The Daily Stoic

 It’s our daily choices—our response to rudeness, our handling of power, how we treat friends, children, the elderly—that reveals the core of who we are.

In today's episode, Ryan reflects on the passing of his friend George Raveling and turns to Seneca for wisdom on how to handle grief. You’ll hear Seneca’s timeless words on love, loss, and why even painful memories can carry sweetness.

The hardest thing in life is finding the courage to do what’s right when it costs you. In this episode, Ryan continues his conversation with journalist and historian John Avlon, diving into the dangerous myths we cling to, the lessons he learned from running for office, and the warnings history has to offer. John shares why he still chooses a defiant optimism for America’s future and why you should, too.John Avlon is an American journalist and political commentator. He was a senior political analyst and anchor at CNN, and was the editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast from 2013 to 2018.

Just as one becomes strong through lifting weights, or skilled at woodworking through hours in the shop, we become wise through the same kind of effort. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old. It doesn’t matter if you’re a private or a president, a CEO or a summer intern. THIS is your responsibility.

How do you stay informed without losing your mind? In this episode, Ryan sits down with journalist and historian John Avlon to discuss how to fix your “news diet,” why local journalism matters more than ever, and what studying Lincoln can teach us about leadership, empathy, and navigating chaos. They talk about Lincoln’s surprising use of humor, the ways history repeats itself, and what it really takes to stay sane in today’s overwhelming media world.John Avlon is an American journalist and political commentator. He was a senior political analyst and anchor at CNN, and was the editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast from 2013 to 2018.Follow John Avlon on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/johnavlon/?hl=en

We get to decide what things mean to us. We get to decide how we respond to things.

We once had Stoics in high office. We had Stoics making important decisions. We’re a long way from that today, aren’t we?

For nearly 3,000 years, one story has ruled them all. The Odyssey. In today’s episode, Ryan shares12 Stoic lessons hidden inside this timeless epic.

How does it happen? How does someone become great?

If you think you know what wisdom is, you probably don't. If you think you have wisdom, you almost certainly don't. 

Is ego a prerequisite for greatness as an NFL quarterback? In this episode, Ryan is joined by award-winning sports journalist, Seth Wickersham, to dig into the brutal realities of the position, from overbearing parents and sideline meltdowns to Tom Brady’s relationship with Bill Belichick. They talk about the psychology, pressure, and identity struggles that come with the glory of America’s most powerful position in sports. Seth Wickersham is a senior writer at ESPN and the New York Times bestselling author of It’s Better to Be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness. Focusing primarily on longform enterprise and investigative work on the National Football League, Wickersham has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award for Reporting, and his stories have been anthologized in the Best American Magazine Writing, the Best American Sports Writing, and Next Wave: America’s New Generation of Great Literary Journalists, among others. R

Each of us is sent on missions, each of us does our stint in this situation or that one. The question is, then, will we return with honor?

You may not have a lot of money. Or powerful connections. Or even superior genetics. Does this mean you’re at a disadvantage?

In America, kings don’t wear crowns, they wear helmets. Being an NFL quarterback is the ultimate crown and it never comes free. Today, award-winning journalist Seth Wickersham joins Ryan to pull back the curtain on football’s most scrutinized position. They dive into why players can’t walk away, the intense loneliness at the top, and how the pressure can consume a player’s life.Seth Wickersham is a senior writer at ESPN and the New York Times bestselling author of It’s Better to Be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness. Focusing primarily on longform enterprise and investigative work on the National Football League, Wickersham has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award for Reporting, and his stories have been anthologized in the Best American Magazine Writing, the Best American Sports Writing, and Next Wave: America’s New Generation of Great Literary Journalists, among others. Released in 2021, It’s Better to Be Feared 

“As long as you live,” Seneca said, “keep learning how to live.” As long as we’re alive, we must keep learning and wrestling with these ideas.

Anyone who has had a run of bad luck knows the feeling. It’s frustrating and annoying and sometimes deeply unfair, but there is also something freeing about it.

It would be wonderful if we had more Stoic heads of state but a far more attainable goal is Stoic heads of companies, of families, of communities, of organizations and institutions.

While in Athens, Ryan had a near-death experience that reminded him just how short life really is. In today's episode, he shares 9 Stoic reminders about Memento Mori for you to think about today.

Self-doubt is just one of the 5 voices you can’t afford to keep listening to. Former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Michelle Curran and Ryan continue their conversation, breaking down the five inner critics that fuel fear, doubt, and perfectionism and show you how to rise above them. They talk about what people get wrong about courage, the myth of shortcuts, the illusion of importance, and how to push past the voices telling you you’re not enough. Michelle “MACE” Curran is a former United States Air Force fighter pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of F-16 flying time. She flew combat missions in Afghanistan and honed her skills across the globe, becoming the second woman in history to serve as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s elite demonstration team. Known for her signature upside-down maneuvers, Mace performed for millions, inspiring audiences at airshows and flyovers like the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and Indy 500.You can follow her on Instagram @Mace_Curran and learn more a