In this episode, Tanner explores the rich insights of Meditations 3.4 by Marcus Aurelius, focusing on four main Stoic principles. Marcus warns against wasting time on unnecessary concerns about others, emphasizing opportunity cost and the importance of focusing on appropriate external and internal matters. Tanner also discusses the practice of habituating virtuous thoughts—those we would not be ashamed to express openly—as a step toward moral excellence. The meditation highlights the innate rationality within us, gifted by the Logos, and reminds us that our purpose is to act in alignment with justice and reason. Finally, Marcus advises caution in choosing whose counsel to value, urging Stoics to avoid being swayed by those who do not pursue Virtue themselves.

MEDITATION TEXT

“Do not waste the balance of life left to you in thoughts about other persons, when you are not referring to some advantage of your fellows—for why do you rob yourself of something else which you might do—I mean if you imagine to yourself what so and so is doing, and why; what he is saying or thinking or planning, and every thought of the kind which leads you astray from close watch over your governing self? [full meditation can be found at https://stoicismpod.com/far] — (Meditations 3.4)

TAKEAWAYS

— Every choice carries an opportunity cost; time spent on unproductive thoughts cannot be reclaimed.

— Virtue begins with habituating honest and just thoughts that align with Stoic values.

— Moral reasoning is not just an ability but the purpose of a rational being.

— Stoics must be selective about whose counsel they value, focusing on those who align with Nature.

LINKS

— Go ad-free: https://stoicismpod.com/members

— Join the Discord Community: https://stoicismpod.com/discord

— Follow the print publication: https://stoicismpod.com/print

— Take my free courses: https://stoicismpod.com/courses

— Order my book: https://stoicismpod.com/book

— Source Text: https://stoicismpod.com/far

— Follow me on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/tannerocampbell.bsky.social

— Follow me on YouTube: https://stoicismpod.com/youtube

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Dangers of Cloud Misconfigurations from Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks.

Follow the show: Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks

In this episode of Threat Vector, host David Moulton speaks with Margaret Kelley, a seasoned Digital Forensics and Incident Response Senior Consultant at Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42. With a deep expertise in cloud security, Margaret shares insights into the evolving landscape of cloud breaches and how organizations can defend against sophisticated attacks. From misconfigurations to control plane vulnerabilities, the discussion covers the most critical aspects of securing cloud environments. Margaret's real-world examples provide listeners with valuable lessons on how attackers exploit cloud vulnerabilities and what defenders can do to stay ahead. Tune in to learn practical strategies for fortifying your cloud defenses and keeping your organization secure.

Margaret’s most recent articles are Leaked Environment Variables Allow Large-Scale Extortion Operation of Cloud Environments and Bling Libra’s Tactical Evolution: The Threat Actor Group Behind ShinyHunters Ransomware. 

Threat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.

The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers.

Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization.

Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 3.3 from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, exploring its central themes: the inevitability of death, the futility of fearing it, and the Stoic imperative to live well while we can. Marcus reminds us that even the most accomplished and revered figures—be they healers, conquerors, or philosophers—ultimately succumb to mortality. Their stories serve as a humbling reminder of our shared fate and an encouragement to prioritize virtue over fame, power, or fear.

Key Takeaways:

“Hippocrates, after curing many sicknesses, himself fell sick and died. The Chaldean astrologers foretold the death of many persons, then the hour of fate overtook them also. Alexander, Pompeius, and Julius Caesar, after so often utterly destroying whole towns and slaying in the field many myriads of horse and foot, themselves also one day departed from life. Heraclitus, after many speculations about the fire which should consume the Universe, was waterlogged by dropsy, poulticed himself with cow-dung and died. Vermin killed Democritus; another kind of vermin Socrates. What is the moral? You went on board, you set sail, you have made the port. Step ashore: if to a second life, nothing is void of gods, not even in that other world; but if to unconsciousness, you will cease to suffer pains and pleasures and to be the servant of an earthly vessel as far inferior as that which does it service is superior; for the one is mind and deity, the other clay and gore.” - Meditations 3.3

--

Go ad-free : https://stoicismpod.com/members

Join the Discord Community : https://stoicismpod.com/discord

Follow the print publication : https://stoicismpod.com/print

Take my free courses : https://stoicismpod.com/courses

Order my book : https://stoicismpod.com/book

Source Text : https://stoicismpod.com/far

Follow me on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/tannerocampbell.bsky.social

Follow me on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@stoicismpod

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing From Crisis to Opportunity: The Future of Industrials in Europe and the U.S. from The Better Growth Blueprint.

Follow the show: The Better Growth Blueprint

In this episode of The Better Growth Blueprint, Kai is joined by Grigori Bokeria and Adam Echter, Co-Managing Partners of Industrials at Simon-Kucher, for a deep dive into the evolving industrial sector. Drawing from their expertise across Europe and the U.S., Grigori and Adam explore the impact of economic volatility on demand, the importance of trust and value communication, and how dynamic pricing strategies are reshaping the industry. They also share why industrials don’t need to be at the cutting edge of innovation to thrive—adapting proven strategies can be just as effective.

For more resources, please visit: https://www.simon-kucher.com/

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

In this episode, I discuss Meditation 3.2 from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. This meditation reflects on the inherent beauty in all things that align with Nature, even when they might seem imperfect or undesirable to us at first glance. Marcus uses examples such as cracks on a freshly baked loaf of bread or the ripe, oozing fig to illustrate how side effects of Nature’s processes carry their own grace and fascination.

I explore two key takeaways:

I. Understanding Natural Processes – By studying and respecting Nature, we learn to identify the optimal points in its processes, whether in baking bread or recognizing when something has reached its natural conclusion.

II. Redefining Beauty – Marcus invites us to find beauty not just in the outcomes we prefer but in all stages of life’s processes. Even in things like a furrowed brow, overripe fruit, or the inevitability of decay, there is a harmony with Nature that can inspire respect, wonder, and acceptance.

Finally, I reflect on how shifting our judgment of ugliness to one of wonder and appreciation can deepen our understanding of the world and our place in it.

"We must also observe closely points of this kind, that even the secondary effects of Nature's processes possess a sort of grace and attraction. To take one instance, bread when it is being baked breaks open at some places; now even these cracks, which in one way contradict the promise of the baker's art, somehow catch the eye and stimulate in a special way our appetite for the food. And again figs, when fully mature, gape, and in ripe olives their very approach to decay adds a certain beauty of its own to the fruit. Ears of corn too when they bend downwards, the lion's wrinkled brow, the foam flowing from the boar's mouth, and many other characteristics that are far from beautiful if we look at them in isolation, do nevertheless because they follow from Nature's processes lend those a further ornament and a fascination. And so, if a man has a feeling for, and a deeper insight into the processes of the Universe, there is hardly one but will somehow appear to present itself pleasantly to him, even among mere attendant circumstances. Such a man also will feel no less pleasure in looking at the actual jaws of wild beasts than at the imitations which painters and sculptors exhibit, and he will be enabled to see in an old woman or an old man a kind of freshness and bloom, and to look upon the charms of his own boy slaves with sober eyes. And many such experiences there will be, not convincing to every one but occurring to him and to him alone who has become genuinely familiar with Nature and her works." – Meditations 3.2

--

Go ad-free : https://stoicismpod.com/members

Join the Discord Community : https://stoicismpod.com/discord

Follow the print publication : https://stoicismpod.com/print

Take my free courses : https://stoicismpod.com/courses

Order my book : https://stoicismpod.com/book

Source Text : https://stoicismpod.com/far

Follow me on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/tannerocampbell.bsky.social

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Responsible AI: Why Businesses Need Reliable AI Governance from Smart Talks with IBM.

Follow the show: Smart Talks with IBM

To deploy responsible AI and build trust with customers, businesses need to prioritize AI governance. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell and Laurie Santos discuss AI accountability with Christina Montgomery, Chief Privacy and Trust Officer at IBM. They chat about AI regulation, what compliance means in the AI age, and why transparent AI governance is good for business.

Visit us at: ibm.com/smarttalks

Explore watsonx.governance: https://www.ibm.com/products/watsonx-governance

This is a paid advertisement from IBM.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Today we begin Book 3 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Meditation 3.1 reminds us that our time is limited—not just by death, but by the potential loss of our rational faculty as we age. Marcus writes that even if life continues, our ability to reason, comprehend, and adapt to events may diminish. He urges us to press forward with our pursuit of Virtue while we still have the capacity to live thoughtfully and intentionally.

Memento Mori—the practice of remembering our mortality—grounds Stoic practice, but Marcus reminds us that it is not a lifehack to achieve personal goals or ambitions. Instead, it’s a practice rooted in the Stoic commitment to living in alignment with Nature and contributing to the greater good of the Cosmopolis. This meditation challenges us to reflect on how we use the present moment, which is the only time truly within our power, to make progress toward Virtue.

"We ought to take into account not only the fact that day by day life is being spent and a smaller balance remaining, but this further point also that, should we live longer, it is at least doubtful whether the intellect will hereafter be the same." - Meditations 3.1

--

Go ad-free : https://stoicismpod.com/members

Join the Discord Community : https://stoicismpod.com/discord

Follow the print publication : https://stoicismpod.com/print

Take my free courses : https://stoicismpod.com/courses

Order my book : https://stoicismpod.com/book

Source Text : https://stoicismpod.com/far

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Behind the Scenes with Palo Alto Networks CIO and CISO Securing Business Success with Frictionless Cybersecurity from Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks.

Follow the show: Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks

In this episode of Threat Vector, David Moulton speaks with Meerah Rajavel, CIO of Palo Alto Networks, and Niall Browne, CISO of the organization, about the importance of aligning IT strategy with cybersecurity. 

Meerah and Niall discuss how frictionless security, AI integration, and cloud solutions enable agility without compromising safety. They explore how the partnership between IT and security drives business outcomes, enhances customer trust, and ensures rapid incident response. Tune in to learn practical strategies for balancing innovation and security in today’s dynamic business environment.

Threat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.

The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers.

Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization.

Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

In this episode, I discuss Meditation 17 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the transient and uncertain nature of life. Marcus reminds us that our lives are brief and unpredictable, with the physical and spiritual aspects of existence constantly in flux. In the face of this, Marcus asserts that only Philosophy can serve as our guide through life, providing us with the means to keep our spirit unharmed, act with purpose, and accept the inevitable changes and dissolution of Nature without fear.

Marcus highlights the importance of focusing on the present moment, the only time we truly have control over. While the past can inform our decisions, and the future must be considered for virtuous planning, neither should overwhelm the present. By living according to a guiding philosophy—one that emphasizes virtue, rationality, and alignment with Nature—we ensure that our choices lead us closer to the Good. I also explore how adopting a coherent and virtuous philosophy, like Stoicism, helps us frame our actions and emotions, avoiding the pitfalls of nihilism or harmful ideologies.

"Of man's life, his time is a point, his existence a flux, his sensation clouded, his body's entire composition corruptible, his vital spirit an eddy of breath, his fortune hard to predict, his fame uncertain. Briefly, all the things of the body, a river; all the things of the spirit, dream and delirium; his life a warfare and a sojourn in a strange land, his after-fame oblivion. What then can be his escort through life? One thing and one thing only, Philosophy. And this is to keep the spirit within him unwronged and unscathed, master of pains and pleasures, doing nothing at random, nothing falsely and with pretence; needing no other to do aught or to leave aught undone; and moreover accepting what befalls it, that is, what is assigned to it, as coming from that other world from which it came itself. And in all things awaiting death, with a mind that is satisfied, counting it nothing else than a release of the elements from which each living creature is composed. Now if there is no hurt to the elements themselves in their ceaseless changing each into other, why should a man apprehend anxiously the change and dissolution of them all? For this is according to Nature; and no evil is according to Nature." - Meditations 2.17

--

Go ad-free : https://stoicismpod.com/members

Join the Discord Community : https://stoicismpod.com/discord

Follow the print publication : https://stoicismpod.com/print

Take my free courses : https://stoicismpod.com/courses

Order my book : https://stoicismpod.com/book

Source Text : https://stoicismpod.com/far

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Group Chat: Don't Get Testerical with Josh Bard & Kelaine Conochan from Good Game with Sarah Spain.

Follow the show: Good Game with Sarah Spain

Sarah’s good pals Josh Bard, producer for ESPN’s Around The Horn, and Kelaine Conochan, VP of global sales for Legends, join her for another edition of Group Chat. This time, they talk all things college hoops, attempt to craft an official co-ed adult sports etiquette code, and choose which Unrivaled basketball clubs they’ll be rooting for in January.

• You heard our 5-rule official etiquette code for coed adult sports. Got a rule you think we should add? Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.bsky.social Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist TikTok: @mishthejrnalist

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].