

Perennial Wisdom
Perennial Leader Project
Perennial Wisdom is a podcast for seekers and curious minds. Join the search with J.W. Bertolotti to discover universal truths and enduring ideas from philosophical and spiritual traditions. Learn more at perennial.substack.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Jul 10, 2024 • 43min
The Wisdom of Fasting with John Oakes
Author John Oakes discusses the historical roots and philosophical aspects of fasting, debunking weight-loss misconceptions. He explores fasting as a tool for self-discovery and introspection, emphasizing its effects on the mind and body. The conversation delves into survival shows, fasting as meditation, and the influence of fasting on consumption perspective, highlighting its role in cultivating wisdom.

Jul 5, 2024 • 5min
The Perils of Anger | Stoic Meditation
Delve into the dangers of anger with insights from stoic philosophy. Learn how anger distorts rationality and judgment. Reflect on personal encounters with anger and strive for a more peaceful existence.

Jun 29, 2024 • 7min
On Changing Our Minds | Contemplation
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe The Way of Contemplation is a weekly series that delivers meditations, prompts, and practices on the art of living. These short guided contemplations are designed to help us think deeply about perennial ideas, questions, insights, and what it means to live an intentional life.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/--- 🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 28, 2024 • 5min
The Art of Focus | Dying Every Day
Discover the transformative power of focus through Stoic meditation. This discussion reflects on insights from Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, urging listeners to examine their life's path and identify distractions. Emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, it encourages a pursuit of virtue over fleeting pleasures. Engage with thought-provoking quotes and reflection prompts that inspire a deeper understanding of what it means to live well.

Jun 26, 2024 • 57min
Who is Your Socrates? with Shane Trotter | The Character Lab
In this engaging discussion, Shane Trotter, an author and creator of Setting the Bar, explores how role models shape our character formation. He emphasizes the need for standards by which to measure ourselves, drawing insights from figures like Seneca and John McCain. The conversation delves into the complexities of honor and resilience, highlighting how historical and fictional heroes inspire personal growth. Trotter advocates for intentional role-model selection to nurture virtues and responsibility in today's youth.

Jun 24, 2024 • 11min
What Makes Life Meaningful, Happiness, and the Art of Hope | The Muse
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe Today’s episode is an audio version of the Monday Muse on Perennial Meditations. A little about this series, for anyone not familiar. It’s a weekly collection of what I call perennial reminders, insights, and maxims on the art of living. The term muse is an ancient one; it derives from ancient Greece and mythology. It typically has two meanings today: (1) a state of deep thought; (2) a source of inspiration. As I mentioned in a previous episode, each of the new series has its own distinct podcast cover. Today’s episode includes a reminder on What Makes Life Meaningful, a maxim on Happiness, and an insight on the virtue of hope—by way of a short clip from my conversation with the philosopher Kieran Setiya (author of Life is Hard). --- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/--- 🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 23, 2024 • 11min
On the Shortness of Life (Pt. II) | Sundays with Seneca
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe Welcome to Sundays with Seneca on In Search of Wisdom. On today’s episode, I’m sharing part II of Seneca’s essay, ‘On the Shortness of Life.’ If you would like to read these in your email each week, you can subscribe to Perennial Meditations (on Substack). You can also help support the podcast and my work by becoming a member. There are multiple options to do so, and there’s even a free membership link for anyone who cannot afford it. --- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/--- 🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 22, 2024 • 8min
The Inner Experience | Contemplation
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe The Way of Contemplation is a weekly series on In Search of Wisdom that delivers meditations, prompts, and practices on the art of living. These short guided contemplations are designed to help us think deeply about perennial ideas, questions, insights, and what it means to live an intentional life.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/--- 🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 21, 2024 • 5min
The Perils of Comparison | Dying Every Day
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe The Dying Every Day series delivers guided meditations on the art of living. Each meditation provides a quote, a selected passage (from an original Stoic text), and a reflection prompt to consider. These meditations are designed to help you (and me) reflect on what it means to live a good life.--- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/--- 🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 19, 2024 • 45min
The Art of Deep Reading with Rachel B. Griffis & Julie Ooms
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe In this episode of In Search of Wisdom, I welcome Rachel B. Griffis and Julie Ooms to discuss their new book, Deep Reading: Practices to Subvert the Vices of Our Distracted, Hostile, and Consumeristic Age. The conversation explores their formative experiences with reading and the concept of deep reading. We delve into how reading can combat modern distractions and how literature can lead to a greater understanding of ourselves and others. --- 🖇️ Stay Connected: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/--- 🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast: Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts