In this episode of EZ Conversations, Furkhan welcomes Tanner Campbell to discuss the philosophy of Stoicism. They begin with personal anecdotes, highlighting the transformative impact of Stoicism. Tanner elaborates on common misinterpretations, distinguishing between capital ‘S’ Stoicism (the ancient Greek philosophy) and lowercase ‘s’ stoicism (emotional detachment). The conversation dives into Tanner’s background, his journey into Stoicism, and his work in the atheist and mythology spaces. The discussion covers the four cardinal virtues—courage, temperance, justice, and Wisdom—and addresses the complex ideas of determinism vs. free will and the Stoic concept of God. Tanner also stresses the importance of introspection and personal accountability in practicing Stoicism, cautioning against ‘virtue signaling’. The episode concludes with practical insights and advice for listeners interested in exploring Stoicism further, alongside Tanner’s recommendations and resources for diving deeper into the philosophy.
Tanner Campbell is the creator of both the Practical Stoicism podcast & newsletter, co-author of the book “What is Stoicism? A Brief and Accessible Overview”, founder of the Society of Stoics, and creator of the course “Understanding Stoicism“.
Link the podcast: https://stoicismpod.com
Link to the book: https://stoicismpod.com/book
00:00 Introduction to EZ Conversations
00:12 Personal Journey with Stoicism
01:46 Guest’s Background and Early Influences
03:43 Discovering Stoicism Through Epictetus
06:15 Starting a Podcast and Deeper Commitment
08:30 Writing a Book on Stoicism
10:47 Misinterpretations of Stoicism
20:21 Understanding Stoic Indifference
28:28 Virtues and Their Importance in Stoicism
30:34 The Breakdown of Virtue
31:05 Understanding Cardinal Virtues
32:45 Virtue Signaling and Its Implications
39:10 The Concept of the Stoic God
48:46 Determinism vs. Free Will in Stoicism
54:07 Final Thoughts on Stoicism
Sponsors of the Podcast:
- BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/ez10 for 10% off your first month of Therapy
- WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans.
- Aura: https://aura.com/ez10 for a free two-week trial
- Plunge: https://plunge.com/ez
- Mint Mobile: https://trymintmobile.com/ezconversations for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan
- Mental: https://getmental.com/ez
- NuCalm: https://nucalm.com/free-trial?/ref=ez for a one-week free trial
- Descript: https://get.descript.com/e2d248wpwtav for creating podcast episodes
- LeanWorlds: https://get.learnworlds.com/EZCONVERSATIONS
- Dr. Lewis Nutrition: https://drlewisnutrition.com/ez
Or find Furkhan’s Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1
Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I am a men's coach, therapist, group facilitator, podcaster and author. My journey began five years ago when I was going through a separation. I found myself alone and in a shame spiral that our culture and society covertly exert on people due to the perceived "failure" of a marriage. Unfortunately, I personalized that message which led me to fall deeper into a hole, causing me to surround myself with people that did not serve me and engage in substance abuse. While seeking therapy, I was not making the wholesale changes I needed.
As part of my experience with therapy, I realized that I am not alone in the challenges men my age experience (I separated at the age of 34/35). I realized I could be a voice for men like myself and offer support in this space. In the middle of the pandemic, I applied for a Master's degree in Psychology to become a therapist. This change was a significant shift for me as I worked in the corporate world as an engineer. Once I leaned into the space of supporting other men, I also started a podcast to normalize these difficult conversations and started a men's group a year later with the support of a friend.
I thought I was giving something back when I started the men's group. However, I quickly realized I was getting substantially more from the connections I built than I initially anticipated. It was also something I needed because I was going through another breakup.
At that point, I also realized that I had not taken the time to heal, and I was outsourcing my healing through romantic relationships, substances, material acquisitions and superficial relationships. I decided to step away from the outgoing lifestyle and started to focus on my healing which was another phase of evolution for me on my journey. Over the last year and a half, I have become mindful of the people I spend my time with. I have cleaned my lifestyle of substances, toxic environments and behaviours. I have focused on my sleep, my health and my knowledge. I have improved my spiritual relationship with myself, which was lacking the most over the past five years. This is the best I have felt.
As part of my solitude journey and to find myself again, I also released a book encapsulating my journey, which I hope to share with others. My book is titled: The Pursuit of Self-Love.
