Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Join Rob Colter and Massimo Pigliucci for a series of engaging conversations, sometimes with special guests, on what it means to practice philosophy as a way of life. New episodes out on the second Friday of every month. Full index at https://philosophyasawayoflife.blog/philosophy-for-life-podcast/Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Practical philosophy as daily practice • Stoicism: Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca; modern applications • Virtue ethics, character, leadership, politics • Relationships, love, marriage, bullying, prisons • Comparisons with Epicureanism, Aristotelianism, Confucianism, Buddhism, existentialism • Translation, popularization, therapy linksThis podcast explores what it means to practice philosophy as a “way of life,” focusing on how philosophical ideas can shape character, guide choices, and help people navigate everyday challenges. Conversations often center on Greco-Roman traditions—especially Stoicism—through close engagement with major figures such as Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Cicero, Musonius Rufus, and Socrates. Listeners can expect discussion of core Stoic themes like virtue, freedom, judgment, emotions, resilience, and the role of ongoing training or “spiritual exercises,” alongside common misunderstandings about Stoicism and what it can (and cannot) offer in both difficult and ordinary circumstances.
The show frequently connects ancient ethics to contemporary life, addressing relationships and social roles—love, marriage, family, leadership, bullying, incarceration, and military contexts—as well as broader civic concerns such as politics and environmental responsibility. It also places Stoicism in dialogue with other philosophies and traditions presented as practical life paths, including Epicureanism, Aristotelianism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and existentialism (with attention to authenticity, bad faith, and life milestones such as friendship, romance, children, and death).
Many episodes feature scholars, authors, translators, and practitioners, making the podcast a mix of intellectual history and applied ethics. There is recurring attention to how philosophical works are interpreted and communicated today, including the challenges of translation and the adaptation of philosophy into modern formats such as self-help methods, therapy-adjacent approaches, graphic novels, and public-facing media.
