Voices in the Dark
198 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 43 ratingsPowerful conversations and interviews about real life psychology, philosophy, psychedelics, spirituality, social dynamics and much more.
Our mission is to entertain, provoke, inform, and make you question everything you think you know.
Have you ever been on the wrong end of “office politics”?
Or lost out to less talented people who are better at “playing the game”?
Join us as we our explore Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power, in which he lays bare the psychological principles that ultimately shape all human relations.
Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look at how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually.
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Episodes
The Modern Stoic #33: What Is Free Speech? Seneca Takes Down Social Justice Warriors
July 16, 2018 20:53 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBWhy do flame wars happen? Why are so many people on the Left shutting down free speech through no-platforming? Do Social Justice Warriors even know what they're trying to do? How can we have conversations with people we don't like without it degenerating into an emotional bloodbath? This week, we try to answer all these questions and more as we dig into Letter 48 from Seneca (unexcitingly titled 'On Quibbling as Unworthy of a Philosopher'). Seneca's words eerily predict our own times, walk...
The Modern Stoic #32: Drowning In Gurus
July 09, 2018 21:17 - 1 hour - 80.3 MBThe devil is in the detail... and that's the problem. This week is about not becoming obsessed with detail at the expense of actually doing or creating something yourself. It's about not trying to control things by over-planning and over-preparing, lest you want to spend your whole life getting 'ready' to live. Drawing on the horrifically-named Letter 45, 'On Sophistical Argumentation', we lay down a challenge for you to find the courage to put yourself out into the world and trysome of th...
The Problems Of Consent [Sex & Relationships Series]
July 03, 2018 10:55 - 1 hour - 83.6 MBConsent. We intuitively think it should be simple – 'yes or no?' – but the Me Too movement and the maelstrom of Hollywood abuse scandals show us just how naive that idea is. So we need to talk about it. This episode we explore what consent is, how it works, and when it all gets confusing, strange, and scary. This is a very challenging subject to get into, because many people have had profoundly hurtful, damaging and confusing experiences directly related to issues of sexual consent (or l...
The Modern Stoic #31: Chasing Happiness (Away)
June 26, 2018 16:01 - 57 minutes - 65.5 MBCenturies before the arrival of social media and rolling news channels, people were still chasing happiness and still finding themselves miserable as a result. Seneca picks apart the issue, pre-empting 21st century psychological and sociological studies, and his words of wisdom have a lot to teach us about how to actually enjoyour lives. Lucilius has been whining to Seneca – he's unhappy in life, but is blaming circumstances, his upbringing and everyone else around him for how he's feelin...
Killing Gossip With Authenticity - The Modern Stoic #30
June 18, 2018 20:58 - 55 minutes - 63.7 MBIs there anything more immediately disturbing than hearing that someone's been talking about you behind your back? Whatdid they say? Whydid they say it? But wait... why do we care so much any of this? This episode is all about gossip and reputation; if you should care what other people say about you; and whether keeping some things secret from the world is ever a good idea. Letter 44, for once, has a decent title: 'On the Relativity of Fame'. Because everything to do with your personality ...
The Modern Stoic #29: Does Power Corrupt And What Is True Wealth?
June 11, 2018 17:42 - 1 hour - 71.7 MBThis week it's all about power, corruption, jealousy and pride! Do the things you own end up owning you, or, despite everything Seneca tells us, are there some things which should always be saved if your house burns down? But before all that, Lucilius has been hanging out with another philosopher and Seneca isn't pleased about it. This new dude seems to be claiming he's reached the dizzying heights of being a truly Good Man, trumpeting his achievements for all the world to hear. Lucilius i...
The Modern Stoic #28: How To Be Who You Are
June 04, 2018 16:10 - 1 hour - 71.3 MBIt's time to get spiritual this week as Stoicism starts to merge almost imperceptibly with an even more ancient philosophy: Buddhism. This is Letter 41: 'On the God within Us', and it not only draws us into the realm of motivation and growth, but also how we fundamentally value and think about ourselves. The Buddha taught that we all have 'Buddha nature', and that much of the path to enlightenment (or 'the good life', as Seneca would call it) is about learning how to recognise it. This is ...
The Modern Stoic #27: Speak Proper, Bruv
May 28, 2018 18:53 - 1 hour - 80.9 MBThis week Seneca's on the war path about oral. Communication, that is. Frustrated by Lucilius's admiration for a gabbling philosopher, Seneca lays out how to speak well and speak effectively in public and to others. This rapidly brings up a bunch of issues we face every day: how do we convince other people? How can we speak with ease and style? And how can we discern and disarm the bullshitters out there? This comes from Letter 40, thrillingly entitled 'On the proper style for a philosophe...
The Modern Stoic #26: Addiction And Moderation
May 21, 2018 17:40 - 58 minutes - 66.7 MBThis week Seneca's got a thing or two to say about over-indulgence and ending up controlled by our vices. Drawing from Letter 39, 'On Noble Aspirations', we explore how to indulge without losing control; the value of moderation (but only in moderation); and whether it's really possible to become desensitised to anything. First off, it seems Lucilius has asked Seneca for the Cheat Sheet to philosophy and Seneca ain't too impressed. The old man of Stoicism would much rather you did the deep ...
Being 'Open' [Sex & Relationships Series] – With Special Guest Carsie Blanton
May 15, 2018 14:16 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBEveryone's heard about open relationships, but what does it really mean to be in one? Just mentioning the concept can provoke intense debates, but because it touches on so many fears, insecurities and assumptions, those debates often leave us with bruised egos and little understanding. So we decided to invite someone really special to talk with us about what 'being open' means in theory and practice. We've wanted to have the incredibly talented musician/artist/writer/game developer Carsie ...
Dre Is Dead
May 12, 2018 14:31 - 48 minutes - 55.2 MBHere at Voices in the Dark we're doing our best at Learning How To Human, but sometimes we – like everyone else – face some stumbling blocks. This is a special episode where we share some recent (and dramatic) hiccups along the road for both of us. Each of us took a trip recently. Jon went to stay in a cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere. No electricity, no hot water; just a wood-burning stove and the Scottish countryside to keep him company. He was hoping for some peace and clarit...
The Modern Stoic #25: How To Make The Right Friends And Influence The Right People
May 07, 2018 19:24 - 1 hour - 77.8 MBDrawing on Letter 38 from Seneca ('On Quiet Conversation'), this episode digs into the immense value of real, face-to-face conversation for all aspects of our lives. Emails and texts can be great, but sitting down in person changes the game, whether it's a massive business deal, or a chance to (re)connect with another person. It's almost a meditative thing to have a conversation because, unless you're stuck in your head for some reason, it is a mindfulexercise. You are in the moment. – An...
We Need To Talk About Chemsex [Sex & Relationships Series]
May 04, 2018 09:17 - 1 hour - 83.2 MBThis next instalment in our Sex & Relationships Seriesis a stunning episode that brings us into dialogue with some of the most important, yet often-ignored, parts of the human condition. You might not've heard about Chemsex, but it's a growing epidemic that's not only destroying lives, but which also tells us a lotabout how we think, feel and talk about sex. So we went to the man who created the term 'Chemsex' in the first place – David Stuart of the world-renowned 56 Dean Street Clinic....
The Modern Stoic #24: Entering the Arena of Life... With A Vibrator
April 30, 2018 18:10 - 1 hour - 77.1 MBThis week we riff on Seneca's Letter 47, 'On Allegiance to Virtue' – it's short, but richly rewarding to dig into. It's about how life can seem like a battle – an unfair one – that we never consciously agreed to, yet are thrust into the midst of. How can we change our experience of life into a glorious adventure rather than a horrible, Sisyphean trudge? Seneca's got some pointers and Jon and Andrea have got more to add: This week we explore how to reset your emotional baseline; give some p...
Peter Sage: Keeping It Real Behind Bars
April 27, 2018 10:56 - 1 hour - 72 MBThis isn't the first timewe've crossed paths with Peter Sage, a world-renowned speaker, serial entrepreneur, author, and mentor... But to say that a lothas changed since our first meeting would probably win us a medal at the understatement olympics. Since we saw him last, Peter's life was turned upside-town when he became the only civil prisoner in one of Britain's toughest and most violent prisons. Going up against Princess Diana's former lawyers, Peter landed behind bars for contempt of ...
The Modern Stoic #23: Are You Ready For Love & True Friendship?
April 23, 2018 10:43 - 58 minutes - 66.7 MBRiffing on Letter 35 from Seneca ('On the Friendship of Kindred Minds'), this one takes us deep into the nature of human connections and how we can find true love and true friendship. Seneca's decided that Lucilius just isn't keeping up – he's not ready to become a true friend – an equal – of Seneca's, and Seneca is growing restless. He urges his mentee to get his shit together and focus so that they can finally talk as companions. Even outside the mentor-pupil relationship, this is som...
Join The Unknown – JJ Bitters Interview
April 16, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 60 MBPoet, writer, philosopher and artist JJ Bitters joins us this week midway through a tour through Europe and Africa. And he's just come out of the closet... OK, not thatcloset! JJ originally wanted to create art without ego, so he chose the pseudonym 'The Unknown' to keep is identity separate from his art. But can you survive and get the word out that way – and how much of yourself can you pour into art which is intentionally disconnected from you? JJ has written about mental health, psyc...
Why Nice Guys Suck [Sex & Relationships Series]
April 09, 2018 13:41 - 1 hour - 78.2 MBWhat's wrong with being a Nice Guy? Isn't that what everyone wants in a partner? No, they don't. Nice Guys aren't nice. Nice guys are a problem – for themselves and for the people they want to seduce. Because Nice Guys aren't what you (or they) think they are. They're the people pleasers who never truly ask for or say what they need. They're the approval-seekers (or disapproval-avoiders). They're the fixers and the caretakers who're always keeping a mental balance sheet in their minds: B...
The Modern Stoic #22: Stop Quoting, Start Creating
April 02, 2018 14:36 - 55 minutes - 63.4 MBYou know those people who can quote passages of Shakespeare, have read all the great novels, and who always seem to have an aphorism to hand? Well, fuck them. Having a moribund storehouse of other people's knowledge isn't the same as being smart, let alone creative. In Letter 33, Seneca doesn't want us to learn the Cliff Notes version of anything; he doesn't want us to post brief quotes on Instagram; and he certainly doesn't want us to keep hiding behind other people's wisdom, however valu...
The Modern Stoic #21: What Progress Really Means
March 26, 2018 16:45 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBThis one's about staying the course, knowing how to recognise progress from how it feels, and the dangers of internalising other people’s narratives of what your life should be. In Letter 32 Seneca wants us to stay the course, rather than endlessly making fresh starts and chasing fads. As he puts it, 'We break up life into little bits and fritter it away' – Seneca That can cheat us of doing the Deep Work we need to make progress, rather than endlessly skimming the surface and thrashing...
Finding Clarity In Life With Philip McKernan – Jon's Retreat Experience
March 24, 2018 10:25 - 53 minutes - 49.9 MBAfter a successful Go Fund Me campaign, Jon raised enough money to spend an intensive weekend retreat with coach, speaker, author and emotional terrorist Philip McKernan. And he's still reeling from what happened. So what happened, and how's Jon doing today? It was an intimate event at a hotel in a tiny village. They spent most of it locked in a room with a man whose speciality is relentlessly asking some of the most deep and searching questions about yourself, your life, and your relati...
The Modern Stoic #20: Stop Giving Advice, Start Making Connections!
March 19, 2018 20:20 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBThis week: when and how to give advice; how people avoid seeing what's right in front of them; how to avoid getting overwhelmed in life; and what human connection and life are truly all about. Riffing on Letter 29 from Seneca, this episode is a corker. Advice is a dangerous game: when and how you give it can change your life. Don't waste energy and time trying to give advice to those who don't want to hear it. Not only would Seneca be pissed off at you, you'd be violating the most import...
Can Psychedelics Cure Autism?
March 12, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 59 MBCan psychedelics cure Autism? It's a question researchers are only beginning to ask, but VITD's own Dre has already run the experiments – on himself. Over the past few years, he's taken MDMA and LSD to help connect the parts of his brain that allow most people to understand others, feel their emotions, and make lasting connections. But before we get to that, what even is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Probably not what you think it is. Most people on the Autism spectrum aren't Rain Man or mat...
The Modern Stoic #19: Are You Running Away Or Going Walkabout?
March 05, 2018 18:14 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBDoes travel broaden the mind, or are you simply running away from your problems? Can self-discovery happen on the road, or is it always a case of 'wherever you go, there you are'? This episode draws on Letter 28 ('On travel as a cure for discontent'), in which Seneca takes Lucilius to task for jumping around from place to place, trying to find solace and centredness. According to Seneca, he needs a 'change of soul, rather than a change of climate'. But we're not so sure. Putting yourself...
Psychology Of Dating Apps [Sex & Relationships Series]
February 27, 2018 18:17 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBWelcome to our new series on Sex & Relationships! VITD has long been about psychology, mental health, social dynamics and self-development, and these are all vital themes in the realms of sexuality and interpersonal connection. But usually most of us just don't talk about them. They're vital parts of the human experience, yet we tend to just follow the script that our culture's given us, rarely questioning why we think and act the way we do. In this series, we're going to upend those ass...
The Accidental CEO: Saud Juman's Journey From Darkness To Light
February 23, 2018 09:55 - 1 hour - 76.1 MBThese days Saud Juman is a clean-cut guy with a successful healthcare business dedicated to helping doctors and medical staff actually take care of themselves. But it wasn't always this way. Saud's journey has been one from darkness to light. Back when he was a college student, Saud fell into the underworld of Toronto club life, embroiled in a world of dangerous men and power games that he could scarcely have imagined when he set out to cover his university fees by DJing. But even though...
The Modern Stoic #18: Fake It Till You Make It?
February 19, 2018 16:12 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBWhat's the difference between wisdom and experience; between faking it till you make it, or truly growing as a person; and why should you never try to claim you’re a master? Drawing on letter number 26, 'On Death and Dying', this one seems at first to be all about preparing for death and yet, beneath the surface, it's really all about embracing your life now. While the Stoics might harp on about being ready to die well, if we're living well, then the dying well will surely take care of i...
Psychology Of The Hustle With Award-Winning Actor David Bryan
February 16, 2018 17:59 - 1 hour - 79.9 MBEveryone's obsessed with 'the hustle' these days – it seems like we're meant to be on duty promoting ourselves and pushing to the next level 24/7... But what does 'hustling' even mean? Are we meant to be glued to LinkedIn, trying to find that one magical connection that'll launch us into the stratosphere? Or diving into the world of SEO – optimising our personal websites in sacrifice to the gods of Google? David Bryan – star of the award-winning show Trashed – joins us to talk about the ...
The Modern Stoic #17: Helping People Change
February 13, 2018 19:10 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBHow and when to help other people; whether we can really get anybody to change after a certain age; how to check we’re not also in need of correction (and whether we should calibrate that by looking at everyone else, or turning to our inner compass). Drawing from Letter 25, this one is all about timing, making change, and the hard work that always requires. This week, Seneca is on Lucilius's case about some mutual friends – one old, one young, and both in need of some correction to get the...
Minisode: Why You Won't Find Steadiness Without Taking Action
February 07, 2018 13:23 - 5 minutes - 5.37 MBStruggling to find equilibrium in your life? Need to choose between several options but can't quite make out which is the best path to take? In this Minisode, Jon takes inspiration from The Daily Stoic Journal and shares some advice on how to find internal steadiness and escape the paralysis of indecision. What do you think? Chat to us here and let us know! Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird.
The Modern Stoic #16: Make Fear Your Mentor
February 05, 2018 13:54 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBHow to deal with and handle fear; how to find balance between accepting death and embracing life; and how to make fear your mentor. This week we take a look at Letter 24 – 'On Despising Death'. But it's not another go-round of telling yourself that death is OK and we should accept it. No – this time our focus is on how to live well now, and recognise how our fears (conscious or otherwise) can destroy our lives well before the Grim Reaper comes a knocking. Seneca invites us to get practic...
Why Does School Suck For So Many Kids? – Jim Sheils Interview
February 01, 2018 15:55 - 1 hour - 80.3 MBJim Sheils is disarmingly friendly for a terrorist. Well, that's what he's been branded in his community – they say he's an 'education terrorist' for taking his kids out of school and teaching them through 'experiential education'. That means learning by doing and reflecting, not by memorising and regurgitating. Wait up, though – this isn't an episode blindly extolling the virtues of home schooling; this is a thoughtful but passionate debate about the education system... and why and how ...
The Modern Stoic #15: Littlefingering Your Way To Success
January 29, 2018 14:05 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBWhen's the right time to make change? Whether it's leaving a job or changing your life, this letter is all about facing some hard truths. When and how can we change for the better? Why do we cling on and refuse to develop? And what are the myriad ways we're unconsciously enslaving ourselves to lives that we hate? Want to make a change, but it's not quite the right time? Well, it's time to wake up – it's never going to be the Right Time, but you can prepare yourself to embrace the inesc...
The Jordan Peterson, Cathy Newman Controversy Explained
January 23, 2018 16:54 - 1 hour - 73.2 MBA special episode where we break down what happened in Channel 4's recent controversial interview with Dr Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist whose statements about free speech, gender roles, and the 'crisis of masculinity' have made him an unwilling hero of the alt-right and a hate figure for the left. We've got a bone to pick with both parties in this debate – Peterson himself and Channel 4's interviewer, Cathy Newman, including: Why Peterson's approach is flawed and isn't going to...
The Modern Stoic #14: Practising What You Preach
January 22, 2018 08:51 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBFrom ancient Stoic letters to modern-day S&M clubs, this one's a corker. We explore why actions speak louder than words; the benefits of taking action for mental health; why philosophy is about LIFE, not about libraries; and finding true peace within as you seek to better yourself. It's one of Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power to 'Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument', and for good reason. Consciously or otherwise, we value what people actually do, not what they merely say. S...
Jayson Gaignard Interview – From Darkness To Life
January 19, 2018 13:22 - 1 hour - 73.2 MBJayson Gaignard is one of the best-connected people on the planet. His MasterMind Talks weekend for thought leaders and entrepreneurs is invite-only, rarely allows repeat speakers, and has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard. But how did this self-described introvert who had only two guests at his bachelor party (his brother and brother-in-law) end up becoming one of Forbes magazine's 'Top Networkers To Watch', and personal friends with the likes of Tim Ferriss, Robert Greene, Ryan Holida...
The Modern Stoic #13: Practical Exercises For Overcoming Fear
January 15, 2018 22:50 - 52 minutes - 60.6 MBTim Ferriss's favourite letter, this week's episode has direct, practical applications. It's time to intentionally do tough things to become sturdier mentally and physically. We explore how to temper the mind as well as the body; to understand our anger; why the how is often more important than what you do; and whether going with less really means we appreciate the more when we have it. Do you live in fear? Fear that you can't make change in your life in case you can't pay the rent? Fear ...
Minisode: An Accidental Journey Through The Maze Of Life
January 13, 2018 13:20 - 13 minutes - 15 MBA special minisode about the podcast phenomenon S-Town and how it (often accidentally) reveals deep truths about modern life, mental health, and what it means to be a genius. To read the original article by Jamie Freeman, click here Find Out More: S-Town Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird.
The Modern Stoic #12: Rich On Paper, Poor On Life
January 12, 2018 12:14 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBA letter that hammers home the need to put your WHY first – to find your mindset and your outlook before you do anything else; on avoiding becoming the slave to money in all that you do; the swamp of accumulating possessions; how to do what you truly want now, not later; and how to make sense of Stoicism not as a prescription, but as guidelines for what to emphasise in life. Do you dream of getting rich? Would all your problems magically disappear? Well, they wouldn't. Not unless you consc...
New Year, Real You: Stoic Journalling & New Year's Dissolutions
January 08, 2018 17:20 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBIt's 2018 and we've got a couple of powerful tools for you to make the best start in the new year, personally, socially, and professionally. And we do it all through the lens of our incredibly fancy new film-grade camera, so check out the video to see us in our high-def glory! We've both started using The Daily Stoic Journal which, unlike most blindly optimistic journals, actually helps you to order your thoughts, tune into what's important in your life, and see the huge difference that ...
Tim Ferriss Asked – We Answered!
January 01, 2018 22:45 - 47 minutes - 54 MBA special episode to bring in the new year in which we answer questions from podcast titan, angel investor and lifestyle revolutionary Tim Ferriss! Tim's posed some of the most important questions he's discovered while creating The Tim Ferriss Show, a podcast that's racked up over 200 million downloads. We each give our own (sometimes diametrically opposed) answers and invite you to do the same. Let's take stock, reflect, and set out to make 2018 our best year yet. Find Out More: For ...
The Modern Stoic #11: Humour And Fear
December 28, 2017 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBA rather messy letter which covers physical vanity; the three greatest fears people have; how to avoid getting lynched; when it’s useful to retire from the public eye; and why humour, fear and love are at the heart of the human condition. We give Seneca a hard time in this one – it's a rambling letter, but includes a few intriguing vignettes which prompt us to go on our own ramble through some fundamental aspects of the human experience. We dig into humour and laughter – core elements of...
The Modern Stoic #10: Are You Fears Real Or Imagined?
December 18, 2017 13:29 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBThis episode is a Tim Ferriss favourite – the basis for his TED talk on 'Fear-Setting'. This one's about overcoming the paralysis of worrying; how to tell whether our fears are real or imaginary; how to see through the web of our own fears and be able to release into the moment; and how we constantly trip ourselves up trying to plan and control things, rather than actually living. Fear of the future and the unknown can leave us powerless and paralysed. But it doesn't have to be that way. A...
The Modern Stoic #9: Growing Wise Without Growing Old
December 11, 2017 09:21 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBThis Episode: How to grow wiser as we grow older; how to be content when you go to sleep at night; what it means when pleasures grow stale; and a brilliant conceptualisation of the different stages of life that, if we use it, helps us to truly accept ourselves AND keep growing. Do you feel the grip of time beginning to fasten around your body and mind? We often fear the ageing process, but it doesn't help us or anyone else to do so. Age doesn't have to cause grief and difference; if we c...
Minisode: Ryan Holiday, Ego Traps, Depression and Creativity
December 05, 2017 18:55 - 19 minutes - 22.7 MBThis is a special minisode, in which Jon breaks down Ryan Holiday's bestselling book, Ego is the Enemy. Drawing on his own lifelong experience with depression, Jon asks: if egotism is toxic, does that make depression somehow helpful in life? For the full written article, click here
Finding Your Gift & Building A Meaningful Life – Philip McKernan Interview
December 05, 2017 11:51 - 1 hour - 99.7 MBPhilip McKernan is an emotional terrorist. Quite a statement for a man who's advised the Pentagon, top business leaders, and even the Canadian Olympic Team, but this man has reduced auditoriums full of people, from writers and artists to hard-nosed entrepreneurs, to floods of tears. And they thank him for it. Because when you hear Philip McKernan speak, nothing is quite the same again. Have you ever really known who you are? Have you lost your identity in your work? Do you listen to ...
The Modern Stoic #8: Create Your Own Role Models
November 27, 2017 17:40 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBThis episode is about not just having but creating role models, and on being your best self without needing a mentor directly involved in your life. We explore how to create your own guardian angel or virtual privy council, and how to learn to accept and work with, rather than reject elements of yourself. Enjoy the podcast? You can help us continue and grow by giving us a 5* review on iTunes, telling your friends about the show, or – best of all! – support us on Patreon and receive a bunch...
Metaprogramming Crosscast – Uncovering The Unconscious
November 24, 2017 16:44 - 1 hour - 99.1 MBThis is a crosscast with the incredible Metaprogramming Podcast. After our phenomenal interview with Erick Godsey, we heard your feedback and are bringing you more of him! This is the complete audio of Jon's appearance on The Metaprogramming Podcast, where Erick asks the questions and takes Jon deeply into corners of his psyche which he's rarely if ever shone a light on before. Erick's deceptively simple questions gradually build up to unveil the inner workings of his guests' minds; the ...
The Modern Stoic #7: What You Need vs. What You Want
November 20, 2017 21:27 - 1 hour - 57 MBThis episode is all about being self-sufficient. Is it possible and, if so, is it really desirable? Do we need friends? Can we really be so ‘stoic’ that if everyone and everything we love and have is gone, we’d still be OK? Plus – how to make true friends & alliances. And where does happiness really come from? What does being self-sufficient really mean? It's often held up as the pinnacle of being a wise, fully-developed human being, but doesn't that mean a life of severely restricted emot...
The Modern Stoic #6: Success Vampires & The Madness of Crowds
November 13, 2017 22:57 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBThis episode examines the subtle madness of crowds; why 'upgrading your peer-group' is a recipe for disaster if you don't understand what it really means; how to help others without them becoming dependent on you; setting strong personal boundaries; and how to avoid the chill embrace of the Success Vampires of this world. Seneca was appalled at the blood-sports of Rome, but not because of the violence itself. He warned that if we join the crowd and lose ourselves in its midst, we subtly bu...