

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

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

Jun 17, 2024 • 13min
What Makes Us Human, Thinking Well, and Authenticity | 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 of what makes us human, a maxim on thinking well, and an insight on becoming who we are—a short clip from my conversation with the philosopher Skye Cleary (author of How to Be Authentic). Listen to my full conversation with Skye Cleary here. Read the transcript from this week's Monday Muse here. --- 🖇️ 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

16 snips
Jun 16, 2024 • 16min
On the Shortness of Life | Sundays with Seneca
Dive into the timeless wisdom of Seneca, who highlights how easily we squander our limited time on trivial pursuits. Discover the profound link between life and time, urging us to reclaim our moments and live authentically. Reflect on the urgency of mortality and the importance of prioritizing meaningful actions over societal expectations. Seneca encourages a focus on philosophy as a guide for living well and preparing for life's inevitable end, creating a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to truly use our time wisely.

Jun 15, 2024 • 11min
The Way of Contemplation
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of In Search of Wisdom, I introduce a new series, The Way of Contemplation, and discuss a few changes to the podcast and newsletter. You can expect to learn about the wisdom of contemplation, the art of deep reading (and thinking), why the practice of contemplation is a lifelong endeavor, and much more.
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🖇️ Stay Connected:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPods
Website: https://www.perennialleader.com/
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🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:
Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archive
Listen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 12, 2024 • 51min
Ben Franklin's Guide to a Long and Useful Life with Eric Weiner
Author Eric Weiner discusses Ben Franklin's guide to virtue, the importance of intellectual humility, the philosophy of gratitude, and practical ways to become wiser in daily life. The episode highlights Franklin's impact and legacy of gratitude and usefulness, along with insights on adapting books for TV series and applying wisdom in daily decision-making.

Jun 11, 2024 • 5min
The Art of Having Enough | Stoic Meditation
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe
Welcome to another episode of In Search of Wisdom. In today's episode, I share a Stoic meditation from the Dying Every Day series (from my Substack - Perennial Meditations). 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.
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🖇️ Stay Connected:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPods
Website: https://www.perennialleader.com/
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🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:
Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archive
Listen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 5, 2024 • 54min
A Stoic Guide to Change with Brandon Tumblin
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of In Search of Wisdom, I’m joined by my good friend Brandon Tumblin (Host of The Strong Stoic Podcast). In this conversation, we discuss Stoic philosophy and making intentional changes in life. Brandon shares the significance of the practice of memento mori (remembrance of death) in daily life and how contemplating mortality can reorient actions, instill gratitude, and help us overcome fear. We cover practical aspects of adopting change, the value of small steps, the complex nature of personal growth, and much more.
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🖇️ Stay Connected:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPods
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🦉 Additional Resources:
Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archive
Listen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Jun 1, 2024 • 10min
Montaigne: Three Lessons on the Art of Living
📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe
Welcome to another episode of In Search of Wisdom. Today, we’re searching for lessons on the art of living from the sixteenth-century philosopher Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592). In this episode, you can expect to learn why we need a direction for our lives, the wisdom of solitude, and why we should question everything, at least according to Montaigne.
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🖇️ Stay Connected:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perennialmeditations/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPods
---
🦉 Additional Resources:
Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archive
Listen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts