A narrated essay reflecting on minimalism: owning only what adds value and meaning to your life and removing the rest.

Find more essays at brandonstover.com
Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

Timestamps:

• (00:00) - Beginning of Essay
• (02:08) - Minimalism
• (03:53) - Value of Small Spaces
• (07:05) - Using Things to Fulfill Feelings
• (09:01) - Deciding What Has Value

A narrated essay reflecting on the dark side of consistently creating content, what a content creators intention should be, and how to create content that is both sensational and valuable.

Find more essays at brandonstover.com
Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

Timestamps:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:25) - Beginning of Essay
• (05:19) - The Two Sides of Content Creation
• (08:26) - Consistent Content Creation
• (10:03) - Content Marketing
• (11:58) - Creator's Intention
• (12:40) - Value of Long-Form Content

A narrated essay reflecting on the five stages of relationships for both monogamists and non-monogamists, delineating when a romantic interest should move to the next stage.

Find more essays at brandonstover.com
Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

Timestamps:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:21) - Beginning of Essay
• (03:03) - Stage 1: Need Fulfillment
• (04:18) - Stage 2: Mutual Benefit
• (05:37) - Stage 3: Romantic Trial Period
• (06:37) - Stage 4: Resource Trial Period
• (07:47) - Stage 5: Life Partners
• (09:32) - Pursuing Purpose Together
• (12:09) - Monogamy vs Non-Monogamy
• (14:43) - Polarity in Relationships

A narrated essay on how to strive towards perfection, an ideal state of being, without feeling shame or guilt when we fall short as flawed human beings.

Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

Timestamps:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (02:29) - Essay Narration
• (05:10) - Commentary on Essay

A narrated An essay reflecting on how the Metaverse can either supplement or replace reality, simulation theory, evolution of humans, and the decisions each of us will have to make as the Metaverse unfolds. Brandon shares how he believes the Metaverse can help, his fears for those turning away from reality, and how he would proceed given the choice between the Metaverse and reality.

Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

TIMESTAMPS

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:17) - Beginning of essay On the Metaverse: Metaverse vs Reality
• (03:59) - Will the Metaverse be an escape from reality?
• (05:20) - How does the design of the Metaverse keep you inside the Metaverse?
• (06:14) - How will the Metaverse help us avoid reality?
• (07:43) - What is the role of suffering in human existence?
• (08:43) - What is the goal of the Metaverse?
• (09:19) - Could the Metaverse be a supplement to real life?
• (10:49) - How could the Metaverse help us solve problems through simulation?
• (13:20) - How does the Metaverse fall short?
• (15:14) - Are we already living in a simulation?
• (16:29) - How can the Metaverse accelerate human evolution?
• (18:26) - Will you choose the Metaverse or Reality?

A narrated essay reflecting on how to access the mind using the body, your responsibility for your body, and who has the power to make decisions about our bodies. Brandon shares how he began a better connection with his body and his views about decisions made concerning other's bodies including abortion and COVID.

Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

TIMESTAMPS

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:04) - Beginning of essay On the Body: Using the Body to Access the Mind
• (04:15) - Inspiration of essay, my journey with first connecting with the body
• (05:49) - How do we access the mind through the body?
• (09:49) - What is the connection of the mind with reality?
• (10:49) - How did the Stoics perceive the body?
• (11:13) - How is the body a tool for your will?
• (12:30) - Why you must become the expert and take responsibility for your body
• (15:11) - What happens when you outsource responsibility of your body to others?
• (15:58) - Who should have ultimate decisions over our bodies?
• (18:30) - What can you do if your body is enslaved or controlled by someone else?
• (20:52) - Final comments on the body

A narrated essay reflecting on what the true joy of a goal is, what to do when you are not reaching goals fast enough, goals in finite vs infinite games, and how to share your ambition with others. Brandon shares his struggles with not reaching goals fast enough and sharing his ambition with others.

Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

TIMESTAMPS

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:16) - Beginning of essay On Goals: Joy of Goals
• (04:50) - Inspiration of essay, not reaching goals fast enough
• (05:38) - How does dopamine and our brain influence goals?
• (06:20) - What choices do we have in life?
• (07:03) - What are finite vs infinite games?
• (08:12) - How does legacy effect our goals?
• (10:13) - What is the true benefit of having a goal?
• (13:27) - How many goals should we have?
• (14:22) - Why should you cherish your goals?
• (15:25) - What is the best possible goal to set for yourself?
• (16:40) - Why do some fear ambition?
• (20:22) - Why do you fear sharing your ambition?
• (24:51) - What is the goal of the infinite game of life?
• (26:48) - How to deal with uncertainty in life

Full show notes, transcripts, and resources for every episode can be found at: brandonstover.com

The On Life podcast is produced by Plato University.

A narrated essay reflecting on marriage as a contract, whether love should be a part of this contract, what other types of marriage exist, and if monogamy is the best form of partnership for marriages. Brandon elaborates on his 4 year marriage ending in divorce, relationship check-ins, and what forms of love and relationships he may look for in the future.

Want the essays and podcasts delivered directly to you? Subscribe: brandonstover.substack.com

TIMESTAMPS

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:20) - Beginning of essay On Marriage: Marriage as a Social Contract
• (05:43) - Current context, recent divorce, and childhood background
• (06:58) - Is marriage a contract requiring negotiations?
• (08:41) - Is marriage as a positive environment for children?
• (09:42) - What of the chemical influence of love on the brain?
• (10:32) - What role does love play in marriage?
• (14:16) - What is the desire to want the best for your partner?
• (15:29) - Relationship check-ins and the beginning of my divorce
• (19:09) - Should marriage be more flexible?
• (20:58) - What other types of marriages exist?
• (28:30) - Questioning the standard template of marriage to fit your circumstances
• (30:08) - Should love and marriage be separate?
• (31:40) - Questions I have for those in long lasting marriages

Full show notes, transcripts, and resources for every episode can be found at: brandonstover.com

The On Life podcast is produced by Plato University.