The Via Stoica Podcast — A Stoic Way of Life

Do you ever feel like everyone else has it figured out and you're the only one falling behind? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look at where that feeling really comes from and what Stoic philosophy teaches us about separating a setback from your identity.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Here, Stoic philosophy isn't theory. It's a practical tool for the moments when life feels like too much.Feeling like a failure rarely starts with one event. It starts with the standards we're measuring ourselves against and whether those standards were ever really ours to begin with. When we absorb other people's definitions of success, we hand them the answer key to our own lives.No wonder the results feel wrong. Self-awareness starts the moment we ask: whose expectations am I actually living by? The Stoics were clear. Character and how you act are the only real measures. Not money, not status, not how things look from the outside.This episode is for anyone who has felt stuck, inadequate, or quietly resigned to the idea that this is just who they are. It isn't. That's exactly where your agency begins.Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy guides us toward living well with ourselves and others. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus’ insight on friendship and values:“What a man sets his heart on, that he naturally loves... It remains for us to conclude then that good things alone are what they set their heart on. And if they set their heart on those, they love them too.”Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 22Epictetus reminds us that people naturally love what they believe to be good. When someone acts poorly, it is often because they misunderstand what truly benefits them. Stoicism teaches that real good lies not in wealth, status, or external success, but in virtue and good character. When we understand this, our priorities change, and so do the relationships and friendships we cultivate.This connects with the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: we learn to value what truly matters, question mistaken judgments about success or happiness, and act in ways that support both our own character and the well-being of others. Practically, this means choosing friendships grounded in shared values, guiding others with patience when possible, and remembering that everyone acts according to what they think is best, even when they are mistaken.For more, check out this related article with the Stoic view on friendship:https://viastoica.com/the-stoic-view-of-friendship/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy helps us remain steady amid the challenges of everyday life. In this episode, we reflect on Marcus Aurelius’ personal reminder from his private notes:“So other people hurt me? That’s their problem. Their character and actions are not mine. What is done to me is ordained by nature. What I do, by my own.”Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.25Marcus reminds himself that we cannot control what others do, only how we respond. People will sometimes speak harshly, act unfairly, or behave poorly, but their actions belong to them. Our responsibility is to protect our own character and respond with reason rather than anger. Stoicism teaches that true harm occurs only when we abandon our own values and lose control of our response.This reflects the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: we accept that external events and other people lie outside our control, we question the judgment that tells us we’ve been harmed, and we choose actions that preserve our peace of mind and integrity. Practically, this means pausing before reacting, letting go of insults that carry no truth, and using criticism, when valid, as a chance to improve rather than as a personal attack.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoicism and dealing with difficult people:https://viastoica.com/how-to-stop-taking-things-personally/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy helps us face life’s challenges with steadiness and wisdom. In this episode, we look at Seneca’s reflection from his consolation to Marcia, who was grieving the loss of her son:“What is the need to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears. Fresh troubles will press upon you before you have done with the old ones.”Seneca, Consolation to Marcia, 11Seneca’s message is direct: suffering is part of the human condition, and no life is free from hardship. Grief and sadness are natural, but if we focus only on loss, we risk missing the larger truth that challenges are woven into life itself. Instead of being crushed by each new difficulty, Stoicism invites us to accept change, find support in others, and transform hardship into growth and resilience.This teaching connects with the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: we learn to accept that difficulties are inevitable, question the judgments that make suffering unbearable, and choose responses that move us forward rather than trap us in despair. Practically, this means allowing ourselves to grieve while avoiding rash decisions, supporting others through their pain, and remembering that past hardships have already helped shape the strength we carry today.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoicism and grief:https://viastoica.com/on-dealing-with-loss/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic wisdom helps us navigate modern life. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus’ reminder:“In a similar way, you too should remind yourself that what you love is mortal, that what you love is not your own. It is granted to you for the present while and not irrevocably, not forever, but like a fig or a bunch of grapes in the appointed season. And if you long for it in the winter, you are a fool.” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 3, Chapter 24.86The message is simple and powerful: everything we enjoy, relationships, possessions, circumstances, is temporary. Suffering arises when we cling to what is gone or long for what is not present. Stoicism teaches us to align our desires with reality, appreciate what is here now, and avoid missing the present moment while chasing something absent.This connects directly with the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: want only what is within your power, question the judgments that create attachment, and act with gratitude toward what you have today. Practically, this means giving attention to the people around you, appreciating what is in your life now, and remembering that everything we love is given to us only for a time.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoic desire and attachment:https://viastoica.com/how-to-practice-the-stoic-discipline-desire/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we look at a passage by Marcus Aurelius from Meditations, Book 5.3, where he reminds himself how to act in the face of criticism and doubt:“If an action or utterance is appropriate, then it’s appropriate for you. Don’t be put off by other people’s comments and criticism. If it’s right to say or do it, then it’s the right thing for you to do or say.”— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 5.3The core idea is simple: first judge carefully what is appropriate, then have the courage to act. Marcus points out that other people follow their own impulses and views. Their reactions are not your responsibility. What matters is whether your action aligns with reason, ethics, and your role in the world.This theme runs through Stoicism as a whole. Epictetus emphasizes responsibility for choice, Seneca warns against living for approval, and all three Stoic disciplines come together here. Desire is trained away from praise, Assent is used to judge what is right, and Action is where courage is required to follow through.In practice, this helps when you hesitate to speak honestly, make a difficult decision, or feel shaken by criticism. Ask whether the action is fair and necessary. If it is, do it. Learn from feedback if it is useful, but do not let it define your worth or stop your progress.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoic courage:https://viastoica.com/10-epictetus-quotes-on-stoic-courage/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the Podcast on Stoicism.Where we take a moment to slow down and reflect on what the Stoics can teach us about living with reason and restraint. In this episode, we turn to Seneca and a striking passage from On Anger, Book 3, section 3: “So tell me, will someone call a man sane who, as if caught up in a tempest, does not walk, but is driven along and takes as his master a furious demon?”Seneca uses vivid language to show what anger does to the mind. When anger takes over, we are no longer choosing our actions; we are being carried by them. The Stoic principle at work here is self-command. Anger is not strength, but a loss of inner direction, a momentary madness that blocks reason and leads us away from acting well.This idea connects closely with Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, who both warn against being ruled by impressions instead of examining them. Through the disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action, Stoicism teaches us to loosen our attachment to emotional impulses, question the judgments that ignite anger, and respond deliberately rather than react blindly. In everyday life, this means learning to pause when irritation arises, recognizing when emotion is taking the lead, and choosing restraint over release, especially in moments of pressure or conflict.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoicism and anger:https://viastoica.com/10-seneca-quotes-on-anger/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this week's Stoic Quotes episode, we look at Epictetus, Discourses, Book 4, Chapter 4, recorded by Arrian. He writes: “But it is a much finer thing to be happy, to have a peaceful and undisturbed mind, to have what concerns you depend on nobody but yourself.”At first glance, this can sound like withdrawal from the world, but Epictetus is pointing to something more demanding. He is reminding us that the moment we tie our happiness to externals, whether comfort, leisure, approval, or even quiet, we become dependent and easily disturbed. Stoic happiness is not about arranging perfect conditions, but about cultivating inner steadiness through right judgment. In modern terms, peace comes not from controlling life, but from aligning our desires with what is truly up to us.This teaching echoes through Stoicism, from Marcus Aurelius’ emphasis on inner rule to Seneca’s insistence that freedom begins with self-command. It touches all three Stoic disciplines: Desire, by letting go of attachments to externals; Assent, by examining the judgments that create disturbance; and Action, by choosing what accords with reason and virtue, even when it feels uncomfortable. Practically, this means learning to remain composed when plans fail, choosing values over convenience, and finding contentment in acting well rather than feeling comfortable.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoic inner peace and solitude:https://viastoica.com/10-marcus-aurelius-quotes-on-being-alone/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com