Change Agents with Andy Stumpf Changing the World Through Stoicism and Discipline (with Ryan Holiday)
Dec 10, 2025
Ryan Holiday, a bestselling author known for popularizing modern Stoicism, dives deep into resilience and discipline. He discusses his upcoming projects, including a biography on Jim Stockdale and how mental strategies can help transcend suffering. Ryan explores Stoicism's resurgence in unstable times, emphasizing stillness and personal responsibility in our tech-laden world. He also offers insights into applying Stoic practices in daily life and parenting, linking wisdom to continuous growth and experience.
01:01:08
Stockdale's Prison Leadership
- Admiral James Stockdale trained at survival school and later applied those lessons when shot down and imprisoned in North Vietnam.
- He used leadership, forgiveness, and reintegration to prevent prisoners from spiraling after breaking under torture.
Why Stoicism Is Resurgent
- Stoicism resurges in chaotic times because it was designed for uncertainty and instability.
- Ancient Stoics faced constant threat and unpredictability, so their tools fit modern disruption like pandemics and AI too.
Phones Amplify Old Weaknesses
- Technology increases information and distraction, but the core human tendency to seek distraction remains unchanged.
- Stoics would view phones as modern tools that test our capacity for self-restraint rather than new human problems.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Ryan's Next Projects and Stockdale Biography
01:56 • 57sec
Stockdale's SERE Training and Survival Mindset
02:52 • 2min
Transcending Suffering with Mental Practices
04:34 • 1min
Leadership, Forgiveness, and Reintegration in Captivity
05:35 • 3min
Staying 'In the Circle' During Interrogation
08:29 • 1min
Harmless Disclosures and Managing Information
09:42 • 6min
Ad break
15:38 • 1min
Marketing Roots and the Turn to Stoicism
17:00 • 4min
Making Stoicism Accessible Through Marketing
20:47 • 1min
Stoicism's Modern Resurgence
22:10 • 3min
Ad break
25:32 • 2min
Ancient Distraction vs. Modern Tech Overload
27:40 • 4min
Cultivating Stillness and Ataraxia
31:16 • 1min
Using Journaling and Therapy to Sit Quietly
32:45 • 4min
Ad break
37:10 • 4min
The Cardinal Virtues Series Explained
41:07 • 5min
Defining Wisdom and Its Elusive Nature
45:42 • 4min
Applying Stoicism to Daily Life and Parenting
49:57 • 3min
Discipline, Practice, and Overcoming Resistance
53:24 • 2min
Ad break
55:15 • 1min
Marcus Aurelius' Meditations and Publication
56:40 • 3min
Outro
59:58 • 2min
#
Wisdom Is the Way
Leading with Knowledge and Integrity
Ryan Holiday
The book serves as a guide to cultivating wisdom, offering practical insights and actionable strategies for readers seeking to enhance their understanding and decision-making skills.
Drawing from timeless philosophical principles and modern-day examples, the book encourages readers to embrace lifelong learning and self-reflection.
It provides a framework for navigating complex situations with clarity and discernment, fostering a sense of inner peace and resilience.
This book is the fourth installment in the Stoic Virtues series, exploring the importance of wisdom in living a fulfilling and virtuous life.
#109
• Mentioned in 138 episodes
Courage Is Calling
Ryan Holiday
In 'Courage Is Calling', Ryan Holiday explores the virtue of courage through engaging stories about historic and contemporary leaders such as Florence Nightingale, Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The book breaks down the elements of fear, cowardice, bravery, and heroism, and shows how to conquer fear and practice courage in daily life.
Holiday also shares personal anecdotes, including his own experiences with courage and cowardice, to emphasize the importance of choosing to act courageously despite the presence of fear.
#68
• Mentioned in 189 episodes
Stillness is the Key
Ryan Holiday
In 'Stillness is the Key', Ryan Holiday explores the concept of inner stillness as a universal principle across different philosophical and religious traditions, including Stoicism, Buddhism, Epicureanism, and more.
The book is divided into three sections: stillness of the mind, stillness of the spirit, and stillness of the body.
Holiday argues that cultivating stillness allows for better decision-making, increased focus, and a more fulfilling life.
He uses anecdotes from historical figures and contemporary examples to illustrate the importance of moderation, patience, and self-awareness in achieving this state of stillness.
#44
• Mentioned in 215 episodes
Ego is the Enemy
Ryan Holiday
In *Ego Is the Enemy*, Ryan Holiday delves into the concept of ego and its detrimental effects on personal and professional success.
The book is divided into three sections: Aspiration, Success, and Failure, each offering valuable lessons and perspectives.
Holiday draws on a vast array of stories and examples from literature, philosophy, and history, featuring figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
These individuals achieved great success by conquering their own egos, and their strategies and tactics are presented as models for readers.
The book emphasizes the importance of staying grounded, continually learning, and embracing a mindset of growth rather than letting ego hinder development.
#136
• Mentioned in 124 episodes
Right Thing, Right Now
Justice in an Unjust World
Ryan Holiday
In 'Right Thing, Right Now', Ryan Holiday argues for the necessity of doing what’s right, even when it isn’t easy.
He draws on stories of historical figures such as Marcus Aurelius, Florence Nightingale, Jimmy Carter, Gandhi, and Frederick Douglass to illustrate the importance of justice, kindness, honesty, integrity, and loyalty.
The book emphasizes that justice is not an abstract concept but a daily practice that shapes one’s character and impacts those around us.
Holiday challenges readers to develop their own moral code and uphold it consistently, providing concrete steps and exercises to help incorporate these values into their lives.
#159
• Mentioned in 111 episodes
The Republic
Plato
#840
• Mentioned in 35 episodes
The Daily Stoic
366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
'The Daily Stoic' offers daily insights and exercises drawn from Stoic philosophy, designed to cultivate wisdom, resilience, and mindfulness.
Each entry provides a quote from a Stoic philosopher, followed by Ryan Holiday's reflections and actionable advice.
It encourages readers to embrace challenges, practice self-control, and find meaning in everyday life.
The book is structured as a year-long guide, with each day offering a new opportunity for reflection and growth.
Its practical approach makes Stoicism accessible and relevant for modern readers seeking to improve their mental and emotional well-being.
#3
• Mentioned in 938 episodes
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature.
Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
#259
• Mentioned in 79 episodes
Trust Me, I'm Lying
Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Ryan Holiday
In 'Trust Me, I'm Lying,' Ryan Holiday exposes the inner workings of the online media system, detailing how rumors and false information can quickly spread from low-level blogs to major news outlets.
The book highlights the role of marketers and media manipulators in this process, driven by the toxic economics of the news business.
Holiday shares his own experiences as a media manipulator and provides insights into the social science behind why this system is so vulnerable to manipulation.
He also offers advice on how to spot and combat these manipulative tactics.
#40
• Mentioned in 225 episodes
Discipline is Destiny
The Power of Self-Control
Ryan Holiday
In 'Discipline is Destiny', Ryan Holiday explores the Stoic virtue of self-discipline, drawing on historical figures and contemporary examples to illustrate its transformative power.
The book emphasizes that discipline is the foundation upon which other virtues such as courage, justice, and wisdom depend.
Holiday argues that self-control is essential for personal triumph and fulfillment, and he provides engaging stories and practical advice on how to cultivate discipline in a world filled with distractions and temptations.
The book also cautions against the perils of extravagance and hedonism, stressing the importance of balance and self-mastery in achieving success and happiness.
#81
• Mentioned in 174 episodes
The great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan.
The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
#10
• Mentioned in 402 episodes
The obstacle is the way
Ryan Holiday
In 'The Obstacle Is the Way', Ryan Holiday presents a framework for turning obstacles into successes.
Drawing from the philosophy of Stoicism and the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Holiday outlines three disciplines: perception, action, and will.
He illustrates these principles with historical anecdotes from figures such as John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant, and Steve Jobs.
The book emphasizes the importance of perception in shaping one's response to obstacles, the need for intentional and creative action, and the cultivation of will to persist through challenges.
Holiday argues that by adopting these Stoic principles, individuals can transform their obstacles into opportunities for growth and success.
On this episode of Change Agents, Andy Stumpf sits down with author and host of the podcast The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday. He has written several bestselling books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and Stillness Is the Key, which blend Stoic philosophy with modern life to emphasize resilience, discipline, and self-awareness. He’s also the former Director of Marketing at American Apparel and later founded the creative agency Brass Check, advising major brands and bestselling authors. His latest release, Wisdom Is the Way, is the fourth book in his Stoic Virtues series, following Courage Is Calling, Discipline Is Destiny, and Right Thing, Right Now. Follow Ryan on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday The Daily Stoic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/
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