Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

The hosts introduce a new series exploring Cicero's philosophical work 'On Ends', focusing on its importance for understanding Stoicism and Epicureanism in ancient Greco-Roman thought.

This episode explores the philosopher Antisthenes, his role as a foundational figure in Cynic philosophy, and his connection to Stoicism through the lineage of Diogenes and Zeno.

The host reads and comments on an essay making an intuitive case for Stoicism, focusing on how cultivating virtuous character leads to happiness independent of external circumstances.

This episode features an interview with Bridget Delaney about her book 'Reasons Not to Worry' and her personal journey from skeptic to practicing stoic, exploring how stoicism offers practical tools for managing worry in chaotic times.

This episode explores the Stoic virtue of justice as part of a series breaking down the four cardinal virtues using ancient Roman philosopher Arius Didymus's framework.

This episode explores Stoic perspectives on classic moral dilemmas and thought experiments like the trolley problem, examining how Stoic philosophy applies to ethical questions.

This episode explores Cicero's critique of Stoicism in Book IV of 'On Ends', examining philosophical arguments against Stoic ethics from an Aristotelian perspective.

This episode explores applied epistemology through a Stoic lens, focusing on practical strategies for forming justified beliefs and developing thoughtful character.

This episode features an interview with Eric Cloward, discussing his journey into Stoicism, the concept of Amor Fati, and how to apply Stoic principles to emotionally charged political conversations.

This episode explores Stoic philosophy's perspective on personal identity, examining questions like 'who are we?' and how understanding this impacts ethics, self-improvement, and living a good life.

This solo episode explores Epictetus' Stoic concept of making proper use of impressions, explaining its importance, how to apply it, and why it's considered a central task in Stoic philosophy.

Two hosts discuss passages from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, focusing on Stoic principles of resilience and inner strength.

This episode features an interview with entrepreneur Darius Foroux about his book 'The Stoic Path to Wealth,' exploring the intersection of Stoic philosophy and practical investing strategies.

This episode explores Epictetus' Handbook 42, discussing Stoic responses to insults and bad behavior by emphasizing personal agency, character development, and understanding others' perspectives.

This episode explores Stoic philosophy's perspective on wealth, discussing its benefits, risks, and how it fits into a Stoic conception of the good life.

This episode explores Diogenes the Cynic philosopher, his influence on Stoicism, and how his extreme approach to freedom and life challenges philosophical intuitions.

This episode explores how stoicism influences our approach to risk, decision-making, and life planning, while addressing criticisms about whether it increases or decreases risk tolerance.

This episode breaks down the Stoic virtue of prudence, exploring its sub-components and practical applications for personal development.

This episode explores Aristippus, an ancient Greek hedonist philosopher who predated Epicurus and embodied a more lavish, pleasure-focused lifestyle than typically associated with hedonism.

This episode features a conversation with Spencer Klavan about his new book exploring how modern science illuminates ancient truths about God and the philosophical conflict between science and religion.

This episode explores the Buddhist concept of the Second Arrow, comparing it to Stoic philosophy to show connections between the two traditions and how they address human suffering.

This episode explores how Stoic philosophy addresses feelings of lack of meaning and motivation, inspired by listener questions about low-level dissatisfaction and emotional well-being.

This episode introduces seven practical Stoic habits categorized into thinking well, living mindfully, and preparing for adversity to help listeners incorporate Stoic principles into daily life.

This episode features a conversation between host Michael Tremblay and Noah Rasheta comparing Stoicism and Buddhism, exploring their goals, similarities, differences, and practical applications for living more skillfully.

This episode is a conversation analyzing Cicero's book five of 'On Ends', where he defends a version of Aristotelianism and Platonism while critiquing Stoic and Epicurean philosophies.

The host shares insights from his personal running experiences that illustrate Stoic principles, connecting physical endurance with philosophical reflection.

This episode explores Seneca's play Medea, examining its themes of revenge and violence through a Stoic philosophical lens while discussing the work's literary and historical context.

This episode explores Goodhart's Law, which states that when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure, and applies this concept to Stoicism with examples from education and health.

This episode explores hidden fragments of Epictetus' Stoic teachings, preserved by other ancient writers, which offer additional insights beyond his known works like the Discourses and handbook.

This solo episode explores Stoic empathy through Socratic Intellectualism, arguing that people do wrong out of ignorance rather than evil, and discusses its implications for understanding others and oneself.

This episode analyzes Cicero's critiques of Epicureanism in Book 2 of 'On Ends', focusing on his argumentative methods and the philosophical debate between Stoic and Epicurean schools.

This episode features an interview with economist Brian Caplan discussing his essay collection 'Self-Help is Like a Vaccine' and exploring connections between Epicurean philosophy, modern self-help, and personal agency.

This episode features an interview with Jonathan Bi discussing his background, philosophy as a way of life, and a deep dive into Friedrich Nietzsche's challenges to Stoicism, including the validity of the ad hominem argument and the meaning of life.

This episode explores the relationship between Stoicism and toxic positivity, addressing misconceptions and discussing how Stoicism differs from harmful optimism while acknowledging potential risks when practiced incorrectly.

The hosts discuss applying Stoic principles to a first Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition as a test case for handling high-pressure situations.

This episode features a deep reading and discussion of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, focusing on passages from book two to explore Stoic philosophy in both theory and practice.

This episode explores Seneca's letter on solitude, discussing Stoic philosophy, self-reflection, and practical advice for personal growth.

This episode explores the Stoic concept of indifference, explaining how it relates to virtue as the ultimate good and why most external things don't fundamentally matter to a meaningful life.

This episode explores modern self-help compared to ancient philosophy like stoicism, discussing its role in contemporary society and potential advantages or disadvantages.

This episode explores Seneca's Stoic advice from his 11th moral letter on dealing with embarrassment, blushing, and nervousness during public speaking.

This solo episode explores Epictetus's Handbook 14, focusing on the Stoic discipline of desire as part of a three-step program for practical self-development.

This episode explores Epictetus' Discourse Book 1, Chapter 18, focusing on his empathetic advice to avoid anger towards those who make mistakes and how to apply Stoic principles to personal relationships.

This episode continues a series on Cicero's 'On Ends', focusing on book three which presents a classic defense of Stoic ethics through clear, down-to-earth explanations.

This episode explains the Stoic concept of the dichotomy of control, clarifying common misunderstandings and emphasizing focusing on what we can control (our emotions, behavior, and reactions) for happiness.

This episode explores the connection between metacognition, a psychological concept involving awareness of one's own thinking patterns, and Stoic philosophy and practice.

This episode breaks down Epictetus' Handbook 26, exploring how adopting a stoic perspective on common misfortunes can improve emotional resilience and relationships.

Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay discuss the Stoic concept of indifferents, explaining how things like health and wealth are neither good nor bad but central to daily decision-making.

Caleb Ontiveros hosts a solo episode where he reads his essay 'Why Stoicism Is True,' explaining Stoic philosophy's core ideas, including Marcus Aurelius's insight on opinion shaping experience.

Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay discuss Stoic moderation as a cardinal virtue, explaining its definition, practical applications, and sub-components to help listeners build resilience and self-control in daily life.