The Daily Stoic

Today is Halloween here in America, a holiday of fun and mischief for children—masks, candy, and staying up late. But tomorrow, in Mexico, begins Día de los Muertos, a holiday more aimed at adults and with deeper philosophical roots. 

In a world of hypocrites, status worship, and fools masquerading as wise men, we need the clarity and courage the Stoics embodied. 

Every time you chase approval, you trade a piece of who you really are. Today's bonus episode is a clip from Dr. Rangan Chatterjee's episode on The Daily Stoic Podcast. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is a physician, author, TV presenter and podcast host of Feel Better Live More where he talks with leading health experts who offer easy health life-hacks, expert advice and debunk common health myths.  Be sure to check out Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s latest book Make Change That Lasts and grab signed copies of his other books: Feel Better in 5, Feel Great Lose Weight, and Happy Mind, Happy Life at The Painted Porch. You can follow Dr. Rangan on Instagram @DrChatterjee, on X @Dr.ChatterjeeUK, and on YouTube @DrChatterjeeRangan

Life is hard. Life is complicated. Will you make the most of this time you have here?

Nick Thompson couldn’t change his father’s story, but he found a habit that helped him make sense of his own. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with Nick, CEO of The Atlantic and author of The Running Ground. Ryan and Nick talk about why running is the ultimate teacher of focus and resilience, how to build discipline, and how running helped Nick process his complicated relationship with his father.Nick Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic, an American magazine founded in 1857, which earned the top honor for magazines, General Excellence, at the National Magazine Awards in both 2022 and 2023. In his time as CEO, the company has seen record subscriber growth. Before joining The Atlantic, he was the editor-in-chief of Wired magazine. He is also a former contributor for CBS News and has previously served as editor. He has long been a competitive runner; in 2021, he set the American record for men 45+ in the 50K race.Check out Nick’s new book The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of SportsFollow Ni

What made Marcus Aurelius different? What were his secrets to success, resiliency, and productivity? How did he master his emotions and maintain such self-control?

Things will go wrong. Fortune will turn on you. You will make mistakes. Plans will be disrupted. Dreams will be dashed. This is life.

How do we persevere well? How do we persevere happily? Thankfully, we can look to the Stoics. The Stoics not only wrote about how to persevere, they used Stoicism to persevere in the face of plagues, exiles, imprisonment, and wars. You can read this article here: https://dailystoic.com/perseverance/

It’s been six years since Ryan and his longtime editor and collaborator, Stephen Hanselman, first dreamed up the Stoic Virtues Series. In this bonus episode, they reflect on where the idea started, how each book built on the last, and why the four virtues are so deeply connected. Stephen Hanselman has worked for over three decades in publishing as a bookseller, publisher and literary agent. He is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, where he received a Master’s degree while also studying extensively at Harvard’s philosophy department.

What happens when brilliance goes unchecked? In today's episode, Ryan and his research assistant Billy Oppenheimer dig into the cautionary side of genius, from Elon Musk’s unraveling to why so many smart people end up making dumb decisions. They talk about how success can warp reality, why intelligence without wisdom becomes dangerous, and how even the brightest minds can lose their way when they stop listening, stop learning, and stop taking care of themselves.Billy Oppenheimer is Ryan Holiday’s research assistant and the writer behind the newsletter, Six at 6 on Sunday. To read more of his work, check out his website billyoppenheimer.com.

What watching the news these days does to you is indisputable. It disrupts your focus. It disturbs your sanity. It changes your mood. But what does it change in the real world?

Elon Musk is smart. Yet would anyone describe Elon Musk as happy?

What does six years of studying and writing about the Stoic virtues really teach you? In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with longtime research assistant Billy Oppenheimer to look back on how the Stoic Virtues Series came together, from the first hike where the idea was born to the final chapter of Wisdom Takes Work. They talk about what it means to grow up alongside your own work, how each book became the lesson Ryan needed at that moment, and why wisdom can’t be outsourced.Billy Oppenheimer is Ryan Holiday’s research assistant and the writer behind the newsletter, Six at 6 on Sunday. To read more of his work, check out his website billyoppenheimer.com.

The bad guys might get away with it. But that’s not going to stop us from doing what we’re supposed to do, from being who we are supposed to be. 

No one will be able to do this for you. You can't outsource it. You can't fake it. There are no hacks. 

Wisdom Takes Work, the final book in the Stoic Virtues Series, is out TODAY! To celebrate, Ryan’s sharing a special preview: a full chapter from the audiobook.

Being smart is knowing facts. Being intelligent is having a mind that can solve hard problems or do complex things. Being creative is the ability to generate new and beautiful art. This is all wonderful and important, but we know it is not the same thing as wisdom.

Why do smart people fall for dumb ideas? In this episode, Ryan explains how ego and overconfidence can trip up even the smartest minds and how Stoicism can help you avoid the same trap.

The difference between panic and power comes down to a few simple rules. In today’s episode, Ryan dives into Les Snead’s philosophy on “panic rules” and why it’s stuck with him ever since they first talked. Ryan and Les discuss how these rules help leaders stay calm under pressure, make hard decisions, and mentor the next generation. Then, they wrap up the conversation at The Painted Porch, where Ryan shares some book recommendations with Les and his wife Kara.Les Snead is an American football executive who is the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. Snead played tight end for Auburn from 1992-93 and was part of the Tigers’ perfect 11-0 team in 1993. He also earned Southeast Region Academic All-American honors during his college career. Prior to joining the Rams, Snead spent 13 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.  

Whether we're a slave or an emperor, wisdom helps us rise above our limitations. It gives us clarity, it gives us perspective.