Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life Podcast

Thank you Rageforthemachine, Angel, Kevin White, Billy Shebar, Paul Mulcahy, and many others for tuning into my live video with Caleb and Michael! Join me for my next live video in the app.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, my guest is Carlos Garcia. Carlos is the Co-Founder and CEO of True Progress Lab, a coaching company that operates on the motto 'Get Calm. Get Bold. Get After It'. He is also a Major and Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, and an Army-certified Master Resilience Trainer.Highlights* Carlos, you have a fascinating background—an attorney, a Major and Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, and a high-performance coach. How did your experiences in these high-stakes environments lead you to focus on resilience and coaching?* You're an Army-certified Master Resilience Trainer. What are the core principles the military teaches for handling adversity? * Are there overlaps with ancient Stoic philosophy?* How do you think the army’s resilience training could be improved?* You mentioned that reading about Stoicism and Marcus Aurelius has been "instrumental" in shaping your philosophy. Which of his ideas resonated most deeply with you, and how do you see them applying to a modern leader or soldier?* Your flagship course is called The Inner Fortress, can you tell us a bit about that?* A key focus of your coaching is overcoming FOPO, or the "fear of people's opinions". Why do you find this specific fear is such a powerful inhibitor for the successful professionals you work with?* You use a unique blend of Stoic philosophy and exposure therapy to help clients. Could you walk us through how you combine an ancient philosophy with a modern therapeutic technique to help someone act more boldly?* Finally, based on your experience, what do you think are some of the most helpful pieces of advice you can pass on to our listeners? Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Links* Web: trueprogresslab.comThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Harry Sidebottom. Harry is a Lecturer in Ancient History at Lincoln College, Oxford. He is the bestselling author of fifteen historical novels, and nineteen books in total. His debut trade non-fiction book, The Mad Emperor: Heliogabalus and the Decadence of Rome, was a Book of the Year in the Spectator, the Financial Times and BBC History. His latest book, Those Who Are About to Die: A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator is published in the UK on the 28th Aug, and in the US later next year.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* Gladiators capture the public imagination but what did you want to explore the Roman mindset by focusing on them? * What does the institution of gladiatorial games tell us about Roman views on life and death?* What do you think it may surprise your readers to learn about the world of the gladiators?* What are the differences between the fighting skills of a gladiator and a legionary? * What were the strangest animals they fought or hunted in the arenas? * As a historian who has deeply studied the Roman mind, what have you learned about their core values? And how do you think those compare to our modern sensibilities?* From your research, what can the Romans teach us about resilience in the face of adversity? Links* Those Who Are About to Die (Penguin)* Goodreads Author ProfileThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Shermin Kruse. Shermin is a globally recognized negotiation consultant, law professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, and TEDx producer. She is the author of the recently published book Stoic Empathy: The Road Map to a Life of Influence, Self-Leadership, and Integrity. We discuss empathy and how it can be combined with Stoic resilience to help us maintain our compassion while avoiding burnoutStoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* How did you become interested in Stoicism?* What is Stoic Empathy – and how does it differ from unhelpful forms of empathy?* What are the most common misconceptions about empathy that you encounter?* What’s the relationship between empathy and anger in your view?* In your book, you discuss why traditional models of compassion might fall short. * From your perspective, what are the key limitations of these models, and what does neuroscience reveal about why a different approach might be necessary?* What tools do you recommend for people who want to maintain healthy empathy and compassion?* How can we face injustice and suffering in the world without shutting down or freaking out?Links* Stoic Empathy on Amazon * Shermin Kruse’s Website Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talk with Raymond DiGiuseppe, Professor of Psychology at St. John’s University and Director of Professional Education at the Albert Ellis Institute. Professor DiGiuseppe is a renowned figure in the field of cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). He’s also done extensive work on anger. This is a special episode in which we take a deep dive into the Stoic anger management strategies described in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. How valuable are these ancient strategies when viewed from the perspective of modern evidence-based psychotherapy.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* The Stoic theory of anger as a “desire for revenge”* Avoid mind-reading: “[When getting offended:] remember that you can’t be sure that they are doing wrong, because many actions serve some other purpose. Generally speaking, a great deal of experience is needed before one can confidently express an opinion about what someone else is doing.”* Consider the whole character: “Remember how they behave while eating, while reclining on their couches, and so on, and most importantly how their beliefs leave them no choice, and how they pride themselves on what they do.”