The Daily Stoic Podcast
Episode: "Do You Have That Dog In You? | Ask Daily Stoic"
Host: Ryan Holiday
Date: October 30, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode features Ryan Holiday's exploration of the concept of having "that dog in you"—a metaphor for the fierce courage, honesty, and authenticity embodied by Stoic figures like Diogenes. The episode blends historical lessons with modern application and transitions into a Q&A segment recorded live in Austin, Texas, where Ryan answers audience questions on applying stoicism in politics, relationships, the mind-body connection, and the difference between wisdom and intelligence.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The "Dog" in Stoicism: Courage and Directness
[00:00–04:55]
- Ryan Holiday discusses how classic Stoics, especially Diogenes (“the dog of Sinope”), balanced kindness and honesty, at times delivering necessary truths—even if harsh.
- The metaphor of "having that dog in you" is about protecting your values, speaking up, and defending what matters—even if it means being impolite:
“Sometimes philosophy isn’t polite. It’s powerful. And the truth, well, it bites.” – Ryan Holiday [04:28]
- Stoic inspiration from Diogenes, Zeno, Agrippinas, Epictetus—all admired for their willingness to challenge hypocrisy and stand their ground.
- Contemporary relevance: Are we too deferential, cowed by "political correctness", or do we speak uncomfortable truths when needed?
2. Stoicism Courses and Practicality
[04:55–06:54]
- Ryan introduces “Stoicism 101: Ancient Philosophy for your Actual Life” as a 14-day course focused on practical application.
- Emphasizes that memento mori (remember death) is not just abstract, but calls for real-life preparation (like wills and life insurance).
3. Live Q&A Segment
[06:54–15:00]
Selected from a live event in Austin, Texas, September 2025.
a. Stoicism, Politics, and Self-Help Stigma
- Listener: Notes a perceived political association of self-help and stoicism with the “right-leaning grindset mentality,” and asks Ryan if/how he thinks about this.
- Ryan Holiday [07:26]:
- He doesn’t focus much on political coding, but on doing what’s right.
- Stoicism’s ethical core is justice and the common good—not left or right, just “basic social contract stuff”:
“Its ethical core is this idea of justice, this idea of the common good, this idea that we're made for each other... If it’s bad for the world, it’s bad for us, and vice versa.”
- He avoids policy prescriptions, centering instead on philosophical obligations and responsibilities.
b. Mind-Body Connection in Stoicism and Flow State
- Listener: Asks if Ryan distinguishes between speaking from the head vs. the heart, referencing mind-body connection.
- Ryan Holiday [09:19]:
- Does not consciously separate head from heart in speaking.
- Performance (in art, sports, virtue) is the result of training and preparation, not just in-the-moment deliberation.
- Cites the soldier’s readiness:
“The whole point of philosophy is so that whatever happens in life, you can go, this is what I trained for.” [10:32]
c. Authenticity and Relationships
- Listener: How does the Stoic virtue of authenticity (standing up to Nero, being oneself despite risk) apply to personal relationships?
- Ryan Holiday [11:16]:
- Authenticity is foundational; pretending undermines closeness.
- Stoics are not indifferent to social conventions—they balance honesty with empathy, compassion, and functioning membership in society:
“I don't know how close a personal relationship can be if it's not based on your authentic self... The Stoics were functioning members of society, which means empathy and compassion and connection…” [11:20–12:45]
d. Wisdom vs. Intelligence
- Listener: Seeks insight on the difference between wisdom and intelligence.
- Ryan Holiday [13:03]:
- Intelligence = skill, knowledge, competence in domains.
- Wisdom = self-awareness, understanding of self and the world, knowing “how not to be foolish.”
- External achievement alone does not guarantee wisdom; self-knowledge, virtue, and resilience are key:
“You can be aware of a lot of things, but if you don't have self-awareness, that's a big problem… So to me, intelligence is important… and then wisdom has to be somewhere beyond that.” [13:35]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Sometimes the truth hurts. The Stoics were inspired and shaped by the example of Diogenes, the dog of Sinope.” – Ryan Holiday [01:20]
- “Because sometimes philosophy isn’t polite. It’s powerful. And the truth, well, it bites.” – Ryan Holiday [04:28]
- “I don’t know how close a personal relationship can be if it’s not based on your authentic self. Right? If you’re pretending to be someone for someone else’s sake, that’s probably not a good foundation of a relationship.” – Ryan Holiday [11:20]
- “You can be aware of a lot of things, but if you don’t have self-awareness, that’s a big problem… So to me, intelligence is important. And then wisdom has to be somewhere beyond that.” – Ryan Holiday [13:35]
Important Segment Timestamps
- 00:00–04:55 — The “Dog” in Stoicism: Diogenes, Courage, and Truth-Telling
- 04:55–06:54 — Course intro and practical applications of Stoic ideas (memento mori, preparation)
- 06:54–07:26 — Q&A Introduction; Event context
- 07:26–09:08 — Stoicism & Modern Political Associations
- 09:08–10:48 — Mind/Body Connection & Performing under Pressure
- 10:48–12:45 — Authenticity in Close Relationships
- 13:00–14:49 — Wisdom vs. Intelligence
Summary Table
| Timestamp | Topic | Speaker | Quote/Insight | |------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:20 | Diogenes and telling hard truths | Ryan Holiday | “The Stoics were inspired and shaped by the example of Diogenes…”| | 04:28 | The bite of Stoic philosophy | Ryan Holiday | “Sometimes philosophy isn’t polite. It’s powerful. And the truth, well, it bites.” | | 07:26 | Stoicism, politics, and the common good | Ryan Holiday | “Its ethical core is this idea of justice, this idea of the common good...” | | 10:32 | Training for crisis | Ryan Holiday | “The whole point of philosophy is so that whatever happens in life, you can go, this is what I trained for.” | | 11:20 | Authenticity in relationships | Ryan Holiday | “I don’t know how close a personal relationship can be if it’s not based on your authentic self.” | | 13:35 | Wisdom vs. intelligence | Ryan Holiday | “If you don’t have self-awareness, that’s a big problem… wisdom has to be somewhere beyond that.” |
Closing Notes
Ryan encourages listeners to reflect on whether they have "the dog in them": the courage to be authentic, to stand up for what’s right, and to embrace discomfort when truth is necessary. The Q&A offers practical guidance on politics, relationships, true selfhood, and the journey from acquired knowledge to wisdom. The tone is reflective yet forthright, blending philosophical depth with actionable advice for daily living.
Useful links:
- Stoicism 101 Course: dailystoic.com/101
- Live event tickets: dailystoiclive.com
- Premium podcast (ad-free): dailystoic.com/premium