The Stoic Handbook with Jon Brooks
Modern practical breakdowns of the best ideas in ancient Stoicism. New episodes are released every Monday.
Episodes
145 episodes
Release the Day: 20-Minute Deep Sleep Body Scan
A 15 minute, Yoga Nidra–inspired sleep meditation designed to help your body soften and your mind quiet. We’ll move through a slow, systematic relaxation from head to toe, then drift into a gentle “safe floating” visualization—before fading int...
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14:50
The CCTV Thought Experiment: You Are What You Do, Not What You Say
What if aliens installed a silent CCTV camera above your shoulder for 30 days and compiled a report on what you truly value—based purely on your calendar, screen time, purchases, and how you spend your evenings? Would you recognize yourself?
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15:03
Morning Gratitude: A 10-Minute Stoic Practice
Start your day with a simple gratitude meditation rooted in ancient Stoic wisdom. In just 10 minutes, you'll practice three gratitudes, shift your mindset from lack to abundance, and set yourself up for a day of noticing what's right—not just w...
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8:09
Stoic Morning Practice: Let Go of What You Can’t Control
Start your day with the most powerful Stoic distinction: what is up to you, and what is not.In this 6-minute guided morning practice, you’ll gently identify a current worry, feel where it lives in your body, and release everything outsid...
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6:01
Psychedelics and Buddhism: Why Peak Experiences Aren't Enough (with Martijn Schirp)
Martijn Schirp and I have known each other for nearly a decade. He first reached out after reading a meditation article I posted on Reddit—a message that changed my life and eventually led to us co-founding HighExistence and running transformat...
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2:06:54
Make Your Time Count: Stoic Keys to Focus and Fulfillment
Do you experience overwhelming stress because you must handle numerous tasks while feeling like your time supply is insufficient? The episode presents ancient Stoic teachings that help listeners eliminate distractions to concentrate on essentia...
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22:17
What You'll Miss When It's Gone: A Stoic Gratitude Meditation (Premeditation of Adversity)
What if the secret to gratitude isn't positive thinking—but imagining loss?In this 12-minute guided meditation, I'll walk you through an ancient Stoic practice called praemeditatio malorum—the premeditation of adversity. Used by...
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11:13
Stoicism Decoded: Your Guide to Ancient Wisdom in Plain English
Tired of stumbling over Greek terms when exploring Stoic philosophy? This episode is your essential guide to understanding Stoicism's core concepts—without the academic confusion.Join Jon Brooks as he breaks down the key Stoic vocabulary...
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14:20
The 4 Stoic Virtues: Your Compass for a Meaningful Life
Ever feel like you're drifting through life without a clear moral compass? The ancient Stoics had an answer: four timeless virtues that can transform how you handle stress, make decisions, and find meaning.In this episode of Stoic Handbo...
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30:30
Epictetus' 20 Rules for Stoic Social Mastery: Cut the Noise, Claim Your Calm
Reclaim your calm in a world of group chat drama and endless notifications. This 12-minute guided practice breaks down Epictetus' 20 social rules from the Enchiridion Chapter 33—ancient Stoic wisdom for modern chaos.Learn to pau...
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28:52
The Dichotomy of Control 2.0 – Epictetus for Anxious Achievers
Let me guess: you've read Marcus Aurelius. You know some things are up to you and some aren't. And yet... you still lie awake replaying conversations, spiraling over outcomes, or feeling like a failure when things don't go your way.
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20:39
5 Stoic Skills for Unshakeable Confidence & Self-Sovereignty
What if the secret to genuine confidence isn't positive affirmations or fake-it-till-you-make-it energy—but five ancient skills the Stoics spent centuries perfecting?In this episode, we explore how clarity of purpose, non-attachment to o...
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16:43
The 5-Minute Emergency Drill: When the Craving Hits Right Now
You know that moment when the craving is right here, right now—and it feels like the only choice is to give in?That pull toward the drink, the scroll, the binge, the text you'll regret, the purchase you don'...
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5:00
Become Untriggerable: Masculinity, Intimacy, and Healing with Adam Rice
Most “men’s advice” teaches tactics. In this conversation, Adam Rice shares a deeper path: becoming untriggerable, relating consciously, and integrating the masculine and feminine so you can lead, love, and live without the drama ...
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2:04:09
NVC in Real Life with Hans van Veen
If “be nicer” hasn’t fixed your toughest conversations, try Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in the wild. Coach Hans Nav Neev shows how to turn trigger moments into clarity, how to stop taking things personally, and why conflict—done well—...
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1:22:10
Good Kid, Tricky Moment: A Calm‑Parenting Reset
When your child’s “No!” sparks your own surge, this guided reset helps you find your soft voice again. We begin with 4–6 breathing to settle the nervous system, set a one‑line intention, and repeat the cue phrase “Good kid, tricky moment.”<...
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13:24
The Ultimate Stoic Sleep & Wisdom Meditation: Daily (2025)
End your day with this calming Stoic meditation designed to help you unwind, reflect, and sleep deeply. Drawing on ancient Stoic wisdom, you'll be guided through mindful presence, a gentle nightly review, acceptance of the day, and a cosmic per...
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12:43
Stoicism in 3 Minutes: Master Your Emotions with Erick Cloward
Join Erick Cloward, Stoic author and host of The Stoic Coffee Break Podcast, as he shares how Stoicism transformed his approach to emotions and reactivity. In this 3-minute clip, learn practical Stoic wisdom to stay calm and focused in any situ...
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3:57
I Am The Pilot, Not The Turbulence — 5-Minute Stoic Reset
In just five minutes, this guided meditation uses a precise 4-2-6 breath and Stoic detachment to separate your calm center from external chaos. By grounding in the body, naming the “turbulence,” and repeating “I am the pilot, not the turbulence...
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5:00
Amor Fati: The Stoic Art of Loving Your Fate – Ultimate Guide
Imagine embracing every twist and turn of life—both pleasant and painful—with open arms. This is the profound Stoic philosophy of amor fati, or "love of fate." Far from passive acceptance, <...
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8:38
The Stoic Morning Ritual to Fortify Your Mind Daily (2025)
Begin each morning with a ten‑minute immersion in Stoic clarity, guided by the words of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. This meditation trains you to anchor attention, soften reactivity, and greet every challenge as a chance to practice...
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10:00
Plato’s Apology: The Only Book Every Human Needs to Read ft. Donald Robertson
In this clip, renowned Stoicism writer @DonaldRobertson explains why he believes Plato’s Apology is the only book he universally recommends. Donald dives int...
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12:44