The Daily Stoic

The Daily Stoic

Listen to new episodes early & ad-free.

$5.99/mo or $44.99/yr after trial

For centuries, all sorts of people—generals and politicians, athletes and coaches, writers and leaders—have looked to the teachings of Stoicism to help guide their lives. Each day, author and speaker Ryan Holiday brings you a new lesson about life, inspired by the thoughts and writings of great Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca the Younger. Daily Stoic Podcast also features Q+As with listeners and interviews with notable figures from sports, academia, politics, and more. Learn more at DailyStoic.com. Listen to The Daily Stoic on the Wondery App or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-daily-stoic/ now. 

  1. Ed Helms on History’s Greatest Screw Ups

    APR 30 • WONDERY+ EARLY ACCESS

    Ed Helms on History’s Greatest Screw Ups

    You might know Ed Helms as Andy Bernard from The Office or Stu Price from The Hangover movies—but did you know he’s also a serious history buff? He’s especially fascinated by history’s biggest screwups, better known as SNAFUs ("Situation Normal: All F**ked Up"). In today’s episode, Ed joins Ryan to unpack some of these epic blunders, explain how history became an escape for him, and share why learning about the past can be surprisingly therapeutic. Ed Helms is an actor, comedian, podcast host, and author. Ed has starred as Andy Bernard in The Office, Stuart Price in The Hangover trilogy, We’re the Millers, The Lorax, and much more. He hosts the podcast SNAFU and just released his book SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups. You can follow Ed on Instagram and X @EdHelms 🎙️ Listen to Ed’s podcast SNAFU 📕 Pick up a copy of SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups 📚 Books Ryan recommended to Ed: The Library Book by Susan Orlean Night of the Grizzlies by Jack Olsen River of Doubt by Candice Millard The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough A Night To Remember by Walter Lord Rising Tide by John M. Barry Dead Wake by Erik Larson His Majesty's Airship by S.C. Gwynne 🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast 🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast ✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail 🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook

    1h 12m
  2. APR 26 • WONDERY+ EARLY ACCESS

    Leadership Lessons from Gen. Dan Caine | 9/11 Pilot to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Just after 2 a.m. on April 11, the U.S. Senate confirmed retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As it turns out, Ryan had the opportunity to interview Gen. Caine a few years ago as part of The Daily Stoic Leadership Challenge. In honor of his recent confirmation, today’s episode is Ryan and Gen. Caine's powerful conversation. Gen. Caine reflects on being one of the first pilots in the air on 9/11, the core traits every great leader must embody, and how to effectively inspire and guide a team toward a shared mission. General Dan Caine is the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has flown more than 100 combat hours in F-16 aircraft. His total flight hours are 2,800. Throughout his career he was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. 💡 Want more insights from extraordinary leaders like General Caine? Check out The Daily Stoic Leadership Challenge at store.dailystoic.com. 🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast 🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast ✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail 🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook

    1h 10m
  3. Why We Treat The Body Rigorously | Bonnie Tsui

    5H AGO

    Why We Treat The Body Rigorously | Bonnie Tsui

    "The body should be treated more rigorously, so that it may not be disobedient to the mind." — Seneca  In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with Bonnie Tsui - author, swimmer, surfer - to unpack the deep connection between our muscles and mental resilience. They dive into everything from the intelligence of muscle memory, what the ancient Stoics knew about strength that we’ve forgotten, how exercise can actually bulk up your brain, and much more. Bonnie Tsui is a journalist, New York Times contributor, swimmer, surfer, and the author of American Chinatown: A People’s History of Five Neighborhoods, Why We Swim, and now On Muscle.  📚 Grab signed copies of Why We Swim at The Painted Porch and be sure to check out Bonnie's new book On Muscle | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/ Follow Bonnie on Instagram @BonnieTsui8 and check out more of her work at www.bonnietsui.com 🎙️ Listen to Bonnie Tsui’s FIRST interview on the Daily Stoic Podcast | Apple Podcasts & Spotify 🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast ✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail 🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 📱 Follow us:  Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 3m
  4. 1D AGO

    It’s The Most Empowering Thing | The Freedom Of Contempt

    We all have those days where we’d rather just not. The ancients knew days like this. 🎉 Celebrate Marcus Aurelius' Birthday this month by reading Meditations with us and the Daily Stoic community. On April 26th, 1905 years after the day of his birth, Ryan Holiday will host an invite-only LIVE Q&A to talk about all things Marcus Aurelius and Meditations. Get 20% off with a Meditations BOOK & GUIDE bundle. Join the LIVE Meditations Q&A with Ryan Holiday by purchasing before April 26th! Get all our Meditations offering and learn more at our official Meditations Collection at dailystoic.com/meditations today.  📓 Pick up a signed edition of The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on The Art of Living: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast 🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast ✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail 🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 📱 Follow us:  Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    10 min
  5. 2D AGO

    This Is How To Live Well | Don't Let Your Attention Slide

    Marcus Aurelius' life teaches us how to live well. And because he lived well, his story also teaches us how to die well: with grace, with strength, with empathy, and with the comfort of knowing that he lived a good life as a good man.  🎉 Celebrate Marcus Aurelius' Birthday this month by reading Meditations with us and the Daily Stoic community. On April 26th, 1905 years after the day of his birth, Ryan Holiday will host an invite-only LIVE Q&A to talk about all things Marcus Aurelius and Meditations. Get 20% off with a Meditations BOOK & GUIDE bundle. Join the LIVE Meditations Q&A with Ryan Holiday by purchasing before April 26th! Get all our Meditations offering and learn more at our official Meditations Collection at dailystoic.com/meditations today.  📚 Pick up copies of Deep Work, Slow Productivity, and Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com 📔 Pick up your own leather bound signed edition of The Daily Stoic! Check it out at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast 🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast ✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail 🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/ 📱 Follow us:  Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    10 min

    Shows with Subscription Benefits

    • It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor.

    • Season 2: Kat Torres has the insta-perfect life. She is rich, gorgeous and not ashamed to share it. Her posts about witchcraft and "alien baths" draw in over a million followers, all chasing the dream of a lifestyle like hers. But as she gathers more followers around her, the secrets beneath her fame grow darker and more dangerous. One woman sets out to bring back her best friend who has fallen under the spell of this modern-day guru. And what begins as a search for a missing friend soon puts her on a collision course with Kat. Based on the hit Brazilian podcast, journalist Chico Felitti uncovers a gripping story of influence, control, and those who dare to fight back. Season 1: When we face challenges in life, we seek answers from people we believe can help us. When tragedy strikes an exclusive retreat with a self-help superstar, many people are left to wonder: how far is too far? James Arthur Ray was an Oprah-endorsed self-help teacher who achieved fame, fortune, and influence. But friends and family members of his followers questioned his unorthodox methods, and tried to stop him. From Wondery, the makers of "Dirty John," "Dr. Death," and "The Shrink Next Door," comes a story about the dark side of enlightenment. Hosted by journalist Matt Stroud. Listen to episodes of Guru: Don't Cross Kat early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/guru/ now.

    • The Strange, Dark & Mysterious delivered in podcast format. Follow the MrBallen Podcast on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish twice a week—every Monday and Thursday. Prime members can listen to new episodes 1-month early and all episodes ad-free on Amazon Music. Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.

    • A Wondery original podcast so compelling it was reimagined for TV starring Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Sissy Spacek, and more… When Molly's diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, she decides to do something bold: she leaves her unhappy marriage and embarks on a series of sexual adventures to help her feel alive. She shares the funniest and most touching details with her closest friend, host Nikki Boyer. As they peel back the layers, we learn that Molly isn’t just grappling with breast cancer: she's also dealing with some trauma from her past. Along the journey, the friends explore bigger themes that affect us all -- like healing, forgiveness and what do we do with the time we have left.  Follow Dying for Sex plus all-new bonus episodes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge the entire original podcast early and ad-free, right now on Wondery+. Start your free trial in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or by visiting wondery.com/links/dying-for-sex/ now.

    • Hi, I’m Dax Shepard, and I love talking to people. I am endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human, and I find people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings to be incredibly sexy. I invite you to join me as I explore other people’s stories. We will celebrate, above all, the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment. What qualifies me for such an endeavor? More than a decade of sobriety, a degree in Anthropology and four years of improv training. I will attempt to discover human “truths” without any laboratory work, clinical trials or data collection. I will be, in the great tradition of 16th-century scientists, an Armchair Expert. Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.

    • The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold. From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishaps and unexplainable deaths — you’ll never hear the phrase “heart-stopping” in the same way again. MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between MrBallen and Wondery, the award-winning company behind Dr. Death. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music, the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can listen to new episodes early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Or, you can listen episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Start your free trial in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or by visiting https://wondery.com/links/mrballens-medical-mysteries/ now.

    Listen to new episodes early & ad-free.

    $5.99/mo or $44.99/yr after trial

    4.5
    out of 5
    4,376 Ratings

    About

    For centuries, all sorts of people—generals and politicians, athletes and coaches, writers and leaders—have looked to the teachings of Stoicism to help guide their lives. Each day, author and speaker Ryan Holiday brings you a new lesson about life, inspired by the thoughts and writings of great Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca the Younger. Daily Stoic Podcast also features Q+As with listeners and interviews with notable figures from sports, academia, politics, and more. Learn more at DailyStoic.com. Listen to The Daily Stoic on the Wondery App or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-daily-stoic/ now. 

    More From Wondery

    You Might Also Like

    Content Restricted

    This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

    To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

    Stay up to date with this show

    Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

    Select a country or region

    Africa, Middle East, and India

    Asia Pacific

    Europe

    Latin America and the Caribbean

    The United States and Canada