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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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

👇 👇 👇

📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

👇 👇 👇

📻 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.

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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📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

👇 👇 👇

📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

👇 👇 👇

📻 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.

👇 👇 👇

📻 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.

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.

👇 👇 👇

📻 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.