Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

“Is our life really so painful and burdensome that it would be advantageous for us to trade it for a fossilized Stoic way of life? Things are not bad enough for us that they have to be bad for us in the Stoic style!”

Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay talk about how Nietzsche challenges Stoics. The Stoics and Nietzsche agree on the idea that we are self-sufficient and on embracing fate, amor fati. However, Nietzsche thought that the idea of living in accordance with Nature was silly “self-tyranny.” What does that mean?

Caleb also confesses to reading Nietzsche too early in his life.

(01:52) Introduction

(06:50) Nietzsche's Philosophy

(14:15) Amor Fati

(18:52) Self-Sufficiency

(28:15) Nietzsche on Suffering

(39:16) Nietzsche on Nature

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: https://www.stoaletter.com

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

How does Stoicism actually make a psychological difference?

In conversation Caleb Ontiveros speaks with the author, researcher and psychologist, Tim Lebon on that very question.

Tim shares how Stoicism has made a concrete difference to his life and how it has transformed the lives of others. He then discusses how Stoicism works and how it can help you shape you into a more resilient person.

We end with a discussion on the future of Stoicism.

365 Ways to Be More Stoic

(1:15) What is Stoicism?

(5:00) How has Stoicism made a difference to Tim?

(10:00) How has it made a difference to others?

(20:00) How Stoicism works

(36:00) The future of Stoicism

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this episode we do a close reading of the first two chapters of Epictetus’s Handbook.

Epictetus packages key theoretical and practical insights in the first two sections – read along!

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

All ages will produce men like Clodius, but not all ages men like Cato.– Seneca

Why did Stoics idolize Cato the Younger?

In this episode Caleb Ontiveros speaks with Jimmy Soni, author of Rome's Last Citizen.

We focus on what is admirable about Cato the Younger, his contradictions, and his legacy. We also touch on Soni’s book The Founders which is a deep dive on the story of PayPal. It’s a engaging  book on the early days of what are now Silicon Valley legends.

Follow Jimmy on Twitter.

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

Stoicism is apparently huge in Silicon Valley. Investors recommend Marcus Aurelius. Founders promote Stoic ideas like voluntary suffering.

What’s up with that?

In this episode, Caleb Ontiveros and Michael talk about how big Stoicism really is in Silicon Valley, how Stoicism helps build startups, and discuss criticism of Silicon Valley Stoicism.

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this episode, Caleb Ontiveros speak with Dr. Massimo Pigliucci.

Massimo is one of the key figures behind the Renaissance of modern stoicism. They discuss how Stoicism has made a difference to Massimo's life, Stoicism and politics, and end with a discussion of the proper attitude towards social media. 

This is an excellent conversation for thinking about how Stoicism can fit into a life – and why there open questions with the philosophy even if it is the best practical philosophy available. 

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

How Stoicism can improve our game and sport can make us better Stoics.

Martial artist Michael Tremblay and marathoner Caleb Ontiveros discuss the relationship between sport and Stoicism.

(00:12) Intro

(02:07) Similarities Between Stoicism and Sport

(14:19) Stoicism For Sport

(32:49) Sport for Stoicism

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

Find out why Donald Robertson now calls Stoicism a fundamentally Socratic philosophy.

In this episode Caleb Ontiveros speaks with Donald Robertson. Donald is the author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor and The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and a number of other excellent books. He is trained as a psychotherapist and is one of the key players behind modern Stoicism.

We talk about Socrates, Epicureanism from the psychological point of view, ways that different psychological techniques can backfire, and the state of Stoicism today.

This is one of my favorite episodes. Donald has expertise in both psychotherapy and Stoic philosophy – for that reason he has many significant things to say that have shaped how I, and many others, think about Stoic theory and practice.

Plato’s Academy

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

Is the ultimate aim of life tranquility? 

Epicurus answered this question with a resounding "yes." The school he founded, Epicureanism, pitted itself against other ancient schools focused on virtue.

Michael and Caleb go deep into the philosophy, explain why they think it is mistaken, but also talk about what it can teach us today.

(00:41) Intro

(02:16) History of Epicureanism

(03:20) Epicurean Philosophy

(16:38) Differences Between Stoic and Epicurean Practice

(21:56) Similarities

(28:25) Problems with Epicureanism

(43:16) Why Does This Matter

(44:16) The Wisdom in Epicureanism

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

What lessons are hidden in ancient biographies?

Alex Petkas is a former Classics professor who now works in the industrial coatings industry. Combining theory and practice.  Modernizing Plutarch's Parallel Lives in his Cost of Glory podcast is one of his key projects. Plutarch was an ancient biographer, his most famous work, Parallel Lives,  is a set of biographies of great Roman and Greeks that we can learn a lot from today.

In this conversation Caleb Ontiveros and Alex Petkas talk about characters like Marius, Cato, Sulla, and Pyrrhus. They also discuss the importance of role models and what Plutarch can teach us today.

Learn more about Alex Petkas at his website: https://ancientlifecoach.com/alex-petkas/, follow him on Twitter: @alexpetkas, and check out The Cost of Glory

(1:45) About Alex

(5:32) Why Plutarch?

(8:03) Marius

(19:21) Plutarch and Virtue

(22:31) Alexander’s Challenge

(24:28) Personal Virtue vs Political Reality

(31:30) How Alex has Applied Plutarch in His Own Life

(36:30) Caring What Other’s Think

(37:28) The Contemplation of the Sage

(41:13) Concluding Thoughts

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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.

Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros

Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay

Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/