logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2019
2h 32m

Ryan Holiday: Stillness Is The Path To E...

Rich Roll
About this episode



“There’s no one magical thing you do and then have stillness. It’s a process.”

Ryan Holiday



He's best known for popularizing Stoicism — an ancient philosophical yet highly practical operating system he pioneered to mainstream, modern adoption.

In his latest turn, Ryan Holiday expands his lens East.

In pursuit of shared wisdom across ancient Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Hebrew, Greek, Christian and Epicurean traditions, he discovered one essential truth — that inner peace is essential to a life of purpose, meaning and fulfillment.

Ryan calls it stillness — to be steady while the world spins around you.

A crucial characteristic of all great leaders, thinkers, artists, athletes and visionaries, it's a practice to transcend the stress of everyday life. An antidote to the distractions of our fast-paced world. And the ultimate path to meaning, contentment, and excellence in a world that needs more of it than ever.

For those unfamiliar, Ryan is an autodidact who dropped out of college at 19, maturing into one of the most important thinkers of his generation. Now 32, he is a media strategist, prolific writer and public speaker with six perennial bestselling books to his name, including Ego Is The Enemy,The Obstacle Is The Way, and Conspiracy. 

Making the digestible case for why slowing down is the secret weapon for charging ahead, Ryan's latest release — aptly titled Stillness Is The Key (hitting bookstores everywhere this week) — is your next must read and read again primer on living your best life.


Returning for this third appearance on the podcast (check out RRP #168 and #239), today we explore the essential elements of stillness — and its limitless applications for profound personal self-improvement.

Want to avoid distractions? Develop greater insight? Unlock creativity? Improve your decision making? Better your parenting skills? Enhance athletic performance?

The incredible power and practicality of cultivating placidity in our increasingly turbulent, tumultuous, reactive, distraction monopolized lives simply cannot be overstated.

Stillness is the key.

You can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the conversation streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I have great fondness for this human. I absolutely love this exchange. And sincerely hope you do as well.

Peace + Plants,






Listen, Watch & Subscribe



See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Up next
May 2022
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz On All Things Microbiome: Heal Your Gut, Sidestep Disease & Thrive
One of the most popular guests in the history of this podcast, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz ‘Dr. B' joined me back on episode #538 for a deep dive on the gut and honing our immune systems. Today we dive even deeper with a comprehensive investigation of the microbiome, why it’s important, ... Show More
3h 3m
May 2022
Roll On: Kristian Blummenfelt, The Ministry of Truth, & Sustainable Self-Growth
Welcome to another edition of ‘Roll On’, wherein Rich Roll and journalist & author Adam Skolnick riff on matters of interest across sports, culture, entertainment, and self-betterment.  Specific topics discussed in today’s episode include:Adam's latest NYT piece A Free Diver’s Tr ... Show More
1h 46m
May 2022
Gemma Newman, MD On Optimizing Hormone Health
Today’s episode explores nutrition, lifestyle  and overall well-being with a particular focus on hormone health – particularly (but not exclusively) women’s hormone health, aging, and reproductive care – with Gemma Newman., MD. A Senior Partner at a family medicine practice in th ... Show More
2h 8m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
The Discipline Expert: The 4 Surprising & Easy Habits ALL High Achievers Have! (Based On 2,000 Years Of Research) - Ryan Holiday
How can a 2,000 year old philosophy change your life in 2023?In this new episode Steven sits down with the bestselling author Ryan Holiday. Ryan is best known for promoting the timeless life philosophy of Stoicism through his books, ‘Ego Is The Enemy’, ‘The Obstacle Is The Way’, ... Show More
1h 25m
Mar 2022
Mastering Mindset: A Deep Dive On Mental Toughness
It’s easy to look at top performers, elite athletes, and those crushing outrageous achievements—and conclude that their success boils down to sheer genetic luck, supreme talent, or unlimited resources. While success can be significantly influenced by those variables, all things b ... Show More
1h 43m
May 2022
The STOIC SECRETS That Will Change Your Life FOR GOOD (Nobody Shares This!) | Ryan Holiday
My amazing and talented wife Lisa released her new book Radical Confidence, which you can order - and get the bonuses she’s created for you - at https://www.radicalconfidence.com. When you read this book, Lisa will teach you 10 No-BS Life Lessons to become the hero of your own li ... Show More
53m 38s
May 2023
Transforming Behavior and Cultivating Healthy Habits [MASTERCLASS] EP 1444
The Summit of Greatness is back! Buy your tickets today – summitofgreatness.comIn this powerful Masterclass episode, a group of exceptional individuals come together to share their wisdom and daily practices that foster personal growth and self-improvement. Through their expertis ... Show More
1h 2m
Feb 2022
Johann Hari On Why You Can’t Pay Attention (& How To Reclaim Your Focus)
We are living in a time of upgraded technology and downgraded humans. Our collective ability to resist distraction and sustain attention is in decline. Although will power plays a role, this problem is not entirely our fault—it’s the by-product of powerful forces incident to mode ... Show More
2h 20m
Apr 2023
Understanding Oneself: Lessons in Self-Love and Personal Growth w/ Prince EA
The Art of Charm is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/charm today to get 10% off your first month. In today’s episode, we cover happiness and fulfillment with Prince Ea. Prince Ea grew up as a shy, introverted kid who discovered conscious hip hop in high school a ... Show More
59m 54s
Nov 2022
Why Your Life Is SO BORING... (How To Be MISERABLE For The Rest Of Your Life) | Robert Greene
On Today's Episode: Settling for your day to day routine is one of the best ways to ensure a boring unfulfilled life. When you feel unfulfilled and like everyday is filled with going through the motions, it becomes easy to turn to unhealthy, self-destructive habits. Without under ... Show More
1h 40m
May 2022
Harvard Professor REVEALS Why You Feel LOST & UNHAPPY In Life | Arthur Brooks on Impact Theory
Given all of the possibilities we have living in a modern society, people still struggle with feeling lost, unhappy, and unfulfilled. It’s even been reported that American unhappiness hit a record low early this year. If you do a climate check with the people in your life and you ... Show More
1h 45m
Jan 2024
Greg McKeown - How Essentialism Brings Meaning to Your Life
In today's episode of Slo Mo, we're joined by Greg McKeown, the mind behind the 'Essentialist' philosophy. Greg, renowned for his insights on simplifying life's complexities, shares his personal journey, shedding light on the experiences and inspirations that have shaped his pers ... Show More
1h 42m
Jun 2024
#795 - Ryan Holiday - 11 Harsh Stoic Truths To Improve Your Life
Ryan Holiday is a podcaster, marketer and an author.Stoicism is like the hot new girl in school. A popular, perfect blend of ancient philosophy which is applicable to modern challenges. Given that Ryan is probably the world's most famous Stoicism expert, what are the most importa ... Show More
2h 5m