Modern Meditations - Stoicism For The Real World
This podcast bridges the gap between the beautiful, concise teachings of the Stoics and everyday life, in a fun, not too stuffy and modern way. We share how Stoicism affects us personally, give practical ways to use it in your own life and have a fun time rapping, singing, creating sketches, fake commercials/holidays and many more things about Stoicism.
#70 - Enchiridion Ch 10: How to be The World's Best Wait-er, Virtue GPA's, The Art of Asking The Beautiful Question, & Buddhists at the Bus Stop
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What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
In this episode of Modern Meditations, Bruce and JJ begin with Peter Thiel’s famous contrarian question: "What important truth do very few people agree with you on?"
Then the conversation turns to a quieter problem: what do you do when you have already done everything you can?
Drawing from Epictetus, a long wait for a bus, and the uncertainty surrounding a friend’s passport, Bruce explores a better question asked by Epictetus in the Enchiridion Book...
#69 - The Sickisode, Enchiridion Ch 9: How to Deal with Limited Choices, Bruce Reads his Will, Craziest Wills from History (Heartbreaking and Heartwarming... jk just heartbreaking)
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Are you being a drama queen by writing your will prematurely? Or are you preparing well? How can you continue your life mission after life? Bruce got "Not Malaria" in Thailand and had a dramatic episode where he wrote his will and we discuss that.
Then we go into how to continue choosing well when choices are limited. Epictetus gives us a great jumping off point in Enchiridion 9 to help us explore the idea of what is truly limited when choices are narrowed.
We explore how to respond correctly w...
#68 - Enchiridion Ch 8: How to Act Like It's Up To You Without Believing That It Is, Role Models, Reverse Paranoia, Jared vs Jimmy & Modest Mice
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What if the to peace isn't about controlling your life, but changing your relationship with reality?
In this episode, we explore one of the most challenging ideas in Stoicism through a single line from Epictetus:
"Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well."At first glance, it sounds like surrender. Lower your expectations. Stop caring. Accept mediocrity.
But that's not what the Stoics meant.
We'll explore t...
#67 – Enchiridion Ch 7: How to Leave Everything Behind When the Ship Calls, Fate vs Death, Justin’s Interpretation, and Truffles
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In this episode of Modern Meditations, we explore Chapter 7 of Epictetus’ Enchiridion, one of the most vivid and debated analogies in Stoicism.
Using the image of a ship, a captain, and a shoreline full of distractions, Epictetus gives a framework for how to live while knowing everything can be taken from you at any moment. But what exactly is the “ship”? Is it death? Fate? Something else entirely?
Justin and I break down competing interpretations, push the analogy to its limits, and wrestle with what it actually means to “be ready”...
#66 – On the Shortness of Life (New Years Special): Why Justin Was in Tears, The Power of Home Depot, Faces Over Causes, High ROI Living & The 2025 Aurelius Awards
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In this New Year’s special, we revisit On the Shortness of Life and come to a deeply encouraging conclusion:
You’re not out of time, you’re just wasting it.
We break down Seneca’s idea of the Preoccupied vs. the Thrifty Guardian, aka:
the person who’s always waiting for something bettervs. the person who actually lives their lifeJustin shares the moment that left him crying in his car before work (don’t worry, he pulled it together and did great things), triggered by a song and t...
#65 – Enchiridion Ch 6: How to Stop Taking Pride in What Isn’t Yours, The Handsome Horse, Gladiator, and How to Avoid Patricide
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A horse can be proud of its own beauty. But if you’re proud of owning a beautiful horse, you’ve already confused what’s yours with what isn’t.
In this episode, we break down Enchiridion 6 and the Stoic warning against borrowed pride, deriving self-worth from status, outcomes, or association. What is actually yours is far narrower. Your judgment, your choices, your discipline, your restraint.
We bring in Gladiator as a case study. Maximus embodies owned excellence, character that survives the loss of everything external. Commodus represents borrowed identity...
#64 - Enchiridion Ch 5: How to Stop Blaming Others, Yourself, or Anyone at All. The Difference Between Philosophers & Sellers of Vegetables, The Three Stoic Levels & The History of Insane Clown Posse
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In this episode, we take on one of Epictetus’ most uncomfortable claims: you’re not disturbed by events, only by the opinions you bring to them.
