Modern Meditations - Stoicism For The Real World

Justin Stohlton & Bruce Peck
  • 4.9 (11)
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This podcast bridges the gap between the beautiful, concise teachings of the Stoics and everyday life, in a fun, not too stuffy and modern way. We share how Stoicism affects us personally, give practical ways to use it in your own life and have a fun time rapping, singing, creating sketches, fake commercials/holidays and many more things about Stoicism. 

  1. 12/07/2025

    #64 - Enchiridion Ch 5: How to Stop Blaming Others, Yourself, or Anyone at All. The Difference Between Philosophers & Sellers of Vegetables, The Three Stoic Levels & The History of Insane Clown Posse

    Send us a text In this episode, we take on one of Epictetus’ most uncomfortable claims: you’re not disturbed by events, only by the opinions you bring to them.  We unpack his three-tiered model of the mind (the untrained blames others, the novice blames himself, the wise blame no one) and follow the story of the Roman visitor who wants Epictetus to predict his future, only to be told that his fate depends entirely on the quality of his opinions.  From the “seller of vegetables” roast to the danger of untested beliefs, we explore why every action—from where you work to why you play tennis—flows from the narratives you’ve never examined. Along the way, we perform an “opinion audit,” question the stories we tell about ourselves, and connect Stoic diagnosis to modern cognitive biases.  By the end, you’ll see why Marcus says nothing fuels spiritual growth more than analyzing your impressions—and why the hardest thing to test in life is the certainty you already feel. And we also dive into the darkly charming world of Insane Clown Posse...

    49 min

  2. 10/07/2025

    #63 - Enchiridion Ch 4: How to Stop Being Surprised By Life: Death by Paper Cuts, Swinging Snakes, Budget Hotels & The History of Bathing

    Send us a text In this episode of Modern Meditations, Bruce and Justin turn a weekend of budget hotels, dollar rental cars, $12 orange juice, and marathon gels into a masterclass on Stoic expectations. Drawing on Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and M. Scott Peck, they explore how life’s annoyances, whether waiting in line, traffic tailgaters, or bitter cucumbers, become easier to bear when you anticipate difficulty instead of assuming bliss is normal.  From the rugby coach’s snake parable to the Roman baths, the conversation blends humor and philosophy to show that while life is full of paper cuts, virtue lies in choosing tranquility over irritation.

    30 min

  3. 09/23/2025

    #62 – Enchiridion Ch 3: How to Love What You Can Lose: Anaxagoras’ Comeback, Mortal Hugs, and the Bigger-or-Badder Test

    Send us a text What’s the difference between loving deeply and clinging desperately? Epictetus thought the line was thinner than we like to admit. In Enchiridion Chapter 3, he reminds us that every embrace is an embrace of a mortal, every favorite cup is already broken, and every attachment comes with an expiration date stamped by nature. Sounds grim? Not really. It’s actually a roadmap for how not to be crushed when life does what life always does: end, change, and surprise. In this episode, we talk Bigger vs. Badder—how Stoicism flips the script on what “strong” really means. We look at Anaxagoras’ deadpan reaction to his son’s death, Seneca’s hauntingly calm reminders, and even a 1958 love letter from John Steinbeck that could pass for Stoic counsel. Along the way, we wrestle with what it means to love in a way that frees us rather than chains us, and why negative visualization might be the most underrated gratitude practice out there. Of course, it’s not all heavy philosophy. Bruce tries out some Gen Alpha slang on Justin, and we test our own fragile-cup theory on the kinds of attachments we carry every day. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold on without holding too tightor how to lose without falling apart this one’s for you.

    34 min

  4. 08/03/2025

    #61 - Enchiridion Ch 2: How Not to be Miserable - Mastering Desire, Disaster, and the Coldplay Kiss Cam

    Send us a text When Chris Martin paused a Coldplay concert to comment on a kiss-cam couple—“Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy”—he unintentionally exposed more than just awkward chemistry. Days later, both people were out of their jobs and their private lives had become public scandal. But the real story isn’t just the moment it’s what it reveals about desire, aversion, and what happens when we’re forced into the spotlight unprepared. This week, we unpack: The viral kiss-cam moment that spiraled into corporate resignations and meme fodderThomas Edison watching his lab burn to the ground and saying, “Go get your mother—they’ll never see a fire like this again”What Epictetus meant by aversion—and why most of our misery comes from trying to avoid things we can’t controlHow one email triggered Justin’s entire discomfort cycle… and how he reprogrammed it with Stoic habit designAnd a birthday shoutout to Modern MedicineWhether it’s a camera at a concert or a fire at your feet, Chapter 2 of The Enchiridion offers one clear rule: You suffer less when you stop running from what you fear.

    34 min

  5. 07/06/2025

    #60 - Enchiridion Ch 1: Epictetus’ First Rule for Inner Freedom, Beyonce's Not a Stoic, Justin's Pop Quiz, Going Deeper W/The Dichotomy of Control & Desert Island Discs Pt 2

    Send us a text We're onto a brand new book the Enchiridion (or 'the Handbook') this book was written by a former slave to help other reach inner freedom.  For this series we're reading the whole chapter every day and looking to understand the principles from real world experience. This week we explored Epictitus's first rule for inner freedom.  And... had some fun along the way...  Listen to Justin ace a stoic spelling quiz! The dichotomy of control is maybe the most central tenet of Stoicism. But this week we're taking it much deeper than we have before.  It's easy to forget how to say a word once in a while... Have you ever seen somebody struggle for more than 2 minutes to pronounce a word that they claim they "know"? Get ready! Desert Island Discs Part 2 we bring on Bruce Peck as this weeks guest. Which tracks will he choose? Which book? And which luxury item? Why does he try to cheat this game and rob it of its original purpose? All valid questions and all except the last one will be answered!

    51 min

  6. 06/16/2025

    #59 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Full Audiobook Reading)

    Send us a text Book 1- 0:0:09 Book 2- 0:17:04 Book 3- 0:31:01 Book 4- 0:47:58 Book 5- 1:14:33 Book 6- 1:40:41 Book 7- 2:08:00 Book 8- 2:34:17 Book 9- 3:00:59 Book 10- 3:27:20 Book 11- 3:54:27 Book 12- 4:18:37

    4h 38m

  7. 06/02/2025

    #58 - Meditations Book 12: Becoming Worthy of the World that Created You, Kissing Gone Wrong, Bruce Turns Himself In, and the Grass Could be Greener on THIS Side

    Send us a text Becoming worthy of the world that created you is a tall order, but luckily Marcus has some tips! Learn about letting go of the past through Justin's experience in High School romance, and Bruce's rare brush with law enforcement (it gets ugly!).  The Poet David Whyte graces us again with some profound quotes on honesty and living in the present that help complement Marcus' words. We conclude once and for all which side the grass REALLY is greener on! And finally, we get Modern Meditations take on "Desert Island Discs" an old British show about people getting sent to an island with only a few songs, a book, and a luxury item. What will Justin take with him!?

    57 min

  8. 04/21/2025

    #57 - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Book 12 (Audiobook Reading)

    Send us a text The 12th and final book of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations is full of gems. Marcus starts off telling himself how to become worthy of the universe that made him.  "if you shall not be afraid because you must some time cease to live, but if you shall fear never to have begun to live according to nature then you will be a man worthy of the universe which has produced you..." Other nuggets and aphorisms to himself are just as riveting.  "If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it." Listen to his advice to himself and see how you can make your life reflect the virtues that are so prized within Stoicism and hopefully your own life.

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

This podcast bridges the gap between the beautiful, concise teachings of the Stoics and everyday life, in a fun, not too stuffy and modern way. We share how Stoicism affects us personally, give practical ways to use it in your own life and have a fun time rapping, singing, creating sketches, fake commercials/holidays and many more things about Stoicism. 

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