Perennial Wisdom

Are the cardinal virtues of courage, temperance, wisdom, and justice enough to live our highest good? Is there a need for the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love? These are just two of the questions we explore in this wide-ranging conversation of In Search of Wisdom. In this episode, I welcome to the show two friends from The Walled Garden, Sharon Lebell (author of The Art of Living) and Simon Drew (author of The Poet & the Sage). As you’ll hear in the episode, Sharon and Simon have thought deeply about what it means to live a virtuous life, and I’m grateful they took the time to come on the show.  In the conversation, we explore the questions, What is faith, and what’s the opposite of faith?  How should we think about hope in daily life? Why do some philosophers see hope as something to avoid?  What roles do our views and beliefs play in living virtuously? Wisdom in daily life and much more Although we covered much ground in the conversation, we only scratched the surface. Our goal is to connect again in the near future to explore the virtue of love — more to follow. Learn more about our guests:  Sharon Lebell: You can learn more about Sharon’s writing, music, and work in the world at SharonLebell.com.  Simon Drew: You can connect with Simon at TheWalledGarden.com and learn more about live events, philosophical mentoring, and much more.  Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

On today’s episode, my guest is Prof. Emily Austin, the author of the new book Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life. Living for Pleasure is part of the Guides to the Good Life series by Oxford University Press. As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of the series. It is dedicated to the idea that philosophy can, as it was for hundreds of years in the ancient world – be a way of life. Prof. Austin’s book is another wonderful addition to the series. In the conversation, Emily and I discuss: Finding Philosophy Who is Epicurus (and why his philosophy matters today) Tranquility Pleasure Virtue Gratitude The fear of death Wisdom in daily life, and much more. Register for the free 5-Week Wisdom 101 Course, The Timeless Art of Leading a Life, starting on Wednesday (18 Jan 23 at Noon EST). The course consists of an email meditation every Monday and a live meetup every Wednesday at Noon EST. We are going to explore timeless perspectives, principles, and practices to help us live our highest good. You can learn more and register at Perennialleader.com/leading-a-life. Again, the course is completely free for listeners and subscribers of our daily newsletter (Perennial Meditations on Substack). I hope to see you there! Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

📩 Want daily wisdom? Sign up for Perennial Meditations to receive ancient lessons for modern life: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe In the episode, you’ll hear clips from some of my favorite conversations on Buddhist wisdom. The first portion of the episode comes from my conversation with Kevin Griffin (the author of Living Kindness), followed by my interview with Shaila Catherine (the author of Beyond Distraction). Then finally, the episode closes with a portion of my conversation with Nic Bommarito (the author of Seeing Clearly). The conversations explore a wide range of topics, Suffering Four Noble truths Training the mind, Seeing Clearly Memento Mori The Art of Wisdom and much more Support the Show: Subscribe to Perennial Meditations  on Substack Read articles on Medium; become a member Signup for a free trial of Audible for originals, audiobooks, and podcasts

In today’s episode, my guest is Stephen Cope, the author of many books, including The Great Work of Your Life, Deep Human Connection, and, most recently, Dharma in Difficult Times. Stephen is a psychotherapist, Scholar-in-Residence at the renowned Kripalu Center, and the founder and former Director of Kripalu’s Institute for Extraordinary Living. In the conversation, Stephen and I discuss, The Call for Connection Loneliness and Belonging Contemplative Practices How to think about Love Wisdom in daily life and much more Stephen is a return guest on the show and one of my favorite people to have on the podcast. You can learn more about Stephen’s work in the world at Stephencope.com. 📩 Want daily wisdom? Sign up for Perennial Meditations to receive ancient lessons for modern life: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe STAY CONNECTED: Twitter: https://twitter.com/searchwisdompod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/searchwisdompod Website: https://www.perennialleader.com/

Wendy K. Smith, a Professor of Management at the University of Delaware and co-author of Both/And Thinking, dives into the intricate world of strategic paradoxes. She discusses 'both/and thinking' and its power in overcoming binary choices in leadership and personal challenges. Wendy shares insights on work-life balance, exploring the emotional struggles of juggling career and family life. By examining philosophical perspectives, she emphasizes the importance of multiple viewpoints and continuous wisdom in navigating everyday complexities.

Donald Robertson, a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and author of graphic novel 'Verissimus,' shares invaluable leadership insights inspired by Marcus Aurelius. He discusses the dichotomy of control, emphasizing how understanding what we can influence can enhance personal well-being. The conversation delves into managing anger and the importance of empathy, illustrating how ancient philosophy can guide modern leadership. Donald also reflects on his journey revitalizing Plato's Academy, connecting scholarly pursuits with community engagement.

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Brian Russell, the author of Centering Prayer. Brian is a return guest to the show. I’m grateful he agreed to come back on to have a conversation on The Discipline of Discernment. Brian is a professor of biblical studies and a transformational coach for pastors and spiritually-minded professionals. In the conversation, Brian and I discuss: What is discernment The obstacles to discerning wisely How contemplative practices help us discern Navigating Life’s questions The wisdom of discernment and much more Brian also has a podcast called The Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations podcast.  You can learn more about Brian’s work at brianrussellphd.com. Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Youtube Support the Show: Subscribe to Perennial Meditations  on Substack Read articles on Medium; become a member Signup for a free trial of Audible for originals, audiobooks, and podcasts

On today’s episode, my guest is Kieran Setiya, the author of the new book Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way. Kieran teaches philosophy at MIT, working mainly in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind. He is also the author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide and has a philosophy podcast called Five Questions. In the conversation, Kieran and I discuss: Finding Our Way Philosophy and Temperament Philosophy as Self-Help Loneliness and Grief Hope and Despair How to live a good life and much more Support the Show: Subscribe to Perennial Meditations  on Substack Read articles on Medium; become a member Signup for a free trial of Audible for originals, audiobooks, and podcasts Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

📩 Want daily wisdom? Sign up for Perennial Meditations to receive ancient lessons for modern life: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe In this episode, my guest is David Alexander, the co-host of the Between Two Ravens podcast and creator of the Prosoche Project. David is a psychotherapist, a founding member of the Walled Garden, and someone with a deep interest in practical wisdom. Learn more about David’s work in the world at prosocheproject.com and at thewalledgarden.com. In the conversation, David and I discuss: Knowing Yourself Finding Clarity Stoic Mindfulness Navigating Paradoxes The Discipline of Discernment and much more -- STAY CONNECTED: Twitter: https://twitter.com/searchwisdompod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/searchwisdompod Website: https://www.perennialleader.com/ -- Support the Show: Subscribe to Perennial Meditations  on Substack Read articles on Medium; become a member Signup for a free trial of Audible for originals, audiobooks, and podcasts

In this episode, my guest is Karen Stohr, the author of Choosing Freedom: A Kantian Guide to Life. Prof. Stohr joined the philosophy department at Georgetown in 2002, where she is the Ryan Family Professor of Metaphysics and Moral Philosophy. In 2011, she also became a senior research scholar at Georgetown’s Kennedy Institute of Ethics. Learn more about Karen Stohr’s work and background. In the conversation, Karen and I discuss, The life and philosophy of Immanuel Kant What it means to live according to reason Why overcoming vice is more than half the battle The role of hope Wisdom in daily life and much more ***If you’re interested in a free weekly meetup (Fridays @Noon EST), I’m calling Reading & the Good Life; you can register now. Reading & the Good Life is a space for connection, contemplation, and conversations on the art of living. Support the Show: Subscribe to Perennial Meditations  on Substack Read articles on Medium; become a member Signup for a free trial of Audible for originals, audiobooks, and podcasts Follow In Search of Wisdom: Instagram | Twitter | Youtube