In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.10, where Marcus Aurelius reminds himself—and us—that we only ever live in the present moment. He urges us to remember three things: life is short, the space we occupy is small, and fame is fleeting. But why does he emphasize this? Because knowing who we are and becoming the best version of ourselves is what truly mat ... 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
Nov 5
Gender Roles and the Rational Soul
In this episode I take on a listener question about gender roles and Stoicism — whether they exist, how the Stoics would have defined them, and what any of it means for modern relationships. We look closely at Musonius Rufus, the so-called “fourth head” of the Stoic school, who a ... Show More
22m 28s
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
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
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
Feb 2025
Essential Teachings Special: The Time is Always Now
<p>Original Air Date: June 17, 2021 </p><p>Eckhart Tolle talks with a live audience about the importance of living in the now. Drawing on ideas from his best-selling book, The Power of Now, Eckhart encourages participants not to linger on past mistakes, but to learn from them and ... Show More
52m 33s
Jun 2019
Episode 62, Epictetus: A Guide to Stoicism (Part III. Modern Stoicism)
<p class="">Imagine you are in an open field which stretches in every direction, further than your eyes can see. Since there is nothing of interest in your immediate surroundings, you set your sights on the horizon. You begin to walk with purpose; long strides eventually break in ... Show More
51m 6s
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
Jun 2019
Episode 62, Epictetus: A Guide to Stoicism (Part I. The Context and Life of Epictetus)
<p class="">Imagine you are in an open field which stretches in every direction, further than your eyes can see. Since there is nothing of interest in your immediate surroundings, you set your sights on the horizon. You begin to walk with purpose; long strides eventually break in ... Show More
54m 36s
Sep 6
3728: Our Everloving Quest to Control Our Lives by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits on How to Sit with Uncertainty
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 3728: Most of us spend our days trying to create order and comfort, yet life never stays under control for long. Leo Babaut ... Show More
9m 50s
Jul 2019
Episode 62, Epictetus: A Guide to Stoicism (Part IV. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
<p class="">Imagine you are in an open field which stretches in every direction, further than your eyes can see. Since there is nothing of interest in your immediate surroundings, you set your sights on the horizon. You begin to walk with purpose; long strides eventually break in ... Show More
37m 35s