The Via Stoica Podcast — A Stoic Way of Life

What does it mean to build your identity around alcohol, and who do you become when you walk away from it?In this personal episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny reflects on six years sober: the slow unraveling of a drinking identity, the moment that changed everything, and how Stoic philosophy helped him find solid ground on the other side.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.This isn't a recovery programme or a how-to guide. It's an honest reflection on self-awareness, learning to see your relationship with alcohol clearly, and asking whether it belongs in the life you actually want to live.Benny traces his story from heavy social drinking in the Netherlands to a quiet turning point in a Dubai hotel room, and the evening years later when he finally made the decision for good. Along the way, he explores the difference between white-knuckling willpower and building genuine intrinsic motivation, and shares how the Stoic practice of negative visualization became a practical anchor in moments of temptation. Pause. Trace the consequences. Ask yourself honestly if that's a price worth paying.What he feared most, losing his place in the group, became his greatest gain.If this story resonates, take a moment to reflect on your own.Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com#Sober #SoberLife #SoberLiving #Sobriety #SobrietyJourney #AlcoholFree #QuitDrinking #MindfulLiving #Stoicism #StoicPhilosophy #ViaStoica #NegativeVisualization #DeliberateLiving #SelfAwareness #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #PhilosophyPodcast #StoicPodcast #SoberPodcast

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism as lived experience. What does Stoic philosophy actually look like in daily life? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, I share five Stoic practices I try to use every day, not as a prescription, but as an honest account of what helps me stay grounded.This episode is an invitation to see what these practices look like when they're imperfect, inconsistent, and genuinely useful.In this episode we cover:The Pause — creating space between what happens and how you respondMemento Mori — remembering impermanence as a practice of presence, not fearNegative visualisation — preparing for what might go wrong, without spiralling into itThe discipline of desire — noticing what you're chasing and whether it's actually yoursThe discipline of assent — questioning your first interpretation before acting on itRole awareness (bonus) — knowing what a situation asks of you when you're unsure what to doNone of these require you to know Stoic philosophy. What they require is a willingness to make progress. If you've ever wondered how self-awareness becomes a daily habit rather than a concept, this episode is for you.Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

How I Built a Life I'm Grateful For — Via Stoica PodcastWhat does it actually take to build a life you're grateful for, and where do you even begin? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, Benny shares his personal journey from a life that no longer felt his own to one built around freedom, simplicity, and a philosophy that holds.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Each episode, we bring Stoic philosophy out of the books and into real life, not as theory, but as a practice for building self-awareness, clarity, and a life that feels genuinely yours.Change rarely happens all at once. It begins with a moment of honest reckoning, a clear vision of what actually matters, and the willingness to make small, deliberate decisions over time. In this episode, we trace that process through the lens of Stoic philosophy, from understanding your values and rethinking your relationship with money, to letting go of what doesn't belong to who you want to be. The Stoics remind us that the examined life is not a luxury. It is the starting point for everything.If you've been waiting for the right moment to start living more intentionally, this episode is an honest account of what that path can look like.Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

What are you living for? — Via Stoica PodcastWhat are you actually living for, and have you ever stopped long enough to ask? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we sit with one of the most important questions a person can face, and explore what Stoic philosophy has to offer when the answer isn't clear.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. Each episode, we bring Stoic philosophy out of the books and into real life, not as theory, but as a practice for building self-awareness, clarity, and a life that feels genuinely yours.Most of us are living on a track we didn't consciously choose. Society sets the milestones. Social media distorts the comparison. And somewhere in the noise, the question of personal values gets buried under the need to keep up. Stoicism offers a different starting point: the examined life. The goal isn't accumulation or status, it's eudaimonia, the cultivation of good character and a sound inner life. When we understand what we're actually living for, the small daily decisions begin to align with who we are. That's where real change happens.If you've been feeling the gap between how you're living and how you want to live, this episode is a quiet invitation to close it, one honest question at a time.Read the related article: https://viastoica.com/what-am-i-living-for/Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

