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Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

Caleb

Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay discuss how to build resilience, develop virtue, and make sense of the world through Stoic philosophy. One episode a week. Get the Stoa app: www.stoameditation.com/pod [https://www.stoameditation.com/pod] Get the Stoa Letter: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe [https://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe?utm_source=podcast_description]

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 46 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • Dec 30, 2025 · 42 min

    What We Read, Watched, and Learned in 2025 (Episode 216)

    Michael and Caleb look back on their favorite reads, conversations, and discoveries from the year. They discuss why Cicero’s On Ends deserves a spot on every Stoic’s reading list, what the New Testament and Stoicism have in common, and the power of keeping philosophical maxims close at hand. The conversation covers a Spanish Jesuit’s handbook on practical wisdom, Plato’s failed attempt to mentor a tyrant, and which Stoic exercises actually work in daily life. Finally, they wrap up with moves of the year. (01:00) Cicero’s On Ends: Why It’s the Perfect Second Book (08:10) Reading the New Testament as a Stoic (17:00) The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracián (24:20) The Life of Plato: Philosophy Meets Tyranny (28:00) Stoic Maxims as Mental Magic (32:20) The 10 Stoic Exercises: What Actually Works (37:20) Movie Picks: Lord of the Rings and The Great Beauty Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

  • Dec 23, 2025 · 1 hr

    A Stoic Book Review of the Odyssey (Episode 215)

    The founders of Stoicism—Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus—all wrote about Homer. Zeno’s longest work was called Homeric Problems. When we read the Odyssey, we’re reading what the Stoics read. We’re studying their curriculum. Following this tradition. Michael and Caleb examine what makes the Odyssey Stoic and what makes it decidedly not. Odysseus perseveres through failures, temptations, and divine opposition for twenty years. He just wants to go home. That single-minded endurance is deeply Stoic. But Homer’s hero also cries openly, grieves for years, and slaughters everyone who wronged him. He’s a brilliant bullshitter who tells elaborate lies even to gods. Is that Stoic?The tension between these traditions reveals something important about both. (0:00) Why the Stoics Studied Homer (6:30) Sparknotes (14:30) Stoic Theme: Perseverance Through Failure (22:40) Stoic Theme: Intelligence as Virtue (26:00) Stoic Theme: Cosmopolitanism and Being a Good Guest (35:00) Stoic Theme: Tact as Social Virtue (42:10) Non-Stoic Theme: The Emotional Hero (46:30) Non-Stoic Theme: Revenge and the Suitors (54:00) Non-Stoic Theme: The Trickster Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

  • Dec 16, 2025 · 49 min

    Who Gets To Call Themselves Stoic (Episode 214)

    Who gets to call themselves a Stoic? Michael and Caleb tackle the issue of who is and isn’t a Stoic. Grounding their discussion in Michael’s recent article: (03:00) The Stoic alignment chart: theory purists to rebels (11:00) Benefits of gatekeeping: maintaining truth and standards (21:00) Epictetus as motivating gatekeeper (26:30) Risks: pedantry and missing the forest for trees (40:00) When gatekeeping becomes antisocial (46:30) Finding the balance Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

  • Dec 9, 2025 · 50 min

    Stoic Ideas That Cut Against Modern Culture (Episode 213)

    Some Stoic ideas cut against modern culture. Michael and Caleb examine seven truths that challenge how we think about politics, anger, success, and evil. The Stoics make claims most people won’t like hearing. Politics can’t ruin your happiness. Anger is always wrong. Being a victim doesn’t make you virtuous. You can’t choose all your obligations. Nearly everyone lives in luxury today. Some lives are objectively better than others. And no one truly wants to do evil. (00:00) Politics can’t make you unhappy. (09:00) Anger is never appropriate. (19:40) Neither victimhood nor victory are moral credentials. (26:10) You don’t choose all your roles. (34:20) Nearly everyone today lives in luxury. (39:10) Some lives are better than others. (43:10) No one intends to do evil. Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/pod If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account. Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/ Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes