"Today, we find ourselves in the teeth of a global pandemic, one with a mortality rate close to the Antonine Plague that killed millions of people during Marcus Aurelius’ reign. Our medical efforts are running behind. Our supply chains are overtaxed. The cowardice and incompetence of many governments (or rather the heads of many governments, since responsibi ... Show More
Jun 28
Why Elon Musk Is The Worst Human On The Planet
The Stoics studied powerful people not to worship them, but to learn from them. In this episode, Ryan looks at Elon Musk through the lens of courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom, and what his life reveals about the difference between success and virtue.🎥 VIDEO EPISODE | Watc ... Show More
14m 25s
Jun 27
Ezra Klein on Virtue, Self-Critique, and His Take on Stoicism
Ezra Klein is one of the sharpest voices in American politics, but this conversation is not about left versus right. It’s about virtue, responsibility, and character. Ryan and Ezra talk about why virtue matters in a democracy, what liberalism has lost by failing to speak clearly ... Show More
1h 27m
Apr 2023
Money Lessons from the Dying: Insights from a Hospice Doctor
What can the dying teach us about money? Turns out, it’s a lot. It’s an interesting question that, if you’re like me, you don’t think about a lot on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s even hard to imagine that one day I just won’t exist anymore. Not to get too morbid with you, but as ... Show More
42m 38s
Jan 2021
Book Discussion - The Tyranny of Merit
In this episode, we discuss Michael J Samuel's book the Tyranny of Merit, which talks about the problems with the ideals of Meritocracy. We take a look at the history of the Rhetoric of Rising, and end with a discussion about why praising people for their achievements feels probl ... Show More
1h 37m
Oct 2021
How Do I Get Social Media Followers to Listen to My Podcast!?
#1190 Today we're talking with Gillian Tietz from Sober Powered. Gillian is an amazing person who's helping loads of people get sober with the help of her scientific background, through her podcast, website, Facebook group, and Instagram. I'm so proud of what Jillian is doing wit ... Show More
22m 54s
Sep 2020
Should we donate to charity because it "feels good"?
In this episode, we discuss some of the concepts behind effective altruism with our friend Lucia. We touch on her motivations for setting up a public health charity, the Giving What We Can Pledge, and a few other curiosities. Enjoy! Sponsored by SkillshareThis episode is kindly s ... Show More
1h 10m
Oct 2023
755: Sensitive People, Crime Con, & Australian Hillbillies
Susie got to visit her favorite tourist trap in Boston (where everyone knows her name!), but had to do so the old-fashioned way since her family's phones malfunctioned. Let's just say, if the bad guys ever take down our country's phone service we're all screwed. We learn why some ... Show More
1 h