
The Walled Garden
The Walled Garden is the foundational podcast within the Walled Garden Philosophical Society, exploring a wide range of themes including philosophy, theology, mysticism, poetry, music, and creativity. The show is hosted by Simon J. E. Drew, an Australian poet, musician, philosopher, and CEO. Episodes vary between interviews with world-changing thought leaders and solo episodes exploring paths to a flourishing life. To join these conversations live, and to find out more about The Walled Garden Philosophical Society, go to thewalledgarden.com.
Latest episodes

May 10, 2022 • 1h 1min
Declassifying Ancient Greece with Jack Visnjic
The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. UPCOMING EVENTS: https://thewalledgarden.com/post/empowering-first-aid-responders-with-stoicism-dr-megan-mcelheran https://thewalledgarden.com/post/holiness-what-is-it-and-why-do-we-need-it Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Our Guest: Jack Visnjic is a classicist and historian of philosophy interested in uncovering long-term patterns in history. He has a B.A. in classics and mathematics from Columbia University and a PhD in ancient philosophy from Princeton. His book, The Invention of Duty, explores the origins of the notion of ‘moral duty’ in Greco-Roman antiquity and claims that the Stoics were the originators of the term. In his podcast, Ancient Greece Declassified, he brings modern scholarship on the ancient Mediterranean to a popular audience. About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. About Kai Whiting: Kai is one of the world’s foremost experts on traditional Stoicism, as well as being a lecturer and researcher in the field of sustainability. In his book, “Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In,” Kai and his co-author Leo Konstantakos encourage their readers to expand their circles of concern and to work for the common flourishing of humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 2022 • 1h 35min
Discerning the Universal Way with Rocco Jarman
The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. About Our Guest: Rocco is a Philosopher, Poet and Mystic, with a deep understanding of Hermetics and Psychology, whose game changing work in Mindfulness modalities, psychological self-repair, inner-child work, consciousness and the nature of reality form the core of popular courses and programs aimed at self-discovery and psychological self-repair and his command of poetry and archetypal language make him one of the most impressive thinkers and teachers in the present moment. He is the creator and host of the Eyes Wide Open Life podcast and Spiritual teacher and mentor of a new Way, called simply The Way. He is also a mindfulness coach teaching new modalities of meditation, emotional intelligence and competency, inner-child healing, conscious relationship and life mastery as part of the effective Alchemy Program. Eyes Wide Open Life: https://eyeswideopenlife.org/ Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 3, 2022 • 1h 4min
Overcoming Human Devolution with Shane Trotter
The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Our Guest: Shane Trotter is the author of Setting the Bar: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Era of Distraction, Dependency, and Entitlement. As a writer, educator, and High-School Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, he has been challenging youth development norms for over a decade. Shane believes that too much emphasis on comfort and a lost sense of community standards has left people feeling purposeless, disconnected, and trapped in self-limiting patterns. Shane has been featured by multiple coaching clinics and Spartan.com. His articles have been published by websites with millions of readers, such as Quillette, Areo, and Breaking Muscle, where he was an Expert Coach in Residence and helped start the Breaking Muscle podcast. His blog, Inspired Human Development, focuses on exploring the principles of human thriving. Subscribe to get his newsletter, Stuff They Never Told You, for free each week. About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. About Sharon Sebell: Sharon is one of the pioneers of the contemporary Stoicism movement, and the author behind the best-selling interpretation of Epictetus’ writings, “The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.” As a musician and prominent writer, Sharon seeks to liberate the wisdom of the past in order to facilitate deeper meaning-making and personal flourishing. About Kai Whiting: Kai is one of the world’s foremost experts on traditional Stoicism, as well as being a lecturer and researcher in the field of sustainability. In his book, “Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In,” Kai and his co-author Leo Konstantakos encourage their readers to expand their circles of concern and to work for the common flourishing of humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 2022 • 1h 14min
The Power of Music with Lachlan Hawkins
The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Our Guest: Lachlan Hawkins is an accomplished drummer, handpan artist and educator with a diverse performance career to date across the areas of jazz and improvised music, musical theatre, corporate entertainment and contemporary music. In 2014, Lachlan was selected as one of six national finalists in the James Morrison Scholarship, and since then has been fortunate to work with musicians and ensembles including James Morrison, Elly Hoyt, Fem Belling, The View from Madeleine’s Couch, Monique Clare, Sophie Min, the QLD Pops Orchestra as well as regular performances nationally with his high-impact corporate drumming group “SoundStruck”. As a solo handpan artist, Lachlan's melodic rhythms soothe soul as his lyrics press deeper into themes of belonging, self-acceptance, perseverance and loss. Lachlan has shared his award-winning handpan music project "No Enemy Within" with audiences around Australia including performances at the Brisbane City Hall, Palm Creek Folk Festival and the Majors Creek Folk Festival. Lachlan was awarded the Lord Mayor's City Hall Concerts Award in 2018, and celebrated his debut album release "No Enemy Within" with two Highly Commended Awards at the 2019 Queensland Music Awards. About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. About Sharon Sebell: Sharon is one of the pioneers of the contemporary Stoicism movement, and the author behind the best-selling interpretation of Epictetus’ writings, “The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.” As a musician and prominent writer, Sharon seeks to liberate the wisdom of the past in order to facilitate deeper meaning-making and personal flourishing. About Kai Whiting: Kai is one of the world’s foremost experts on traditional Stoicism, as well as being a lecturer and researcher in the field of sustainability. In his book, “Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In,” Kai and his co-author Leo Konstantakos encourage their readers to expand their circles of concern and to work for the common flourishing of humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 20, 2022 • 2h 11min
Cynics, Stoics, & Sinking Into the Void with Joe Tucker
The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Our Guest: Joe Tucker is a fellow seeker of wisdom from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He's a frequent listener and contributor to The Walled Garden podcast, a true philosopher of the heart, and is currently studying anthropology and philosophy. About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2022 • 1h 9min
Stoicism & The Military with Ryan Driscoll & Leonidas Konstantakos
The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. Attend our upcoming interview and Q&A with Karen Duffy: https://thewalledgarden.com/post/wise-up-with-karen-duffy Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Our Guests: Ryan Driscoll is a veteran of the US Army with multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He is also the facilitator of the Nashville Stoics Meet-Up group and the host of the podcast Stoic Warfighters in which he explores Stoicism as it relates to military themes through interviews with experts. Stoic Warfighters Podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicwarfighters Nashville Stoics: https://www.meetup.com/nashville-stoics/ Leonidas Konstantakos has a PhD in the field of Stoicism and International Relations, especially Stoic just war theory. He, along with Kai Whiting, is the co-author of “Being Better, Stoicism for a World Worth Living in”. About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2022 • 56min
Health, Wellness, & Faith with Krystal Quagliara
Krystal Quagliara discovered her own path to wellness through applying stoic philosophies and practices to her life. Turning her mess into her message, she is on a mission to help others take control of their health and wellbeing. Throughout her virtual group and individual coaching sessions, Krystal teaches acceptance of what we cannot control, as well as how to act on the matters we can control. She also encourages habit stacking, safe and effective nutritional principles, and above all, self-awareness. Her book “The Playful Journal” walks readers through an interactive journey to rediscover their inner playfulness and bring that to the surface to live a healthier and more fulfilled life. Krystal’s YouTube Channel offers home workouts, coaching tips and podcast interviews. In January 2020, Krystal began "The Playful Life" podcast. It features topics and interviews with physicians, mental experts, alternative medicine practitioners, massage therapists, fitness professionals, musicians and more. Krystal believes, "living our best life, requires embracing a playful mindset to health and discovering what makes our souls happy." That is why Krystal spends most of her free time writing and performing music. Website: https://www.krystalizedhealthadvisors.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystalizedhealthadvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystal.quagliara YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIwcxxp82a4KLFcXE1ikI5g Book: CLICK HERE The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Our Guest: ******(INSERT ABOUT)****** About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. About Sharon Sebell: Sharon is one of the pioneers of the contemporary Stoicism movement, and the author behind the best-selling interpretation of Epictetus’ writings, “The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.” As a musician and prominent writer, Sharon seeks to liberate the wisdom of the past in order to facilitate deeper meaning-making and personal flourishing. About Kai Whiting: Kai is one of the world’s foremost experts on traditional Stoicism, as well as being a lecturer and researcher in the field of sustainability. In his book, “Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In,” Kai and his co-author Leo Konstantakos encourage their readers to expand their circles of concern and to work for the common flourishing of humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 2022 • 1h 17min
Stoicism & Free Speech | Jonathan Church & Kai Whiting
About Jonathan Church: Jonathan Church is an economist with two decades of experience working in the private and public sectors. His professional background is in antitrust, intellectual property, valuation, inflation, index number theory, statistics, and finance. In 2016, he began writing a weekly column for The Good Men Project, with a focus on current affairs, social justice, and masculinity. In 2018, he was diagnosed with a low-grade brain tumor, which led not only to brain surgery and radiation, but also a decision to pursue his passion for writing and scholarship without restraint. Outside of his day job and time with his daughter, he spends most of his remaining time as an independent scholar writing on economics, finance, and social justice. He has been published in Quillette, Areo Magazine, Arc Digital, The Agonist Journal, Merion West, The Good Men Project, Culturico, New Discourses, The Washington Examiner, The Daily Stoic, and The Federalist. He has also published poetry in Lummox, Big Hammer, and Street Value, as well as short stories in Vending Machine Press and The Agonist Journal. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in economics and philosophy, and from Cornell University with an M.A in economics. He is also a CFA charter holder. Any time left over is spent exercising and playing chess. The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence. Visit The Walled Garden: thewalledgarden.com Join our free Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/5TAUzfdCe8 Get one-on-one mentoring with our philosophers: https://thewalledgarden.com/mentors Register for Upcoming Events: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Shop at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.store/ About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021. About Sharon Sebell: Sharon is one of the pioneers of the contemporary Stoicism movement, and the author behind the best-selling interpretation of Epictetus’ writings, “The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.” As a musician and prominent writer, Sharon seeks to liberate the wisdom of the past in order to facilitate deeper meaning-making and personal flourishing. About Kai Whiting: Kai is one of the world’s foremost experts on traditional Stoicism, as well as being a lecturer and researcher in the field of sustainability. In his book, “Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In,” Kai and his co-author Leo Konstantakos encourage their readers to expand their circles of concern and to work for the common flourishing of humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2022 • 55min
Seneca, Logos, & Philosophical Gardens with David Fideler
Seneca, Logos, & Philosophical Gardens with David Fideler About our Guest: David Fideler has worked as a college professor, editor and publisher, and director of a humanities centre. He studied ancient Greek philosophy and Mediterranean religions at the University of Pennsylvania and holds a PhD in philosophy. Born in the United States, he currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife and son, and is the editor of the Stoic Insights website. David is the author of Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living. Called “The most companionable of the new Stoic books” by the New York Times, Breakfast with Seneca was also voted one of the best nonfiction books of the year by the editors at Amazon.com. Buy Breakfast with Seneca: https://www.amazon.com/Breakfast-Seneca-Stoic-Guide-Living-ebook/dp/B08X2YKWF3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 2022 • 1h 2min
Imitating The Divine with Dr. Scott Aikin
Scott F. Aikin is an American philosopher and Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he also holds a joint appointment in Classics. He earned an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Montana in 1999 and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 2006. His principal areas of research are epistemology, argumentation theory, ancient philosophy, and pragmatism. And on top of all this he's also the co-author of the book "Why We Argue (How We Should) - A Guide to Political Disagreement." UNIVERSITY: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/philosophy/bio/scott-aikin BUY SCOTT'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Argue-How-Should-Disagreement/dp/0415859050 SENECA SURPASSING GOD: https://www.academia.edu/34402290/Seneca_on_Surpassing_God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices