Known as the teacher of Epictetus, Musonius Rufus was much more than a footnote in Stoic history. In this bonus Stoic Portrait, we meet a voice of quiet rebellion. Exiled more than once by emperors, Musonius insisted that philosophy must be lived, not just spoken. He taught that self-discipline builds strength, that discomfort trains the soul, and that women deserve an equal education in reason and virtue.
This five-minute reflection examines how Musonius applied Stoic principles to everyday life, including food, marriage, work, and hardship. His lessons remain startlingly modern and deeply humane.
What to Expect:
• How Musonius Rufus made Stoicism practical and lived
• Why he believed virtue belongs to everyone, not just philosophers
• A reminder that courage is often quiet and consistent
Listen now and discover a Stoic whose teachings still guide us in daily life.
Mind the Gap
You already know my voice. For twenty-five years, I've been telling you to mind the gap on trains across Ireland. This is the same instruction. The gap is just different now.
Mind the Gap is a podcast about the space between what we think we're doing and what we're actually doing. Between intention and impact. Between the behaviour we display and the one we'd choose if we were paying attention.
Each episode is a short reflection — drawn from psychology, philosophy, and the texture of everyday life — on one of those gaps. Why do we give advice nobody asked for? Why do we lie more after the mistake than during it? Why do we perform contentment, perform listening, perform strength? And what it costs us when we do.
I'm Michael Comyn — coach, broadcaster, and the voice on the platform. New episodes weekly.
Support Us
You already know my voice.
For twenty-five years, I've been telling you to mind the gap on trains across Ireland. This is the same instruction. The gap is just different now.
Mind the Gap is a podcast about the space between what we think we're doing and what we're actually doing. Between intention and impact. Between the behaviour we display and the one we'd choose if we were paying attention.
