In this episode, Michael talks with Erick Cloward, the host of the Stoic Coffee Break Podcast. Erick talks about his journey into Stoicism, his recent use of Amor Fati, and how to have difficult conversations, especially with those you politically disagree with. (08:49) How Stoicism Makes A Difference (16:33) Amor Fati (31:03) Amor Fati And Politic…

Erick Cloward is the host of the popular Stoic Coffee Break podcast where every week he discusses how to live a more resilient and happy life using ancient Stoicism and modern wisdom. He's also a Leadership Coach and Speaker, as well as an author who’s just realised a new book called Stoicism 101. In this episode, I talk to Erick about his book, hi…

“To live a good life: We have the potential for it,” writes Marcus Aurelius in his Meditations. “If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.” This good life is exactly what the ancient Stoics believed the practice of philosophy would allow us to pursue. In this episode, we look at how Stoicism can bring us internal clarity, the v…

Epictetus tells us the chief task of philosophy is just one thing: Make proper use of impressions. In this episode, Michael Tremblay does a deep dive into what this means, how we can do it, and why, for Epictetus, it is the most important thing there is. *** Download the Stoa app (free): https://stoameditation.com/pod For those who find the app val…

In times of political division, it’s easy to be swept away by anger, resentment, and fear. But what does that accomplish? Does your anger towards those that disagree with you help yourself or the world? In this episode I want to talk about the importance of maintaining your Stoic principles in times of turmoil. “The essence of good and evil consist…

There's an old Spanish proverb that says: "Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence." With such restraint comes a question: what should we redirect our attention toward at times when we judge that externalizing our thoughts isn’t necessary? In this episode, we look at how self-reflection can be a worthy alternative. 👇 👇 👇 📻 FOR MORE STOIC …

In 45 BC, amid the turmoil of the Roman Civil War, Cicero wrote one of philosophy's most important works on the meaning of life. This episode unpacks Book I of "On Ends," exploring the clash between Epicurean pleasure-seeking and Stoic virtue. (01:14) Meeting Cicero (06:18) Latin over Greek (11:40) On Ends Core Debates (16:03) Cicero attacks (20:44…

In this episode I talk to Benny Voncken, a writer, speaker, and practicing Stoic who's originally from the Netherlands. He's also the co-founder of an online Stoicism platform called Via Stoica, which offers personalized Stoic coaching services, an online Stoic community, live conversations on X, and their own Via Stoica podcast. I really enjoyed t…

Caleb and Michael discuess teacher of Diogenes and the grandfather of Stoicism. Before there were Stoics arguing about virtue, there was Antisthenes. A warrior turned philosopher who studied under Socrates. (02:40) Antisthenes The Man (07:32) Cynicism (12:42) How To Become Cynical (21:27) Virtue is Action (23:58) Socratic Influence (27:02) Antisthe…

Stoicism is a very personal and practical philosophy. But what would a company look like that implemented some of the ideas from Stoic philosophy? In this episode, I interview Geoff Roberts the CEO of Outseta. Many of the operating principles run counterintuitive to the conventional wisdom of how most companies are managed, and they've been quite s…

The most common misunderstanding about Stoicism is that it’s all about suppressing or burying our emotions. This tends to come from the confusion between Stoicism (upper case ‘S’) and stoicism (lower case ‘s’); the former is the ancient Greek philosophy that we learn about and practice, the latter is simply a “stiff-upper-lip” coping style. In this…

Freedom isn't about having enough money to do what you want. It's about wanting what you can actually control. In this episode, Michael breaks down Epictetus's radical handbook chapter 14, revealing the four key principles of Stoic desire – and why wanting the wrong things makes us slaves to circumstance. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly…

Are you happy? Do you struggle when life doesn’t go the way you want? Today I want to talk about why we as humans are great at making ourselves unhappy, and some ideas the Stoics gave us to make our lives better. “Man is not disturbed by things, but by the views he takes of them.” — Epictetus Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order …

It can be useful to find parallels between our philosophical pursuits that are inspired by ancient practices and the more modern messages we’re exposed to in our daily lives. Relating things like art, sport, and entertainment to Stoic principles often helps us to remember the concepts and perhaps even better understand how they pertain to modern li…

The ancient Stoics never used the term "metacognition," but this modern psychological concept illuminates the core of their philosophy. Michael and Caleb explore how the Stoic emphasis on examining our thoughts—what psychologists now call metacognition—is central to both Stoic theory and practice. They unpack why the Stoics saw this capacity for me…

This weeks episode is an interview with Dr. Erik Fisher. Erik is the host of the Emotional Algebra podcast, and works with patients and clients to manage their emotions in a way that is very similar to Stoicism. We had a great and wide ranging conversation about emotions, trauma, and how become more emotionally resilient. Send us a text My book Sto…

The more we do, the Stoic philosopher Seneca tells us in his book On Tranquility of Mind, the more we put ourselves in Fortune's power, the more we tempt her. In other words, the more tasks we take on, the more journeys we make, the more objectives we pursue, the more things there are that can go wrong. In this episode, we look at why that doesn't …

Ancient and modern Stoics aren't just thinkers - they are runners too. In this episode, Caleb explores how the simple act of running illuminates core Stoic principles about pain, perception, and perseverance. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe Downloa…

Are you confused about the different teachings of Stoicism you find on the internet? Would the Stoics advocate for the “hyper-masculine” culture that uses Stoicism to support some approaches to stress, dating, and how to treat others? Today I want to talk about how Stoicism can be misused, and clear up some of the misconceptions of Stoicism been pr…

If we practice philosophy, it’s up to us to get to know ourselves. It’s up to us to know the principles by which we live and, by extension, what we find reasonable and unreasonable. In this episode, we look at what Epictetus had to say about this responsibility and how our efforts each day can help us live an examined life. ---- ☀️ Start your next …

Meet ancient Greece's original hedonist. Unlike later philosophers who preached asceticism, Aristippus embraced luxury, courted kings, and still kept his freedom. A student of Socrates who chose pleasure over asceticism, he founded a school of thought that spread through generations of his family. This conversation explores how Aristippus balanced …

Are you worried about finances? Do you struggle when you have a political conversation with somebody and it becomes heated? Do you worry about failing at life? Well, these are three questions that I'm going to answer today in another Q& A episode. “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people the…

When those unfamiliar with Stoicism learn about the four cardinal virtues of Wisdom, Justice, Temperance, and Courage, they are sometimes disturbed that kindness isn’t among them. Kindness, however, is indeed a huge part of Stoicism. In this episode, we look at how it is essentially a subdivision of the virtue of Justice, which governs how we shoul…

In this episode, Michael and Caleb explore Meditations 4.49-51, where Marcus Aurelius discusess resilience, misfortune, death, and simplicity. Be like a promontory against crashing waves. (01:09) 49, Section 1 (08:20) 49, Section 2 (11:21) It's Not Things Themselves That Harm Us (15:44) Powerful Phrases (17:45) Stoicism Is For Everyone (21:21) 50 (…

Self-made success, individual freedom, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps—these ideas have become the cornerstone of many modern cultures, especially in the West. But is this individualistic mindset really working for us? Today, we’re taking a look at why excessive individualism can be harmful, how it isolates us, and what Stoicism has to say a…

It can sometimes be challenging to remember what it actually means to “do philosophy.” To some, it’s an abstract concept. When it comes to Stoicism, however, it’s very much a practical pursuit that impacts our daily lives. In this episode, we look at how we can achieve a productive balance between theory and practice. ---- ☀️ Start your next 10 day…

Goodhart’s Law says: when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. But if that’s true, how should we measure our philosophical progress? In this episode, Michael Tremblay wrestles with this question. *** Download the Stoa app (free): https://stoameditation.com/pod For those who find the app valuable but face financial constraints…

We all suffer heartbreak from time to time. It’s an inevitable part of life with other people. So how can we use Stoicism to help us move past a broken heart? Today, we’re going to discuss how this ancient philosophy has some great tools to mend and move forward. ”There can be no doubt that the desire lovers have for each other is not so very diffe…

In this episode, we examine Stoic ways of mentally preparing for the unexpected events that each day presents. It's then possible to resolve to meet them with acceptance rather than struggling against them and creating difficulty for ourselves. ---- ☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.…

Get these tested Stoic strategies pull you out of bed and back into life's beauty. Michael and Caleb explore ancient wisdom for reconnecting with meaning through nature, duty, and proper thinking. (00:47) Set Up (04:33) Crisis in Thinking (10:29) Finding Purpose (19:18) Beauty (26:59) Play With Time (38:43) Be Gentle (42:08) Summary *** Download th…

As the new year begins, there is always a push to make resolutions and plans. Do you know what you want to accomplish next year? Do you have goals that you want to pursue? How do you plan on accomplishing them? Today I want to talk about some ideas about how you can more successful in achieving the things you want. ”Life is long if you know how to …

No one chooses to be wrong. This core Stoic teaching, inherited from Socrates, shaped how ancient philosophers viewed human behavior and mistakes. In this episode, Caleb explores why the Stoics believed people only do what they think is best – even when those choices seem obviously wrong to others. The episode tackles challenging questions: How do …

Imagine a bowl, cracked and seemingly useless. Most of us would toss it out. But what if, instead, those cracks were mended with gold, transforming the broken object into something even more beautiful than before? This is the art of kintsugi, a Japanese philosophy that teaches us how to embrace flaws and failures as opportunities for growth and tra…

"If you seek tranquillity, do less. More accurately, do what’s essential...and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do isn’t essential. Ask yourself at every moment, Is this necessary?" —Marcus Aurelius, 4.24 ---- ☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines t…

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. In this episode, we explore a powerful Buddhist concept that mirrors Stoic wisdom: the Second Arrow. The first arrow is the pain life throws at us - rejection, loss, failure. The second arrow? That's the one we shoot at ourselves through our reactions, stories, and judgments. Michael Tremblay discusses the…

The Stoics liked to draw parallels between the practice of philosophy and other, more physical pursuits that require concentrated effort to improve one’s ability. One popular analogy was to present Stoicism as a type of training similar to that an athlete would undertake. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus's comparison of life to the Olympic …

Author and Podcaster Noah Rasheta explores the parallels between Buddhism and Stoicism with Michael Tremblay. Whether you're seeking practical wisdom or philosophical insight, this conversation offers tools for living more skillfully – regardless of which tradition resonates with you. From handling grief and identity to achieving wisdom, we uncover…

Have you ever tried to change someone’s mind, only to find them doubling down on their belief instead? Or maybe you’ve felt your own defenses rise when someone challenges your deeply held views? That’s the backfire effect in action—a cognitive bias where contradictory evidence only strengthens someone’s existing beliefs. Today, we’ll explore how St…

To prepare for the day ahead, the Stoic Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius would often remind himself of the type of people he was likely to come into contact with. “At the start of the day,” he wrote in his Meditations. “Tell yourself: I shall meet people who are officious, ungrateful, abusive, treacherous, malicious, and selfish.” In this episode, we …

Caleb and Michael discuss Stoic epistemology—how to think well, avoid ignorance, and form justified beliefs. They explore the importance of skepticism, setting realistic standards for truth, and cultivating expertise to navigate complex decisions. (00:00) Common Sense (04:54) Default To Skepticism (09:38) Criterion of Truth (18:31) Common Sense (29…

The Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote 124 letters to his friend Lucilius and reveled in his replies: "Your letter has given me pleasure, and has roused me from sluggishness." —Seneca, Letters 74.1 This collection of letters is today one of our best sources of Stoic life advice from ancient Rome. In this episode, we look at why we should consider writi…

Caleb Ontiveros makes the case that Stoicism is more intuitive than you might think. He argues that if minor setbacks don't ruin our lives, why should major ones? This episode explores how Stoic ideas about virtue, happiness, and adversity align with our deepest intuitions about living well. *** Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, …

Do you see your emotions as something that get in the way? What if you had no emotions or ignored you emotions, do you think that you would make better choices? In this weeks episode I want to discuss how emotions are guides rather than enemies, and how emotions are the key to help us make better decisions. “Your heart knows the way. Run in that di…

Donald Robertson’s new book How To Think Like Socrates will be a welcome release for anyone keen to delve into the life of the man often referred to as the grandfather of Western philosophy. Almost all philosophical schools after Socrates traced their roots to him, including the Stoics. In this episode, I talk to Donald about the book and what we c…

Bryan Caplan, economist and bestselling author, discusses practical wisdom from modern economics and ancient philosophy. He argues against medicalization of human behavior, champions personal agency, and reveals why appeasement often beats confrontation. Caplan shows how lessons from economics can serve as self-help and why creating a "social bubbl…

Have you ever wanted to think like Socrates? Well you're in luck! This week's episode is an interview with Donald J. Robertson and we're talking about his new book, How to Think Like Socrates. We talk about the way that Socrates uses questions and critical thinking to overcome our own biases and logical fallacies, and how you can apply those to you…

Let’s face a worry together using this time we have carved out specifically for our philosophical practice. It’s a short exercise, so there’s no need to rush. ---- ☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete. Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days Hosted on Acast. See acas…

Michael and Caleb explore how understanding ourselves as our faculty of choice—not our bodies, possessions, or reputation—transforms our approach to life's challenges. Learn how clarifying what we are (and aren't) guides self-improvement and decision-making, unlocks insights in Stoic theory, and ultimately leads to a more tranquil existence. (06:10…

Do you struggle in getting started with achieving your goals? Do you get overwhelmed and quit before you even start? In this week’s episode I want to talk about how you can change your mindset to help you work through the blocks that are keeping you from living the kind of life you want. “The important thing about a problem is not its solution, but…

The formula for human greatness: it’s a grand proposition that there would even be one but is it really as simple as loving what happens? ---- ☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete. Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor…