
Perennial Wisdom
Perennial Wisdom (formerly In Search of Wisdom) is a podcast for seekers and curious minds. Join the search with J.W. Bertolotti (creator of the Perennial Meditations newsletter) to discover practical wisdom from philosophical and spiritual traditions. Learn more at perennial.substack.com.
Latest episodes

Feb 16, 2022 • 42min
James Romm | Dying Every Day, How to Live a Life
In this episode, my guest is James Romm the author of Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero. James is a Professor of Classics at Bard College in NY. He specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture. He has also edited two books on Seneca for the Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series titled How to Die and How to Keep Your Cool. In the conversation, James and I discuss: The meaning of Dying Every DayThe Two Seneca’sFear and DeathLiving a meaningful lifeHumility and wisdomWisdom in daily life and much moreConnect with James Romm: jamesromm.com/Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Feb 11, 2022 • 46min
Carl Erik Fisher | The Urge: Our History of Addiction
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Carl Erik Fisher the author of the new book The Urge: Our History of Addiction. Carl is an addiction psychiatrist, bioethics scholar, and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. He is a Zen practitioner, and his clinical work focuses on applications of meditation and mindfulness. Carl also hosts the Flourishing after Addiction podcast. In the conversation, Carl and I discuss: Addiction and human natureSocial and cultural factors on addictionSelf-acceptance and recoveryWisdom in daily life and much more Connect with Carl Erik Fisher: carlerikfisher.com/ Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Feb 8, 2022 • 60min
Tim Parks | The Hero’s Way
In this episode, my guest is Tim Parks the author of the new book The Hero’s Way: Walking with Garibaldi from Rome to Ravenna. Tim is an acclaimed author, translator, and essayist. He grew up in London and studied at Cambridge and Harvard. In 1981, he moved to Italy where he has lived ever since, raising a family of three children. Tim Parks’s acclaimed books about Italy include Italian Ways, Italian Neighbors, and An Italian Education. He is a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books. Connect with Tim Parks: timparks.com/ In the conversation, Tim and I discuss: Finding your way in lifeThe perils of ambitionThe wisdom of experienceWisdom in daily life and much moreFollow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Feb 3, 2022 • 54min
William B. Irvine | A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy
In this episode, my guest is William Irvine the author of A Guide to the Good Life, The Stoic Challenge, and On Desire to name a few. William is a philosophy professor who not only teaches, thinks, and writes about philosophy, but who has adopted a philosophy for living, namely, the ancient philosophy known as Stoicism.
In the conversation, William and I discuss:
Philosophy
Desire
Happiness
Tranquility
Wisdom in daily life and much more
Connect with William Irvine: williambirvine.com/
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Sign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom).
Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 26, 2022 • 45min
Leidy Klotz | Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less
In this episode, my guest is Leidy Klotz the author of Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less. Leidy has a Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering and studies how we transform things from how they are to how we want them to be. In the conversation, Leidy and I discuss: The science of lessThe research on our tendency to add over subtractingHow this tendency influences organizations and policy decisionsHabits and goalsWisdom in daily life and much more Connect with Leidy Klotz: leidyklotz.com/ Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 23, 2022 • 57min
David Fideler | Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living
In this episode, my guest is David Fideler the author of Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living. David’s studied ancient religions and philosophies, the history of science, and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and intellectual history. In the conversation, David and I discuss: The life of SenecaCultivating friendshipNavigating hardshipsOvercoming fear and anxietyWisdom and much more Connect with David Fideler:Homepage: davidfideler.com/ Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 18, 2022 • 46min
Carl McColman | Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life
In this episode, my guest is Carl McColman the author of Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life. Carl is a contemplative writer, speaker, and teacher. He is the author of numerous books, including The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Answering the Contemplative Call, and Unteachable Lessons to name a few.In the conversation, Carl and I discuss: The meaning of mysticismExploring various traditionsThe spiritual pathThe wisdom of silence and much moreConnect with Carl McColman: anamchara.com/Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 11, 2022 • 1h 1min
Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko | The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning
In this episode, my guests are Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko the authors of the new book The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning. Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family College Professor in Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, director of the God and the Good Life Program, and director of the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study. Paul Blaschko is an assistant teaching professor in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. He heads up curriculum design and digital pedagogy for the God and the Good Life Program and has recently been working to develop similar curricula at universities across the nation as part of an initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.In the conversation, Meghan and Paul provide insights on: The Good LifeFaithSufferingContemplation, and much more Connect with Meghan and Paul:Meghan Sullivan: meghansullivan.org/Paul Blaschko: paulblaschko.com/ Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 6, 2022 • 1h 13min
Donald Robertson | How Compassionate is Stoicism?
In this episode, my guest is Donald Robertson the author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor as well as a forthcoming graphic novel titled Verissimus: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius available for preorder. Donald is a writer, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, and trainer. He specializes in teaching evidence-based psychological skills and is known as an expert on the relationship between modern psychotherapy (CBT) and classical Greek and Roman philosophy.In the conversation, Donald and I spend the majority of the time discussing a recent article titled How Compassionate is Stoicism?Connect with Donald Robertson:Homepage: donaldrobertson.name/ Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 4, 2022 • 57min
Shimon Edelman | Life, Death, and Other Inconvenient Truths
In this episode, my guest is Professor Shimon Edelman the author of Life, Death, and Other Inconvenient Truths: A Realist’s View of the Human Condition. Shimon is a professor at Cornell University and is interested in all aspects of mind, brain, behavior, and the human condition. At Cornell, Prof. Edelman works on behavioral, neural, evolutionary, and computational aspects of language, vision, consciousness, and happiness.In the conversation, Shimon and I discuss:AmbitionAnxietyUncertaintyHappinessPerception and much more Connect with Shimon Edelman:Homepage: cornell.edu/shimon-edelman Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom). Get full access to Perennial Meditations at perennial.substack.com/subscribe
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