The Strong Stoic Podcast
The Strong Stoic Podcast is a raw, honest, and unapologetically deep podcast about philosophy and self-improvement. Join your host, Brandon Tumblin, as he breaks down a wide variety of complex and difficult topics while bringing together different philosophies, sciences, and perspectives.
Episodes
July 14, 2025 • 66 mins
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 philoso...
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 philoso...
Mark as Played
July 7, 2025 • 14 mins
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 suppo...
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 suppo...
Mark as Played
July 2, 2025 • 11 mins
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: wha...
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: wha...
Mark as Played
June 24, 2025 • 11 mins
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...
Mark as Played
June 16, 2025 • 10 mins
“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 ...
— 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 ...
Mark as Played
June 9, 2025 • 20 mins
“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 naviga...
- 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 naviga...
Mark as Played
June 2, 2025 • 19 mins
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 overcom...
Mark as Played
May 26, 2025 • 21 mins
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, p...
Mark as Played
May 19, 2025 • 21 mins
As Stoics, we are called to play many roles in life, each with its own set of duties and responsibilities. These roles—whether as professionals, parents, partners, community members, or homeowners—shape our lives and define how we engage with the world. Yet, balancing these roles is a constant challenge. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we fail to meet the demands of one or more of these roles. The important question is: How...
Mark as Played
May 12, 2025 • 17 mins
“You know what, from my experience, what I found out? That God tests you to see how much of this you can take before you say, ‘Let’s just be finished with this.’ He wants to show you something. He wants to see how much you can take, how much you can handle of life. You say you love life? You want to live life? I’m gonna show you life. Life is beautiful, but you have to accept the good and the bad as being beautiful.”– Mike Tyson
At ...
At ...
Mark as Played
May 5, 2025 • 18 mins
It was a typical Saturday night. The kind where you’re winding down after a fun outing, and you’re almost home. That was me a few weeks ago. It was around 11 PM, and as I turned right at an intersection, I noticed another car turning left… directly into mine. I stopped, expecting them to notice and adjust. They didn’t. Instead, they drove straight into the front of my car, damaging the fender, blinker, and fog light.
The driver, vis...
The driver, vis...
Mark as Played
April 28, 2025 • 22 mins
In this episode, we dive deep into the totalitarian world of George Orwell’s 1984 and ask: Could a Stoic survive—and even thrive—there? What does inner freedom look like when the outer world is a prison? And how might Stoic philosophy be the ultimate rebellion in a world where truth is erased, thought is policed, and fear is everywhere?
This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gai...
This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gai...
Mark as Played
April 21, 2025 • 16 mins
Last week, I attended the funeral of a man who had worked for our company for 25 years. He was deeply woven into the fabric of our organization—one of those steady presences who quietly held things together. He died too young, and the ceremony was filled with friends, family, coworkers, and members of the community who came to say goodbye.
As his manager, I came into the service with the perspective of someone who had worked closely...
As his manager, I came into the service with the perspective of someone who had worked closely...
Mark as Played
April 15, 2025 • 54 mins
Joshua W. Bertolotti is the host of the In Search of Wisdom Podcast and the Perennial Podcast where he talks about all kinds of ancient wisdom and engages in meaningful conversations with modern thinkers. He also manages the Perennial Leader Project, which includes these podcasts along with a weekly newsletter and blog posts. Josh is a regular guest on the podcast.
In this conversation, Josh and I explore the concept of imperfection...
In this conversation, Josh and I explore the concept of imperfection...
Mark as Played
April 8, 2025 • 19 mins
It’s a compelling question—one I’ve spent years thinking through, not only as someone who once followed a strict vegan diet, but as someone who continually aims to live according to Stoic principles. The deeper I explore Stoicism, the more I realize this philosophy doesn’t often provide simple yes-or-no answers. Rather, it offers a rational, values-based framework to navigate complex ethical dilemmas—including the one around eating...
Mark as Played
March 31, 2025 • 25 mins
Over the years, I have experimented with countless daily habits, each aimed at optimizing my productivity, happiness, and health. Some worked, some didn’t, and some I struggled to implement effectively. However, through trial and error, I have identified ten key habits that have remained consistent in my routine. These habits have stood the test of time and are the ones I would recommend to anyone looking to improve their daily lif...
Mark as Played
March 25, 2025 • 20 mins
Like many people living in cities, I’ve noticed that the homeless population has grown significantly. In my home province of Nova Scotia, this was hardly an issue in the past, but now it's become much more apparent. The city has taken some steps, such as setting up small shelters—tiny homes that provide a temporary place to stay. While these efforts are positive, they raise a deeper question: What can we as individuals do to help?
W...
W...
Mark as Played
March 10, 2025 • 14 mins
In The Handbook of Epictetus, paragraph 46, the Stoic philosopher provides a powerful lesson on humility, wisdom, and the importance of embodying philosophy rather than simply discussing it. His words offer a practical guide on how to conduct oneself in social environments and how true wisdom is demonstrated through actions, not rhetoric.
This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as g...
This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as g...
Mark as Played
March 4, 2025 • 15 mins
If we think of wisdom and stoicism as embodied in an elder figure, it’s often someone like a grandfather—calm, patient, slow to anger. Grandparents tend to be forgiving, knowing that life is long and that small mistakes aren’t the end of the world. They let things slide. They slip their grandchildren candy when the parents aren’t looking. They offer guidance without the intensity of immediate responsibility.
But before you can becom...
But before you can becom...
Mark as Played
February 24, 2025 • 23 mins
In his Handbook, Epictetus offers a profound insight into human suffering
“What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things. For example, death is nothing dreadful or else it would have appeared dreadful to Socrates. But instead, the judgment about death—that it is dreadful—that is what is dreadful. So when we are thwarted or upset or distressed, let us never blame someone else but rather ourselves. T...
“What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things. For example, death is nothing dreadful or else it would have appeared dreadful to Socrates. But instead, the judgment about death—that it is dreadful—that is what is dreadful. So when we are thwarted or upset or distressed, let us never blame someone else but rather ourselves. T...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S. centering Latino stories, hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa Every week, the Peabody winning team brings you revealing, in-depth stories about what’s in the hearts and minds of Latinos and their impact on the world. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus