Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

The ancients talked about Nature, Reason, Zeus, and God – but what did they mean by it? In this conversation, Michael tells us who or what the Stoic God is. We're here to tell you – and share how the Stoic's beliefs about God influenced their practice and picture of Stoicism. (00:58) Why The Stoic God Matters (03:21) The Agenda (05:40) Stoic Physics (08:29) Is This Like Aristotle? (14:13) God Is Fire (23:35) The Forms of God (28:53) God Is Everything (31:52) The Divine In Us (37:15) Reason (38:31) The Cyclic Universe (45:36) The Problem Of Evil (54:18) Living In Accordance With Nature (56:25) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

The philosopher and the general. Stoic philosophy in ancient Roman history. In this podcast, Caleb speaks with Alex Petkas [https://twitter.com/costofglory] about Pompey and Posidonius – the great Roman general and his Stoic mentor. Both of their lives were epic in the greatest sense. They carry lessons for applying Stoic emotion management, cosmopolitanism, and, even, inquiry into the natural world. https://costofglory.com/ (01:27) Seneca on Posidonius (03:28) The World of Posidonius (12:35) The Roman Civil War (15:59) Pompey Meets Posidonius (19:08) Stoic Cosmopolitanism in Action (26:12) Paying Respects to the Philosopher (31:04) The Rest of Pompey's Story (32:14) Pompey's Stoic and Non-Stoic Attributes (43:48) Posidonius on the Divine (53:06) Fate Willing *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"Show me a man who is not a slave; one is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to ambition." – Seneca In this conversation, Michael and Caleb discuss how Stoics think about ambition. What does healthy ambition look like? The unhealthy kind? How do you navigate between the two?  Caleb and Michael talk through the Stoic tradition's answers to these questions. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this Stoa Conversation, Michael Tremblay speaks to Brian Johnson about Stoic roles ethics, methods of teaching, and how martial arts. The start with the question: does martial arts improve character? What about other forms of physical training? They then move to Stoic Role Ethics, especially the role ethics of Epictetus. The Role Ethics of Epictetus [https://amzn.to/3J51Qf1] *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

What advice do the Stoics have for managing social anxiety? In this conversation, Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay talk about Epictetus on anxiety – and how his advice for dissolving anxiety can be applied to social situations. (03:29) Epictetus On Anxiety (13:13) You Will Not Have Anxiety If You Do This (23:42) Learning From Experience (26:36) Epictetus On How To Make It Happen (34:40) Why Is It Weird To Treat Social Skills Like A Craft? (38:34) Focus On What Is Up To You (47:14) Summarizing Epictetus On Anxiety (48:22) Epictetus's Two Handles (51:35) Learning From Negative Feelings *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

How should modern Stoics understand the relationship between the mind and the body? In this conversation, Caleb Ontiveros and Marcus Hedahl discuss Stoicism and the mind-body connection. They walk through issues of theory and practice that the tight bond between our minds and bodies brings up. This episode has both significant practical upshots and takes a few detours into theory on the way. Let us know what you think. (04:18) The Body Influences the Mind (11:23) Your Body Is Not Up to You (13:33) Independence (36:21) There's No Separation (46:04) Getting Theoretical About Lekta *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"Although we don't often recognise it, the 21st century is a transhuman era, where everything that currently makes us human, from our brains and bodies, to our values and ways of life, is poised to be transformed or superseded." In this episode, Caleb and Michael consider a contemporary philosophical issue through the lens of Stoicism. Transhumanism is the idea that humans should use technology to radically enhance human capabilities, lifespan, and experience. So, what do Stoics have to say about it? Caleb argues that they should be largely in favor of it – with some serious qualifications. Classical Transhumanism, essay from Caleb [https://www.classicalfuturist.com/p/classical-transhumanism] Future Superhuman by Elise Bohan [https://amzn.to/43fGpRC] (02:12) Future Superhuman (12:54) Objections to Transhumanism (19:35) Human Nature And Stoicism (32:22) Warning From The Stoics (38:53) Moderation Is A Virtue (40:01) Transcendence *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Donald Robertson about Marcus Aurelius. They dive into what we know about the man and the critical episodes of his life. Donald shares his thoughts on the Marcomannic wars, whether Marcus Aurelius ordered the assassination of one of his top generals, and why he appointed Commodus as his successor.  They end by discussing the central role that Stoicism and Stoic practices played in Marcus Aurelius's life. Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor [https://amzn.to/3V74zvD] How To Think Like A Roman Emperor [https://www.amazon.com/How-Think-Like-Roman-Emperor/dp/1250621437/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_1/143-4134866-8554117?pd_rd_w=e2jBV&content-id=amzn1.sym.1ad2066f-97d2-4731-9356-36b3edf1ae04&pf_rd_p=1ad2066f-97d2-4731-9356-36b3edf1ae04&pf_rd_r=RJZ36572CPGX3AX4ESC3&pd_rd_wg=0e3jI&pd_rd_r=e67318ed-c81d-4f04-ad19-a4fe6b7dafb0&pd_rd_i=1250621437&psc=1] Donald Robertson's Substack [https://donaldrobertson.substack.com/] (00:45) Changing Mind (07:29) Commodus / Different Views of History (16:58) Marcomannic Wars (33:42) What Marcus Aurelius Didn't Say (40:50) Stoicism in Marcus Aurelius's Life (49:41) Avidius Cassius (01:01:18) Marcus Aurelius and Stoic Practices *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"Everything has two handles, and it may be carried by one of these handles, but not by the other." In this conversation, Caleb and Michael talk about these lines from Epictetus. They talk about how it points the way towards Stoic creativity, offensive and defensive Stoicism ,and role ethics. It's a simple passage with a lot of depth. (00:31) Epictetus (05:05) Creativity in Stoicism (12:31) Stop Shutting Down (20:56) A Better Interpretation (33:54) Marcus Aurelius (44:00) The Handbook *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this podcast, Caleb speaks with professor Rob Colter [https://robcolter.com/]. Rob has extensive experience teaching Stoicism in camps, universities, and prisons. He talks about the powerful idea of Stoic freedom, how he's seen Stoicism make a difference in people's lives, and why he calls himself a Socratic. Learn more about Wyoming Stoic Camp here. [https://www.uwyo.edu/philrelig/events/stoic-camp/] (00:51) Stoicism (03:49) Rationality (09:10) The Central Idea: Freedom (21:34) Teaching Stoicism (27:06) How Stoicism Changes Lives (33:32) Role Ethics (35:28) Underrated Stoic Ideas *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

"A Stoic is a Buddhist with attitude" How do you not just survive in chaos, but benefit from it? In this podcast, Caleb and Michael review Nassim Taleb's book "Antifragile." In it, Taleb describes a Stoic philosophy grounded in the realities of randomness and practice. They talk about how ideas from this book have impacted them – and the questions of theory and practice that remain. (06:43) Antifragility (25:55) The Barbell Strategy (37:22) Skin In The Game (45:40) Stoic Skin In The Game (47:04) How Stoic Is This Book? (53:23) Different Kinds Of Lives (01:01:41) The Greek vs Roman Stoics (01:06:47) The Philosopher King *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Who were the Cynics and why did the Stoics treat them as exemplars?   In this conversation, Caleb speaks with Dr. M. D. Usher about the ancient philosophy of Cynicism, its training program, and way of life. How to Say No [https://amzn.to/3w4Uuox] (00:47) Farming (02:21) What Is Cynicism (06:56) Outsiders (10:39) Living In Accordance With Nature (15:15) Storytime (23:18) Training Program (32:39) Socrates (38:38) Modern Cynics (45:12) Returning to Stoicism and Cynicism (48:19) Lazy Stoics *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Time for another Stoic movie review.  This week Caleb and Michael talk 300. They cover the good, bad, and and provocative aspects of the film on the Spartan's epic last stand at Thermopylae. Gladiator [https://stoameditation.com/blog/gladiator-episode-95/] (02:29) The Movie (06:58) Spartan Stoic Virtues (08:36) Powers Of Perception (15:00) Action Over Words (19:48) What Winning Means (24:26) Spartan Propaganda (29:46) Sparta Was Not Stoic (41:31) Steelmanning The Silver People (47:25) King and Queen (51:58) Summary *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

