

Perennial Wisdom
Perennial Leader Project
Perennial Wisdom is a podcast for seekers and curious minds. Each episode seeks to uncover universal truths and enduring ideas from philosophical and spiritual traditions. Learn more at perennial.substack.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

14 snips
Nov 22, 2025 • 13min
Ep. 254: How to Be Bored - An Ancient Guide to Being Where You Are | Perennial Wisdom
Dive into the fascinating world of boredom and its powerful insights. Explore ancient philosophies and modern thinkers, revealing how stillness can reveal our true selves. Discover the transformative potential of boredom to spark creativity and highlight what we genuinely desire. From desert traditions to neuroscience, learn how distractions rob us of self-reflection. With practical tips on embracing quiet moments, this discussion uncovers the art of being present and attentive in our fast-paced lives.

11 snips
Nov 15, 2025 • 12min
Ep. 253: The Art of Thinking - From Socrates to St. Augustine | Perennial Wisdom
Dive into a journey from ancient Athens to deep introspection as Socrates prompts us to question our lives. Explore Augustine's inward search for truth and self-knowledge. Discover how Aristotle’s rhetoric aids in aligning beliefs with actions, leading to inner freedom. Reflect on how questioning and active listening cultivate authenticity and moral courage. This contemplative discussion offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to escape societal pressures and reconnect with their true selves.

Nov 8, 2025 • 11min
Ep. 252: The Surprising Wisdom of Schopenhauer's Pessimism | Perennial Wisdom
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode of Perennial Wisdom, we enter the world of Arthur Schopenhauer—the philosopher of pessimism, and, unexpectedly, a teacher of compassion. Schopenhauer believed that happiness cannot be found by escaping suffering but by understanding it. Life, he wrote, “swings like a pendulum backward and forward between pain and boredom,” yet within that rhythm lies a quiet freedom—the freedom of acceptance.Drawing from The World as Will and Representation and On the Basis of Morality, this reflection examines how pessimism, properly understood, becomes a form of wisdom: an art of seeing clearly without illusion, feeling without resentment, and living without denial.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialMeditations--- 🦉 Additional Resources: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Nov 1, 2025 • 11min
Ep. 251: Kierkegaard on the courage to choose | Perennial Wisdom
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode of Perennial Wisdom, we sit down with Søren Kierkegaard, the 19th-century Danish philosopher often considered the father of existentialism. Specifically, we explore insights from his book Either/Or, which addresses one of life’s toughest questions: How do we live when every choice feels like a loss?Kierkegaard believed that to live at all is to make a choice. And every choice—whether we act or remain still—shapes who we become.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialMeditations--- 🦉 Additional Resources: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

19 snips
Oct 25, 2025 • 11min
Ep. 250: Dostoevsky - Freedom, Suffering, and Love
Dive into the profound insights of Fyodor Dostoevsky, exploring how freedom without responsibility spirals into despair. Discover how suffering can lead to self-knowledge and personal redemption. Uncover the transformative power of love as a response to the problem of evil. This discussion interweaves Dostoevsky's life experiences with timeless lessons, urging listeners to embrace responsibility, find meaning in their struggles, and act with compassion.

Oct 14, 2025 • 10min
Ep. 249: Immanuel Kant - The Three Fundamental Questions | Perennial Wisdom
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode of Perennial Wisdom, we explore the life and thought of Immanuel Kant through the lens of three enduring philosophical questions: “What can I know?” “What should I do?” “What may I hope?” Drawing on Kant’s groundbreaking ideas from The Critique of Pure Reason and The Critique of Practical Reason, we walk through his views on knowledge, morality, and hope.Kant’s philosophy offers us tools for navigating uncertainty, making ethical decisions, and sustaining hope in a complex world.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialMeditations--- 🦉 Additional Resources: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

11 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 6min
Ep. 248: Nietzsche on the Fear of Change | Perennial Wisdom
Delve into the profound thoughts of Nietzsche as he challenges us to confront the fear of change. Explore how shedding outdated identities can ignite personal transformation and why this process feels terrifying. Discover that our deepest fear isn't failure, but rather the discomfort of embracing growth. As we mourn our past selves, we also unlock newfound freedom. This discussion weaves the insights of Socrates and Maslow, emphasizing that the journey of becoming one’s true self is a struggle worth undertaking.

Sep 20, 2025 • 7min
Ep. 247: Abraham Maslow on the Fear of Greatness | Perennial Wisdom
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode of Perennial Wisdom, we explore a hidden but deeply human struggle: the fear not of failure—but of greatness. Drawing from Abraham Maslow's insights, we consider what it means to avoid our potential and why many of us unconsciously choose comfort over potential. --- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialMeditations--- 🦉 Additional Resources: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Sep 6, 2025 • 7min
Ep. 246: Socrates on the Fear of Death | Perennial Wisdom
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode of Perennial Wisdom, we turn to Plato’s Apology and the final words of Socrates to explore how philosophy can liberate us from the fear of death. Socrates stood trial, was sentenced to die, and yet he remained calm, unshaken, and grounded in virtue. For Socrates, living an unexamined life poses a greater danger than death.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialMeditations--- 🦉 Additional Resources: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Aug 20, 2025 • 7min
Ep. 245: St. Francis on the Paradox of Joy | Perennial Wisdom
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode of Perennial Wisdom, we turn to the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi to uncover a countercultural and liberating truth: true joy is not found in comfort, success, or status—but in humility, simplicity, and love.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialMeditations--- 🦉 Additional Resources: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts


