Practical Stoicism

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In this experimental episode, I take a moment to reflect on the evolution of this podcast, "Practical Stoicism," and my journey as its host. Initially focused on providing Stoicism-informed practical advice for better living, the podcast, especially after collaborating with Kai, gradually shifted towards more philosophical and academic discussions. This transition, while intellectually enriching, moved away from the podcast's original mission of offering straightforward, applicable wisdom for everyday life. I share a realization prompted by a conversation with my wife, questioning the practicality of recent episodes. Her insights led me to reevaluate the podcast's direction, especially the focus on deep theoretical debates and interpretations of Stoic texts, which, while interesting, may not align with the needs of our listeners seeking direct, actionable guidance. This episode marks a turning point, a commitment to return to the essence of "Practical Stoicism." It's about moving away from philosophical theorizing towards providing clear, actionable advice on how Stoic principles can enhance everyday life. The goal is not to delve into Stoic philosophy for academic purposes but to extract valuable lessons that listeners can apply to become better, more courageous, just, temperate, and wise individuals, regardless of their philosophical allegiance. I emphasize the podcast's role as a bridge between Stoic concepts and practical self-improvement, moving away from proselytizing Stoicism to using it as a tool for personal growth and betterment. This episode is an invitation for listener feedback, especially through the interactive feature on Spotify, to guide the podcast back to its roots and chart a more detailed course for future episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's never been a more important time to support my work in Stoicism. Please do so here: https://stoicismpod.com/support -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (George Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Meric Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (A.S.L Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Enchiridion (Elizabeth Carter) : https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Check out Neurohacker's Qualia Mind at neurohacker.com/practical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kai answers a few listener questions, the final one being on transgenderism and what (if any) the Stoic position on it is. -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (George Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Meric Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (A.S.L Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Enchiridion (Elizabeth Carter) : https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A conversation with Leonidas Konstantakos -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (George Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Meric Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (A.S.L Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Enchiridion (Elizabeth Carter) : https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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A discussion with William O Stephens about his new book on Epictetus. -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (George Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Meric Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (A.S.L Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Enchiridion (Elizabeth Carter) : https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When should a Stoic become Batman? Ever? And other questions in this month's first listener letters episode. -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prepare to cry, though it all ends well -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nat 20s (hopefully) abound -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August Listener Letters -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How might someone with diabetes, or the friend/family members of someone with diabetes, think about this condition as a Stoic? -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Survey is here: https://stoicism.formaloo.me/cfhwo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Kai asks Tanner a bunch of awkward questions. Tanner doesn't know what those questions will be. None of this is planned, Tanner did not want to air this episode but promised he would.  -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are role models are most reliable when you don't know them completely? Every human being is flawed. So, when idolizing one, if you hope to keep the benefits of having a role model, is it best to keep your distance? When viewing a piece of art, do you view it from a distance to appreciate its beauty, or do you put it under a microscope to discover all those things within that painting that aren't as beautiful as you hoped? Is this expectation fair? -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What role, if any, does food play in a Stoic's life? We're not talking about diet choices (Veganism, et al), but the food itself. How does it factor in re: community? Health? Into the Cosmopolis? What role does it play in the many facets of a Stoic's life. -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First mailbag of the month! -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trish Colby is a member of our community and the first to be featured in an ongoing series we're workshopping a title for -- but it's something like "How I Practice Stoicism". This series will be ongoing and will feature discussions (like this one) with members of our Stoic community; not academics or celebrities but everyday people who are are navigating the path of the Prokoptôn the same as the rest of us. -- #1 : View all our sponsor links : https://sponsors.stoicismpod.com #2 : Get rid of ads : https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #3: Visit our store : https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend a live workshop : https://actualstoicism.com #4: Read our articles : https://read.stoicismpod.com #5: Join the Discord : https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join the journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the last 50-ish minutes of our most recent workshop on sex and sexuality in Stoicism. Learn more about our workshops at https://actualstoicism.com. -- #1: Become a premium subscriber and get rid of ads: https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #2: Visit our store but buy some stuff: https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend some of our live workshops (or watch the replays): https://actualstoicism.com #4: Subscribe to our free Substack: https://stoicismpod.substack.com #5: Join our free Discord community: https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join our Stoic Journaling Program: https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters -- Sponsor InsideTracker : https://insidetracker.com/stoicism Sponsor Neurohacker : https://neurohacker.com/zeno Sponsor AG1 : https://athleticgreens.com/practical Sponsor BetterHelp : https://betterhelp.com/stoicism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another mailbag; and a couple days early! -- #1: Become a premium subscriber and get rid of ads: https://practicalstoicism.supportingcast.fm #2: Visit our store but buy some stuff: https://shop.stoicismpod.com #3: Attend some of our live workshops (or watch the replays): https://actualstoicism.com #4: Subscribe to our free Substack: https://stoicismpod.substack.com #5: Join our free Discord community: https://stoicismpod.com/discord #6: Join our Stoic Journaling Program: https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Meditations (Farquharson) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/farquharson Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters -- Sponsor InsideTracker : https://insidetracker.com/stoicism Sponsor Neurohacker : https://neurohacker.com/zeno Sponsor AG1 : https://athleticgreens.com/practical Sponsor BetterHelp : https://betterhelp.com/stoicism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices