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.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 17:30
Jocko Willink’s philosophy of Extreme Ownership teaches leaders to take responsibility for everything that affects their mission. If something goes wrong, don’t make excuses. Own…
Sep 24, 2026 · 4:32
What if you worked hard at something for years and nobody noticed? Would the work still be worth doing? I've been wrestling with that question lately as I've become more focused…
Sep 22, 2026 · 17:21
Many of our emotional patterns were formed before we were old enough to understand what was happening. We learned what love, conflict, trust, danger, and security looked like by…
Sep 17, 2026 · 6:44
We have a tendency to postpone happiness. Once I get the promotion, I’ll be happy. Once I make more money, buy the new car, find the right relationship, or reach the next…
Sep 15, 2026 · 19:20
If you attain something without integrity, the thing you attain will always have power over you. In The Hobbit , Gollum’s relationship with the Ring begins with murder. Bilbo’s…
Sep 12, 2026 · 14:25
A former Anthropic researcher recently went on CNN and made a startling claim: AI could pose an existential threat to humanity within the next few years. I’m not an AI…
Sep 8, 2026 · 22:02
Ryan Holiday has introduced millions of people to Stoicism. But is what he teaches about success actually consistent with what the ancient Stoics taught? In this episode, I take…
Sep 1, 2026 · 16:44
If someone could hear your thoughts for a week, who would they expect you to become? Marcus Aurelius wrote that “the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” But not…
Aug 25, 2026 · 23:44
David Goggins believes in scheduled suffering, rejecting motivation and refusing to stop before the work is done. His philosophy has helped millions confront comfort, excuses and…
Aug 18, 2026 · 47:58
Living intentionally does not mean avoiding regret. It means deciding which regrets you are willing to carry. In this episode, Brandon is joined by Joshua Bertolotti for an…
Aug 11, 2026 · 21:31
Why do certain insults stay with us while others have no effect at all? In this episode of The Strong Stoic Podcast, I examine what our emotional reactions reveal about us—and…
Aug 4, 2026 · 19:29
Resentment often begins where an important boundary remains unspoken. In Episode 425, we examine why boundaries exist in every healthy relationship—and why setting one is not…
Jul 28, 2026 · 15:46
Have you ever stopped enjoying something that once gave your life meaning? Maybe it's the guitar that now gathers dust. The running shoes that haven't left the closet. The books…
Jul 21, 2026 · 14:43
Have you ever looked in the mirror and realized you’ve become someone you don’t respect? I have. In this deeply personal episode, I share a chapter of my life I’ve rarely talked…
Jul 14, 2026 · 11:26
Most people believe they know their limits. The truth is, they only know where they’ve chosen to stop. In this episode, I explore one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves—that…
Jul 7, 2026 · 1:16:54
Most of us don’t wake up wanting to be selfish, impatient, or unkind. So why is being good so difficult? In this conversation, I sit down once again with Corey to explore one of…
Jun 30, 2026 · 17:35
Most people hear Walk on the Moon and think about astronauts. I think about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The father holding his newborn. The recovering alcoholic…
Jun 23, 2026 · 14:43
We all know we should learn from our mistakes. But somewhere along the way, many of us confuse self-reflection with self-punishment. In this episode, I explore the difference…
Jun 16, 2026 · 17:37
As we grow stronger, wiser, healthier, and more disciplined, a subtle danger emerges: contempt. It's easy to celebrate strength. It's much harder to remain compassionate toward…
Jun 9, 2026 · 1:01:08
What happens when someone you love dies? In this conversation, I sit down with a returning guest shortly after the loss of his father. We explore grief, mortality, legacy, and…
Jun 2, 2026 · 18:10
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the workout, the meeting, the difficult conversation, or the grieving process. It’s the first step. In this episode, Brandon reflects on a lesson…
May 26, 2026 · 16:49
Most extraordinary people are never famous. History remembers a few names — Marcus Aurelius, Churchill, Dostoevsky — but civilization itself is carried forward by ordinary people…
May 19, 2026 · 14:18
Most people think the worst thing in the world is being alone. But the Stoics made an important distinction between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness is the painful feeling of…
May 12, 2026 · 14:57
Most people are trying to fix symptoms instead of causes. You miss the gym and think you lack discipline. You eat poorly and think you have weak willpower. You feel exhausted and…
May 5, 2026 · 12:11
Most people think Stoicism means being friends with everyone. It doesn’t. In this episode, we break down a hard truth: not everyone is meant to be your friend. Some people, by…
Apr 21, 2026 · 12:43
You’re busy. Life is good. Things are flowing. And that’s exactly when you’re most likely to forget something critical: You’re going to die. In this episode, I break down why…
Apr 15, 2026 · 12:48
You’re not overwhelmed—you’re unprioritized. In this episode, I break down why the feeling of overwhelm isn’t always about having too much to do, but about trying to hold…
Apr 7, 2026 · 14:13
You start something new—and it feels wrong. Not clearly wrong. Just… off. In this episode, I break down why that happens and why it’s not a signal to quit—but a signal to stay.…
Mar 24, 2026 · 18:59