* Attribute actions to ignorance rather than malice: “For no soul is voluntarily deprived of the truth and by the same token no soul is voluntarily deprived of the ability to [judge the worth of things properly]. Indeed, people don’t like to be called unjust, discourteous, and avaricious, or, in general, to be thought of as someone likely to wrong their neighbors.”* Contemplate impermanence: “When you’re too angry or impatient, remember that human life is fleeting and before long all of us will have been laid to rest.”* Cognitive distancing: “Remember that it is not people’s actions that disturb us (because their actions are [their own business]), but our opinions of their actions. At any rate, eliminate the judgment that they’re doing something hurtful, and be willing to let go of it, and anger comes to an end.”* Anger does us more harm than the things we’re angry about: “Remember that we suffer more from getting angry and upset about such things than we do from the things themselves.”* Kindness and other virtues can replace anger: “Remember that kindness is unconquerable if it’s genuine, not phony or feigned. After all, what can even the most abusive person in the world do to you if you keep on being kind to him and, if the opportunity arises, gently offer him advice and take the time to show him the error of his ways right when he’s trying to do you harm?”* Recognize your own flaws: “Remember that you yourself often do wrong and are no better than them. Even if you refrain from certain kinds of transgressions, you still have the capacity to commit them.”* Do not demand perfection from others: “[And you can accept a tenth gift, from Apollo, the Leader of the Muses:] the proposition that it’s insanity to expect flawed men never to do wrong, because that would be desiring the impossible..”* Remember, nature gave you the potential to overcome anger and conflict: “First, remember the various kinds of relationship I have with [others]: we were born to help one another.”* Are there other relevant attitudes that Marcus Aurelius doesn’t mention?Links* Profile at St John’s University* Profile at the Albert Ellis Institute* Google Scholar ProfileThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

Donald speaks with Matthew Gindin, writer, editor, and former Buddhist monk. We talk about Buddhist teachings on anger and the parallels between Buddhist and Stoic contemplative meditation practices. Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Charif Ahmed of Study the Greats and Become Greater, about the Stoic approach to anger management found in Seneca’s On Anger.Links* Study the Greats and Become GreaterThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you The Plato's Academy Centre, Adam PT, Diane Kalen-Sukra, EHL, VeneerOfCivility, and many others for tuning into my live video with Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom, discussing anger! Join me for my next live video in the Substack app.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.You can register free of charge for the Philosophy and Psychology of Anger event on Saturday via the link below.Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Windy Dryden. Windy is Emeritus Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies at Goldsmiths in the University of London. He has been working in the field of psychotherapy since 1975, and was one of the first people in Britain to be trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). He learned from pioneers such as Albert Ellis, Aaron T. Beck and Arnold Lazarus, among others. He is a very influential figure in the field himself, best-known as the UK’s leading expert on Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). In a career spanning almost half a century, he has worked with thousands of clients, trained countless students, and written or edited 285 books on psychotherapy. Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* What was different when you first began studying psychotherapy in the 1970s?* Do you think anything was done better in the past?)* In a nutshell, what is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy?* What the relationship is between REBT and CBT.* What is single-session therapy?* What information do you need to get from the client to make this approach work?* Do you ask clients to do preparatory work before the session or homework afterwards?* How can REBT help with anger?* How do we distinguish healthy from unhealthy anger?* What’s the simplest bit of good advice, in your view, that could be given to people struggling with anger?Links* Website: windydryden.com* Amazon Author ProfileThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks to Jon Brooks for remastering my audio recording of the View from Above, a guided Stoic meditation exercise.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Check out my article about the Acropolis and View from Above in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.You’ll also find an version of the script in this article…Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Chuck Garcia, the founder of Climb Leadership International. Chuck coaches executives of Fortune 500 companies on public speaking and emotional intelligence. He is an Adjunct Professor in Columbia University’s Graduate School of Engineering and teaches in their professional development and leadership program. Chuck is also a passionate mountaineer. He is the author of the book A Climb to the Top: Communication & Leadership Tactics to Take Your Career to New Heights, and more recently, his latest book, The Moment That Defines Your Life: Integrating Emotional Intelligence and Stoicism when your Life, Career, and Family are on the Line.