What did Stoic practice look like when it had a real place in the culture—when people gathered in Athens and Rome to study and live this philosophy together? For facilitators building modern groups, that question is more than historical curiosity: these groups aren’t an established form in our culture, and we’re partly inventing what they look like as we go.

In this conversation, scholar and Modern Stoicism co-founder John Sellers walks through the (admittedly sparse) evidence about how the ancients actually came together — and what it suggests for the stoas we’re creating now. He also shares advice drawn from his own experiences with in-person practice groups and helping to foster the Modern Stoicism movement.

Topics we cover include:

* How much we genuinely don’t know about ancient Stoic “schools”

* The Stoa was a public space—friends meeting near the marketplace

* Contrasting models: Plato’s Academy, Aristotle’s Lyceum, Epicurus’s garden

* “Head of the Stoa” likely meant organizer, not formal authority

* Why ancient gatherings resemble today’s meetup groups more than classrooms

* No doctrinal checklist at the door—self-selecting, openly debating members

* Technical scholarly work happened privately; conversation happened in public

* Balancing shared content against rigid orthodoxy—a tension even then

* The deep human need to practice together rather than alone

* What modern groups actually are: not therapy, not book club, not classroom

* A Socratic touch: draw people out instead of correcting them

* Where this could go: Stoicism embedded in schools, prisons, boardrooms

* The irreplaceable energy of in-person community over online events

About the Guest

John Sellars is one of the founder members of Modern Stoicism, the group behind Stoic Week and Stoicon, and the Aurelius Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to sharing Stoic ideas. He is Reader in the History of Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Director of the Centre for the Study and Application of Stoicism. His books include The Art of Living: The Stoics on the Nature and Function of Philosophy, Stoicism, Hellenistic Philosophy, Lessons in Stoicism, and Marcus Aurelius.

In this episode, Greg Sadler discusses:

* Talking about Stoicism vs. actually practicing it — a real risk for stoas

* Check-ins: committing to one change before the next meeting

* Pre-meeting coffee for newcomers to set right expectations

* Smaller groups need creative solutions for competing member interests

* Libraries: underused, free, and grateful for the foot traffic

* Succession planning so your group outlives your individual efforts

* Co-facilitators catch blind spots and prevent leader burnout

* “Pseudo-academic” mode: the enemy of personal transformation

* Ending meetings well matters as much as starting them

* Group therapy creep — and why to explicitly address it

* College partnerships: ready-made audience, rotating new members, free space

* Regional stoic groups could benefit from far more cross-pollination

Gregory Sadler is the founder of ReasonIO, a speaker, writer, and producer of popular YouTube videos on philosophy, and an APPA-certified philosophical counselor. He served as editor of Stoicism Today from 2016-2022, is a member of the Modern Stoicism team, and is a co-founder of The Stoic Heart. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and has taught philosophy courses for 27 years. You can find his online classes in the Study With Sadler Academy. He also teaches as an adjunct at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and occasionally at Marquette University.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Why community is irreplaceable for turning wisdom into lived experience

* Oblique correction vs. direct confrontation: why the angle matters

* Genuine curiosity as a substitute for both politeness and humility

* Every facilitator has sacred cows distorting their own web of beliefs

* Modeling intellectual humility publicly — more catalytic than any argument

* The two failure modes: debate club vs. New Age echo chamber

* What religious communities get right about vulnerability and shared humility

* Can Stoic logos provide the “vertical dimension” secular groups lack?

* Philip Goff’s Galileo’s Error as an entry point for open-minded rationalists

* Consciousness: the one topic where science admits it knows almost nothing

* These groups as a cultural response to post-Christian atomization and meaning loss

Addison Phillips holds three degrees in philosophy and is co-leader of a stoa in Pittsburgh called the Living Wisdom Social Club.

In this episode, Phil Yanov shares his "10 commandments" for growing your stoa effectively. Phil hosts Conversations with Modern Stoicism and has many years' experience running and growing local groups.

