#384 - Travel, Stoicism, and the Cosmopolis

In this episode of The Strong Stoic Podcast, I share reflections from my recent two-week trip to Vietnam—my first time in Asia. Travel today is often portrayed as a flex on social media, but beneath the highlight reels lies a deeper opportunity: stepping outside your cultural bubble and immersing yourself in another way of life.

I talk about how travel challenges assumptions we take for granted—whether it’s family expressions of affection, adapting to year-round warm weather, or simply letting go of routines like coffee and gym time. The Stoic lesson is clear: when you travel, you’re not there to judge, but to learn, to adapt, and to remind yourself that people are people, no matter where you are.

Ultimately, travel is a way to live out the Stoic idea of the Cosmopolis—that we are all brothers and sisters, meant to share this planet, to learn from one another, and to grow through those differences.