29 Lessons From 150+ Million Podcast Downloads

In one of his most famous letters to Lucilius, Seneca gives a pretty simple prescription for the good life. “Each day,” he wrote, “acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes, as well and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day.”

One gain per day. That’s it. One quote, one prescription, one story.

George Washington’s favorite saying was “many mickles make a muckle.” It was an old Scottish proverb that illustrates a truth we all know: things add up. Even little ones. Even at the pace of one per day. Because, as the Stoics would say, it’s the little things that add up to wisdom and to virtue. What you read, who you study under, what you prioritize. Day to day, practiced over a lifetime, this is what creates greatness. This is what leads to a good life.

Obviously, that’s what I’m doing with my daily emails (​Daily Stoic,​ ​Daily Dad​), but it’s also just the way I try to live. Every time I listen to a podcast or record one myself, I try to walk away having grabbed at least one little thing.

Over the last several years, I’ve had the chance to spend thousands of hours interviewing people for The Daily Stoic Podcast (which ​you can subscribe to here​ and ​check out on YouTube here​). And…