The Daily Stoic
Episodes
This Book Was Not Meant For Us | Build Up, Don’t Tear Down
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are very few books like it. Certainly, none written by someone in such an unusual position.You see, Meditations was not meant to be a book for t...
Musonius Rufus Stoic Fragments: PT 1
23 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode comes out for free on 10/23/22. Today’s episode features two sections from the lesser known Musonius Rufus Stoic Fragments: That Man Is...
Maya Smart on Transforming Education and the Power of Reading
22 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode comes out for free on 10/22/22.Ryan talks to Maya Smart about her new book Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Si...
The Truly Wise Make Time For Leisure | Ask Daily Stoic
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Leisure is one of those words that modernity has terribly corrupted and misused. When most people hear it we think of lounging around doing nothing. W...
Is The World Going Through Hell? | Marks Of The Good Life
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s tough to be alive now,” the actor Timothée Chalamet recently said. “I think societal collapse is in the air — it smells like it.”It...
Is it Evil or Incompetence?
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
People do a lot of things that feel mean. That frustrate us. That cause problems for us. That make the world a worse place. They vote for bad politici...
Annie Duke on Knowing When to Quit
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to World Series of Poker champion Annie Duke about her new book Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, the power of walking away fro...
Can You Play Ball? | How To Read Books Effectively (7 Stoic Tips)
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Life throws stuff at us. We have to figure out how to catch it and throw it back. That’s what Epictetus meant when he said we don’t control what h...
This Will Sustain You | Make Honesty Your Only Policy
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Each of us goes to work every day and deals with obstacles, with difficult people. We deal with stress at home. We have responsibilities in our commun...
Seneca on the Terrors of Death
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an excerpt from The Tao Of Seneca produced by Tim Ferriss’ Audio. Get the free PDF at tim.blog/seneca. In this letter Seneca ta...
Steve Case on the New American Dream
15 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode comes out for free on 10/15/2022.Ryan talks to Steve Case about his new book The Rise of the Rest: How Entrepreneurs in Surprising Places...
Is it Resilience, or Are You Just Naive? | Ask Daily Stoic
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve talked before about the so-called Stockdale Paradox—the blazing determination inside Admiral James Stockdale that allowed him to believe tha...
Your Job is to Transition | Revenge Is A Dish Best Not Served
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Think of all the responsibilities on Marcus Aurelius’ plate. He’s emperor. He’s head of the army. He’s serving as consul (yes, in the Roman sy...
Your Possessions Are Not Your Identity
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s very easy to associate our possessions and our positions with our identity. There’s even an expression to that effect: The clothes make the m...
David Rubenstein on Investing and Designing the Optimal Life
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode comes out for free on 10/12/2022Ryan talks to David Rubenstein about his new book How to Invest, his experiences working for President Ji...
What Are You Getting Better At? | 11 Stoic Principles Every Athlete Needs To Win
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No one is more invested in getting better than you. You read books. You have a mentor. You even have a business coach. You go to work conferences. You...
Can You Stop? | Practice Love
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You tell yourself you’ll go to bed after one more episode. You’ll put the phone down after one more scroll. You’ll pay your tab and leave after ...
The Vow - From Kamal Ravikant's “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It" Pt. 2
09 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode comes out for free on 10/9/2022Today’s episode features an excerpt from Kamal Ravikant’s book “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends...
Amy Morin on How to be Mentally Strong
08 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode comes out for free on 10/8/2022Ryan talks to author Amy Morin about her book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, how to find age...
Err On This Side | Ask Daily Stoic
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One should understand, or at least empathize with, the difficult position a politician quite often finds themselves these days with the proliferation ...
You Struggle With This Everyday | Looking Out For Each Other
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Epictetus said that to live a good life, you have to make good choices. You are what your choices make you, nothing more and nothing less.📕 Ryan Ho...
Robert Mckee on the Power of Storytelling
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to Robert Mckee about his new book Action: The Art of Excitement for Screen, Page, and Game, the importance of showing not telling, how to ...
Little Actions Add Up to Real Transformation
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕 Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" is out now! We’ve extended the pre-order bonuses for the next week—among them is a signe...
You Can’t Not Think It | 12 Stoic Lessons From Las Vegas
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕 Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" is out now! We’ve extended the pre-order bonuses for the next week—among them is a signe...
If You Want To Be Powerful | Practice Silence
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since the time of the Stoics, people have aspired to command great armies. To accumulate great fortunes. To hold high office. To be famous. To be impo...
How To Be Content: The Search For The Good Life Pt. 1
02 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an excerpt from Stephen Harrison’s How To Be Content: An Ancient Poet's Guide for an Age of Excess published by Princeton Unive...
Russ Roberts on Making Better Decisions
01 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to economist and author Russ Roberts about his new book Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us, the tension between being a...
No More Than This Is Required | Ask Daily Stoic
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are impressed by people who do incredible things–whether it’s creating some great work of art or pulling off some impossible athletic feat, bri...
It’s Hard To Be a Person In This World | Your Actual Needs Are Small
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Even if the changes are positive, we can appreciate that they’ve been difficult for people. There is so much to navigate, to be sensitive to in this...
Find The Space
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Think about the last time that someone made you upset. What did they say? What did they do? Now think back: How did you react? What did you say? What ...
David Maraniss on Why We Study the Greats
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to author and journalist David Maraniss about his approach to his work, and his most recent book: Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Th...
This is the Win | Discipline Is Destiny: The Four Virtues
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Before he was a big time comedian, Hasan Minhaj was asked if he thought he was going to make it big. “I don’t like that question,” he said. “I...
Discipline Now…Freedom Later | Pain Is Self-Inflicted Harm
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
At a critical moment in The Odyssey, Odysseus tied himself to the mast of his ship because he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist steering the ship t...
Memento Mori: The Reminder You Desperately Need
25 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who wants to think about death?In his Meditations—essentially his own private journal—Marcus Aurelius wrote that “You could leave life right now...
Ryan Lavarnway on Sports and Philosophy
24 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to professional baseball catcher Ryan Lavarnway about his experience being the only professional baseball player with a philosophy degree f...
This Is Why You Should Stick Around | Ask Daily Stoic
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are moments where things are so bad it can seem like they’ll never get better. Perhaps we’re young and being bullied. Or we’re in the mids...
All That Matters Is How We Respond | No Pain No Gain
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It was the great Athenian leader, Pericles, who said that there was nothing wrong with poverty. It could be caused by so many things—a business fail...
It's About Finding the Right Amount
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we hear the word “temperance,” C.S. Lewis observed, most of us in the modern world think of “abstinence.” Even when you look up the defin...
Tim Miller on Political Games and Building Integrity
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to political consultant and writer Tim Miller about his new book Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell, the game of ...
Don’t You See How Crazy This Is? | Discipline Is Destiny: Ruling Over Yourself
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes things become so ordinary, such a normal part of life in polite society, that we fail to see how utterly insane they are. History is replete...
Would You Actually Be Able To Change? | On Handling Haters
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Breaking news: an asteroid is hurtling towards earth and could destroy the planet. The judge rules: you have a year to get your affairs in order and r...
Aristotle on How to Tell a Story Pt. 2
18 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features an excerpt from How to Tell a Story: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Storytelling for Writers and Readers translated by Phil...
Elliot Ackerman on Storytelling and the Cyclical Nature of History
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to author and journalist Elliot Ackerman about his new book The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan, the origins of storytelling, his e...
Face Down in the Moment | Ask Daily Stoic
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The thing about life is that it’s not a thing. Life is a series of moments. As the great Annie Dillard said, how we spend our days is how we spend o...
You Must Question | A Garden Is Not For Show
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Marcus Aurelius was a man who did not partake in the base pleasures of his time. While other Romans saw the death and the carnage of the colosseum as ...
Know it Inside and Out
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy in the United States and an unsung hero in the history of the world, was once asked by a Congre...
Robert Coram on Living Life by a Code
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to Robert Coram about the life and legacy of the fighter pilot John Boyd, the Stoic heroism of James Stockdale, the value of living your li...
Don’t You See How Crazy This Is | Discipline Is Destiny: Ruling Over Yourself
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s very easy to be jaded. It’s very easy to be cynical. The system is, as it was in Rome, hopelessly broken. Corruption, dishonesty, and stupidi...
Greatness is up to You | A New Way To Pray
12 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every day, you have to do things you’d rather not do. Or maybe you’re early in your career, and you have to do things that you think are beneath y...
Epictetus - The Enchiridion Pt. 2
11 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Enchiridion is one of the essential texts of Stoic philosophy, and one of the most important ancient documents that we have access to. It is a con...
David Wallace-Wells on Empowering the Future
10 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to journalist David Wallace-Wells about his new book The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, seeking out information, challenging assu...
This is What It Means To Be Indifferent | Ask Daily Stoic
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Stoics spoke about being indifferent, disinterested. Have no interest in what makes no difference, Marcus Aurelius said. That’s the image of the...
History is One Damned Thing After Another | Do Not Be Deceived By Fortune
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
By the time Marcus Aurelius took over as emperor, he had not had an easy life. He had lost his father at age three. He had lost a beloved tutor. His l...
Give Yourself This Gift
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is a beautiful passage on the last page of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s, The Little House in the Big Woods. She writes of an evening in the cabin wi...
Daniel Lubetzky on Making the World a Better Place
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to KIND Snacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky about the importance of culture and values in a successful company, empowering people through kindne...
Are You Disciplined Enough For This? | 7 Essential Stoic Productivity Tips (From Top Performers)
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
Don’t Be Always Working | A Hard Winter Training
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
Plutarch on How To Be A Leader
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features an excerpt from Jeffrey Beneker’s How To Be A Leader: An Ancient Guide to Wise Leadership. How To Be A Leader is a modern...
Tyler Cowen on Identifying Talent and Self-Improvement
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to economist and author Tyler Cowen about his new book Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World, the slo...
This Can’t Make You Worse | Ask Daily Stoic
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is nothing less Stoic than disorganization, than chaos, than “winging it.” That’s why we develop a routine, why we set standards (and meet...
Freedom is An Opportunity For This | A Strong Soul Is Better Than Good Luck
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You’d think that the more powerful you are, the more freedom you’d have. The more money and success you have, the more you can do. You’d think t...
Having Flaws Does Not Mean You ARE Flawed
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
DJ Vanas on the Warrior Spirit and Fueling Growth
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to leadership expert DJ Vanas about his new book The Warrior Within: Own Your Power to Serve, Fight, Protect, and Heal, how to use the warr...
Do It Even Harder | What Is Memento Mori (Explained In 5 Minutes)
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
Why Discipline is Destiny | A Cure For Procrastination
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
Resistance: Defining the Enemy - An Excerpt from Steven Pressfield’s “The War Of Art”
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features an excerpt from Steven Pressfield’s book “The War Of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles”...
Justin Gregg on Animal Intelligence and Human Stupidity
27 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to Justin Gregg about his new book If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity, what we can learn f...
Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants To Be | Ask Daily Stoic
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
What You Propose, Fate Will Dispose | Respect The Past, But Be Open To The Future
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
This is the Most Important Virtue
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
📕Pre-order Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" and get exclusive pre-order bonuses at https://dailystoic.com/preorder ✉️ Want ...
Paul Bloom on Why We Need Heroes
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to psychology professor and author Paul Bloom about the importance of recognizing our own bias, the role that our character plays in everyd...
How Are You Still Not Doing This? | How Stoicism Can Give You Inner-Peace In a Crazy World
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
It Blows You Away | Just Say No to Future Misery
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
⚔️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic Slay Your Stress Challenge✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic ...
Seneca on Philosophy and Friendship
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an excerpt from The Tao Of Seneca produced by Tim Ferriss’ Audio. Get the free PDF at tim.blog/seneca. In this letter Seneca ex...
Steven Pressfield on Consistency, Overcoming Resistance and Discipline
20 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to author Steven Pressfield about his new book Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants To Be, how to do good work consistently, the importance ...
You Can Shut Your Ears | Ask Daily Stoic
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Who Is In Charge | Only Fools Rush In
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
It’s Good That Things Have Been Hard
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Will MacAskill on Creating Lasting Change
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to professor and writer Will MacAskill about his book What We Owe The Future, how to create effective change in the world, the importance o...
Why You Must Build A Deep Bookshelf | The Best Advice Ryan Holiday Ever Got
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Don’t Be So Tough | Always Ask Yourself This Question
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
The Power Of Courage | Ryan Holiday Speaks To The US Naval Academy
14 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In April of 2022 Ryan Holiday traveled to Annapolis, Maryland to speak to the US Naval Academy about courage.✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to you...
Mt. Joy’s Matt Quinn on Creating Work That Lasts
13 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to Mt. Joy’s frontman Matt Quinn about the current state of the music industry, how to create work that lasts, our responsibility for eac...
This Is The Meaning of Life | Ask Daily Stoic
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Will You Dance or Throw A Tantrum? | No Time For Theories, Just Results
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
How To Respond To Crazy People
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Donald Robertson on Marcus Aurelius and Understanding Stoicism
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to author Donald Robertson about his new graphic novel Verissimus: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, the various influences that mol...
This is All It’s Good For | 3 Stoic Mantras To Build Your Life On
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
You Can’t Resent Them | What Little Wins Can You Find
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Aristotle on How to Tell Story
07 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features an excerpt from How to Tell a Story: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Storytelling for Writers and Readers translated by Phil...
John Barry on the Great Influenza and the Value of Truth
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to John M. Barry about the similarities between the public reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 1918 pandemic, the importance of telli...
Life is a Team Sport | Ask Daily Stoic
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Trust Your Prep List | No Blame, Just Focus
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
The Earth Is Big And Has Room For Everyone
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Molly Jong-Fast on Generational Trauma and Cancel Culture
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to journalist Molly Jong-Fast about the generational trauma that we’re passing down, the me too movement, how cancel culture has impacted...
Don’t Just Be Tough, Be Practical | 7 Stoic Stories To Guide You Through Life
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...
Your Weakness Can Be Your Strength | A Week Without Complaining
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 ...
Epictetus - The Enchiridion Pt. 1
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Enchiridion is one of the essential texts of Stoic philosophy, and one of the most important ancient documents that we have access to. It is a con...
Morgan Housel on Building Wealth and Happiness
30 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan talks to Morgan Housel about the real definition of wealth, the intricacies of building an audience as an author, the sacrifice required to gain ...
We Are Free…and Not Free | Ask Daily Stoic
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic insp...