{"podcast":{"title":"Stuck Not Broken","slug":"stuck-not-broken-765818","podcast_index_feed_id":765818,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/stuck-not-broken/","website_url":"http://www.stucknotbroken.com","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/f78460d1-6aa6-42cb-999a-9e07bce431fa/podcast-covers-1.jpg","author":"Justin Sunseri","episode_count":356,"summary":"Stuck Not Broken is the first podcast built on clearly teaching the Polyvagal Theory and applying it to your trauma recovery process. Justin Sunseri is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist that makes the science of connection easily understood and accessible to anyone. He created the Polyvagal Trauma Relief System and is the author of Trauma & The Polyvagal Paradigm. (Justin Sunseri, LMFT99147)","last_synced_at":"2026-07-23T02:19:23.638185+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stuck-not-broken-765818"},"episode":{"title":"Steadying the Waters: How Your Nervous System Affects Your Stoic Practice","slug":"steadying-the-waters-how-your-nervous-system-affects-your-stoic-practice","published_at":"2026-02-10T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stuck-not-broken-765818/steadying-the-waters-how-your-nervous-system-affects-your-stoic-practice","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stuck-not-broken-765818","url":"http://www.stucknotbroken.com","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/418fea73-1176-41a3-996d-9090d0e247b5.mp3","summary":"What if I told you that your ability to practice Stoicism isn't just about willpower or mindset—but about the actual physiological state of your nervous system? In this episode, I dive deep into a profound quote from Epictetus that perfectly illustrates how our autonomic nervous system affects our capacity to respond wisely to life's challenges. Using the metaphor of water, light, and appearances, we'll explore:• Why some days Stoic practices feel effortless while other days feel impossible• How your nervous system state acts as a \"filter\" for all incoming reality• The real reason willpower alone isn't enough for lasting change• 3 practical daily practices to \"steady your internal waters\"• How nervous system regulation enhances (rather than replaces) Stoic philosophy Key Quote: \"Such as is a dish of water, such is the soul. Such as is the ray of light, which falls on the water, such are the appearances.\" - Epictetus 0:00 Introduction 0:40 The Epictetus Quote 1:17 Breaking Down the Metaphor 3:32 The Coffee Example 5:10 Connecting to the Nervous System 8:21 How Reality Filters Through Your State 9:36 Person A vs Person B 13:22 What To Do About This 15:39 The Problem with Traditional Stoic Practice 19:06 Settling the Water 20:26 Practical Steps You Can Take Today 22:54 Closing & Resources 🌸 Not sure which stuck state you're in? Recognize where you're at and join the free community here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/stuck?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=stuck-page It helps you recognize your state. It never tells you what you are. No quiz, no verdict, no card. 🤩 Ready to go deeper? Explore resources at every price point here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/how-i-can-help-you?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=how-i-can…","meta_description":"What if I told you that your ability to practice Stoicism isn't just about willpower or mindset—but about the actual physiological state of your nervous s…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1512,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/stuck-not-broken-765818/episodes/steadying-the-waters-how-your-nervous-system-affects-your-stoic-practice/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stuck-not-broken-765818/steadying-the-waters-how-your-nervous-system-affects-your-stoic-practice.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}