The Daily Stoic Francis Ford Coppola Opens Up About How Philosophy Has Inspired His Life and Career
Francis Ford Coppola, one of the greatest directors known for masterpieces like The Godfather, shares how Stoicism and Epicureanism shape his life and work. He reveals the long, challenging journey of completing his latest film, Megalopolis, which intertwines Roman history with contemporary themes. Coppola reflects on the artist's legacy, the importance of storytelling, and how literature informs his cinematic vision, providing a thoughtful exploration of creativity, resilience, and the enduring influence of philosophy.
01:01:53
Forgotten Prequel
- The Catiline Conspiracy is a prequel to Rome's Civil War, featuring key figures like Caesar and Cicero.
- It's been largely forgotten, showing how preceding events can be overshadowed by major ones.
Coppola's Education
- Coppola was a poor student due to frequent school changes, facing beatings for bad grades.
- His father threatened to send him to a Jesuit school if his grades didn't improve.
Collaborative Filmmaking
- Coppola views filmmaking as a collaborative art, where the movie tells you how to make it.
- He cites Apocalypse Now as an example of this emergent property, where the film's surrealism grew organically.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Journey from Assistant to Conversations with a Film Legend
04:04 • 4min
Reinterpreting the Catiline Conspiracy
07:47 • 16min
Navigating Costs, Privacy, and the Power of Oratory
23:31 • 3min
The Legacy of Language and Literature
26:41 • 17min
Influence of Literature and Film
43:46 • 5min
Literature, Loss, and Life Lessons
49:00 • 17min
Legacy and the Pursuit of Meaning in Creative Work
01:05:31 • 3min
#18819
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Creation
A Catholic’s Guide to God and the Universe
McGrath Institute for Church Life
John C. Cavadini
Christopher T. Baglow
#663
• Mentioned in 50 episodes
The storm before the storm
The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic
Duncan, Michael (Podcaster)
Mike Duncan
This book chronicles the years 146-78 BC, a period marked by the rise of economic inequality, social and ethnic prejudice, and rampant corruption, which ultimately led to the collapse of the Roman Republic.
Duncan explores how men like Marius, Sulla, and the Gracchi brothers set new precedents that undermined the traditional principles of the Republic, leading it towards destruction.
The book also draws parallels between the decline of the Roman Republic and contemporary political issues, highlighting the importance of maintaining democratic norms and addressing social and economic inequalities.
#96305
Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
In 'Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre' folgt der Leser dem jungen Wilhelm Meister auf seiner Reise der Selbstentdeckung und künstlerischen Entwicklung.
Zwischen bürgerlichem Leben und künstlerischen Träumen hin- und hergerissen, erlebt Wilhelm eine Vielzahl von Erfahrungen, die ihn letztlich zu einem besseren Verständnis von sich selbst führen.
Das Werk ist ein bedeutender Beitrag zur deutschen Literatur und zum Genre des Bildungsromans.
#5085
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The harder they fall
Budd Schulberg
The Harder They Fall is a novel by Budd Schulberg that delves into the corrupt world of professional boxing in the late 1940s.
It follows the story of Toro Molina, a massive but untalented Argentine boxer, and Eddie Lewis, a cynical sports journalist, as they navigate the dark underbelly of the sport.
The book is a relentless critique of the boxing racket, exposing its corruption and moral decay.
#12225
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Will in the World
Stephen Greenblatt
Stephen Greenblatt's 'Will in the World' delves into the life of William Shakespeare, exploring how his experiences in Elizabethan England influenced his works.
The book provides a richly detailed portrayal of Shakespeare's life and times, analyzing his most famous plays and the historical context that shaped them.
Greenblatt also discusses the enigma of Shakespeare's personality and the enduring influence of his works.
#15014
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Antkind
Charlie Kaufman
In 'Antkind', Charlie Kaufman crafts a richly layered narrative about B. Rosenberger Rosenberg, a neurotic film critic who discovers a three-month-long film by a reclusive auteur.
After the film's destruction, B. embarks on a journey to mentally reconstruct it, delving into themes of art, identity, and the nature of existence.
The novel is a searing indictment of the modern world, blending satire, surrealism, and philosophical reflections.
#12211
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Story of the Stone
Also known as The Dream of the Red Chamber
Cao Xueqin
The Story of the Stone, also known as The Dream of the Red Chamber, is a seminal work of Chinese literature that follows the fortunes of the Jia family, mirroring the author's own experiences.
It explores themes of love, fate, and social hierarchy, offering a detailed portrayal of life in High Qing China.
The novel is renowned for its complex characters, particularly the young women, and its blend of realism and mythic elements.
#56
• Mentioned in 238 episodes
Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is a central text in Hinduism, embedded within the epic Mahabharata.
It recounts a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna, who is an avatar of the god Vishnu.
The text explores themes of dharma (duty), karma (action), and the path to spiritual enlightenment.
Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of performing his duties without attachment to the outcomes, emphasizing the concept of nishkama karma (nonattached action).
The Gita synthesizes various strands of Indian religious thought, including Vedic concepts, samkhya yoga, and bhakti (devotion), providing a coherent vision of Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice.
#9189
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Tyrant
Shakespeare on Politics
Stephen Greenblatt
#3121
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
Ask the Dust
John Fante
Set during the Great Depression, 'Ask the Dust' is a gritty and poignant tale of Arturo Bandini, a young writer in Los Angeles.
The novel, told through Bandini's first-person narrative, explores themes of poverty, ambition, love, and despair.
Bandini's struggles with writer's block, financial hardship, and his complex relationship with Camilla Lopez are vividly depicted against the backdrop of the era's harsh realities.
The book is known for its spare, well-crafted prose and its influence on later writers, including Charles Bukowski.
#5328
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Tender is the Night
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Tender Is the Night is a novel that delves into the intense and complicated relationship between Dick and Nicole Diver, an American couple living in the South of France, and Rosemary Hoyt, a young actress.
The story explores themes of social class, codependent love, and mental illness, reflecting the excesses and disillusionments of the Jazz Age. Dick, a brilliant psychiatrist, marries Nicole, a wealthy and mentally unstable patient, and their relationship is complicated by Dick's infatuation with Rosemary.
The novel critiques the superficiality and moral decay of the wealthy elite and is heavily influenced by Fitzgerald's own life, particularly his relationship with his wife Zelda, who struggled with mental illness.
#3
• Mentioned in 1,027 episodes
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature.
Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
#4468
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The swerve
Stephen Greenblatt
In 'The Swerve', Stephen Greenblatt explores the impact of Poggio Bracciolini's discovery of Lucretius' 'De Rerum Natura' in 1417.
This ancient Roman poem, which posits a universe governed by natural laws rather than divine intervention, had a profound influence on the Renaissance and beyond, shaping the thought of figures like Galileo, Darwin, and Einstein.
Greenblatt's book is both a biography of Bracciolini and an intellectual history of how this text helped shape modernity.
In his first ever podcast interview, Francis Ford Coppola joins Ryan to talk about how Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism, and Epicureanism have impacted his life, both personally and professionally. Francis reflects on his legacy and why it was so important to complete his latest movie, Megalopolis (out September 27), after he began developing it in the early 1980’s. Francis almost abandoned it multiple times and ultimately ended up self-financing the project.
Megalopolis is a sci-fi drama Roman Epic fable based on Cicero and the Catiline Conspiracy set in an imagined Modern America that stars Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Grace VanderWaal, Nathalie Emmanuel, Chloe Fineman, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, and more.
As Francis says, “You can't go to New York without realizing it is covered with Roman buildings. So, my intent was to write a Roman epic set in a contemporary New York that copied Ancient Rome."
Francis Ford Coppola is one of the greatest movie directors of all time. His movies include The Godfather, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, and his latest project, Megalopolis is in theaters on September 27, 2024!
Check out the trailer for Megalopolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq6mvHZU0fc
Follow Francis on Instagram @francisfordcoppola and go see Megalopolis in theaters on September 27!
Books Mentioned:
The Storm Before The Storm by Mike Duncan
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt
A Dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin
Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran
The Harder They Fall by Budd Schulberg
Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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