Ryan Holiday

Wisdom of the Stoics

Wisdom of the Stoics

Hello, listeners, members and subscribers! Our seventh Moonshots Master episode is here and we are delving deep into the philosophy, mindsets, behaviours and Wisdom of the Stoics!

We open up the show with Therealisedman, who has a call to action inspired by Marcus Aurelius and Victor Frankl, stating that we all have power over our minds. We then turn to Moonshots master, Ryan Holiday, on how Stoics had the wisdom to build and maintain self-discipline, and why wisdom is so valuable for our minds.

As we move to understand Stoicism more, we hear from Chris Lines, who reads out a collection of Marcus Aurelius’s greatest quotes. Next up are Gad Saad and Joe Rogan, who discuss the timeless wisdom of the ancient philosophers together, as well as the impact of the Stoics today.

Closing out the show is modern-day Stoic leader, Ryan Holiday, who gives us the secrets to unlocking courage to grow, and how to make progress every day. Then Ryan closes the show with a thought that helps us reconsider our ego, and questions if we did our best today.

Our recommended reading list on the Wisdom of the Stoics includes some key titles that will help you go even deeper into the topic:

  1. How to Be a Stoic, Massimo Pigliucci

  2. Cambridge Companion to the Stoics, Brad Inwood

  3. Discourses and Selected Writings, Epictetus

  4. Letters from a Stoic, Seneca

  5. Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

  6. Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living, Ryan Holiday

  7. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, Donald Robertson

What key lesson are you taking from the Stoics, and what we’ve learned in the Master Series? Get in touch and let us know! Thanks for listening. That’s a wrap.

New Episode: Ryan Holiday: Discipline Is Destiny

New Episode: Ryan Holiday: Discipline Is Destiny

To master anything, one must first master themselves–one’s emotions, one’s thoughts, one’s actions.

In Ryan Holidays: Discipline is Destiny, Holiday draws on the stories of historical figures we can emulate as pillars of self-discipline, including Lou Gehrig, Queen Elizabeth II, boxer Floyd Patterson, Marcus Aurelius, and writer Toni Morrison, as well as the cautionary tales of Napoleon, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Babe Ruth. Through these engaging examples, Holiday teaches readers the power of self-discipline and balance.

At the heart of Stoicism are four simple virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. Everything else, the Stoics believed, flows from them. Discipline is Destiny will guide readers down the path to self-mastery, upon which all the other virtues depend.

New Episode: Ryan Holiday: Stillness Is The Key

New Episode: Ryan Holiday: Stillness Is The Key

In our next bonus episode on Ryan Holiday, we look at his best-selling book, Stillness Is The Key. We look at tools to harness the power of slowing down your body and mind for fewer distractions, better self-control, and above all, a happier and more peaceful life.

Holiday examines figures who exemplified the power of stillness: Winston Churchill, Fred Rogers, who taught generations of children to see what was invisible to the eye; Anne Frank, whose journaling and love of nature guided her through unimaginable adversity.

“Stillness is what aims the archer's arrow. It inspires new ideas. It sharpens perspective and illuminates connections.” ― Ryan Holiday, Stillness is the Key

New Episode: Ryan Holiday: Ego is the Enemy

New Episode: Ryan Holiday: Ego is the Enemy

In our next series on Ryan Holiday, we dive back into Ego is the Enemy to answer questions about what to do when the biggest obstacle is internal. Holiday explains how finding early successes led him to the realization that ego can cloud ambition and hinder personal and professional growth, particularly when accomplishments are tied to self-worth.

Ego Is the Enemy puts forth the argument that often our biggest problems are not caused by external factors such as other people or circumstances. Instead, our problems stem from our own attitude, selfishness, and self-absorption. In other words, introducing ego into a situation often prevents us from being rational, objective, and clear-headed.