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Stoic Coffee Break

Stoic Coffee Break
Author: Erick Cloward
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© 2025 Stoic Coffee Break
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"Act on your principles, not your moods." A weekly meditation on how Stoic principles can help you be a better human.
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353 Episodes
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What does it mean to be a man? How do our perceptions and ideas about masculinity hinder men from living full and happy lives? Today we’re going to dive into how Stoicism can help us develop a more healthy definition of masculinity. "We teach boys that being vulnerable is being weak. And then we wonder why men die of loneliness surrounded by people." —Terry Real Feeling Wheel - This is a great interactive app! Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more a...
This week's episode is an interview with Dr. Scott Waltman PsyD. Dr. Scott Waltman, PsyD, ABPP, is a clinician, international trainer, and practice-based researcher. His interests include evidence-based psychotherapy practice, training, and implementation in systems that provide care to underserved populations. He is president-elect of both the Academy of Cognitive & Behavioral Therapies and the International Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. He is board certified in Be...
The Stoics talk a lot about virtue as the sole good. Now what do they mean by virtue and why did they think that it was so important? In this week's episode, I'm reading another chapter from my book, Stoicism 101. “Of things some are good, some are bad, and others are indifferent. The good then are the virtues and the things which partake of the virtues: the bad are the vices, and the things which partake of them; and the indifferent are the things which lie between the virtues and the vice...
Do you have good habits? Do you have some you’d rather get rid of? What if I told you that by developing one key skill, you’ll be able to adopt better habits and let go of unhelpful ones? In this weeks episode we’re going to talk about the one “meta-habit” you need to develop in order to make real changes in your life. The Meta-Habit: The One Skill For Building Better Habits "I will form good habits and become their slave." —Og Mandino Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order h...
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a way of thinking that you knew deep down wasn’t serving you? Maybe it was an assumption about someone, a stubborn belief, or an emotional reaction. The good news is that our minds are built for self-correction—if we know how to use them. “If anyone can prove and show to me that I think and act in error, I will gladly change it—for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed.” — Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, 6.21) Send us a text My book ...
Do you ever feel like life is happening to you, and that you’re at the whim of circumstances? What would it feel like if you could take what life hands you and say, “Thank you sir! May I have another?” In this week’s episode I’m going to be reading another chapter from my book, Stoicism 101, where I write about dealing with external events. “Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.” —Marcus Aurelius Send us a text My boo...
Have you ever had put a dream to the side? What if that dream was the key to finding the thing that fulfilled you as a person? In this week's episode I interview author and speed racer, Louisa Swaden, about Stoicism, racing motorcycles, and how it's never too late to chase your dreams. You can find out more about Louisa and her book The Stoic Rider at http://www.existentialbiker.com Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch epi...
Are you mentally tough? Are you able to take what life dishes out and keep smiling? Today I want to talk about mental toughness and how you can develop the right kind of toughness while being flexible to life changes. “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” —Seneca Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on linkedIn, instagram, twitter, or threads. Thanks again for listening!
Do you ever feel like you’re stuck? Like things aren’t going bad but aren’t moving in the right direction either? Today I want to talk about being stuck and what to do to get things moving in the right direction. “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” —Epictetus Discourses, 3.23 Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on linkedIn, instagram, twitter, or thre...
This week's episode is a chapter from my book, Stoicism 101. It's the chapter about Seneca the Younger, one of the most famous Stoic philosophers and writers. Seneca is remembered as one of the most popular stoic philosophers, partly because a lot of his writings survived and were passed through antiquity. But how much do you know about Seneca? Well, in this episode, you're going to learn some more about this colorful and interesting man and his lasting influence on stoicism. “Men do not car...
This week I dive into philosophy, life, music, and addiction with my friend Derrick Zaworski. Derrick is a music producer and owner of Road Tripping Records. Derrick and I have been friends for several years and we've always enjoyed deep and interesting conversations, so I thought it would be worthwhile to get one of those conversations on record. I hope you enjoy! Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! ...
Do you ever think about your future self? How would your choices in the present change if you took the time to consider those choices would impact future you? Today I want to talk about the power of getting to know the future you. “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on linkedIn, instagram, twitter, or thre...
Do we have free will or are we destined to our fate? Do the Stoics believe that we have free will or are our lives pre-determined? Does is matter? Today I’m going to talk about the Stoic ideas behind free will and fate, and how it does or doesn’t impact our lives. “Lead me, Fate, wherever you will, and I will cheerfully follow. For even if I kick and wail, all the same I must follow.” —Cleanthes Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoi...
What if I told you that the thing you’re avoiding… is exactly the thing you need most? Today we’re going about why comfort might be the biggest lie we believe, and how leaning into resistance can actually be the path to everything you want. “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” ― Confucius Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on linkedIn, instagram...
In this week's episode, I take some time to answer a few questions: - What should I do when someone criticizes me and I know they’re right? - How do I know if I’m actually making progress in my personal growth—or just spinning my wheels? - What would Marcus Aurelius say about social media? - What’s one way I secretly avoid discomfort—even though I talk about embracing it? “Or is it your reputation that's bothering you? But look at how soon we're all forgotten. The abyss of endless time that ...
Empathy has been called everything from a virtue to a weakness to a sin. But in an age of outrage, is empathy a liability? Or is it the very thing we need to preserve civilization? In this week's episode I talk about the importance of empathy and why we need more, not less empathy in the world. “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” —Seneca Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on ...
The Stoics place a premium on rationality and objectivity to help manage our emotions. But how do we develop that objectivity? Why should we practice become more objective? In this week’s episode we’re going to dive into those questions and talk about how you can be more objective. “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Stephen R. Covey Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is avai...
What if your biggest obstacle in life isn’t a lack of knowledge, but something else? What if this one attribute is the one thing that can help you truly excel in life? In this episode, I want discuss what I think is the greatest attribute that any person should have who wants improve themselves and how to develop it. “I’m am neither clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” —Albert Einstein Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at http...
How often to you spend time worrying about everything that is happening in the world? How can you create more joy into your life? Can a Stoic be happy and joyful? Today I want to talk about Stoicism and joy. “A cheerful disposition and serenity of mind are not the result of luck but of wisdom.” — Seneca (Here's the link to the sunshine video!) Send us a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on linkedIn, ...
In times of political division, it’s easy to be swept away by anger, resentment, and fear. But what does that accomplish? Does your anger towards those that disagree with you help yourself or the world? In this episode I want to talk about the importance of maintaining your Stoic principles in times of turmoil. “The essence of good and evil consists in the condition of our character. And externals are the means by which our character finds its particular good and evil.” —Epictetus Send us a t...
began touching on an area I really need to develop - the need to be right!
Great episodes, straight to the point. Thanks for these!