Good Fortune

Good Fortune episodes:

• 03.17.2020

  Episode 19: Virtue

  In this episode, Matt Van Natta talks about the Stoic view of Virtue. Questions asked and answered: How does Stoicism describe virtue? But what is virtue? How can we be virtuous?

  
• 02.04.2020

  Episode 18: Conflict

  In this episode, Matt Van Natta talks about how Stoics deal with personal conflict. Questions asked and answered: What is the Stoic view of personal conflict? How does a Stoic respond to conflict? How does this radical viewpoint apply to life today?

  
• 09.16.2019

  Episode 17: The Stoic Fool

  In this episode, Matt Van Natta talks about why Stoics will sometimes be considered foolish by others. Questions asked and answered: Why would practitioners of philosophy be considered foolish? What benefit is there to being foolish in the Stoic way? How can I...

  
• 04.03.2018

  Episode 16: Progress

  In this episode, Matt Van Natta addresses progress in Stoic philosophy. Questions asked and answered: How do Stoics define Progress? How does a Stoic practice the philosophy? How can we know if we're missing the point of Stoicism?

  
• 08.02.2017

  Episode 15 - Stoic Self-Care

  In this episode, Matt Van Natta addresses Stoic self-care. Questions asked and answered: What does Stoicism advise, when I've had my fill of life's stresses? How can I find personal harmony in a discordant world? Why does Stoicism recommend brief and basic mental...

  
• 07.03.2017

  Extrasode 14.5 The Good Fortune Handbook

  The Good Fortune Handbook consists of the transcripts of thirteen Good Fortune podcast episodes along with additional posts of the past five years from the website, Immoderate Stoic. Whether you read it cover to cover, or use the helpful appendixes...

  
• 06.09.2017

  Episode 14 - Self-Restraint

  In this episode, Matt Van Natta addresses Stoic self-restraint. Questions asked and answered: Why does Stoicism advise self-restraint? What sort of restraint is advised? Must I reign myself in forever, or can I loosen up eventually?

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 13 - Death and an Epitaph for Ourselves

  In Episode 13 of Good Fortune I tackle death. Death is a huge topic and this podcast tends to come in at around 15 minutes, so please understand that I'll be covering only a glint of a facet of what...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 12 - Frightened of Change?

  In this episode we discuss the importance of accepting change. The discussion is meant to lay the groundwork for Episode 13 which will concern DEATH. This episode's questions: Exactly how close to nature's heart is change? So the ancient Stoics were really...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 11 - Uprooting Fear

  This episode's questions: What's the Stoic view of fear and do Stoics experience it? The Stoics say that fe.ar is all in my head but, if so, my head is really good at generating fear. What should I do about that? Outside of...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 10 - Physical Exercises

  In this episode I look into physical exercises that can enhance Stoic practice. The ancient Stoics believed that confronting discomfort and pain was essential if one was to live the flourishing life. If anything, the modern ability to wrap ourselves...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 9 - Resources

  In this episode I recommend books and other resources that can help the stoic practitioner. I cover the ancient texts, modern books, and online resources that are available.

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 8 - When We Stumble

  Sometimes we stumble and don't know how to get back on track. In episode 8 I ask what we can do to recover when we fail at our philosophy. This week's questions: How am I supposed to react when I...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Extrasode 7.5 - How Stoics Treat Jerks

  In this extrasode I read the post How Stoic Treat Jerks, from this blog. Another article, Citizen of the World, is mentioned in passing. How Stoics Treat Jerks bridges the concepts laid out in episode 7 and those that will...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 7 - When People Are Obstacles

  This week I cover the Stoic way to deal with challenging people. I draw from Aurelius' Meditations as we look at a how to think about our situation and as we learn to apply the Stoic Reserve Clause to our...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 6 - Handling Distressing News

  This week I cover the Stoic way to receive bad news. We spend time in Epictetus' Discourses, Book 3, Chapter 28 and talk about the hegemonikon (ruling faculty of the mind) and Stoic indifference. I wrap up by discussing how...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Extrasode 5.5 - Stoicism and the Blues

  As you'll hear in today's extrasode, I have a new job! This is a good thing (a prefered indifferent) but this week it gobbled up all my free time. That said, I did not want simply leave the week silent,...

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 5 - A Stoic End to the Day

  In this episode I review a common Stoic practice, the Evening (or Retrospective) Meditation. Beginning with the exercise itself, I later cover potential pitfalls if the exercise is misunderstood, and an alternative use that applies to parents.

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 4 - What We Control

  In this episode I cover the dichotomy of control as found in chapter one of the Enchiridion. I also cover the Stoic practice called "suspension of judgment."

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 3 - Attention is Fundamental

  In this episode I cover the importance of attention, the fundamental Stoic spiritual attitude. I also cover the Stoic practice called 'Physical Definition,' as derived from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 2 - A Stoic Start to the Day

  This week I cover how to start the day as a Stoic. I discuss morning meditations derived from Marcus Aurelius and Seneca as well as explain the Stoic exercise called the View from Above.

  
• 04.06.2017

  Episode 1 - A Festival

  Here it is, the premier episode of Good Fortune! I cover the goals of the project, explain the title choice and the raven image, and discuss the "Festival Mindset" found in Epictetus's Dialogues.