The "commandments" are:

* Thou shalt cultivate culture before numbers

* Thou shalt grow through personal invitation, not mass proclamation

* Thou shalt honor the sacred progression of group size (noting key sizes: 5, 9-12, 20-30 people)

* Thou shalt maintain unwavering constancy in gathering (persistent, predictable presence)

* Thou shalt embrace the tools of organization (like Luma, MailChimp, Eventbrite)

* Thou shalt guard the gates of membership with wisdom (sometimes asking people to leave)

* Thou shalt nurture the self-sustaining flame of culture (where group members enforce group norms)

* Thou shalt balance the eternal with the novel (maintain core rituals while introducing some new elements)

* Thou shalt confront discord with courage and clarity (address problems immediately)

* Thou shalt remember the ultimate purpose of your gathering (help people transform themselves, be a guide not a sage)

For more about Phil, visit https://philyanov.com/

We talk with Chris Spaleta, co-founder of the Stoa of Ontario, about a number of topics:

* Chris's background and how he got interested in Stoicism, including how a group of friends started exploring Stoicism during the pandemic

* The format and structure of the Ontario Stoa's online and in-person meetings, including how they use a single quote as a discussion prompt

* The benefits and challenges of having a mix of newcomers and long-time Stoicism students in the group

* Strategies the group uses to keep discussions productive and avoid getting derailed, like having a set time limit and a reminder of the group's purpose

* The differences between the online and in-person meetings, including accessibility and the level of intimacy

* The value of having a co-facilitator to share the workload and provide support

* Chris's eloquent reflection on what Stoicism means to him

* The group's experience hosting prominent guest speakers from the Stoic community

* Advice for someone looking to start their own Stoic group or community

We talk with Michael Maune, co-founder of the New England Stoics and board member of The Stoic Fellowship, about his experiences running a stoa and his advice for stoa facilitators. Topics we cover include:

* Michael's background and journey to discovering Stoicism, including his experience with OCD and how Stoicism helped him.

* Michael's involvement in organizing and running the New England Stoics group, including the types of exercises and activities they do.

* The challenges of leading a Stoic group, such as maintaining consistent attendance and engagement. Michael shares advice on things like having regular meetings and balancing the workload among leaders.

* The Stoic Facilitation Guide that Michael has been working on, which covers strategies for facilitating Stoic discussions and managing group dynamics, like dealing with digressions.

* Practical examples of how Michael and the groups he's been involved with have applied Stoic principles to personal challenges like addiction and interpersonal conflicts.

* The importance of creating a supportive environment in Stoic groups to encourage sharing and accountability around people's practices.

* Michael's reflections on what Stoicism means to him personally and advice for those new to Stoicism.

The guides Michael mentions for running stoa meetings, organizing a Stoic practicum, and more can be found on The Stoic Fellowship's resources page at https://stoicfellowship.com/resources/stoicism-resources.html.

In this episode, we talk with Aldo Dinucci about the stoa he runs in Brazil, the importance of deep friendships in a Stoic community to support practicing Stoicism, and the different emphasis on the spiritual aspects of Stoicism in Brazil compared with the emphasis on the practical side of Stoicism in the U.S. Topics we cover include:

* Aldo Dinucci’s background and how he first became interested in Stoicism 24 years ago.

* The Stoicism group that Aldo runs in Brazil - how it started, the group’s size and longevity, and the personal connections/friendships that have developed over the years.

* The differences Aldo has observed between Stoic groups in Brazil versus Europe/US, in terms of the group dynamics, formality, and focus on the “spiritual” vs. practical aspects of Stoicism.

* The importance Aldo’s group places on the personal, embodied practice of Stoicism through activities like group discussions, presentations, meals, and outings, rather than just intellectual study.

* Aldo’s thoughts on the challenges of scaling up a Stoic group and maintaining the right balance between structure and organic conversation.

* How Aldo’s group has evolved over time and the lessons he’s learned about what works best for their cultural context.