We unpack his three-tiered model of the mind (the untrained blames others, the novice blames himself, the wise blame no one) and follow the story of the Roman visitor who wants Epictetus to predict his future, only to be told that his fate depends entirely on the quality of his opinions.
From the “seller of vegetables” roast to the danger of untested beliefs, we explore...
#63 - Enchiridion Ch 4: How to Stop Being Surprised By Life: Death by Paper Cuts, Swinging Snakes, Budget Hotels & The History of Bathing
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In this episode of Modern Meditations, Bruce and Justin turn a weekend of budget hotels, dollar rental cars, $12 orange juice, and marathon gels into a masterclass on Stoic expectations. Drawing on Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and M. Scott Peck, they explore how life’s annoyances, whether waiting in line, traffic tailgaters, or bitter cucumbers, become easier to bear when you anticipate difficulty instead of assuming bliss is normal.
From the rugby coach’s snake parable to the Roman baths, the conversation blends humor and philosophy to show that while life is full of pa...
#62 – Enchiridion Ch 3: How to Love What You Can Lose: Anaxagoras’ Comeback, Mortal Hugs, and the Bigger-or-Badder Test
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What’s the difference between loving deeply and clinging desperately? Epictetus thought the line was thinner than we like to admit. In Enchiridion Chapter 3, he reminds us that every embrace is an embrace of a mortal, every favorite cup is already broken, and every attachment comes with an expiration date stamped by nature. Sounds grim? Not really. It’s actually a roadmap for how not to be crushed when life does what life always does: end, change, and surprise.
In this episode, we talk Bigger vs. Badder—how Stoicism flips the script...
#61 - Enchiridion Ch 2: How Not to be Miserable - Mastering Desire, Disaster, and the Coldplay Kiss Cam
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When Chris Martin paused a Coldplay concert to comment on a kiss-cam couple—“Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy”—he unintentionally exposed more than just awkward chemistry. Days later, both people were out of their jobs and their private lives had become public scandal. But the real story isn’t just the moment it’s what it reveals about desire, aversion, and what happens when we’re forced into the spotlight unprepared.
This week, we unpack:
The viral kiss-cam moment that spiraled into corporate resignations and m...#60 - Enchiridion Ch 1: Epictetus’ First Rule for Inner Freedom, Beyonce's Not a Stoic, Justin's Pop Quiz, Going Deeper W/The Dichotomy of Control & Desert Island Discs Pt 2
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We're onto a brand new book the Enchiridion (or 'the Handbook') this book was written by a former slave to help other reach inner freedom.
For this series we're reading the whole chapter every day and looking to understand the principles from real world experience. This week we explored Epictitus's first rule for inner freedom.
And... had some fun along the way...
Listen to Justin ace a stoic spelling quiz! The dichotomy of control is maybe the most central tenet of Stoicism. But this week we're taking it...
#59 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Full Audiobook Reading)
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Book 1- 0:0:09
Book 2- 0:17:04
Book 3- 0:31:01
Book 4- 0:47:58
Book 5- 1:14:33
Book 6- 1:40:41
Book 7- 2:08:00
Book 8- 2:34:17
Book 9- 3:00:59
Book 10- 3:27:20
Book 11- 3:54:27
Book 12- 4:18:37
#58 - Meditations Book 12: Becoming Worthy of the World that Created You, Kissing Gone Wrong, Bruce Turns Himself In, and the Grass Could be Greener on THIS Side
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Becoming worthy of the world that created you is a tall order, but luckily Marcus has some tips! Learn about letting go of the past through Justin's experience in High School romance, and Bruce's rare brush with law enforcement (it gets ugly!).
The Poet David Whyte graces us again with some profound quotes on honesty and living in the present that help complement Marcus' words. We conclude once and for all which side the grass REALLY is greener on!
And finally, we get Modern Meditations take on "Desert Island D...
#57 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 12 (Audiobook Reading)
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The 12th and final book of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations is full of gems. Marcus starts off telling himself how to become worthy of the universe that made him.
"if you shall not be afraid because you must some time cease to live, but if you shall fear never to have begun to live according to nature then you will be a man worthy of the universe which has produced you..."
Other nuggets and aphorisms to himself are just as riveting.
"If it is not right, do not do...
#56 - Meditations Book 11: No Human is Limited, There Is No Veil Over a Star, Fake Work vs Real Work, The Myth of 'Self Care', Only the Disciplined Are Free & Lessons From Kipchoge
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Bruce has found another hero to obsess about, no surprise it's the world's fastest marathoner: Eluid Kipchoge (a stoic adjacent runner.) In today's episode we break down some of the many lessons that can be learned from him through the lens of Marcus's beautiful quote in chapter 11:
"The pythagoreans bid us in the mornings to look to the heavens that we may be reminded of those bodies that continually do the same things and in the same manner perform their work, and also be reminded of their purity and nudity. For t...
#55 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 11 (Audiobook Reading)
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Book 11 of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.
#54 - The Nature of Nature & How to Have a Wise Relationship With It, Justin Reveals his Hypocrisy & Why Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is Profound
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Have you ever had a friend insist that a quote is relevant, additive, and deep, but you just don't get it? Listen to Bruce try to justify bringing in this quote from "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" and see if it resonates with you?
Have you ever wondered what the nature of life is? Marcus says, "A healthy pair of eyes should see everything that can be seen and not say, 'No! Too bright!'.. So too a healthy mind should be prepared for anything." This frames our discussion as we t...
#53 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 10 (Audiobook Reading)
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In Book 10 of Meditations, Marcus Aurelius reflects on the impermanence of life, the futility of seeking fame, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. He emphasizes resilience in the face of adversity, urging us to accept what we cannot change and focus on our duty. He reminds himself—and us—that external recognition is fleeting, while true fulfillment comes from acting with wisdom, justice, and integrity.
#52 - Meditations Book 9: How to Deepen Your Rest & Sharpen Your Focus Like a Stoic, Marcus's Bedtime Stories & Is There Life After TikTok?
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This episode took us a year to make... Well, at least it is the byproduct of a year focused on focus and rest for Bruce. If you read between the lines of Meditations Book 9 you'll find an emperor who also shares an obsession with finding ways to increase his focus and find rest.
For instance Marcus says things like:
"You can remove out of the way many useless things among those which disturb thee, for they lie entirely in thy opinion"
Or
"Let there be fre...
#51 - On The Shortness of Life (New Years Special) - Bruce’s Breakup & New Startup, 2 Week Justins, The 2024 Aurelis Award Show, & The Sacredness of Time
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As is now Modern Meditations tradition we ended 2024 with reading Seneca’s “On The Shortness of Life” and sat down for a chat about how we did with this year that is not coming back.
We both saw meaningful ways that Stoicism had major impacts in our lives for the better, whether that be through breakups, travel, making major career moves, graduating college or deaths in the family.
And at the end we have the internationally acclaimed awards ceremony for the best episodes of the year called, “The Aurelis.“
#50 - On Being a Citizen of The World (Audio Essays)
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On the 50th episode of Modern Meditations we break our format to give you two audio essays that changed our views on what it means to be a citizen of the world. In Meditations we read, “My city and country, so far as I am Antoninus, is Rome; but so far as I am a human being, it is the world."
The first, by Bruce, from his trip on Thailand and the lessons he learned from the East that would solve many problems in the West. And another from Justin that sh...
#49 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 9 (Audiobook Reading)
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Experience Stoic literature first-hand by listening directly to the audiobook of Mediations by Marcus Aurelius.
Book 9 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius contains absolute banger quotes such as:
9:20 "It is your duty to leave another man's wrongful act there where it is."
9:27 "When another blames you or hates you, or when men say about you anything injurious, approach their poor sould, look within, and see what kind of men they are. You will discover that there is no reason to take any trouble that these men may have this or th...
#48 - Meditations Book 8: The Why Were You Born-isode, Gradual Coherence, Do You Find Meaning or Does Meaning Find You and the Parable of the Turkey Cult
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Discussing Book 8 of Marcus Aurelius' meditations is not for those unready to face the existential dread of facing themselves and what they were born to do... Are you?
We start with a fun teaser of "What is required of someone to be a Stoic?" Then we dive into the heavy-hitting themes of this book of Meditations with figuring out what you were born for.
Join to answer the most important question of all! Who will project their biases more onto the world, Justin or Bruce? Find out this episode!
#47 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 8 (Audiobook Reading)
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Experience Stoic literature first-hand by listening directly to the audiobook of Mediations by Marcus Aurelius.
Book 8 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius contains absolute banger quotes such as:
8:16 "Remember that to change your opinion and to follow him who corrects your error is as consistent with freedom as it is to persist in your error."
