In this episode, I’m joined by longtime friend and fellow philosopher Joshua Bertolotti—writer, father, and host of Dying Every Day. We dive into what it really means to know yourself, why emotional presence matters more than emotional distance, and how even rest can unearth hidden tension.

Joshua opens up about decompressing after years in the military, the subtle art of relaxing with intention, and how practicing Stoicism in isolation differs from practicing it socially. We also explore the paradoxes of Stoic behavior: when detachment appears as apathy, when teaching Stoicism isn’t the Stoic thing to do, and why empathy might be the ultimate expression of wisdom.

Want to hear more about Joshua’s backstory and his philosophy of success? Join us on Steps to Success, available to Substack Premium and Patreon supporters.

📝 Follow Joshua’s work:

• Podcast: Dying Every Day
• Newsletter: Perennial Meditations on Substack

Each game strips away the veneer of civilization, exposing what lies beneath—fear, desire, ambition, and the will to survive. But true strength is not found in surviving by any means necessary. It is found in choosing virtue, even when the price is death.

Recently, I’ve been watching Squid Game, catching up on the later seasons. While it’s been out for a while, the brutality and moral tension still hit hard. And like any good overthinker—and Stoic—I started asking the deeper questions: What does this show reveal about human nature? And what would the Stoics have to say about it?

If you haven’t seen Squid Game, I’ll warn you now: spoilers ahead. But the premise is simple, and disturbing. Financially desperate individuals—those with massive debts, the homeless, the abandoned—are lured into a series of deadly games. These are childhood games twisted into fatal trials, and for each person who dies, money is added to the winner’s prize. A sick trade of blood for fortune.

At first, the contestants don’t know death is on the line. Once they do, they’re given a chance to vote and leave. Some do. But many choose to return. Why? Because they saw the prize money, and with it, a glimpse of hope. A way out of shame, debt, despair. And that’s where the moral decay begins.

This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
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If there are no sages, what are we even aiming for?

That was the quiet undercurrent flowing through my second conversation with Tanner Campbell, host of the Practical Stoicism podcast. We sat down not just to revisit Stoic ethics, but to tangle with a thorny but essential topic: how should a Stoic think about health and fitness?

This isn’t just a theoretical question. As someone deeply invested in physical wellbeing and Stoic philosophy, I often wonder where the line is between virtue and vanity. Where does discipline end and obsession begin? What’s the Stoic stance when you’ve skipped the gym three days in a row—neglect or appropriate role balancing?

Who is Tanner Campbell?

Tanner Campbell is a Stoic philosopher, author, and the host of Practical Stoicism, one of the most popular Stoicism podcasts in the world. With a focus on ethics, role theory, and the original Greek foundations of Stoic thought, Tanner brings clarity and depth to complex philosophical ideas. He’s also a husband, a father, and a thoughtful voice helping modern audiences apply ancient wisdom in practical, grounded ways.

This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
Substack: https://strongstoic.substack.com

You may find yourself struggling with certain emotions or having poor reactions to things – anger, for example. You can treat the symptom. Meditation, anger management techniques, deep breathing. Marcus Aurelius had a long list of anger management tools, and using them isn’t a bad thing.

But as a Stoic, you must dig deeper. You must ask: what is the underlying cause here?

This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
Substack: https://strongstoic.substack.com

This summer has been, for me, the summer of beauty.

What I mean by that is, this summer in my household, we have focused on making our home beautiful. Painting. Lawn care. Home decorations. Feng shui, if you will. It’s not that we were negligent of these things in the past—though you can listen to my earlier reflections on lawn care and decide for yourself—but this year, we’ve paid extra attention to them.

And it got me thinking: what role does beauty play in a Stoic life?

This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
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In this episode, we dive into the uncomfortable but necessary truth behind personal growth: you are not where you used to be, and you’re not yet where you want to be—you’re exactly where you are. Drawing on Stoic philosophy, Jungian psychology, and real-world examples like the gym, we explore the two types of gaps between who you are and who you want to become: the flaws you know about and the ones you don’t. We discuss the role of humility, self-awareness, and the value of a strong inner circle in helping you confront your blind spots and move toward your ideal self.

Strength doesn’t begin in your past or your potential. It begins with the truth of where you stand right now.


This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
Substack: https://strongstoic.substack.com

“Show me that you have your principles in order, not that fortune is currently favoring you.”
— Epictetus

As we get older, life tends to get better in some ways—at least materially. One of the most obvious examples is wealth. Most of us, over time, tend to accumulate more of it. That’s no surprise: if you’re working, saving, investing, and generally being responsible, your financial situation likely improves with age.

Now, here’s the Stoic question: if you’re practicing detachment from wealth while your wealth is increasing… are you really making philosophical progress? Are you actually becoming more Stoic—or are you just removing discomfort from your life?

This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
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“Associate with people who are likely to improve you.” 
- Seneca 

In this simple yet powerful statement, Seneca offers a foundational truth of Stoic living. The idea isn’t just about socializing with the right crowd — it’s about deliberately surrounding yourself with people who bring out your best. In today’s language, we might call this the inner circle — a small group of trusted individuals who share your values and help you navigate life’s moral and emotional terrain.

This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
Substack: https://strongstoic.substack.com

The Stoic tradition teaches that death is not to be feared but rather meditated on, accepted, and used as a tool for living virtuously. But what happens when death, once seen as inevitable and natural, becomes optional—perhaps even solvable? As science and technology evolve, the question is no longer purely hypothetical. More voices, like that of entrepreneur Brian Johnson, are challenging death as a technical problem to be overcome. For Stoics, this introduces a fascinating philosophical tension between living in acceptance of fate and maximizing one’s agency.


This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
Substack: https://strongstoic.substack.com

Viktor Frankl once wrote, “Those who cannot find a deep sense of meaning distract themselves with pleasure.” It’s a quote that resonates deeply within the Stoic tradition. The Stoics, much like Frankl, warned against the unmoderated pursuit of indulgence. Pleasure, entertainment, materialism—these things are not inherently wrong, but when used to fill a void of meaning, they become distractions. And distractions, by their nature, pull us away from our true purpose.

Yet, there’s an intriguing inversion of this quote—one that opens the door to deeper reflection. Chris Williamson, host of Modern Wisdom, proposed it: “Those who cannot find a deep sense of pleasure distract themselves with meaning.” At first glance, this seems to oppose Stoic thought. But when we dig deeper, we find that it holds an important truth for those of us on the path of self-improvement.


This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblin
Substack: https://strongstoic.substack.com