Ryan Holiday, bestselling author and modern Stoicism popularizer, joins Hassan Minaj on his podcast for a wide-ranging discussion about ancient philosophy's modern relevance. Holiday, who grew up in Northern California like Minaj, has become a leading voice in bringing Stoic principles to contemporary audiences through his books and Daily Stoic podcast.

The conversation explores how Stoicism filled gaps in traditional American upbringing, particularly around masculine guidance and ethical frameworks. They examine why ancient philosophy resonates with both Silicon Valley titans and everyday people struggling with modern chaos.

A significant portion focuses on the concerning rise of 'broicism' - a distorted version of Stoicism that emphasizes personal strength while abandoning moral obligations to others. Holiday explains how this misinterpretation contradicts the core teachings found in Meditations and other foundational texts.

Stoicism as Missing Masculine Guidance Framework

Holiday discovered Stoicism because traditional institutions failed to provide guidance on 'how to be a man' or 'how to be a person' - there was just an assumption 'you'll pick it up as you go.'

Growing up Catholic, Holiday found Stoicism's rational approach more compelling than religious threats: 'don't do this because your life will be a form of hell' rather than divine punishment.

Joan Didion's characterization of Sacramento/Davis as 'the Midwest of California' in Slouching Towards Bethlehem captures the cultural void both Holiday and Minaj experienced in Northern California.

Musonius Rufus wrote essays 2,000 years ago asking 'should women be taught philosophy?' and 'is virtue the same in a man as in a woman?' - concluding that 'virtue is virtue' regardless of gender.

Elite Appeal and Historical Patterns of Stoic Popularity

Stoicism was historically popular with elites in the ancient world - 'this is what you would send your son or daughter' to learn leadership and virtue.

Bill Clinton reads Meditations annually, demonstrating continued appeal among modern political leaders seeking philosophical guidance.

Stoicism resurges during civilizational chaos: 'Cato is in the fall of the Roman Republic, Marcus Aurelius is in the decline and fall of the Roman Empire' - Holiday

The philosophy gained popularity during the Renaissance, Enlightenment, Age of Revolutions, and American Civil War - 'it's popular when shit feels like it's coming apart.'

The Dangerous Rise of Broicism vs True Stoicism

Broicism cherry-picks three cardinal virtues (courage, discipline, wisdom) while abandoning justice: 'I don't have to bother with the third one, right?' - Holiday explaining the mindset

The phrase 'common good' appears 80 times in Meditations, making it Marcus Aurelius's most frequent concept, not personal strength or emotional control.

True Stoicism was 'inherently a philosophy about our obligations and our responsibilities to and with other people' rather than individual optimization.

Broicism becomes 'a recipe for being a better sociopath' and 'in some cases, being a better psychopath' when moral elements are removed - Holiday

Reconciling Stoic Ideals with Historical Contradictions

Marcus Aurelius wrote about 'a world of equal rights and personal liberty where rulers respect the rights of their subjects' while ruling an empire that was 'not remotely like' that ideal.

Holiday advocates a 'Jeffersonian element' - taking beautiful ideals literally even when their authors didn't fully believe them, like 'all men are created equal.'

Studying the past 'requires putting on your sort of big boy pants' to hold figures like Seneca up as both 'inspiring, heroic figure and tragic, disgusting hypocrite.'

Stoic ideals inspired the American founders 2,000 years later to 'take a big step towards getting to the ideals of the Roman Republic and classical virtue.'