The Strong Stoic Podcast

In this episode of The Strong Stoic, I sit down with an active-duty Navy submarine officer to explore Stoicism through the lens of military leadership, conflict, and responsibility.
We discuss:
Why Stoicism isn’t emotional suppression
The role of anger in leadership and combat
How virtue makes you more effective — not softer
Why roles matter more than feelings
The connection between strength training and moral discipline
What Marcus Aurelius can teach modern leaders about conflict
This is not a romanticized conversation about war.
It’s a grounded exploration of responsibility under pressure.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of leadership…
If you’ve ever questioned how to handle conflict…
If you’re trying to be dangerous — but disciplined —
This one’s for you.

Most people don’t fail at Stoicism because they don’t know enough.
They fail because they don’t practice enough.
In this episode, I talk about why I stopped buying Stoic books, why fiction pulled me back into reading, and how the real work of philosophy happens far away from the page.
We explore the gap between knowing and becoming, why mastery takes decades—not weeks—and why repetition, not insight, is the true currency of growth.
If you feel stuck despite “doing everything right,” this episode is for you.

Our culture glorifies multitasking—but the Stoics would call it a mistake.
In this episode of The Strong Stoic Podcast, we explore why doing more at once often means experiencing less. Drawing on Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, we examine presence, intention, and why even “productive” multitasking quietly erodes meaning.
We’ll talk about:
Why multitasking feels productive but isn’t
The difference between intentional rest and avoidance
How presence transforms ordinary actions
Why life feels short when attention is scattered
Slow down. Focus. Do what matters—fully.

Not everyone regulates themselves the same way.
Some people measure their actions by character. Others measure by consequences. In this episode, we explore the difference between internal and external regulation, why Stoics tend to be internal regulators, and why that can quietly lead to rumination and burnout if left unchecked.
We cover:
Why not everyone thinks the way you do
How internal regulation drives growth—and suffering
When reflection stops being useful
A simple Stoic method to close the rumination loop
Being internally regulated is a strength—but only if you know when to move on.

Most leadership failures don’t come from incompetence.
They come from imbalance.
Too much edge and people comply—but stop trusting you.
Too much kindness and standards quietly collapse.
Real leadership lives in the tension between humanity and consequence.
In this episode, I break down:
Why edge without warmth creates feaWhy kindness without teeth creates entitlement
What “teeth” actually mean (and what they don’t)
The real cost of balanced leadership
Why every Stoic is a leader—whether you want the role or not
Be kind enough to protect the human.
Be dangerous enough to protect the standard.