The What Is Stoicism? Podcast

This episode uses the thought of a “last day” to test the distance between our values and our actions.Montaigne, Seneca, and Lucretius show how reflecting on death can sharpen our sense of what matters now, not later. Simone Weil then offers a modern example of philosophy lived w ...  Show more

This episode looks at how the chase for novelty and the habit of overextension both unsettle the mind. Cicero reminds us that possessions and technologies are not good in themselves—their value depends on how we use them. Seneca adds that taking on too much leaves us primed for f ...  Show more

This episode treats life’s difficulties as assignments rather than interruptions. Epictetus reminds us that we don’t get to choose every task Fortune sets, but we do choose how well we meet it. Each challenge becomes a chance to practice courage, patience, justice, or self-contro ...  Show more

This episode explores the Stoic partnership between foresight and acceptance. Preparing for setbacks doesn’t mean expecting misery—it means building the resilience to meet difficulty without being overwhelmed. With Philo’s calm readiness, Rumi’s guest house, and Marcus Aurelius’s ...  Show more

This episode explores gratitude as a Stoic practice, emphasizing the transformative power of attention. By imagining what we might have already lost—or even our own death—we can reawaken appreciation for ordinary moments: a conversation, a child’s question, a walk with a pet. Mar ...  Show more