Why does Stoicism resonate so deeply when you read it, yet change so little when you try to live it? In this episode of the Via Stoica Podcast, we look honestly at why Stoic philosophy stops working for most people, and where self-awareness becomes the real starting point.

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. This is not a place for theory at a safe distance. It is a place for the harder, more honest work of actually applying Stoic philosophy to real life.

The self-help world tends to promise that the right mindset will eventually bend the world toward what you want. The Stoics said the opposite. The world will not cooperate with your desires, and real progress begins the moment you stop expecting it to. That shift requires genuine self-examination, not more content consumption. Marcus Aurelius did not write his Meditations to feel inspired. He wrote them to hold himself accountable, to face what was uncomfortable, and to see clearly where his work still needed to be done. Most people skip exactly that part.

If Stoic philosophy has not moved the needle for you yet, this episode is a good place to sit and reflect. Not to find quick answers, but to start asking the questions that actually matter.

Support the show🌐 viastoica.com▶️ YouTube: @viastoicaProduced by: Badmic.com

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

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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 respond
• Memento Mori — remembering impermanence as a practice of presence, not fear
• Negative visualisation — preparing for what might go wrong, without spiralling into it
• The discipline of desire — noticing what you're chasing and whether it's actually yours
• The discipline of assent — questioning your first interpretation before acting on it
• Role awareness (bonus) — knowing what a situation asks of you when you're unsure what to do

None 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