The Stoic Handbook with Jon Brooks

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A few months ago, I was in a conversation that started to go sideways. I could feel the tension rising—the tightening in my chest, my voice getting sharper. I knew exactly what was happening. I've studied this. I've taught this. I know what Marcus Aurelius would say. And in that moment, it was like I'd never read a word of Stoicism. 
If you've spent any time with this philosophy, you've probably had your own version of this experience. The email lands and you spiral. The criticism stings and you're devastated. Someone cuts you off and you react exactly the way Epictetus said not to. This is the gap between knowing and doing—and it's the central challenge of practicing philosophy. 
In this episode, I explore why the philosophy disappears when we need it most, what Seneca confessed about this exact problem 2,000 years ago, and why more reading isn't the answer. Spoiler: the Stoics weren't building a library. They were building a gymnasium for the soul. 
In this episode:
The moment I knew exactly what to do—and didn't do it 
Why intellectual understanding is not the same as embodied skill 
What Seneca admitted about knowing vs. practicing 
The difference between studying Stoicism and training as a Stoic 
A reflection question to sit with after listening

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A 15 minute, Yoga Nidra–inspired sleep meditation designed to help your body soften and your mind quiet. We’ll move through a slow, systematic relaxation from head to toe, then drift into a gentle “safe floating” visualization—before fading into spacious silence to support deep sleep.
A subtle Stoic thread runs underneath: release what cannot be changed, and return to the only place you ever rest—this moment.

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What if aliens installed a silent CCTV camera above your shoulder for 30 days and compiled a report on what you truly value—based purely on your calendar, screen time, purchases, and how you spend your evenings? Would you recognize yourself?
Jordan Peterson says if you want to know what someone believes, watch their feet, not their words. The Stoics put it even more bluntly: Acta non verba. Actions, not words.
In this episode, Jon Brooks delivers one of the most practical and transformative frameworks you'll hear all year: The Stoic CCTV Protocol—a 7-day experiment that combines ancient Stoic practice (prosoche, voluntary discomfort, evening review) with modern behavioral science (implementation intentions, friction design, identity reinforcement) to help you close the gap between your stated values and your lived values.
You'll learn:
Why "I don't have time" is a lie your calendar can expose in 5 minutes
The forensic audit that reveals your real priorities (prepare to be uncomfortable)
How to calculate your "Alignment Score" and what to do if it's below 40%
The Integrity Bank method for rebuilding self-trust one tiny promise at a time
Why your phone is a spiritual X-ray (and how to turn it into a training tool)
The complete 7-day CCTV Protocol with daily practices you can start today
This isn't about motivation. It's about systems, structure, and seeing clearly. If you've ever felt the sting of saying one thing and doing another—if you've ever wondered why you can't seem to show up for the things you claim matter most—this episode is your forensic evidence and your roadmap forward.
Run the protocol. Post your score. Keep one microscopic promise every day for 30 days.
Then come back and tell us what changed.
Mentioned in this episode:
The dichotomy of control (Epictetus)
Prosoche: Stoic attentive watchfulness
Hebbian learning: neurons that fire together, wire together
Implementation intentions and if-then planning
Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus

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Start your day with a simple gratitude meditation rooted in ancient Stoic wisdom. In just 10 minutes, you'll practice three gratitudes, shift your mindset from lack to abundance, and set yourself up for a day of noticing what's right—not just what's wrong. Inspired by Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, this guided meditation helps you see clearly what you already have, before the day's demands take over. Perfect for mornings when you want to feel grounded, grateful, and ready.

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Start your day with the most powerful Stoic distinction: what is up to you, and what is not.
In this 6-minute guided morning practice, you’ll gently identify a current worry, feel where it lives in your body, and release everything outside your control. Through clear teaching, visualization, and a simple daily intention, you’ll cultivate calm agency and resilience—no matter what the day brings.
Perfect for anyone who wakes up with racing thoughts, anxiety about outcomes, or a desire to respond rather than react. Epictetus’ timeless wisdom, delivered in a modern, practical way.
Return daily to strengthen the habit.