BONUS | Camila Cabello: “Stoicism Changed Everything for Me”

The Daily Stoic Podcast
Host: Ryan Holiday
Guest: Camila Cabello
Release Date: December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this bonus episode, Ryan Holiday interviews pop superstar Camila Cabello about the profound impact Stoic philosophy has had on her personal and professional life. Their candid conversation explores the search for authentic success amid the pressures of celebrity, the pitfalls of ego, and how Stoicism offers practical strategies for mental health, creativity, and contentment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Redefining Success and Happiness

• Ryan suggests: True success is meaningless if it costs your own peace or autonomy.
  • (01:26) “What good is success if the result is that you don't feel like you're in charge of your own mind or your own life? How is that success exactly?” – Ryan Holiday
• Camila reflects: Society pushes external validation, but real fulfillment comes from inner values and relationships, not fame.
  • (01:39) “So much of healing is being like, what of this is what I actually want, and what is just what everybody else is doing?” – Camila Cabello
  • Remarks on younger generations valuing “TikTok fame” over deeper purpose.

2. The Nature of Purpose and Artistic Authenticity

• Camila describes her journey toward finding purpose in art, not achievement:
  • (02:24) “I genuinely do feel like my purpose is in art ... this is what I want to do ... not doing it for any outcome of being famous or what people think of you.” – Camila Cabello
• She recognizes the subtle seduction of ego, even when intentions appear pure.
  • (03:08) “Even when you don't say that to yourself ... I go to do a writing session, and I care so much about what these people in the room think of me. ... that's ego, too.”

3. Caring Less About External Opinions

• Notable Quote:
  • (03:50) “We care about ourselves more than other people, but we care about other people's opinion more than our own.” – Marcus Aurelius (quoted by Ryan Holiday)
  • Camila responds: (03:59) “Right? Love that quote.”
• Ryan and Camila discuss detaching from outside praise or criticism and focusing on self-approval and internal standards.

4. Stoicism as a Daily Practice for Artists

• Ryan shares how the commercial failure of his book “Conspiracy” was freeing—disassociating sales from self-worth and creative satisfaction.
  • (04:01) “What was really freeing about that experience was it totally decoupled, like, critical success and sales for me from what I know is good.” – Ryan Holiday
• Camila speaks on how “Ego is the Enemy,” “Obstacle is the Way,” and “Stillness is the Key” improved her songwriting and approach to anxiety:
  • (04:40) “Everything, even my own insecurity and fear, I was kind of using it to fuel... That's the stoic teaching I love: Amor Fati. ... Not just accepting it, but being like, ‘Oh, I'm going to use this now.’”
  • She discusses using the Daily Stoic Journal and how the idea of the “internal scoreboard” (focusing on honesty, effort, and kindness) redefined her sense of accomplishment.

5. Internal Versus External Metrics for Success

• Camila reveals practical steps she uses to gauge a “successful” day:
  • (04:40-08:10) “If I change my definition of success to: How honest was I today? How vulnerable was I today? Did I show up completely as myself? Was I kind to people? ... If I just focus on what I can control, then ... it was a successful day.”
• She emphasizes the lifelong value of Stoic principles:
  • (around 07:40) “My character comes before any of the things that I do.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ryan Holiday (01:26):
  “What good is success if the result is that you don't feel like you're in charge of your own mind or your own life? How is that success exactly?”
• Camila Cabello (03:08):
  “The right reason is to tell my truth. That's it. Period.”
• Ryan Holiday quoting Marcus Aurelius (03:50):
  “We care about ourselves more than other people, but we care about other people's opinion more than our own.”
• Camila Cabello (04:40-08:10):
  “If you measure success ... by what you can't control, you're going to be unhappy your whole life. But if you change your definition of success ... then at the end of every day ... it was a successful day.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:26 Mindset Shift: Redefining success and autonomy
• 01:39-02:24: Societal values vs. inner purpose
• 03:08: The subtlety of ego in creative pursuits
• 03:50: Marcus Aurelius on caring about others’ opinions
• 04:01-04:40: Critical and commercial achievement as separate measures
• 04:40-08:10: Practical Stoic habits, daily metrics, and personal development

Tone and Language

The conversation is open, earnest, and insightful. Camila speaks with humility, vulnerability, and a sense of continual learning, while Ryan offers philosophical context and personal anecdotes, creating a relatable and inspiring atmosphere.

Summary

Camila Cabello’s journey into Stoicism reflects a broader struggle with fame, purpose, and mental health in the modern age. By shifting her focus from external metrics to internal values and practicing daily Stoic principles, she has found a more rewarding and sustainable sense of success. The episode provides both philosophical wisdom and actionable habits for anyone seeking groundedness in a culture obsessed with appearances and validation.