Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Life Examined

    Life Examined

    Why is everyone reading the stoics?

    Ancient stoic wisdom is having an unexpected modern day resurgence. Whether it’s daily Instagram quotes, blogs, or good old fashioned books — the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus are today enjoying something of a comeback.

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    • Share
    By Jonathan Bastian • Jan 23, 2021 • 51m Listen

    Ancient stoic wisdom is having an unexpected modern day resurgence. Whether it’s daily Instagram quotes, blogs, or good old fashioned books — the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus are today enjoying something of a comeback. And their appeal is wide, including entrepreneurs, hipsters, sports figures, and even parents.

    In this episode

    2 stories
    1. 0:00

      What is Stoicism? The ancient philosophy enjoys a revival

      Many people are unfamiliar with the writings of Marcus Aurelius or Seneca, but their philosophy of stoicism is currently enjoying a resurgence.

      Read the story
      32 min
    2. 31:58

      How Stoic philosophy can change parents’ lives

      Parents are embracing the writings of the Stoics to help navigate the challenges of raising a child — especially during today’s pandemic.

      Read the story
      20 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Jonathan Bastian

      Host, Life Examined

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

      CulturePhilosophyHistory

    In this episode

    2 stories
    1. 0:0032 min

      What is Stoicism? The ancient philosophy enjoys a revival

    2. 31:5820 min

      How Stoic philosophy can change parents’ lives

    Back to Life Examined