Stoic Coffee Break

Erick Cloward

"Act on your principles, not your moods." A weekly meditation on how Stoic principles can help you be a better human. https://stoic.coffee
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386 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes386

Newest first

Aug 22, 2025 · 10 min
345 - Mental Toughness: The Quiet Strength
Are you mentally tough? Are you able to take what life dishes out and keep smiling? Today I want to talk about mental toughness and how you can develop the right kind of toughness while being flexible to life changes. “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” —Seneca Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch epis...
Aug 13, 2025 · 17 min
344 - Languishing: How to Get Unstuck
Do you ever feel like you’re stuck? Like things aren’t going bad but aren’t moving in the right direction either? Today I want to talk about being stuck and what to do to get things moving in the right direction. “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” —Epictetus Discourses, 3.23 Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at...
Jun 16, 2025 · 8 min
343 - Stoicism 101: Seneca the Younger
This week's episode is a chapter from my book, Stoicism 101. It's the chapter about Seneca the Younger, one of the most famous Stoic philosophers and writers. Seneca is remembered as one of the most popular stoic philosophers, partly because a lot of his writings survived and were passed through antiquity. But how much do you know about Seneca? Well, in this episode, you're going to learn some more about this colorful and interesting man and his lasting influence on stoicism. “Men do not car...
Jun 4, 2025 · 1 hr 34 min
342 - Interview with Derrick Zaworski: Philosophy, Music, & Addiction
This week I dive into philosophy, life, music, and addiction with my friend Derrick Zaworski. Derrick is a music producer and owner of Road Tripping Records. Derrick and I have been friends for several years and we've always enjoyed deep and interesting conversations, so I thought it would be worthwhile to get one of those conversations on record. I hope you enjoy! Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicis...
May 26, 2025 · 10 min
341 - Future You: How to Bargain with the Future to Become Your Best Self
Do you ever think about your future self? How would your choices in the present change if you took the time to consider those choices would impact future you? Today I want to talk about the power of getting to know the future you. “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at...
May 12, 2025 · 16 min
340 - Is Free Will Just a Lie We Tell Ourselves?
Do we have free will or are we destined to our fate? Do the Stoics believe that we have free will or are our lives pre-determined? Does is matter? Today I’m going to talk about the Stoic ideas behind free will and fate, and how it does or doesn’t impact our lives. “Lead me, Fate, wherever you will, and I will cheerfully follow. For even if I kick and wail, all the same I must follow.” —Cleanthes Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now...
May 2, 2025 · 9 min
339 - Resistance Training for the Soul: Why the Hard Way Might Be the Right Way
What if I told you that the thing you’re avoiding… is exactly the thing you need most? Today we’re going about why comfort might be the biggest lie we believe, and how leaning into resistance can actually be the path to everything you want. “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” ― Confucius Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here!...
Apr 12, 2025 · 16 min
338 - Q & A: Am I Stoic Enough?
In this week's episode, I take some time to answer a few questions: - What should I do when someone criticizes me and I know they’re right? - How do I know if I’m actually making progress in my personal growth—or just spinning my wheels? - What would Marcus Aurelius say about social media? - What’s one way I secretly avoid discomfort—even though I talk about embracing it? “Or is it your reputation that's bothering you? But look at how soon we're all forgotten. The abyss of endless time that ...
Apr 4, 2025 · 12 min
337 - Evil Is the Absence of Empathy
Empathy has been called everything from a virtue to a weakness to a sin. But in an age of outrage, is empathy a liability? Or is it the very thing we need to preserve civilization? In this week's episode I talk about the importance of empathy and why we need more, not less empathy in the world. “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” —Seneca Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My boo...
Mar 27, 2025 · 12 min
336 - Facts and Feelings: The Power of Objectivity
The Stoics place a premium on rationality and objectivity to help manage our emotions. But how do we develop that objectivity? Why should we practice become more objective? In this week’s episode we’re going to dive into those questions and talk about how you can be more objective. “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Stephen R. Covey Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable M...
Mar 19, 2025 · 14 min
335 - Stay Curious: The Stoic Case for Asking Why
What if your biggest obstacle in life isn’t a lack of knowledge, but something else? What if this one attribute is the one thing that can help you truly excel in life? In this episode, I want discuss what I think is the greatest attribute that any person should have who wants improve themselves and how to develop it. “I’m am neither clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” —Albert Einstein Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental disciplin...
Mar 13, 2025 · 14 min
334 - Serious Joy: A Stoic’s Unexpected Superpower
How often to you spend time worrying about everything that is happening in the world? How can you create more joy into your life? Can a Stoic be happy and joyful? Today I want to talk about Stoicism and joy. “A cheerful disposition and serenity of mind are not the result of luck but of wisdom.” — Seneca (Here's the link to the sunshine video!) Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Or...
Feb 27, 2025 · 15 min
333 - Do Better, Be Better: Maintaining Stoic Virtue in Times of Turmoil
In times of political division, it’s easy to be swept away by anger, resentment, and fear. But what does that accomplish? Does your anger towards those that disagree with you help yourself or the world? In this episode I want to talk about the importance of maintaining your Stoic principles in times of turmoil. “The essence of good and evil consists in the condition of our character. And externals are the means by which our character finds its particular good and evil.” —Epictetus Send us Fan...
Feb 13, 2025 · 59 min
332 - Creating a Stoic Company: Interview with Geoff Roberts from Outseta
Stoicism is a very personal and practical philosophy. But what would a company look like that implemented some of the ideas from Stoic philosophy? In this episode, I interview Geoff Roberts the CEO of Outseta. Many of the operating principles run counterintuitive to the conventional wisdom of how most companies are managed, and they've been quite successful. While Geoff isn't a deliberate Stoic, Outseta operates incorporates a lot of Stoic ideals which leads to a healthier work culture ...
Feb 5, 2025 · 12 min
331 - How We Make Ourselves Unhappy
Are you happy? Do you struggle when life doesn’t go the way you want? Today I want to talk about why we as humans are great at making ourselves unhappy, and some ideas the Stoics gave us to make our lives better. “Man is not disturbed by things, but by the views he takes of them.” — Epictetus Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoi...
Jan 31, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
330 - Emotional Algebra: Interview with Dr. Erik Fisher
This weeks episode is an interview with Dr. Erik Fisher. Erik is the host of the Emotional Algebra podcast, and works with patients and clients to manage their emotions in a way that is very similar to Stoicism. We had a great and wide ranging conversation about emotions, trauma, and how become more emotionally resilient. Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out mo...
Jan 25, 2025 · 14 min
329 - Stoicism vs. Brocism
Are you confused about the different teachings of Stoicism you find on the internet? Would the Stoics advocate for the “hyper-masculine” culture that uses Stoicism to support some approaches to stress, dating, and how to treat others? Today I want to talk about how Stoicism can be misused, and clear up some of the misconceptions of Stoicism been propagated by what some have called “Broicism”. “The lamp of wisdom shines brightest when lit by the flame of self-awareness.” ― Musonius Rufus Send ...
Jan 16, 2025 · 13 min
328 - Q & A: Money, Politics, & Good Enough
Are you worried about finances? Do you struggle when you have a political conversation with somebody and it becomes heated? Do you worry about failing at life? Well, these are three questions that I'm going to answer today in another Q& A episode. “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” — Will Rogers Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for...
Jan 9, 2025 · 13 min
327 - Why Individualism Fails
Self-made success, individual freedom, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps—these ideas have become the cornerstone of many modern cultures, especially in the West. But is this individualistic mindset really working for us? Today, we’re taking a look at why excessive individualism can be harmful, how it isolates us, and what Stoicism has to say about our interconnectedness and shared humanity. “The wise man will never shut himself up within his own skin; he remembers that he is born for the...
Jan 2, 2025 · 14 min
326 - How to Break Up Without Breaking Down: A Stoic's Guide for Letting Go
We all suffer heartbreak from time to time. It’s an inevitable part of life with other people. So how can we use Stoicism to help us move past a broken heart? Today, we’re going to discuss how this ancient philosophy has some great tools to mend and move forward. ”There can be no doubt that the desire lovers have for each other is not so very different from friendship - you might say it was friendship gone mad.” —Seneca Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building menta...

Stoic Coffee Break

345 - Mental Toughness: The Quiet Strength

344 - Languishing: How to Get Unstuck

343 - Stoicism 101: Seneca the Younger

342 - Interview with Derrick Zaworski: Philosophy, Music, & Addiction

341 - Future You: How to Bargain with the Future to Become Your Best Self

340 - Is Free Will Just a Lie We Tell Ourselves?

339 - Resistance Training for the Soul: Why the Hard Way Might Be the Right Way

338 - Q & A: Am I Stoic Enough?

337 - Evil Is the Absence of Empathy

336 - Facts and Feelings: The Power of Objectivity

335 - Stay Curious: The Stoic Case for Asking Why

334 - Serious Joy: A Stoic’s Unexpected Superpower

333 - Do Better, Be Better: Maintaining Stoic Virtue in Times of Turmoil

332 - Creating a Stoic Company: Interview with Geoff Roberts from Outseta

331 - How We Make Ourselves Unhappy

330 - Emotional Algebra: Interview with Dr. Erik Fisher

329 - Stoicism vs. Brocism

328 - Q & A: Money, Politics, & Good Enough

327 - Why Individualism Fails

326 - How to Break Up Without Breaking Down: A Stoic's Guide for Letting Go