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Artwork for The Stoic Question: Philosophy and Psychology

The Stoic Question: Philosophy and Psychology

Donald J. Robertson
Stoicism
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Marcus Aurelius
Philosophy
Mental Health
Anger
Relationships
Anger Management
Roman Gladiators
Psychotherapy
Socrates
Codependency
Ancient Rome
Schema Therapy
Emotional Resilience
Seneca
Antonine Plague
Stoic Philosophy
Death and Mortality
Self-Sacrifice Schema

Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor and How to Think Like Socrates, explores the meeting point of Stoicism, philosophy, psychology, psychotherapy, and the art of living through solo reflections and conversations with leading experts on anger, anxiety, resilience, self-improvement, and how to live well. donaldrobertson.substack.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes78Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureEducationSelf-ImprovementPhilosophy

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Artwork for The Stoic Question: Philosophy and Psychology

Latest Episodes

In this live conversation, I’m joined by Phil Yanov to discuss what it actually means to “do” Stoic therapy. We explore how Stoic philosophy can be applied in practice to emotions, habits, values, and everyday problems — and how these ancient ideas r... more

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Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel fre... more

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In this episode, I chat with Claudia Mills, an emerita professor of philosophy and award-winning author of more than sixty books for young readers. Her new novel, Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom, is about a difficult young student w... more

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In this episode, I chat with Mark Forstater, the producer of over 30 films, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He is the author of a number of books, including The Spiritual Teachings of Marcus Aurelius, The Spiritual Teachings of Seneca, and... more

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Recent Guests

Donald Robertson
Author and cognitive psychotherapist
Author; Cognitive psychotherapy
Episode: How to Do Stoic Therapy, with Phil Yanov
Claudia Mills
Emerita professor of philosophy and author
Em briefly mentioned as author and professor
Episode: How can Stoicism Help Kids?
Mark Forstater
Film producer, Monty Python collaborator, author
Monty Python universe / film industry
Episode: What Marcus Aurelius Can Teach Us About Coping with Stress
Dr. Massimo Pigliucci
Author, professor of philosophy, and blogger
City College of New York
Episode: The Rescuer Trap: The Skeptic's Guide to Autonomy
Dr. Jeff Perron
Psychologist and author of the popular sub-stack 'The Psychology of Happiness'
Otto Institute
Episode: The Rescuer Trap: The Schema Trap featuring Dr. Jeff Perron
William C. Spears
Commander in the United States Navy and author of the upcoming book, Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy
United States Navy
Episode: Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy
Robert Garland
British classical philologist and historian, author of numerous works on ancient Greek and Roman history.
Colgate University
Episode: What to Expect When You're Dead
Carlos Garcia
Co-founder and CEO of True Progress Lab, Army Certified Master Resilience Trainer
True Progress Lab
Episode: The Inner Fortress: Military Resilience and Stoic Philosophy
Harry Sidebottom
Lecturer in ancient history at Lincoln College, Oxford and best-selling author of numerous historical novels and books.
Lincoln College, Oxford
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator

Host

Donald Robertson
Author and cognitive psychotherapist; host noted for linking Stoicism with psychotherapy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 151 ratings
  • What happened to Donald?

    I’ve loved the podcast when Donald would do his interviews with different people but this new format with the two new hosts are not it for me. Nothing against them but I came for Donald’s CBT/Stoicism content. Which has disappeared

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Cityville/Hometown
    United States5 months ago
  • Thank you.

    This podcast is fantastic. It’s so useful. It’s so practical. I will say I feel like Donald’s microphone/audio quality could be improved . But anyways, I would give this podcast six stars if I could.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JordanP153
    United States7 months ago
  • Best podcast on Stoicism

    I could listen to Donald all day - I love how he constantly ties philosophy with modern psychotherapy - it’s fascinating and it has helped me better understand why it works and how to consistently apply it. Thank you for the time and effort you’ve put into this!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gudthing1
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Love this podcast!

    I love this podcast about Stoicism. Good insight and practical.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jenbwallace
    United States10 months ago
  • Excellent

    Very relatable and disgusting in a way that every man can understand.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChrisRamsey1
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guest expertise and thoughtful discussions are frequently highlighted as a key strength.
Some listeners critique interruptions during interviews and seek a smoother host-guest dynamic.
Listeners appreciate the blend of philosophy and psychology and the practical, actionable takeaways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Do Stoic Therapy, with Phil Yanov
Q: What practical steps can listeners take to apply these ideas today?
Listeners are urged to slow down during emotional triggers, practice premeditatio malorum (premeditating adversities) to defuse potential reactions, and use Socratic questioning to inspect underlying beliefs, transitioning from automatic responses to deliberate, flexible coping.
How to Do Stoic Therapy, with Phil Yanov
Q: Can you drive the audience toward the idea that Stoic psychotherapy has always existed in some form?
Robertson explains that Stoic psychotherapy is ancient in spirit, evidenced by dialogues and texts that framed therapy of the psyche as a medical-like practice long before modern psychology, with Chrysippus and Epictetus offering foundational cognitive approaches that anticipate CBT.
How can Stoicism Help Kids?
Q: How can parents help their kids learn philosophy at home?
Model curiosity, engage with children's questions, and practicing dialogue and cognitive flexibility in daily life.
How can Stoicism Help Kids?
Q: Why Epictetus and Stoicism in Calliope's journey?
Epictetus provides a framework for controlling one's own responses and understanding what is within one's power, which helps Calliope navigate personal and ethical challenges.
How can Stoicism Help Kids?
Q: What is wisdom, and how does it differ from knowledge?
Wisdom involves knowing how to use knowledge to improve life and the well-being of others, not merely accumulating facts.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful exploration at the crossroads of Stoicism, psychology, and practical living, featuring conversations with leading philosophers, therapists, and educators. Episodes frequently connect ancient ideas to modern mental-health concepts, covering cognitive-behavioral approaches, resilience, anger management, parenting, and ethical living. Notable strengths include high-caliber guest expertise (from cognitive psychotherapy to philosophy for children) and a clear focus on applying philosophy to everyday well-being. The format often blends historical context with actionable techniques, making it helpful for listeners who want evidence-informed guidance and nuanced, long-form discussions about living well through Stoic and psychological i... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Stoic Coffee Break
2. Practical Stoicism
3. The Daily Stoic
4. MODERN STOICISM
5. Alan Watts Being in the Way

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this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 78 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Donald Robertson
2. Claudia Mills
3. Mark Forstater
4. Dr. Massimo Pigliucci
5. Dr. Jeff Perron
6. William C. Spears
7. Robert Garland
8. Carlos Garcia

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