The Via Stoica Podcast — A Stoic Way of Life

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on StoicismIn this episode of The Via Stoica Podcast, I sit down with Eric Weiner, celebrated author, philosophical traveler, and former NPR foreign correspondent, to explore how philosophy, travel, and character shape a meaningful life. Known for The Socrates Express and The Geography of Bliss, Eric brings a mix of humor, honesty, and depth to the conversation.We dive into the wisdom behind The Socrates Express, the surprising modern relevance of ancient philosophers, and why Stoic ideas continue to resonate today. Eric also shares insights from Ben and Me, his exploration of Benjamin Franklin’s habits, virtues, and practical philosophy for living well.Whether you’re into Stoicism, philosophy, or simply searching for grounded guidance in daily life, this conversation offers clear, practical takeaways. If you enjoy the episode, rate, review, and subscribe, and read our full review of The Socrates Express: https://viastoica.com/the-socrates-express/Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://twitter.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: http://badmic.com

Explore the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius on accepting what nature brings us and the challenges of resisting it. The podcast delves into the importance of understanding our judgments about external events and how they impact our emotions. Listeners learn to break down situations for better perspective and to emphasize character over external outcomes. The discussion highlights the pursuit of virtue and clarity as the true good, urging us to embrace stoic principles in our daily lives.

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore what it truly means to socialize like a Stoic in a world shaped by screens, quick fixes, and the rising tide of loneliness. Many believe confidence comes from external aids like alcohol or status, yet the Stoics approached human connection from a far deeper place. This conversation invites you to pause and reconsider where real confidence and meaningful relationships actually begin.At the heart of this episode is the Stoic understanding that we are, by nature, social beings, meant to contribute to one another and to the greater whole. As Marcus Aurelius reminds us in Meditations 5.1:“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: I have to go to work as a human being.”For the Stoics, this wasn’t about productivity or social performance, but about duty, contribution, and showing up as a rational, pro-social being. When Marcus writes this, he isn’t being harsh, but reminding us that withdrawing from life and others is not in harmony with who we are meant to be.Here are a few Stoic practices from this episode you can explore in your own life:– Examining impressions – noticing when fear of rejection or discomfort shapes your social choices.– Voluntary discomfort – practicing sober, deliberate presence in social settings to build real confidence.– View from above – stepping back to see how small momentary rejection truly is in the larger pattern of life.– Daily reflection – journaling how you showed up for others and where you avoided connection.Modern life offers endless stimulation but little depth. Algorithms, digital validation, and social shortcuts promise connection yet often strengthen isolation. Stoicism offers another way—one grounded in character, clarity, and courage. By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoicism isn’t a cold philosophy of detachment, but a way of living with presence, responsibility, and quiet inner strength.Referenced clips from the episodeScott Galloway on Bill Maher:https://youtu.be/BeTLZasgWS4?si=p0a4l-Bp7Us3_0TvGary Vaynerchuk on confidence and judgment:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A-BFFp9TdD4Listen to the full episode now and discover how social connection can transform the way you think, act, and see your life.Support the show🌐 viastoica.com🎯 viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching👤 viastoica.com/benny-voncken▶️ YouTube: @viastoica📧 info@viastoica.com🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore a powerful line from Seneca’s On Anger (Book 3.5): “The first essential is not to become angry; the second, to cease being angry; the third, to cure anger in others.” Seneca calls anger a form of “momentary madness,” a state that pulls us away from clarity and keeps us from making the right moral choice.We walk through why the Stoics saw anger as a judgment rather than an inevitable reaction, and how examining that judgment helps us understand the emotion instead of being overpowered by it. Drawing on the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action, this episode shows how we can pause before anger rises, return to reason when it does, and eventually help others do the same.You’ll also hear practical ways to apply Seneca’s three steps in daily life, from creating a pause between trigger and response, to setting a calmer example for the people around us. This is a reflective and grounded look at how Stoicism helps us navigate one of the most common and disruptive emotions.For more, check out this related article with quotes on anger:https://viastoica.com/how-to-take-right-action-like-a-stoic/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: https://badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In today’s episode, we explore a simple but powerful December practice: returning to a few meaningful books as a way to reflect, reset, and prepare for the year ahead. This is a time when many people think about change, but the Stoics approached renewal differently. For them, reflection wasn’t about waiting for January 1st, it was about using this moment, right now, to strengthen the mind and clarify intention.At the heart of this episode is the idea that reading is not an escape but a form of self-examination. He isn’t urging perfectionism, but pointing us toward small, present-moment choices, the kind of choices this yearly reading ritual helps illuminate.Here are a few Stoic practices from this episode you can explore in your own life:• Reflective reading — return to books that ground you, not for new information but to renew your mindset and revisit forgotten insights.• Preparing the mind early — instead of waiting for New Year’s resolutions, use December as your mental runway to understand why you want to change.• Examining impressions — pause when you feel pulled toward old habits and ask yourself what belief or expectation sits underneath the impulse.• Daily philosophical reminders — create your own “handbook” of quotes or ideas that steady you when life becomes noisy.This episode is a quiet invitation to step back from the rush of the year and reconnect with what matters. The books Benny discusses — Man’s Search for Meaning, Epictetus’ Handbook, and Marcus Aurelius' Meditations are not just texts but companions that sharpen attention, deepen gratitude, and restore a sense of direction. By returning to them, we rediscover that Stoicism is not about cold detachment. It is about remembering who we want to be and choosing to live with clarity, courage, and a bit more kindness toward ourselves.Listen to the full episode now and discover how end-of-year reflection can transform the way you think, act, and see your life.You can also check out the article: https://viastoica.com/the-best-stoic-books-for-reflection/Support the show🌐 viastoica.com🎯 viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching👤 viastoica.com/benny-voncken▶️ YouTube: @viastoica📧 info@viastoica.com🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In today’s Stoic Quotes episode, we explore a powerful teaching from Epictetus taken from the Handbook (Enchiridion), Section 4, a short, concentrated guide to Stoic practice.“When you are about to undertake some action, remind yourself what sort of action it is.”Epictetus, Handbook, 4This simple instruction contains a profound Stoic discipline: prepare your mind before entering situations where frustration, irritation, or impatience are likely to arise. Epictetus uses the example of going to the public baths in ancient Rome, a chaotic place full of noise, crowds, and annoyances. His point is timeless: if you remember what you are stepping into, you won’t be surprised by what happens inside it.What he’s really pointing to is the Stoic principle of prosochē, attentive presence. When you anticipate the nature of the situation, you protect your freedom of response. You remember that your task is not just to “take a bath,” or “drive a car,” or “stand in a queue,” but to keep your choices aligned with nature, meaning aligned with reason, patience, and virtue.When you adopt this mindset, daily life becomes far less reactive. You stop wishing people were different and begin practicing who you want to be.In practical terms, this teaching can help you:• Reduce frustration in situations you already know will test you — driving, airports, crowded shops, delays.• Take a brief mental pause before entering a task and ask, “What am I about to do — and who do I want to be while doing it?”• Shift from reacting to others’ behavior toward fulfilling your own role with patience, calm, and steadiness.By preparing your mind before the moment, you create space for virtue within the moment.For more, check out this related article with quotes on how to take the right action:https://viastoica.com/how-to-take-right-action-like-a-stoic/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore the roots of Stoic thought through Donald Robertson’s new book, How to Think Like Socrates. Instead of beginning with Marcus Aurelius, we step back to the source, to a philosopher who shaped the very way the Stoics learned to think. Socrates invites us to examine our beliefs, question our assumptions, and approach life with clarity and honesty.Listen to the full episode now and discover how the Socratic method can sharpen your thinking and deepen your Stoic practice.Support the showviastoica.comviastoica.com/stoic-life-coachingviastoica.com/benny-vonckenYouTube: @viastoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In today’s Stoic Quotes episode, we explore a powerful reflection from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1, a reminder of responsibility, harmony, and our place within the larger human community:“No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative or hate him. We were born to work together, like feet, hands, and eyes; like two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural.”Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1Marcus opens with a simple but profound truth: the state of your character is yours alone. No one can force you to act without integrity. No one can push you into bitterness or moral compromise. The choice, the judgment, is always yours. And then he widens the frame: because we share the same nature, hurting others ultimately harms ourselves. Unity is our natural state; hostility is the obstruction.This teaching points directly to two Stoic principles: responsibility for one’s own moral choices, and cosmopolitanism, the idea that we are all parts of one body. In modern language: you are accountable for the way you respond, and the people around you are not obstacles but fellow limbs of the same organism.Epictetus says that nothing external can force your judgment. Seneca grounds responsibility in the integrity of one’s own soul. And Marcus constantly reminds himself that he is part of a larger whole.Seen through the three Stoic disciplines, this passage becomes even clearer:• Desire — letting go of the impulse to want people to be different from what they are.