Pub and Porch: Applied Stoicism

In this episode, Adam and Mick discuss the roots of modern democracy and its ties to classical history and the ancient Stoics. Discussions focus on the generation of constitutions mirroring those of ancient Rome, as well as discussions on the historical figures of the generation of modern democratic systems today and their connections to the Stoics history. Modern writings are discussed as Adam and Mick show the strong ties between democracy, the ancient world, and Stoicism.

Books referenced:
First Principles: What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country, Thomas E. Ricks

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

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In today's episode, Adam and Mick step into the world of pop culture and discuss Star Trek and its links to Stoicism. With the recent passing of Sir Patrick Stewart, Mick offered Adam the chance to discuss a franchise that is near to his hear and offer the audience a chance to see that sometimes fictional characters can teach us a lot about philosophy and ourselves. Themes on the virtues of wisdom, justice, and courage start us off, but we also discuss the concepts of cosmopolitanism and friendship as well as memento mori and carpe diem, and what it means to share the love of Star Trek with a dear friend.

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

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All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

This week's episode with Adam and Mick talks about "prepping for disaster", and focusses on preparing both yourself and your life for the inevitable downturns and events that can happen to all of us. Adam and Mick talk about big picture issues like preparing for natural disasters or perhaps civil turmoil, as well as the concept of preparing yourself from the Stoic practice of Premeditation Malorum the anticipation of the bad things that could happen. Adam and Mick also discuss how you're not catastrophizing things, but taking a look at how things may come apart so that you can plan ahead for what you can do about it.

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

On today's episode, Adam and Mick talk about a more personal event which happened recently which was class reunions. Adam and Mick took a step back from that and talked about what reunions mean, how they can be approached, and how the Stoics would have approached them. Core concepts discussed include concepts like Oikeiosis, Phantasia, and Adam and Mick both tell stories both recent and past about what reunions have meant to them.

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

This week's episode is a day late because of Canadian Thanksgiving, with Mick and Adam talking about a very important topic (especially during family holidays) which is civility. Civility is an important part about being able to communicate, about showing respect despite differences, about being able to set up the environment around you in a  constructive way for those that you encounter in your life. 

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

In today's episode, Adam and Mick talk about the Free Press, and what that meant for the Stoics as well as what it means today in the modern democracies that we live in. The hosts talk about why a free press is important, and talk about why the role of free press in creating an informed populace is so integral to what it means to live in a functioning democracy.

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

Today, Mick and Adam discuss another hot topic which is AI and a measure of its potential for consciousness. A recent article from Richard Dawkins started today's discussion, and eventually led to discussions on what it means to be conscious, how the Stoics viewed our own consciousness, and even ended up with a discussion on Transhumanism and what the birth of new AI technologies could mean for humanity's future. 

Richard Dawkins article: Could this A.I. be Conscious? 

Media recommendations from Adam:

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2 Episode 9 "The Measure of a Man"

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

Today, Adam and Mick dive into a deep subject that will probably never stop coming up as we progress through the podcast - Loss. Our episode opens today by discussing what loss mean be it loss of material goods, relationships, or loved ones. The Stoic views on this topic is discussed in detail, both the text book response as well as a rebuttal of a common misconception of the Stoics being considered "robots". Personal stories abound from both Adam and Mick, and we wrap up today by closing with probably one of the best pieces of advice a Stoic could give someone grieving a loss - reach out for help. Please do so anytime, and anywhere. 

Works referred to today:

Consolations of Seneca: To Helvia, Polybius, and Marcia by Seneca

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

This week's episode is a solo episode hosted by Adam, as Mick is on the road traveling. Adam reads to use the parable The Choice of Heracles as told by Prodicus in Xenophon's Conversations of Socrates. Adam's reading is followed by a discussion around choice, and the choice that we all face in our lives between a life of virtue and a life of vice. As discussed, often the virtue isn't just the choice made but simply the act of making the choice, of taking a stand, of making the decision about which direction to go in the first place.

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com

In today's episode, Adam and Mick talk about a topic related to one of the most recent natural disasters occurring right now: the flash floods in Nepal. The melting of glaciers and the destructive forces of natural disasters like this are contributed to by climate change and our environment, and Mick and Adam discuss how the Stoics would have approached this topic even from the perspectives of the ancient Stoics.  

If you would like to donate to help those affected by the flash flooding in Nepal, you can donate to the federation of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent here:
https://www.ifrc.org/emergency/nepal-flash-floods-2026

References from today include:

Modern Stoicism Podcast episode with Chris Gill
Chris Gill, Social Responsibility, Environmentalism, and Cultural Change

Learning to Live Naturally: Stoic Ethics and its Modern Significance
Chris Gill, 2023

URL: pubandporch.com

Email: [email protected]

X: @PubandPorch

Substack: Pub and Porch Applied Stoicism

YouTube: @pubporch

PPAS Logo Provided by: Mike Golka

All music provided by Heath Cantu from epidemicsound.com