Paradoxically Speaking

Paradoxically Speaking (Season 2)


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What happens when a Stoic (Brandon Tumblin from The Strong Stoic) and a Seeker (J.W. Bertolotti from Perennial Meditations) get together for casual conversations? It usually results in lots of paradoxically speaking about what it means to live a good life. Our conversations (or, you might say, ramblings and ruminations) tend to explore the complexities and nuances around living our highest good in the modern world.

Paradoxes exist nearly everywhere — even in the area of self-improvement. In the classic On Becoming a Person, psychologist Carl Rogers wrote, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” When you encounter a paradox, there is potential and opportunity within the tension. As the nineteenth-century Danish physicist Niels Bohr put it, “The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.” You’ll find that most of our conversations explore principles and practices from all sides (which we understand may not be for everyone). For example, we are interested in human goodness (virtue) and our capacity for evil (vice). The wisdom of connection and the power of solitude. The importance of structure and the need for flexibility. Although we intentionally explore complex topics — we strive to keep things practical and for daily life.

***Moving forward, there are two ways to access full episodes of Paradoxically Speaking: (1) Become a paid member of Brandon's Substack (https://strongstoic.substack.com/); (2) Become a paid member of Josh's Substack (https://perennial.substack.com/). By becoming a member of either of our Substacks, you'll gain full access to Paradoxically Speaking episodes.

Who We Are?

  • Brandon Tumblin is most well-known for his podcast, The Strong Stoic Podcast, which discusses philosophical ideas (solo and guest episodes). His podcast has more than 250 episodes published, so it is safe to say that he has already explored many of the topics we’ll discuss here. Brandon is also a writer, strength athlete & coach, and engineer.
  • J.W. Bertolotti is probably best known for In Search of Wisdom, a conversational podcast interested in timeless principles and practices for everyday life. His more than 150 episodes (with leading thinkers in philosophy and theology) end with the question: What is wisdom?
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Paradoxically SpeakingBy Paradoxically Speaking