PHILOSOPHER KINGS.

Mark Shaffer, PhD in Ancient Near Eastern and Classical Literature.
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Philosopher Kings is designed to transform young professionals into people who think, speak, and act with knowledge, wisdom, and virtue—ten(ish) minutes at a time. It’s perfect for growing during your commute, investing in your internal-self during a workout, or leveling up while running errands. Each episode revives ancient philosophy, mythology, and timeless insight to help you lead and live with clarity, navigate chaos with character, and build the good life. We invite you to listen on your lunch break, on your commute, or while you reset—because the future belongs to the wise. Aristotle explains that "virtue is no accident-- we are what we repeatedly DO." Start by repeatedly listening to a great show made to help you thrive as a young professional and person.

  1. Oct 2

    17. YOUR JOB IS NOT THE SOURCE OF YOUR WORTH.

    Your job is part of your story. It is not the source of your worth. In this episode, Dr. Mark Shaffer explores what happens when young professionals make their careers responsible for their self-worth—and how to build a steadier identity around values, virtues, and character. Drawing from Epictetus’s distinction between what is up to us and what is not, you’ll learn how internal authority helps you receive criticism, navigate setbacks, and pursue excellence without putting your worth on trial. You’ll also work through an honest personal inventory: “I am valuable when…” followed by “What happens to my relationship with myself when that condition is not met?” Because a disappointing performance review should give you something to work on—not an existential crisis with a company logo. Think clearly. Speak with weight. Act with integrity. If you’re just out of college or training, or in the first five years of your career, we made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it, Kings and Queens! Want to go deeper? Inside our Skool community, MEMO 02 explores virtues, values, and the Values Pyramid—helping you build your life on a foundation that holds steady when performance fluctuates. Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: www.philosopherkings.net

  2. Sep 25

    16. THE POWER OF PAUSE.

    A strong emotion can demand an immediate response. You can give yourself time to choose one. In this episode, Dr. Mark Shaffer explores the power of the pause: creating space between what you feel and what you do next. Whether you’re facing criticism at work, an email that makes your blood boil, or an anxious thought loop, that space can help you respond with intention. Drawing from Epictetus’s insight that “Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things,” you’ll learn to notice the warning signs in your body and ask: What do I know? What outcome do I want? What response would I respect tomorrow? Because the email you write while angry might feel brilliant for fifteen seconds. The one you send tomorrow might actually get you somewhere. Think clearly. Speak with weight. Act with integrity. If you’re just out of college or training, or in the first five years of your career, we made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it, Kings and Queens! Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: https://www.philosopherkings.net/

  3. Sep 8

    15. EMOTIONS ARE NOT COMMANDS.

    Your emotions are real—but they are not always reliable instructions. In this episode, Dr. Mark Shaffer explains how young professionals can acknowledge anxiety, anger, insecurity, and fear without handing them the steering wheel. Drawing from Seneca’s insight that “we suffer more often in imagination than in reality,” you’ll learn three simple questions for separating emotional signals from the stories your mind creates. Because feeling like you should quit your job at 2:37 on a Tuesday may not be a career revelation. You might just need lunch. Think clearly. Speak with weight. Act with integrity. If you are just out of college or training, in your first five years of your career--We made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it Kings and Queens! Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: www.philosopherkings.net

  4. Aug 15

    14. FIVE KEYS TO EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND BALANCE.

    In this episode of Philosopher Kings, Mark introduces Five Keys to Emotional Health and Balance as a Young Professional—a practical framework for navigating anxiety, stress, insecurity, and the emotional weight that can come with building a career. Emotional health isn’t about eliminating strong emotions. It’s about learning to experience them without handing them the steering wheel. We introduce five practices: Stop treating every emotion like a command.Create a gap between feeling and action.Stop making your career responsible for your worth.Learn to actually leave work.Build a life bigger than your job. Over the next several episodes, we’ll take a deeper dive into each one—and explore how ancient wisdom and modern emotional intelligence can help you develop greater internal authority. Think clearly. Speak with weight. Act with integrity. If you are just out of college or training, in your first five years of your career--We made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it Kings and Queens! Success at work doesn’t automatically mean you feel successful inside. Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: www.philosopherkings.net

