William O. Stephens, Ph.D., retired Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Creighton University with interests in ancient philosophy, ethics, and Stoicism, has contributed significantly to the field through interviews, podcasts, and translations, including a revised edition of "The Ethics of the Stoic Epictetus." Scott Aikin is a Professor of phiolosophy at Vanderbilt University. His research encompasses the theory of knowledge, ancient philosophy, informal logic, and philosophy of religion,...

Shane Trotter is the author of Setting the Bar: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Era of Distraction, Dependency, and Entitlement. As a writer, educator, and High-School Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, he has been challenging youth development norms for over a decade. Shane believes that too much emphasis on comfort and a lost sense of community standards has left people feeling purposeless, disconnected, and trapped in self-limiting patterns. Shane has been featured by multiple...

Brittany Polat is a writer, researcher, and presenter on practical Stoicism. Her books help people from all walks of life find inner peace and long-lasting happiness through tried-and-true Stoic techniques. Brittany holds a Ph.D. in applied linguistics, but she currently studies human nature through the lens of Stoic psychology and philosophy. She is a steering committee member of Modern Stoicism, a board member of The Stoic Fellowship, and co-founder of the new nonprofit Stoicare...

Martha Alter Hines is a multifaceted professional with a rich background as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and body worker, boasting twenty years of experience. In addition to her roles as a mother, astrologer, channel, and healer, Hines has made significant contributions to the field of social work, particularly in her capacity as a supervisor of social workers. Her career took a pivotal turn in 2018 following a profound spiritual awakening that redirected her path away from...

Rocco Jarman is a renowned poet, philosopher, and mystic, recognized for his commitment to personal and societal transformation. With a deep belief in the infinite potential of humans, Jarman has overcome his own struggles with brokenness, disconnection, and confusion, finding a profound sense of gratitude and belonging through his journey. His life's work revolves around a transformative formula that shifts individuals from a state of brokenness to wholeness, and from confusion to...

Sharon is one of the pioneers of the contemporary Stoicism movement, and the author behind the best-selling interpretation of Epictetus’ writings, “The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.” As a musician and prominent writer, Sharon seeks to liberate the wisdom of the past in order to facilitate deeper meaning-making and personal flourishing. In this episode, Sharon gives a talk titled "Drift & Return." This talk was a part of our online event,...

Sharon is one of the pioneers of the contemporary Stoicism movement, and the author behind the best-selling interpretation of Epictetus’ writings, “The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.” As a musician and prominent writer, Sharon seeks to liberate the wisdom of the past in order to facilitate deeper meaning-making and personal flourishing. In this episode, Sharon gives a talk titled "The Meaning of Your Life Will Never Be Convenient."...

Rocco Jarman is an Australian mystic, poet and philosopher. He's the author of Keeper of the Flame: A Message from Tomorrow, and Stepping Through: Following our own star through the door to Tomorrow. His podcast is called the Eyes Wide Open Life Podcast, and you can find Rocco at eyeswideopenlife.org and as a contributor on thewalledgarden.com. To register for our upcoming event, Lighting Flames: A Vigil for Humanity, go to thewalledgarden.com/allevents/lighting-candles/ This show is part...

Contributing Philosopher Judith Stove gives a talk entitled "Losing Our Memories: Stoicism & The Suppression of Truth." About this talk: New legislation in Australia seeks to levy large fines on media companies for sharing ‘misinformation and disinformation.’ But who decides, and what is the impact on the historical record? Our starting point is two Stoic-related texts from Seneca and Tacitus, concerning Roman Imperial suppression of texts and frank discussions. As Tacitus wrote in 98...

In this episode, we hear from Prof. Joe Siracusa regarding the current conflict in Israel and Palestine as well as the most pressing diplomatic and political challenges of 2023 to date. Dr. Joseph Siracusa is an Chicago-born historian, professor and author with 40+ years in Australian higher education and over 50 books on history, diplomacy, politics, and nuclear weapons to his name. Joe currently teaches at Curtin University, and he serves as the President Emeritus of the Australia Council...

Tsoof Baras is a versatile and skilled percussionist with over 16 years of performance experience in orchestral percussion, hand drumming, novelty percussion and more in a range of styles. He is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, with a Bachelor of Music, Majoring in Advanced Percussion Performance. Tsoof is a member of multiple ensembles performing locally in Brisbane and nationally. He recently published a book called How to Get Good, wherein he explores the fundamentals...

Event Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-iliad-at-grace-san-francisco-a-public-reading-event-tickets-511419889657 The International Readers of Homer: https://www.internationalreadersofhomer.org/ Kathryn Hohlwein is a poet, author, teacher, world traveler, and Homerist. Born in the Rocky Mountains, she graduated from the University of Utah in 1951 and received an M.A. from The Bread Loaf School of English of Middlebury College in Vermont 1953. For 37 years, she taught poetry, creative...

Adriana Barton is a journalist, a former staff reporter at The Globe and Mail, and the author of Wired for Music: A Search for Health and Joy Through the Science of Sound. Her book, published by Greystone Books in October 2022, is a blend of science and memoir that argues that music is an age-old system to boost human health, connect us to each other, and add meaning, resilience, and joy. Drawing from neuroscience, anthropology, and evolutionary biology, Barton's book has received critical...

Alex Petkas is a renowned writer and host of the Cost of Glory podcast, where he shares his passion for history by uncovering the best stories and insights from great heroes of the past. After leaving a successful career in academia to focus on his work, Alex's dedication to helping people draw energy and practical insights from the past has earned him a reputation as a thought leader in the industry. In addition to his peer-reviewed research, he also writes for several non-academic...

Elite dressage coach and Stoic practitioner Nona Maiorano joins Simon Drew to discuss the idea of Human Self-Carriage, which describes the state of flow that can exist when we remove the two things that get in the way: agenda and ego. Nona is also a host at the Women’s Philosopher’s Cafe and a member of the New England Stoics. ABOUT THE WALLED GARDEN The Walled Garden Philosophical Society is a global community of philosophers and students gathering in search of truth, wisdom, virtue and the...

In this episode: Professor, philosopher and scholar of Stoicism William O. Stephens speaks with recently graduated football coach and Stoic practitioner Nick Davis about the analogy between team sports and the ethical/theological ideas found in Stoicism.  Learn more about Professor William O. Stephens: williamostephens.com ABOUT THE WALLED GARDEN The Walled Garden Philosophical Society is a global community of philosophers and students gathering in search of truth, wisdom, virtue and the...

This episode script was generated by Chat GPT based on prompts by Simon J. E. Drew. Register for "Chat GPT, AI Models and The Walled Garden: An Introduction to The Senate": https://thewalledgarden.com/an-introduction-to-the-senate SCRIPT The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about a new era of technological progress and potential, but it has also raised concerns about the meaning of human existence and the potential for madness. As AI becomes more sophisticated, there is a...

This episode script was generated by Chat GPT based on prompts by Simon J. E. Drew. Register for “Chat GPT, AI Models and The Walled Garden: An Introduction to The Senate”: https://thewalledgarden.com/an-introduction-to-the-senate SCRIPT: Welcome to The Walled Garden Podcast, the official podcast of The Walled Garden Philosophical Society. I am your temporary host, stepping in for Simon Drew. Today's episode is a special one as it was entirely generated by Artificial Intelligence...

This episode script was generated by Chat GPT based on prompts by Simon J. E. Drew. Register for "Chat GPT, AI Models and The Walled Garden: An Introduction to The Senate": https://thewalledgarden.com/an-introduction-to-the-senate SCRIPT Hello, and welcome to The Walled Garden Podcast, the official podcast of The Walled Garden Philosophical Society. I'm here filling in for the host, Simon Drew. Today's episode is a little different because it was entirely created by Artificial Intelligence...

This episode script was generated by Chat GPT based on prompts by Simon J. E. Drew. Register for "Chat GPT, AI Models and The Walled Garden: An Introduction to The Senate": https://thewalledgarden.com/an-introduction-to-the-senate SCRIPT Welcome to The Walled Garden Podcast, the flagship podcast of The Walled Garden Philosophical Society. We have an exciting announcement to make - the Society is hosting its very first Walled Garden Senate meeting! The first meeting in the Senate will be...

Santara Gonzales has years of experience running restorative programs in ten adult prisons throughout the state of California. She has introduced incarcerated men and women to Stoic principles, providing them with access to tools and insights. This has helped them to expand their sense of agency and improve their emotional well-being. Santara’s goal is to create spaces for people in need of healing, restoration, and growth, and she is working to build shoulders for others to stand on so that...

Dr Sofia Koutlaki is a Greek writer, author of Among the Iranians: A Guide to Iran’s Culture and Customs. Her academic trajectory traced a line through English literature, the Classics, and linguistics. She analysed Iranian politeness, face and communication and lived in Iran for a total of 14 years. Based in London, she now explores memoir and life writing, and the influence of Stoicism, mysticism and other spiritual practices on personal development and wellbeing. She discerns our shared...

Judith Stove is an Australian writer, researcher, and mother of two adult sons. She has published two books on the life and times of Jane Austen, and many articles on history and literature. She and her husband are lucky enough to live in a beautiful garden created by her father, philosopher David Stove (1927-1994), outside Sydney, Australia, close to the Blue Mountains National Park. In The Walled Garden, Judith writes about the great texts of Western Culture in her grove, Roots of the...

Brian D. Russell, Ph.D, is an award winning teacher, speaker, and spiritual coach. He serves as Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary (Orlando campus). His personal mission is to contemplate, learn, and practice the deepest truths in order to communicate them meaningfully, lovingly, and in transformational ways to others through writing, teaching, coaching and speaking. He is an in demand coach for entrepreneurs and spiritually minded leaders (www.brianrussellphd.com)...