Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

Bryan Caplan, economist and bestselling author, discusses practical wisdom from modern economics and ancient philosophy. He argues against medicalization of human behavior, champions personal agency, and reveals why appeasement often beats confrontation. Caplan shows how lessons from economics can serve as self-help and why creating a "social bubble" – the modern version of an Epicurean garden – might be the smartest way to navigate modern life. The conversation spans Epicurean and Stoic perspectives on death, social obligations, and the thinker Thomas Szasz. Self-Help Is Like a Vaccine [https://amzn.to/4fx6wIX] The Myth of the Rational Voter [https://amzn.to/4fdRqrp] Caplan on Szasz [https://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/pdfs/szasz.pdf] *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Michael and Caleb explore how understanding ourselves as our faculty of choice—not our bodies, possessions, or reputation—transforms our approach to life's challenges. Learn how clarifying what we are (and aren't) guides self-improvement and decision-making, unlocks insights in Stoic theory, and ultimately leads to a more tranquil existence. (06:10) Why It Matters Who We Are (09:30) What Are We? (16:28) You Are Not Your Thoughts  (24:25) Personal Identity And Indifferents (30:29) Solving What Is Up To You (34:34) So How Do We Live? (43:22) We Really Really Cannot Be Harmed By Others *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Why Epictetus tells us to compare our suffering to others.  This simple exercise can help you in times of crisis.   Join Michael as he breaks down Epictetus's Handbook 26. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Has Science proven that the world is nothing more than a physical machine without overarching purpose? Spencer Klavan's most recent book answers with an emphatic no. Ancient philosophy and modern science reveal that the worldview of materialism is not enough. Instead, our picture of the world must include mind as a fundamental ingredient – just as the Stoic and Christian worldviews do. Light of the Mind, Light of the World [https://amzn.to/3UhhWYO] Young Heretics Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-heretics/id1513602173] (01:28) Resetting the Narrative About Science (10:14) Science vs. Religion (23:30) Secularism and the Sacred (29:48) Genesis (42:50) The Stoic View of the World (49:48) Determinism *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

What if the things you obsess over daily don't ultimately matter? The ancient Stoics had a radical idea: most of what we chase - wealth, fame, even health - is neither good nor bad. They called these things "indifferents." In this episode, Caleb reads his short piece on indifferents and adds additional commentary. Read the piece: https://www.stoaletter.com/p/indifferents *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this episode, Michael and Caleb break down Handbook 42, where Epictetus lays out Socratic Intellectualism and explains why people's harsh words say more about them than you This episode will challenge your assumptions about conflict and equip you with practical Stoic tools for navigating a world of criticism and misunderstanding. (00:52) Epictetus's Handbook 42 (05:48) Empathy (09:26) People's Words Say More About Them (14:41) It Seemed So To Him (18:48) This Applies To Everything (23:36) Stoic Determinism (26:22) Difficulty With Socratic Intellectualism (33:40) Handbook 42 *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Money talks, but what do the Stoics say about it? In this episode, Caleb and Michael dive into the relationship between Stoicism and wealth. They explore the risks of chasing riches, the virtue of moderation, and why philosophy should come before your bank account. You'll hear Epictetus' take on why honesty trumps money-making and Seneca's surprising advice on the "shortest cut to riches." The hosts unpack the hidden dangers of comfort and how to avoid them, discuss why obsession with wealth might mean you're missing the point, and offer insights on how to pursue success without sacrificing your values. Whether you're grinding for that next promotion or living on ramen noodles, this episode will make you rethink your relationship with money. Don't let your wallet own you – tune in and learn how to own your wealth instead. (00:00) Wealth, Money, and Riches (05:34) Wisdom From The Stoics (08:09) When To Pursue Wealth (14:39) Risks of Wealth (20:20) You Always Need More (25:41) Stoic Capitalism *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Michael talks with Brigid Delaney about her journey into Stoicism, the value it has had in her life, and the unique role it has to play in helping others. Reasons Not To Worry [https://amzn.to/3XR93q3] (03:41) Stoicism vs Wellness (13:15) Ataraxia (18:07) Stoic Friends (20:26) Favorite Stoic (24:14) How To Explore The Stoics (29:47) Persauding Non-Stoics (34:11) Stripping Away Illusions (38:51) Idealism Vs Stoicism (51:44) Stoic Fable (53:53) Story Of Stoicism (57:45) What's Special Today? (01:02:39) Desire *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

The four pillars of Stoic Justice. Justice isn't just about courtrooms and laws. For the Stoics, it was a way of life. In this episode, Caleb and Michael break down the four components of Stoic justice: piety, kindness, good fellowship, and fair dealing. They explore how these ideas apply to our lives today, from helping strangers to making tough business decisions. You'll learn why the Stoics thought we should expand our circles of concern to include all of humanity, and how to deal fairly with others without being a pushover. (03:21) Defining Justice (05:36) Piety  (11:47) What Piety Looks Like (16:22) Kindness (24:06) Good Fellowship (35:03) Fair Dealing *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Blushing, sweating, stumbling over words - we've all been there. But what if these physical reactions are holding you back from greatness? In this episode, Caleb and Michael unpack Seneca's advice on handling embarrassment like a Stoic.  (00:46) Embarrassing Introduction (04:50) Seneca On Blushing (08:08) Feelings vs Judgments (10:02) You Are Not A Horse (13:05) Embarrassment For Learning (14:52) Caring About What Others Think (19:24) Natural Bugs (22:47) Seneca On Nature Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this episode, Caleb and Michael explore how Stoicism reframes our understanding of risk, teaching us to embrace uncertainty while focusing on what truly matters. They discuss: * Why Stoics aren't reckless, but cultivate caution * How Stoicism offers the highest reward with the lowest real risk * Critiques that Stoicism is for the risk-averse, and why they fall short * Why Stoicism may provide the ultimate psychological aid for meaningful risk-taking Learn how ancient wisdom can help you navigate life's gambles with grace and purpose. The Stoics knew: true risk lies not in external outcomes, but in compromising your character. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Is Stoicism just toxic positivity? No, obviously. But what's the difference between toxic positivity and unrealistic optimism?  And how can Stoics avoid the real risks of both? In this episode, Caleb and Michael dive deep into Stoic practice and its alleged similarity to toxic positivity.  *** Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

The Stoic art of solitude and self-consistency Can you be alone with your thoughts? Seneca's Letter X challenges us to master the art of solitude. In this conversation, Caleb and Michael unpack Seneca's advice on solitude and explore its relevance in our hyperconnected world. (00:58) The Paradox of Solitude (05:40) Consistency Between Private and Public Life (12:35) The Dangers of Isolation (19:08) Keeping Others and Nature in Mind (26:12) Is Solitude a Goal? (31:04) The Internet: A Modern Challenge to Stoic Principles (35:00) Becoming a Friend to Oneself *** Listen as they discuss the Stoic approach to balancing social engagement with self-reflection, the importance of character in both solitude and company, and how to cultivate a healthy relationship with oneself. Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Join Caleb and Michael as they dissect the mental game of competition and explore how ancient philosophy can give us an edge in modern battles – both on and off the mat. In this gripping episode, Caleb shares his experience competing in his first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament and the valuable lessons he learned about applying Stoic principles under pressure. Michael, who has competed hundreds of time, offers advice and challenges Caleb along the way. Whether you're a martial artist, a competitor in any field, or someone looking to apply Stoicism to life's challenges, this episode offers actionable insight on maintaining composure and clarity – as well as challenges and reflections on how to apply Stoicism to jiu jitsu in particular. (02:48) Jiu Jitsu Competitions (04:58) What Is Jiu Jitsu (07:05) Why Compete (12:54) How Did It Go? (17:23) Michael on Caring And Stoicism (21:26) Michael's Advice For Caleb (29:08) Should You Use The Restroom? (35:06) Zooming In Too Much (36:41) Epictetus vs Marcus on Competition  (39:24) Participation Trophies Matter (43:11) Caleb Doesn't Like Participation Trophies (46:15) Social Resistance And Ego (54:05) Caleb's Learnings *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Diogenes: the man who lived in a barrel and inspired Stoic philosophy. In this episode, Michael and Caleb explore the life and ideas of Diogenes the Cynic - one of the most influential and eccentric philosophers of ancient Greece. They discuss: (00:00) Epictetus on Diogenes' Freedom (03:21) Diogenes' Life and Connection to Stoicism (08:29) Diogenes' Approach to Philosophy (15:59) Looking for an Honest Man (21:27) Behold a Man – Plucked Chicken (26:12) The Cup (30:00) You Need A Master (34:35) Alexander the Great – So Called (39:00) Takeaways: Epictetus on Diogenes (44:48) Favorite Diogenes Stories Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb Ontiveros speaks with Johnathan Bi, an entrepreneur and philosopher, about Friedrich Nietzsche's critique of Stoicism and egalitarianism. The conversation begins with Jonathan sharing his personal journey from STEM to philosophy, setting the stage for a deep dive into Nietzsche's challenging ideas. They explore Nietzsche's opposition to Stoic egalitarianism and his concept of "higher men." The discussion delves into the psychology behind moral beliefs and value systems, examining how Nietzsche's insights can be applied to critically examine our own philosophical commitments. https://greatbooks.io/ Johnathan's YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCrl9a26fDCZvofnCnA5A8g] (01:50) From Hating Humanities to Loving Philosophy (06:06) Silicon Valley Detour (11:01) The Life of Action VS Contemplation (19:58) Philosophy as a Way Of Life (27:43) Nietzsche's Challenge To Stoicism (31:04) The Equality Illusion (39:20) Nietzsche on Epictetus (50:04) Nietzsche For Every Day Life (56:31) Why Ad Hominems Win & Metaethics *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this episode of Stoic Conversations, Michael Tremblay offers a deep dive into one of Stoicism's most popular concepts: the Dichotomy of Control. Drawing from his 2021 article for the Modern Stoicism blog, Tremblay explores common misunderstandings about this principle and provides a more nuanced interpretation aligned with authentic Stoic philosophy. Key points covered: 1. Misinterpretations arising from the English word "control" 2. Two common misunderstandings:Control as absolute ability to decide Control as strong influence 3. A more accurate interpretation: what depends on us vs. what doesn't 4. Practical applications of this refined understanding https://modernstoicism.com/what-many-people-misunderstand-about-the-stoic-dichotomy-of-control-by-michael-tremblay/ *** Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Should Stoics become rich? What is your relationship to money? Caleb speaks with Darius Foroux about his new book The Stoic Path To Wealth. They discuss a practical investment strategy and how Stoics should think about investing. https://dariusforoux.com/ https://stoicpathtowealth.com/ (00:50) Darius's Story (04:32) Stoicism (11:51) Your Relationship With Money (22:37) Becoming Rich (34:25) Avoiding The Sidelines (42:07) The Miracle of Compounding (50:02) Role Models *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

The ancient Stoic, Arius Didymus, provided a framework for practical wisdom and prudence. It's still applicable today. Courage [https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoic-courage/] Moderation [https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoic-moderation-episode-135/] (02:29) Reading (05:01) Judgment (17:19) View (26:24) Shrewdness (31:11) Discretion (37:38) Soundness of aim (41:31) Resourcefulness *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Michael and Caleb discuss the differences between modern self help and Stoicism – where self help is useful, where it isn't, and recommend their favorite self help books. (04:07) Defining Self Help (11:31) Where Self Help Goes Wrong (28:09) The Good in Self Help (45:02) Best Self Help Books *** Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb and Michael read through Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. Specifically: Meditations 2.6-2.10. There are several essential themes in these passages: the importance of self-examination, maintaining focus on what matters, and the philosophical underpinnings of Stoicism. in the Meditations we get to see Marcus Aurelius rehearsing Stoic maxims – and apply that practice to our own life too. (04:51) Meditations 2.6 (12:04) Meditations 2.7 (18:45) Meditations 2.8 (26:11) Meditations 2.9 (34:34) Meditations 2.10 (48:20) Summary *** Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

This one is different. Caleb reads from his essay, Why Stoicism Is True [https://calebontiveros.substack.com/p/why-stoicism-is-true]. It's a short encapsulation of the what he takes to be the three most important ideas of the philosophy – as well as a philosophical defense of their veracity. Let us know what you think. https://calebontiveros.substack.com/ *** Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this episode, Michael presents the Stoic idea of "indifferents." It's one of the key ideas behind Stoicism, one's that often misunderstood but necessary to know in order to understand Stoicism. (02:52) The 3 Value Categories (06:22) Defining Good (15:32) Defining Indifferents (37:32) Total Indifferents (39:06) How To Live With Indifferents (51:22) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"Moderation is subdivided into good discipline, seemliness, modesty, and self-control." The ancient Stoic breakdown of moderation is essential for becoming more disciplined. It will help you think about the ideas of moderation, discipline, and self-control more deeply and generate strategies for how to becoming more moderate in your life today. Stoic Courage [https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoic-courage/] (00:22) The Meaning Of Moderation (07:17) David Goggins Can't Hurt Me (12:06) Moderate Role Models (18:08) Stoic Sources (22:15) Self-Discipline (27:17) Propriety (34:58) Modesty (41:13) Self-Control (44:27) Improving Day By Day *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Michael and Caleb discuss Epictetus's chapter On Attention (Discourses 4.12). It's an essential reading from the Stoic master on an essential topic. Buddhism 101 [https://stoameditation.com/blog/buddhism-101-episode-81/] Stoicism and Mindfulness [https://stoameditation.com/blog/building-stoic-mindfulness/] Caleb and Michael also preview an upcoming conversation on Moderation…Stay tuned. It will be released in the next few weeks. (01:04) The Importance of Attention (06:07) Pay Attention Now (08:48) Attention Fuels the Fire (10:27) Always On (15:08) What's Wrong With Phones (20:41) Moderate Shoutout (22:17) What Are You Attending To? (31:45) What Else Should You Pay Attention To (34:59) The Meaning of Life Is Game (37:48) Attention Is a Habit (45:31) The Soul Becomes Dyed With the Color of Its Thoughts (48:45) Reactive Focus *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

The Stoics promoted the four cardinal virtues: courage, moderation, justice, and wisdom. In this episode, we talk about Stoic courage. Caleb and Michael discuss what it is and how the Stoics broke it down into different subdisciplines. Their breakdown still provides an effective framework for building the skill of bravery today. (01:03) What Is Courage? (10:19) Aristotle (14:14) The Subcomponents Of Courage (15:36) Endurance (19:03) Confidence (21:23) Greatness Of Soul (27:34) Vitality (33:54) Love Of Work (39:07) Not Just Overcoming Fear (40:59) Seneca Motivation (46:18) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 [https://www.youtube.com/@ParkerNotes] Michael and Parker on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO35FWThhRw&t=1s]Parker's Pensées [https://www.youtube.com/c/ParkersPens%C3%A9es] (01:32) Journaling As A Philosophical Practice (18:24) Transformative Journaling (22:32) Self-Dialogue (31:44) Why You Need A Catch All (34:32) Journaling To Be Present (38:09) Diary Vs Journal (44:35) Marcus Aurelius Had A Journal Not A Diary (45:45) Commonplace Book Vs Compendium (57:17) Recommendations (59:18) Michael Pushes Back (01:02:08) Creation Over Consumption (01:08:40) Nature Log (01:12:02) Learn More *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"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 desire, and study philosophy. (00:26) Introduction (02:38) What Epicureanism Is (07:54) The Enemy's Camp (17:37) Philosophy Matters (22:18) Urgency (26:10) Money Money Money (32:01) Desire (38:06) Drugs (40:05) Friendship (49:24) Summarize *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 [https://stoameditation.com/blog/simon-drew-on-stoicism-art/], she co-hosts the podcast 'Soul Searching With Seneca' at The Walled Garden [https://thewalledgarden.com/] philosophical community. She is currently assistant editor of the online journal 'Stoicism Today.' Judith is part of the organising team for Stoicon-X Melbourne, which is preparing its fourth in-person event in October 2024. Having published two books on Jane Austen's life and times, she is working on her third, about the legacies of Marcus Aurelius, to appear in 2025. This is How We Become Godlike: Marcus Aurelius and His Monuments [https://antigonejournal.com/2024/04/marcus-aurelius-monuments/] (00:57) What is Stoicism? (04:21) Community (09:49) Finding Stoicism (18:34) Where Did Virtue Go? (30:09) Providence (41:20) Does Caleb Believe In The Stoic God? (46:15) Marcus Aurelius As God (54:46) Resources

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 Fire (23:35) The Forms of God (28:53) God Is Everything (31:52) The Divine In Us (37:15) Reason (38:31) The Cyclic Universe (45:36) The Problem Of Evil (54:18) Living In Accordance With Nature (56:25) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

The philosopher and the general. Stoic philosophy in ancient Roman history. In this podcast, Caleb speaks with Alex Petkas [https://twitter.com/costofglory] 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/ (01:27) Seneca on Posidonius (03:28) The World of Posidonius (12:35) The Roman Civil War (15:59) Pompey Meets Posidonius (19:08) Stoic Cosmopolitanism in Action (26:12) Paying Respects to the Philosopher (31:04) The Rest of Pompey's Story (32:14) Pompey's Stoic and Non-Stoic Attributes (43:48) Posidonius on the Divine (53:06) Fate Willing *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"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 for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 [https://amzn.to/3J51Qf1] *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 It Weird To Treat Social Skills Like A Craft? (38:34) Focus On What Is Up To You (47:14) Summarizing Epictetus On Anxiety (48:22) Epictetus's Two Handles (51:35) Learning From Negative Feelings *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 us know what you think. (04:18) The Body Influences the Mind (11:23) Your Body Is Not Up to You (13:33) Independence (36:21) There's No Separation (46:04) Getting Theoretical About Lekta *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"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 radically enhance human capabilities, lifespan, and experience. So, what do Stoics have to say about it? Caleb argues that they should be largely in favor of it – with some serious qualifications. Classical Transhumanism, essay from Caleb [https://www.classicalfuturist.com/p/classical-transhumanism] Future Superhuman by Elise Bohan [https://amzn.to/43fGpRC] (02:12) Future Superhuman (12:54) Objections to Transhumanism (19:35) Human Nature And Stoicism (32:22) Warning From The Stoics (38:53) Moderation Is A Virtue (40:01) Transcendence *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 Stoic practices played in Marcus Aurelius's life. Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor [https://amzn.to/3V74zvD] How To Think Like A Roman Emperor [https://www.amazon.com/How-Think-Like-Roman-Emperor/dp/1250621437/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_1/143-4134866-8554117?pd_rd_w=e2jBV&content-id=amzn1.sym.1ad2066f-97d2-4731-9356-36b3edf1ae04&pf_rd_p=1ad2066f-97d2-4731-9356-36b3edf1ae04&pf_rd_r=RJZ36572CPGX3AX4ESC3&pd_rd_wg=0e3jI&pd_rd_r=e67318ed-c81d-4f04-ad19-a4fe6b7dafb0&pd_rd_i=1250621437&psc=1] Donald Robertson's Substack [https://donaldrobertson.substack.com/] (00:45) Changing Mind (07:29) Commodus / Different Views of History (16:58) Marcomannic Wars (33:42) What Marcus Aurelius Didn't Say (40:50) Stoicism in Marcus Aurelius's Life (49:41) Avidius Cassius (01:01:18) Marcus Aurelius and Stoic Practices *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"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 Shutting Down (20:56) A Better Interpretation (33:54) Marcus Aurelius (44:00) The Handbook *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this podcast, Caleb speaks with professor Rob Colter [https://robcolter.com/]. 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. [https://www.uwyo.edu/philrelig/events/stoic-camp/] (00:51) Stoicism (03:49) Rationality (09:10) The Central Idea: Freedom (21:34) Teaching Stoicism (27:06) How Stoicism Changes Lives (33:32) Role Ethics (35:28) Underrated Stoic Ideas *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"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) Antifragility (25:55) The Barbell Strategy (37:22) Skin In The Game (45:40) Stoic Skin In The Game (47:04) How Stoic Is This Book? (53:23) Different Kinds Of Lives (01:01:41) The Greek vs Roman Stoics (01:06:47) The Philosopher King *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 [https://amzn.to/3w4Uuox] (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 Cynics (45:12) Returning to Stoicism and Cynicism (48:19) Lazy Stoics *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 [https://stoameditation.com/blog/gladiator-episode-95/] (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) Steelmanning The Silver People (47:25) King and Queen (51:58) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 after all? Scott responds. Listen and work through the problems yourself. Epictetus's 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics [https://amzn.to/3Gp0XNz] Earlier Stoa Conversation on Why What You Think Is Up To You [https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoic-psychology-why-what-you-think-is-up-to-you] Caleb and Michael discuss The Impossibility Objection [https://stoameditation.com/blog/is-stoicism-possible-115/] Scott Aikin on We Are The Stoics Now [https://stoameditation.com/blog/scott-aikin-on-we-are-the-stoics-now/] (04:44) Fatalism (12:29) Dichotomy of Control (18:45) Where Your Control Lies (20:04) Skepticism (22:28) Determinism (31:30) How You Revisionary Is Scott? (34:38) The Ruin Problem *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 Can Anyone Be A Sage? 50:10 Wrapping Up *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

How can you use Stoicism to cultivate compassion and build deeper connections? Brittany Polat [https://www.brittanypolat.com/] 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 [https://stoameditation.com/pod] Journal Like A Stoic [https://amzn.to/47KGtcB] https://stoicismforhumans.substack.com/ [https://stoicismforhumans.substack.com/p/stoic-social-ideals] (01:11) Stoic Compassion (11:11) Becoming More Compassionate (19:43) Abundance Mindset (25:58) Friendship (29:15) Forgiving Others (36:28) Forgiving Oneself (43:12) Practice And Meditation *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 (21:40) Memorizing Philosophy Does Not Work (26:02) Rules Are Either Obvious Or Misunderstood (31:02) Summarizing Aristo (32:53) Seneca's Response (45:20) The Point of Rules (49:54) Are Rules Specific Enough? (52:38) How To Use Rules *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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 (20:51) Epictetus's Students (45:40) Stoics and Lay People (01:03:30) Popularization vs Elitism (01:10:08) What's Next *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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) The Importance Of Character (43:19) Differences (49:14) Philosophy With Socrates *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

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://amzn.to/3vngjiK] 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 about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Register for a free workshop January 3rd: stoameditation.com/workshop [http://stoameditation.com/workshop] Join our live course – starting next week: stoameditation.com/course [http://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 and shoutout guests. And let us know what you think at stoameditation.com/survey [http://stoameditation.com/survey]. (01:31) Stoic Psychology (06:20) Stoicism Is Deep (09:08) Thinking, Fast And Slow (13:45) Voluntary Suffering (22:17) Anger Sucks (27:26) The Stoic God (32:01) Randolph Nesse (36:04) Julia Galef (40:22) Chris Gill (45:25) Greg Sadler (48:09) Dana Gioia (51:06) What's Next For Stoa Conversations *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

(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 [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Register for a free workshop January 3rd: stoameditation.com/workshop [https://stoameditation.com/workshop] Are New Year's resolutions Stoic? Caleb and Michael talk about the Stoic cases for and against the practice. Then they move to what we can learn from the Stoics about setting resolutions well. (01:41) Against Resolutions (09:44) The Case For Resolutions (18:47) Making New Year's Resolutions Well (24:14) Getting Concrete (26:55) Realistic and Ambitious (33:14) Stoic Principles (37:25) Michael's Planning (40:09) Caleb Is Too Impulsive (45:50) Summary (49:54) Stoicism Applied *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Aiste Celkyte about the Stoic theory of beauty. They cover what the Stoics saw as beautiful, how their aesthetics expresses their ethics, and the practical application of this neglected topic. Aiste Celkyte is a professor at the university of Leiden and author of The Stoic Theory of Beauty [https://amzn.to/3GVYg5T]. (00:57) What Is Beautiful For The Stoics? (06:51) Ancient Sources (09:55) What Makes Stoicism Different (18:18) Beauty And Morality (28:00) Practical Application (30:43) Convential Beautfy (39:24) Moral Responsibility (43:33) The Most Important Insight *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Start the year with others looking to apply Stoicism to our life. Join our 3-week intensive course: https://stoameditation.com/course The Stoics are always reminding us to improve ourselves now. But how do you actually do that? What advice do they have for us? Caleb and Michael discuss a simple 3 step approach to procrastination we can glean from the ancient Roman Stoics. (03:33) The Stoic Solution to Procrastination  (08:42) Marcus Aurelius on Procrastination (12:16) Putting Off Writing (15:01) Directness (28:28) Motivating Yourself With Philosophy (36:39) The Virtues (39:24) Trust (46:09) Putting It All Together *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Rob LaFleur, Professor of Anthropology & History at Beloit College and teacher of The Great Courses Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius [https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/books-that-matter-the-analects-of-confucius.html]. Stoics care about virtue and role ethics – two things central to Confucianism. Understanding the similarities and differences between the two philosophies can only enrich one's philosophical theory and practice. But going directly to the Confucian works is difficult. Conversations with experts like Professor LaFleur then are essential. https://www.beloit.edu/live/profiles/270-robert-lafleur (07:47) Understanding The Analects (14:19) Reading Passages From The Analects (21:32) Virtue Ethics (28:34) Relationships (36:34) Hierarchy (44:42) Filial Piety (50:18) Grieving *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb and Michael debate the role of politics in the modern Stoic life. Caleb argues that Stoics should stay away from politics – like the Epicureanism. Michael thinks this couldn't be any more wrong. Heated, if Stoic, debated ensues. (05:18) Arguments Against Politics (25:49) The Wisdom of Epicurus (33:52) Justice Without Politics (37:57) The Stoic Case for Politics (51:33) The Norms for Engaging Well *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this episode, Caleb speaks with Mahmoud Rasmi, a former philosophy professor from Lebanon, on philosophy, business, and the importance of asking questions well. Philosophy for Business Leaders: https://amzn.to/3NeQ7gi https://twitter.com/Decafquest (03:04) Getting Into Philosophy (12:26) Losing Your Business (14:11) Philosophy vs Critical Thinking (25:23) Are Philosophers The Best Thinkers? (32:09) Getting Down to Business (38:46) Asking Questions (48:49) Leaving Academic Philosophy (54:44) Shifting Perspective (58:22) Stoa *** Register for our freeworkshop: stoameditation.com/workshop Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ [https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/] Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb and Michael engage in a discussion on Existentialism, explaining its essence, distinguishing it from Stoicism, and extracting valuable insights. Michael underscores the significance of authenticity, while Caleb highlights the ideas of bad faith and radical freedom. (02:20) Existentialism (18:20) Stoicism vs Existentialism (32:17) Existentialism for Stoics *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

For episode 100, Caleb and Michael discuss Marcus Aurelius's Meditations 2.1. Thank you for listening. Send us a note at stoa@stoameditation.com if you ever have any comments, questions, or requests. (03:01) Reading 2.1 (04:32) Praemediatio Malorum (09:44) Dealing With Others (17:15) Seeing Goodness (24:46) No One Can Harm Us (27:15) Overcoming Anger (36:16) Working With Others (41:44) The Obstacle is the Way (44:40) Summary (47:14) One Hundred Episodes *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb and Michael talk about forgiveness and clemency. How does the Stoic idea of forgiveness differ from the popular account – and when should we pardon other's wrongdoing or address it head on? (01:16) What Is Forgiveness? (15:59) The Stoic Account (25:00) Forgive Everyone At Once (28:18) Clemency (35:10) Is Clemency Only A Tool For The Strong? (45:07) Challenges *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb speaks with Jennifer Baker about teaching Stoicism and its application to modern day life. Along the way they discuss Aristotle, business ethics, the meaning of living in accordance with nature, and natural vs actual virtue. https://philosophy.cofc.edu/faculty-staff-listing/baker-jennifer.php (00:40) Teaching Stoicism In Academia (04:22) Aristotle (12:26) Natural Virtue vs Actual Virtue (17:40) Stoics In The Economy (30:25) Stoic Answer To Happiness (36:54) Why Aren't We Happy Already? *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb and Michael discuss the Stoics strategy for setting boundaries. Learn about the issues many Stoic practitioners face with boundaries and how Epictetus counsels us to live better. (02:59) What Are Boundaries? (06:13) The Challenge for Stoics (19:58) Defining and Enforcing Boundaries (30:46) Everything Is A Scam (38:33) Enforce Boundaries For The Right Reason *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"Stoicism is not so much an ethic as it is a paradoxical recipe for happiness." Caleb speaks with Allan from What Is Stoicism about the practice of Stoicism as a philosophy of daily life. They discuss how they think about Stoicism, the work of Pierre Hadot, underrated ideas in Stoicism, and their Stoic practices. https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/ https://whatisstoicism.com/what-is-stoicism/ (00:33) Allan's Story (04:59) What Is Stoicism? (10:54) An Underrated Stoic Idea (18:18) Stoic Exercises (28:06) Widening The Domain of Being (31:48) Philosophy As Gardening (35:10) Refined Selfishness (39:55) Stoic Meditation *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"Shadows and dust" Caleb and Michael talk about the philosophical themes in the epic movie "Gladiator." It's the very first Stoa film review. (00:39) Introduction (07:26) Movie Review (09:32) Commodus as Anti-Model (13:57) Is Maximus Stoic? (17:03) Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator (19:50) Maximus is a Stoic Hero (23:28) The Afterlife (29:11) Proximo (34:37) Gladiatorial Games (37:19) Masculinity and Role Ethics (48:26) Restoring the Republic *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Why does Musonius Rufus lecture on food and men's fashion? Caleb talks to William O Stephens to find out. Learn how the Stoics thought about ordinary issues of life in order to live extraordinarily well. https://williamostephens.com/ (01:11) Musonius Rufus and Epictetus (09:09) Why Care About Food and Fashion? (13:42) Food (23:16) Optimizing Health (29:58) The Social Dimension (36:14) Beards (45:17) What is Natural? (52:42) Epictetus on Beards *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"Nothing has happened which was not going to be, and likewise nothing is going to be of which nature does not contain causes working to bring that very thing about." The Stoics believed that we were responsible for our actions and that every action was fated. In this conversation, Michael explains how they made sense of those two ideas. We cover determinism, freewill, and moral responsibility in Stoicism. (00:54) Introduction (04:41) The Lazy Argument (07:03) Stoic Physics  (15:56) The Argument for Causal Determinism (25:10) Moral Responsibility  (35:33) Free Will (44:29) Objections *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Jeremy Reid. Jeremy is an Assistant Professor in Philosophy at San Francisco State University. They talk about anger and forgiveness, using his excellent paper "Stoic Forgiveness" as a launching off point. This is an excellent conversation for understanding the Stoic view of anger and enriching it with their practical and compassionate take on forgiveness. Highly recommended. https://jeremywreid.weebly.com/ (00:30) Stoics on Anger (11:13) Why Do We Get Angry? (15:47) Responding to Wrongdoing (26:24) Forgiveness (35:08) Forgiving Everyone at Once (37:36) Self-Forgiveness (40:48) Flexibility (43:15) Children Healing Children (47:59) Intuitive Stoicism (50:56) Other People's Anger (54:38) Becoming Less Angry (01:00:26) Compassion in Stoicism *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"And what are we by nature? We are free, honorable, and self-respecting. After all, does any other animal blush or feel shame?" The fear of social disgrace, shame, can prevent us from living well. Yet, the Stoics argued that there's a related emotion, a kind of self-respect, that can help us live more freely. In this conversation, Caleb and Michael discuss both. (00:06) Introduction (04:48) Shame as a Passion (15:47) Positive Shame? (17:19) The Role of Our Self-Image (25:40) Everyone's Guardian Spirit (32:07) The Hidden Philosopher (34:28) Halftime Summary (37:55) Challenges (40:20) Shame for the Past (45:04) Self-respect *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"This day will end like all others." "And after that?" In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Zena Hitz about her recent book "A philosopher looks at the religious life." They discuss meaning, Christianity, and Stoicism. https://catherineproject.org/ (01:10) Wholeheartedness (06:59) Meaning (14:18) Abandonment (17:45) Devotion and Role Ethics (30:08) Service and Happiness (40:32) Freedom (44:33) Nietzsche *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael [http://stoameditation.com/course] "It's worse to be the thief, than the person who has their things stolen from them" In this conversation, Michael and Caleb talk about how Stoics think about anger, revenge, and justice. They cover common philosophical views of punishment – and note where the Stoics would disagree. This topic is important in many areas of our lives. It's about how we handle situations when someone has treated us badly, how we think about guilt, and how we can build just communities. (00:35) Introduction (06:55) Common Accounts of Punishment (15:51) Stoicism and Anger (25:47) Epictetus on Punishment  (32:26) Responding as a Stoic (33:56) The Stoic Review of Everyone Else's Take on Punishment *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael [http://stoameditation.com/course] Caleb Ontiveros speaks with Dr. Steven C. Hayes [https://stevenchayes.com/], the originator of acceptance commitment therapy. Acceptance commitment therapy deeply influenced our programs at Stoa, so this discussion was an honor. In this wide ranging conversation, we cover how Steven thinks about "negative emotions" and cultivating wisdom in our technological age. A Liberated Mind [https://amzn.to/3Q0uy3B] (00:58) Introduction (04:51) What's Bad About Bad Emotions? (16:31) Ancient Wisdom Traditions (25:39) Anxiety & Meaning (32:13) Living With Emotions (34:50) Death & Love (39:38) Getting Better With Technology (45:55) Wisdom (50:29) The Dangers of Choosing Virtue For Others

