The What Is Stoicism? Podcast

What does it mean to live the ideal life — and who gets to decide what “ideal” really means? In this episode, we explore wisdom from the Stoics and Goethe on how striving for purpose and meeting each moment fully might be closer to the answer than endless comfort. Take a moment to look the present in the eye and ask yourself: how long will you wait before you demand the best for yourself? 👇 👇 👇...

In this episode, we explore the timeless Stoic lesson that true freedom lies in accepting what we can’t control—echoed powerfully in the life and art of Frida Kahlo. Drawing parallels between Epictetus’s teachings and Kahlo’s indomitable spirit, we see how even when life confines our bodies, our will can still soar. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Mo...

The Stoic philosophers understood something timeless about human nature: we spend much of our lives outside the present moment. We worry about the future, regret the past, and overlook the only time we ever truly possess—now. Among the Stoics, Seneca in particular had a clear warning: do not waste time. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditat...

In this episode, we look at what Stoicism has to say about resisting the urge for revenge and reclaiming our inner freedom. With help from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Diogenes, we examine why retaliation degrades us and how self-mastery is a better path to strength. Instead of reacting impulsively to harm or misfortune, we can learn to respond with integrity, turning adversity into opportuniti...

In this episode, we dig into the meaning behind Kurt Vonnegut’s famous line “so it goes” and how it’s more than just a catchphrase. Drawing from Slaughterhouse-Five , Stoic ideas, and the book The Courage to Be Disliked , we talk about how accepting what we can’t control can actually help us take better control of what we can. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest dai...

In this episode, we explore the life and teachings of Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher born into slavery who found unshakable strength from within. His story reminds us that while true resilience begins in the mind, Stoicism also embraces the power of connection, encouraging us not just to endure, but to give and receive support as part of a greater whole. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT...

I try to answer this question each week in different ways. For this episode, however, I wanted to step back and provide a more general overview. I hope you find it useful! 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: ☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Don't Mistake Glamour For Beauty https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morn...

Have you ever woken from a nightmare only to feel deep relief that it wasn’t real? In this episode, we explore what Marcus Aurelius and Anne Lamott can teach us about illusion, imagination, and insight—how dreams, fears, and even our thoughts can mislead us, and how journaling and Stoic reflection can help us wake up to deeper clarity and purpose. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out...

In this episode, we explore how our judgments—not external events—shape our emotional world, from a child’s toy envy to ancient Stoic parables and the quiet wisdom of Nan Shepherd. Using Epictetus’s insights and Shepherd’s meditative reflections, we examine how reclaiming control over our perceptions can free us from needless suffering and open us to a richer, more grounded experience of life. 👇...

In this episode, we look at the Stoic principle of focusing only on what lies within our control, using the weather as a vivid metaphor for life’s unpredictable externals. Drawing on insights from George Gissing, Epictetus, Seneca, Mac Miller, and even Derren Brown, we reflect on how to maintain inner peace in a world that constantly tempts and tests us. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Ch...

This episode explores how anxiety can quietly hold us back from the things that matter most—and how Stoic wisdom offers a path through it. Drawing on insights from Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, we look at how changing our judgments, not just our circumstances, empowers us to act despite fear and grow stronger in the process. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest dail...

When life feels overwhelming or uncertain, our minds often jump to the worst-case scenario. In this episode, we explore the Stoic art of "decatastrophizing"—challenging our initial impressions, stepping back from fear-driven thoughts, and learning to respond with clarity and calm. With guidance from Epictetus and Seneca, we understand how to navigate misfortune not just with acceptance, but with s...

What if the things that trouble us most are really just tremendous trifles ? In this episode, we explore how shifting our perspective can turn everyday stress into a source of clarity—with a simple story of boiling water and a reminder that life is too short to sweat what won’t matter tomorrow. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here...

We all have our own command center. Our own thoughts are within our control. Knowing this, we can break free from the impulses and influences trying to send us in different directions. We can accept our present fate and do what is within our control to flourish in that situation, whatever it may be. In this episode, we look at how this line of thinking can benefit us. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AU...

In his Discourses , the Stoic teacher Epictetus explains that a person is making progress when they understand a simple Stoic principle: we desire what we see as good, and we avoid what we see as bad. In this episode, we look at how this advice can drastically reduce the chances of being disturbed by what happens around us. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily...

It's an unfortunate truth: many so-called leaders expect things from others that they don’t expect from themselves. In this episode, we look to the Stoics and an old story about Mahatma Gandhi to see how true leaders lead by example. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Unbroken Tranquility And Unending Freedom https:...

The ancient Stoic’s prerequisite for getting the most out of each of life’s experiences was to consider the possibility that it would be the last time they would ever have that particular experience. In this episode, we look at some practical ways to achieve this. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack: Amongst Friends A...

In this episode, I talk to Gregory B. Sadler. Through his public speaking, content production (including videos for a YouTube channel with over 150,000 subscribers), consulting, and philosophical counseling, Greg makes classical and contemporary philosophy accessible to non-philosophers. I really enjoyed this conversation, in which we mainly discussed the many misconceptions there are about what S...

If we want to break free from our old opinions, or at least confirm if they are still valid, we must be willing to accept that our way of seeing things might not be OK as it is. We must be willing to examine judgments, let go of long-held views, and potentially give up on an outdated version of ourselves. In this episode, we look at how Stoicism helps us do this. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO C...

“To live a good life: We have the potential for it,” writes Marcus Aurelius in his Meditations . “If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.” This good life is exactly what the ancient Stoics believed the practice of philosophy would allow us to pursue. In this episode, we look at how Stoicism can bring us internal clarity, the value of which far outweighs the pursuit of extern...

Erick Cloward is the host of the popular Stoic Coffee Break podcast where every week he discusses how to live a more resilient and happy life using ancient Stoicism and modern wisdom. He's also a Leadership Coach and Speaker, as well as an author who’s just realised a new book called Stoicism 101. In this episode, I talk to Erick about his book, his Stoic background, the problem with Broicism, and...

There's an old Spanish proverb that says: "Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence." With such restraint comes a question: what should we redirect our attention toward at times when we judge that externalizing our thoughts isn’t necessary? In this episode, we look at how self-reflection can be a worthy alternative. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT Check out one of my latest daily...

In this episode I talk to Benny Voncken, a writer, speaker, and practicing Stoic who's originally from the Netherlands. He's also the co-founder of an online Stoicism platform called Via Stoica, which offers personalized Stoic coaching services, an online Stoic community, live conversations on X, and their own Via Stoica podcast. I really enjoyed talking with Benny. In the conversation, he shares...

The most common misunderstanding about Stoicism is that it’s all about suppressing or burying our emotions. This tends to come from the confusion between Stoicism (upper case ‘S’) and stoicism (lower case ‘s’); the former is the ancient Greek philosophy that we learn about and practice, the latter is simply a “stiff-upper-lip” coping style. In this episode, we look at why it's better to understand...

It can be useful to find parallels between our philosophical pursuits that are inspired by ancient practices and the more modern messages we’re exposed to in our daily lives. Relating things like art, sport, and entertainment to Stoic principles often helps us to remember the concepts and perhaps even better understand how they pertain to modern life. In this episode, we look at two such examples....