What is a philosophy of life, and how do you find yours? In this opening episode of the Via Stoica Podcast's Philosophy of Life series, we explore what it means to live with intention, guided by Stoic philosophy and your own values.Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This series is about building something real, a foundation for how you actually want to live, not the life inherited from others.Most of us absorb our beliefs about success, purpose, and personal values from the world around us without ever choosing them. We follow routines that work on the surface but feel quietly off underneath. Stoic philosophy offers a different starting point: self-awareness, honest reflection, and the courage to ask whether the life you're living is actually yours.A philosophy of life isn't a rulebook. It's a quiet guide you return to, especially when things fall apart or when everything seems fine but something still feels missing.This is Episode 1 of the Philosophy of Life series. Listen to explore what it means to stop borrowing your life from others and start building one that fits who you actually are.Read the related article here: https://viastoica.com/how-to-find-your-philosophy-of-life/🌐 viastoica.com👤 Meet Benny: viastoica.com/benny-voncken📩 Newsletter: viastoica.com/subscribe-to-via-stoica-newsletter▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy guides us toward living well with ourselves and others. In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus’ insight on friendship and values:“What a man sets his heart on, that he naturally loves... It remains for us to conclude then that good things alone are what they set their heart on. And if they set their heart on those, they love them too.”Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 22Epictetus reminds us that people naturally love what they believe to be good. When someone acts poorly, it is often because they misunderstand what truly benefits them. Stoicism teaches that real good lies not in wealth, status, or external success, but in virtue and good character. When we understand this, our priorities change, and so do the relationships and friendships we cultivate.This connects with the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: we learn to value what truly matters, question mistaken judgments about success or happiness, and act in ways that support both our own character and the well-being of others. Practically, this means choosing friendships grounded in shared values, guiding others with patience when possible, and remembering that everyone acts according to what they think is best, even when they are mistaken.For more, check out this related article with the Stoic view on friendship:https://viastoica.com/the-stoic-view-of-friendship/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

What Does it Mean to be a Philosopher?Philosophy is often seen as academic or reserved for experts. But what if being a philosopher is something many of us already practice in everyday life?Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we explore philosophy as a way of living rather than a subject to master. Instead of focusing on theory or credentials, the conversation looks at curiosity, reflection, and how we orient ourselves in daily life.We reflect on why philosophy is often misunderstood as overthinking or abstraction, and how it actually shows up in ordinary moments, when we pause, question our reactions, and try to live with more awareness. You are invited to consider who you already see as wise in your own life, and what qualities make their guidance meaningful.This episode invites you to reconsider what it means to be a philosopher, and to recognize how much philosophy may already be present in your own life.Read the article here: https://viastoica.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-philosopher/Support the showviastoica.comYouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy helps us remain steady amid the challenges of everyday life. In this episode, we reflect on Marcus Aurelius’ personal reminder from his private notes:“So other people hurt me? That’s their problem. Their character and actions are not mine. What is done to me is ordained by nature. What I do, by my own.”Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.25Marcus reminds himself that we cannot control what others do, only how we respond. People will sometimes speak harshly, act unfairly, or behave poorly, but their actions belong to them. Our responsibility is to protect our own character and respond with reason rather than anger. Stoicism teaches that true harm occurs only when we abandon our own values and lose control of our response.This reflects the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: we accept that external events and other people lie outside our control, we question the judgment that tells us we’ve been harmed, and we choose actions that preserve our peace of mind and integrity. Practically, this means pausing before reacting, letting go of insults that carry no truth, and using criticism, when valid, as a chance to improve rather than as a personal attack.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoicism and dealing with difficult people:https://viastoica.com/how-to-stop-taking-things-personally/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com

What’s wrong with modern Stoicism?Stoicism is often presented today as a self-help philosophy focused on emotional control, toughness, and handling life alone. But does Stoicism really work when we are grieving, depressed, or emotionally overwhelmed?Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.In this episode, we reflect on what is missing in modern Stoicism and why it often feels rigid or harsh in practice. Stoicism depends on our ability to use reason, but that ability is not always available. When reason is inaccessible, Stoicism cannot be practiced in isolation and requires support, compassion, and guidance.Stoicism was never meant to harden us or turn us inward. It is a deeply pro-social philosophy that emphasizes shared responsibility, patience with ourselves, and gratitude for what is already here. This episode explores why real-life application, self-compassion, and community matter more than being right about Stoic theory.Listen to the full episode and discover how Stoicism, practiced with reason, care, and support, can help us live more steadily and more humanly.Read the article here: https://viastoica.com/what-is-wrong-with-modern-stoicism/Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, where we explore how Stoic philosophy helps us face life’s challenges with steadiness and wisdom. In this episode, we look at Seneca’s reflection from his consolation to Marcia, who was grieving the loss of her son:“What is the need to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears. Fresh troubles will press upon you before you have done with the old ones.”Seneca, Consolation to Marcia, 11Seneca’s message is direct: suffering is part of the human condition, and no life is free from hardship. Grief and sadness are natural, but if we focus only on loss, we risk missing the larger truth that challenges are woven into life itself. Instead of being crushed by each new difficulty, Stoicism invites us to accept change, find support in others, and transform hardship into growth and resilience.This teaching connects with the Stoic disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action: we learn to accept that difficulties are inevitable, question the judgments that make suffering unbearable, and choose responses that move us forward rather than trap us in despair. Practically, this means allowing ourselves to grieve while avoiding rash decisions, supporting others through their pain, and remembering that past hardships have already helped shape the strength we carry today.For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoicism and grief:https://viastoica.com/on-dealing-with-loss/And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:https://viastoica.com/stoic-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/epictetus-quoteshttps://viastoica.com/seneca-quotesMake sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://x.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: badmic.com