About this episode

This episode explores how individuals rationalize their actions and the narratives they create to justify their behavior.

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 they’re the villain. From The Blade Itself to Game of Thrones to Breaking Bad, we examine how the human mind protects itself with narrative. We talk about: Why evil rarely feels evil from the insideHow rationalization becomes identityWhy dictators loved dogs and went home to dinnerThe Stoic discipline of self-interro...

People in this episode

Host: Brandon Tumblin

Topics covered

• narrative
• self-rationalization
• identity
• evil
• Stoicism

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Blade Itself, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad

More episodes of The Strong Stoic Podcast

• #411 - You Forgot You’re Going to Die (And It’s Costing You) · April 21, 2026 · 13 min
• #410 - You’re Not Overwhelmed—You’re Unprioritized · April 15, 2026 · 13 min
• #409 - Your Old Life is Running You · April 7, 2026 · 14 min
• #408 - Advice for Your 20s That Actually Survives Pressure · March 24, 2026 · 19 min
• #407 - Most of Your Life Is Boring — That’s Where It Gets Good · March 17, 2026 · 13 min
• #406 - Dyeing the Soul: How Repeated Thoughts Shape Your Identity · March 10, 2026 · 12 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Strong Stoic Podcast podcast page.