8:22 "Attend to the matter which is before you, whether it is an opinion or an act or a word."
8:33 "Receive [wealth or prosperity] without arrogance, and be ready to let it go."
8:36 "Do no...
#46 - The Deathisode
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Happy Halloween! What a perfect time to discuss death! On this spooky holiday we open with Data asking Picard to grant him a gift... mortality. We discuss how we deal with mortality and why it is such a gift to be alive and that we all die.
We go into how we can prepare for our own inevitable death. Part of that is destigmatizing death to not let it be a looming fear, but instead of provider of beauty and meaning. Can it be destigmatized too much? Possibly, but we think t...
#45 - Meditations Book 7: How Much Does Happiness Cost? Instagram Life vs The Simple Life, The Happiest Man in the World, Elon Musk's Life Algorithm & Autotelic activities
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Can we just say, "What a chapter?!" Book 7 has many riveting themes, including... Simplicity!
Marcus says, "Always bear this in mind; and another thing too, that very little indeed is necessary for living a happy life." To explore that we compare how much it would cost to live the life of an Instagram Influencer compared to a simple life. The happiest *recorded* capacity for happiness was found in a man who lived in absolute simplicity, the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk.
We use the Catchy Quaker Classic, Simple Gifts...
#44 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 7 (Audiobook Reading)
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Book 7 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius focuses on Stoic themes like living in harmony with nature, accepting the impermanence of life, and the importance of rationality.
Marcus considers valuable things such as how little is necessary to living a happy life, what the perfection of moral character looks like, and how the more you dig for good within yourself the more it will bubble up.
The chapter is a reminder to align actions with reason and find peace within oneself through disciplined living.
#43 - Meditations Book 6: To Move From One Unselfish Act to Another, Why You Don’t Exist, Big Mind vs Small Mind, Can You Have Two Souls? & Koans
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Your favorite Stoic podcast is back, as we work our way through Meditations Book 6 which is all about the unself. Marcus makes quite the claim in this chapter that “The only rewards of our existence here are an unstained character and unselfish acts..."
But what does it mean to be unselfish? And why is it a reward?
To answer these questions we explore some Buddhist tenants and a surgical procedure that will make you question whether you exist at all.
Then we move through what Marcus suggest on h...
#42 - Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Book 6 (Audiobook Reading)
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Book 6 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius focuses on Stoic themes like living in harmony with nature, accepting the impermanence of life, and the importance of rationality.
Marcus emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, urging a life of virtue and inner tranquility despite external circumstances. He advocates for focusing on the present moment, maintaining humility, and valuing personal wisdom over fame or wealth.
The chapter is a reminder to align actions with reason and find peace within oneself through disciplined living.
#41 - Meditations Book 5: When You Have Failed Return Back Again, W/Composer Matt Lees, The Crazy Rise of Ulysses S. Grant, Slow Practice, Edision's Tenacity, Harmony & What Disharmony Sounds Like
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In Book 5 Marcus deals wrestles with the ideas of failure, imperfection and the love of a craft. To helps us deepen our understanding of how to view mistakes not as problems but as information and what it means to harmonize with nature we brought on Composer and friend of the podcast Matt Lees.
In this episode we bring back the Lightening round, deeply go through the troubled yet amazing history of Ulysses S. Grant. We explore the tenacity that made Thomas Edison tick. Then go through what it means to slow p...
#40 - Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Book 5 (Audiobook Reading)
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In Book 5 of Meditations, Marcus Aurelius reflects on themes of duty, self-discipline, and the transience of life. He emphasizes the importance of rising each day with purpose, fulfilling one's responsibilities with a sense of duty, and aligning actions with nature and reason. The book encourages focusing on the present moment, controlling impulses, and finding contentment in simple, virtuous living. Marcus also discusses the inevitability of death and the need to accept it as a natural part of life, urging readers to live with integrity and humility.
#39 - Meditations Book 4: How To Turn Obstacles Into Flame & Brightness, Anti Fragility, Chubby Thieves, Un-Complicating Yourself & Special Guests Donald Trump And Joe Biden
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Woah. This is quite the episode exploring themes from the Meditations Book 4. We deep dive into both Marcus's advice to be like a blazing fire, and Bruce Lee's advice to be water my friend. And a big part of both is working with the experiences that we're given to become, new vocab alert "Anti Fragile."