This one is for all of you interested in Stoic theory. In this conversation, Caleb and Scott Aikin discuss objections to Stoicism. Scott defends a revisionary kind of Stoicism. In some places, Caleb questions how revisionary it is – is Scott just restating things the ancients solved already? In other places, Caleb questions whether it's too revisionary to work – do we need an account of nature after all? Scott responds. Listen and work through the problems yourself. Epictetus's 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics [https://amzn.to/3Gp0XNz] Earlier Stoa Conversation on Why What You Think Is Up To You [https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoic-psychology-why-what-you-think-is-up-to-you] Caleb and Michael discuss The Impossibility Objection [https://stoameditation.com/blog/is-stoicism-possible-115/] Scott Aikin on We Are The Stoics Now [https://stoameditation.com/blog/scott-aikin-on-we-are-the-stoics-now/] (04:44) Fatalism (12:29) Dichotomy of Control (18:45) Where Your Control Lies (20:04) Skepticism (22:28) Determinism (31:30) How You Revisionary Is Scott? (34:38) The Ruin Problem *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb and Michael discuss an objection to Stoicism: the impossibility objection. Along the way, they talk about the challenge of living by Stoic principles, especially in extreme situations, and whether achieving the ideal Stoic sage is possible. 03:26 The Argument 14:47 Why It Matters 17:06 Stoicism Doesn't Require Unrealistic Control 27:15 Forceful Impressions 35:44 Can We All Be Sages? 44:54 Can Anyone Be A Sage? 50:10 Wrapping Up *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

How can you use Stoicism to cultivate compassion and build deeper connections? Brittany Polat [https://www.brittanypolat.com/] joins Caleb to talk about the themes from her new set of meditations: Deeper Connections. They discuss the meaning of Stoic compassion and what becoming more compassionate looks like in theory and practice. Deeper Connections [https://stoameditation.com/pod] Journal Like A Stoic [https://amzn.to/47KGtcB] https://stoicismforhumans.substack.com/ [https://stoicismforhumans.substack.com/p/stoic-social-ideals] (01:11) Stoic Compassion (11:11) Becoming More Compassionate (19:43) Abundance Mindset (25:58) Friendship (29:15) Forgiving Others (36:28) Forgiving Oneself (43:12) Practice And Meditation *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Caleb and Michael talk about Seneca's 94th Letter to Lucilius. In it Seneca debates the place of rules in the philosophical life with the ancient Stoic Aristo. It's a topic of theoretical and practical importance. How do you use rules, proverbs, and precepts well when they are such imperfect tools? What's the difference between rules and principles?  (02:39) The Debate Over Rules (16:19) Aristo (21:40) Memorizing Philosophy Does Not Work (26:02) Rules Are Either Obvious Or Misunderstood (31:02) Summarizing Aristo (32:53) Seneca's Response (45:20) The Point of Rules (49:54) Are Rules Specific Enough? (52:38) How To Use Rules *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Michael Tremblay and Erlend MacGillivray take a deep dive into Stoic history and the life of Epictetus. It's an excellent discussion for anyone looking to enrich their knowledge of ancient history and situate the Stoics in their time. https://schoolofepictetus.substack.com/ (01:20) Getting Into Stoicism (05:33) Epictetus (10:26) Epictetus's World (13:34) Philosophy in Rome (20:51) Epictetus's Students (45:40) Stoics and Lay People (01:03:30) Popularization vs Elitism (01:10:08) What's Next *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Caleb and Michael talk Socrates. Why was he held in such high regard by the Stoics? What's the line of philosophical theory and practice connecting Stoicism to Socrates? And how did Socrates philosophy differ from the Stoics? (03:52) Who Was Socrates? (07:07) Philosophy As A Way Off Life (14:48) The Socratic Method (20:49) Virtue Is Knowledge (26:15) Self-knowledge (33:40) The Importance Of Character (43:19) Differences (49:14) Philosophy With Socrates *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

In this conversation, Caleb speaks with William O Stephens about his 6 core themes of Stoicism. Epictetus's 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics [https://amzn.to/3vngjiK] https://williamostephens.com/ (04:12) Self-Control (09:31) Seeing Things As They Are (14:34) Living In Accordance With Nature (22:12) Role Ethics (35:57) Virtue Depends On Knowledge (42:59) Stoicism Is Aspirational *** Learn more about our new year's course: stoameditation.com/course [http://stoameditation.com/course] Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [http://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe] Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): stoameditation.com/pod [http://stoameditation.com/pod] If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/