

The Stoic Handbook with Jon Brooks
Jon Brooks
You've read the books. You know what Marcus Aurelius would do. But when life gets hard, the philosophy disappears. This podcast is for people who want to close the gap between knowing Stoicism and actually living it. New episodes every Monday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 20, 2022 • 1h 17min
How I Overcame Anxiety Using Stoicism: Interview with Jon Brooks
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---“I’ve spent the last 7 or 8 years of my life with the prime objective of healing my anxiety and I have looked at so many different modalities. This course is the one course that I would recommend to anyone who is dealing with anxiety.”- Nic Stubbs, InterviewerIn this interview, my friend and colleague Nic Stubbs and I flesh out the details of my new course: Stoic Anxiety Mastery.Who is it for? Why I created it. And how it works.As well as a bunch of other topics around my personal journey with anxiety and how I transformed it from enemy to ally, the reasons why spiritual people shy away from these thoroughly research-backed cognitive healing modalities, and some of Nic's insights from his own struggles with social anxiety.

May 17, 2022 • 6min
Hard Challenges Unlock Inner Superpowers
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---This episode features my breakdown of the following quote: For every challenge, remember the resources you have within you to cope with it. Provoked by the sight of a handsome man or a beautiful woman, you will discover within you the contrary power of self-restraint… In time, you will grow to be confident that there is not a single impression that you will not have the moral means to tolerate.— Enchiridion, Chapter 10, Epictetus

May 5, 2022 • 8min
Pain Is a Problem for the Body, Not The Mind
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---Sickness is a problem for the body, not the mind – unless the mind decides that it is a problem. Lameness, too, is the body’s problem, not the mind’s. Say this to yourself whatever the circumstance and you will find without fail that the problem pertains to something else, not to you.— Epictetus

Apr 30, 2022 • 6min
Stoic Acceptance Contemplation to Reduce Anxiety Over an Uncertain Future
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---In this episode, we explore Chapter 8 of the Enchiridion and learn about an approach to accepting events exactly as they are instead of resisting against the will of nature and fortune.

Apr 22, 2022 • 4min
How to Let Go of Things You Love
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---In this episode, we explore Chapter 7 of the Enchiridion and learn about an analogy that can help us practice letting go of the things we enjoy in life when it is time to "return" back to our source.

Mar 9, 2022 • 8min
Stoicism is Preparation For the Worst Day of Your Life
The speaker reflects on a devastating car accident and the importance of being prepared for tragedies. They discuss the power of gratitude and shifting perspective to navigate life's challenges.

Feb 17, 2022 • 1h 40min
Deep Dive: How to Gamify Stoic Philosophy To Overcome Fear and Develop Radical Gratitude
In this discussion, Mike Slavin, a HighExistence teammate, dives deep into how gamifying Stoic philosophy can help manage fear and cultivate radical gratitude. They explore the modern relevance of Stoicism, shedding light on its practical applications for personal growth. Personal transformation through structured engagement with Stoic practices is emphasized, alongside innovative sound journeys that align with cognitive behavioral therapy. The conversation also contrasts Stoicism with extreme optimism, highlighting true resilience rooted in understanding adversity.

Feb 12, 2022 • 5min
Epictetus on Foolish Bragging vs. Wise Pride
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---Read the Stoic breakdown that accompanies this podcast here: https://www.stoichandbook.co/it-is-foolish-to-feel-pride-over-externals/

Jan 11, 2022 • 25min
11 Stoic Strategies to Conquer Fear
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---Note: In this audio, I insert a clip of the great Jocko Willink (channel here), but because this was originally a video with a visual of Jocko including his social accounts, it seems like I didn't credit him in this audio. Someone raised this in a podcast review, and I want to make this clear. In this episode, I explore 11 quotes by Seneca all about fear and anxiety, then explain some ways we might apply these ideas to our own life.

Jan 1, 2022 • 6min
The Art of Stoic Reading
Start here: If you want to build a consistent Stoic practice — not just listen to one — I made a free 7-day challenge. One short audio lesson per day, one practice to try. No fluff. stoicchallenge.co---In this Stoic Handbook episode, I answer a question by Mike Slavin, who asked me about ways I implement ancient Stoicism into my life. The question prompted me to discuss the best practices I've found for reading Stoic texts.


