Best Stoic Solutions Podcast Podcasts (2024)

1
The Habits of Highly Effective Risk-Takers 43:24

3m ago43:24

43:24

You may know Nate Silver as an election forecaster. But he’s a poker player as well. And his experiences operating in a world of competition and risk led him to explore what his fellow gamblers, as well as hedge fund managers, venture capitalists, and many other kinds of maverick types do differently than other people. Amongst the findings Nate sha…

1
Practicing Spiritual Disciplines as an Act of Resistance 58:26

1d ago58:26

58:26

To train the body, strengthening its muscles, increasing its cardiovascular health, and improving its agility, you need to do exercises like stretching, running, and lifting weights. To train the soul, expanding its capacity, you likewise need to perform exercises, in this case, what are called "spiritual disciplines" — practices like fasting, sile…

1
The Science of Motivating Your Kids (And Any Young Adult) 51:12

8d ago51:12

51:12

If you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or manager who lives, loves, and works with tweens, teens, and 20s-somethings, you know that young people sometimes act in seemingly head-scratching ways, that you don’t always feel like you’re being listened to, and that it can be frustrating to try to guide them in acting towards positive ends. The source of th…

1
Lose Weight and Keep It Off With Flexible Dieting 48:50

8d ago48:50

48:50

When many people try to lose weight, they choose a specific, cookie-cutter diet that claims to be the one true way to shed pounds. My guest says that approach is bound to backfire, and that there's a better way to lose weight and change your body composition. Alan Aragon is a researcher and educator, a pioneer of evidence-based nutrition, and the a…

1
How to Resist Group Anxiety and Become a Differentiated Self 55:45

13d ago55:45

55:45

When we think about anxiety, we typically think of something that is generated and felt within an individual. But Murray Bowen, a psychiatrist of the mid-20th century, argued that anxiety was also created by the interactions between individuals and could spread like a contagion in a group, an idea known as "Family Systems Theory." Here to offer an …

1
The Vital Skills We’re Losing to Technology (And How to Reclaim Them) 49:32

15d ago49:32

49:32

Do moments where you run up against your dependence on modern technology get you wondering about the ways some of your personal capabilities seem to be atrophying? Graham Lee has spent years thinking about this idea. While he's a digital skills educator who appreciates the way technology can enhance our abilities, he worries that our ever-increasin…

1
How to Know When It's Time to Break Up With Your Job 49:40

20d ago49:40

49:40

You have a relationship with family, with friends, with a romantic partner. You may not have thought about it this way, but you also have a relationship with your job — a quite serious one, in fact; after all, you spend a third of your life working. Just like the relationship you have with your significant other, there are ups and downs with your r…

1
The Essential Habits for Becoming an Agile, Vital, and Durable Human Being 49:21

22d ago49:21

49:21

Kelly Starrett, a doctor of physical therapy, has trained professional athletes, Olympians, and military special operators, helping them unlock peak performance. But as he approached his fifties, he started to see cracks appearing in the health of the folks around him. What had worked for his peers in their 20s and 30s, wasn’t working anymore; they…

1
The 5 Mountains of Personal Development 54:47

27d ago54:47

54:47

The journey of personal development, of becoming a more excellent and extraordinary individual, can sometimes seem a little abstract. That’s why it’s helpful to imagine it as Mark Divine does, as a set of five metaphorical mountains to scale. Mark is a retired Navy SEAL Commander, a professor of leadership, a yogi, the creator of fitness and mindse…

1
Stop Drowning in Tedious Tasks by Taming Your Life Admin 48:12

29d ago48:12

48:12

Filling out paperwork. Making travel reservations. Paying bills. Shopping for groceries. Returning packages. These are all examples of life admin — the little tasks we have to do to keep our lives moving along. Life admin is typically pretty tedious and annoying. But staying on top of it is essential to reducing the stress and chaos that would othe…

1
A Surprising Solution for Disordered Masculinity 53:29

1M ago53:29

53:29

There has been a lot of media coverage and dialogue about the struggles men are facing in the modern day. There's been some solutions forwarded to these struggles as well. Among these, Dr. Anthony Bradley has a more surprising idea that you don't hear every day: revitalizing college fraternities. Anthony is a research fellow and professor and the a…

1
The Sunscreen Debate — Are We Blocking Our Way to Better Health? 50:59

1M ago50:59

50:59

You probably think of the health effects of sunlight as a mixed bag. On the one hand, sun exposure helps your body make vitamin D. But on the other, it can cause skin cancer. To get around this conundrum, dermatologists frequently recommend avoiding sun exposure when you can, slathering on sunscreen when you can't, and taking a vitamin D supplement…

1
Optimize Your Testosterone 46:36

1M ago46:36

46:36

When men think about optimizing their hormones, they tend only to think about raising their testosterone. But while increasing T can be important, an ideal health profile also means having testosterone that's in balance with your other hormones as well. Today on the show, Dr. Kyle Gillett joins me to discuss both of those prongs of all-around hormo…

1
Books, Routines, and Habits: The Founders' Guide to Self-Improvement 44:50

1M ago44:50

44:50

A lot of self-improvement advice and content feels empty. And there's a reason for that. It often offers routines and habits to practice, but doesn't offer a strong, overarching reason to practice them. That's why the self-improvement advice of the Founding Fathers is particularly compelling. Though they were imperfect men, they had a clear why for…

1
The Fascinating Differences Between Male and Female Friendships 50:48

2M ago50:48

50:48

Friendships are a central part of the lives of both men and women. But from personal observation, you've probably noticed that the dynamics of male and female friendships aren't always the same. You may not, however, have been able to articulate what those differences are or have known what's behind them. While there's still a lot of facets of frie…

1
Systems and Tools for Stealing Back Hours of Productivity 49:50

2M ago49:50

49:50

Businesses and individuals often feel overwhelmed and stretched — that they can't get done all the work they need to. The solution they frequently turn to is finding a new app to use or hiring more employees to spread the load. But my guest would say that you can steal back hours of productive time simply by using the tools and teams you have now, …

1
EPISODE #1,000! Rules for the Modern Man 1:23:11

2M ago1:23:11

1:23:11

Fifteen years and more than 200 million downloads later, this episode marks the 1,000th installment of the Art of Manliness podcast! It begins with a bit of a retrospective on the podcast and then segues into an interview with one of the show's earliest guests: Walker Lamond, author of Rules for My Unborn Son. Walker and I revisit the origins of th…

1
The Epic Adventures of America’s Forgotten Mountain Man 51:08

2M ago51:08

51:08

Plenty of famous explorers and frontiersmen emerged from America's periods of expansion and exploration, and today the likes of Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, and Davy Crockett remain household names. You're probably not familiar, but should be, with the name of another prominent pioneer: Jedediah Smith. Smith was a hunter, trapper, writer, cartographer…

1
Dad's Essential Role in Making Kids Awesome 47:44

2M ago47:44

47:44

As compared to mothers, fathers are sometimes thought of as a secondary, almost superfluous, parent. But my guest says that fathers actually saved the human race, and continue to do so today. Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist, a pioneer of fatherhood science, and the author of Life Of Dad. Today on the show, we talk about the role of fa…

1
The Laws of Connection — The Scientific Secrets of Building Stronger Relationships 50:45

2M ago50:45

50:45

Everyone has heard about the incredible benefits that come to mind, body, and spirit from having strong relationships. The quality of our social ties has a huge impact on our physical and mental health and our overall feeling of flourishing. Yet many people still struggle to create these strong relationships in their lives, and often figure that th…

1
Remembering D-Day 80 Years Later 51:10

2M ago51:10

51:10

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, 160,000 troops participated in the invasion of Normandy. Today just a few thousand of these veterans are still alive, with the youngest in their late nineties. As their voices, and those of the million combatants and leaders who swept into motion across Europe 80 years ago, fall silent and pass from living history, Garrett G…

1
Why You're So Bad at Giving and Receiving Compliments (And How to Fix That) 42:07

2M ago42:07

42:07

Over a decade ago, I remember reading a story that stuck with me. I think it was connected to the famous Harvard Study on Adult Development that studied a group of men across their lifetimes, but I can no longer find the reference. A much-beloved doctor, upon his retirement, was given a notebook filled with letters of praise and appreciation from h…

1
A Guide to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance 53:36

3M ago53:36

53:36

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. It's a peculiar book, especially for a bestseller. Not a lot of it is actually about zen or motorcycle maintenance, it combines a travelogue, a father/son story, and philosophical musings, and the structure of its narratio…

1
Tactics and Mindset Shifts for Making the Most of Life 55:14

3M ago55:14

55:14

Note: This is a rebroadcast. Matthew Dicks wears a lot of hats. Among other things, he’s a storyteller, communications consultant, writer, and schoolteacher. In order to excel in his professional life, as well as do what he loves in his personal life, he’s developed a set of strategies that help him be more creative and productive, and can be used …

1
The Shadows Over Men's Hearts and How to Fight Them 58:51

3M ago58:51

58:51

There are a lot of unspoken challenges and hidden battles that men face in modern society. They often manifest themselves in a uniquely male malaise where a man feels apathetic, frustrated, cynical, and lost. Jon Tyson has thought a lot about the problems men face and has been on the ground trying to help them as a pastor in New York City. In today…

1
Patton and the Bulge: Blood, Guts, and Prayer 47:48

3M ago47:48

47:48

General George S. Patton is known for his aggressive, action-oriented tactical brilliance. His character was also marked by a lesser-known but equally fundamental mystic piety. Those two qualities would come together in the lead up to and execution of Patton's greatest achievement during WWII: the relief of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. …

1
Embracing the Strive State 47:47

3M ago47:47

47:47

We often think happiness will be found in the completion of a goal. We often think happiness will be found in ease and comfort. My guest says real joy is found in the journey rather than the destination, and that if difficulty and discomfort are part of that journey, that's all the better. Dr. Adam Fraser is a peak performance researcher and the au…

1
The Dude's Guide to Laundry: How to Save Time, Money, and Your Wardrobe 48:24

3M ago48:24

48:24

If you didn’t grow up doing your own laundry, once you headed out on your own, you probably just figured things out on the fly, hoped for the best, and have been doing things the same way ever since. But, while you may be getting the job done okay, you also might be making some mistakes that are costing you time, money, and cleaner clothes. In this…

1
How to Get Better at Anything 46:02

3M ago46:02

46:02

Life revolves around learning—in school, at our jobs, even in the things we do for fun. But we often don’t progress in any of these areas at the rate we’d like. Consequently, and unfortunately, we often give up our pursuits prematurely or resign ourselves to always being mediocre in our classes, career, and hobbies. Scott Young has some tips on how…

1
Of Strength and Soul — Exploring the Philosophy of Physical Fitness 57:31

3M ago57:31

57:31

When you’re lifting weights, you might be thinking about setting a new PR or doing your curls for the girls. But throughout history, philosophers have thought about physical fitness on a deeper level and considered how exercise shapes not only the body, but also the mind and the soul. My guest today, Joe Lombardo, is a strength enthusiast who follo…

1
The No-BS Secrets of Success 46:08

4M ago46:08

46:08

Jim VandeHei didn’t have an auspicious start in life. His high school guidance counselor told him he wasn’t cut out for college, and he went on to confirm her assessment, getting a 1.4 GPA at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and spending more time drinking beer than planning his career. Eventually, though, Jim turned things around for himself, g…

1
How to Eliminate the Two Biggest Sources of Financial Stress 42:42

4M ago42:42

42:42

There are different philosophies one can have when it comes to money. Jared Dillian’s is built around eliminating as much anxiety around it as possible, so you hardly think about money at all. Jared is a former trader for Lehman Brothers, the editor of The Daily Dirtnap, a market newsletter for investment professionals, and the author of No Worries…

1
The Secret World of Bare-Knuckle Boxing 49:56

4M ago49:56

49:56

Have you ever noticed the guy in a fighting stance on the Art of Manliness logo? That’s not just some random symbol; it’s an actual dude: John L. Sullivan, the greatest bare-knuckle boxer of the 19th century. While most people think bare-knuckle boxing came to an end during Sullivan’s era, in fact, it never entirely went away. In his new book, Bare…

1
Why Your Memory Seems Bad (It’s Not Just Age) 44:09

4M ago44:09

44:09

Do you sometimes walk to another room in your house to get something, but then can’t remember what it was you wanted? Do you sometimes forget about an appointment or struggle to remember someone’s name? You may have chalked these lapses in memory up to getting older. And age can indeed play a role in the diminishing power of memory. But as my guest…

1
Grid-Down Medicine — A Guide for When Help Is NOT on the Way 48:14

4M ago48:14

48:14

If you read most first aid guides, the last step in treating someone who’s gotten injured or sick is always: get the victim to professional medical help. But what if you found yourself in a situation where hospitals were overcrowded, inaccessible, or non-functional? What if you found yourself in a grid-down, long-term disaster, and you were the hig…

1
Skills Over Pills 1:06:37

4M ago1:06:37

1:06:37

Over the last decade, there's been an increase in the number of people, particularly young adults, who struggle with low moods, distractibility, and anxiety and consequent difficulties with getting their life on track and making progress in work, friendship, and romance. In addressing these difficulties, people are often given or adopt a mental hea…

1
The Power of Everyday Rituals to Shape and Enhance Our Lives 44:58

4M ago44:58

44:58

When we think of rituals, we tend to think of big, inherited, more occasional religious or cultural ceremonies like church services, holidays, weddings, and funerals. But as my guest observes, we also engage in small, self-made, everyday rituals that help us turn life's more mundane moments into more meaningful ones. In the The Ritual Effect: From …

1
Walden on Wheels — A Man, a Debt, and an American Adventure 58:39

4M ago58:39

58:39

Millions of young adults know what it's like to graduate from college with student debt. For some, it's a frustrating annoyance. For others, it's a worry-inducing burden. For Ken Ilgunas, it was a dragon in need of slaying and a pathway to adventure. Ken is the author of Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom, and today on the show…

1
How to Create a Distraction-Free Phone 50:23

4M ago50:23

50:23

Jake Knapp loves tech. He grew up using Apple II and then Mac computers, browsing bulletin boards, and making his own games. As an adult, he worked at Microsoft on the Encarta CD-ROM, before being hired by Google, where he worked on Gmail, co-founded Google Meet, and created Google Ventures' Design Sprint process. Today, he's a venture capitalist a…

1
Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor with Donald Robertson 56:45

4M ago56:45

56:45

You're listening to the Stoic Solutions Podcast - practical wisdom for everyday life inspired by the ancient tradition of Stoic Philosophy from Greece and Rome. I'm your host, Justin Vacula. Visit my website at StoicSolutionsPodcast.com. For today’s episode, I recorded with author Donald Robertson about his new book ‘Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Empe…

1
Want to Be Happy? Give Yourself Reasons to Admire Yourself 50:58

5M ago50:58

50:58

Happiness and depression can feel like slippery and befuddling things. We can do the things we've been told will make us happy, while still not feeling satisfied. Or, on paper, our lives can look great, yet we feel depressed. And the advice that's out there about these states doesn't always seem to correspond to our lived experience. Ryan Bush has …

1
Tips From a Hostage Negotiator on Handling Difficult Conversations 47:44

5M ago47:44

47:44

In resolving hundreds of kidnap-for-ransom cases involving gang leaders, pirates, and extortionists, Scott Walker, a former Scotland Yard detective, has learned a thing or two about how to negotiate and communicate in a crisis. He shares how to apply those lessons to the difficult conversations we all have in our everyday lives in his book Order Ou…

1
Lessons in Action, Agency, and Purpose From Buying a Ghost Town 45:28

5M ago45:28

45:28

In the 19th century, Cerro Gordo, which sits above Death Valley, was the largest silver mine in America, a place where dreamers came to strike it rich. In the 21st century, Brent Underwood used his life savings to buy what had become an abandoned ghost town, and ended up finding a very different kind of wealth there. Brent has spent four years livi…

1
Get More Done With the Power of Timeboxing 51:02

5M ago51:02

51:02

From work to chores to entertaining distractions, there are many options for what you can be doing at any moment in the modern world. We often endlessly toggle between these options and, as a result, feel frazzled and frustratingly unproductive. We feel ever haunted by the question, "What should I be doing right now?" (Or "What am I even doing righ…

1
How to Shift Out of the Midlife Malaise 52:13

5M ago52:13

52:13

When you think about someone having a midlife crisis, you probably think of a man getting divorced, stepping out with a younger woman, and buying a sports car. But my guest today says the often jokey, mockable trope of the midlife crisis we have in our popular culture discounts the fact that the sense of dissatisfaction people can feel in their mid…

1
The 3 Musical Geniuses Behind the Most Popular Jazz Album of All Time 55:00

5M ago55:00

55:00

Even if you're not very into jazz, you probably know Kind of Blue, the jazz album that's sold more copies than any other and is widely considered one of the greatest albums ever, in any genre. Among the sextet of musicians who played on the album, three stand out as true jazz geniuses: Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and John Coltrane. Today on the show, …

1
A Butler's Guide to Managing Your Household 49:15

5M ago49:15

49:15

It's a tough job to manage a household. Things need to be regularly fixed, maintained, and cleaned. How do you stay on top of these tasks in order to keep your home in tip-top shape? My guest knows his way all around this issue and has some field-tested, insider advice to offer. Charles MacPherson spent two decades as the major-domo or chief butler…

1
Down With Pseudo-Productivity: Why We Need to Transform the Way We Work 1:00:24

5M ago1:00:24

1:00:24

The last several years have seen the rise of a sort of anti-productivity movement. Knowledge workers who feel burned out and that work is pointless, meaningless, and grinding, have been talking more about opting out, “quiet quitting,” and doing nothing. My guest would argue that, in fact, productivity itself isn’t the problem and that most people a…

1
The 5 Factors for Crafting Simple (Read: Effective!) Messages 49:16

5M ago49:16

49:16

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or entrepreneur, you want to be able to persuade your students, children, and customers with your messages. That’s a tall task in the modern age, when people are bombarded with 13 hours of media a day. How do you cut through all that noise to make sure you’re heard? My guest would say it’s all about keeping things …

1
The Misconceptions of HIIT (And the Role It Can Play in Your Fitness Routine) 49:50

6M ago49:50

49:50

You've probably heard of HIIT — high intensity interval training. In fact, you may feel so familiar with the idea that you think you understand it. But do you? People often hold some popular misconceptions about HIIT, and today we'll unpack what some of those are with Dr. Martin Gibala, a foremost researcher of this fitness modality and the author …

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