The What Is Stoicism? Podcast

"Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day."—Seneca, Letters 2.4📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we look at Cicero's explanation of the Stoics' main guiding principle—that virtue is the only true good in life.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The present moment is enough for you,” Marcus Aurelius told himself in his Meditations.As Pierre Hadot wrote in his book Philosophy as a Way of Life, this had a double meaning:It is enough to keep you busy; you have no need to think about anything else; andIt is enough to make you happy; there is no need to seek for anything else.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To help achieve the kind of mental freedom the Stoics enjoyed by worrying less about the opinions of others, I have constructed a short exercise that uses some imagery from Kurt Vonnegut's novel Breakfast of Champions.I’ve called it the Molecular Pause technique.When to use it: Use the Molecular Pause technique whenever you feel discomfort or hesitation in your actions due to the fear of judgment.What to use it for: Use this technique to remind yourself to, as Seneca put it, be your own spectator and seek your own sincere praise. The idea is to cultivate courage and build confidence in your actions, independent of external validation.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the twelfth book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

☀️ This episode features a free example edition of my Micro Morning Meditations.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When someone tells us a harsh truth, it may question our beliefs or behavior in a way that offends us.This episode explores how we can use the Stoic virtues to deal with harsh truths in a calm, detached way so that we can remove the harshness and examine the truth.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the eleventh book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is an interview with Dutch Olympic gold medalist Mark Tuitert.I really enjoyed talking with Mark - he's a keen enthusiast of Stoicism and has recently released a book called The Stoic Mindset.In the interview, we talk about the book, Mark’s interest in Stoicism, and how the philosophy has helped him both in his professional and personal life.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I look at why the Stoic practice of accepting one's fate is not the same thing as passivity.Accepting what happens saves us time. We don’t feel the need to curse fate or complain about our luck when we practice this kind of acceptance.We don’t spend excessive time in denial, wishing we could change the past. Instead, we focus on what we can do.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine the freedom that comes from living in alignment with your values, unencumbered by the fear of exposure or judgment.How can you cultivate a mindset that not only avoids wrongdoing but actively rejects even the thought of it?📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This explainer episode will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what Stoic Wisdom is and how you can use it in your Stoic practice.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the tenth book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, I interview one of my favorite writers on Stoicism, Donald Robertson.He's a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, and the author of such books as How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, Verissimus, Stoicism and the Art of Happiness, and The Philosophy of CBT.His latest book is a biography of Marcus Aurelius, titled Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor.In the interview, we talk about the book, Marcus Aurelius's life, and some practical techniques for dealing with anxiety.I hope you enjoy!📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the relentless pursuit of happiness, a common impulse leads us to believe that a change in surroundings will lift the burdens of our minds.Seneca, the ancient Stoic philosopher, challenges this instinct in his 28th Letter to Lucilius, inviting us to question whether our travels truly offer escape or merely a temporary reprieve.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This explainer episode will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what Stoic Temperance is and how you can use it in your Stoic practice.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five of the best pieces of advice from Seneca’s On Anger you can use today if you feel anger beginning to bubble up.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the ninth book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"If you want to do something, make a habit of it, if you don’t want to do that, don’t, but make a habit of something else instead."—Epictetus, Discourses 2.18📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trust in your innate ability to improve, guided by your principles and the support of the universe.Each moment of each day offers you an opportunity to choose the right path.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This explainer episode will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what Stoic Justice is and how you can use it in your Stoic practice.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the eighth book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We are always learning, always growing. It is right to accept challenges. This is how we progress to the next level of intellectual, physical, or moral development.”—Epictetus, A Manual For Living, p.74📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you."—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 9.27📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is shared from the Stoa Conversations podcast, in which I talked with host Caleb Ontiveros about the practice of Stoicism as a philosophy of daily life.You can find more Stoa Conversations episodes here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think of the countless examples throughout history of individuals who have achieved remarkable feats through relentless dedication and continuous learning.By cultivating discipline and resilience, you too can overcome obstacles and accomplish great things.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the seventh book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An homage to a TED talk by Ethan Hawke called “Give yourself permission to be creative”, adjusted to conform to the alternative title of “Give yourself permission to practice philosophy.”“I place it to the credit of philosophy that I recovered and regained my strength. I owe my life to philosophy, and that is the least of my obligations!” —Seneca, Letters 78.3📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This explainer episode will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what Stoic Courage is and how you can use it in your Stoic practice.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode takes inspiration from various Stoic sources, as well as Oliver Burkeman’s excellent book Four Thousand Weeks, to show how it’s possible to zoom out from our own troubles and get a better perspective on them.Doing this can, as Burkeman puts it, help us to drop back down from "godlike fantasies of cosmic significance into the experience of life as it concretely, finitely – and often enough, marvelously – really is."📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As you go about your day, remember to focus on your actions rather than your words.Let your actions speak louder than your discussions.Let your deeds be the evidence of your philosophy.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his Meditations, the Stoic Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius noted ten reminders for himself that could serve as a calming influence when he felt angry with other people.If we remind ourselves of these kinds of perspectives regularly enough, we might just be able to invoke them when we next feel anger bubbling up, and by doing so, block its destructive potential.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the sixth book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Still you are indignant and complain, and you don’t understand that in all the evils to which you refer, there is really only one – that you are indignant and complain."—Seneca, Letters 96.1📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day."—Seneca, Letters 2.4📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode offers some Stoic advice on using the virtue of Justice to guide our interactions with other people.As Seneca put it: "Our fellowship is very similar to an arch of stones, which would fall apart, if they did not reciprocally support each other."📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This explainer episode will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what oikeiosis is and how you can use it to guide your Stoic practice.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"So until your pleasantries become solid beliefs and you’ve acquired some means of keeping yourselves safe, I’d advise you to be cautious when engaging with non-philosophers."—Epictetus📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the fifth book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just like we have the power to interpret the past in the most constructive way possible, we also have the power to make our own choices in response to questions about the future.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This explainer episode will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what eudaimonia is and how you can use it to guide your Stoic practice.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"There is no real doubt that it is good for one to have appointed a guardian over oneself, and to have someone whom you may look up to, someone whom you may regard as a witness of your thoughts."—Seneca, Letters 25📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This explainer episode will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what the circles of concern are and how you can use them to guide your Stoic practice.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Roman senator Cato the Younger died in 46 BC but during his lifetime and in the years since his death, he has widely been considered as a near-perfect living embodiment of Stoicism.He was known for his moral integrity, his tenacity in supporting just causes and his immunity to bribes at a time when such corruption was commonplace. He was a respected military tribune who led from the front and shared in the hardship of his men. In his stubborn defense of the Roman Republic, he even preferred death over being ruled by Julius Caesar.The Stoic philosopher Seneca had huge admiration for Cato and advised his friend Lucilius to choose Cato as a role model and to use the Stoic as a ruler against which he could measure and straighten his own behavior.We have some good insights into Cato's adherence to Stoicism from Plutarch's Parallel Lives and I'd like to share a couple of them today as examples of how he demonstrated his character.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story I'd like to share in today's episode comes from Seneca's On Tranquility of Mind essay and features some interesting and entertaining details from the life of a philosopher called Julius Canus.Seneca's underlying motivation for holding Canus up as a role model in this story was to demonstrate how one can maintain a calm mind in the face of adversity.What Julius Canus faced is likely to be a lot more extreme than what most of us will face on a daily basis but this is encouraging in itself - if someone can maintain tranquility of mind in the direst of circumstances, surely it can be done when the stakes aren't so high.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Greek Stoic philosopher Cleanthes was originally a boxer who took up philosophy when he came to Athens and eventually became the successor to Zeno of Citium as the second head of the Stoic school around 262 BC.He supported his studies by working as a water-carrier at night and the short anecdotes we have about his life provide good lessons on humility and simple living.The biographical stories I share about Cleanthes in this episode come courtesy of Diogenes Laertius and his famous work Lives of the Eminent Philosophers.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Stoic story takes the form of two short anecdotes from the life of the philosopher Paconius Agrippinus.The examples from Agrippinus's life are used by Epictetus in his Discourses to demonstrate to his students what it truly means for one to desire only what is up to them to be averse to what is not.They also show how the Stoics in general believed in practicing the virtue of courage by sticking to one's principles in the face adversity and trying to do the right thing even if it could result in negative consequences.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Stoics knew how useful stories and examples could be in the illustration of philosophical lessons.Clear descriptions and explanations of principles are vital of course but demonstrating them in practice is an invaluable tool in helping people to understand them.The example I share in this episode comes from Seneca's Consolation to Marcia, which was a letter the Stoic statesman sent to his friend to help her manage her grief followingthe death of her son.The real-life examples Seneca presents convey lessons that we could adapt and apply not just to grief but to any misfortune as we decide how we will respond to what we face in life.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we can learn from dogs, the animal that Socrates called "a true philosopher."The video mentioned in this episode: This golden retriever has shown us all the true meaning of optimism, hope and gratitude📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reading of the fourth book of Marcus Aurelius's twelve-book work.📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO + EMAIL CONTENTCheck out What Is Stoicism? on Substack:https://whatisstoicism.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.