The Via Stoica Podcast — A Stoic Way of Life

What does it mean to be both a Stoic and a skeptic?In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, philosopher and author Massimo Pigliucci returns to discuss his new book How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic: a guide to building a philosophy of life rooted in Stoic virtue and the ancient art of proportioning belief to evidence.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Massimo Pigliucci is Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, a former evolutionary biologist, and one of the most important voices in modern Stoic philosophy. This is his second conversation on the show.The discussion moves from the foundations of a philosophy of life to the ancient debate between the Stoics and the Academic Skeptics, and then to one of the most compelling figures in Western history: Marcus Tullius Cicero. Not a Stoic himself, but deeply shaped by Stoic ethics, Cicero lived through the fall of the Roman Republic, exile, personal grief, and death at the hands of Mark Antony's soldiers. His life, Pigliucci argues, is a model for holding strong convictions while remaining honestly uncertain about what you know and why.The episode also explores how skepticism is not the enemy of commitment but its most honest companion: that our beliefs should be proportioned to evidence, and that a life examined with intellectual humility is not weaker but more durable.Support the showviastoica.comYouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.comEpisode Outline:00:00 Introduction to Massimo Pigliucci02:30 The Importance of Personal Philosophy11:46 Key Ingredients of a Philosophy of Life15:12 The Evolution of Skepticism in Philosophy19:31 Understanding Skepticism: Pyrrhonism vs. Academic Skepticism29:52 The Evolution of Persuasion and Belief33:15 Stoicism vs. Skepticism: A Philosophical Rivalry42:49 Cicero: The Relatable Philosopher52:05 The Structure of Cicero's Philosophy58:53 Future Endeavors: Exploring New Philosophies

How much of the life you are living was actually chosen by you? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we explore authentic living: the practice of examining the scripts inherited from parents, culture, school, and social media, and deciding for the first time which ones are genuinely yours.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This episode invites you to look honestly at the voices shaping your choices, not to blame them, but to see them clearly and to begin living from your own values rather than someone else's story.Most of us were handed a script before we could read it. Family wrote the early lines. School added more. Culture and religion filled in the gaps. And now social media rewrites it daily: feeding you someone else's version of success, happiness, and what a good life looks like. The Stoics called the faculty of conscious choice prohairesis, the one thing that has always been yours. Most people spend their entire lives using it to fulfil someone else's vision without ever noticing.This episode of the Via Stoica Podcast asks one of the most important questions in Stoic philosophy and in life: who wrote your script and why are you still listening to them? If you have ever felt that the life you are living belongs to someone else, this conversation is for you.Support the showviastoica.comYouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

What Does it Mean to be a Philosopher?Philosophy is often seen as academic or reserved for experts. But what if being a philosopher is something many of us already practice in everyday life?Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore philosophy as a way of living rather than a subject to master. Instead of focusing on theory or credentials, the conversation looks at curiosity, reflection, and how we orient ourselves in daily life.We reflect on why philosophy is often misunderstood as overthinking or abstraction, and how it actually shows up in ordinary moments, when we pause, question our reactions, and try to live with more awareness. You are invited to consider who you already see as wise in your own life, and what qualities make their guidance meaningful.This episode invites you to reconsider what it means to be a philosopher, and to recognize how much philosophy may already be present in your own life.Read the article here: https://viastoica.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-philosopher/Support the showviastoica.comYouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

What’s wrong with modern Stoicism?Stoicism is often presented today as a self-help philosophy focused on emotional control, toughness, and handling life alone. But does Stoicism really work when we are grieving, depressed, or emotionally overwhelmed?Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we reflect on what is missing in modern Stoicism and why it often feels rigid or harsh in practice. Stoicism depends on our ability to use reason, but that ability is not always available. When reason is inaccessible, Stoicism cannot be practiced in isolation and requires support, compassion, and guidance.Stoicism was never meant to harden us or turn us inward. It is a deeply pro-social philosophy that emphasizes shared responsibility, patience with ourselves, and gratitude for what is already here. This episode explores why real-life application, self-compassion, and community matter more than being right about Stoic theory.Listen to the full episode and discover how Stoicism, practiced with reason, care, and support, can help us live more steadily and more humanly.Read the article here: https://viastoica.com/what-is-wrong-with-modern-stoicism/Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Joelle Samaha, founder of PhiloLife, for an open and deeply personal conversation about healing, philosophy of life, and what it means to live in alignment.Joelle shares her journey into philosophy, wellbeing, and integrative health, shaped by teaching, research, anxiety, loss, and lived experience. We talk about how our philosophy of life, often formed early and unconsciously, influences the way we suffer, cope, and heal. Being kind, doing the “right” thing, or following the expected path does not protect us from pain, and Joelle explains why this realization is often the true starting point of healing.Throughout the conversation, we explore coherence and alignment, the connection between emotions and the body, and why healing is not about fixing symptoms but about understanding deeper causes. Joelle speaks about generational patterns, emotional suppression, and how modern life keeps us constantly busy while quietly disconnected from ourselves. We also discuss why self-care is often misunderstood and why healing rarely happens in isolation, but through reflection, honesty, and meaningful connection with others.Joelle introduces the idea of the “spark of life,” moments of presence, meaning, and awareness that can arise not only in joy but also in grief, crisis, and uncertainty. Healing, as she describes it, is not a destination but an ongoing process of learning, self-inquiry, and returning to what matters.This episode is an invitation to pause, question your own philosophy of life, and consider what it really means to live well.Listen to the full episode now and explore how philosophy, awareness, and alignment can support a deeper healing journey.Connect with Joelle:🌐 https://philolife.com📸 Instagram: @letsgetreal2heal📸 Instagram: @philolifewellbeingSupport the show🌐 viastoica.com🎯 viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching👤 viastoica.com/benny-voncken▶️ YouTube: @viastoica📧 info@viastoica.com🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com