The Kidd and Friends Podcast | Self-Improvement and Mindset Insights · Christopher "KiDD" Perry

Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy | Sub Life, Ancient Wisdom & Modern Military with William Spears

·1 hr 16 min·5 clips

Spears argues that Stoicism starts with judging impressions, not suppressing feelings.

William Spears opens by saying he is speaking only for himself. Because he is actively serving in the military, he does not want his comments taken as the Navy's or the government's position. He comes in as the author of Stoicism is a Warrior Philosophy. That title sets the tone for the conversation. Spears describes a career built around nuclear submarines, high performance teams, and hard consequences. He was the executive officer of a ballistic missile submarine. Now he works for the Pentagon, shaping the future of the force. The hosts ask him what it really means to be a warrior philosopher. He answers by tying Stoicism to integrity, morality, and discipline. That connection stays practical rather than abstract. The conversation then turns to the cardinal virtues. They are wisdom, courage, self-control, and justice. Spears says the Stoics cared deeply about them, but the idea reaches further back than Stoicism itself. He points to Plato and to other philosophies from the same era in Athens. He also notes how the virtues became part of Catholicism and show up in Masonic temples and lodges. For him, the four virtues work like primary colors. Other virtues can be mixed from them, but the base set stays the same. He says he uses that frame with his kids, keeping the idea simple enough to remember. The talk closes on the idea that honor is useful. That becomes the sorting rule for priorities and for deciding when a gain is not worth the cost.

As heard by us

Stoicism is presented as a practical guide to leadership, discipline, and judgment.

The episode treats Stoicism as a lived philosophy, not a lecture hall idea. It links William Spears' book, submarine service, and Pentagon work to the cardinal virtues, then keeps grounding the material in leadership, ethics, discipline, and what a person owes others under…

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Why you'd press play

You want Stoicism that feels earned, not packaged, and tied to real consequences in military and leadership settings.

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