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
Nov 21
Growing Into Roles We're Not Good At Yet
In this episode I talk about what it’s like to take on a large number of new roles in a very short period of time, and how doing so can leave you feeling detached from yourself unless you approach those roles with clear thinking, humility, and attention. Over the last few years I ... Show More
16m 30s
Nov 14
Living Well on a Hot Planet [The COP30]
In this episode I take a current headline—the opening of COP30 in Belém, Brazil—and sit with it like a philosopher, not a pundit. Instead of debating policy language or political victories, I look at what a global event like this means for people trying to live excellently right ... Show More
25m 35s
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 ... Show More
11m 22s
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
<p dir="ltr">Practical ways to lead a good life. </p> <p dir="ltr">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 Li ... Show More
1h 18m