logo
episode-header-image
About this episode

Joshua talks about stoicism, what it means to live a good life, and different philosophies for living with author and professor William B. Irvine, and they answer the following questions:

Is stoicism applicable to all cultures? (10:05)

How do I explain the benefits of stoicism to my loved ones? (18:38)

How do I practice stoicism without sacrificing human emotion? (26:20)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Up next
Jul 7
498 | Nonsense
The Minimalists speak with Kapil Gupta about letting go of nonsense, the many ways humans waste their lives, what happens when you minimize ambition, and more. Discussed in this episode: What does it mean to “overcome the world”? (3:27) Why does Dr. Gupta have a disdain for smart ... Show More
54m 23s
Jun 30
497 | The Sacrifices
The Minimalists talk about the right amount of deprivation, sacrificing for others, obsession with books, education that aligns with minimalist principles, and more. Discussed in this episode: How much should I deprive myself for the sake of loving others? (2:05) When does it mak ... Show More
47m 13s
Jun 23
496 | Good Talk
The Minimalists talk about communicating with people who are unwilling to change their minds, the qualities of productive conversation, finding ways to be happy without knowing your purpose, a simple approach to getting divorced, the proper way to identify a narcissist, being a m ... Show More
40m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
What is Stoicism, really?
Modern interpretations of Stoicism are often wildly inaccurate, reducing the philosophy to a life hack for suppressing emotions, a tool for productivity-obsessed entrepreneurs, or a justification for toxic masculinity. But do any of these portrayals hold up under scrutiny? In thi ... Show More
21m 30s
Jul 2023
A Stoic Life: Real-world Applications of Stoic Principles with Donald Robertson
Send us a text"Stoicism provides us with a kind of psychological toolbox. It's full of strategies for helping us cope with anxiety, anger, pain, and all sorts of emotional problems.""People who love Stoicism often read the Meditations over and over. You can squeeze more and ... Show More
1h 19m
Feb 2025
Stoicism Is a Practice—Not Just a Philosophy
Send us a textReading about Stoicism won’t change your life—practicing it will. In this conversation with Donald Robertson, one of the world's leading Stoic authors and cognitive-behavioral therapists, we explore a major misconception: Stoicism isn’t just a philosophy to stu ... Show More
6m 2s
Feb 2025
The Missing Piece of Stoicism: Why Kindness is Strength | Donald Robertson
Send us a textModern Stoicism often focuses on self-control and resilience, but what if we’ve overlooked its most important lesson?  True Stoicism is about strength through compassion. Marcus Aurelius believed that anger is weakness and that true power comes from brotherly love a ... Show More
10m 20s
Feb 2025
Why Stoicism Teaches Us to Be Prepared for Death (Meditations 3.8)
In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.8 and the idea of preparing for death—not as a morbid fascination, but as a necessary step toward living justly and without fear. Marcus Aurelius describes the Stoic sage as someone unshaken by fate, someone who meets the end of life witho ... Show More
20m 18s
Aug 2024
Philosophical Antagonists? The Real Story of Stoicism and Epicureanism
The stereotypes of Stoics as emotionless brutes and Epicureans as self-indulgent pleasure-seekers is not just misleading, but is an injustice to the two philosophies. Tune in to learn the similarities, differences, myths, stories, and history behind Stoicism and Epicureanism. 🗞️ ... Show More
23m 52s
Jul 2024
Facing Mortality: A Stoic Death Meditation
Send us a textIn this episode, we delve into the profound Stoic philosophy surrounding death. Join us for a guided meditation that will help you confront and accept mortality, diminish the fear of death, and find peace in the natural cycle of life and death. Learn to focus on wha ... Show More
15m 34s
Apr 21
Stoic Advice for Handling Setbacks, Insults, and Death | William Irvine
How to boost your psychological immune system, the stoic way. William “Bill” Irvine is the emeritus professor of philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of eight books that have been translated into more than twenty languages, including Guide to th ... Show More
1h 14m
Feb 2025
Coping Flexibility: The Stoic Art of Picking Your Battles Wisely
Send us a textHow do you know when to speak up and when to stay silent? When to push forward and when to step back? In this conversation with Donald Robertson, we explore the concept of coping flexibility—the ability to adapt your response based on the situation. Drawing from Sto ... Show More
7m 8s
Feb 2025
How Did Socrates Become So Wise?
Send us a textIn this lesson, renowned Stoicism writer and philosopher Donald Robertson and Jon Brooks reflect on the unique personality of Socrates and his profound love for humanity. Donald compares Socrates to modern-day creative icons, such as Jimi Hendrix, to illustrate his ... Show More
4m 26s