The Daily Stoic

The daily comforts and conveniences that make life ‘easier’ might be the very thing keeping you stuck. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with bestselling author and journalist Michael Easter to explore the power of discomfort, the dangers of modern excess, and how ancient wisdom encourages seeking out struggle. They discuss the paradox of comfort, the psychology of scarcity, and why stepping outside of our routines can make life richer and more meaningful.Michael Easter has made a career of traveling the world to uncover practical ideas that help people live healthier, happier, and more remarkable lives. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Scarcity Brain, and The Comfort Crisis. 

It happens. It shouldn’t, but it does.

Through nothing but an accident of birth, you have been blessed. What will you do with it?

They told her she would never succeed, now her work has saved millions. In this episode, Ryan talks with Dr. Katalin Karikó, the scientist behind the mRNA technology that led to COVID-19 vaccines. She grew up in rural Communist Hungary, faced rejection after rejection, got demoted, and struggled financially but she never stopped chasing the science. Dr. Katalin Karikó opens up to Ryan about her experiences as an immigrant in the U.S., the grind of scientific discovery, enjoying the process rather than focusing solely on outcomes, misinformation in the scientific community, and the responsibility of scientists to communicate effectively with the public.Dr. Katalin Karikó is a Hungarian American biochemist who specializes in RNA-mediated mechanisms. She won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with her colleague Dr. Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Read the New York Times fea

This is your moment to tip the balance - to move from darkness into light, from stagnation into growth, from winter's rest into spring's renewal.

It didn’t feel good at the time. But now? Years later? We think about it a little differently.

We can keep being the person we’ve always been…or we can change. That’s the choice of life, the Stoics believed. 

What are your panic rules? In June of 2023, Ryan Holiday spoke to a group of U.S. Marines in 29 Palms, California about how to stay cool under pressure and set panic rules for difficult situations.

Yung Pueblo, one of today’s most influential poets, joins Ryan to discuss the overlap between Stoicism and Buddhism, why achieving success can lead to discontentment, and how ancient wisdom has transformed his life—and can transform yours too.Diego Perez is a meditator and #1 New York Times bestselling author who is known by his pen name, Yung Pueblo. Online he has an audience of over 4 million people. His writing focuses on the power of self-healing, creating healthy relationships, and the wisdom that comes when we truly work on knowing ourselves. He has sold over 1.5 million books worldwide that have been translated into over 25 languages. Diego is a general partner at Wisdom Ventures and a founder of Ready Platform, a dating and relationship support app.Pick up signed copies of his latest book How To Love Better and his other books Lighter, Inward, Clarity and Connection, and The Way Forward at The Painted Porch. You can follow him on Instagram @yung_pueblo and on X @YungPueblo.

It's been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic first upended our daily lives. Five years later and we've filled our calendars back up—often with commitments we don't even enjoy or need. 

What we do as people is we accumulate stuff. We accumulate, accumulate, accumulate…until our homes, our cars, our minds, and our schedules are cluttered. 

World-renowned illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown joins Ryan for a deep dive into his connection with Stoic philosophy. Derren shares how he first discovered Stoicism, how his perspective on Marcus Aurelius and the philosophy has evolved over the years, and the life-changing lessons it has taught him about happiness.Derren Brown’s groundbreaking UK television career began in 2000 with Mind Control, and since then, he has captivated audiences with mind-bending feats—from playing Russian Roulette live on air to leading a national séance and even immobilizing viewers in their own homes.Derren is the first magician in history to tour globally with eight sold-out one-man shows. He holds a record five Olivier Award nominations (with two wins) and made his U.S. stage debut with SECRET, which won the New York Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience before returning for a sold-out Broadway run in 2019.Check out Derren’s latest work Meditations by Marcus Aurelius in Conversation With Deren Brown: https://

They cause drama. They make things complicated. They say things that are hurtful. The Stoics dealt with these folks because these folks have always been with us.

What would you give for the key to unshackle you from the fear and laziness holding you back?

People can beat you, but no one can stop you from improving.

In today's episode, discover George Raveling's powerful philosophy on navigating life’s chaos. With years of experience guiding top players and coaches, he reveals how to turn uncertainty into opportunity and transform life’s challenges into a winning strategy.

What this changing of the clocks should be–with their earlier mornings–is a wake up call. This is a chance for us to rethink, reexamine and re-invigorate.

In today’s PT. 2 episode, George Raveling, basketball legend and Civil Rights leader, opens up about his close bond with Michael Jordan, the question he asks himself every morning, and why serving others holds more value than any accolade.As one of the most revered basketball coaches of all time, George has mentored legendary athletes and worked alongside coaching icons like Bob Knight and John Wooden. He played a pivotal role in persuading Michael Jordan to collaborate with Nike on Air Jordan, guided the 1984 U.S. men’s Olympic team to gold, and even became the unexpected guardian of the original, handwritten copy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. 

As winter fades and spring emerges, as we adjust our clocks for daylight savings here in the next few days, it's a good time to pause and reflect. Where did the time go?

Sometimes hope is as simple as giving someone a reason to get through until morning. It's showing up, day after day, and saying, ‘I’m here for you.’”