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, Caleb and Michael discuss the discipline of action. (02:30) Introduction (03:51) The Discipline of Action (08:16) Indifferents (12:59) Acceptance and Justice (19:54) The Seriousness of Action (27:05) The Sage (30:01) Choosing Between Indifferents (31:52) Reserve Clause (42:37) Praemeditatio Malorum (46:13) Clarify Your Roles (49:21) Challenges (56:09) Managing Desire *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, I speak with Noah Rasheta about Buddhism. We talk about the key tenets of Buddhism, meditation, and even who shouldn't be Buddhist. Noah has a clear and focused approach to Buddhism that I think you'll find useful – whether or not you're familiar with the philosophy. https://secularbuddhism.com/ (01:56) Introduction (03:56) Becoming Buddhist (05:19) Why Do We Suffer (09:11) Craving (13:16) Habitual Cycles (19:20) Meditation (24:33) Judgment (28:56) Interdependence and Impermanence (34:23) Identity (42:20) Who Shouldn't Be Buddhist (45:33) Role Models (47:26) Stoicism (48:57) Enlightenment (54:18) The Rabbit Hole *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael [http://stoameditation.com/course] "Would you have a great empire? Rule over yourself" In this conversation, Michael and Caleb discuss the Stoic discipline of desire. (02:05) Introduction (10:41) Mastering Desire (13:21) Stoic Theory of Happiness (15:43) Beginner vs Advanced (19:00) Love for Universal Nature (21:00) Mindfulness (25:37) Reinterpretation (28:26) Amor Fati (31:15) Attention (38:35) Circumscribing the Present (44:42) Challenges (49:17) How Can You Love Fate? *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation Caleb speaks with Alexandra Hudson, the founder of Civic Renaissance [https://www.civic-renaissance.com/] and author of The Soul of Civility [https://alexandraohudson.com/book-preorder/].  They discuss why politeness is overrated, the Stoic theory of political change, numerous contemporary and classical role models – intellectual and political theory, and what it means to be a good citizen in the modern age. Pre-order The Soul of Civility [https://alexandraohudson.com/book-preorder/] (03:04) Introduction (12:04) Civility as Aristotelian Mean (15:33) Politeness – Overrated? (21:47) Might Makes Right (26:08) The Immaterial vs Material World (30:11) Role Models (34:55) Politics as War (38:04) Porching *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] "The discipline of assent consists essentially in refusing to accept within oneself all representations which are other than objective or adequate." In this conversation, Caleb and Michael discuss the discipline of judgement (also called the discipline of assent). It's all about how to think like a Stoic. (01:48) Introduction (07:49) Significance (14:30) Lines from Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus (19:32) The Judge   (22:49) Decomposition (26:43) Basic Mistakes (32:49) Logical Skill (35:43) Changing Behavior (38:39) Suspending Judgement (40:42) Impression vs Lekta (46:55) Helping the Ignorant *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] Have you thought about the Roman Republic today? In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Josiah Osgood [https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014RXQYAA4/josiah-osgood], a professor of classics and author of Uncommon Wrath:  How Caesar and Cato's Deadly Rivalry Destroyed the Roman Republic [https://amzn.to/467pMs5]. They discuss Cato the Younger, Julius Caesar, and the lessons we can take from both men. (02:21) Cato's Rome (07:30) The Young Caesar and Cato (14:21) Populist vs Aristocrat (16:05) When Did He Become Stoic? (18:30) Cato vs Caesar (25:11) Caesar's Life Philosophy (29:49) Did Cato Do the Right Thing? (37:03) What Can We Learn From Caesar (41:49) Was the Republic Worth Saving? (44:56) Should Stoics Always Resist a Tyrant? (50:59) Fabius Maximus – a Roman Model *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] This conversation covers the key ideas of Buddhism and compares it with Stoicism. This will be the first of many more conversations. We thought it was important to start with a 101. (01:49) Introduction (06:36) The Founding Parable (14:33) The 4 Noble Truths (20:07) The Middle Way (31:39) Buddhist Evolution (40:17) Stoicism vs Buddhism: Similarities (48:10) Stoicism vs Buddhism: Differences Episode 55: Building Stoic Mindfulness [https://stoameditation.com/blog/building-stoic-mindfulness/] Episode 56: Greg Lopez on Stoicism and Buddhism [https://stoameditation.com/blog/greg-lopez-on-buddhism-and-stoicism/] *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] "If a text is not offensive to anyone, it probably isn't very important." In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Jeremy Wayne Tate, the Co-founder and President of the Classic Learning Test [https://www.cltexam.com/]. The Classic Learning Test is bringing back a focus on educating the whole human person by focusing on the great works and fundamental philosophical questions about how to live. If you check out the CLT author bank [https://www.cltexam.com/tests/authors/] you'll find several Stoic names – which we at Stoa love to see. This conversation focuses on the purpose of education, testing, and how to approach the classics today – all with someone who is in the arena shaping how education is done today. https://www.cltexam.com [https://www.cltexam.com/] https://twitter.com/JeremyTate41 (03:31) Telos and Tests (06:06) Why Go Back To The Classics? (08:17) The SAT (09:09) Elite Education (11:05) The Stoics (12:14) Crucial Questions (16:46) How to Approach the Great Works (20:07) C. S. Lewis *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] Does Contemporary psychology overlap with Stoic philosophy? In this episode, Michael and Caleb go through Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. It's a seminal book in modern cognitive psychology and behavioral economics. Most importantly for our purposes, it's discussion of two key thinking styles, can deepen one's knowledge of Stoicism and, potentially, help one think better. (01:21) Introduction (06:35) Book Summary (13:44) Going Deeper (23:21) Anchoring (26:05) Stoic Parallels (37:26) Walking Through The Two Systems (50:24) Takeaways

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] "Happiness, as the goal of life, can be understood as the highest expression of human nature, as encapsulating the chief markers of humanity at its best, namely rationality and sociability." In this conversation, I (Caleb) speak with Chris Gill. We kick off the conversation with topics from his most recent book Learning to Live Naturally: Stoic Ethics and its Modern Significance. It's no exaggeration to say that Chris Gill is a legend in modern Stoicism so having him on again was a real privilege. Learning to Live Naturally [https://amzn.to/48gPEmA] (02:19) Indifferents (10:39) What Grounds Virtue? (16:55) How to Think About Virtues and Nature (26:44) Stoicism and the Natural World (29:43) Stoic Detachment (38:02) Does Stoicism Promote Self-sufficiency? *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] What does a Stoic eat? How does a Stoic think about food? That's what Caleb and Michael discuss in this episode. Citing all 4 of the Roman Stoics, they cover how ancient Stoics thought about food and how that can shape our behavior today. (01:56) Intro (05:06) Musonius Rufus on Food (14:05) The Social Role of Food (19:09) Seneca on Food (24:53) Mythbusting (28:00) What Should Other People Eat? (33:00) Context Context  (35:29) Implications *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] "Iron sharpens iron" In this conversation, Michael speaks with Gregory Sadler. Greg is the Founder and President of ReasonIO [https://reasonio.wordpress.com/], a company dedicated to making resources of contemporary and classical philosophy available and accessible to non-philosophers. I first encountered Greg through his popular YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@GregoryBSadler], which has hundreds of videos breaking down the thinking of philosophers ranging from Epictetus and Seneca to Hegel and Hume. In this conversation, we cover challenges to the Stoics from a range of philosophers – each criticism should sharpen your picture of Stoicism. (02:04) Greg's Story (06:37) What Attracted Greg to Stoicism? (13:28) Hegel on the Stoics (25:12) Nietzsche's Challenge (33:36) William James on Stoicism (43:39) Experimentation (46:00) Shifty Stoicism (48:15) Neo-Aristotelian Arguments *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] The best skiers don't study ancient skiers. The best physicists don't turn to Ancient Greece in order to push their field forward. So why should philosophers look back at the work of the ancients? In this episode, Caleb and Michael wrestle with that question. Their answers may surprise you. (02:11) The Argument Against Studying Ancient Philosophy  (07:00) Who is Actually Doing Philosophy Today? (16:27) Mining for Diamonds (25:00) The Motivational Force of Philosophy (28:17) Communion with the Ancients (32:08) Caleb on Why He Studies Ancient Philosophy (35:55) An Aside on Organs *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] "The central theme of Seneca's tragedies is how to endure a world in which there is no justice, no safety, no guarantees—political or divine—of human dignity." For this episode, I went to Sonoma County, California to speak with the poet Dana Gioia. Seneca was a brilliant philosopher and statesman, but not many know he was also a world-class playwright. Dana Gioia is changing that. Our conversation focuses on Dana's translation of Seneca's The Madness of Hercules but also covers Dana's story, Stoicism, and much more. https://danagioia.com/ https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p131/seneca-the-madness-of-hercules-translate-by-dana-gioia.html (02:19) Dana's Story (13:29) Choosing Art Over Material Success (19:30) Seneca Enters the Picture (32:02) The Madness of Hercules (38:25) The Value in Seneca's Violence (44:44) Reading The Play (51:21) Reading vs Listening vs Seeing (57:59) Bacchus (59:55) Seneca the Playwright vs Seneca the Philosopher (01:07:31) Seneca on Anger (01:14:26) Stoicism Today (01:21:11) Fasting (01:29:05) Final Words Note: I had use backup audio for 1:02 to 1:08. You'll notice a slight decline in audio quality for those 6 minutes. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] "They say that love is an effort to form a friendship because of an impression of beauty in young persons at their prime..." In this conversation, Caleb and Michael talk about the Stoics on eros and romantic love. First, they cover how the Stoics saw the nature of romantic love. Then, they look at what advice they have for us today. Finally, they end on the topic of heartbreak. (01:35) Introducing Love (05:36) Erotic Love (20:18) Friendship (27:00) Stoic Advice for Modern Relationships (30:39) Knowing How To Say The I (36:59) Role Ethics   (41:24) The Stoics on Heartbreak *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Dr. Randolph Nesse. Randolph is the author of Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry. [https://amzn.to/3smGAwj] His work focuses on answering fundamental questions like why humans get sick and why we experience anxiety from an evolutionary perspective. This is an essential conversation for understanding the nature of negative emotions. We touch on why we get anxious, what we can do about it, why we may not want to become less anxious, the role of advice, and, of course, the insights of the Stoics. https://www.randolphnesse.com/ *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] "Must I be wasting my time sitting in a corner when I might have been crowned at Olympia?" In this conversation, we discuss failure, how to avoid it, and how to deal with it when it happens. We end by revealing personal experiences with failure. "And what advantage does a wrestler gain from his training partner? The greatest." (01:57) Introduction (10:40) How To Avoid Failure (21:54) How To Deal With Failure (27:50) Contemplating Adversity (34:52) Failure as Practice (40:06) Failure as Indifferent (44:46) Free for All (48:53) Personal Failure *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] Catherine Wilson [https://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Doctoral-Programs/Philosophy/Faculty-Bios/Catherine-Wilson] is a Professor of Philosophy, currently at the City University of New York. She is the author of How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q4P69FQ/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1], which covers Epicureanism, an ancient philosophy, as a way of life. In this conversation Michael and Catherine cover the basics of Epicureanism, a philosophical alternative to Stoicism based on minimizing the painful experiences of yourself and others, while maximizing enjoyment. They also discuss the contrasts between Stoicism and Epicureanism, including the idea that Stoicism is a tool for stress management, while Epicureanism is a tool for stress avoidance. This conversation is a must for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of Hellenistic philosophy, or anyone interested in ancient philosophies of life besides Stoicism. (01:33) Stoicism vs Epicureanism (03:45) Convention vs Nature (10:13) Epicurean Altruism (20:35) The Garden (25:17) Back to Convention (29:11) Intellectual Pleasure (30:49) Stoicism vs Epicureanism, Revisited *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, we review Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman's Lives of the Stoics [https://amzn.to/3OWKjJN], focusing on their accounts of the big three Roman Stoics: Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. This is a great episode for getting a sense of the lives of key figures we talk about. Stoicism Applied course [https://maven.com/stoa/stoicism-applied] (02:54) Introduction (08:39) Seneca the Striver (24:00) Epictetus the Free Man (37:16) Marcus Aurelius the Philosopher King  *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] Today's Stoic revival is the second one. The first resurgence of Stoicism actually happened during the Renaissance. In this podcast, David Fideler and I discuss what Modern Stoics today can learn from the Renaissance Humanists. It's a conversation that touches on history, education, and virtue ethics. It should be of interest to anyone who wants to increase the influence of Stoicism on society. https://www.davidfideler.com/ https://therenaissanceprogram.com/ (02:24) Introduction (08:35) The Birth of the Renaissance (15:37) What Made Florence Great (17:49) Stoics in the Rennaissance (26:57) Stoic Exercises (30:25) Other Influences (32:44) What Modern Stoics Can Takeaway From the Humanists (38:54) Reinventing Education (46:10) Where to Learn More

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] "You are mortal." So whispered the slaves of triumphant Roman generals as they celebrated their return in a glorious parade. In this episode we discuss memento mori: Remembering the fact that you will die in order to live well. We discuss the Stoic view of death and why they argued that one should always keep death in mind. We end by summarizing the benefits and risks of memento mori exercises so that you can translate Stoic philosophy into real practice. (02:16) Introduction (08:37) Memento Mori (17:49) Face Death to Pursue Knowledge (22:07) Overcoming Death (27:08) You Are Free (32:30) How to Practice (39:04) Summarizing the Benefits (42:55) Risks  *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, Caleb speaks with the investor, author, and philosopher Michael Gibson [https://www.encounterbooks.com/authors/michael-gibson/]. You'll hear why Michael thinks novelists are the successors of Plato, what some of the key entrepreneurial virtues he looks for are, how a philosopher like him ended up managing a sizable venture capitalist fund, and what his criticisms are of Stoicism in Silicon Valley. So I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and do check out his most recent book: Paper Belt on Fire – as it has a number of gems we don't even begin to touch on. https://www.1517fund.com/ (09:29) Redesigning Academic Philosophy (19:34) The Meaning of Polytropon (23:18) Do Founders Need a Life Philosophy? (26:38) Does Virtue Pay? (31:54) Virtue Ethics in Entrepreneurship (33:55) Stoicism and Silicon Valley (50:22) A Role Model *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, Michael and Caleb talk about philosophy graduate school. We discuss the good, bad, and interesting. You'll learn why we think it's awesome, but fewer people should go to graduate school and whether we'd do the experience again. (01:31) Our Academic Stories (07:45) Logic in the Academy (12:52) Getting Paid $$$ (18:15) Custodians of Civilization (21:33) Surrounded by Serious People (24:09) Bad Business (28:56) Too Many Graduate Students (33:33) A Culture of Perfection (36:56) Philosophies of Life (42:21) The Obsession about Prestige (48:23) Making Graduate School Better (52:10) Would You Do Graduate School Again? *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this discussion, Caleb speaks with Leo Konstantakos. Leo a veteran, professor of international relations and co-author of Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In. We cover how Leo came to see Socrates in a different light, Stoicism in ancient Sparta, and how the ancients viewed justice differently. We also lightly spar over whether someone can or should call themselves Stoic today. Leo has a unique cut on many of these issues and a clear love for the Stoic tradition, check it out. Being Better [https://amzn.to/3Y9BKy2] (02:03) Introduction (02:48) Seeing Socrates in a New Light (05:26) Rediscovering Stoicism (10:01) Stoicism in Sparta (16:18) Justice in the Ancient World (25:11) Can You Be Stoic Today? (41:53) Opposing Heroes *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] How do you live in an uncertain world? In this episode Caleb and Michael talk about the life philosophy of Skepticism. Skepticism was one of the Stoic's rival philosophical. Michael and I discuss what skepticism is, what living like a skillful skeptic looks like, and our impressions of the philosophy. (01:15) Introduction (04:22) What is Skepticism? (12:37) Questioning Skepticism (23:29) Skeptic Ethical Exercises (31:53) Areas of Agreement with the Stoics (35:56) Disagreements between the Stoics and Skeptics (43:13) Is Skepticism Self-refuting? (49:09) The Ancient Stoic Response (54:02) Summing Up *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Michael McGill. They discuss Michael's story, Roman history, and how Michael applies Stoic philosophy to his life. It's a great look at how anyone can take lessons from Greco-Roman philosophy and use them in work, family life, and hobbies in a positive and energetic way. https://twitter.com/mcgillmd921 (02:46) Introduction (04:34) How Stoicism Shows Up In Michael's Life (10:56) What Lost Stoic Do You Want To Read? (13:21) Roman History (19:23) Cicero (22:12) Time Management (26:06) Cato the Younger (31:38) Role Models and Anti-Models (35:39) Introducing Others To Stoicism (43:06) Advice for Creators (47:57) Busts *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] The Stoics thought anyone could be happy in any situation. This is because virtue is the only good and it is obtainable by anyone. But why did the Stoics think virtue was the only good? That's what Caleb and Michael discuss in this conversation. They frame the discussion around objections to that idea from Scott Aikin, William Stephens, and Massimo Pigliucci (all past Stoa Conversations guests). Epictetus's Encheiridion: A New Translation [https://amzn.to/44SHP4l] Virtue cannot be the ultimate good [https://philosophyasawayoflife.medium.com/virtue-cannot-be-the-ultimate-good-7390d50c6c26] (02:51) Why This Matters (09:04) What is Virtue? (17:45) The Objection (26:31) Response: Stoic Move I (31:59) Response: Stoic Move II (39:43) The Practical Upshots *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven [http://stoameditation.com/course] In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Brittany Polat [https://twitter.com/brittanypolat]. She's has done excellent work teaching and promoting the ideas of Stoicism through her books [https://amzn.to/44C2Tvu], blog [https://stoicismforhumans.substack.com/], and Stoicare [https://www.stoicare.com/], so we're always happy to have her on. In this conversation, we talk about what we can learn from monasteries, how to think about Stoicism & accountability, what Epictetus believed about the Cynics, and the Stoic attitude towards beauty. Stoicism for Humans [https://stoicismforhumans.substack.com/] (01:41) Introduction (03:11) Ethical Development (09:15) Determinism and Accountability (16:55) Learning From Medieval Monks (21:19) Medieval Monks on Meditation (29:40) Beauty (33:39) Epictetus on the Cynics (38:54) Devotion (42:56) Learning To Live Naturally *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/