• Assent — choosing not to accept impressions that provoke anger or hatred.• Action — behaving in a way that supports the unity and well-being of the larger human community.When you look at life this way, the quote becomes an invitation: protect your character, and treat others as parts of the same living structure.Here are a few practical reflections for daily life:• When someone behaves poorly, pause before reacting. Their action is theirs. Your judgment is yours.• Choose responses that strengthen the connection rather than fracture it. Even a moment of patience is a step toward harmony.• When tempted to blame others for your choices, remind yourself that accountability is freedom. You keep your integrity by owning your decisions.For more, check out this article to learn how to Practice Stoicism: https://viastoica.com/how-to-practice-stoicism/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this special episode, we dive into one of the most important and most misunderstood topics in the entire Stoic tradition: the nature of emotion. Today, I’m joined by Margaret Graver, the Aaron Lawrence Professor of Classics at Dartmouth College, and one of the world’s leading scholars on ancient Stoicism. Her book Stoicism and Emotion has shaped how modern readers understand the emotional life of the Stoics. Together, we explore how ancient philosophy can help us meet the complexity of our own inner lives.At the heart of this episode is the Stoic idea that emotions are not things that happen to us, but judgments we make, often unconsciously, about what is good or bad. For the Stoics, joy is not mere smiling or comfort, but the deep, steady uplift that comes from living in harmony with reason, virtue, and our responsibilities to others.Margaret explains how Stoicism views emotions as voluntary in structure but not always voluntary in the moment, why some emotions feel automatic, and how the Stoics distinguished between destructive impulses and the good emotions grounded in truth. We discuss the role of character formation, the misconceptions about “suppressing feelings,” and why Stoicism is far more about love, courage, community, and responsibility than about detachment.In a world of constant stimulation and quick reactions, Stoicism helps us return to clarity. It shows us that emotions are not enemies but signals, invitations to examine ourselves more honestly. By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoicism isn’t about shutting down your humanity; it’s about living wisely, lovingly, and courageously within it.Listen to the full episode to get a clear introduction into Stoicism and Emotions, and follow this up by reading Margaret Graver's book.Learn more about Margaret Graver here:Dartmouth Faculty Page:https://classics.dartmouth.edu/people/margaret-graverBooks:• Stoicism and Emotion – University of Chicago Presshttps://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo3625910.html• Seneca: The Literary Philosopher – Cambridge University Presshttps://www.cambridge.org/core/books/seneca/O01F0E7E3C9D6469A4C47A65BE85866EFollow us on:🌐 viastoica.com🎯 viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching👤 viastoica.com/benny-voncken▶️ YouTube: @viastoica📧 info@viastoica.com🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Today’s episode reflects on a line from Seneca’s Consolation to Helvia, written while he was exiled on the island of Corsica. In this letter to his mother, he tries to steady her grief, and perhaps his own, with a reminder of what truly satisfies the human spirit: “Greed is satisfied by nothing, but nature finds satisfaction even in scant measures.”Seneca, Consolation to Helvia, 10Seneca’s point is simple but piercing. Greed is never about what you have; it is always about what is missing. The moment you chase fulfillment in externals, the finish line moves. Nature, in contrast, asks little. It finds sufficiency in the present moment, in the fact that you are alive, thinking, choosing. What Seneca is offering here is a lesson in the Stoic principle of desire: when you want what the moment actually gives you, you stop feeling deprived.This teaching echoes Epictetus, who reminds us that trouble begins when we demand reality to be other than it is. Marcus Aurelius writes that the wise person “follows nature willingly,” aligning inner choices with the structure of the world. All three are pointing to the same truth within the Stoic disciplines.Desire: Want only what is in your control.Assent: Don’t believe the story that “more” will finally make you complete.Action: Use whatever this moment gives you as material for virtue.When greed falls away, what remains is clarity, the sense that nothing essential is missing from this moment, because the only real good is the way you choose to meet it.In everyday life, this means noticing when your mind starts reaching into the future for something it says you “need” before you can feel at ease. It means returning to the present long enough to see what is already supporting you. And it means treating difficult moments not as interruptions but as invitations to practice strength, gratitude, and presence. When you train this mindset, satisfaction comes not from abundance but from alignment.For more, check out this related article with quotes on desire and letting go of externals:https://viastoica.com/how-to-practice-the-stoic-discipline-desire/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com