Podcast Summary: The Daily Stoic

Episode: No One is Truly “Self-Made” | The Philosophy Behind High Achievers
Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Ryan Holiday

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ryan Holiday explores the myth of the "self-made" individual, drawing from Stoic philosophy to show how even the most successful people stand on the shoulders of others. Through the stories of famous Stoics and contemporary figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, the discussion emphasizes the collaborative, interconnected nature of achievement and the importance of recognizing and expanding our circles of concern. The episode also touches on practical Stoic principles such as acceptance, control, and courage, making ancient wisdom relevant for modern listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Myth of the “Self-Made” Person

[00:56]

• Holiday opens by recounting Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, who rebuilt his life after disaster with the help of others, notably his teacher Crates.
• The narrative of being "self-made" is inaccurate; all major achievements are collaborative and deeply influenced by mentorship and community.
• Notable Stoics such as Epictetus, Seneca, Chrysippus, and Marcus Aurelius owe much to those who taught and inspired them.

Quote:
“We are all the sum of the debts and lessons... we accumulate from countless people who shape our lives.”
—Ryan Holiday [02:43]

• He references a conversation with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who attributes his success to the support of “hundreds, thousands of people” and highlights how Marcus Aurelius begins his Meditations by listing his influences.

Quote:
“I have been a creation of hundreds of people, he said. Thousands of people. It’s unbelievable the amount of people that help me and push me...”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger via Ryan Holiday [01:46]

• Holiday concludes there has never been a truly self-made person, and success is always a collaborative effort.

2. Stoicism’s Role in High Achievement

[05:49]

• Stoicism is described as a “secret weapon” for top performers in fields as varied as sports, business, the military, and NGOs.
• Ryan draws from his personal experiences speaking to elite groups, demonstrating the real-world value of Stoic teachings.

3. Expanding the Circles of Concern

[07:09]

• Holiday discusses the Stoic concept of “circles of concern” from Hierakles: we stand at the center and should expand our empathy and care outward—family, community, country, humanity, animals, and future generations.
• The aim of philosophy is to enlarge these circles and bring distant concerns closer to our hearts and actions.

Quote:
"Hierakles says that the work of philosophy, growth as a human being, is about being able to expand those circles or to bring those outer circles inwards. To care about people that you’ve never met, to care about people who have never been born.”
—Ryan Holiday [08:00]

4. On Wisdom, Tools, and Experience

[08:38]

• Holiday uses the example of searching for the source of a quote with AI tools, highlighting that, while knowledge is accessible, wisdom and discernment must still be cultivated.
• He warns that without experience and a “bullshit detector,” even the best information sources can mislead.

Quote:
“Without a strong base of experience, a strong sense of historical knowledge, without an ability to spot bullshit, you’re gonna get eaten alive.”
—Ryan Holiday [10:32]

5. Loss, Possessions, and Epictetus’ Lesson

[11:15]

• Holiday relates a personal story about losing his annotated copy of Meditations, connecting it to an Epictetus anecdote on not being attached to possessions.
• The Stoic perspective: possessions come and go, and their loss can remind us what truly matters.

6. Courage and Risk-Taking

[12:21]

• Stoicism inspired Holiday to make bold life decisions, like dropping out of college and changing careers.
• The philosophy encourages logical risk assessment and reminds us that the best things in life result from courageous choices.

Quote:
“Everything that’s good in our life is on the other side of some courageous decision. Sometimes minor, sometimes major.”
—Ryan Holiday [12:47]

7. Practicing Virtue: The Four Stoic Virtues

[13:19]

• Holiday clarifies Stoic virtue—not as self-righteousness but as living by wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.
• He traces these ideas to Zeno’s story: out of disaster, he forged a philosophy focused on virtue and resilience.

8. Control, Acceptance, and Influence

[15:18]

• A guest (Entrepreneur) voices difficulty balancing what can and cannot be controlled—especially as a doer striving for results.
• Holiday agrees that the dichotomy of control is tricky: while some things are outside our control, many are within our sphere of influence.
• He advocates for acceptance where appropriate, but also for recognizing and leveraging influence in the "gray area" between control and acceptance.

Quote:
“There’s probably a third category, something in the middle... what we have influence over or what we can nudge.”
—Ryan Holiday [16:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Community and Mentorship:
  “There would be no Epictetus as he studied under Musonius Rufus. There would be no Seneca without Attalus, no Chrysippus without Cleanthes, and no Cleanthes without Zeno.”
  —Ryan Holiday [01:13]

• On Virtue:
  "Marcus says that everything is a chance to practice virtue."
  —Ryan Holiday [13:19]

• On Expanding Concern:
  "We come to love our parents... our spouse or our children... fellow citizens... neighboring countries... you could expand these circles outwards to include animals, to include the planet, to include unborn future generations."
  —Ryan Holiday [07:43]

• Guest Perspective:
  “As an entrepreneur, you need to do your best, but sometimes you need to do a little bit more. It’s been fascinating for myself… sometimes I think there’s a moment when maybe I should get some peace, you know?"
  —Entrepreneur Guest [15:28]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:56 – Introduction to Zeno’s story & the myth of being “self-made”
• 02:00 – Mentors and influences in Stoic tradition; Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reflections
• 05:49 – Stoicism as a “secret weapon” for high achievers
• 07:09 – The circles of concern and expanding empathy
• 08:38 – The challenges of wisdom and discernment in the AI age
• 11:15 – Lessons from Epictetus on loss and detachment
• 12:21 – The role of risk and courage in shaping a meaningful life
• 13:19 – The four Stoic virtues and their origins
• 15:18 – Conversation on acceptance, control, and influence (with Entrepreneur Guest)

Conclusion

Ryan Holiday’s episode dispels the notion of anyone being “self-made,” emphasizing humility, gratitude, and the interconnected nature of success and virtue. The Stoic principles discussed are not abstract but tied directly to life’s challenges, relationships, and our capacity for positive impact. Whether you seek inspiration for personal growth, practical tools for handling adversity, or a deeper understanding of ancient wisdom in a modern context, this episode offers insights worth reflecting on daily.