Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode shines a light on Temperance—the often-overlooked Stoic virtue that quietly anchors all the rest.
Far from being dull restraint, Temperance is freedom: the ability to enjoy life without being ruled by appetite or impulse. It’s the steady discipline that transforms courage into integrity, justice into fairness, and wisdom into clarity.
In a culture that celebrates excess, this virtue reminds us that moderation is not denial but mastery—the calm art of keeping life in balance so that joy, reason, and harmony can flourish together.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: A Reliable Companion
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-a-reliable
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This episode turns to two of the Stoics’ deepest insights: that everything outside us is in constant motion, and that within us lies a freedom nothing can touch.
Using Zeno’s vision of happiness as “a good flow of life,” we explore how change and death are not disruptions but essential parts of the rhythm that makes life meaningful.
Epictetus then reminds us that while we can’t control the tune, we are always free to choose how we respond to it. Together, these lessons reveal a path to resilience—accepting impermanence without fear, while safeguarding the will that makes us truly free.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: A Motto For The Courageous
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-a-motto
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This episode explores the quiet courage it takes to ask for help—and the deeper Stoic truth that vulnerability is not weakness but strength.
From Marcus Aurelius’s reminder that “there is no shame in being helped” to Ryan Holiday’s call for bravery in admitting our needs, we see how openness creates stronger bonds and shared resilience.
Woven through is the Stoic commitment to justice, empathy, and fellowship: by leaning on others and extending our hand in turn, we transform isolation into connection.
True strength, as the Stoics remind us, lies in building a world where courage and compassion circulate together.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: A Motto For The Courageous
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-a-motto
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This episode is a welcome return to the podcast for my friend Jon Brooks, creator of the Stoic Handbook.
Jon and I had a great conversation, and he shared a lot of really valuable insights and practical guidance on the topic of voluntary hardship and what that means in the context of Stoicism.
I hope you enjoy the episode and that you find it as useful to reflect on as I did afterward.
Jon's Links:
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Let Us Be Clear
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-let-us-be
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In this episode, we follow Epictetus and Musonius Rufus as they dismantle the illusion that we can control anyone—or anything—outside ourselves.
Through the story of a man desperate to end his brother’s anger and Musonius’s calm endurance in exile, the Stoics remind us that patience and virtue are the only sure defenses against life’s turbulence.
External blows, whether personal slights or imperial banishments, cannot touch the command center within. What matters most is how we shape our own art of living, turning adversity into raw material for strength.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: The Stoic Sense Of Humour
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-the-stoic-97d
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This episode explores the timeless bond between mentors and students, drawing on Plutarch’s portraits of statesmen and Marcus Aurelius’s personal inventory of gratitude.
We trace how wisdom flows not through rivalry but through respect, service, and the steady honoring of those who came before us.
Along the way, we see how these ancient lessons still resonate in modern life, where gratitude and humility can transform competition into collaboration.
At its heart, it’s a meditation on carrying forward the virtues we’ve inherited, letting our teachers’ light shine alongside our own.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Are You Oversharing?
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-are-you-e6b
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This episode explores how Cicero and Marcus Aurelius both emphasized kindness, service, and integrity as essential parts of human nature.
We look at Cicero’s call to strengthen society through generosity and Marcus’s list of ways we betray ourselves when we act against virtue.
Together, their teachings form a practical guide to living with wisdom, justice, courage, and balance—not just for ourselves, but for the good of others.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: For Whom The Bell Tolls
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-for-whom
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In a world where “more” is sold as the shortcut to happiness, the Stoics stood in stubborn, refreshing opposition.
They argued that wealth, status, and praise, far from guaranteeing joy, often entangle us in new anxieties.
This episode explores that ancient wisdom through voices from Plutarch and Seneca to George C. Scott, the Hollywood star who famously refused his Oscar.
Along the way, we ask: if happiness can’t be bought, bestowed, or voted on, what’s left to shape it?
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Do You Have This Aim?
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-do-you-have-a93
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This episode begins by exploring Jiddu Krishnamurti’s reflections on life, death, and daily renewal, and then weaves them together with Stoic wisdom from Seneca and the battlefield lessons of Sparta.
Through vivid stories and timeless philosophy, it reminds us that freedom from the fear of death brings greater freedom in life, and that each day offers the chance to live a complete life anew.
Ultimately, it’s a call to greet each morning with gratitude, compassion, and the resolve to make the most of the time we’ve been given.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Unimpeded, Unconstrained, and Free
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-unimpeded
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Mentioned in this episode: First Pour Coffee, Seneca Edition.
You can find it here: https://drinkfirstpour.com/ and get 10% off with the discount code whatisstoicism10
Ayo Disu is the co-founder of a company called Octillion Capital Partners, a value-driven brand platform and holding company, operating, and growing an ecosystem of inclusive and sustainable brands in the health, beauty, food and beverage industries.
He's also a practitioner of Stoicism and uses the philosophy to guide many of his entrepreneurial decisions.
In this episode, I talk to Ayo about how he's applying Stoicism in his business and about his new product, which is named after Stoic philosopher.
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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT
Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: For Whom The Bell Tolls
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-for-whom
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What’s the point of philosophy, and why does it matter to the way we live each day?
In this episode, we explore philosophy as a companion, a practice, and a framework that shapes our choices—whether we notice it or not.
From the challenge of drifting through life on autopilot to the courage of living with clarity, we consider what it means to think deliberately and act with purpose.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Stoics Are Not Hostile To Feeling
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-stoics-are
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode explores how the daily practice of Stoicism can transform the way we respond to challenges, drawing on the story of Andrew Overby from Massimo Pigliucci’s How to Be a Stoic.
We look at how Andrew used Stoic principles like the dichotomy of control and reframing adversity to navigate depression and break cycles of negative thinking.
Through a simple step-by-step example, we show how theory, combined with consistent practice, can help anyone build resilience and make meaningful progress toward self-improvement.
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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT
Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Stoics Are Not Hostile To Feeling
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-stoics-are
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, I look at how Stoicism teaches us not to suppress our emotions but to master our responses to them through mindful assent.
With a practical focus, we examine how the Stoic distinguishes between involuntary impressions and the voluntary judgments that follow.
By learning to pause, reflect, and test our fears, we reclaim control over our minds and protect our inner peace from rumor, fear, and unexamined thoughts.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Fate Provides The Best To The Best
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-fate-provides
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This episode explores how Stoicism is not just about inner strength, but about cultivating virtue through community and just interaction with others.
Guided by the examples of Zeno, Musonius Rufus, Epictetus, and the legendary story of Lycurgus, we see how reasoned dialogue and patient understanding transform conflict into character.
Join us as we discover why true Stoic wisdom is grown not in isolation, but in the company of others striving for a life well lived.
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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT
Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Fate Provides The Best To The Best
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-fate-provides
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it mean to live the ideal life — and who gets to decide what “ideal” really means?
In this episode, we explore wisdom from the Stoics and Goethe on how striving for purpose and meeting each moment fully might be closer to the answer than endless comfort. Take a moment to look the present in the eye and ask yourself: how long will you wait before you demand the best for yourself?
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: The Quiet Wisdom Of Animals
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-the-quiet
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In this episode, we explore the timeless Stoic lesson that true freedom lies in accepting what we can’t control—echoed powerfully in the life and art of Frida Kahlo.
Drawing parallels between Epictetus’s teachings and Kahlo’s indomitable spirit, we see how even when life confines our bodies, our will can still soar.
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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT
Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: The Quiet Wisdom Of Animals
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-the-quiet
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Stoic philosophers understood something timeless about human nature: we spend much of our lives outside the present moment.
We worry about the future, regret the past, and overlook the only time we ever truly possess—now.
Among the Stoics, Seneca in particular had a clear warning: do not waste time.
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Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: How To Always Get What You Desire
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-how-to-always
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In this episode, we look at what Stoicism has to say about resisting the urge for revenge and reclaiming our inner freedom.
With help from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Diogenes, we examine why retaliation degrades us and how self-mastery is a better path to strength. Instead of reacting impulsively to harm or misfortune, we can learn to respond with integrity, turning adversity into opportunities to build character.
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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT
Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: How To Always Get What You Desire
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-how-to-always
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we dig into the meaning behind Kurt Vonnegut’s famous line “so it goes” and how it’s more than just a catchphrase.
Drawing from Slaughterhouse-Five, Stoic ideas, and the book The Courage to Be Disliked, we talk about how accepting what we can’t control can actually help us take better control of what we can.
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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT
Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: How To Always Get What You Desire
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-how-to-always
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we explore the life and teachings of Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher born into slavery who found unshakable strength from within.
His story reminds us that while true resilience begins in the mind, Stoicism also embraces the power of connection, encouraging us not just to endure, but to give and receive support as part of a greater whole.
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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT
Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:
☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: How To Always Get What You Desire
https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-how-to-always
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
