Good Fortune

Mar 16 2020 22 ep. 14 mins 3.7k

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'Good Fortune' is dedicated to understanding, practicing, and maintaining a Stoic outlook towards life.

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Episode 19: Virtue

Mar 16 2020 15 mins

In this episode, Matt Van Natta talks about the Stoic view of Virtue. Questions asked and answered: How does Stoicism describe virtue? But what is virtue? How can we be virtuous?

Episode 18: Conflict

Feb 03 2020 16 mins

In this episode, Matt Van Natta talks about how Stoics deal with personal conflict. Questions asked and answered: What is the Stoic view of personal conflict? How does a Stoic respond to conflict? How does this radical viewpoint apply to life today?

Episode 17: The Stoic Fool

Sep 15 2019 23 mins

In this episode, Matt Van Natta talks about why Stoics will sometimes be considered foolish by others. Questions asked and answered: Why would practitioners of philosophy be considered foolish? What benefit is there to being foolish in the Stoic way? How can I be certain I'm being Stoically foolish and not generally foolish?

Episode 16: Progress

Apr 02 2018 16 mins

In this episode, Matt Van Natta addresses progress in Stoic philosophy. Questions asked and answered: How do Stoics define Progress? How does a Stoic practice the philosophy? How can we know if we're missing the point of Stoicism?

Episode 15 - Stoic Self-Care

Aug 02 2017 15 mins

In this episode, Matt Van Natta addresses Stoic self-care. Questions asked and answered: What does Stoicism advise, when I've had my fill of life's stresses? How can I find personal harmony in a discordant world? Why does Stoicism recommend brief and basic mental renewal?

Extrasode 14.5 The Good Fortune Handbook

Jul 03 2017 1 mins

The Good Fortune Handbook consists of the transcripts of thirteen Good Fortune podcast episodes along with additional posts of the past five years from the website, Immoderate Stoic. Whether you read it cover to cover, or use the helpful appendixes to jump to specific questions about Stoic practice, this handbook is a useful companion on your Stoic journey.

Episode 14 - Self-Restraint

Jun 08 2017 17 mins

In this episode, Matt Van Natta addresses Stoic self-restraint. Questions asked and answered: Why does Stoicism advise self-restraint? What sort of restraint is advised? Must I reign myself in forever, or can I loosen up eventually?

Episode 13 - Death and an Epitaph for Ourselves

Apr 06 2017 13 mins

In Episode 13 of Good Fortune I tackle death. Death is a huge topic and this podcast tends to come in at around 15 minutes, so please understand that I'll be covering only a glint of a facet of what the philosophy has to say. Also, this episode rests on the foundation of Episode 12, titled "Frightened of Change?" I'd suggest listening to it first. This episode's questions: What is

Episode 12 - Frightened of Change?

Apr 06 2017 17 mins

In this episode we discuss the importance of accepting change. The discussion is meant to lay the groundwork for Episode 13 which will concern DEATH. This episode's questions: Exactly how close to nature's heart is change? So the ancient Stoics were really hung up on change, what's it matter? What are the benefits of perceiving and accepting that the universe is ever-changing?

Episode 11 - Uprooting Fear

Apr 06 2017 18 mins

This episode's questions: What's the Stoic view of fear and do Stoics experience it? The Stoics say that fe.ar is all in my head but, if so, my head is really good at generating fear. What should I do about that? Outside of reigning in my imagination, how can I Stoicially confront fear? In this episode I draw heavily from a Stoic Week 2014 talk given by John Sellars