We also have a brief therapy session with Justin about a person that stole his winter coat who he had revenge fantasy's about until he decided to take a more Stoic path.
We of co...
#38 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 4 (Audiobook Reading)
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In this episode, we delve into Book 4 of Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations," a cornerstone of Stoic philosophy. Join us as we explore themes of self-discipline, the transient nature of life, and the importance of inner peace. Marcus reflects on the impermanence of the material world, urging us to focus on our inner virtues and live in harmony with nature. Through his introspective writings, he guides us to embrace the present, act justly, and maintain equanimity in the face of life's challenges. Tune in for a thought-provoking journey into the mind of one of history's...
#37 - Meditations Book 3: Revere the Faculty Which Produces Opinion, Pompeii Poses, Bruce-Con, Emotional Minimalism, The Opinions We Are Currently Sacrificing & Happy Birthday Modern Meditations
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Diogenes the Cynic a predecessor to Stoicism and Alexander the Great were cut from very different cloths, but when Alexander the Great came to Diogenes their supposed meeting gave us one of the most legendary favors ever asked for of a king.
Bruce recaps his time in his hammock and in nature. We discuss the shocking revelations that Bruce unearthed during Bruce-Con, his annual conference of just himself.
We go in depth about opinions, the Stoic views on opinions as expressed by Marcus Aurelius and their inability to affect...
#36 - Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Book 3 (Audio Book Reading)
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Join us in this episode as we present a reading of Book 3 from Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations." This chapter offers profound insights into the fleeting nature of life, the importance of living according to reason and nature, and the virtues of self-discipline and simplicity. Marcus reflects on the inevitability of death and encourages embracing the present moment. He emphasizes the need for inner tranquility through rational thinking and the alignment of one's actions with the natural order. Listen in as we explore these timeless stoic teachings and how they can inspire a virtuous and...
#35 - Meditations Book 2: 4 Ways a Soul Does Violence To Itself & Marcus’s Remedies, Interdependence, Justin’s Kia Catching on Fire, Roommates Who Bathe In Vegetables, & The Benjamin Franklin Effect
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This week we dive into Book 2 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, we begin with Justin’s current sparing partner for equanimity, namely his Kia catching on fire. Then we move into the acronym: M.O.M.A which breaks down the four main ways that Marcus discusses that the soul can do violence to itself.
But, because we don’t dwell on the negative, we then move into B.E.T.R. Which is the remedy to soul violence.
All of that work helps prepare us to live in cooper...
#34 - Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Book 2 (Audio Book Reading)
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As part of our Meditations Series we are reading George Long's translation of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius in an Audiobook format.
In Book 2 of "Meditations," Marcus Aurelius delves into Stoic philosophy, emphasizing acceptance of death, the impermanence of life, and the pursuit of inner peace through rationality and virtue. He discusses the importance of mindfulness, fulfilling one's duties, and understanding our interconnectedness with others. This book serves as a guide to living a meaningful life by focusing on personal growth, self-awareness, and gratitude. It's timeless wisdom on navigating life's challenges with g...
#33 - Meditations Book 1: From Knee Surgery to Olympian (What We've Learned From Clayton Young), Listening Without Prejudice & A Stoic Call In Radio Show
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How do you go from getting a knee surgery to qualify to going to the Olympics in less than 12 months?
In honor of Book 1 of Meditations this week we are talking about some of the heroes in our lives and what we've learned from them. Bruce chronicles the story of watching his friend become an Olympian and Justin recounts an authority figure he actually respects (who would've guessed?)
Then for our Stoic reimagining we take you into the show of "Dear Marcus" where a clueless radio show host David Mo...
#32 - Meditations Book 1 - Learning From The Best In Others
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This week we explore the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 1, and in the words that Justin says at the book club that Bruce wasn't invited to, "What a Chapter!" We pull apart 11 different phrases from the first chapter of what we would like to be.
We discuss the forgotten art of learning from the best in other people, and how to find joy in learning from other people's virtues. Then as a treat at the end of the episode for our Stoic Reimagining we share with you some exotic outtakes of s...
#31 - Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Book 1 (Audio Book Reading)
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As part of our Meditations Series we are reading George Long's translation of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius in an Audiobook format. Next week we'll be back with our regular format to discuss themes from this chapter.