* Aldo’s interest in connecting more with the global Stoic community and sharing his group’s experiences.

For more information about Aldo and his stoa, visit aldodinucci.blogspot.com.

In this episode, we talk with Mauricio Garita about the large stoa he runs in Guatemala in partnership with a local bookstore. Topics we cover include:

* How Mauricio discovered Stoicism during an existential crisis in 2016 and became a coach and philosophical counselor focused on Stoicism.

* The challenges he faced when first starting a stoa in 2021, including lack of discipline and making it easy for people to attend.

* The successful formula Mauricio developed in 2024 for running the stoa, including partnering with a bookshop, using a dissertation format, and creating an environment for deeper engagement.

* Mauricio's approach to managing a large stoa group, including incorporating one-on-one interactions, being humble and prepared to handle serious topics, and creating an inclusive environment.

* The importance of addressing tough subjects like anxiety, depression, and addiction.

* The usefulness of The Stoic Fellowship resources and Mauricio's suggestions for leveraging technology and learning from others' experiences.

* Mauricio's future plans, including expanding content in English and upcoming book projects, as well as his overall vision for the stoa.

To find out more about Mauricio and his stoa and other projects, visit vivirmejor.substack.com (mostly in Spanish) or on Instagram @mauricio.garita.

In this episode, we talk with Greg Lopez about his experiences starting and running various Stoicism groups. Some of the topics we cover include:

* How to organize and lead Stoicism practice groups, including Greg’s experiences and tips for success.

* The Stoic Fellowship’s role in supporting facilitators of Stoicism groups globally, offering flexibility to each group.

* Challenges and solutions for keeping members engaged in Stoic practice beyond meetings, including upfront commitments and practical exercises.

* Different formats for Stoicism groups, including reading groups, practice groups, and themed Stoic camps.

* Importance of fostering a sense of community within groups through social activities, shared meals, and personal connection.

* Tailoring Stoic exercises and discussions to meet the needs of different types of groups or participants.

* Strategies to help participants integrate Stoic practice into their daily lives, like journaling or specific drills.

* Why online Stoic camps or meetings might not engage participants as effectively as in-person events.

* Tips for facilitators to avoid burnout, including taking breaks, asking for help, and running groups based on personal interest.

* Possible ways to measure the progress and success of Stoic groups, such as repeat attendance or improvement in Stoic practice.

* Practices that did not work well in group settings, such as anonymous letter-writing exercises or poorly attended activities.

* Potential future resources for facilitators, including Stoicism certification and more structured guidance.

Gregory Lopez is the founder and facilitator of the New York City Stoics, co-founder of The Stoic Fellowship, co-host of Stoic Camp New York, and on the team at Modern Stoicism. He is also co-author of A Handbook for New Stoics with Massimo Pigliucci. You can find out more about him at https://greglopez.me.

We talked with Massimo Pigliucci about his experiences organizing and running various Stoic groups, or “stoas”, including The Global Stoa and Stoic Camp. Among the topics we covered:

* The various online and in person Stoicism groups he’s led

* An advantage of online groups for some people

* Stoic Camp — an annual, intensive, 3-day Stoic retreat in the Hudson valley

* His upcoming seminar in Paris on anger

* The proper role of stoas in the modern world

* His advice for how stoas can engage in political issues without descending into partisanship

* How to facilitate discussions of personal issues

* Handling people’s common misunderstandings of Stoic terms

* Epictetus vs. Socrates as role model for stoa facilitators

* Doing practices with his groups beyond just having discussions

* When people in a stoa would benefit from therapy

* How Stoicism would have evolved if it hadn’t been interrupted by Christianity

* The future of stoas over the next 50 or so years

* Whether stoa facilitators should “proselytize” Stoicism

Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. Massimo publishes a regular column in Philosophy Now entitled “The Art of Living.” His books include How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books) and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press). Massimo’s forthcoming book is Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers (The Experiment).

You can find more information about Massimo on his website.