen that the nature of goo...
Aug 20, 2024•29 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this primer episode for Season 2, I introduce the reboot of the podcast. If you're new here, welcome—I'm excited to have you join this journey. This season is not a reimagining but a refresh, building on the knowledge I've accumulated since I first started this podcast in 2022. While Season One was an exploratory beginning, Season Two aims to dive deeper into the Stoic canon with greater insight and understanding. In this episode, I explain some key Stoic vocabulary you'll need to know, such ...
Aug 13, 2024•25 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to Season 2 of Practical Stoicism! When I started this podcast in January 2022, I knew very little about Stoicism. Fast forward to today, and the podcast now averages around 4 million plays a year. Along the way, I've written over half a million words on Stoicism, co-authored a book, and gained recognition as a Stoic philosopher within the academic community. With all this growth and learning, I realized that some of the early episodes of this podcast may not be as accurate or insightful...
Aug 13, 2024•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
