In this episode, William shares five Stoic habits that completely transformed his life in just one week. No theory, no empty quotes, just real practices, real progress, and honest reflection from over a decade of living Stoicism every day.

He breaks down each habit, from waking with purpose to practicing moderation and digital discipline, showing how ancient Stoic wisdom can create instant results when applied with intention. William tracks his daily progress, drawing from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, and explains how these timeless lessons lead to confidence, peace, and direction.

Through personal stories—from sleepless nights building a business in a cramped attic to rediscovering empathy and presence through mindful living—he proves that Stoicism isn’t just for scholars or philosophers. It’s for anyone ready to stop being anxious, weak, and directionless, and start living like a philosopher in the real world.

If you’re tired of hearing hollow “self-help” advice and want practical steps that work, this episode delivers. Clear, tested, and grounded in lived experience, these five Stoic habits will help you wake with clarity, act with purpose, and live with meaning.

In this episode, William lays out seven behaviours the ancient Stoics warned against and explains why each one poisons your peace of mind. He breaks down how complaining and blaming others robs you of power, how emotional overreactions cloud judgment, and how chasing validation turns you into a puppet for public opinion. Each behavior is examined through Stoic teachings from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca, with practical advice for modern life.

William also explores the Stoic view of hardship, showing why struggle and discomfort are essential for growth. He talks about the danger of wasting time on meaningless distractions, how giving in to desires weakens your discipline, and why taking responsibility for your actions is the cornerstone of inner strength. Through real examples and grounded philosophy, he reminds us that virtue, not comfort, leads to freedom.

In this episode, William digs into how Stoicism and the Law of Attraction are surprisingly similar yet completely different. Both claim that our thoughts shape our reality, but they take wildly different routes to get there. William shares how he once practiced manifestation, believing he could think success into existence, and how years later he came to see the Stoic view as a more grounded path.

He breaks down how Stoicism teaches focus on what is within our control, while the Law of Attraction focuses on belief and visualization. Both have truth, both can guide you, and both can lead to real change if you understand them properly. Through his own experiences, stories of hardship, and lessons from Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, William explores what it really means to shape your life through thought and action.

This episode will challenge anyone who thinks Stoicism is too cold or that manifestation is just magic. It is philosophy meeting practicality, no fluff, no nonsense, and no mystical shortcuts.

In today's episode, William walks through a four-step Stoic protocol to protect your peace in a chaotic, outrage-driven world. Drawing on Marcus Aurelius and Viktor Frankl, William explains how to build an unshakable foundation by writing and testing your rules, model virtue by listing the people and characters you admire, use the pause to choose your response, redirect outrage into purposeful action, and finally face pain directly so it stops running the show. This episode is for anyone battling anxiety, stress, trauma, or everyday distraction and looking for practical emotional regulation, resilience training, and clarity.

Listen to learn how to stop giving your attention to algorithms, trolls, and habitual outrage and instead channel that energy into creative work, courage, and service. William shares personal stories about family, phones as escapism, and the momentary pause that rewired his behavior, plus step-by-step exercises you can use immediately to protect your mental space and lead by example.

In this episode, William explores why so many people are drawn to figures like Andrew Tate and what that desire reveals about our search for control, confidence, and meaning. William doesn’t argue for or against these influencers. Instead, he examines the psychological pull they have, the way their certainty and mastery seem to promise relief from our own uncertainty and pain. He reflects on his own experiences with anxiety, showing how the attraction to strong, decisive voices can arise from a longing for stability when life feels chaotic.

Through personal stories, reflections, and simple, actionable advice, William invites listeners to step away from the noise of self-proclaimed gurus and return to something quieter but more powerful: self-trust, curiosity, and the courage to face discomfort. This episode is a reminder that growth rarely feels glamorous, and the real path forward is the one you walk yourself.

What does it mean to “find your place amongst the gods”? In this episode, William explores the extraordinary life of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. Once a wealthy merchant who lost everything in a shipwreck, Zeno could have given in to despair. Instead, he discovered a philosophy that continues to guide people thousands of years later. Where heroes like Hercules ascended to Olympus through strength and labor, Zeno’s ascent was achieved through something quieter, temperance, the art of self-restraint.

William reflects on why the Stoics saw temperance as the highest expression of virtue, and how, in the noise of modern life, it remains the key to peace, balance, and goodness. From resisting the pull of your phone to confronting the discomforts that arise in daily life, this episode explores how to pause, reflect, and make choices that align with your better nature. Temperance, as William explains, is not about denial or extreme discipline, but about moderation. Finding the calm strength to do what is right, moment by moment.

Zeno’s story reminds us that greatness is not found in wealth or status, but in character. His victory was not a single grand act, but a series of small, quiet triumphs over impulse and vice. In a world that celebrates extremes, temperance offers a return to stillness and integrity, and a way to reclaim control over our desires and rediscover what it means to live a truly good life.

In today’s episode, William Mulligan sits down with neuroscientist and psychedelic researcher Manesh Girn to explore the intersection of Stoic philosophy and modern science. Manesh shares his perspective on core Stoic ideas such as virtue, the dichotomy of control, and amor fati, while drawing connections to the transformative potential of psychedelics.

The conversation dives into themes of neuroplasticity, the role of health in living virtuously, and how both Stoicism and psychedelics can help us overcome trauma, reframe our perceptions, and live more fully in the present.

From discussing Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus to the neuroscience of predictive coding and emotional breakthroughs, this episode offers a rich look at how ancient wisdom and contemporary research can complement each other in the pursuit of a good life.

In this episode, William reflects on the nature of struggle and why hardship is not something to be avoided, but embraced as a sign of growth. He explains that pain and inner conflict are evidence of courage, proof that one is still in the fight rather than surrendering to nihilism, cynicism, or escapism. Drawing from Stoic philosophy, Buddhist teachings, and the myth of Hercules, he shows how challenges act as life’s sparring partners, shaping character and revealing harmful patterns that must be overcome.

William emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, urging listeners to treat themselves with the same kindness they would offer a loved one in distress. He reminds us that though the path ahead may be unclear and unfamiliar, it is precisely this uncertainty that makes it ours to walk. Each small step, however insignificant it may seem, is a victory that strengthens resilience and reveals the way forward.

In this episode of The Everyday Stoic, William Mulligan is joined by Oxford-educated neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay to explore Stoic philosophy through a scientific lens.

Dr. McKay provides her expert opinion on the core principles of Stoicism, examining the four cardinal virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance from a developmental and neurological perspective. The conversation covers practical Stoic exercises, such as the Dichotomy of Control and the concept of Premeditatio Malorum

In the conversation, they explore the understanding of how these philosophical concepts align with our understanding of the human brain, how virtues may change and develop across our lifespan, and how to apply these ideas to cultivate resilience and live a more examined life.

What if every hardship you face was not a setback, but an invitation to grow? In this episode, William explores how the Stoics saw difficulties not as punishments but as opportunities to build virtue, discipline, and inner strength.

Drawing on the wisdom of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, as well as modern examples like Kobe Bryant, Muhammad Ali, and Maya Angelou, William explains how small daily decisions forge greatness. From resisting distractions to keeping your inner flame alive, this episode shows why true courage is found in the little victories you win each day.

William shows how to see challenges as sparring partners sent to prepare you for a greater life, and how the Stoic mindset can transform pain into purpose, chaos into justice, and obstacles into stepping stones.

If you feel overwhelmed, stuck in procrastination, or tempted to give up, this episode will remind you that the fight itself is proof you are still in the game, and that every small win brings you closer to becoming who you are meant to be.