Podcast Summary: The Daily Stoic
Episode Title: Take This Seriously | Ask Daily Stoic
Host: Ryan Holiday
Date: November 6, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode blends a Stoic-inspired meditation with a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) session from a recent event in Austin, Texas. Ryan Holiday discusses the practical application of Stoicism in daily life, taking inspiration from historical figures like Admiral James Stockdale and Marcus Aurelius. The second half features wide-ranging audience questions about parenting, community, education, self-governance, and running, with Ryan offering Stoic perspectives and personal anecdotes.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Taking Stoicism Seriously: The Story of Admiral James Stockdale
[00:00 – 04:00]
- Theme: Commitment and practical application of Stoic philosophy.
- Stockdale’s Example: Survived seven years as a POW in Vietnam, credits Stoicism for his resilience. After release, he considers what “taking Stoicism more seriously” means in practice.
- Will Durant’s Reflection: Durant calls Stoicism “a noble philosophy” that, like Calvinism and Puritanism, produced “the strongest characters of its time.”
- Marcus Aurelius’s Lifelong Learning: Even as emperor and a Stoic adherent, Marcus kept returning to philosophy lectures.
- Ryan’s Takeaway: Stoicism remains about consistent striving and practical actions to improve one’s character, echoing the question from Seneca:
- “How much progress shall I make? Just as much as you try to make. Don’t wait. Wisdom comes haphazard to no man.”
- Actionable Step: Invites listeners to join his upcoming Stoicism 101 course for structured learning.
2. Introducing the Live AMA and Event Details
[07:15 – 07:40]
- Ryan shares the context of the live talk in Austin and discusses upcoming tour stops. He expresses gratitude for connecting with the audience in-person.
Audience Q&A Highlights
3. Teaching Stoicism to Kids
[07:40 – 09:40]
- Parent Audience Member: “Can you talk to me a little bit about how you try to give [your kids] this wisdom? When I start to talk about Marcus Aurelius, my girls lose me in five seconds.”
- Ryan’s Honest Response:
- “Do you think my kids are interested in it? Because they’re not at all, actually... If we want to threaten them, we go, 'I’m going to turn on one of my videos. And that’s the only thing you can watch.'” [07:56]
- He admits it’s rare for kids to share their parents’ interests, especially “educational” things.
- Describes how he leverages brief sparks of interest—his son’s obsession with Greek history (sparked by a podcast) as an example:
“You gotta take the opportunities when they’re there... I try to find the little spark of interest, and you see if you can get that going.” [08:14]
- Stresses the importance of enjoying each phase and being present even when the child’s interests quickly shift.
4. Stoicism, Community, and Workshops
[09:40 – 11:09]
- Audience Member (from Iceland but now an Austinite): Expresses interest in more communal Stoic learning, such as workshops.
- Ryan’s Response:
- Confesses a preference for writing above all else:
“One of the hard, weird parts about succeeding as a writer is people want you to do a lot of things that are not writing... This is the opposite of writing. No one becomes a writer because they want to talk to large groups of people in person.” [10:25]
- He leaves open the possibility of future workshops, especially in small groups, but is focused on books for now.
- Confesses a preference for writing above all else:
5. Stoicism & Self-Governance
[11:09 – 13:07]
- Audience Member (Jess): Asks how communities can use Stoicism, referencing conscious capitalism and personal liberty.
- Ryan’s Response:
- Admits the question is “probably beyond my paygrade,” but notes the Stoics’ deep interest in governance and personal liberty, citing Zeno’s lost book “Zeno’s Republic.”
- Shares a favorite passage from Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations:
“I learned from my brother Severus to love my family, truth and justice... and conceived of a society of equal laws, governed by equality of status and of speech, and of rulers who respect the liberty of their subjects above all else.”
- Acknowledges the irony of such ideals coming from an emperor, but stresses the importance of striving to make these ideals real in society.
6. Teaching Students and Clubs
[13:07 – 14:03]
- Jess (continued): Asks if Ryan teaches younger students or runs clubs.
- Ryan’s Candid Reply:
- “I don’t teach any students, but... the reason we make content in all these different mediums is that I want to meet people where they are. I’m trying to translate my work in as many mediums as possible, and then I in turn learn by being in that medium.” [13:21]
- Humorous aside about not being allowed back at the Naval Academy.
- Ends by praising Jess’s initiative.
7. Advice for Marathon Runners (Athens to Delphi)
[14:03 – 16:00]
- Audience Member (Marathon Runner): Asks for advice on running the historical Marathon to Athens course.
- Ryan’s Recommendations:
- “Don’t do it by yourself in the middle of July... I got heat stroke and I threw up all over the Olympic stadium when I arrived.” [14:25]
- Stresses discipline, pacing, and nutrition (“I did not really think at all about nutrition or caloric intake. I was just like, I can do this. And I did do it. It was just much more painful than it needed to be.”)
- Technical notes: nearly 1,000ft elevation, tough industrial route, “not what the Greeks did.”
- Reminds: “Discipline is not just doing more and more... it’s also about holding back and restraining.”
- Practical: “You have to wear a shirt to enter the stadium!” [15:40]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Consistent Learning:
“Stoicism has made people the best they could be. It’s produced some of the strongest characters of all time... there he was, like Marcus Aurelius... remaining a student and still getting better as he went.” — Ryan Holiday [03:20]
- Seneca’s Wisdom:
“How much progress shall I make? Just as much as you try to make. Don’t wait. Wisdom comes haphazard to no man.” — Seneca (quoted by Ryan) [05:20]
- On Parenting:
“I just try to love this period that we’re in where we’re excited about this thing. And then I also try to do my best, as excruciating as it is, to be interested in Mr. Beast and stuff like that.” — Ryan Holiday [09:27]
- On Writing vs. Public Speaking:
“No one becomes a writer because they want to talk to large groups of people in person... the thought of that is mortifying.” — Ryan Holiday [10:25]
- On Ideals and Reality:
“A bit rich to hear [about liberty] from the Emperor of Rome... but it’s like hearing about 'all men are created equal' from Thomas Jefferson. The idea is good, and then we have to make that promise real.” — Ryan Holiday [12:35]
- On Discipline and Restraint:
“Discipline is not just doing more and more... it’s also about holding back and restraining.” — Ryan Holiday [15:00]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00 – 04:00: Stoicism through Stockdale’s story & Will Durant’s thoughts
- 07:40 – 09:40: Q&A: Teaching Stoicism to kids
- 09:40 – 11:09: Q&A: Community and potential for Stoicism workshops
- 11:09 – 13:07: Q&A: Stoicism and self-governance
- 13:07 – 14:03: Q&A: Teaching Stoic ideas to students & through clubs
- 14:03 – 16:00: Q&A: Advice for marathon runners
Conclusion
This episode blends theory and practice—a meditation on Stoic perseverance and the ongoing search for self-improvement, followed by lively, practical interactions with real listeners. Ryan Holiday is at once candid and philosophical: he acknowledges the challenges of imparting Stoic wisdom to kids, the difficulties in living up to philosophical ideals, and the ongoing effort of making philosophy relevant for modern audiences. The episode closes with actionable advice, humor, and a strong sense of community among Stoic learners.
For further exploration:
- Stoicism 101 course details: dailystoic.com/101
- Upcoming live events: dailystoiclive.com