Seneca: How NOT To Die Every Day | Interview with James Romm

About this episode

Dr. James Romm discusses Seneca's survival strategies at the court of Nero and the relevance of Stoic philosophy today.

How do you survive the court of a tyrant?In this interview, classicist Dr. James Romm discusses his book Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero—a gripping portrait of Stoic philosophy stress-tested inside imperial power. We explore Seneca’s survival strategies as Nero’s adviser: what he taught, what he compromised, and what we can learn about living under volatile authority today. You’ll learn:🏛️ The real Seneca–Nero relationship and how influence rose, then cracked. 🏛️ Why Seneca’s Stoicism is not escapism but a toolkit for ethics under pressure. 🏛️ Practical takeaways from Dying Every Day for modern life: managing proximity to power, drawing red lines, and preparing for moral tests. If you’re into Stoicism, ancient Rome, leadership ethics, or resilience under bad bosses, this conversation is for you. For more on Seneca and Nero, see other Romm interviews and lectures that frame the political context and contemporary relevance. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly philosophy & classics: https://armenikus.substack.com/ 🎧 Podcast (authors & scholars): artidote.uk📚 Book: Dying Every Day by James Romm :https://amzn.to/4pFC84F

People in this episode

Host: Vashik Armenikus

Guest: James Romm

Topics covered

• Stoicism
• ancient Rome
• leadership ethics
• resilience
• philosophy

Keywords

• Seneca
• Nero
• Stoicism
• Dying Every Day
• leadership
• ethics
• resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Dying Every Day

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