Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

In this episode, Caleb and Michael review the 2023 film "Seneca, On the Creation of Earthquakes" starring John Malkovich. They explore how the movie portrays the Roman Stoic philosopher during his final day, examining themes of hypocrisy, performance versus genuine philosophy, and the challenges of living up to Stoic ideals. (00:00:56) Background on the film (00:04:07) Overall impressions (00:08:3...

Should you really be reading all those "great books"? Marcus Aurelius had strong opinions about this. He repeatedly told himself to throw away his books and stop getting distracted by endless reading lists. In this episode, Caleb challenges the popular Great Books movement and explores what Marcus Aurelius would think about our obsession with reading everything. The emperor-philosopher believed re...

The Stoics made claims that sounded completely crazy to regular people. Only virtue is good. All crimes are equally bad. Everyone who isn't perfectly wise is literally insane. These weren't just philosophical word games. They were deliberate provocations designed to force people to think differently about what really matters in life. Caleb and Michael break down Cicero's six famous Stoic paradoxes...

Most people learn about Stoicism through the dichotomy of control. It sounds simple: focus on what's up to you, ignore what isn't. But this apparent simplicity is dangerous. The dichotomy of control becomes the lens through which people view all of Stoicism. Get it wrong, and everything else falls apart. You end up passive when you should act, frustrated when you should be patient, or convinced St...

Are you stressed about the future? Deep-dive into this Stoic exercise from Marcus Aurelius for living the moment, without anxiety or regret. Michael Tremblay covers the Stoic practice of circumscribing the present. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https...

Discover the philosopher who transformed Zeno from shipwrecked merchant to Stoicism's founder. While modern cynics see only self-interest, Crates lived joyfully with nothing but "a wallet and tattered cloak." This philosopher sold his inheritance, mocked social hierarchies, and treated everyone as equals—from generals to donkey drivers. Michael and Caleb explore how Crates' rejection of convention...

In this episode, Michael Tremblay and Caleb Ontiveros explore Aristotle's ethics, focusing on his doctrine of virtue as the golden mean. They break down how Aristotle's view differs from Stoicism—from his three-part soul to his idea that virtues are skills developed through practice. Learn why Aristotle saw courage as a balance between cowardice and rashness, why feeling the right emotions matters...

In this final exploration of Cicero's "On Ends," Michael and Caleb break down Book V, where Cicero reveals his own philosophical sweet spot – an Aristotelian-Platonic approach that challenges both Stoicism and Epicureanism. Against a backdrop of ancient Athens, Cicero's characters debate the core question: What makes a truly good human life? They navigate the middle path between Stoic rigidity (wh...

Discover the hidden gems of Stoic philosophy in this exploration of Epictetus' fragments - those powerful passages preserved by other philosophers but lost from his main works. Caleb and Michael unpack these concentrated nuggets of wisdom, from the surprising idea that we should value people by their capacity to help friends rather than harm enemies, to the famous "persist and resist" maxim that c...

In this episode, Michael Tremblay explores Epictetus' radical approach to anger and forgiveness. Discover why the Stoics believed we should pity rather than punish those who harm us, and how this ancient wisdom offers a practical path to emotional freedom in your daily life. Through Epictetus' teachings, learn the liberating power of seeing wrongdoers as victims of their own confusion. *** Downloa...

Michael and Caleb dive into classic philosophical thought experiments to uncover Stoic solutions to impossible choices. From the infamous Trolley Problem to the Happiness Machine, they examine how Stoicism's focus on virtue, context, and roles provides a unique framework for moral decision-making. Unlike utilitarian or rule-based ethics, the Stoic approach emphasizes character over consequences, y...

Caleb and Michael break down Book IV of Cicero's "On Ends" - his powerful critique of Stoic ethics. Discover why Cicero believed the Stoics fell short by prioritizing virtue alone while dismissing external goods.  Is Stoicism just playing word games with what's "good" versus "preferred"? Would the perfect Stoic and the perfect Aristotelian behave the same way? This episode tackles the core tension...

Living like a Stoic is about getting the little things right.  In this episode, Michael Tremblay discusses 7 Stoic habits you can start today to build a more thoughtful, resilient, and Stoic you. (01:25) Thinking Well (14:24) Living Philosophically (17:58) Preparing for Adversity (30:15) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources...

