In Search of Wisdom

A Calendar of Wisdom (A Message to Our Listeners)

📩 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeDear Listeners, With the new year upon us, I decided to make a few changes on In Search of Wisdom. One is releasing more episodes (but more on that later). You might have noticed a change to the podcast cover — this is what I want to discuss. Some of the longtime listeners may have heard me mention A Calendar of Wisdom by Leo Tolstoy. I want to tell you a little more about this book and how it influenced my own journey to start this podcast (a few years ago now). The Russian writer Leo Tolstoy is arguably one of the greatest writers of all time. Tolstoy was not just a great writer; he was a seeker of wisdom! His last major work is known as “A Calendar of Wisdom,” which is intended to be a wise thought for every day of the year from the greatest philosophers and thinkers of all time. Tolstoy’s project was largely for himself (much like this podcast). [...]---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

On the Worth of a Day | Dying Every Day

📩 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe💀 Welcome to a new series on In Search of Wisdom called Dying Every Day. This series is focused on delivering Stoic meditations on the art of living. Each meditation provides a quote, a selected passage, and a daily exercise to consider contemplating. You can expect our normal interview-style episodes every Wednesday.---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko | The Good Life Method

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeOn today’s episode, the final episode of a three-part “Best of Series” here on the podcast, I’m sharing my conversation with Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko, the authors of The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning. Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family Col­lege Professor in Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, director of the God and the Good Life Program, and director of the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study. Paul Blaschko is an assistant teaching professor in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. He heads up curriculum design for the God and the Good Life Program and has recently been working to develop similar curricula at universities across the nation.In the conversation, we discuss:The Good LifeThe role of faithMaking sense of sufferingContemplationWisdom in daily life, and much moreLearn more about God and the Good Life, the program that inspired the book. ---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

The Art of Knowing What Matters | Dying Every Day

📩 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe💀 Welcome to a new series on In Search of Wisdom called Dying Every Day. This series is focused on delivering Stoic meditations on the art of living. Each meditation provides a quote, a selected passage, and a daily exercise to consider contemplating. You can expect our normal interview-style episodes every Wednesday.---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

David Robson | How Mindsets Can Change Your World

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeWelcome to the second episode from our “Best of Series” on In Search of Wisdom. On today’s episode, I’m sharing my conversation with David Robson, author of The Expectation Effect. David is an award-winning science writer specializing in the extremes of the human brain, body, and behavior. David explores cutting-edge research that reveals the many profound ways that our expectations shape our experience.In the conversation, David and I discussed:What the expectation effect is and why it mattersThe role our views and beliefs play in shaping our worldThe difference between the expectation effect and positive thinkingThe power of expectations for leaders and educatorsThe wisdom of being kind to yourself and much more🦉 For any listeners interested in starting the year with wisdom, I encourage you to register for our upcoming course, Wisdom is the Way: The Timeless Art of Leading a Life. The course is free (and exclusive) for Perennial Meditations members (our daily newsletter on Substack). You can learn more and register here.---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Oliver Burkeman | Time Management for Mortals

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeWelcome to the first episode of a “Best of Series” on In Search of Wisdom. Over the next few weeks — I’ll be rebroadcasting a few of my favorite episodes! In this episode, my guest is Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Oliver is a British writer, journalist, and longtime writer for the Guardian. In the conversation, Oliver and I discuss:The productivity trapWhy it’s difficult to find time for the meaningful tasks in our lifeThe importance of patienceContemplating our cosmic insignificance Why accepting our mortality can lead to making wiser decisionsLiving in uncertainty and much more.🦉 For any listeners interested in starting the year with wisdom, I encourage you to register for our upcoming course, Wisdom is the Way: The Timeless Art of Leading a Life. The course is free (and exclusive) for Perennial Meditations members (our daily newsletter on Substack). You can learn more and register here.---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Justin Brierley | The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeOn this episode, my guest is Justin Brierley, the author of the new book The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God. Justin is a UK broadcaster, writer, and speaker who was the longtime host of the Unbelievable? Show for Premier Christian Radio. For nearly two decades, Justin has welcomed atheists, agnostics, and Christians to engage in meaningful conversations around science, faith, and culture. He’s heard every argument against the faith yet remains optimistic about a resurgence of belief.In the conversation, Justin and I discuss:Discerning our path in lifeThe “New Atheism” movementCulture and belief in GodSearching for Wisdom (and wrestling with God)Wisdom in daily life, and much more---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

Krista Thomason | Why Bad Feelings Make Life Good

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is Prof. Krista Thomason, the author of the new book Dancing with the Devil: Why Bad Feelings Make Life Good. Krista is an associate professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College. Her writings focus on the philosophy of emotion, moral philosophy, history of philosophy, and political philosophy. (Follow Krista on Twitter & Instagram).In the conversation, Krista and I discuss:Discerning our way in life.Various approaches to emotions across wisdom traditions.Why Montaigne is an influential figure in the book. Common obstacles to feeling our emotions. Why bad feelings make life good, and much more. ---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

David Fideler | A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is David Fideler, the author of Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living. Today’s episode is a rebroadcast since we’re exploring David’s book this month for Reading & the Good Life (for anyone not familiar, you can learn more and sign up for Reading & the Good Life at Perennial Meditations on Substack). David studied ancient religions and philosophies, the history of science, and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and intellectual history. You can learn more about his work at davidfideler.com. In the conversation, David and I discuss:The life of SenecaCultivating friendshipNavigating hardshipsOvercoming fear and anxietyWisdom in daily life, and much more---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

How to Take Nothing for Granted | From ”Paradoxically Speaking”

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, I’m sharing a conversation on the practice of gratitude with my good friend Brandon Tumblin; which comes from the Paradoxically Speaking podcast. Throughout the conversation, Brandon and I discuss the difference between gratitude and being grateful and, ultimately, how to avoid taking things for granted. Now as many of you know, the wisdom (or practice) of being grateful appears across wisdom traditions. Although philosophical and spiritual traditions often speak of gratitude in slightly different ways than we do in modern culture. Take this quote from the Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, "You think this is just another day in your life. It’s not just another day; it’s the one day. It’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s a gift. It’s the only gift you have right now — and the only appropriate response is gratefulness."***If you’d like to hear more casual conversations like this one and gain access to our daily meditations on the art of living. I encourage you to consider becoming a member of Perennial Meditations on Substack. As many longtime listeners already know, we don’t run ads on any of our podcasts; they are made possible by the generous support of our members. Read this short meditation, How to Take Nothing for Granted to learn more. ---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts