The Daily Stoic
Episodes
The Present Is All There Is | The Truly Educated Aren’t Quarrelsome
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“There’s a constant internal tension within Meditations—between urgency and patience, contemplation and action, focusing in and zooming out. Mar...
Classics Scholar Shadi Bartsch on What Ancient Texts Reveal About Modern Life | This Is Making You Who You Are
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan read today’s meditation and talks to Classics scholar and professor Shadi Bartsch about Seneca’s contradictory service to the emperor Nero, w...
Don't Complain, Respond!
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“We live in a time when people who hear opinions they dislike think they can demand those opinions be unsaid or never repeated. How dare you critici...
You Can’t Let People Puff You Up | Take A Walk
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“As it is today, so it was in Rome. People have always tried to tell other people what they want to hear. Yeah, you’re doing great. Have you lost ...
Marcus Aurelius' Most Important Education Came From This Man
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Want more Stoic inspired parenting wisdom? Subscribe to the Daily Dad Podcast, read each morning by Ryan on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and all...
Malcolm Gladwell on Running, Writing, and Storytelling
19 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode of the podcast, Ryan talks to Malcolm Gladwell about his new book The Bomber Mafia which is an exploration of how technology and ...
What Did You Learn?
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“There’s no question that the last year and a half has been tragic. Millions of people have perished in a merciless pandemic, millions more are st...
Your Perspective Is Everything | Offense or Defense?
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Is your house dirty or just well-played in? Are you struggling or growing stronger through resistance training? Are you poor or unburdened? Are you...
Ultramarathon Runner Dean Karnazes on the Virtue of Self-Discipline | And Now We Do What Is Necessary
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s meditation and talks to Ultramarathon runner and author Dean Karnazes about his new book A Runner's High: My Life in Motion,...
You Just Have To Accept It
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“When the pandemic hit—as with all sudden or unexpected life events—people responded in myriad different ways. Some people denied it. Some peopl...
There’s Only One Path To Greatness | Try the Other Handle
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Thirteen years before Marcus Aurelius would be old enough to legally hold any public post, Hadrian decided something extraordinary: he was going to...
10 Pieces of Life Changing Wisdom From the Stoics
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Follow us on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@daily_stoic for more life changing wisdom.Stoicism has never been a philosophy for school. It's be...
Holocaust Survivor Dr. Edith Eger on the Gift of Forgiveness
12 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s special episode of the podcast, Ryan talks to Dr. Edith Eger about her book The Choice: Embrace the Possible which details her time at ...
Don't Escape It. Create It.
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Escapism is tempting...but dangerous. We think, when frenzied or fraught, an exotic getaway will be the cure. But inevitably, the rush of travel we...
There Is Always Something Else Going On | You Can Do It
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“One of the things you figure out quickly with kids, and as we’ve talked about a bunch over on our Daily Dad email and podcast, is that there is a...
A.J. Daulerio on Recovery and Finding Peace With Stoicism | What Can You Get For Free?
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s daily meditation and talks to writer and blogger A.J. Daulerio about his involvement in the famous Hulk Hogan and Gawker lawsuit,...
Avoid This Sickness | Role Models
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Nobody wants to get sick. We don’t want food poisoning. We don’t want the flu. We don’t want COVID-19. This is why we protect our immune syst...
If You’re Going To Make Something, Make It Beautiful
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Fifty years after he helped his father build a fence around their house in Mountain View, Steve Jobs took his biographer Walter Isaacson to see it....
Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato - Ch. 1
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an excerpt from Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato by Rob Goodman and Jimmy Soni. This chapter deals with the ...
Luke Burgis on Mimetic Desire and Getting What You Want in Life
05 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode Ryan talks to author Luke Burgis about his new book Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life, the philosophy of Fren...
These Things Don’t Care
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“The virus doesn’t care. It doesn’t care that you were just about to open your first retail shop. It doesn’t care that you love visiting your ...
This Is What You Replace Anger With | It Is Well to Be Flexible
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“The Stoics weren’t robots. It wasn’t that they stuffed things down, or that they didn’t feel anything. How could that have been true? They we...
Chris Bosh on Embracing the Process and Staying Present | This Cannot Be Allowed To Happen
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s meditation and talks to Chris Bosh about his new book Letters To A Young Athlete, what he learned winning multiple NBA Championsh...
Take The Interior Voyage
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Have you ever noticed that we often refer to Marcus Aurelius just as Marcus? You likely read those references without breaking stride. Because you,...
To What Do You Pledge Your Honor? | The View from Above
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“As the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence, they knew that this wasn’t some painless petition. This wasn’t some minor political sta...
Seneca on Philosophy and Friendship
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an excerpt from The Tao Of Seneca produced by Tim Ferriss’ Audio. In this letter Seneca writes about overcoming troubles withou...
Charlie Mackesy on the Creative Process and Finding Enough
29 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, Ryan talks to author Charlie Mackesy about his #1 New York Times bestselling book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, the ...
This Reminder Hurts, But We Need It
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“At the height of his powers, King Pyrrhus was killed by a roof tile, thrown by an old woman, as he conquered another city. In 1967, Harold Holt, th...
What You Need To Know About Most People | Sweat the Small Stuff
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s true. As Marcus Aurelius reminded himself, today you will meet jealous people. Selfish people. Mean people. Shameless people. Even stupid pe...
Author Candice Millard on the Moments that Define Great Leaders | You Have To Get To The Outside
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s meditation and talks to author and biographer Candice Millard about her books The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darke...
Those Who Read Little, Know Little
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Was there a Stoic who didn’t love reading? It’d be hard to name one. The last thing Cato did before he died was read.”Ryan explains why readi...
This Is Why It's So Hard | Practice True Joy
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Everyone has trouble admitting they were wrong, including Marcus Aurelius. Yes, he writes glibly in Meditations about how he’s glad to be correct...
Navy SEAL Brandon Webb on Autonomy and Radicalization in America
23 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a partial interview with combat-decorated Navy SEAL sniper Brandon Webb. Ryan and Brandon talk about his new thriller series Stee...
Sebastian Junger on the Wonder of Existence and the Complexity of Freedom
22 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode of the podcast Ryan talks to author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger about his new book Freedom which details his 400 mile journey ...
Why You Should Never Borrow Unhappiness
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Some time around the year 64 AD, Seneca’s friend Lucilius sent him a letter. Lucilius was nervous about an ongoing lawsuit. We’re not sure what...
We’ve Been Tested. Did You Pass? | Quality Over Quantity
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“The last half-decade has tested us in many ways. A pandemic. Corresponding outbreaks of conspiracy theories and magical thinking. A booming economy...
Cal Newport on Knowledge Work and Effective Communication | Don't Be Satisfied With This
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s daily meditation and talks to Cal Newport about his new book A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication ...
Are You High or Low?
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Even in the ancient world, the classics scholar (and recent podcast guest) Robin Waterfield says, there was a distinction between high philosophy a...
It Is What It Is | Count Your Blessings
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“There are a lot of things that oppose us in this life. Starting with gravity, we are held down by so many things: other people, bad luck, unfavorab...
8 Stoic Tips For Spending Less Time On Your Phone
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, Ryan talks about what Stoicism can teach you about managing your phone use.If Marcus Aurelius was alive today, he would use a ph...
Daniel Barkhuff on Restoring the 4 Stoic Virtues to Leadership
15 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode Ryan talks to Daniel Barkhuff about his path to the Naval academy and becoming a Navy SEAL, our individual obligation to each oth...
You Have To Find The Good In People Pt. II
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s not telling you anything new to point out that there will be obnoxious, flawed, annoying, awful idiots that you will come across today, and ...
How Will You Measure Your Life? | Fueling the Habit Bonfire
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Of people who rise to positions of power, there are two types. Those who think they can do it alone and those who know that that is insane.”Ryan ...
Author Nancy Sherman on Building Resilience and Living Well | What Are You Making Up About This? That’s The Question.
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s daily meditation and talks to author Nancy Sherman about her new book Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience, using ...
Beware The Little Things
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It can be easy to make an excuse. Oh, it’s just a bad habit. Oh, it doesn’t matter. It’s also easy to think you’ve got this life thing hand...
There Are No Banned Books | We Are a Product of Our Habits
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“One way to get a sense of how powerful something is is how scared people are of it. Why have governments gone to such trouble to ban various books ...
Amazon Kindle Author Fishbowl – Ryan Holiday on The Boy Who Would Be King
09 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an interview with Amazon Author Fishbowl hosted by Jason Yoong for Ryan’s newest book The Boy Who Would Be King. They talk abou...
Greg McKeown on Doing Less and Getting More
08 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s podcast Ryan talks to bestselling author Greg McKeown about his new book Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most, how the pres...
You Need to Arm Yourself With These Weapons
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“In Greek mythology, characters go through katabasis—or “a going down.” Something forces them to retreat, to experience a breaking point, or i...
Before You Go Anywhere, Remember This | Righteousness Is Beautiful
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“The people on your flight tomorrow will be slow and rude. They will recline their seats into you. They will clog the aisles. They will watch videos...
Jessica Lahey on Self-Efficacy and the Virtue of Temperance | Whatever Will Be Will Be
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s meditation and talks to Jessica Lahey about her new book The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependen...
Life Is Too Short To Rush Through
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“You look around and you see people rushing everywhere. Rushing through traffic. Rushing to get their kids down to bed. No time to talk. No time to ...
This is the Mindset For Life | Show, Don’t Tell
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“You clean and then it gets dirty. You do the dishes and then five minutes later, the sink is full again. You made it through your inbox in the morn...
Quintilian on How to Tell a Joke
02 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features a section from Michael Fontaine’s How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor part of Princeton University P...
Classics Scholar Robin Waterfield on Translating Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations - Pt.2
01 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, Ryan talks to Robin Waterfield about his new annotated translation of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, the art of translating anc...
The More You Learn, The Less You Know
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s wonderful that you are so committed to this philosophy that you get these emails, and you have read these books. You probably know more abou...
Enjoy It While You Have It, Don’t Miss It When You Don’t | Washing Away the Dust of Life
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“The thing about most things we label as “bad” is that they aren’t. They just are. A virus isn’t evil. An economic depression isn’t malici...
Classics Scholar Robin Waterfield on Translating Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations - Pt.1 | There’s Only One Path To Greatness
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today’s Daily Stoic meditation and talks to Robin Waterfield about his new annotated translation of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, the h...
Life is School. School Is For Life
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Late in his reign, a friend stopped Marcus Aurelius as he was leaving the palace, carrying a stack of books. Finding this to be a surprising sight,...
Your Shoulders Are Made of Ivory | The Freedom of Contempt
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Marcus was like us. He wasn’t naturally extraordinary. He wasn’t born to greatness. His destiny was not pre-ordained. So how did it happen? How...
Sextus Empiricus on How to Keep an Open Mind
25 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Richard Bett’s How to Keep an Open Mind: An Ancient Guide to Thinking Like a Skeptic published by ...
YouTubers Sam and Colby on Fame and Practicing Memento Mori
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, Ryan talks to YouTube duo Sam & Colby about the early days of their career, finding peace in the practice of memento mori, w...
Have You Ever Had A Motionless Moment?
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“We are so busy. We think we’re supposed to be. We think that’s how we get better. We think that moving is the only way to move forward.”Ryan ...
This Is How To Treat Your Brain | The Marks of a Rational Person
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“On the one hand, the Stoics were big believers in the power of reason. They believed we were rational creatures, capable of thinking away through a...
Michael Gervais on the Path to Excellence | You Have To Wrestle With This
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today's Daily Stoic meditation and talks to sport psychologist and entrepreneur Dr. Michael Gervais about his work in elite performanc...
You Don't Need Everyone, Just More
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It’d be wonderful if we could get everyone on board. If evidence and data and civic duty convinced people to do the right thing, the smart thing,...
This Is The Only Acceptable Form of Anger | Impulse Control
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“There is an expression popular amongst basketball coaches. A coach doesn’t “get” a technical foul, they take one. If you’ve ever watched ...
Life Is About What We Can Do For Each Other
18 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Why are we here? It’s an impossible question to answer, I suppose. Of course, on a fundamental evolutionary level, we’re here to pass along our...
Admiral James Stavridis on James Stockdale and the Voyage of Character
17 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s podcast, Ryan talks to Admiral James Stavridis about the voyage of character as detailed in his book Sailing True North, his friendship w...
It All Turns on Concentration
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“We often think that greatness is a synonym for brilliance. That great leadership is all about magnetism and communication. For which we need vision...
You Are Not Alone | Pay Your Taxes
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Sometimes it can feel like you’re a solitary warrior. Certainly Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations reads like that at times. He feels like the last ...
Author Bonnie Tsui on the Wonders of Water | Pressure, Like Power, Reveals
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today's Daily Stoic email and talks to author Bonnie Tsui about her new memoir, Why We Swim, their mutual adoration of swimming, how p...
Not Who’s Right, What’s Right
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“You have your views. You have your side of things. You have the team you’re on, the group you belong to. So instinctually, naturally, you default...
You Can—No, You Should—Forget About This. | Test Your Impressions
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“You’ve been wronged. Someone let you down. Something didn’t go your way. This person stole from you. That one lied to you. She betrayed you. He...
Cicero on How to Tell a Joke
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features a section from Michael Fontaine’s How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor published by Princeton Univers...
Charles & Chase Koch on the Power of Principles
10 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s podcast, Ryan talks to Charles and Chase Koch about challenging assumptions and leaning on first principles, the advantages of a bottom-u...
Remember: Little Things Are Not Small
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“George Washington’s favorite saying was “many mickles make a muckle.” It was an old Scottish proverb that illustrates a truth we all know: th...
But What Will We Do IF? | The Cost of Accepting Counterfeits
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“A few days ago we talked about this paralyzing fear—the “preemptive whataboutism” that holds people back from doing the right thing. It’s w...
Arthur Brooks on Stoicism vs. Epicureanism | You Don’t Know What’s Going On With People
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan reads today's Daily Stoic email and talks to Arthur Brooks about the differences and similarities in Stoicism and Epicureanism, the obligati...
Who Are You Studying Under?
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s interesting to think of the Stoics, from Marcus Aurelius to Zeno, reaching back through the centuries like links in a chain (from Z to A no ...
Better Days Will Shine Through | What Can Go Wrong… Might
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Imagine you are Seneca and tuberculosis has claimed ten years of your life in convalescence. Imagine you are Seneca and after climbing to the top o...
Today is a Day of Rebirth | A Day in the Life of a Stoic
04 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s special episode of the podcast, Ryan describes the universal message of redemption that can be found in the story of Jesus Christ’s exe...
Lt. General H.R. McMaster on Strategic Empathy and Seneca’s Contradiction
03 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, Ryan talks to Lt. General H.R. McMaster about why leaders must study history and philosophy, his book Dereliction of Duty about ...
If You’re Not Feeling This, You’re Doing It Wrong
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“You see them in the comments sections. You see them on social media. You hear it come out of the mouths of friends, family members. Sometimes it’...
Just Keep Hammering Away | The Color of Your Thoughts
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“There is something delightfully simple about Ulysses S. Grant. Napoleon seems like some sort of larger than life figure, a peerless genius like the...
Author Robert Wright on Buddhism vs Stoicism
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan speaks to the author and journalist Robert Wright about the Stoic obligation to being involved in politics, staying creative while controlling yo...
A Book Isn’t A Mirror. It’s A Door!
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“A couple weeks ago, we talked about Fran Lebowitz’s secret to be immensely rich. They also happen to be a secret to empathy and understanding. Th...
You Can’t Buy Fearlessness
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“There’s no question that the super rich can afford better medical care than you. They have access to the best doctors, the most cutting-edge trea...
What Would Less Look Like? | Say No to the Need to Impress
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“This has not been fun. It’s been brutal. But it has been, at least, an exercise in that question that the Stoic aficionado Tim Ferriss is a fan o...
These Simple Words Will Help You Through Life's Most Difficult Situations
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ryan introduces 3 core Stoic concepts that are sure to help you through whatever life puts in front of you. The German philos...
Agnes Callard on Socrates and Wisdom
27 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode Ryan speaks to professor and author Agnes Callard about the philosophical model that Socrates passed down, the ancient problem of...
You Can Do This. You Can Do This.
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Marcus Aurelius didn’t believe he was suited to be emperor. In fact, when he received the news of Hadrian’s plans to have Antoninus Pius adopt ...
There Will Always Be These Kinds of People | Wealth and Freedom are Free
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s easy to become disappointed with humanity each time you step into your car. Not even because of how angry and aggressive some drivers are. O...
Volleyball Legend Gabrielle Reece on Relationships and Finding Enough
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan speaks to Gabrielle Reece about how the Stoics valued hard work, the stillness that is required to accurately observe ourselves, how to properly ...
You Are Blessed
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s easy not to feel blessed. We look readily for what we don’t have rather than what we do. We see people who are taller, who look better, wh...
Power Doesn’t Corrupt, It Reveals
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“There were not many good emperors in Rome. There have not been many good kings since. In fact, there haven’t been many good leaders ever—there ...
We Can’t Let This Go On | The Portable Retreat
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“No man is an island. We’ve taken the line from the John Donne poem and turned it into a common expression, but we’ve missed the point. It’s n...
7 Ways Marcus Aurelius Will Help You Journal Like A Pro
21 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s podcast, Ryan discusses 7 strategies that can help you develop a highly effective journaling habit. Almost 2000 years ago, Marcus Aureliu...
Dr. Jonathan Fader on Peak Performance
20 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan speaks to psychologist Dr. Jonathan Fader about how difficult mental preparation and training can help lead to peak performance, the unseen value...
It’s Possible To Tune These Things Out
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“We have so many strong opinions. Especially about things we don’t like. We don’t like it, and we want you to know that we don’t like it—tha...