The Daily Stoic Podcast

Episode: You Can Choose Right Now | The Portable Retreat

Date: March 20, 2026
Host: Ryan Holiday
Guest contributor: Stephen Hanselman

Episode Overview

In this reflective episode, Ryan Holiday explores key tenets of Stoic philosophy—particularly the idea of taking action without delay and discovering tranquility within ourselves rather than constantly seeking it elsewhere. Drawing upon the writings of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, Holiday encourages listeners to stop procrastinating and embrace the present as the optimal moment for self-renewal. The idea of the "portable retreat" is discussed, inviting listeners to cultivate an inner sanctuary instead of relying on external escapes like vacations or breaks.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Stop Waiting. Take Action Now.

• Ryan directly addresses procrastination and the habit of waiting for “the right moment” to reset, improve, or make necessary changes.
• He references Stoic wisdom, reminding us that the present is always the best time to act:

  "Otherwise, we are, as Seneca said, the fool who is always getting ready."
  (Ryan Holiday, 00:54)

• The episode encourages listeners to stop making excuses, let go of compromises, and use the change in season (spring) as a symbolic clean slate.

2. The Stoic Concept of Renewal

• Spring is framed as a time of renewal—but, as Holiday stresses, this renewal is always available to us, not just linked to the seasons.
• He invokes a sense of agency:

  "Someone has to take control. And that someone is you."
  (Ryan Holiday, 01:44)

• Forget past missteps and focus on what you can do now for future growth.

3. The Daily Stoic Spring Forward Challenge

• Holiday introduces the 2026 Spring Forward Challenge:
  • 10 days of Stoic-inspired exercises to help participants recommit to their values and goals.
  • An opportunity for communal growth and self-improvement.
• He invites listeners to stop delaying and join:

  "Stop putting it off. Let's do it. 10 stoic challenges to help you get serious, to help you own the rest of 2026."
  (Ryan Holiday, 03:15)

4. Portable Retreat: Inner Peace Without Escaping

• Drawing from the Daily Stoic Journal, Holiday and Hanselman discuss the perennial human tendency to anticipate peace only from vacations or changes of scenery.
• They read and reflect on quotes from Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, emphasizing that the true retreat is inward.
  • Quote from Marcus Aurelius:

    “People seek retreats for themselves in the country, by the sea, or in the mountains... But this is entirely the trait of a base person, when you can at any moment find such a retreat in yourself.”
    (Ryan Holiday quoting Marcus Aurelius, 07:19)

  • Quote from Epictetus:

    “It is not only the desire for wealth and position that debases us... also the desire for peace and leisure and travel and learning.”
    (Ryan Holiday quoting Epictetus, 08:20)

• Holiday recounts how he feels more present and productive on vacation but challenges himself (and the audience) to ask:

  "What is stopping me from being able to do that at home? ... The thing that's working here is you. Like, you're finding the retreat in yourself, that moment of stillness or whatever, and that's available to you anywhere."
  (Ryan Holiday, 09:17)

5. Making Everyday Life More Like a Retreat

• Hanselman and Holiday explore how small choices in daily routines—like putting the phone away, reading more, or taking a moment to enjoy the night sky—can bring elements of the vacation mindset into regular life.
• Memorable reflection:

  "We drove eight hours to look at stars. And how many nights do I walk to take out the trash... and I don't take a minute to just step up and look. Right. That's kind of what I'm thinking about here is so much of what we give ourselves on those retreats or those vacations or those time away we could have inside ourself anytime we choose. And indeed we deserve to do that."
  (Stephen Hanselman, 10:21)

6. The Stoic Legacy: Retreat Is a Practice, Not an Escape

• Ryan concludes by clarifying that even Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus valued travel and change of scenery, but these should not be forms of escapism.
• The essence:

  "They're just saying, don't do it as an escape. Don't do it. Fooling yourself that it's not something you could have now inside yourself at any moment, and in fact you must do it just takes a bit more discipline."
  (Ryan Holiday, 11:18)

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On agency and renewal:

  "Forget how the first three months of the year have gone. Forget the excuses you have made, forget the compromises you have made. That's the lovely thing about the idea of spring's renewal. It wipes clean the past."
  (Ryan Holiday, 01:35)

• On the accessibility of a mental retreat:

  "Nowhere can you find a more peaceful and less busy treat than inside your own soul... Treat yourself often to this retreat and be renewed."
  (Ryan Holiday quoting Marcus Aurelius, 07:36)

• On the value of presence:

  "What I love while we're [at Big Bend National Park] is looking up at this incredible sky. So little light pollution there. The stars just... They feel like they pop right out of the black sky… and I sort of looked up for a second and I was like, this sky's almost as good as it is there."
  (Ryan Holiday, 09:53 & 10:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 02:07:
  Taking action now vs. procrastination; introducing Stoic perspectives from Seneca and Epictetus.

• 02:09 – 04:23:
  Invitation to join the Spring Forward Challenge—a practical application of the Stoic reset.

• 06:05 – 09:15:
  The concept of the "portable retreat" and Stoic quotes guiding inward peace.

• 09:17 – 11:55:
  Personal stories, the everyday opportunity for retreat, and the challenge of integrating the vacation mindset into daily living.

• 11:55 – End:
  Final reflection: Cultivating a life where retreat is part of your discipline, not just an external escape.

Tone and Style

The episode is introspective, motivational, and candid—mirroring Ryan Holiday’s signature pragmatic philosophical approach. He is warm, relatable, and gently challenging, weaving together ancient quotes and modern self-reflection.

Summary Takeaway

The wisdom of Stoicism insists that you can choose right now to begin anew—waiting is the enemy of growth. The most profound retreat is always available within you, and the true discipline is in making space for that inner peace every day rather than waiting for an external escape. As the season shifts to spring, seize the opportunity for renewal and start practicing your own ‘portable retreat’—wherever you are.