The Everyday Stoic

📖 Get my book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everyday-Sto... US & Canada [ https://a.co/d/1tnxZ11 ]If you’re new here, my name’s William Mulligan. I grew up in a council house in the UK with my single mum and seven siblings. We didn’t have much. I was a shy, anxious, weak, and often depressed kid. At 16, I was laboring full time — illegally underpaid and working all hours to help my family survive...

If you’re new here, my name’s William Mulligan. I grew up in a council house in the UK with my single mum and seven siblings. We didn’t have much. I was a shy, anxious, weak, and often depressed kid. At 16, I was laboring full time — illegally underpaid and working all hours to help my family survive. At 18, I discovered Stoicism. It changed everything. I quit my job and flew to New Zealand with m...

In today's episode, William explores eleven practical Stoic rules for a better life inspired by the teachings of Marcus Aurelius. Drawing from classic texts like Meditations and over a decade of personal practice, he breaks down ancient philosophical concepts into simple and actionable advice. The discussion covers essential habits for personal growth, such as remaining a lifelong student, tak...

In today's episode, William analyzes the philosophical differences between Diogenes the Cynic and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius to determine who lived a genuinely better life. He contrasts the immense power, wealth, and societal duties of Marcus Aurelius with the absolute destitution and societal rejection of Diogenes. While Marcus Aurelius faced the heavy burdens and personal tragedies associ...

In today's episode, William breaks down fifty-six practical lessons he has learned from over a decade of practicing real Stoicism. Moving past the academic theories and superficial social media trends, he shares how these ancient principles completely transformed his life from a state of anxious uncertainty to genuine happiness. He explores powerful concepts like the block of wood theory, the...

3 Forgotten Stoic Principles That Will Transform Your Life (No One Talks About These) Discover 3 powerful but forgotten Stoic principles that can completely transform your mindset, boost resilience, and help you stay calm in a chaotic world. While most people focus on basic Stoicism, this video dives deeper into lesser-known teachings that offer real, practical results. If you're interested in...

In this episode, William shares five Stoic habits that completely transformed his life in just one week. No theory, no empty quotes, just real practices, real progress, and honest reflection from over a decade of living Stoicism every day. He breaks down each habit, from waking with purpose to practicing moderation and digital discipline, showing how ancient Stoic wisdom can create instant results...

In this episode, William lays out seven behaviours the ancient Stoics warned against and explains why each one poisons your peace of mind. He breaks down how complaining and blaming others robs you of power, how emotional overreactions cloud judgment, and how chasing validation turns you into a puppet for public opinion. Each behavior is examined through Stoic teachings from Epictetus, Marcus Aure...

In this episode, William digs into how Stoicism and the Law of Attraction are surprisingly similar yet completely different. Both claim that our thoughts shape our reality, but they take wildly different routes to get there. William shares how he once practiced manifestation, believing he could think success into existence, and how years later he came to see the Stoic view as a more grounded path....

In today's episode, William walks through a four-step Stoic protocol to protect your peace in a chaotic, outrage-driven world. Drawing on Marcus Aurelius and Viktor Frankl, William explains how to build an unshakable foundation by writing and testing your rules, model virtue by listing the people and characters you admire, use the pause to choose your response, redirect outrage into purposeful...

In this episode, William explores why so many people are drawn to figures like Andrew Tate and what that desire reveals about our search for control, confidence, and meaning. William doesn’t argue for or against these influencers. Instead, he examines the psychological pull they have, the way their certainty and mastery seem to promise relief from our own uncertainty and pain. He reflects on his o...

What does it mean to “find your place amongst the gods”? In this episode, William explores the extraordinary life of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. Once a wealthy merchant who lost everything in a shipwreck, Zeno could have given in to despair. Instead, he discovered a philosophy that continues to guide people thousands of years later. Where heroes like Hercules ascended to Olympus throu...

In today’s episode, William Mulligan sits down with neuroscientist and psychedelic researcher Manesh Girn to explore the intersection of Stoic philosophy and modern science. Manesh shares his perspective on core Stoic ideas such as virtue, the dichotomy of control, and amor fati, while drawing connections to the transformative potential of psychedelics. The conversation dives into themes of neurop...

