#78: Beyond Broicism: What Seneca, Epictetus & Marcus Aurelius Actually Taught | Dr. Gregory Sadler

What Would a Stoic Actually Do? The Practical Wisdom of Seneca, Epictetus & Marcus Aurelius

Everyone's seen "Stoicism" turned into ice baths, cold showers, and "no excuses" bro-wisdom. Dr. Gregory Sadler — philosopher, editor of Stoicism Today, and one of the most prolific Stoic teachers on the internet — has spent over a decade fighting exactly that misreading. He calls it "Broicism," and in this conversation he tells us why it gets Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius almost exactly backwards.

We go past the quote-graphics and into the actual discipline: Epictetus's dichotomy of control, done properly — not as a slogan but as a lifelong training of judgment. Seneca on grief, drawing on Sadler's own current research and his own experience of loss. And Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor, as the ultimate test case: does this philosophy survive contact with real power, real war, real hardship?

If you think you already know what Stoicism is — this episode is for you especially.

🎙️ Guest: Dr. Gregory B. Sadler (ReasonIO, Stoicism Today, Modern Stoicism Steering Committee)

📚 Texts referenced: Epictetus's Enchiridion, Seneca's Letters to Lucilius, Marcus Aurelius's Meditations

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