The Sunday Stoic

Steve and Dan discuss Seneca's Letter 105, wherein Seneca has advice for how to lead a more tranquil life. Seneca describes how to minimize other people's envy, hatred, fear and contempt, so as to have a smooth flow of life.

Stoicism often gets a reputation for being stern and unyielding, but the ancient Stoics never intended us to become detached spectators of our own lives. Their goal was to help us engage more deeply with the world around us. In this episode, we talk about the importance of balancing philosophy with joy—getting out there, making memories, appreciating the people we love, and living a full and meani...

This week I’m revisiting a conversation with my former colleague Dr. Ben Waggoner, who joined me to explore his translation of the Hávamál . This Old Norse poem—preserved in medieval Iceland—offers a blend of practical wisdom, sharp observations about human nature, and guidance for living well. In our discussion, Ben walks us through the cultural background of the text, the challenges of translati...

In this episode, Dan discusses the Stoic Spiritual Exercise of Circumscribing the Present. Dan describes how Circumscribing the Present can: - Ensure we do not suffer more than is necessary, - Help us in moments when circumstances are threatening to overwhelm us, and - Help us to be more effective actors in the world while we are fulfilling our social roles through appropriate action. Dan also tou...

Steve and Dan discuss the Stoic practice of Voluntary Hardship (aka Voluntary Discomfort and Voluntary Suffering), which is physical discomfort that we choose to expose ourselves to for the purpose of improving ourselves.  Voluntary Hardship is implemented for practice in the Discipline of Desire & Aversion with a view to cultivating the Cardinal Virtues of Temperance and Courage. Examples of...

Steve and Dan discuss Diogenes the Dog (aka Diogenes of Sinope), who founded the Cynic movement, and was a precursor of the Stoic school. Some of the most important Stoic concepts come to Stoicism though Diogenes.  For example, Living According to Nature, Virtue is the Only Good, and Cosmopolitanism. Steve and Dan discuss their favorite Diogenes the Dog anecdotes, who was an undeniably shocking an...

In this episode, Steve and Dan discuss the Stoic concept of Amor Fati (Love Your Fate). They explore whether Amor Fati is tenable under different conceptions of Divine Providence.

Dan expands on the discussion regarding Marriage and Stoicism that began in Part 1. Dan begins by presenting the position of Musonius Rufus that it is the duty of a Stoic practitioner to marry and have children, and then presents his reasons to disagree with that position. Dan goes on to discuss how the Stoic Spiritual Exercises of Prosoche and Memento Mori relate to marriage. He also expands the...

In this continuation of Mary Miller’s interview on The Sunday Stoic, Steve and Mary explore how Stoic philosophy can shape courage, leadership, parenting, resilience, and moral clarity in the modern world. Drawing from her father’s deeply practical wisdom, Mary shares unforgettable stories from her childhood, her groundbreaking career in the nuclear Navy, and the hard-earned lessons that taught he...

In this deeply personal episode of The Sunday Stoic, Steve sits down with engineer, Navy captain, and consultant Mary Miller to explore the profound influence of her father — an Air Force fighter pilot, test pilot, engineer, and quiet Stoic philosopher. Through unforgettable porch conversations, Mary’s father taught her timeless lessons about character, responsibility, freedom, and choosing one’s...

Steve and Dan explore the topic of marriage as it relates to Stoicism. What did the ancient Stoics have to say on the topic of marriage? Do Stoic practitioners have a duty to marry? To have children? How much of what the ancient Stoics had to say regarding marriage is still persuasive in the 21st century?

In this classic episode, Dr. Benjamin Rider joins the show to discuss the similarities between the ancient philosophy of Daoism and Stoic Philosophy

The fear of death has haunted humans for as long as we’ve been able to imagine the future. The early Stoics knew this, and they insisted that learning to face mortality with clarity—not panic—is one of the first steps toward real freedom. This week, we open the worn pages of Marcus Aurelius’ journal to explore how he wrestled with anxiety, impermanence, and the stories the mind invents when we’re...

Carnivore diet? Vegetarian diet? Vegan Diet? This week Dan and Steve discuss how to eat like a Stoic? Also, check out this recipe for Zeno Stew! https://eatshistory.com/zenos-stoic-lentil-soup-a-taste-of-ancient-greek-philosophy/gan Diet?

In this episode, Dan Monks and Sean O'Connor act out a Socratic dialogue, wherein they explore how to behave appropriately when you are in the employ of a tyrant. The dialogue takes place circa 200 CE, but unfortunately, for many this scenario is not a hypothetical in our own time. Dan and Sean touch upon Living According to Nature, human nature, the universal human role, acquired roles, using...

Steve and Dan complete their journey through Cicero's Stoic Paradoxes. In this episode they discuss the sixth Stoic Paradox - That the Wise Man Alone is Rich. SundayStoic@Gmail.com

Steve and Dan discuss the fourth and fifth of Cicero's Stoic Paradoxes, #4: That Every Fool is a Madman, and #5: That the Wiseman Alone is Free, and That Every Fool is a Slave.

Steve and Dan discuss the third of Cicero's Stoic Paradoxes - All Vice is Equal, and all Virtue is Equal. The Ancient Stoics held that all Vice / inappropriate actions were equal in value and likewise, all Virtue / appropriate actions were equal in value.  Do you agree or disagree?     

Steve and Dan discuss the second of Cicero's Stoic Paradoxes - Virtue is Sufficient for Happiness. The Ancient Stoics held that Virtue is all that is necessary for happiness.  How and why?  After all, aren’t wealth, prestige, and other External things also necessary to have the good life?    

In this episode, Steve and Dan discuss the first of Cicero's Stoic Paradoxes - Virtue is the Only Good. To know what to pursue in life, you must first know what is good. What did the Stoics say was the Good? Virtue, and Virtue alone.

A rebroadcast of an early episode where I had a chance to chat with the brilliant Brittany Polat about Stoicism and parenting. Check out her book Tranquility Parenting here https://www.amazon.com/Tranquility-Pa... Brittany also has a website! https://www.brittanypolat.com/

Dan explores the Reserve Clause in this episode and how it is a vital technique to pursue the Cardinal Virtue of Justice while mitigating the Passions of Anger and Fear.  The Reserve Clause relates to the cultivation of Justice, Temperance, and Courage.  The episode explores how the Reserve Clause relates to the Discipline of Action, and the Discipline of Desire and Aversion.  Dan also briefly dis...

Steve and Dan complete their journey through the Cardinal Virtues. This week they discuss Prudence / Practical Wisdom, and the Discipline of Assent

Steve and Dan continue their journey through the CardinalVirtues. This week they discuss Justice. Humans are inherently social animals, and Justice governs how we appropriately interact with each other. 

In this supplemental episode, Dan clarifies why he does not think military service in the USA is a prudent life choice in the present moment.