In this episode of Stoic Conversations, Caleb and Michael break down Book III of Cicero's On Ends - the definitive ancient defense of Stoic ethics. Discover why the Stoics believed virtue alone is sufficient for happiness, and how they justified their unique system of values. Follow along as they unpack Stoic moral development, from our earliest instincts to the cultivation of wisdom. On Ends Book...

Seneca's brutal play "Medea" reveals what happens when rage takes control. A betrayed wife, an indecisive husband, and a tragic ending that challenges Stoic ideals.   In this episode, Caleb and Michael analyze Seneca's bloody retelling of the Medea myth - where passion overcomes reason with devastating consequences. Dana Gioia on Seneca and The Madness of Hercules (Episode 74) (04:28) Historical B...

Caleb and Michael take on Book II of Cicero’s On Ends.  In this books Cicero goes off against the Epicureans.  What do you think? On Ends Book I Aristippus: The Philosopher Who Mastered Pleasure (02:43) Different Kinds Of Pleasure (16:34) Turning AgainstThe Stoics (18:02) Ranking Pleasures (24:40) Epicurean Rebranding? (30:55) Epicureans Ignore Virtue (34:28) Utilitarianism (38:18) Topsy Turvy Val...

In this episode, Michael talks with Erick Cloward, the host of the Stoic Coffee Break Podcast.   Erick talks about his journey into Stoicism, his recent use of Amor Fati, and how to have difficult conversations, especially with those you politically disagree with. (08:49) How Stoicism Makes A Difference  (16:33) Amor Fati  (31:03) Amor Fati And Politics  (39:33) Hard Conversations  (56:06) Bringin...

Epictetus tells us the chief task of philosophy is just one thing: Make proper use of impressions.   In this episode, Michael Tremblay does a deep dive into what this means, how we can do it, and why, for Epictetus, it is the most important thing there is. *** Download the Stoa app (free): https://stoameditation.com/pod For those who find the app valuable but face financial constraints, email us f...

In 45 BC, amid the turmoil of the Roman Civil War, Cicero wrote one of philosophy's most important works on the meaning of life. This episode unpacks Book I of "On Ends," exploring the clash between Epicurean pleasure-seeking and Stoic virtue. (01:14) Meeting Cicero (06:18) Latin over Greek  (11:40) On Ends Core Debates  (16:03) Cicero attacks (20:44) Why Pleasure isn't Everything  (27:28) The Epi...

Caleb and Michael discuess teacher of Diogenes and the grandfather of Stoicism. Before there were Stoics arguing about virtue, there was Antisthenes. A warrior turned philosopher who studied under Socrates. (02:40) Antisthenes The Man (07:32) Cynicism (12:42) How To Become Cynical (21:27) Virtue is Action (23:58) Socratic Influence (27:02) Antisthenes in Action (29:38) Death (34:34) Irreverance (3...

Freedom isn't about having enough money to do what you want. It's about wanting what you can actually control. In this episode, Michael breaks down Epictetus's radical handbook chapter 14, revealing the four key principles of Stoic desire – and why wanting the wrong things makes us slaves to circumstance. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic...

The ancient Stoics never used the term "metacognition," but this modern psychological concept illuminates the core of their philosophy. Michael and Caleb explore how the Stoic emphasis on examining our thoughts—what psychologists now call metacognition—is central to both Stoic theory and practice. They unpack why the Stoics saw this capacity for mental self-reflection as divine, how it distinguish...

Ancient and modern Stoics aren't just thinkers - they are runners too. In this episode, Caleb explores how the simple act of running illuminates core Stoic principles about pain, perception, and perseverance.  *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://st...

Meet ancient Greece's original hedonist. Unlike later philosophers who preached asceticism, Aristippus embraced luxury, courted kings, and still kept his freedom. A student of Socrates who chose pleasure over asceticism, he founded a school of thought that spread through generations of his family. This conversation explores how Aristippus balanced the pursuit of pleasure with self-mastery, challen...

In this episode, Michael and Caleb explore Meditations 4.49-51, where Marcus Aurelius discusess resilience, misfortune, death, and simplicity. Be like a promontory against crashing waves. (01:09) 49, Section 1 (08:20) 49, Section 2 (11:21) It's Not Things Themselves That Harm Us (15:44) Powerful Phrases (17:45) Stoicism Is For Everyone (21:21) 50 (33:39) 51 *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for wee...