Sean Illing talks with author Ryan Holiday about Stoicism — a philosophy with roots in ancient Greece and which flourished in early imperial Rome — and how it can help us live fulfilling lives today. In addition to explaining what Stoicism is and how we can practice it, Holiday addresses the critical idea that Stoicism is a philosophy for elites, unpacks som ... Show More
Apr 27
The case for thinking like a child
Sean talks with psychologist Alison Gopnik about how children think, learn, experience the world, and why their minds may be more powerful than ours in some crucial ways. They explore the idea that kids are the “research and development” wing of the human species, built for explo ... Show More
44m 34s
Apr 24
The one thing the Supreme Court won’t touch
The Supreme Court is aggressive on almost everything. Except the internet. Sean talks with Vox’s Ian Millhiser about a surprising pattern at the Court. While the Court has been eager to reshape schools, healthcare, and civil rights law, it has consistently taken a cautious, almos ... Show More
40m 17s
Nov 2022
Virtue Ethics and The Quest for Character
<p>Massimo Pigliucci, philosophy professor and author, joins Breht once again, this time to discuss his newest book <em><a href= "https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/massimo-pigliucci/the-quest-for-character/9781541646957/"> "The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and ... Show More
1h 5m
Jun 2023
How Emerson Can Help You Become a Stoic Nonconformist
<p>When we think about Stoic philosophers, we typically think about the thinkers of ancient Greece and Rome, like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. But my guest, Mark Matousek, says there was an incredibly insightful Stoic philosopher who lived on the American continent in more mode ... Show More
46m 28s
May 2022
Massimo Pigliucci on How to Live a Happy Life
Massimo Pigliucci is a Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, former co-host of the Rationally Speaking Podcast, and former editor in chief for the online magazine Scientia Salon. His research interests include the philosophy of science, the relationship between ... Show More
1h 2m
Aug 2021
The Philosophy of Stoicism w/ Massimo Pigliucci
In this episode, Breht is joined by philosopher Massimo Pigliucci to discuss the philosophy of stoicism. In the second half we open up the conversation and discuss politics, the European right, Massimo's application of stoicism to the climate crisis, and more. Discover more of M ... Show More
1h 21m