The Coronavirus poses a severe challenge for Northeast Wisconsin. This is not just a health challenge or physical challenge or an economic challenge, for many individuals and families it is a mental challenge. We humans are social animals—we are not made to sit shut inside all day every day. What makes this even more difficult for many is the added anxiety of caring for a loved one who may be uniquely vulnerable to the virus (or being unable to visit and care for our loved ones at all). In such times of crisis, it is important to focus on the things we can control such as washing our hands and following CDC guidelines on social distancing. But perhaps there are even more basic mental weapons with which we can fight and more ancient sources of wisdom we can use to get through this crisis?

To explore that question, this week on the NEW Look podcast, Rep. Gallagher spoke with Ryan Holiday, best-selling author of Stillness is the Key, Ego is the Enemy, and The Obstacle is the Way (among many others). In addition to being an all-round good dude, Ryan is also perhaps the foremost contemporary student of the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, and author of The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. But don’t worry, though they discuss Stoicism, the conversation is not too…well…stoic. Mike and Ryan also discuss current events, social media misinformation, what's on each other's bookshelves, and what to say while parachuting into Vietnam.