The What Is Stoicism? Podcast

In this episode, we look at the beauty of balance through Seneca’s counsel on plain living and Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata.Seneca reminds us that philosophy calls for simplicity, not self-punishment—a life both modest and graceful, grounded yet open to the world.Echoing this, Ehrmann’s gentle verses urge calm, kindness, and humility amid life’s noise and haste.Together, these voices teach that wisdom is not withdrawal but harmony: to live earnestly, serve humbly, and never lose sight of the quiet joy found in life’s simplest things.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Remain Human in an Inhuman Timehttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-remain-human Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores Epictetus’s radical vision of strength—one rooted not in anger or domination, but in mastery of the self. Through his reflections on thieves, insults, and injustice, the former slave turned philosopher shows that true invincibility lies in compassion, clarity, and control over our own judgments.When we cease giving power to what others do and focus instead on how we respond, we become untouchable in the deepest sense. The Stoic’s triumph is not over enemies or circumstance, but over the impulse to surrender peace of mind to anything beyond our will.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: When To Stop Listeninghttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-when-to Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode traces the Stoic lineage back to Socrates, whose probing questions revealed that health, wealth, and reputation are not inherently good or bad—their value lies in how we use them.From Xenophon’s dialogues to Cicero’s reflections, we see how wisdom became the touchstone for discerning what truly matters. Fortune’s gifts and losses come and go, but virtue remains unshakeable.The Stoic message endures: our real possessions are inward ones, the moral resources that no change of fate can ever take away.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: A Prayer to Naturehttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-a-prayer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode shines a light on Temperance—the often-overlooked Stoic virtue that quietly anchors all the rest.Far from being dull restraint, Temperance is freedom: the ability to enjoy life without being ruled by appetite or impulse. It’s the steady discipline that transforms courage into integrity, justice into fairness, and wisdom into clarity.In a culture that celebrates excess, this virtue reminds us that moderation is not denial but mastery—the calm art of keeping life in balance so that joy, reason, and harmony can flourish together.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: A Reliable Companionhttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-a-reliable Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the transformative power of Stoicism as the discussion delves into the constant flux of life. Embrace change and death as vital notes in life's melody, revealing their essential role in creating meaning. Learn about the Stoic belief in inner freedom that remains untouched by external circumstances. Discover how personal responsibility shapes our reactions, leading to resilience. These insights blend acceptance with the ability to choose, offering a path to truly flourishing in the face of impermanence.

This episode explores the quiet courage it takes to ask for help—and the deeper Stoic truth that vulnerability is not weakness but strength.From Marcus Aurelius’s reminder that “there is no shame in being helped” to Ryan Holiday’s call for bravery in admitting our needs, we see how openness creates stronger bonds and shared resilience.Woven through is the Stoic commitment to justice, empathy, and fellowship: by leaning on others and extending our hand in turn, we transform isolation into connection.True strength, as the Stoics remind us, lies in building a world where courage and compassion circulate together.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: A Motto For The Courageoushttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-a-motto Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a welcome return to the podcast for my friend Jon Brooks, creator of the Stoic Handbook.Jon and I had a great conversation, and he shared a lot of really valuable insights and practical guidance on the topic of voluntary hardship and what that means in the context of Stoicism.I hope you enjoy the episode and that you find it as useful to reflect on as I did afterward.Jon's Links:Stoic Handbook: stoichandbook.coFree Stoic Power Challenge: https://learn.stoichandbook.co/7-day-stoic-power-challenge-unlock-your-inner-resilienceEmperor Nero: The Dark Reign of Rome’s Most Infamous Emperor: https://www.stoichandbook.co/the-psychopathy-of-emperor-nero/👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Let Us Be Clearhttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-let-us-be Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we follow Epictetus and Musonius Rufus as they dismantle the illusion that we can control anyone—or anything—outside ourselves.Through the story of a man desperate to end his brother’s anger and Musonius’s calm endurance in exile, the Stoics remind us that patience and virtue are the only sure defenses against life’s turbulence.External blows, whether personal slights or imperial banishments, cannot touch the command center within. What matters most is how we shape our own art of living, turning adversity into raw material for strength.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: The Stoic Sense Of Humourhttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-the-stoic-97d Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the timeless bond between mentors and students, drawing on Plutarch’s portraits of statesmen and Marcus Aurelius’s personal inventory of gratitude. We trace how wisdom flows not through rivalry but through respect, service, and the steady honoring of those who came before us.Along the way, we see how these ancient lessons still resonate in modern life, where gratitude and humility can transform competition into collaboration.At its heart, it’s a meditation on carrying forward the virtues we’ve inherited, letting our teachers’ light shine alongside our own.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Are You Oversharing?https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-are-you-e6b Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores how Cicero and Marcus Aurelius both emphasized kindness, service, and integrity as essential parts of human nature.We look at Cicero’s call to strengthen society through generosity and Marcus’s list of ways we betray ourselves when we act against virtue.Together, their teachings form a practical guide to living with wisdom, justice, courage, and balance—not just for ourselves, but for the good of others.👇 👇 👇📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENTCheck out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: For Whom The Bell Tollshttps://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-for-whom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.