Donald J. Robertson
75 episodes listed below
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Donald Robertson, the author of "How to Think Like a Roman Emperor", and a cognitive-behavioral therapist, talks about how to apply Stoicism in the modern world, discussing philosophy, psychology and self-improvement with guests from all walks of life. Available on Google and Apple podcasts. donaldrobertson.substack.com
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Ancient philosophy meets therapy, relationships and everyday pressure in conversations that turn Stoic principles into practical questions about conduct.
Ancient philosophy becomes a set of working questions here: how much control people really have, what they owe others, and when discipline turns into self-punishment. Conversations connect Stoic ideas with cognitive behavioral therapy without flattening either one.
That three-headed inbox monster meets your right to disappoint people without becoming the furniture in their house.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A steady look at rescuing, restraint, and what love asks in ordinary life.
This episode treats love less like a feeling than a place where good intentions can turn controlling. It is strongest when it stays with ordinary life: trying to fix a partner, talking yourself out of discomfort, and blurring a preference into a demand.
Stoicism meets the habits that keep people stuck.
The episode opens with people-pleasing and the rescuer impulse, then shifts into skepticism, social media, and the ways approval and outrage keep repeating themselves. Casey Pierce and Dr.
A clear-eyed look at how rescuing, hustle, and self-worth can get tangled together.
Casey Pearce and Dr. Scott Waltman turn a casual back-and-forth into a sharp look at rescuing, perfectionism, and the habit of tying self-worth to usefulness.
A calm, practical case for limits, self-respect, and not answering every demand.
One thread here is the relief of setting limits without turning it into a moral drama. The episode starts with inbox guilt, then settles into a Stoic answer that leaves room for self-respect and the reserve clause.
A practical look at when support becomes rescue, and why that line matters.
The episode keeps its focus on a hard, familiar problem: how to support a partner with depression without turning the relationship into a rescue project. Casey Pearce and Dr.
A clear look at how self-protection can harden into a new imbalance.
Casey Pearce and Dr. Scott Waltman trace how stopping the rescuer role can swing too far into a harder kind of self-protection. The episode keeps that tension intact.
A funny, uneasy look at AI comfort, loneliness, and the pull of immediate relief.
Casey Pierce and Dr. Scott Waltman use emotional dependence on AI as a way into a plain human problem: loneliness. The conversation starts with sci-fi jokes, then settles into quieter questions about self-awareness, comfort, and how easy it is to mistake a responsive tool for…
A careful look at rescuing as a pattern, not a virtue signal.
This episode treats rescuing as a pattern with roots, and Jeff Perron joins Casey Pearce and Dr. Scott Waltman to work through it with schema therapy.
Ed Mylett interviews entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders about the moments that changed everything.
Asian Efficiency's Tan Pham and Brooks Duncan on time management, habits, and AI tools.
Donald Robertson interviews Mark Forstater about his journey into Stoicism and his work on audio books of ancient philosophers.
The episode begins with technical audio setup issues before the host and guests start discussing Stoic philosophy.
This episode explores five practical ideas from Socrates that connect ancient philosophy to modern psychology, including the Socratic method, cognitive distancing techniques, and how to manage anger through philosophical perspective.
A holiday handoff sets up a plain but prickly problem.
People-pleasing gets pulled into philosophy without losing its messiness.
Judgment opens the door.
Email guilt can feel like Ghidorah.
Casey Pearce opens with a hard question about dating someone with depression.
Casey Pearce and Dr.
Casey Pierce and Dr.
Dr.
Donald Robertson discusses how Stoicism serves as a preventative philosophy for building resilience, contrasting it with remedial therapies like CBT.
Donald Robertson interviews Commander William C.
The hosts discuss the anniversary of their Stoicism workbook and introduce the concept of parentification.
This episode discusses the concept of being a 'values chameleon' in relationships, drawing on Stoic philosophy to explore how people change their values to fit their partners.
Donald Robertson interviews classicist Robert Garland about ancient Greek and Roman beliefs on death and the afterlife.
Donald Robertson interviews classicist Robin Waterfield about his biography of Plato and the enduring importance of Plato's work.
Donald Robertson interviews Michael Tremblay about the intersection of Stoic philosophy and martial arts, exploring how physical discipline informs philosophical practice.
Donald Robertson interviews philosopher Matt Sharp about Stoicism, philosophy as a way of life, and his new book on Stoicism and bullying.
Donald Robertson interviews Josh Bertolotti about how he discovered Stoic philosophy and its practical applications for modern life.