Welcome to The Stoic Responder Podcast, I’m your host Kristofor Healey. In my career as a Special Agent, Stoic philosophy provided the mindset edge that was the foundation of my professional success. My mission today is to share those ancient mindset lessons with you so that you can approach your career and life with a tactical advantage live your life with valor.
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“You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.” - Marcus Aurelius
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
It’s an old media trick on Capitol Hill. Every time a politician gets caught doing something controversial, reporters seek comment from every passing Senator or Representative and use the responses to fuel the next news cycle.
Politicians love to talk, so they always take the bait, and soon the story evolves from news about an incident into the he said-she said sniping that keeps partisan viewers tuned in. But, what if they didn’t take the bait? What if they simply said, “I don’t have an opinion,” and then got on with the business of serving their constituents? We’d probably have a more effective government and a healthier public discourse.
We talk about the importance of ignoring the noise and getting on with your job on today’s podcast!
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
You always own the option of having no opinion.
Not everything requires your input or opinion.
Focus on the things you control.
Not everything deserves your attention.
You can choose to separate out that which is necessary.
Participation in gossip can lead to unhappiness.
It's important to filter what you pay attention to.
Ask yourself when you took the bait today.
Life is wasted when we focus on the unimportant.
Practice saying 'I don't have an opinion' often.
Until Next Time…out of role!
True Freedom
Episode 69
Friday, September 20, 2024 • Duration 13:23
“[It is] like seeing roasted meat and other dishes in front of you and suddenly realizing: This is a dead fish. A dead bird. A dead pig. Or that this noble vintage [wine] is rotted grapes… perceptions like that... latching onto things and piercing through them, to see what they really are… to strip away the legend that encrusts them.” - Marcus Aurelius
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
What is the world around you when it is stripped of the values that you place upon it?
Your badge? A piece of stamped metal.
Your authority? Words on a piece of paper.
Fancy meals, designer clothing and the custom motorcycle you’ve had your eye on? Their value is created by your perceptions, judgements, emotions and societal norms. It’s all illusory.
We talk about the importance of overcoming the superficial and illusory on today’s podcast!
“Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him. “ – Epictetus
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
We have sovereignty over a few things in this life - our choices, our attitude, our actions and our reactions. But we are quick to give away that sovereignty the moment our fragile ego is threatened by a perceived slight or insult. In those moments, when we let the anger rise and boil over, we surrender our agency and empower our tormentor. That is a choice. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
We talk about personal sovereignty on today’s podcast!
Buy your copy ofIn Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders,
Loyalty in Adversity
Episode 67
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 • Duration 14:15
“In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things” – Epictetus
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
At the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the cadre at the Physical Techniques Division love to meter out punishment for minor transgressions. Students learn, in short order, that there is no benefit in standing out from the crowd and classes quickly band together to up level everyone’s performance for the good of the whole. Through this shared adversity, true friendships are built on principles of trust, empathy, and mutual support.
We talk about how shared adversity can make us greater on today’s podcast!
Buy your copy ofIn Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders,
You Are Not Rich
Episode 66
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 • Duration 24:42
“When a youth was giving himself airs in the theater and saying, “I am wise for I have conversed with many wise men,” Epictetus said, “I too have conversed with many rich men, yet I am not rich.” – Epictetus
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
To Stoics, the wise man is the ideal. And though it is the ideal, it is exceedingly rare and only born out of constant practice and humility. It is vital to seek the ideal, striving every day to gain perfect consistency of our rational faculties so that we may see the world as it is and act in accordance with nature, yet we often give ourselves too much credit for how far we have advanced.
We use recent comments from a prominent podcast host to talk about the nature of wisdom on the podcast today!
Buy your copy ofIn Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders
Do Something
Episode 65
Monday, September 16, 2024 • Duration 09:39
E065: Do Something
“When men choose to do nothing, they also learn to do evil.” – Cato
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
Cato inspired our founding fathers with his steadfast integrity and fealty to the Republic. Like them, he understood that in the face of wrongdoing and injustice, remaining passive or indifferent could lead individuals down a perilous path of moral decline.
Law enforcement needs more men like Cato. In today’s hyper-political policing environment, the profession is plagued by too many officers who are willing to ‘go along to get along’ to avoid scrutiny and gain acceptance from their peers and supervisors.
We talk about the importance of choosing Cato’s path on today’s podcast!
“Alexander the Great and his mule driver both died and the same thing happened to both. “ – Marcus Aurelius
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
Built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom period, around 2580–2560 BC, the Great Pyramid was commissioned by Pharaoh Khufu as a tomb, intended to house his mummified body and treasures for the afterlife. Historians estimate that the project took at least 20 years to complete and required the labor of some 20,000 full time workers supplemented by as many as 100,000 seasonal workers.
It is ironic then, that despite commissioning the decades long construction of a building that stood for 39 centuries as the earth’s tallest manmade structure, all but a few fragmentary details of Khufu’s reign, as well as his mummified remains, have been lost to history.
We talk about leaving a legacy that endures on today’s podcast!
“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.” – Seneca
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
Picture a gemstone in its natural state. Raw, uncut, and hidden beneath layers of imperfection. Though full of potential brilliance, it remains obscured and unrealized. It is only through friction—the act of polishing—that its innate beauty becomes manifest.
We often think of friction as a bad thing, but we’ll talk about the benefits of friction on today’s podcast!
Buy your copy ofIn Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders,
Curb Your Desires
Episode 62
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 • Duration 16:17
E062: Curb Your Desires
"Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire." – Epictetus
In This Episode, We Get Stoic About:
Our desires and attachments to external things are a significant source of our discontent and a potential obstacle to our freedom. Just ask Jonathan Trevino. In 2006, at the age of 22, Trevino, a Mission, Texas police officer, was placed in charge of a hybrid task force of Mission PD and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Deputies called the Panama Unit.
Over the next few years, Trevino’s desires and attachments led to the unraveling of dozens of lives. We talk about the Panama Unit and the dangers of desire on today’s podcast!
Buy your copy ofIn Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders,here!
Buy your copy ofIndispensable: A Tactical Plan for the Modern Man,
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Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
Support mental health initiatives for first responders.
The value we assign to things is often illusory.
Understanding the true nature of desires is crucial.
Authority is merely words on paper.
Transcending societal constructs leads to personal growth.
Emotional attachments can cloud our perception of reality.
Virtue should be prioritized over superficial values.
Self-reflection can help clarify our true desires.
Practicing Stoicism can enhance our daily lives.
Until Next Time…out of role!
here
!
Buy your copy ofIndispensable: A Tactical Plan for the Modern Man,here!
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
We have sovereignty over our choices, attitude, actions, and reactions.
Allowing others to control our emotional responses is a choice we make.
We can choose to respond with empathy instead of anger.
Interpersonal conflicts often arise from miscommunication.
Transcending emotional reactions empowers us to take control of our lives.
Recognizing who disturbs our peace helps us regain agency.
Practicing Stoicism can aid in emotional regulation.
Empowerment comes from not allowing others to dictate our emotions.
Self-awareness is key to emotional sovereignty.
Daily practice of these principles can lead to a more fulfilling life.
Until Next Time…out of role!
here
!
Buy your copy ofIndispensable: A Tactical Plan for the Modern Man,here!
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
Loyalty is tested in times of adversity.
Unity is crucial when facing challenges together.
Shared experiences create deeper connections.
Adversity reveals true character and friendships.
Building bonds through hardship strengthens relationships.
Prosperity can lead to superficial connections.
Engaging in difficult tasks together fosters trust.
Reflect on your ability to support friends in tough times.
Seek out opportunities for shared adversity.
Cultivate a circle of friends who uplift each other.
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
The Stoic ideal emphasizes a balance of wisdom and strength.
Wisdom is gained through experience and practice, not just conversation.
Ego can cloud judgment and impede personal growth.
Controversial opinions often stem from ignorance and bias.
True wisdom requires humility and a willingness to learn.
Social media can amplify misguided opinions and hot takes.
Engaging with diverse perspectives is crucial for understanding.
The importance of supporting mental health initiatives for first responders.
Personal experiences shape our views, but they should not define them.
Until Next Time…out of role!
The Stoic Responder
Buy your copy ofIn Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders,here!
Buy your copy ofIndispensable: A Tactical Plan for the Modern Man,here!
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
Taking action is crucial in preventing moral decline and perpetuating evil.
Remaining passive or indifferent in the face of wrongdoing is a choice to allow evil to happen.
In the law enforcement community, there is a need for individuals to stand against evil and not prioritize their own careers.
Reflect on your own actions and make a commitment to do the right thing.
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
Support organizations that provide therapy services and mental health initiatives for law enforcement and veterans.
Reflect on the perspective of mortality and the fleeting nature of life.
Consider the legacy you will leave behind and the impact you have on others.
Focus on living a virtuous life and building something that truly matters.
Until Next Time…out of role!
here
!
Buy your copy ofIndispensable: A Tactical Plan for the Modern Man,here!
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
Friction and adversity are essential for personal growth and character development.
Engaging in voluntary adversity helps polish our character and prepares us for involuntary adversity.
Friction is not an impediment but a catalyst for becoming a greater person.
Our character shines through and allows us to navigate life's challenges with grace and dignity.
Until Next Time…out of role!
Buy your copy of
In Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
Controlling desires and attachments to external things is crucial for personal freedom and contentment.
Losing track of self-discipline and self-control can lead to vulnerability and downfall.
Recognizing that happiness and fulfillment do not depend on external possessions or circumstances is empowering.
Taking an inventory of desires and practicing self-control can help avoid negative consequences.
Friend of the show Dan Hickman (@danieljasonhickman on Instagram) hosts theCompetitive Edge Podcastand is a father, entrepreneur and hybrid athlete. As a MyZone Ambassador, Dan is offering The Stoic Responder Podcast listeners $60 off of a MyZone heart rate monitor using discount code TMZUS001-51445-60.
If you aren’t using a heart rate monitor to train, you’re missing out on critical data. Through accurate heart rate tracking and real-time feedback, all effort counts.
Takeaways:
Self-discipline and preparation are essential for achieving success.
Luck is less important when we are consistently prepared.
Asking, caring, and taking action can help prevent suicide.
Supporting organizations like the Overwatch Collective can make a difference in the lives of first responders and veterans.