Most advice for your 20s is designed to comfort you—not prepare you. In this episode, I break down 12 lessons that don’t sound good… but hold up when life gets difficult. We talk…
Mar 17, 2026 · 13:28
Most of your life is going to feel… repetitive. Wake up. Work. Eat. Train. Sleep. Repeat. And if you’re not careful, you’ll start to believe something is wrong with that. In this…
Mar 10, 2026 · 11:32
Marcus Aurelius wrote, “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” In this episode, we break down what that really means — and why it’s more psychological than…
Mar 3, 2026 · 24:30
Money stresses almost everyone. But Stoicism doesn’t tell us to ignore wealth — it tells us to rank it correctly. In this episode, I break down: Why money isn’t arbitrary (it…
Feb 24, 2026 · 16:29
Every man has his excuses. And the more vile the man becomes, the more touching the story has to be. In this episode of The Strong Stoic, we explore a brutal truth: no one thinks…
Feb 17, 2026 · 1:03:37
In this episode of The Strong Stoic, I sit down with an active-duty Navy submarine officer to explore Stoicism through the lens of military leadership, conflict, and…
Feb 10, 2026 · 19:51
Most people don’t fail at Stoicism because they don’t know enough. They fail because they don’t practice enough. In this episode, I talk about why I stopped buying Stoic books,…
Feb 3, 2026 · 16:48
Our culture glorifies multitasking—but the Stoics would call it a mistake. In this episode of The Strong Stoic Podcast , we explore why doing more at once often means…
Jan 27, 2026 · 19:11
Not everyone regulates themselves the same way. Some people measure their actions by character. Others measure by consequences. In this episode, we explore the difference between…
Jan 20, 2026 · 19:58
Most leadership failures don’t come from incompetence. They come from imbalance. Too much edge and people comply—but stop trusting you. Too much kindness and standards quietly…
Jan 13, 2026 · 1:27:44
In this episode, Brandon sits down with an educator and school principal, Kyle Sarka, to explore Stoic resilience —not as brute toughness, but as endurance guided by wisdom . The…
Jan 6, 2026 · 19:18
In this episode of The Strong Stoic , I explore a Stoic paradox: the one making the most progress often feels it the least. Drawing from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and…
Dec 30, 2025 · 20:52
Life isn’t fair — and Stoicism never said it would be. In this episode, we explore what it actually means to live with integrity in a world that doesn’t reward effort, honesty,…
Dec 23, 2025 · 18:33
We all try to live with intention—but life keeps interrupting us. In this episode, I explore the tension between daily reactivity and long-term vision through a Stoic lens. Why…
Dec 16, 2025 · 15:42
Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re weak. It often means you’re growing. In this episode of The Strong Stoic Podcast , I explore imposter syndrome through a Stoic lens—why it…
Dec 2, 2025 · 21:02
In this episode, Brandon explores Hemingway’s famous line: “The world breaks everyone.” But instead of treating breaking as failure, we look at it through the Stoic lens—as a…
Nov 18, 2025 · 48:23
In this episode of The Strong Stoic , I’m joined by classicist and author Inger Kuin to dive deep into the wild, hilarious, and surprisingly practical life of Diogenes —the…
Nov 11, 2025 · 15:44
In this episode, Brandon discusses the journey of personal growth and self-improvement, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences and embracing change. He…
Nov 4, 2025 · 1:11:36
After nearly two years away from the Stoic world, author and researcher Kai Whiting returns to share—candidly—what happened: sudden metabolic illness, becoming a father, career…
Oct 29, 2025 · 21:39
The Jedi sought to control their emotions. Luke Skywalker mastered them through compassion. In this episode, I explore how Star Wars reflects the core tension in Stoicism — the…
Oct 21, 2025 · 21:40
We often think of monsters as creatures hiding under our beds. But real monsters walk among us — and sometimes, they are born of sickness, isolation, and the collapse of reason.…
Oct 14, 2025 · 21:12
An 18-year-old boy lies dying. When asked if he’s afraid, he simply says, “Yeah.” In this episode, I explore what that single word reveals about mortality, honesty, and the…
Oct 7, 2025 · 18:21
In this episode, I explore the idea that life is not about escaping problems but learning how to face them. We often think the grass is greener on the other side—that a new job,…
Sep 30, 2025 · 27:13
In this episode, I revisit my recent conversation with Tim Ash on evolutionary psychology and take a deeper dive into its most cited facts. From sex differences in mate…
Sep 24, 2025 · 13:55
In this episode of The Strong Stoic Podcast , I share reflections from my recent two-week trip to Vietnam—my first time in Asia. Travel today is often portrayed as a flex on…
Sep 16, 2025 · 14:33
In this episode, I explore Epictetus’ challenge: Can you gain wealth and possessions without losing your dignity, self-respect, and character? Drawing from Enchiridion 24, I…
Sep 9, 2025 · 1:08:59
Dating has never been more complicated. Between the rise of online apps, shifting cultural expectations, and the pull of red pill and feminist extremes, many people are left…
Sep 2, 2025 · 18:46
In this episode, I dive deep into one of Epictetus’s striking passages: “As a target is not set up for the archer to miss it, so there is no intrinsic evil that exists in the…
Aug 26, 2025 · 32:02
In this episode of The Strong Stoic Podcast, I sit down once again with Chuck Chakrapani, author of The Power to Change: Stoic Strategies to Transform Your Life. Chuck shares…
Aug 12, 2025 · 16:43
From the outside, my decision at work didn’t make much sense — it cost more time, more money, and even confused a few people. But it was the right call for the people involved.…
Aug 5, 2025 · 14:27
In this episode, I dive into something I’ve recently experienced firsthand—what some might call overtraining, but what I’ve come to see as something deeper. Yes, I was pushing…
Jul 29, 2025 · 26:15
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…
Jul 22, 2025 · 20:33
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…
Jul 15, 2025 · 1:06:12
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…
Jul 8, 2025 · 14:12
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…
Jul 2, 2025 · 11:19
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…
Jun 24, 2025 · 11:51
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…
Jun 17, 2025 · 10:34
“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…
Jun 10, 2025 · 20:12
“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…
Jun 3, 2025 · 19:54
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…
May 27, 2025 · 21:49
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…
May 20, 2025 · 21:30
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…
May 13, 2025 · 17:56
“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…
May 6, 2025 · 18:22
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…
Apr 29, 2025 · 22:15
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…
Apr 22, 2025 · 16:36
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…
Apr 15, 2025 · 54:39
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…
Apr 8, 2025 · 19:20
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…
Apr 1, 2025 · 25:39
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…
Mar 25, 2025 · 20:26
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,…
Mar 11, 2025 · 14:23
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…
Mar 4, 2025 · 15:57
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…
Feb 25, 2025 · 23:08
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…
Feb 18, 2025 · 16:09
Hard work and perseverance are not innate qualities—they are carved into a person through experience, struggle, and discipline. The philosophy of Stoicism teaches many things,…
Feb 11, 2025 · 20:08
Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs. A term that has been the subject of heated debate in North America, particularly in the context of economic policy shifts. While tariffs may not seem…
Feb 4, 2025 · 19:25
In the face of life’s greatest certainty—death—there exists a paradox of fear and transcendence. It’s a subject both daunting and enlightening, woven deeply into human…
Jan 28, 2025 · 23:13
Few scenes in cinematic history manage to capture the raw essence of courage as powerfully as King Théoden’s speech in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. As he rallies his…
Jan 21, 2025 · 17:13
Life is full of moments when we’re faced with difficult decisions or challenges, and in those moments, we search for something to give us clarity—a guiding principle or phrase…
Jan 14, 2025 · 17:47
“The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked. When you choose to live authentically, you inevitably invite criticism.” — The Courage to Be Disliked In…
Jan 7, 2025 · 19:08
Life is filled with challenges that often feel like punishments: setbacks, pain, and suffering that can seem unfair or overwhelming. Yet, the quote “What punishments from God are…
Dec 24, 2024 · 10:33
Merry Christmas, everyone! This time of year is special, not just for the joy of holiday cheer, family gatherings, and festive feasts, but also for the opportunity it presents: a…
Dec 17, 2024 · 15:05
The Stoic philosophy, while often revered for its emphasis on self-discipline and resilience, also places great importance on being useful to others. As Marcus Aurelius reminds…
Dec 10, 2024 · 17:58
In both Stoicism and Buddhism, there's a strong emphasis on being fully present. The idea of living in the moment is often associated with Buddhist teachings, but the Stoics…
Dec 3, 2024 · 13:30
I recently found myself exploring a bookstore. I made my way to the philosophy section, as I usually inevitably do. However, when I picked up a newly released Stoic book, I asked…
Nov 26, 2024 · 16:32
In a world that constantly screams "more," minimalism whispers, "enough." Minimalism challenges the pervasive narrative of consumerism—one that equates happiness with…
Nov 19, 2024 · 22:59
In recent years, the term "Practical Stoicism" has gained traction. It suggests a philosophy rooted in real-world application rather than abstract ideals. While Stoicism itself…
Nov 12, 2024 · 19:07
As we approach the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, this discussion offers insights into how Stoic philosophy can guide us through the intense partisanship often…
Nov 5, 2024 · 19:16
In everyday conversation, we often hear terms like "optimist," "pessimist," and "realist" thrown around to describe how people approach life. These labels have clear…
Oct 29, 2024 · 17:12
Money preoccupies most of us, whether it’s deciding which bills to pay or aiming for financial goals. Personal finances, while essential, can consume a lot of mental space. For…
Oct 22, 2024 · 16:41
Pain is an unavoidable part of life. Whether it’s physical, emotional, or mental, no one is immune to it. The Stoics, especially philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius,…
Oct 15, 2024 · 15:11
In Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister recounts a story to his brother Jaime about their cousin Orson, who spent his days crushing beetles with a rock. The tale is simple, yet it…
Oct 8, 2024 · 15:46
In the words of the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, “It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given and not waste time…
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