If Rosa Parks had followed some modern stoic advice, would she have given up her seat instead of keeping it?
That's the challenge critics have thrown at Ryan Holiday, the writer credited with bringing ancient Stoicism back into mainstream culture.
Holiday's version of Stoicism teaches acceptance: control your reactions, let go of what you can't change, keep your composure no matter what happens to you.
Critics argue that's exactly the advice that keeps unfair systems standing. Real change, they say, has always come from people who refused to calmly accept their circumstances.
Holiday's defenders describe Stoic calm as clear thinking under pressure, exactly what protest and resistance require, not passive surrender.
So is Stoic acceptance a tool for surviving a hard world, or a philosophy that quietly asks you to stop fighting it?
Who has the best Voting system. 🇦🇺Australia, or 🇺🇸USA? In one country, a company can hand a political candidate an unlimited donation and call it free speech.
In the other, that's illegal.
Same rough values on paper, yet different rules underneath.
Author Anna Funder has spent decades studying how democracies come apart from the inside, from Stasi-era East Germany to the fault lines running through the US today. She lived there through the Obama years and says even then it felt like being inside a dying beast.
What she keeps coming back to isn't culture, or geography, or the constitution. It's the boring stuff. Compulsory voting. Preferential voting. An independent commission drawing electorate boundaries so politicians can't draw their own. Donation limits so companies can't buy a seat at the table.
"These things are rare," she told ABC Arts.
So which actually holds a democracy together: the values a country claims, or the unglamorous rules built to enforce them?
Full interview and Anna Funder's Australian tour dates in the comments.
As a thank you to the educators, academics, and researchers shaping the next generation of thinkers, we're offering ASA members exclusive $20 tickets to An Evening with Anna Funder.
Join one of Australia's most celebrated writers for an evening of conversation exploring storytelling, truth, and the power of words.
🎟 Limited tickets available. 📩 To reserve yours, email team@thinkable.events.
Millions have watched her videos. Millions have had their eyes opened.
Now, Dr. Ramani Durvasula is stepping off the screen and onto stages across Australia and New Zealand.
Join one of the world's leading voices on relationships for an unforgettable live experience packed with insight, clarity, and those powerful "everything finally makes sense" moments.
🎟️ Tickets are officially on sale now, get yours via thinkable.events
Whether you're a long-time follower or hearing her for the first time, this is your opportunity to learn directly from the expert who has transformed the way we understand difficult relationships.
For years, Dr.Ramani Durvasula has helped millions understand narcissism, toxic relationships, and the psychology behind difficult people.
Now, she's coming to Australia and New Zealand.
Join Dr. Ramani live this April 2027 for an evening of powerful insights, practical tools, and the conversations that have changed lives around the world.
🎟️ Pre-sale tickets are now live!
Secure your seats and be part of this unforgettable tour via thinkable.events
Thinkable
If Rosa Parks had followed some modern stoic advice, would she have given up her seat instead of keeping it?
That's the challenge critics have thrown at Ryan Holiday, the writer credited with bringing ancient Stoicism back into mainstream culture.
Holiday's version of Stoicism teaches acceptance: control your reactions, let go of what you can't change, keep your composure no matter what happens to you.
Critics argue that's exactly the advice that keeps unfair systems standing. Real change, they say, has always come from people who refused to calmly accept their circumstances.
Holiday's defenders describe Stoic calm as clear thinking under pressure, exactly what protest and resistance require, not passive surrender.
So is Stoic acceptance a tool for surviving a hard world, or a philosophy that quietly asks you to stop fighting it?
1 hour ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Thinkable
Who has the best Voting system. 🇦🇺Australia, or 🇺🇸USA? In one country, a company can hand a political candidate an unlimited donation and call it free speech.
In the other, that's illegal.
Same rough values on paper, yet different rules underneath.
Author Anna Funder has spent decades studying how democracies come apart from the inside, from Stasi-era East Germany to the fault lines running through the US today. She lived there through the Obama years and says even then it felt like being inside a dying beast.
What she keeps coming back to isn't culture, or geography, or the constitution. It's the boring stuff. Compulsory voting. Preferential voting. An independent commission drawing electorate boundaries so politicians can't draw their own. Donation limits so companies can't buy a seat at the table.
"These things are rare," she told ABC Arts.
So which actually holds a democracy together: the values a country claims, or the unglamorous rules built to enforce them?
Full interview and Anna Funder's Australian tour dates in the comments.
10 hours ago | [YT] | 5
View 3 replies
Thinkable
🇳🇿 Auckland, the wait is over!
Tickets for An Evening with Dr. Ramani Durvasula are officially live.
Join us for an empowering live discussion on identifying, navigating, and healing from narcissistic relationships.
📍 Bruce Mason Centre | Auckland
🗓️ 11th April
🔗 Get your tickets before they sell out at thinkable.events
#auckland #newzealand #relationship #narcissist #event
5 days ago | [YT] | 11
View 0 replies
Thinkable
For those who give the world its words.
As a thank you to the educators, academics, and researchers shaping the next generation of thinkers, we're offering ASA members exclusive $20 tickets to An Evening with Anna Funder.
Join one of Australia's most celebrated writers for an evening of conversation exploring storytelling, truth, and the power of words.
🎟 Limited tickets available.
📩 To reserve yours, email team@thinkable.events.
1 week ago | [YT] | 2
View 0 replies
Thinkable
Millions have watched her videos. Millions have had their eyes opened.
Now, Dr. Ramani Durvasula is stepping off the screen and onto stages across Australia and New Zealand.
Join one of the world's leading voices on relationships for an unforgettable live experience packed with insight, clarity, and those powerful "everything finally makes sense" moments.
🎟️ Tickets are officially on sale now, get yours via thinkable.events
Whether you're a long-time follower or hearing her for the first time, this is your opportunity to learn directly from the expert who has transformed the way we understand difficult relationships.
#australia #auckland #relationships #psychology #narcissism
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 6
View 0 replies
Thinkable
What a way to kick off the tour! Auckland, you set the bar high.
Australia, you're up next.
Join Jefferson Fisher live as he shares practical tools to help you communicate with more confidence, clarity, and impact.
Limited spots left, grab your tickets now via thinkable.events
#australia #melbourne #brisbane #sydney #event
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 4
View 0 replies
Thinkable
For years, Dr.Ramani Durvasula has helped millions understand narcissism, toxic relationships, and the psychology behind difficult people.
Now, she's coming to Australia and New Zealand.
Join Dr. Ramani live this April 2027 for an evening of powerful insights, practical tools, and the conversations that have changed lives around the world.
🎟️ Pre-sale tickets are now live!
Secure your seats and be part of this unforgettable tour via thinkable.events
#australia #auckland #event #psychology #relationships #narcissism
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 5
View 0 replies
Thinkable
The conversations that matter most are rarely the easiest ones.
This July, Jefferson Fisher brings his bestselling insights on communication, conflict, and connection to audiences across Australia and New Zealand.
The response has been extraordinary, with multiple cities now down to their final seats.
Don't leave this one to chance.
🎟️ Final tickets available at thinkable.events
#jeffersonfisher #event #australia #explore #auckland
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 3
View 0 replies
Thinkable
Tickets are now on sale!
For the first time, Robert Greene brings his ideas on power, influence, strategy, and human nature to audiences across Australia.
This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the world's most influential thinkers.
🎟️ Tickets are available now. Get yours via thinkable.events
#robertgreene #australia #power #psychology #event
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 4
View 0 replies
Thinkable
A night of powerful stories awaits.
More $55 tickets are now available for An Evening with Anna Funder.
If you've been meaning to book, this is your chance.
🎟️ Limited tickets available. Secure yours via thinkable.events
#annafunder #australia #event
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
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