x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Stoic Responder

Kristofor Healey

Welcome to The Stoic Responder Podcast. In my law enforcement career, Stoic philosophy provided the mindset edge that was the foundation of my professional success. My mission today is to share those ancient mindset lessons with you so that you can approach your career and life with a tactical advantage live your life with valor.

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

16:54

The Noblest Victories

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/11/07

“For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories. ” – Plato In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: Stories of overcoming adversity offer proof of the wisdom of Plato’s words. Yes, the enemy is out there, be it on the battlefield or in the arena. But the greatest victories we will ever win come from first confronting and defeating the limitations of our own hearts and minds. To conquer oneself is to transcend the limitations of ego, desire, and fear, and to attain a state of

en

16:54

The Opinion of Others

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/11/07

“I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others.” – Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: From a young age, we are socialized to seek approval from authority figures, peers, and society at large, internalizing external standards of success, beauty, and worthiness. Marcus Aurelius invites us to challenge this tendency and to cultivate a balanced

en

11:06

Honor Culture

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/11/06

"There is only one thing for which God has sent me into the world, and that is to develop every kind of virtue or strength, and there is nothing in all the world that I cannot use for this purpose." – Epictetus In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: So-called ‘honor culture’ is often associated with traditional communities where social cohesion, reputation, and communal values hold significant importance. Individuals bound by the traditions of such a community are expected to uphold a certain

en

21:13

You Can Always Change Yourself

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/11/05

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: Viktor Frankl endured unimaginable loss and horror at the hands of the Nazis, but rather than become consumed by despair or resignation to a hopeless situation beyond his control, Frankl endeavored to cultivate resilience in himself, taking responsibility of his own emotional and mental well being and seeking meaning in every moment of living. His 1946

en

11:26

The Performer's Conundrum

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/11/02

“Take a lyre player: he’s relaxed when he performs alone, but put him in front of an audience, and it’s a different story, no matter how beautiful his voice or how well he plays the instrument. Why? Because he not only wants to perform well, he wants to be well received — and the latter lies outside his control.” – Epictetus In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: The craving for approval is not limited to musicians and other artists; it's a universal human trait. And whether in our creative

en

12:28

What Fault of Mine?

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/11/01

“Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?” – Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: There is an interconnectedness to this human experience. Just as we are quick to notice the faults of others, so too are they likely to perceive our own shortcomings. So instead of focusing on the perceived shortcomings of those around us, we would do better to turn our gaze

en

11:51

Endure and Prevail

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/31

“So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all; to endure it and prevail is great good fortune.” – Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: Endurance athletes understand what we must all embrace: pain is not misfortune, but rather, an opportunity to endure and prevail. And to endure is the greatest gift of all. We talk about the importance of learning to prevail over pain on today’s podcast. Resources + Links:

en

15:17

Delight in Receiving Advice

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/30

“A good man delights in receiving advice: all the worst men are the most impatient of guidance.” - Seneca In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: Throughout your career you will receive copious amounts of unsolicited advice. And while it is tempting to tune it out, doing so can make the job more difficult than it needs to be and limits you to a single source for solving problems - you! It's hard to admit that we're flawed or to acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers. But to foolishly

en

09:21

Acceptable to the Gods

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/25

“If when he eats, he can be just, cheerful, equitable, temperate, and orderly, can he not thus eat acceptably to the Gods?” - Epictetus In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: The manner and means in which we consume food and alcohol is reflective of our character, and disposition. Do we demonstrate reverence and gratitude for the nourishment provided to us or do we gripe and complain? Do we take only what we need or do we indulge in excess, succumbing to our basest desires? We talk about how we

en

11:33

How to Be Tranquil

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/24

“Occupy thyself with few things, says the philosopher, if thou wouldst be tranquil.“ – Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: From the moment we rise until we go to bed, we are deluged with expectation, information, and entertainment. And unless we learn to discern between the essential and the trivial, the meaningful and the superficial, and to invest our time and energy accordingly, we will lose the plot. It is only by decluttering our minds and lives, that we can create space

en

14:22

Are You Owning It?

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/23

“Man conquers the world by conquering himself.” – Zeno In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: Before dawn on June 5, 1944, General Eisenhower ordered his subordinates to proceed with Operation Overlord. Later that same evening, he scribbled a note intended for release should the landings fail. It read in part, “The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone." He underlined the words ‘mine alone’

en

14:11

The Superficial is Fleeting

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/22

"The flourishing life cannot be achieved until we moderate our desires and see how superficial and fleeting they are." – Epictetus In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: We all know the ambitious rookie with the lifted and murdered out diesel truck. After all, he’s a walking PD stereotype, living on Copenhagen and Monster in between trips to 24 Hour Fitness and his next overtime shift. If you’ve ever been an FTO, you’ve trained more than one of these dudes, and if you’re honest, there’s a good

en

12:44

A Banquet or a Bacchanal

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/18

“Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a portion of it politely. It passes on; do not detain it. Or it has not come to you yet; do not project your desire to meet it, but wait until it comes in front of you. So act toward children, so toward a wife, so toward office, so toward wealth.“ – Epictetus In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: Hunger, like thirst, is biological, physical

en

20:43

You Can Endure

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/17

E084: You Can Endure “Nothing happens to anyone he can’t endure.” – Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: During a game against the Houston Texans on November 8, 2018, Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith was sacked in the backfield. As he fell, his right leg was caught at an odd angle leading to a complex spiral and compound fracture of both his tibia and fibula. The gruesome injury was so severe that doctors considered it life threatening, and when the injury developed

en

12:34

Quality or Quantity

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/16

“What’s the point of having countless books and libraries, whose titles could hardly be read through in a lifetime. The learner is not taught, but burdened by the sheer volume, and it’s better to plant the seeds of a few authors than to be scattered about by many.” – Seneca In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: While his achievements in conquering much of the ancient world are awe-inspiring, Alexander the Great’s story also serves as a cautionary example of the perils of unchecked ambition and

en

13:59

Thoughts Shade the Soul

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/15

E082: Thoughts Shade the Soul “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: The soul is our inner essence and character. It is not a fixed entity but, rather, one that is continuously molded and influenced by our thoughts. Through our thoughts, we retain the power to shape our perceptions, attitudes, and responses to the world, ultimately impacting the state of our soul. We talk about the importance of “dyeing” your soul the

en

12:10

Embrace Indifference

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/11

“Define for me now what the “indifferents” are. Whatever things we cannot control. Tell me the upshot. They are nothing to me.” – Epictetus In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: Stoicism is a philosophy of personal agency. It reminds us that while external events may unfold independently of our will, our judgments and responses are firmly within our grasp, and the power to choose our attitudes and interpretations, rooted in reason and virtue, is a source of profound freedom. Inherent in that

en

09:04

A Happy Life

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/10

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.” – Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: We live in a culture that equates happiness with comfort, wealth, success, and status. That’s not so different from the first century Rome that Marcus Aurelius came of age in. Still, in our time, just as it was in his, lasting fulfillment cannot be found in the pursuit of external accolades or possessions. Rather, it emerges from the cultivation

en

14:02

Watch for the Wolf

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/09

“There’s nothing worse than a wolf befriending sheep. Avoid false friendship at all costs. If you are good, straightforward, and well meaning it should show in your eyes and not escape notice.” — Marcus Aurelius In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: There will be temptations in your life to associate with others who may not have your best interest in mind. False friendships lead to betrayal, manipulation, and emotional and professional harm. We talk about the importance of guarding against

en

16:12

Hold Your Own Court

The Stoic Responder ·

2024/10/08

“How sweet is the sleep that follows this self-examination” – Seneca In This Episode, We Get Stoic About: It is difficult to engage in an accurate self-assessment of our own worth. Most people underestimate themselves, their skills, or what they can achieve or, conversely, overvalue what they have already done. This is why Stoics like Seneca and Epictetus adopted a form of daily self-examination that originated with Pythagoras. We talk about the we should be asking ourselves every single day

en

340 results

Similar Podcasts

The Daily Horoscope

The Daily Horoscope

The Michael Decon Program

Michael Decon

Kalimera Koveos

Andrea Koveos

The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service

Smarter leben

DER SPIEGEL