Geeky Stoics

54:48

Your Addiction To Comfort Is Making You Worse

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/10/03

Aaron Welty was born with Cerebral Palsy and has beaten death at least twice. Today, he is a motivational speaker, has worked in the US Capitol as a legislative staffer, and is a "geeky stoic." I’ve known Aaron through the world of comic cons for many years, and through GeekyStoics, I’ve gotten the pleasure of knowing him more deeply. In this interview, you'll learn about the perils of comfort, how to fortify yourself with hardship, and the importance of a masculinity that strives towards gentleness

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7:38

You Need A Backslapper in Your Life

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/10/01

Encouragement goes a long way, and it requires an encourager in order to be received. In this short video for Subscribers to Geeky Stoics, I break down an interaction at the White House and why it got me thinking about men and the importance of having friends who nudge you forward."For our characters are taken from those we spend time with."- Seneca This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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16:55

Narnia Enters The Culture War. Why?

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/09/23

Hello friends. In today’s email, I have a video message for you recapping some of the latest revelations about Netflix’s adaptation of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by Greta Gerwig. We don’t do rage bait on GeekyStoics — though I will admit to feeling anger. This video is about what we know, what it suggests about the film's thinking, and what to do with that information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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13:57

Kill the Myth, Kill the Man

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/09/16

Another day is upon us. It’s been a busy few weeks in the world of Geeky Stoics. Last week, I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to appear on the Jeremy Boreing Show for a wide-ranging conversation on how to save the West….a discourse I am honored to be part of. It’s weird to me that this Substack has allowed me to enter into such discussions. Very grateful. Before heading to Nashville, Boreing posted something that I felt compelled to React to: a monologue about myth and the heart of man. Stories

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58:30

The State of Star Wars

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/06/09

We are witnessing the decline of Star Wars’ cultural dominance.In this week’s podcast, we’ll explore the current state of Star Wars, from its cultural impact to the storytelling challenges, and speculate about how the franchise might revive itself.We have a book coming this year!!! The Great Escape: 30 Reflections on Stoicism, Faith, and the Wisdom of Great Stories. Be the first to get early access, bonus content, and updates: The Rise and Fall of Star WarsStar Wars was more than movies; it was a

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62:47

Unmasking Toxic Empathy

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/05/16

In this week’s live stream and podcast, Geeky Stoics is exploring the concept of toxic empathy, its implications, and how it influences society, politics, and relationships. Riley and Stephen delve into the nature of empathy, moral virtue, and the importance of balancing compassion with discernment.Chapters:* 01:08 What Is Toxic Empathy?* 04:33 Empathy in Literature and Media: Star Wars and Narnia* 08:04 Moral and Cultural Relativism in Empathy* 15:13 Empathy in Justice and Punishment* 20:23 Evil

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10:54

The Stoicism in The Screwtape Letters

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/05/09

Today’s reading of The Screwtape Letters focuses on Chapter 3, a letter about personal/family relations and the importance of managing your impressions regarding facial expressions, tone of voice and other mannerisms. Things can break down rapidly when a relationship drifts toward enmity and assumed bad faith, and Lewis’s warning here is to reflect on how you let yourself off the hook for grating mannerisms—while scrutinizing those of everyone else. When two humans have lived together for many years

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8:51

Mind Your Own Business

Geeky Stoics ·

2026/04/28

Good morning! At our recent retreat, I came across a wardrobe with a semi-magical tea room inside… so naturally, I decided to crawl in and record a video podcast (typical). This was filmed by Jon of First Time Readers, a truly great channel for Tolkien analysis, and it focuses on a passage from C.S. Lewis’ Narnia books that I enjoy and return to often. By the way, we are now signing people up for the waitlist to pre-order our new book: GREAT ESCAPE: 30 Reflections on Stoicism, Faith and the Wisdom

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13:30

Maybe Escapism is Good, Actually

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/12/31

I don’t like to turn my brain off when enjoying a movie, show, or book. For me, the point has never been to “escape” the real world or be off in La-La Land; it’s to think more deeply. If a story isn’t engaging me on the level of morality, ethics, political thought….I get kind of bored. So, I’ve always criticized fellow fans of, say, Star Wars, who argue in the comments that they expect a story to offer “escapism.” It’s possible that, according to Tolkien, I’m wrong about this. Today I sat down to

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9:51

Luminous Beings Are We: A Christmas Message

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/12/22

There’s a scene in The Empire Strikes Back that never gets old. It’s kept its grip on me to this day.Luke in the Dagobah swamp, staring down the task he’s already decided is impossible. “It’s too big,” he says. And Yoda’s quiet reply exposes the lie most of us carry: that truth is limited to what we can see, touch, and control.Luminous beings are we.This week’s video is a reflection on that moment and why it matters, especially during the Christmas season.The Stoics spoke of the Logos, the rational

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2:50

Wisdom showdown: Uncle Ben vs Uncle Ben

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/12/09

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.geekystoics.comUncle Ben from Spider-Man serves as an introduction to wisdom and “maxims” for many kids around the world. It all starts with the movies we watch and the books we read. Here’s Uncle Ben in the 2002 movie….“This guy, Flash Thompson, he probably deserved what happened. But just because you can beat him up doesn’t give you the right to. Remember, with grea…

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5:00

Can we choose our feelings? Reflecting on Charlie...

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/09/19

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.geekystoics.comThank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join us for our next live video in the app and upgrade your subscription to get more involved in the community.

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66:23

Is Stoicism Enough?

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/08/13

It’s time for another long-form podcast! In this episode, we welcome Parker Settecase of ParkNotes Parker's Ponderings for a deep dive into the limits of Stoicism, the role of the God/Logos in this philosophy, and how these same ideas filter through Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and more.TOPICS WE’LL GET INTO* The overlap between Stoicism and Christianity: How Stoic principles align and diverge from Christian theology, and the importance of the Logos as a personal being.* Wrestling, discipline,

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49:10

Interview: Andrew Heaton of the Political Orphanage

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/08/07

Andrew Heaton is a comedian, political commentator, author, and political orphan best known for his skits on ReasonTV. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Andrew for many years and traveling in similar media circles. We both love to chat and interview people, and so when I saw he’d joined Substack, I knew we’d have to do something together. Both Heaton and I love to talk about fantasy and sci-fi, so we cover great fiction that has inspired Andrew’s worldview, and we get into the weeds of Andrew’s

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15:17

Reviewing "Superman": Virtue or Vice?

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/07/28

Somehow…Monday returned. Welcome back! This morning I am headed into Washington, DC to speak to a group of young professionals about communication and breaking through both the noise and polarization. These are tough times for getting your message across. Ears are closed. Eyes are covered. Impressions are set. How do we break through? I’ll share a few brief thoughts. It’ll be brief mainly because I want you to check out the video today, my interview about the new Superman movie on Fox Radio with

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7:39

Why So Serious?

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/05/20

"What need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears. New ills will come, or old ones will return. Meanwhile, keep your spirit cheerful." - Epictetus, DiscoursesThe other day, my daughter was stressed about some complicated logistical stuff happening two days in the future. She was visibly distraught and trying to figure out what to be prepared for in case it all went badly. I am not great at this myself, but I reminded her that tomorrow’s troubles don’t require your

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5:16

Every Winter Feels Like The Last

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/03/31

My family has taken to teasing me over my annual surprise when a shrubbery or tree on our property shows signs of life around March or April. I must admit, I do look at my plants in the winter and think to myself, “Well, that’s it. They’re dead.” And I do this every year.I kneel at the side of my bushes and snap their branches to check the inside for moist green. I stare at them for long periods of time, wondering if I need to uproot the plant and toss it out for a new one.Tonight over dinner, I

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8:56

A Guide to Narnia "The Magician's Nephew"

Geeky Stoics ·

2025/01/19

Did you see the news about The Chronicles of Narnia? After years of negotiation, director Greta Gerwig has closed a deal to have her Narnia movie hit theaters on November 26, 2026 before streaming on Netflix that Christmas. It’s pretty exciting! We love C.S. Lewis’ Narnia here on Geeky Stoics. The best available information out there points to Gerwig starting her Narnia series with the chronological first book, The Magician’s Nephew. In this video, I explain the significance of Narnia’s return AND

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5:29

Tolkien & The Dream That Wasn't

Geeky Stoics ·

2024/12/02

The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater. — Tolkien, The Fellowship of the RingThroughout The Lord of the Rings, doom and tragedy are constantly on the doorstep of J.R.R. Tolkien’s heroes. Failure and defeat happen frequently. The Witch King of Angmar overpowers Merry and Éowyn, Boromir is struck down by Uruk-hai scouts leaving the Fellowship

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5:40

Vegeta's Pride & Rebuilding of Self

Geeky Stoics ·

2024/10/29

“It is not a golden bit that makes one horse superior to others.”-Seneca, Letters from A StoicIt’s taken longer than I intended to find a Dragon Ball Z topic for Geeky Stoics. This uniquely popular anime in the United States was my second love growing up, right next to Star Wars. My favorite character is Vegeta, the Prince of Saiyans. He is a total jerk, but it’s something of a novelty as the show grinds on. The whole schtick is that Saiyans are immensely prideful and take their race and blood

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