The Via Stoica Podcast — A Stoic Way of Life
The Via Stoica Podcast focuses on Stoicism as a practical philosophy for everyday life. Drawing from ancient texts, it addresses real-world challenges like emotional reactivity, discipline, purpose, relationships, and adversity. Rather than abstract theory, the show emphasizes practice and attention to what is within our control. Episodes feature reflections, practical topics, and interviews with guests. The views expressed are the host's own and intended for informational purposes.
Episodes
A Stoic Among the Carnac Stones: What Do They Tell Us?
What do the Carnac stones in Brittany have to say to us? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, recorded as I walked among the long rows early one morning, I follow the questions these Neolithic stones raised about purpose, problems, and the simple life.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Farmers raised these stones thousands of years ago, and nobody knows for certain w
I Found Epictetus on Montaigne's Ceiling
An Epictetus quote about the way we judge events sits painted on a ceiling beam in Michel de Montaigne's library tower, and I went to see it in person. In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, recorded at a campsite in France the day after my visit, I share what stood out about the place and the line he chose to keep overhead.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Montai
Carnuntum: The Roman City Where Marcus Aurelius Wrote
What does the Roman city of Carnuntum look like today, and where did Marcus Aurelius write part of the Meditations? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, I walk through Carnuntum in Austria with Dr. Markus Wachter, managing director of the Museum of Carnuntum, to explore the ruins, the reconstructed Roman houses, and the story of a frontier city on the Danube.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast
A Stoic Conversation with Justin Mainous: The Agora Network and the Power of Socratic Dialogue
What happens when philosophy stops being something you read about and becomes something you practice together? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, recorded in Prague, I sit down with Justin Mainous, one of the driving forces behind the Agora Network, a community built almost entirely on Socratic dialogue.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Justin's path to philos
How AI Helped Unwrap 2,000-Year-Old Herculaneum Scrolls - The Vesuvius Challenge
In June 2026, a team of papyrologists and AI researchers achieved something once thought impossible: reading an entire ancient scroll, carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, from beginning to end, without ever physically opening it.In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, I'm joined by Federica Nicolardi, lead papyrologist of the Vesuvius Challenge and Associate Professor of
The One Habit You Need in Life
Most advice about habits is really about saving you time. This episode of the Via Stoica Podcast looks at a different kind of habit entirely, the one Epictetus considered the only one that actually matters.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. We all build habits to avoid the exhaustion of deciding everything from scratch every day, from what we eat to how we start our mornin
It's Not What You Do. It's Why You Do It.
On the Ides of March, 44 BC, sixty men took part in a single act: killing a tyrant. In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we ask a question that still matters two thousand years later. Were all sixty acting virtuously, or were some of them doing the exact same thing for entirely different reasons?Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. The Stoics were clear that virtue neve
Does Your Legacy Matter? What If You Left Nothing Behind?
Does your legacy actually matter, and what if you left nothing behind at all? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we look honestly at why so many of us build our lives around being remembered, and what the Stoics actually thought about that impulse.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Only twelve people have ever walked on the moon, and their footprints will likely out
Are you relevant enough? To Whom and Why?
Are you relevant enough, and relevant to whom exactly? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we look at why this question comes up so often during moments of change, and what Stoic philosophy actually says about the value we attach to being needed.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Relevance always exists in relation to someone or something else, at a particular moment
How Influencable Are You? Or Do You Trust Your Own Judgment?
Family, friends, colleagues, and strangers on a screen all try to sway how you think and act. In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we look honestly at how influencable we really are, and what it takes to trust your own judgment instead.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. If the previous episode was about what we put out into the world, this one is about what we let in,
So You Have an Opinion? Does Everyone Need to Know?
Do you really need to share that opinion? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we look at what drives the impulse to comment, react, and weigh in online, and what Stoic philosophy says about examining that impulse before we act on it.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode is not about whether you are allowed to have opinions. It is about what you do with them
Anger: The Stoic Way to Reclaim Your Sanity
Anger protects us. It motivates us. It gets things done. These are the arguments people make for keeping it, and in this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we take an honest look at why Seneca called anger momentary madness and what that means for how we live.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode examines one of the most defended emotions in modern life and what S
The Blame Game: Stop Pointing the Finger and Start Growing
When did we stop asking what we could do better and start looking for someone else to blame? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we examine one of the most common and costly habits in modern life: the blame game, and what Stoic philosophy says about how to break it.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode is an honest look at how blame keeps us stuck, why it f
Your Life Is Not Short. You Just Don't Know How to Live It.
"Life is too short." It is one of the most common things people say and, according to Seneca, one of the most misguided. In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast we examine what the Stoics actually thought about time and why the problem is never how much of it we have.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode draws on Seneca's On the Shortness of Life
The Real Stoic View on Emotions: What Are They Telling You?
What are your emotions really telling you? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we take a closer look at one of the most misunderstood aspects of Stoic philosophy: the real Stoic view on emotions and what they can teach you about yourself.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode challenges the popular belief that Stoicism is about suppressing emotions and repl
A Stoic Conversation with Massimo Pigliucci: How to be a (Happy) Skeptic
What does it mean to be both a Stoic and a skeptic?In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, philosopher and author Massimo Pigliucci returns to discuss his new book How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic: a guide to building a philosophy of life rooted in Stoic virtue and the ancient art of proportioning belief to evidence.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Massimo Pigliucci is Pro
The People Pleaser: How to Stop Living for Other People's Approval
People pleasing is not kindness. It is fear dressed up as generosity. In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look honestly at what it means to stop living for other people's approval and start showing up as yourself.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode builds directly on the previous conversation about the scripts we inherit. People pleasing is what h
Who Wrote Your Script? The Stoic Guide to Authentic Living
How much of the life you are living was actually chosen by you? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we explore authentic living: the practice of examining the scripts inherited from parents, culture, school, and social media, and deciding for the first time which ones are genuinely yours.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode invites you to look honestly at
Amor Fati: How Do You Love Your Fate?
What does it really mean to love your fate? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look at one of the most used phrases in modern Stoicism, where it actually comes from, and what Stoic philosophy says about acceptance, fate, and how to show up when life does not go as planned.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Here, philosophy is not something you recite. It is some
Stop Waiting: Take Responsibility for Your Soul
Are you waiting for the right moment to start living your life? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look at what Stoic philosophy says about responsibility: not the kind the self-help world sells you, but the deeper, more demanding kind. The responsibility for your own soul.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Here, philosophy is not theory. It is a daily practice
Who Are You? Time to Remove the Mask
Who are you beneath the persona you perform for others? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we sit with that question and what Stoic philosophy says about the difference between the character we are building and the mask we wear for the world.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Here, philosophy is not theory. It is the daily, honest work of examining who you are and
Control: The Side Most Choose to Avoid
Everyone talks about letting go. But what about the side that actually demands something of you? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look at what Stoic philosophy really asks of us when it comes to control and why most people stop at the easier half.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Here, Stoic philosophy isn't a wellness tip or a productivity hack. It's
Feeling like a failure? Don't let your mind bring you down
Do you ever feel like everyone else has it figured out and you're the only one falling behind? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look at where that feeling really comes from and what Stoic philosophy teaches us about separating a setback from your identity.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Here, Stoic philosophy isn't theory. It's a practical tool
Bird Poo and Bad Days — The Stoic Art of Moving On
Bird poo lands on your brand-new hat. What do you do? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, a small, absurd moment on a walk in Granada becomes a real test of Stoic philosophy, and a lesson in the art of moving on.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Here, Stoic philosophy isn't studied; it's lived, tested in the ordinary friction of daily life.A bad day is rare
Why Happiness Eludes You
Why does happiness feel so hard to hold onto? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we explore what happiness actually means and why most of us have been searching for it in the wrong places.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode sits at the heart of what Stoic philosophy has always asked us to examine: not how to feel more, but how to understand what we'
Want less, Live More
Are you chasing a life that doesn't feel like yours? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we explore what it means to want less, and why that might be the most direct path to living more. Stoic philosophy has always asked this question. Most of us just haven't stopped long enough to hear it.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode sits with something m
Why Life Feels So Hard: Stop Making It More Difficult
Why does life feel so hard, and how much of that difficulty are we actually creating ourselves? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look at the gap between our desires and reality, and why closing that gap is one of the most practical things Stoic philosophy offers us.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Each episode explores what it means to live well: not as theo
We Need More Love — And Stoicism Shows Us Where to Start
We need more love in the world. That was the statement, made quietly on a walk along the river in Granada, that stayed with us long after the conversation ended. In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we explore what Stoic philosophy actually says about love, kindness, and where to begin when the world feels like it's moving in the wrong direction.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the pod
Why Stoicism Isn't Working For You - Time to Meet Yourself
Why does Stoicism resonate so deeply when you read it, yet change so little when you try to live it? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look honestly at why Stoic philosophy stops working for most people, and where self-awareness becomes the real starting point.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This is not a place for theory at a safe distance. It is a place fo
Six Years Sober: A Stoic Reflection on Alcohol, Identity, and Deliberate Living
What does it mean to build your identity around alcohol, and who do you become when you walk away from it?In this personal episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny reflects on six years sober: the slow unraveling of a drinking identity, the moment that changed everything, and how Stoic philosophy helped him find solid ground on the other side.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoic
Five Stoic Practices I (try) to Use Every Day
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism as lived experience. What does Stoic philosophy actually look like in daily life? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, I share five Stoic practices I try to use every day, not as a prescription, but as an honest account of what helps me stay grounded.This episode is an invitation to see what these practices look like when they're
How I Built a Life I'm Grateful For
How I Built a Life I'm Grateful For — Via Stoica PodcastWhat does it actually take to build a life you're grateful for, and where do you even begin? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny shares his personal journey from a life that no longer felt his own to one built around freedom, simplicity, and a philosophy that holds.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicis
What are you living for? Stoicism, Purpose, and the Examined Life.
What are you living for? — Via Stoica PodcastWhat are you actually living for, and have you ever stopped long enough to ask? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we sit with one of the most important questions a person can face, and explore what Stoic philosophy has to offer when the answer isn't clear.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Each episode, we bring Sto
A Philosophy of Life: Finding Your Way
What is a philosophy of life, and how do you find yours? In this opening episode of the Via Stoica Podcast's Philosophy of Life series, we explore what it means to live with intention, guided by Stoic philosophy and your own values.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This series is about building something real, a foundation for how you actually want to live, not the li
Stoic Quote: What a man sets his heart on, that he naturally loves.
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy guides us toward living well with ourselves and others. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus’ insight on friendship and values:“What a man sets his heart on, that he naturally loves... It remains for us to conclude then that good things alone are what they set their heart on. And if they set their heart on those, they lov
What Does it Mean to be a Philosopher?
What Does it Mean to be a Philosopher?Philosophy is often seen as academic or reserved for experts. But what if being a philosopher is something many of us already practice in everyday life?Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore philosophy as a way of living rather than a subject to master. Instead of focusing on theory or credentials, the conversati
Stoic Quote: So other people hurt me? That’s their problem.
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy helps us remain steady amid the challenges of everyday life. In this episode, we reflect on Marcus Aurelius’ personal reminder from his private notes:“So other people hurt me? That’s their problem. Their character and actions are not mine. What is done to me is ordained by nature. What I do, by my own.”Marcus Aurelius, Medita
What's wrong with Modern Stoicism?
What’s wrong with modern Stoicism?Stoicism is often presented today as a self-help philosophy focused on emotional control, toughness, and handling life alone. But does Stoicism really work when we are grieving, depressed, or emotionally overwhelmed?Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we reflect on what is missing in modern Stoicism and why it often feels ri
Stoic Quote: What is the need to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears.
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy helps us face life’s challenges with steadiness and wisdom. In this episode, we look at Seneca’s reflection from his consolation to Marcia, who was grieving the loss of her son:“What is the need to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears. Fresh troubles will press upon you before you have done with the old on
A Stoic Conversation with Dr. Joelle Samaha: Let's get Real 2 Heal
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Joelle Samaha, founder of PhiloLife, for an open and deeply personal conversation about healing, philosophy of life, and what it means to live in alignment.Joelle shares her journey into philosophy, wellbeing, and integrative health, shaped by teaching, research, anxiety, loss, and lived experience. We ta
Stoic Quote: Nothing Is Ours Forever: Epictetus on Desire, Gratitude, and Letting Go
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic wisdom helps us navigate modern life. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus’ reminder:“In a similar way, you too should remind yourself that what you love is mortal, that what you love is not your own. It is granted to you for the present while and not irrevocably, not forever, but like a fig or a bunch of grapes in the appointed sea
A Stoic Conversation with Jason Nelson: Six Seeds for a Happier Life
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this episode, I’m joined by Jason Nelson, author of A Balm for Your Soul: Six Seeds for Happiness, for a calm and honest conversation about happiness, burnout, and what it really takes to live well.Jason shares his journey from corporate life in London to a slower, more intentional way of living, shaped by reflection, practice, and sel
Stoic Quote: Courage to Act - Following Your Nature Despite Criticism
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we look at a passage by Marcus Aurelius from Meditations, Book 5.3, where he reminds himself how to act in the face of criticism and doubt:“If an action or utterance is appropriate, then it’s appropriate for you. Don’t be put off by other people’s comments and criticism. If it’s right to say or do it, then it’s the right t
Why Self-Compassion Is Essential for Stoic Progress
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore why self compassion matters if we want to make real progress. Stoicism is demanding, and it can easily turn into a quiet kind of perfectionism, where every mistake feels like failure. But the Stoics were never asking us to be finished, they were asking us to keep training.Marcus Aurelius begins his reflections o
Stoic Quote: Seneca on Anger as Momentary Madness
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the Podcast on Stoicism.Where we take a moment to slow down and reflect on what the Stoics can teach us about living with reason and restraint. In this episode, we turn to Seneca and a striking passage from On Anger, Book 3, section 3: “So tell me, will someone call a man sane who, as if caught up in a tempest, does not walk, but is driven along and takes as his
Why the Stoic Lone Wolf Doesn’t Exist
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore why the idea of the Stoic lone wolf is a myth. While modern culture often praises isolation and radical self reliance as strength, the Stoics understood human beings as deeply social by nature. Solitude can restore us, but cutting ourselves off from others slowly erodes purpose and direction.Marcus Aurelius capt
Stoic Quote: A Peaceful Mind Depends on You Alone
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this week's Stoic Quotes episode, we look at Epictetus, Discourses, Book 4, Chapter 4, recorded by Arrian. He writes: “But it is a much finer thing to be happy, to have a peaceful and undisturbed mind, to have what concerns you depend on nobody but yourself.”At first glance, this can sound like withdrawal from the world, but Epicte
How to Build a Strong Relationship: A Stoic View
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this episode, we explore what it really means to build a strong relationship, not from modern ideals of romance or constant happiness, but from a Stoic understanding of character, responsibility, and shared life. Relationships matter deeply in everyday life, yet they often become a source of anxiety, pressure, and confusion. The Stoics
Stoic Quote: “Learn to ask of all actions, ‘Why are they doing that?’ Starting with your own.”
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This is another Stoic Quotes edition, where we reflect on a single passage and its meaning for everyday life. In this episode, we turn to Marcus Aurelius and a note from Meditations 10.37: “Learn to ask of all actions, ‘Why are they doing that?’ Starting with your own.” In another translation, he adds: “What is his point of reference here
How to Step Into the New Year Like a Stoic
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this episode, we explore why New Year’s can feel strangely heavy, even when it’s meant to be a celebration. For many people, it becomes a moment of judgment, comparison, and pressure, a symbolic “turning point” that makes unfinished business feel louder than usual. The Stoics offer a calmer way to approach it, not as a magical reset, b
Stoic Quote: “Indifferent to great endeavors.” Seneca
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this Stoic Quotes edition, we reflect on Seneca’s On Anger, Book III, where he reports Aristotle’s concern that, without anger, the mind becomes “indifferent to great endeavors.” Seneca, Dialogues and Essays, On Anger, 3Seneca introduces this idea to question it. For the Stoics, anger is not a source of strength but a disturbance of re
How to Navigate the Holidays Alone: A Stoic View
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore a theme that quietly weighs on many people during this time of year: navigating the holidays alone. While the holiday season is often portrayed as a time of togetherness, joy, and celebration, it can also amplify feelings of loneliness, pressure, and comparison. The Stoics approached these moments differently, n
Stoic Quote: Epictetus on Impressions: The Stoic Pause That Protects Your Peace
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this Stoic Quotes episode, we turn to Epictetus and one of the most important passages from the Handbook (Enchiridion), 1. Epictetus writes: “Practice then from the start to say to every harsh impression, ‘You are an impression and not at all the things you appear to be.’ Then examine it and test it by these rules … whether it has to do
A Stoic Conversation with Eric Weiner: From Socrates to Ben & Me
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on StoicismIn this episode of The Via Stoica Podcast, I sit down with Eric Weiner, celebrated author, philosophical traveler, and former NPR foreign correspondent, to explore how philosophy, travel, and character shape a meaningful life. Known for The Socrates Express and The Geography of Bliss, Eric brings a mix of humor, honesty, and depth to the co
Stoic Quote: Accept What Nature Gives You — And Aim at Your True Good
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In today’s Stoic Quotes edition, we explore a powerful passage from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.16:“Why is it so hard when things go against you? If it is imposed by nature, accept it gladly and stop fighting. And if not, work out what your own nature requires and aim at that… None of us is forbidden to pursue our own good.”Marcus invi
Why Drinking Won’t Cure Loneliness (The Stoic Way to Real Connection)
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore what it truly means to socialize like a Stoic in a world shaped by screens, quick fixes, and the rising tide of loneliness. Many believe confidence comes from external aids like alcohol or status, yet the Stoics approached human connection from a far deeper place. This conversation invites you to pause and recon
Stoic Quote: Seneca’s Three Stoic Rules for Anger
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore a powerful line from Seneca’s On Anger (Book 3.5): “The first essential is not to become angry; the second, to cease being angry; the third, to cure anger in others.” Seneca calls anger a form of “momentary madness,” a state that pulls us away from clarity and keeps us from making the right moral choice.We walk
3 Stoic Books to Reset Your Mind Before the New Year
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In today’s episode, we explore a simple but powerful December practice: returning to a few meaningful books as a way to reflect, reset, and prepare for the year ahead. This is a time when many people think about change, but the Stoics approached renewal differently. For them, reflection wasn’t about waiting for January 1st, it was about us
Stoic Quote: Epictetus on Preparing Your Mind Before You Act
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In today’s Stoic Quotes episode, we explore a powerful teaching from Epictetus taken from the Handbook (Enchiridion), Section 4, a short, concentrated guide to Stoic practice.“When you are about to undertake some action, remind yourself what sort of action it is.”Epictetus, Handbook, 4This simple instruction contains a profound Stoic disc
A Stoic Conversation with Donald Robertson: How to Think Like Socrates
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore the roots of Stoic thought through Donald Robertson’s new book, How to Think Like Socrates. Instead of beginning with Marcus Aurelius, we step back to the source, to a philosopher who shaped the very way the Stoics learned to think. Socrates invites us to examine our beliefs, question our assumptions, and approa
Stoic Quote: No One Can Corrupt Your Character: Marcus Aurelius on Responsibility and Unity
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In today’s Stoic Quotes episode, we explore a powerful reflection from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1, a reminder of responsibility, harmony, and our place within the larger human community:“No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative or hate him. We were born to work together, like feet, hands, and eyes; lik
A Stoic Conversation with Margaret Graver: Stoicism and Emotions
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this special episode, we dive into one of the most important and most misunderstood topics in the entire Stoic tradition: the nature of emotion. Today, I’m joined by Margaret Graver, the Aaron Lawrence Professor of Classics at Dartmouth College, and one of the world’s leading scholars on ancient Stoicism. Her book Stoicism and Emotion h
Stoic Quote: Why Nature Is Enough: A Stoic Reflection on Greed and Gratitude
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Today’s episode reflects on a line from Seneca’s Consolation to Helvia, written while he was exiled on the island of Corsica. In this letter to his mother, he tries to steady her grief, and perhaps his own, with a reminder of what truly satisfies the human spirit: “Greed is satisfied by nothing, but nature finds satisfaction even in scant
The Stoic View on Friendship: Finding Virtue in Connection
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore what it truly means to be a friend and to have one. We often say “a friend in need is a friend indeed,” but the Stoics invite us to look deeper. What makes a friendship good? When does it help us grow in virtue, and when does it distract us from it? Drawing on the insights of Seneca, Epictetus, and even Aristotl
Stoic Quote: Examine Who You Are: Epictetus on the First Step to Wisdom
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we turn to Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 10, where he begins with a powerful invitation:“Examine who you are. For you are capable of understanding the divine governance of the universe and of reasoning on what follows from that.”Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 10At the heart of this quote lies the Stoic cal
Attention Is Love – A Stoic Practice for Connection and Presence
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.What if love begins not with grand gestures, but with simple attention? In this episode, we explore the link between love, presence, and awareness — what philosopher Simone Weil called “attention.” In a distracted world, the Stoics remind us that attention is more than focus; it’s a moral act, a form of love, and the foundation of a virtuo
Stoic Quote: How to Be Free of Passion and Full of Love
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the show where ancient wisdom meets modern life. In this episode, Benny explores a passage from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 1.9, a lesson Marcus attributes to his teacher Sextus:“Not to display anger or other emotions; to be free of passion and yet full of love.”Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 1.9This quote captures a profound Stoic balance, emotional freedom
The Stoic View on Gratitude – How to Find Peace by Appreciating What You Have
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.Gratitude is often seen as soft, sentimental, or religious, but for the Stoics, it was a pillar of strength. In this episode, we explore how Stoicism offers a deeper, more grounded form of gratitude: one rooted in reason, awareness, and acceptance of the present moment.Drawing on Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, we reveal how the Stoic view
Stoic Quote: Seneca on Old Age and Outgrowing Desire
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on StoicismIn this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we reflect on a powerful line from Seneca’s Letters to Lucilius, Letter 12: On Old Age:“How nice is it to have outworn one’s desires and left them behind.”Seneca, Letters to Lucilius, Letter 12Seneca’s words remind us that there’s peace in growing beyond our old desires. What many see as loss, fewe
The Stoic Archer – Choosing the Right Target and Letting Go
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the Podcast on Stoicism.What can a simple bow and arrow teach us about the art of living? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny explores the timeless Stoic Archer analogy—how to choose the right target in life, how to aim with reason, and how to release with trust.Drawing from Cicero’s On the Chief Good and Evil, Benny traces the earliest mention of th
Stoic Quote: Knowing Your Role - Epictetus on Self-Understanding and Balance
The Via Stoica Podcast: Stoic Quotes SeriesIn the Stoic Quotes series, we take a look at what the Stoics said and uncover the wisdom they left behind. We explore the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca, and more, to see how their lessons still guide us today.In this episode, we reflect on a quote by Epictetus, Handbook (Enchiridion), 37:“If you take on a role that is beyond your powers,
A Stoic Conversation with Becky Schmooke: Choosing the Handle That Holds in Life and Leadership
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.What does it mean to lead yourself, before leading others? In this episode of The Via Stoica Podcast, Benny speaks with Becky Schmooke, founder of Stoic Edge Consulting and Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, and author of Choose the Handle That Holds.Blending Stoic philosophy, modern science, and real-world leadership, Becky helps people transform e
Stoic Quote: Choose Not to Be Harmed: Marcus Aurelius on Emotional Freedom
The Via Stoica Podcast: Stoic Quotes SeriesIn the Stoic Quotes series, we take a look at what the Stoics said and uncover the wisdom they left behind. We explore the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca, and more, to see how their lessons still guide us today.In this episode, we reflect on a quote by Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 4, Number 7:“Choose not to be harmed and you won’t fe
AI and Stoicism: Meeting Rapid Change with Reason, Not Fear
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on StoicismAI is changing fast, and so are our reactions to it. Some people resist it, others embrace it, and many feel afraid. In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny looks at AI through a Stoic lens and asks a simple question: how do we meet rapid change with reason rather than fear?Benny clarifies what today’s “AI” mostly is: tools that pr
Stoic Quote: Seneca on Being Unfortunate
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this Stoic Quotes episode, Benny reflects on the words of Seneca from On Providence, section 4:“You are unfortunate in my judgment, for you have never been unfortunate. You have passed through life with no antagonist to face you. No one will know what you were capable of, not even yourself.”Seneca reminds us that trials and obstacles ar
Immigration and Stoicism: A Stoic View of Fear, Compassion, and Cosmopolitanism
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.Immigration is one of the most polarizing topics of our time, stirring emotions, fears, and debates across nations. But how might the Stoics approach it?In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny explores immigration through the lens of Stoic philosophy. Drawing from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and the Stoic idea of cosmopolitanism,
Stoic Quote: Marcus Aurelius on Freedom: Stop Prizing Externals
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this Stoic Quotes episode, Benny reflects on the words of Marcus Aurelius from Meditations, Book 6.16:“And if you can’t stop prizing a lot of other things, then you’ll never be free.”Marcus reminds himself that true freedom is not found in wealth, possessions, or status—but in learning to stop attaching value to what lies outside our co
A Stoic Conversation with Kortney Yasenka: Finding Your Enough Through Stoicism and Lagom
What do the Swedish concept of lagom—living with balance and “just enough”—and the philosophy of Stoicism have in common? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny speaks with Kortney Yasenka, licensed clinical mental health counselor, writer, and Stoic practitioner, about how these two traditions can guide us toward a more meaningful and joyful life.Together they explore:Why asking yoursel
Stoic Quote: Life Is Long, If You Know How to Use It – Seneca’s Stoic Reminder
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this Stoic Quotes episode, Benny reflects on the words of Seneca from his essay On the Shortness of Life. Seneca challenges the common complaint that life is too brief, reminding us instead that: “Life is long, if only you know how to use it.”Rather than blaming nature for giving us too little time, Seneca argues that the problem lies i
The Stoic Discipline of Assent: Control Your Mind, Control Your Life
Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the Podcast on Stoicism.In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny explores the Stoic Discipline of Assent, the practice of choosing how we respond to impressions, rather than being led by impulse or unexamined opinions.In an age of fast judgments, social media scrolls, and reactive emotions, this discipline gives us a way back to clarity. Stoicism teaches
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