Your New Stoic Role Models for a Stronger Life

The Daily Stoic

Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

Education, Stoicism, Stoic, Ryan Holiday, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Business, Daily Stoic, Stoic Philosophy, Philosophy, 694393

4.5 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 24 December 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Virtue is not a theory. It is something you practice. In the moments where you could overreact. In the moments where quitting would be easier. In the moments where doing the right thing costs you something.

In this episode, Ryan explores the four Stoic virtues through conversations with people who actually live them. You’ll hear from a fighter pilot who shows courage under pressure, a marathon runner disciplined in daily practice, a historian who reframes justice as action, and Ryan himself on treating wisdom as a lifelong pursuit.

📚 Get a signed copy of each of the books in the Stoic Virtues Series: Courage is Calling, Discipline is Destiny, Right Thing Right Now, and Wisdom Takes Work

🎥 Watch the full episodes on The Daily Stoic YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic/videos

👉 Michelle “MACE” Curran is a former United States Air Force fighter pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of F-16 flying time. She flew combat missions in Afghanistan and honed her skills across the globe, becoming the second woman in history to serve as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s elite demonstration team.

📚 Check out Michelle’s book The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower

Follow Michelle on Instagram @Mace_Curran and learn more about her work at https://macecurran.com/

👉 Nick Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic, an American magazine founded in 1857. He has long been a competitive runner; in 2021, he set the American record for men 45+ in the 50K race.

📚 Check out Nick’s new book The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports

Follow Nick on Instagram and X @NXThompson

👉 Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian and author. In 2024, Rutger co-founded The School for Moral Ambition, a non-profit organization inspired by his latest book, Moral Ambition. The initiative helps people to take the step toward an impactful career.

📚 Check out Rutger's book Moral Ambition

Follow Rutger on Instagram and X | @RutgerBregman

👉 Billy Oppenheimer is Ryan Holiday’s research assistant and the writer behind the newsletter, Six at 6 on Sunday. To read more of his work, check out his website billyoppenheimer.com.

🎁 This holiday season, give the gift of Daily Stoic Premium | https://dailystoic.supercast.com/gifts/new

No more waiting. Demand the best for yourself. The Daily Stoic New Year New You challenge begins January 1, 2026. Learn more and sign up today at dailystoic.com/challenge

🎥 Watch the video episodes on The Daily Stoic YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic/videos

🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast

✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail

🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The weight is over. Dive into Audubles' most anticipated collection, the best of 2025, featuring top audiobooks, podcasts, and originals across all genres. Our editors have carefully curated this year's must-listens, from brilliant hidden gems to the busiest new releases.
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0:38.8	Discover why there's more to imagine when you listen at audible.com slash best of the year.
0:46.1	Hey, it's Ryan. I try not to make too many puns on my last name because I've been hearing it my whole life.
0:54.5	But if you want to give a holiday gift of me, Ryan Holiday, and the Daily Stoic. Well, you can.
0:56.4	We have a special offer.
0:59.9	If you want to give Daily Stoic premium as a gift, you can do that.
1:03.1	Your friends, your family members, coworkers, whoever you give it to,
1:08.4	can get ad-free episodes, early access, and exclusive bonus content.
1:12.6	Plus, we'll even throw in premium episodes of the Daily Dad podcast. You can get both premium
1:14.5	plans together for 25% off.
1:17.0	It's a limited offer available
1:18.7	now through the end of the holidays. That's
1:20.5	through December 31st. You can click
1:22.5	below to get it for them today.
1:24.8	Happy holidays.
1:36.6	Thank you. for them today. Happy holidays. Welcome to the Daily Stoic podcast, where each weekday we bring you a meditation inspired by the ancient Stoics, a short passage of ancient wisdom designed to help
1:43.7	you find strength and insight here in everyday life.
1:47.3	And on Wednesdays, we talk to some of our fellow students of ancient philosophy, well-known
1:53.6	and obscure, fascinating, and powerful. With them, we discuss the strategies and habits that have
	...

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