Sun Tzu wrote, "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." This is a radical idea. In a world that glorifies the hustle, the grind, the battle, and the knockout punch, we are told that the highest form of victory is peaceful. It is quiet. It is effectiv ... Show More
Jan 2026
Episode 55: The Power of Strategic Thinking
In a world that is obsessed with speed, with the immediate reaction, with the hot take, and the quick fix, strategic thinking is a revolutionary act. It is the ability to press pause on the chaos. It is the discipline to look beyond the noise of the moment and see the long arc of ... Show More
32m 42s
Jan 2026
Episode 54: Mastering the Art of Preparation
Sun Tzu taught, The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. What does this mean for you? It means that the success you seek—in your career, in your personal goals, ... Show More
33m 8s
Jul 2023
A Stoic Life: Real-world Applications of Stoic Principles with Donald Robertson
Donald Robertson describes Stoicism as "a kind of psychological toolbox", full of strategies for handling anxiety, anger and pain, and that framing runs through this whole conversation. We trace the history of the philosophy and pull practical use out of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetu ... Show More
1h 20m
Feb 2025
Socrates’ Two-Column Method Is The Best Self-Help Tool
The oldest self-help tool might also be the best one, and it fits on a single sheet of paper. I asked Stoic author Donald Robertson to walk me through Socrates' two-column method: a simple way to question your own assumptions, pressure-test a belief, and make a clearer decision.W ... Show More
18m 45s
Sep 2025
Episode 46 The Power of Emotional Intelligence
Today, we explore emotional intelligence through the lens of enduring philosophies. We will see how Stoic self-awareness, Sun Tzu's strategic understanding of human nature, and the intentionality of minimalism all point toward the mastery of our inner world as the key to navigati ... Show More
13m 32s
May 2025
3605: [Part 2] Does Minimalism Make You Happier? Simplicity and Happiness by Antonia of Balance Through Simplicity
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 3605: Antonia Colins explores how minimalism can lead to deeper happiness, not through deprivation, but by creating space f ... Show More
9m 43s
Feb 2025
How Did Socrates Become So Wise?
Where did Socrates' wisdom actually come from? It was not raw intellect alone. In this conversation, Donald Robertson and I look at the daily habits, the charisma, and the genuine love of people that made Socrates the figure everyone after him kept arguing with.Donald reaches for ... Show More
4m 17s