This episode clears up confusion around Stoic indifferents, especially when it comes to fitness and health. I revisit last week’s topic of context and explain why outcomes—like physical strength or general health—have nothing to do with Virtue. Drawing on Epictetus’ concept of the hegemonikon, I explore how only our choices fall within the domain of moral re ... Show More
Oct 8
How Much News Should a Stoic Consume?
In this episode I wrestle with how much news a practicing Stoic should actually consume. I define a “news media diet,” weigh different source types (fellow citizens, establishment outlets, and subject-matter experts), and argue for a role-driven, locality-first approach that resp ... Show More
20m 55s
Sep 8
Hegel on Stoicism (Part One)
Discussing the section on Stoicism in Hegel's "Phenomenology of Spirit," which is under "Freedom of Self-Consciousness," "Stoicism, Scepticism, and the Unhappy Consciousness." This comes right after his famous lordship and bondage chapter, and explains how in reaction to being de ... Show More
58m 13s
Sep 30
The Power of Choosing to Be Single: Stoic Strategies Explained
Discover if being single aligns with your values through the wisdom of Stoic philosophers like Epictetus, Cleanthes, and Marcus Aurelius. Explore seven Stoic strategies to make value-based relationship decisions, freeing yourself from societal pressures. Learn to: Think clearly a ... Show More
26m 5s
Jan 2025
3478: Why I Couldn't Quit Smoking (And How I Did) - The Truth About Free Will by Vironika Tugaleva
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 3478:Vironika Tugaleva challenges the conventional notion of free will, arguing that our choices are deeply influenced by su ... Show More
11m 52s
Aug 2023
Embracing Fate: Nietzsche's Answer to the Victim Mentality
Send us a text"It's possible to be a legitimate victim of something... but to not be consumed by the label of victim.""The victim mindset is not just disempowering, it's also foolish, inaccurate, and irrational."In this enlightening discussion, we delve deep into the co ... Show More
30m 45s
Mar 2025
#81 Existence, Life, Society, and Creativity
We often take the wonders of existence for granted—the way we move, think, and create. In this episode, I explore the invisible structures shaping our lives, the interconnectedness of knowledge, and the beauty of human expression across cultures and disciplines. From philosophy t ... Show More
22m 1s
Sep 22
How To Live Well—Even Amidst Failure, Uncertainty, Loss, and Physical Pain | Kieran Setiya
Practical ways to lead a good life. Kieran Setiya is the Peter de Florez Professor of Philosophy at MIT, where he works on ethics and related questions about human agency and human knowledge. He is the author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide and Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can ... Show More
1h 18m
Feb 2025
Philosophy Series: Stoicism for Revolutionaries
Breht listens to, reflects on, and critically engages with a public lecture by the late philosopher Michael Sugrue titled Marcus Aurelius' Meditations: The Stoic Ideal. He discusses the philosophy of Stoicism, its insights as well as its limitations, its commodification and basta ... Show More
2h 2m
Mar 2025
Mental, moral and physical laziness - how to beat our modern addictions
What if the path to a meaningful life isn't paved with comfort, but with deliberate discomfort?
In this episode, we explore the insidious nature of "flabbiness" - not just of body, but of mind and spirit. We'll uncover how our modern world lulls us into a state of complacent exis ... Show More
22m 52s