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* How did you first become interested in Stoicism?* What misconceptions do you think people might have about Stoicism?* Why do you think Stoicism is important today?* What’s your book The Moment that Defines your Life about?* What is a moment that defines your life?* Are there any connections, for you, between Stoicism and mountaineering? * What aspects of Stoicism do you think are most relevant to executive coaching?* How do you see the relationship between Stoicism and emotional intelligence* How do you think Stoicism might help people to avoid getting so angry?* What’s a good way for people to begin learning about Stoicism and applying it in their life?Links* Website: https://chuckgarcia.com/* A Climb to the Top * The Moment that Defines your Life Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Erick Cloward. Erick is an executive coach, based in Amsterdam, who helps leaders build more resilient teams and make better decisions. He is a former tech CTO and software developer. Erick started the Stoic Coffee Break podcast in 2018, to provide people with practical advice on applying Stoicism to their lives –- it now has more than 9 million downloads. He has his first book coming out on 4th February, from Adams Media, titled Stoicism 101: From Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus to the Role of Reason and Amor Fati, an Essential Primer on Stoic Philosophy.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* How did you first become interested in Stoicism?* Misconceptions people have about Stoicism* Why Stoicism is important today* How did you get started doing your podcast and what have you learned from the experience? * What’s your book, Stoicism 101, about? * What aspects of Stoicism do you think are most relevant to executive coaching?* What can Stoicism tell us about leadership?* How Stoicism might help people to avoid getting so angryLinks* Stoic Coffee Website * Stoicism 101Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with Benny Voncken, a life coach, and the co-founder of the Via Stoica website and Podcast. He reached out to me saying he’d love to share his experience putting Stoic philosophy into practice because it greatly reduced his anxiety, worries, and helped him deal with problems such as anger and frustration.Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Highlights* How did you become interested in Stoicism?* Tell us about your website and podcast.* Why do you think Stoicism is important today?* How do you see the value of Stoicism in relation to life coaching?* What are some ways Stoic ideas or techniques can help people?* What do you think Stoicism tells us about coping with worry and anxiety?* I’m very interested in anger, how do you think Stoicism might help people to avoid getting so angry?* What’s a good way for people to begin learning about Stoicism and applying it in their life?Links* Via Stoica Website* Via Stoica PodcastThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I speak with Igor Grossmann, a professor of psychology, and renowned researcher in the field of wisdom. Prof. Grossmann directs the Wisdom and Culture Lab at the University of Waterloo, where he investigates the factors that contribute to wise reasoning. He is also the co-host of the On Wisdom podcast. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of how wisdom can be fostered and applied in everyday life. Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* What is wisdom?* Is wisdom more like a static trait or a dynamic process?* How does wisdom make use of abstract versus concrete thinking?* What’s the role of intellectual humility in wisdom?* Can you explain what’s meant by open-mindedness, perspective-taking, and compromise-seeking?  * How does distanced (third-person) reflection help us to exercise wisdom?* What potential insights could psychotherapists glean from your work?  * How does wisdom-based thinking about problems differ from unhealthy forms of thinking about problems such as depressive rumination or anxious worrying?* Are there ways that research on wisdom can help us to cope with problems such as anxiety or depression?* Are you aware of any links between your research on wisdom and what ancient philosophers have said about wisdom?* What’s the relationship between wisdom and inter-group hostility or antisocial attitudes?  * Does wisdom lead to co-operation and prosocial attitudes?Links* The Wise Mind Balances the Abstract and the Concrete* Explaining contentious political issues promotes open-minded thinking - ScienceDirect* Igor Grossmann* On Wisdom Podcast Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

Listen to our live How to Think Like Socrates book launch from 19th Nov. Phil Yanov was kind enough to send me this recording of the event.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talk with Kane, who hosts a podcast for Australian first responders. Kane interviewed me for his podcast and kindly agreed to allow me to crosspost the interview to my audience. We talk about my forthcoming book How to Think Like Socrates, and how Socratic and Stoic philosophy can help us to improve our lives today, in the modern world.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Walter Matweychuk. Dr. Matweychuk is a practicing psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and has an independent telehealth practice in Manhattan with clients worldwide. He is also an adjunct professor of Applied Psychology at New York University. He has personally worked with both of the two main pioneers of cognitive-behavioral therapy: Albert Ellis and Aaron T. Beck. He is the author of several books on Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), including Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: A Newcomer's Guide and The REBT Pocket Companion for Clients.Every Saturday at 9 AM in New York City on Zoom, he does a demonstration of REBT with a volunteer willing to discuss a real problem, which has now surpassed 218 consecutive weeks; go to his website REBTDoctor.com to register for the link.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* What is Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy?* Why he chose to focus on REBT rather than Beck’s cognitive therapy* Mindfulness and acceptance based approaches in relation to REBT* What’s the future of REBT?* The key similarities are between Stoicism and REBT* The REBT model of anger* What would a philosophy of life based on REBT look like?  Links* REBTdoctor.com* The REBT Pocket Companion for Clients* Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: A Newcomer's GuideThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Gad Saad. (Apologies for the room reverb on my mic!) Dr. Saad is a well-known public intellectual, champion of free speech, and renowned evolutionary psychologist. He is Professor of Marketing at the John Molson School of Business, at Concordia University, in Montreal, and has recently also been appointed Visiting Professor and Global Ambassador at Northwood University. Gad has a popular YouTube channel, and a podcast called The Saad Truth, and he’s the author of several best-selling books; the latest one is titled The Saad Truth about Happiness: 8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life. Yesterday was the four-year anniversary of the release of his most widely-known book The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense. Gad is currently working on his next book Suicidal Empathy.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* What is happiness?  Are some people confused about what it means to be happy?* What makes us so unhappy today?* Do consumerism and celebrity culture make us unhappy?    .  * The relationship between emotional resilience and happiness* Secrets to living a happy life* What problems are caused by woke culture and political correctness?  * For and against anger  Links* Gad Saad’s Personal Website * Gad Saad’s Twitter  * Psychology Today Blog * YouTube Channel * Facebook Public Page * The Parasitic Mind * The Saad Truth about Happiness Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I’ll be reading a brief excerpt from my new biography, Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor, which is available as an audiobook as well as in hardback and ebook formats. The book was chosen as an editor’s pick by Barnes and Noble and currently has 4.7 stars on Amazon. You can hear a sample from the studio-recorded audiobook, and read reviews, on Audible. Also see Goodreads for reviews.* “Given the erratic, not to say murderous, behavior of many of [Marcus’s] predecessors, . . . how did so sterling a character as Marcus come about? That is the subject of Donald J. Robertson’s excellent biographical study.”—Joseph Epstein, National Review* “Addictively written, this riveting visitation of the fascinating figure of Marcus Aurelius is as comprehensive as it gets, covering everything from his reign to his philosophy.”—“Notes from Your Bookseller,” barnesandnoble.com* “Eminently readable. . . . A leading light in the modern revival of Stoic philosophy, Robertson directly and elegantly draws out the connections between Marcus’ experiences in the unforgiving crucible of Roman imperial politics and the philosophical ideas he expresses in the Meditations. . . . An invaluable companion to the Meditations itself.”—Peter Juul, Liberal Patriot* “Few historical figures are as fascinating as Marcus Aurelius, the emperor-philosopher. And few writers have been so effective at bringing his complex life and character to the attention of modern readers as Donald Robertson.”—Massimo Pigliucci, author of How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life* “[Robertson] thoughtfully and readably capture[s] the essence of this great man and his great life. It’s a must read for any aspiring Stoic.”—Ryan Holiday, coauthor of #1 New York Times bestseller The Daily Stoic* “Robertson has written a very thorough and very readable account of Marcus’s life and the events and people that shaped him. Anyone who wants to understand the author of Meditations should read this book.”—Robin Waterfield, author of Marcus Aurelius, Meditations: The Annotated Edition* “Donald Robertson guides us into the world of a philosopher-emperor whose humility and Stoic teachings fill the pages. We are indebted to Robertson for this wonderful account of the emperor who penned notes to himself while in battle that would be later known as the Meditations and read by millions for philosophical inspiration. Simply spellbinding.”—Nancy Sherman, author of Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience* “Robertson’s biography provides a compelling narrative of Marcus’ life, carefully based on the primary sources. He brings out very clearly the life-long significance of Stoicism for Marcus and the interplay between philosophy, politics, and warfare.”—Christopher Gill, author of Learning to Live Naturally: Stoic Ethics and Its Modern Significance* “This highly readable biography is the perfect place to begin for anyone who wants to learn more about the man behind the Meditations.”—John Sellars, author of The Pocket StoicStoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

This special episode contains a live recording of my recent talk for Conversations with Modern Stoicism, hosted by Phil Yanov. We were celebrating Marcus Aurelius’ birthday, and I spoke at length about what I think we can learn from ancient Greece about the dangers faced by democracy, and how Socrates and the Stoics could help us. I was speaking live from Athens, the birthplace of democracy. Thanks to Phil Yanov, for providing the audio recording for this podcast episode.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe