The Stoic’s Guide Podcast by Brad Young

Epictetus was born a slave in ancient Rome. He spent his early years owned by another man, with very little control over his own body, his own time, even where he could go. At some point, his leg was badly injured, and for the rest of his life he walked with a limp. So this was not a man writing from a comfortable mansion, telling you to just think positive. This was a man who had every reason in...

Marcus Aurelius was the most powerful man in the world. He was the emperor of Rome. He could have done anything he wanted. He could have indulged in every pleasure imaginable, and nobody could have stopped him. And yet, every night, this man sat down and wrote private notes to himself about how to be better. He never meant for anyone to read them. We only have his journal today, the book we call M...

In this episode, we break down the core of Stoic philosophy — not as ancient theory, but as a practical operating system for modern life. Stoicism teaches us how to stay steady in chaos, how to separate what we control from what we don’t, and how to build inner strength that can’t be shaken by circumstance. We explore the foundational ideas of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, and translate...

Gratitude is one of the most talked-about ideas in contemporary self-help, and yet most people practice it in a way that is surprisingly shallow — a list of three things each morning, dutifully written and quickly forgotten. There is nothing wrong with such lists, but they tend to function more as positive-thinking exercises than as genuine transformations of perspective. The Stoic understanding o...

There is something quietly powerful about a life built around intentional habits. Most people move through their days on a kind of autopilot — reacting to whatever arrives first, whether that is the noise of a phone, the demands of others, or the scattered pull of their own unexamined impulses. The Stoics understood this danger well. They believed that the shape of a day reveals the shape of a lif...

Fear is one of the most ancient and powerful forces in human experience. It has kept our species alive for hundreds of thousands of years, alerting us to danger, sharpening our senses, and pushing us to move when movement was necessary. This is fear doing its job well, and for most of human history it did that job in a relatively direct way: a predator appears, fear fires, the body responds, the d...

Hard times have a way of narrowing the world. When something goes wrong — when a relationship breaks, a job disappears, a health scare arrives without warning — the mind tends to lock onto the problem and refuse to look anywhere else. The present pain fills the entire frame. Everything outside it blurs. This is a natural response. The mind is doing what it was built to do: pay close attention to t...

The Role of Daily Reflection The Stoics were not content with philosophy as a set of ideas to be understood and then stored on a shelf. They were intensely practical, and they designed practices to ensure that these principles were lived, not just known. One of the most consistent of these practices was daily reflection — what we might now call journaling, though for the Stoics it was less about e...

This episode is a quiet invitation — not a lecture, not a list of instructions, but a slow walk through some of the most enduring ideas ever recorded about the human experience. Today we are sitting with a single, profound question: how do we find peace when the world around us refuses to be still? The Stoics had much to say about this, and their answers are as relevant now as they were two thousa...

We live in a culture obsessed with arrival. With finishing. With checking the box, closing the chapter, and moving on to the next goal. From the time we are very young, we are trained to see life as a series of destinations — graduations, promotions, relationships reached, milestones crossed. The assumption embedded in this way of thinking is that the real thing, the valuable thing, the thing we a...

There is a tension that lives inside nearly every thoughtful person — a pull between wanting more and being at peace with what already is. On one side stands ambition, that restless engine driving us toward goals, achievements, and a larger life. On the other side stands contentment, that quiet satisfaction in the present moment, the ability to look at what surrounds you and feel, genuinely feel,...

Minimalism, at its core, is a lifestyle choice that revolves around simplifying one’s life by reducing excess. This could mean decluttering your physical space, cutting down on unnecessary commitments, or eliminating distractions that pull you away from what truly matters. The philosophy of minimalism suggests that by letting go of the things that don’t serve us—whether material possessions, unhea...

On today’s episode we look at, “How Minimalistic Stoicism Sets a Foundation for Self-Discovery.” The modern search for meaning often leads us down complex paths, filled with endless theories, countless self-help methods, and overwhelming amounts of information. Yet, some of the most profound insights about who we are and what truly matters can be found by embracing two ancient, yet timeless approa...

On today’s episode, we look at How Minimalist Stoicism Can Transform Your Daily Life. The intersection of ancient Stoic philosophy and modern minimalism offers a powerful framework for navigating the complexities of contemporary life. Minimalist Stoicism combines the emotional resilience and virtue-focused approach of Stoicism with the intentional simplicity of minimalism, creating a practical phi...

On today’s episode, we look at The Life-Changing Benefits of Minimalist Living! Minimalist living has transformed from a niche lifestyle choice into a widespread movement, embraced by millions seeking greater meaning and fulfillment. At its core, minimalism represents the intentional decision to live with less—in order to focus on what truly matters. This philosophy extends far beyond simply declu...

On today’s episode, Episode 21, we’ll be discussing Defining Minimalism and Stoicism—two philosophies that, while distinct, share powerful insights for creating a life of intention and meaning. Minimalism, at its core, is a lifestyle choice that revolves around simplifying one’s life by reducing excess. This could mean decluttering your physical space, cutting down on unnecessary commitments, or e...

Today, we explore Minimalist Stoicism The quest for simplicity and meaning has never been more pertinent. My inspiration for writing Minimalist Stoicism: Living a Simple Life with Purpose stems from a deep appreciation for two powerful philosophies—Stoicism and Minimalism. Both have had profound impacts on my life, guiding me towards a path of clarity, intentionality, and tranquility.

Today, we explore the Challenges and Critiques of Stoicism Despite the numerous advantages associated with Stoic philosophy, it is not without its critics and challenges. One common critique is that Stoicism may promote emotional suppression, leading individuals to disconnect from their feelings rather than engage with them. Critics argue that the emphasis on rationality can overshadow the importa...

Stoicism posits that the universe is governed by a rational order, often referred to as logos. This concept suggests that nature operates according to a set of laws that can be understood through reason. For Stoics, aligning oneself with nature involves recognizing this rational structure and striving to live in accordance with it. This alignment fosters a sense of peace and clarity, as individual...

Marcus Aurelius, often referred to as the philosopher-emperor, ruled from 161 to 180 CE and is best known for his contributions to Stoic philosophy, as articulated in his seminal work, Meditations. Born on April 26, 121 CE, Aurelius was raised in a favorable social environment, receiving a comprehensive education that encompassed rhetoric, philosophy, and law. His reign was marked by a commitment...

Today, we explore the profound teachings of Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher whose insights on personal freedom and the power of control offer a robust framework for achieving true autonomy. Central to Epictetus’s philosophy is the fundamental idea that while external events remain entirely outside our jurisdiction, we maintain absolute authority over our internal responses to them. This perspective...

Seneca, a prominent Stoic philosopher and statesman from ancient Rome, profoundly influenced Stoic thought through his writings and teachings. His life was marked by political intrigue and personal adversity, which provided him with a unique perspective on the importance of resilience in facing life's challenges. Seneca's works, including letters and essays, delve into themes such as the transient...

Today we are looking at the Biography and key teachings of Zeno Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, was born around 334 BC in the city of Citium on the island of Cyprus. His journey into philosophy began following a shipwreck that left him stranded in Athens, where he encountered Socratic teachings that would spark his interest in ethics and human behavior. Influenced by the Cynics, particula...

For the Stoics, gratitude wasn’t just a fleeting feeling of appreciation—it was an active, intentional practice. It required effort, discipline, and conscious thought. To them, gratitude served as a key to unlocking resilience in adversity, finding peace amid uncertainty, and appreciating the good even in challenging circumstances. This wasn’t about ignoring hardships or pretending everything is p...

Today, we’re tackling a challenge that every ambitious individual faces at some point: managing expectations. Expectations are a double-edged sword—they motivate us to aim high and strive for success, but they can also bring frustration, disappointment, and even self-doubt when reality fails to meet what we had envisioned. Whether it's in your career, relationships, or personal goals, unchecked ex...