Episode Archive
Dec. 17, 2024
Why the Stoics Urge Us to Act Before Time and Reason Fade
Today we begin Book 3 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Meditation 3.1 reminds us that our time is limited—not just by death, but by the potential loss of our rational faculty as we age. Marcus writes that even if life cont…
Dec. 10, 2024
Why Philosophy Is the Only True Guide Through Life
In this episode, I discuss Meditation 17 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the transient and uncertain nature of life. Marcus reminds us that our lives are brief and unpredictable, with the physi…
Dec. 2, 2024
Five Ways to Damage the Soul (Meditations 2.16)
In this episode, I examine Meditation 16 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the ways in which a person’s soul—or daemon , in Stoic terminology—can harm itself. Marcus lists five key actions that d…
Nov. 25, 2024
How Perception Shapes Reality: Stoic Insights on Framing Externals (Meditations 2.15)
In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 15 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius emphasizes that “all is opinion.” This principle, shared by the Cynic philosopher Monimus, suggests that our perception defines o…
Nov. 18, 2024
How Stoicism Frames Life, Death, and the Importance of Living Well (Meditations 2.14)
In this episode, I examine Meditation 14 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the nature of time and the present moment. Marcus emphasizes that we cannot lose the past, as it no longer exists, nor t…
Nov. 13, 2024
Why Ignorance of Nature’s Law Is Life’s Greatest Tragedy (Meditations 2.13)
In this episode, I review Meditation 13 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the futility of constantly seeking to understand or judge others instead of focusing on our own alignment with Nature. Ma…
Nov. 5, 2024
Accepting Mortality: Marcus Aurelius on the Purpose of Death (Meditations 2.12)
In this episode, I discuss Meditation 12 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the transient nature of life, death, and the things we often fear or desire. Marcus emphasizes that everything in the Un…
Oct. 27, 2024
Living Without Fear: Lessons on Death and Purpose (Meditations 2.11)
In this episode, I discuss Meditation 11 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reminds us to live each moment as if death could come at any time, encouraging a focus on living virtuously. Marcus addresses the na…
Oct. 21, 2024
Habituation and the Practice of Stoic Virtue (Meditations 2.10)
In this episode, I cover Meditation 10 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the comparison between faults driven by anger and those driven by desire. He references Theophrastus, who argued that erro…
Oct. 15, 2024
Embracing The Logic Of The Cosmos (Meditations 2.9)
In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 9 from Book 2 of Meditations . Marcus Aurelius reminds us to always remember the nature of the Cosmos and our place within it. He emphasizes that the Cosmos is a rational and self-sus…
Oct. 7, 2024
Mind the business of your own mind (Meditations 2.8)
In this episode, I discuss Meditation 8 from Book 2 of Meditations . Marcus Aurelius reflects on how people rarely suffer from not understanding the thoughts of others but are bound to suffer if they don’t observe their own …
Sept. 29, 2024
Meditations 2.7
In this episode, I discuss Meditation 7 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius advises us to give ourselves moments of quiet to focus on learning something good, while also warning against aimlessness. I explore …
Sept. 23, 2024
Meditations 2.6
In this episode, I explore Meditation 6 from Book 2 of Meditations , where Marcus Aurelius reflects on how we often fail to honor our own well-being, instead placing it in the hands of others. I dive into the Stoic concept o…
Sept. 16, 2024
Meditations 2.5
In this episode, I begin by correcting a mistake I made about the word "Prokoptôn," clarifying that it is the singular form, not the plural. We then dive into Meditation 5 of Book 2, which focuses on acting with precision, d…
Sept. 9, 2024
Meditations 2.4
In this week's meditation, we explore Meditation 2.4 from Book 2 of the Meditations . The conversation centers around the inevitability of death, the urgency of utilizing the present moment, and the Stoic approach to perceiv…
Sept. 2, 2024
Meditations 2.3
In this episode, we delve into Meditation 2.3 of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. We explore the concepts of Providence and the interconnectedness of the universe as understood by the Stoics. We discuss how everything in the c…
Aug. 26, 2024
Meditations 2.2
In today’s episode, we explore Meditations 2.2 by Marcus Aurelius, diving into the Stoic understanding of our bodies, the concept of the “god” in Stoicism, and the relationship between our physical body, life-sustaining brea…
Aug. 20, 2024
Meditations 2.1
In this first episode of Season 2, we dive into one of my favorite meditations from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1. I’ll be using the Farquharson translation throughout this season, and today, I’m excited to get started. M…
Aug. 13, 2024
The Reboot
In this primer episode for Season 2, I introduce the reboot of the podcast. If you're new here, welcome—I'm excited to have you join this journey. This season is not a reimagining but a refresh, building on the knowledge I'v…
July 30, 2024
The Cardinal Identity Of All Stoics
In this episode, I delve into the concept of identity from a Stoic perspective, prompted by recent thoughts and experiences. I discuss how we often identify with various subordinate identities, such as our gender, profession…
July 9, 2024
Is It UnStoic To Be Unhealthy?
In this episode, I open up about my own health challenges, sharing that while I am "blood healthy", I am also carrying around some excess weight. This personal context sets the stage for a broader discussion on health and St…
July 2, 2024
Overcoming Student Pressures In The Philippines
Welcome back, my dear Stoic progressor. In today’s episode, I dive into a topic that may seem unfamiliar to some but is deeply relevant to many – the pressures and anxieties faced by students in the Philippines. Drawing on p…
June 25, 2024
The Self Does Not Exist
In this episode, I take a fresh look at Hierocles' Circles of Concern and how my understanding of them has evolved. Communicating Stoicism to beginners involves striking a balance between simplicity and the depth of the phil…
June 18, 2024
Fate Is Not Yet Written
In this episode, I delve into the concept of fate within Stoic philosophy, a topic that often sparks varied opinions. The Stoics believed in a deterministic universe, where a physical causal chain dictates the flow of events…