  5. Aug 14

    13. ABOVE ALL ELSE, BE KIND.

    Plato says that we should always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. This is so so true at work! You simply have no idea some of the things your co-workers are going through... and so be very kind first, and THEN everything else. Consistent kindness creates new worlds. When your team deeply knows you are for them, have their back, and want the best for their family name, all sorts of cooperation and collaboration become possible. It's like someone turns the lights on in a dark room. So it is with you, what does it look like to be uncommonly kind and let your light shine throughout your workplace, your home, your community, your city. Because there is no professional you and personal you-- there is just you. And so שיהיה אור, let there be light! If you are just out of college or training, in your first five years of your career--We made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it Kings and Queens! Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: www.philosopherkings.net

  6. Aug 8

    12. CHOOSE TO DO HARD THINGS.

    This episode, we talk about Epicurus' observation that doing hard things is good for you and that the very times you face trials, you meet the strengths inside of you. What if you have never met the best version of yourself because you have never truly worked through opposition and frustration? We challenge you to do hard things on the outside and face hard things on the inside, to become the best professional and person you can be. Carpe Diem! If you are just out of college or training, in your first five years of your career--We made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it Kings and Queens! Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: www.philosopherkings.net

  7. Jul 27

    11. GROWTH SPIRAL.

    This episode, we talk about three ways of thinking that can dynamically change how you gain belonging and respect on your work team and in your personal life. If you want to see this training in person and with a slide deck for taking some notes, visit the Philosopher Kings Youtube Channel. Plublilius Syrus once said: Would you have a great empire? First rule yourself. This episode is about how emotional health and relational intelligence is the best and truest way to rule your miniature empire. If you are just out of college or training, in your first five years of your career--We made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it Kings and Queens! Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: www.philosopherkings.net

  8. Jul 8

    10. HOW TO GAIN SELF-RESPECT.

    This episode, we invite you to take a walk with Mark cooling down on a running trail, and to think about who you are and who you want to become. Socrates says the fastest way to become virtuous is to be who you pretend to be. He means that most of us put on a pretty good show that we are a good person; we act like we possess all the qualities we assume others around us would admire. We might even change out the masks we wear from place to place to match a crowd like a chameleon. Socrates would say this a false-self and the best way to find the good life is to be yourself all the time and like yourself all of the time. And so Mark invites you to internal authority through actually being the things you KNOW would heal your soul and make you great. BE WHO YOU PRETEND TO BE, and goodness becomes simple. If you are just out of college or training, in your first five years of your career--We made this episode to encourage you and equip you for growth and success. We hope you love it Kings and Queens! Heart, The Philosopher Kings Team Mark, Skylar, and Ricardo Join the Philosopher Kings community here: https://www.skool.com/philosopher-kings-8259/about For all things Philosopher Kings, visit: www.philosopherkings.net

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About

Philosopher Kings is designed to transform young professionals into people who think, speak, and act with knowledge, wisdom, and virtue—ten(ish) minutes at a time. It’s perfect for growing during your commute, investing in your internal-self during a workout, or leveling up while running errands. Each episode revives ancient philosophy, mythology, and timeless insight to help you lead and live with clarity, navigate chaos with character, and build the good life. We invite you to listen on your lunch break, on your commute, or while you reset—because the future belongs to the wise. Aristotle explains that "virtue is no accident-- we are what we repeatedly DO." Start by repeatedly listening to a great show made to help you thrive as a young professional and person.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Shaffer, PhD in Ancient Near Eastern and Classical Literature.
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mark Shaffer, PhD in Ancient Near Eastern and Classical Literature.