The Strong Stoic Podcast

What's more powerful: nature or nurture? Is it always in the blood, or can we wash it out in the water? Fortunately for us, modern neuroscience sheds some much-needed light on this question.We now understand that, generally speaking, who we are is 50% nature and 50% nurture. Though, each specific trait isn't half, and it can vary considerably! In fact, the better way of thinking about it is that nature provides the potential in the world while nurture manifests this potential. In this episode, I'll be going over the tangly question of: is who I am within my control? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virtue and justice are two of the four pillars of Stoicism. In fact, it's a core idea in many philosophies, though they don't all agree on what that really means. Aiming for the good is, well, good! However, is there ever a situation in which doing an "unethical act" is actually ethical?Life is bloody complicated; that much is for sure. The line between moral acts and immoral acts isn't exactly black and white. How, then, do we know if an act is truly ethical? What criteria can we use in such ethical grey areas? These are the questions I will be addressing in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I have the privilege of speaking with Shane from Renaissance Wisdom. Shane runs a popular Instagram page titled "Renaissance Wisdom" where he shares ancient philosophical wisdom. He also provides his personal input and analysis to many of the ideas so that they can be applied to modern life.Shane is also an author. He is currently writing a book with a focus on the importance of personal responsibility and how to find eudaemonia - the flourishing life. If you enjoyed the conversation, please look him up on his Instagram page and also check out his website at https://www.renaissance-wisdom.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the key moments in our history and our individual lives is the moment we become conscious of our individual power. It wasn't always this way! There were points in time when people relied on external dogma - such as religion - to determine what is right and wrong.Would it surprise you to know that we are actually heading back towards this Group Think?That's right: we are losing the ability to critically think for ourselves and instead are becoming more and more consumed by ideology and the "mob mentality". So, what do we do? In this episode, I'll be discussing the importance of self-reliance and what it really means to be great. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the hardest things we will ever have to deal with in our lives is the death of our parents. We all dread it, whether we are conscious of it or not. Still, many find strength in such times, and are able to get through this rough patch and move on with their lives.In this episode, I'll be talking about the importance of meaning in one's life, and why, though happiness is important, meaning is actually the most important thing you can hope to achieve in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picture this: you get arrested for no apparent reason. You tell yourself that it must be a mistake and it'll get sorted out, but before you know it you're being tortured into a confession for political crimes, and you're off to work in a labour camp for 10 years.It may horrify you to know that this is not fiction, but rather historical fact for millions of Russian citizens during the Soviet Union. Solzhenitsyn documents it quite well in "The Gulag Archipelago". He also documents the spiritual growth that accompanied this imprisonment for him personally.He addresses beautifully questions such as: are people good or evil? Who has it worse, the prisoners or the prison guards? And, is the "day of liberation" what we should all be waiting for? In this episode, I hope to shed some light on such topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humility, a core value for anyone interested in self-improvement, is tied in closely with modesty. But what's the difference? What does it mean to "live modestly", and why should you do it?We can define living modestly financially as "spending less than you make". The bottom limit is spending just enough to survive. Though, should you sell your nice clothes and wear rags? Should you only drink the bare minimum amount of water you need? Is this extreme, or is it living modestly? In this episode, I'll address such questions and explain in detail why you should live modestly, if not for psychological reasons than certainly for practical reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disagreement can be very uncomfortable for everyone. However, it is important because the alternative to discussing controversial issues is war, and none of us should want that!Unfortunately, it seems that we are slipping away from being able to have productive conversations with those we disagree with. People are becoming ideologically possessed, and it seems to be the norm to simply disregard those who have differing opinions than you. How, then, can we bring dialogue back? Fundamentally, we need to understand that we all likely agree much more than we disagree. We also need to change our perspective from one of  defending our position to seeking the truth. Only then, if we are lucky, can we bring back the art of dialogue.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Self-improvement is obviously a good thing... or is it? I mean, if it's such a good thing, then why isn't everyone doing it? Why do many people live their comfortable lives, never concerned about getting better at anything?The truth is that self-improvement, by definition, is done by oneself. And so, in order to truly self-improve, you have to be willing to judge yourself. You have to be willing to note your own flaws and work on them. This can be emotionally draining, which is why many don't want to do it. However, the benefits of self-improvement are astronomical. So, are you willing to judge yourself? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever gone down a path in life only to realize at some point on that path that it was simply the wrong one?Sometimes we go down a path because we think it will be easier; other times, because we truly feel it is the right one. Given the difficulty of staying on your "optimal life path" without ever veering off, this is a common human experience.With that being said, why do we go down these paths? How bad can it actually get? And how do we best avoid them and get back on the right path ASAP? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices