The Daily Stoic

Cleanthes and Socrates exposed themselves to cold. Marcus Aurelius slept on a hard mattress. Seneca practiced poverty on a regular basis. Why did they do this?

There is no mention of what became of the Stoics' wives. We don’t talk about the slights and the condescension they would have put up with as the ‘weaker sex.’ 

As Marcus would say, we can't be satisfied with merely "getting the gist" of what we read. "Read attentively," he advised. Read deeply. Aim for quality, not quantity.The Daily Stoic is $1.99 as an ebook for a limited time only. Grab it here now!

In moments of chaos, let Stoicism be your guide. In today’s episode, Ryan dives into how to tackle both small and big obstacles by harnessing your inner strength, staying steady in the face of unpredictability, and leading with purpose

The Stoics knew something we often forget: influence starts before you speak. It's in your energy, your posture, your presence. In today’s PT. 2 episode with body language expert Vanessa Van Edwards, she breaks down how to project authentic warmth, gives Ryan tips for navigating social dynamics, and shares how to confidently master the art of saying no.Vanessa Van Edwards is the bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, translated into 17 languages, and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication. More than 70 million people have watched her on YouTube and seen her viral TEDx London Talk.Vanessa is renowned for teaching science-backed people skills to audiences worldwide, including Harvard, SXSW, MIT, and Stanford. Through her engaging workshops and courses, Vanessa shares tangible skills to improve interpersonal communication and leadership. Her science-backed framework helps anyone communicate with confidence.Check out Vanessa’ work on her website: scienceofpe

The world is constantly changing. We are constantly changing. Therefore what we get out of these books changes, too.

It’s pathetic, isn’t it? What some people do with power—what it reveals about them.

The Stoics didn’t just preach wisdom, they commanded attention. They knew how to lead with presence, not just ideas. In this episode, body language expert Vanessa Van Edwards joins Ryan to break down the science of real connection through a Stoic lens. She shares powerful, research-backed strategies to communicate with purpose, project warmth without losing authority, and instantly shift how others see and respond to you.Vanessa Van Edwards is the bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, translated into 17 languages, and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication. More than 70 million people have watched her on YouTube and seen her viral TEDx London Talk.Vanessa is renowned for teaching science-backed people skills to audiences worldwide, including Harvard, SXSW, MIT, and Stanford. Through her engaging workshops and courses, Vanessa shares tangible skills to improve interpersonal communication and leadership. Her science-backed framework helps anyone communica

Think about the principles we are standing on. Think of what we are willing to risk for them.

The ancients did not just leave us words on papyrus—they left us a gift that keeps on giving through the ages.

On Memorial Day, it is worth reflecting on this very beautiful and almost baffling bit of human greatness.

In today’s episode, Ryan opens up about how despite his career success and net worth, he still struggles with anxiety and stress, not so much about the state of the world but about the constant pressure for things to go right.

Can people actually change or are we just stuck with who we are? In this episode, author and journalist Olga Khazan joins Ryan to unpack the age-old debate: are personality traits fixed or can we reshape them over time? Olga shares what happened when she tried to change her own personality over the course of a year and what science says about whether that’s even possible.Olga Khazan is a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of Me, But Better. You can follow Olga on Instagram and X @Olganator and read more of her work on Substack: https://olgakhazan.substack.com/

As leaders, we cannot allow people to tell us what we want to hear. We have to cultivate honesty, both in ourselves and in those around us.

The world is crazy. Plus, we have our own crazy lives to worry about—that pile of work, the kid who might be coming down with a cold, the house project that must be finished.

1963 was a transformational year in American history—JFK's assassination, Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech, the Birmingham Campaign, the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, and escalating Cold War tensions. It was a year that changed the soul of America.In this episode, Dr. Peniel Joseph, author and professor at the University of Texas at Austin, joins Ryan to discuss how 1963 ignited a decade of transformation. They discuss the pivotal events of the year, the contrasting strategies of Malcolm X and MLK Jr., and how this single year reshaped the course of future generations.Dr. Peniel E. Joseph is the Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and distinguished service leadership professor and professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author and editor of eight award-winning books on African American history, including The Third Reconstruction and The Swo

As Seneca wrote: “Associate with people who are likely to improve you. The process is a mutual one: men learn as they teach.”

We are not emperors. We are not senators. But we are human beings, connected to all other human beings. 

The Stoics remind us that everything has its compensation…if we choose to see it, if we choose to welcome it.

Is a world without rude people possible? Perhaps. Likely? Not in our lifetimes. So the question is…how do we deal with them without compromising our character? Learn 5 Stoic tips for dealing with the worst kind of people in today's episode. Read this article: https://dailystoic.com/5-stoic-tips-for-handling-rude-people/Narrated by: Kat Pichik