Billy Bush, a prominent TV news anchor known for his extensive career in journalism, shares insights on navigating public shaming and the lessons from a significant controversy. He discusses the Stoic practice of premeditatio malorum, emphasizing how it can help transform adversity into personal growth. The conversation delves into resilience, the impact of defining public moments, and the essential role of empathy. Billy also humorously recounts a near-death experience on the golf course, blending humor with deeper reflections on life’s fragility and friendship.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Bush's Stoic Introduction
Billy Bush discovered Stoicism through Ryan Holiday's "The Daily Stoic", given to him by a friend.
This introduction happened during a difficult period in Bush's life, offering him guidance and perspective.
insights INSIGHT
Unprepared for Backlash
Bush's life took a drastic turn after the Access Hollywood tape incident, leaving him unprepared for the intense public backlash.
He admits his lack of fortitude at the time, highlighting the importance of controlling one's reaction to events.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Target of Misplaced Anger
Ryan Holiday points out the surreal experience of facing public anger for an event where Bush was not the primary guilty party.
Bush acknowledges the difficulty of this position, where he became a target for unrelated emotions.
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366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
This book provides 366 meditations on Stoic wisdom, featuring new translations of passages from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other Stoic philosophers. Each day, readers are presented with a Stoic lesson explained in modern language, along with advice on how to apply these lessons in everyday life. The book is organized temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, making it a daily resource for practicing Stoicism[4][5][6].
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.
In today’s episode, Ryan and TV news anchor Billy Bush discuss how to deal with being publicly shamed, the practical use of premeditatio malorum, and what Billy learned from being enmeshed in a significant public controversy.
Billy Bush is the current anchor for TV’s Extra, with a career in broadcast journalism spanning over 20 years. He was part of one of the defining moments of the 2016 US presidential campaign, when footage was leaked of a 2005 appearance by Donald Trump on Access Hollywood during which Trump made lewd comments about various women.
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