Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

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...

Caleb and Michael discuss an objection to Stoicism: the impossibility objection. Along the way, they talk about the challenge of living by Stoic principles, especially in extreme situations, and whether achieving the ideal Stoic sage is possible. 03:26 The Argument 14:47 Why It Matters 17:06 Stoicism Doesn't Require Unrealistic Control 27:15 Forceful Impressions 35:44 Can We All Be Sages? 44:54 Ca...

How can you use Stoicism to cultivate compassion and build deeper connections? Brittany Polat joins Caleb to talk about the themes from her new set of meditations: Deeper Connections. They discuss the meaning of Stoic compassion and what becoming more compassionate looks like in theory and practice. Deeper Connections Journal Like A Stoic https://stoicismforhumans.substack.com/ (01:11) Stoic Compa...

Caleb and Michael talk about Seneca’s 94th Letter to Lucilius. In it Seneca debates the place of rules in the philosophical life with the ancient Stoic Aristo. It's a topic of theoretical and practical importance. How do you use rules, proverbs, and precepts well when they are such imperfect tools? What's the difference between rules and principles?  (02:39) The Debate Over Rules (16:19) Aristo (2...

In this conversation, Michael Tremblay and Erlend MacGillivray take a deep dive into Stoic history and the life of Epictetus. It’s an excellent discussion for anyone looking to enrich their knowledge of ancient history and situate the Stoics in their time. https://schoolofepictetus.substack.com/ (01:20) Getting Into Stoicism (05:33) Epictetus (10:26) Epictetus's World (13:34) Philosophy in Rome (2...

In this conversation, Caleb and Michael talk Socrates. Why was he held in such high regard by the Stoics? What’s the line of philosophical theory and practice connecting Stoicism to Socrates? And how did Socrates philosophy differ from the Stoics? (03:52) Who Was Socrates? (07:07) Philosophy As A Way Off Life (14:48) The Socratic Method (20:49) Virtue Is Knowledge (26:15) Self-knowledge (33:40) Th...

In this conversation, Caleb speaks with William O Stephens about his 6 core themes of Stoicism. Epictetus’s 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics https://williamostephens.com/ (04:12) Self-Control (09:31) Seeing Things As They Are (14:34) Living In Accordance With Nature (22:12) Role Ethics (35:57) Virtue Depends On Knowledge (42:59) Stoicism Is Aspirational *** Learn more ab...

Register for a free workshop January 3rd: stoameditation.com/workshop Join our live course – starting next week: stoameditation.com/course Happy new year! Thanks for listening to Stoa Conversations. In this one, Caleb and Michael discuss their highlights from 2023 – one year of podcasting in public. Relive your favorite philosophical moments with them as they share the key insights from the year a...

(00:11) Scott Aikin (03:35) Massimo Pigliucci (05:08) Donald Robertson (07:09) Brittany Polat (10:29) Tim Lebon (14:34) Chris Gill *** Learn more about our new year’s course: stoameditation.com/course 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): stoameditation.com/pod...