RockneCAST

Brian McNeil, classics scholar, and Cicero enthusiast, joins the RockneCast once again. In this episode, we explore the Cicero's concept of "happiness", and the good life. Cicero was a Roman statesman, orator, lawyer and philosopher of happiness. He also heavily influenced the thinking of our nation's Founders, especially Thomas Jefferson and his famous phrase from the Declaratio...

Discover the profound power of Jesus’ three prayers in John 17—an awe-inspiring message of unity, love, and divine purpose that you’ve probably never heard before. These prayers, spoken just before Jesus’ arrest, reveal a level of spiritual depth and unwavering focus on glorifying the Creator, even amid impending suffering. Once you experience these words, you’ll never look at prayer—or your purpo...

I just finished Born to Walk by Mark Sisson. In this episode, I review this book and share some insight's from Sisson's book. Most people underestimate walking—not just as a gentle activity but as a powerful tool for transforming your health, mind, and spirit. Mark Sisson’s latest insights in Born to Walk challenge everything you think you know about exercise, revealing why walking, not running, i...

In one sentence, the philosopher Nassim Taleb encapsulates the power of Stoic philosophy. This episode explores the transformative power of a profound sentence. Apply it and you may just transform your life. Ignore it at your peril. It delves into how fear, pain, mistakes, and desire can be harnessed for personal growth, using Stoic principles and real-life examples like Jiu Jitsu. Key Topics The...

Complexity presents one of the greatest obstacles to losing excess weight. As complexity goes up, adherence goes down. Conversely, a simple approach increases adherence to a diet plan, increasing the chances of sustained weight loss. In this episode, I identify three simple steps (none of which are unique or originate with me). 1. Adopt a 8 to 10 hour eating window. 2. Avoid processed foods, espec...

In this episode, Rockne Cole sits down with Brian McNeil, a former Classics and History scholar who taught Western Civilization from Sumeria to Vietnam, Latin, Roman Civilization, and Rhetoric. Brian shares his personal academic journey — from his MA to his PhD work in Classics at the University of Iowa — and how that path led him to intellectual history and the heart of ancient philosophy. The co...

In this episode, we cover the first three pages of The Heart of Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the greatest Buddhist monks of the last century.

I am the Tax Collector, a sinner undeserving of God's grace. Of all the parables, the parable of the tax collector and the pharisee resonates with me most. Luke 18:9-14. It directly addresses the common critique of Christians, that we go to exalt ourselves and condemn others. In fact, Jesus teaches the exact opposite. People are free to hold their own views, but they should at least acknowledg...

A blizzard hit the Big O last weekend, resulting in unintended free time. So, I watched Nobody 1 and Nobody 2. From the creator of John Wick, Nobody features Hutch, a Nobody middle aged dad, living a life of quiet desperation. But he wasn't always a model of domesticated tranquility. He had a past as a bad ass. Nobody features the reemergence is inner bad ass and how that it relates to his dom...

The winds of fate can be unpredictable. Unexpected bad things can happen to us, resulting in misfortune for us. But even greater misfortune arises when we don't respond the way. This episode explores the discipline of perception as outlined by Ryan Holliday in the Obstacle is the Way, a modern classic on Stoicism. Our response to bad events governs the outcome almost as much, if not more, than...

In this episode, we discuss Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy advocating for taking tiny steps to achieve big results. We'll identify the manufacturing origins of this philosophy, outline some areas to add and subtract, and outline how to make these small changes stick. Along the way, we'll explore Aurelius and a verse from Ecclesiastes.

This is the first Stoic Friday, an ongoing series on the featuring the Stoic philosophy. In this episode, we focus on a key passage from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. Aurelius reminds us to remove external distractions. In this episode, I explore why this simple concept is so essential to well being and to being the best version of you.

In this episode of The Rockne Cast, host Rockne Cole delves into the health perks of daily pomegranate juice consumption, sparked by Ben Greenfield's Boundless Life podcast. Greenfield, a University of Idaho exercise physiology alum and northern Idaho influencer, merges ancestral practices with science for mind-body-spirit gains. In Solosode 497, Greenfield spotlights a 2003 Israeli study on 19 ca...

Summary This episode explores the transformative power of stress and pressure, emphasizing how embracing challenges can lead to resilience, strength, and personal growth. Drawing on insights from books like 'The Obstacle is the Way' and 'Think Like a Monk,' it highlights the importance of stress as a catalyst for development. Keywords stress, pressure, resilience, personal growth, stoicism, obstac...

Just finished up a 36 hour monk fast, going 36 hours without food. It is fricking awesome. I feel great!! In this episode, prepared on the 36th hour, I outline my own experience and results relating to the power of fasting to enhance the mind, the body, and the spirt. In this episode, you'll learn about the monk fast, its benefits, and how to integrate it into your life. Perfect for anyone loo...

For 2026, I am launching Rock for Norge - A Viking's Return Home, a project focusing on my sojourn to Iceland this summer. Together, we will be exploring the places, peoples, and myths of Iceland, the land of the Vikings and home of the Gods. I will be doing podcasts from Iceland and taking video during my journey there. I am also inviting RockneCast listeners to co-create with me on Rock for...

First episode of 2026. I outline what's in store for 2026!

Last year, after she asked me to do a lawyer wellness presentation, a friend recommended a book The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. It sat on my bookshelf for about a year. I finally decided to tackle it. And I am glad that I did. Kishimi and Koga are students of Arthur Adler, an early 20th century psychiatrist and contemporary of Sigmund Freud. Adler differed from Freu...

In this episode, I review the book Masters of Uncertainty - The Navy Seal Way to Turn Stress into Success for You and Your Team by Rich Diviney. If you think about it, stress is one of the most powerful assets and liabilities in each one of our lives. It can cause us to focus and be the best version of ourselves. Left unfocused or uncontrolled, it can devastate us or even lead to premature death....

In this episode, I outline the joys of intentional ideation, i.e. intentionally setting aside quiet time to sit and just think. It's not rumination though. The goal is to intentionally set aisde quiet time so that you can think, your mind wander to tap the power of the subconscious. The pen makes all of the difference. This will allow you to capture those ideas as they pop up. That's what...

Shalom, that beautiful Hebrew word meaning peace. But its meaning is much deeper than simple absence of conflict. It's more active and intentional than that. As I learned from a sermon last year, Shalom is a earned harmony, resulting from the intentional resolution of difficult conflicts in our personal, professional and spiritual lives. One thing is certain: you will not gain shalom by avoiding c...

I woke up this morning with a feeling of peace, an emotion that I have not experienced much lately. One word popped into my head... gratitude. And I thought about all of the people who showed me unconditional love these last several weeks. With gratitude to everyone single one of you who shared your presence with me and showed me unconditional love. This episode is dedicated to all of you. Rockne

Can too much wellness be a bad thing? Yes, even wellness can turn into badness. Like everything else, wellness has its limits. Of course, well practices like exercise, meditation, prayer, journaling, and eating well can be essential to transform you into the best version of you. And no, I am not asserting that you should start smoking cigarettes and eating potato chips. Make sure that your paying...

Have you ever thought about the difference between persistence and perseverance? Through the lens of the American Stoic, Ryan Holiday, we'll focus on how he distinguishes the two concepts. This episode bookends my previous episode on US Grant.

In this episode, I dive into the stories of resilience and grit that shape true greatness. Today, we’re talking about Ulysses S. Grant—not for his battlefield victories, his presidency, or his legendary autobiography, but for his unshakable spirit in the face of life’s toughest blows. Grant faced countless valleys, yet his indomitable will carried him through. In this episode, we’ll explore Grant’...