Best Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures Podcasts (2025)

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Cheryl Strayed: “I Had to Lose EVERYTHING to Find Myself” 1:00:23

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5h ago1:00:23

1:00:23

At some point, you realize courage isn’t something you are born with, it’s something you build. In this episode, Ryan sits down with bestselling author Cheryl Strayed (Tiny Beautiful Things, Wild) to talk about what it really means to be brave. They discuss how fear and courage always show up together, why you can’t wait to “feel ready,” and the di…

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Don’t Let It Trouble Your Mind 2:34

11m ago2:34

2:34

You don’t have to accept being treated this way. You should stand up. You should speak out. But you know what you shouldn’t do? 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎟️ Come see Ryan Holiday LIVE: http…

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None of Us Are Perfect | Judge Yourself, Not Others 9:30

1d ago9:30

9:30

Was Marcus Aurelius a bad father? How did he not manage to pass his Stoicism—to say nothing of his kindness and sense of responsibility—to his son? 🎟️ Come see Ryan Holiday LIVE: https://www.dailystoiclive.com/ Seattle, WA - December 3, 2025 San Diego, CA - February 5, 2026 Phoenix, AZ - February 27, 2026 📖 Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday is out …

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Failure Doesn’t Define You—Neither Does Success | Always The Same 10:00

2d ago10:00

10:00

Ulysses S. Grant knew what the Stoics knew—that outside circumstances don’t say anything about us, that it didn’t matter, as Epictetus said, what we bear, only how we bear it. 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.su…

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The Surprising Habit Hack from Aristotle 14:02

3d ago14:02

14:02

What is the "Tortoise Method" and how can it help us build habits for happiness? Look no further than this excerpt from Chapter 9 of the audiobook of Aristotle’s Guide to Self-Persuasion: How Ancient Rhetoric, Taylor Swift, and Your Own Soul Can Help You Change Your Life by Jay Heinrichs (last week's guest on The Daily Stoic Podcast!). Jay Heinrich…

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Persuasion Expert: "You Can TRAIN Your Mind to See the Positive" | Jay Heinrichs (PT. 2) 44:00

4d ago44:00

44:00

It takes a trained mind to see wonder and awe in the middle of everyday struggles. In today’s PT. 2 episode, Ryan and persuasion expert Jay Heinrichs dive deeper into discipline, the power of our inner dialogue, and what it really means to have agency. Jay shares the story of having breakfast with the Dalai Lama and how the Stoics, Buddhists, Arist…

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This Is The Point of Philosophy | You're Wasting Your Life 9:39

5d ago9:39

9:39

What’s the point? What is philosophy for? 🏛 The 2025 LIVE session of Stoicism 101: Ancient Philosophy For Your Actual Life starts November 10th. Don’t miss your chance to join us! Read on for more about the unique opportunities you get from joining the LIVE course. | https://dailystoic.com/101 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by su…

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BONUS | Ryan Holiday Curates a Reading List for Nick Thompson 28:07

6d ago28:07

28:07

After their interview, Ryan and Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and author of The Running Ground, headed into The Painted Porch to talk about their favorite books and swap recommendations. 🎥 You can watch this episode on Ryan Holiday's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHT1krHB6Wg 🎙️ Listen to Nick Thompson's episode on The Daily …

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Take This Seriously | Ask Daily Stoic 14:23

6d ago14:23

14:23

This is what Stoicism has done throughout history. It’s made people the best they could be. 🏛 The 2025 LIVE session of Stoicism 101: Ancient Philosophy For Your Actual Life starts November 10th. Don’t miss your chance to join us! Read on for more about the unique opportunities you get from joining the LIVE course. 👉 Get Stoicism 101: Ancient Philos…

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Persuasion Expert: "You Can Manipulate Yourself Into Doing Hard Things" | Jay Heinrichs (PT. 1) 38:00

7d ago38:00

38:00

You’re not lazy, you’re just losing the debate in your own head. In today’s episode, Ryan talks with Jay Heinrichs, bestselling author of Thank You for Arguing and one of the world’s leading experts on rhetoric and persuasion. Jay has spent decades studying how we influence others, but in this conversation, he flips that lens inward to show how we …

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This Is Not What We Fight For 2:59

7d ago2:59

2:59

The Stoics were not passive. They did impressive things. They were impressive people. They were fighters. But you know what? They, like the rest of us, sometimes got carried away, sometimes hung on too long, went after the wrong things. 🏛 The 2025 LIVE session of Stoicism 101: Ancient Philosophy For Your Actual Life starts November 10th. Don’t miss…

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When The Statues Still Had Paint On Them | The Real Power You Have 9:09

8d ago9:09

9:09

History isn’t something that other people lived through and we get to read about. We all live through history and we all can make it if we choose. 🏛 The 2025 LIVE session of Stoicism 101: Ancient Philosophy For Your Actual Life starts November 10th. Don’t miss your chance to join us! Read on for more about the unique opportunities you get from join…

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This is How To Be Smart (Or At Least Not Dumb) | Following The Doctor's Orders 7:27

9d ago7:27

7:27

We can avoid being swept up in the newest fad or the oldest con. We can stop reliving the same mistake. 📖 Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday is out NOW! Grab a copy here: https://store.dailystoic.com/pages/wisdom-takes-work 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early a…

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Everything (And I Really Mean Everything) Is A Chance To Do This 16:40

10d ago16:40

16:40

Will you be brave or afraid? Selfish or selfless? Strong or weak? Wise or stupid? Will you cultivate a good habit or a bad one? Courage or cowardice? The bliss of ignorance or the challenge of a new idea? Stay the same…or grow? The easy way or the right way? Is it easy to make these choices? Of course not. 📚 Get a signed copy of each of the…

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What Did The Stoics Get WRONG? | Nick Thompson (CEO of The Atlantic) 50:07

11d ago50:07

50:07

Running isn’t just good exercise, it’s Stoicism in motion. In part two of Ryan’s conversation with Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, they talk about how running mirrors the daily discipline of Stoic philosophy, the decline of expertise in modern life, the one decision Marcus Aurelius made that changed history, and what the Stoics might have gotte…

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This is the Deads Day | Harsh Truths From The Stoics 21:22

12d ago21:22

21:22

Today is Halloween here in America, a holiday of fun and mischief for children—masks, candy, and staying up late. But tomorrow, in Mexico, begins Día de los Muertos, a holiday more aimed at adults and with deeper philosophical roots. 🪙 Memento Mori | We have a collection of items in the Daily Stoic store to help you in your own memento mori practic…

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BONUS | Seeking External Validation is RUINING Your Life - Dr. Rangan Chatterjee 8:31

13d ago8:31

8:31

Every time you chase approval, you trade a piece of who you really are. Today's bonus episode is a clip from Dr. Rangan Chatterjee's episode on The Daily Stoic Podcast. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is a physician, author, TV presenter and podcast host of Feel Better Live More where he talks with leading health experts who offer easy health life-hacks, exp…

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Do You Have That Dog In You? | Ask Daily Stoic 13:37

13d ago13:37

13:37

In a world of hypocrites, status worship, and fools masquerading as wise men, we need the clarity and courage the Stoics embodied. 🏛 The 2025 LIVE session of Stoicism 101: Ancient Philosophy For Your Actual Life starts November 10th. Don’t miss your chance to join us! Read on for more about the unique opportunities you get from joining the LIVE cou…

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The Habit That Changes EVERYTHING | Nick Thompson 57:29

14d ago57:29

57:29

Nick Thompson couldn’t change his father’s story, but he found a habit that helped him make sense of his own. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with Nick, CEO of The Atlantic and author of The Running Ground. Ryan and Nick talk about why running is the ultimate teacher of focus and resilience, how to build discipline, and how running helped Nick p…

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It’s A Thinking Person’s Game 4:18

14d ago4:18

4:18

Life is hard. Life is complicated. Will you make the most of this time you have here? 📖 Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday is out NOW! Grab a copy here: https://store.dailystoic.com/pages/wisdom-takes-work 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus c…

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It Can Make You Great | Accepting What Is 10:45

15d ago10:45

10:45

What made Marcus Aurelius different? What were his secrets to success, resiliency, and productivity? How did he master his emotions and maintain such self-control? 🏛 The 2025 LIVE session of Stoicism 101: Ancient Philosophy For Your Actual Life starts November 10th. Don’t miss your chance to join us! Read on for more about the unique opportunities …

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You Get To Choose This (So Don’t) | We Reap What We Sow 7:20

16d ago7:20

7:20

Things will go wrong. Fortune will turn on you. You will make mistakes. Plans will be disrupted. Dreams will be dashed. This is life. 🎥 Watch Dr. Laurie Santos' episode on The Daily Stoic Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8OARstQGfM 🪙 We have a collection of items in the Daily Stoic store to help you in your own memento mori practice, check…

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7 Stoic Lessons on How To Keep Going 12:12

17d ago12:12

12:12

How do we persevere well? How do we persevere happily? Thankfully, we can look to the Stoics. The Stoics not only wrote about how to persevere, they used Stoicism to persevere in the face of plagues, exiles, imprisonment, and wars. You can read this article here: https://dailystoic.com/perseverance/ 📚 Grab a copy of Keep Going by Austin Kleon at Th…

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BONUS: The Man Behind The Daily Stoic (Not Ryan Holiday) 58:35

17d ago58:35

58:35

It’s been six years since Ryan and his longtime editor and collaborator, Stephen Hanselman, first dreamed up the Stoic Virtues Series. In this bonus episode, they reflect on where the idea started, how each book built on the last, and why the four virtues are so deeply connected. Stephen Hanselman has worked for over three decades in publishing as …

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Not Seeking Wisdom DESTROYS Great Minds | Ryan Holiday & Billy Oppenheimer 48:27

18d ago48:27

48:27

What happens when brilliance goes unchecked? In today's episode, Ryan and his research assistant Billy Oppenheimer dig into the cautionary side of genius, from Elon Musk’s unraveling to why so many smart people end up making dumb decisions. They talk about how success can warp reality, why intelligence without wisdom becomes dangerous, and how even…