#366 - Embracing Life's Trials - A Stoic Perspective
“You know what, from my experience, what I found out? That God tests you to see how much of this you can take before you say, ‘Let’s just be finished with this.’ He wants to show you something. He wants to see how much you can take, how much you can handle of life. You say you love life? You want to live life? I’m gonna show you life. Life is beautiful, but you have to accept the good and the bad as being beautiful.”– Mike TysonAt first glance, this quote might seem like an emotional reflection on life’s hardships, but underneath it lies one of the most deeply Stoic messages you could ever hear. It’s about embracing amor fati—the love of fate. It’s about seeing every part of life, including pain and loss, as necessary and even beautiful.This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblinSubstack: https://strongstoic.substack.com
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#365 - How Stoicism Helped Me Handle a Car Accident
It was a typical Saturday night. The kind where you’re winding down after a fun outing, and you’re almost home. That was me a few weeks ago. It was around 11 PM, and as I turned right at an intersection, I noticed another car turning left… directly into mine. I stopped, expecting them to notice and adjust. They didn’t. Instead, they drove straight into the front of my car, damaging the fender, blinker, and fog light.The driver, visibly shaken, got out of the car in tears and admitted fault on the spot. I stayed calm. I remembered: I’ve been in her shoes before — caused accidents myself. It’s not fun. It feels like your whole world flips in an instant, and your stomach drops at the thought of premiums rising, deductibles looming, and the hassle to come.And in that moment, I leaned on Stoicism — not as a theory, but as a practical philosophy.This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblinSubstack: https://strongstoic.substack.com
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#364 - Surviving Orwell’s 1984 as a Stoic
In this episode, we dive deep into the totalitarian world of George Orwell’s 1984 and ask: Could a Stoic survive—and even thrive—there? What does inner freedom look like when the outer world is a prison? And how might Stoic philosophy be the ultimate rebellion in a world where truth is erased, thought is policed, and fear is everywhere?This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblinSubstack: https://strongstoic.substack.com
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#363 - Character is What Remains
Last week, I attended the funeral of a man who had worked for our company for 25 years. He was deeply woven into the fabric of our organization—one of those steady presences who quietly held things together. He died too young, and the ceremony was filled with friends, family, coworkers, and members of the community who came to say goodbye.As his manager, I came into the service with the perspective of someone who had worked closely with him. I knew him as a kind, capable engineer—someone always willing to lend a hand. But during the service, I realized something striking. While his career was mentioned briefly, the focus of the eulogies—the true story that was told—was about his character. His warmth. His generosity. His love for his family and even his dogs. His relationships.This podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblinSubstack: https://strongstoic.substack.com
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#362 - Joshua W. Bertolotti: Finding Peace in Imperfection
Joshua W. Bertolotti is the host of the In Search of Wisdom Podcast and the Perennial Podcast where he talks about all kinds of ancient wisdom and engages in meaningful conversations with modern thinkers. He also manages the Perennial Leader Project, which includes these podcasts along with a weekly newsletter and blog posts. Josh is a regular guest on the podcast.In this conversation, Josh and I explore the concept of imperfectionism, discussing what it means for personal acceptance, relationships, and self-worth. We talk about the struggles of accepting our own imperfections—as well as those of others—and emphasize the importance of humility and recognizing our mortality. We also get into the nature of ego, the pursuit of perfection, and how mindfulness can help us navigate life’s challenges. Ultimately, we highlight that a good life isn’t a perfect one, and we encourage embracing imperfections as part of the journey toward growth.We also dive into the importance of challenges in personal growth, the complexities of pride and self-reflection, the journey toward mastery, and how our hobbies and interests evolve with different seasons of life. For us, character development through hardship is key, and we talk about the nuanced nature of pride and the importance of staying flexible in how we pursue our passions.You can find Josh here:https://www.perennialleader.comThis podcast is listener-supported; if you would like to support the Strong Stoic (as well as gain access to exclusive content), you can do so on Patreon or Substack:Patreon: www.patreon.com/brandontumblinSubstack: https://strongstoic.substack.com
The Strong Stoic Podcast is a raw, honest, and unapologetically deep podcast about philosophy and self-improvement. Join your host, Brandon Tumblin, as he breaks down a wide variety of complex and difficult topics while bringing together different philosophies, sciences, and perspectives.
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