The Sunday Stoic – Details, episodes & analysis

What did Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, have to say about happiness, living according to nature, and achieving a smooth flow of life?  Steve and Dan discuss happiness from the perspective of the Stoics

In this rebroadcast, Donald Robertson joins the podcast to discuss his new graphic novel Verissimus. This graphic novel follows the life and philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. We discuss the writing process, the life of Marcus Aurelius and Donald's new project Plato's Academy Center. https://platosacademy.org/

 This week, in honor of Thanksgiving, Dan discusses themes of gratitude found in Stoicism. 

 Death is inevitable and when it takes a loved one by surprise, the grief can be devastating.  It is good to have been preparing for that moment in advance, so as to lessen the potentially devastating impact.  

One way to ensure you make progress is to list out your basic rules for life. In this episode I go over my 10 rules for living. 
I will revere Nature

I will not conceal the truth

I will not not compare myself to others

I cannot control events, so I must control yourself

I will strive to subdue my passions

I will strive for arete in all that I do

I will honor those who have nurtured me and ensure that I nurture others 

I will place family before all else

I will be present in all that I do

 I will never stop learning

In this autumn-themed episode of the Sunday Stoic Podcast, Steven and Dan explore the Stoic practice of memento mori—remembering death to live more fully. Through quotes from Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Socrates, they discuss how facing mortality can free us from fear and help us focus on what truly matters. From writing your own obituary to reflecting on the fleeting nature of life, this episode offers practical and philosophical tools to seize the day. As the leaves fall and days grow shorter, it's the perfect time to contemplate life’s impermanence and embrace the present.

This week Dan discusses how hypomnema journaling can become a vital part of your Stoic practice

 Commander William C. Spears, a U.S. Navy submarine warfare officer and author of Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy, joins the Sunday Stoic Podcast to explore how ancient Stoic wisdom guides modern warriors. From James Stockdale’s legacy to moral autonomy and duty, this episode dives deep into philosophy, leadership, and virtue in service.  A video of this interview is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDBCMLYaRQY

You can find a link to his book here : https://a.co/d/1uxjZHa

His website: https://williamcspears.com/

In this episode Dan discusses the Stoic technique that allows you to keep your head and fulfil your social roles even under adverse conditions.  

In this episode, we explore the subtle yet powerful Stoic concept of protopathē—the initial stirrings of emotion that arise before reason has a chance to intervene. Often misunderstood as signs of weakness or failure, these “proto-passions” are actually natural physiological responses: a racing heart, a sudden flush of fear, a jolt of surprise. The Stoics didn’t condemn these reactions—they distinguished them from full-blown passions (pathē) that result from poor judgment.