In this episode, William reflects on the nature of struggle and why hardship is not something to be avoided, but embraced as a sign of growth. He explains that pain and inner conflict are evidence of courage, proof that one is still in the fight rather than surrendering to nihilism, cynicism, or escapism. Drawing from Stoic philosophy, Buddhist teachings, and the myth of Hercules, he shows how cha...

In this episode of The Everyday Stoic, William Mulligan is joined by Oxford-educated neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay to explore Stoic philosophy through a scientific lens. Dr. McKay provides her expert opinion on the core principles of Stoicism, examining the four cardinal virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance from a developmental and neurological perspective. The conversation covers...

What if every hardship you face was not a setback, but an invitation to grow? In this episode, William explores how the Stoics saw difficulties not as punishments but as opportunities to build virtue, discipline, and inner strength. Drawing on the wisdom of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, as well as modern examples like Kobe Bryant, Muhammad Ali, and Maya Angelou, William explains how small daily d...

In this episode, William Mulligan speaks with Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim to explore how Stoicism and Zen, two ancient traditions from opposite sides of the world, arrive at remarkably similar insights about living well. Their conversation dives into the challenge of resisting the present moment and how acceptance can transform suffering into peace. Haemin shares practical ways to quiet the...

How should we deal with rude people? It’s a question that comes up again and again, and in this episode, we turn to Marcus Aurelius for the answer. In Book 9 of his  Meditations , the great Roman emperor laid out a simple but profound exercise that can be done in seconds, an exercise that shifts our perspective, grounds us in virtue, and helps us respond wisely instead of reacting with anger. Will...

In this episode, William is joined by Aaron Parker to explore how Stoicism, Muay Thai, and mindfulness helped Aaron transform a life of hedonism into one of purpose, gratitude, and authenticity. Aaron opens up about his rough upbringing, struggles with escapism, and the turning points that led him to philosophy, meditation, and self-discipline. Together, William and Aaron dive into the practical s...

Most people have completely misunderstood Stoicism. The most common myth, repeated endlessly online, is that Stoics were cold, emotionless, and detached from life. This false idea is not only wrong, it’s harmful. It fuels toxic masculinity, pushes people away from philosophy, and has convinced many that Stoicism is about suppressing emotions instead of living well with them. In this episode, Willi...

What if criticism could be seen as a gift rather than an attack? What if most of our worries existed only in our imagination? And what if the greatest challenges we face in life are actually the very things that shape us into who we are meant to become? In this episode, William dives into the timeless wisdom of Epictetus and the Stoic tradition, exploring how these ancient teachings can be applied...

In this episode, William dives into the timeless Stoic idea of having a “North Star”, a guiding principle that helps us stay grounded, even when life pulls us in a hundred directions. Seneca once warned that to value a person for their clothing or social status is foolish, and William reflects on how this wisdom feels even more urgent today, in a world obsessed with likes, followers, and luxury br...

In this episode, William shares the four Stoic principles that helped him lift the invisible “mist” that once made life feel empty, even when things looked good on the outside. Drawing from his own struggles with anxiety, depression, and a persistent sense that life hadn’t truly begun, he explains how Stoic wisdom from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Musonius Rufus provided a simple but powerful f...

In this episode, William shares the one Stoic habit that radically improved his mental health. Rooted in the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and even Pythagoras, this practice centres on describing events in your life with calm objectivity, stripping away the emotional weight that often makes everyday struggles feel overwhelming. William explores the idea of “catastrophizing”—the habit of using...

In today’s episode, William reveals the exact morning routine he uses, rooted in ancient Stoic philosophy, to set the tone for a resilient, purposeful, and fulfilling day. Drawing directly from the works of Marcus Aurelius and other Stoic masters, this is no modern self-help gimmick. It’s a daily ritual refined by the wisdom of centuries. Discover how starting your day with the right mindset can m...