Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

The ancient Stoic, Arius Didymus, provided a framework for practical wisdom and prudence. It’s still applicable today. Courage Moderation (02:29) Reading (05:01) Judgment (17:19) View (26:24) Shrewdness (31:11) Discretion (37:38) Soundness of aim (41:31) Resourcefulness *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subsc...

Michael and Caleb discuss the differences between modern self help and Stoicism – where self help is useful, where it isn’t, and recommend their favorite self help books. (04:07) Defining Self Help (11:31) Where Self Help Goes Wrong (28:09) The Good in Self Help (45:02) Best Self Help Books *** Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it...

Caleb and Michael read through Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. Specifically: Meditations 2.6-2.10. There are several essential themes in these passages: the importance of self-examination, maintaining focus on what matters, and the philosophical underpinnings of Stoicism. in the Meditations we get to see Marcus Aurelius rehearsing Stoic maxims – and apply that practice to our own life too. (04:51)...

This one is different. Caleb reads from his essay, Why Stoicism Is True . It’s a short encapsulation of the what he takes to be the three most important ideas of the philosophy – as well as a philosophical defense of their veracity. Let us know what you think. https://calebontiveros.substack.com/ *** Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and f...

In this episode, Michael presents the Stoic idea of "indifferents." It’s one of the key ideas behind Stoicism, one’s that often misunderstood but necessary to know in order to understand Stoicism. (02:52) The 3 Value Categories (06:22) Defining Good (15:32) Defining Indifferents (37:32) Total Indifferents (39:06) How To Live With Indifferents (51:22) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for we...

“Moderation is subdivided into good discipline, seemliness, modesty, and self-control.” The ancient Stoic breakdown of moderation is essential for becoming more disciplined. It will help you think about the ideas of moderation, discipline, and self-control more deeply and generate strategies for how to becoming more moderate in your life today. Stoic Courage (00:22) The Meaning Of Moderation (07:1...

In this conversation, Michael and Caleb discuss Epictetus’s chapter On Attention (Discourses 4.12). It’s an essential reading from the Stoic master on an essential topic. Buddhism 101 Stoicism and Mindfulness Caleb and Michael also preview an upcoming conversation on Moderation…Stay tuned. It will be released in the next few weeks. (01:04) The Importance of Attention (06:07) Pay Attention Now (08:...

The Stoics promoted the four cardinal virtues: courage, moderation, justice, and wisdom. In this episode, we talk about Stoic courage. Caleb and Michael discuss what it is and how the Stoics broke it down into different subdisciplines. Their breakdown still provides an effective framework for building the skill of bravery today. (01:03) What Is Courage? (10:19) Aristotle (14:14) The Subcomponents...

Do you want to learn how to Journal like Marcus Aurelius? Parker Settecase explains different approaches to journaling, writing, and recording your thoughts. He and Michael take a deep dive into how and why to think about journaling. Use these strategies to organize your thinking, and be the best version of yourself. Park Notes Michael and Parker on Parker's Pensées (01:32) Journaling As A Philoso...

"The thought for today is one which I discovered in Epicurus; for I am wont to cross over even into the enemy's camp, – not as a deserter, but as a scout." In this conversation, Caleb and Michael talk about lessons from Epicureanism. To do this, use Seneca’s quotations of Epicurus and other Epicureans as a source. The Epicurean tradition has a lot of wisdom about how to relate to wealth, master de...

Why did talking about virtue fall out of fashion – and why is it coming back now? In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Judith Stove about that very question, providence, and Marcus Aurelius as God. Judith Stove is a Sydney, Australia, researcher and writer, focusing on Jane Austen and her reception, as well as on Stoicism and other classical virtue ethics.  Along with Simon J.E. Drew , she co-h...

The ancients talked about Nature, Reason, Zeus, and God – but what did they mean by it? In this conversation, Michael tells us who or what the Stoic God is. We’re here to tell you – and share how the Stoic’s beliefs about God influenced their practice and picture of Stoicism. (00:58) Why The Stoic God Matters (03:21) The Agenda (05:40) Stoic Physics (08:29) Is This Like Aristotle? (14:13) God Is F...

The philosopher and the general. Stoic philosophy in ancient Roman history. In this podcast, Caleb speaks with Alex Petkas about Pompey and Posidonius – the great Roman general and his Stoic mentor. Both of their lives were epic in the greatest sense. They carry lessons for applying Stoic emotion management, cosmopolitanism, and, even, inquiry into the natural world. https://costofglory.com/ (01:2...

“Show me a man who is not a slave; one is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to ambition.” – Seneca In this conversation, Michael and Caleb discuss how Stoics think about ambition. What does healthy ambition look like? The unhealthy kind? How do you navigate between the two?  Caleb and Michael talk through the Stoic tradition’s answers to these questions. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter f...

In this Stoa Conversation, Michael Tremblay speaks to Brian Johnson about Stoic roles ethics, methods of teaching, and how martial arts. The start with the question: does martial arts improve character? What about other forms of physical training? They then move to Stoic Role Ethics, especially the role ethics of Epictetus. The Role Ethics of Epictetus *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly m...

What advice do the Stoics have for managing social anxiety? In this conversation, Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay talk about Epictetus on anxiety – and how his advice for dissolving anxiety can be applied to social situations. (03:29) Epictetus On Anxiety (13:13) You Will Not Have Anxiety If You Do This (23:42) Learning From Experience (26:36) Epictetus On How To Make It Happen (34:40) Why Is...

How should modern Stoics understand the relationship between the mind and the body? In this conversation, Caleb Ontiveros and Marcus Hedahl discuss Stoicism and the mind-body connection. They walk through issues of theory and practice that the tight bond between our minds and bodies brings up. This episode has both significant practical upshots and takes a few detours into theory on the way. Let u...

“Although we don’t often recognise it, the 21st century is a transhuman era, where everything that currently makes us human, from our brains and bodies, to our values and ways of life, is poised to be transformed or superseded.” In this episode, Caleb and Michael consider a contemporary philosophical issue through the lens of Stoicism. Transhumanism is the idea that humans should use technology to...

In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Donald Robertson about Marcus Aurelius. They dive into what we know about the man and the critical episodes of his life. Donald shares his thoughts on the Marcomannic wars, whether Marcus Aurelius ordered the assassination of one of his top generals, and why he appointed Commodus as his successor.  They end by discussing the central role that Stoicism and St...

“Everything has two handles, and it may be carried by one of these handles, but not by the other.” In this conversation, Caleb and Michael talk about these lines from Epictetus. They talk about how it points the way towards Stoic creativity, offensive and defensive Stoicism ,and role ethics. It’s a simple passage with a lot of depth. (00:31) Epictetus (05:05) Creativity in Stoicism (12:31) Stop Sh...

In this podcast, Caleb speaks with professor Rob Colter . Rob has extensive experience teaching Stoicism in camps, universities, and prisons. He talks about the powerful idea of Stoic freedom, how he’s seen Stoicism make a difference in people’s lives, and why he calls himself a Socratic. Learn more about Wyoming Stoic Camp here. (00:51) Stoicism (03:49) Rationality (09:10) The Central Idea: Freed...

“A Stoic is a Buddhist with attitude” How do you not just survive in chaos, but benefit from it? In this podcast, Caleb and Michael review Nassim Taleb’s book “Antifragile.” In it, Taleb describes a Stoic philosophy grounded in the realities of randomness and practice. They talk about how ideas from this book have impacted them – and the questions of theory and practice that remain. (06:43) Antifr...

Who were the Cynics and why did the Stoics treat them as exemplars?   In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Dr. M. D. Usher about the ancient philosophy of Cynicism, its training program, and way of life. How to Say No (00:47) Farming (02:21) What Is Cynicism (06:56) Outsiders (10:39) Living In Accordance With Nature (15:15) Storytime (23:18) Training Program (32:39) Socrates (38:38) Modern Cyni...

Time for another Stoic movie review.  This week Caleb and Michael talk 300. They cover the good, bad, and and provocative aspects of the film on the Spartan’s epic last stand at Thermopylae. Gladiator (02:29) The Movie (06:58) Spartan Stoic Virtues (08:36) Powers Of Perception (15:00) Action Over Words (19:48) What Winning Means (24:26) Spartan Propaganda (29:46) Sparta Was Not Stoic (41:31) Steel...

This one is for all of you interested in Stoic theory. In this conversation, Caleb and Scott Aikin discuss objections to Stoicism. Scott defends a revisionary kind of Stoicism. In some places, Caleb questions how revisionary it is – is Scott just restating things the ancients solved already? In other places, Caleb questions whether it’s too revisionary to work – do we need an account of nature aft...