Visit our conference website PathsToFlourishing.org to learn more about our event, to read about our theme #PathsToFlourishing, and to meet the speakers and read about their presentations.

A flourishing world is a better world. A flourishing individual helps create this better world.

We're all searching for our own path to a flourishing life, a life where we live mindfully, creatively, and with the power to care for ourselves and others.

This conference is for everyone, whether you have already embarked on a path inspired by Stoicism, or you are curious about Stoic philosophy as a way of flourishing.

Hear from leading Stoics as they share their stories, insight and expertise delivered through inspiring talks with a practical focus.

Tickets are for donation amounts. Pay what you can. Donations start at $1. Our suggested donations are $10, $25 , $50 .

All donations of $50 and above will include an invitation to our Special Stoa, a fireside chat with our speakers, and a two-hour journaling workshop on Sunday 6 June.

Your ticket automatically enters you in our book bundle prize drawing.*

Learn how and why to choose a philosophical life.

Sharon Lebell, philosophical writer and musician who lives in Northern California, and bestselling author of the much-loved classic text, Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness. Sharon will talk about her choice to live a philosophical life and how Stoicism helps her to be a better musician and artist.

Learn how to choose a courageous and creative life.

New York Times bestselling author, former MTV VJ, Revlon model, and actress, Karen Duffy, will be joined by writer, creator, and editor of the forthcoming "Verissimus: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius,” Kasey Pierce, multidisciplinary artist, Rocío de Torres Artillo, and author and educator Kathryn Koromilas to discuss how Stoic philosophy nurtures and enhances their creative practice.

Learn to care more deeply for others

Author of Tranquility Parenting: A Guide to Staying Calm, Mindful, and Engaged and writer at Living in Agreement, Brittany Polat, is joined by College of Charleston professor of philosophy Jennifer Baker and co-editor of the forthcoming Stoicism Today: Selected Writings Vol. 3 and co-founder of Stoic Parents, Leah Goldrick, to talk about how a Stoic approach to life helps in raising children and care-taking.

You will also:

• Learn how to build a solid relationship
• Learn about compassionate self-care
• Learn how to connect meditation to your inner Stoic journey

and

• Meet, network, and discuss Stoicism with other Stoic women

Our conference program

(Note: Some details may change.)

10:00 am

Welcome to “Paths to Flourishing”

Brittany Polat and Kathryn Koromilas

10:15 am

A Female Buddha and a Roman Emperor: Lessons for Joyful Living

Dr. Ranjini George

10:45 am

What can Stoicism teach us about caring for others whilst caring for ourselves?

Eve Riches

11:15 am

The Power to Care: How a Stoic approach to life helps in raising children and care-taking

Dr. Jennifer Baker, Leah Goldrick, and Brittany Polat

11:45 am How teaching made me a (better) Stoic

Lalya Lloyd

11:55 am

Passage as power: freedom through a right view of time

Elizabeth Azide

12:05 pm

Keeping Stoicism relevant when your brain won't cooperate

Sophia Shapira

12:15 pm

Stoicism: A Basis for Solid Marriage

Andi Sciacca and Dr. Greg Sadler

12:45 pm

Break.

1:00 pm

Connect and chat.

Social break out room to connect and chat with other Stoics

1:30 pm

Stoicism for an Absurd Life

Jamie M. Lombardi

2:00 pm

Creative Stoics

Karen Duffy, Kasey Pierce, Rocio de Torres and Kathryn Koromilas

2:30 pm

Meditation to connect with your Daimonion or higher self

Dr. Alkistis Agio

2:45 pm

Keynote Address

Living as if Your Life Depended on it: Choosing a Philosophical Life

Sharon Lebell

3:15 pm

Q&A with Sharon Lebell

3:25 pm

Closing remarks

Brittany Polat and Kathryn Koromilas

3:30 pm

Close

❊

Our Speakers

Sharon Lebell is a philosophical writer and musician who lives in Northern California, and author of the much-loved classic text, Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.

Karen Duffy, New York Times bestselling author, former MTV VJ, Revlon model, and actress, with Kasey Pierce, writer, creator, and editor of the forthcoming Verissimus: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius.

Dr. Ranjini George, widely-published and multi-award-winning researcher, author, and teacher who teaches courses on Meditation, Writing, Stoicism and the Good Life at the School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto. She is the author of Through My Mother's Window.

Jamie Lombardi is an adjunct faculty member of the Philosophy and Religion Department at Bergen Community College in New Jersey.

Dr. Brittany Polat is the author of Tranquility Parenting: A Guide to Staying Calm, Mindful, and Engaged.

Dr. Jennifer Baker is a philosopher, professor of philosophy at the College of Charleston,

Leah Goldrick is a librarian, writer and editor of Common Sense Ethics.com

Andi Sciacca is an educator, writer, and co-founder of the MKE Stoic Fellowship.

Dr. Greg Sadler is the editor of Stoicism Today and husband of Andi Sciacca.

Eve Riches, Stoicism and Psychology Teacher, Mentor and Disability Employment Consultant.

Dr. Alkistis Agio is a TEDx Speaker, WellnessTV Host, Leadership Trainer

Lalya Lloyd is a writer, Classics teacher and currently completing her MA in Creative Writing.

Elizabeth Azide is a marketing professional, writer, and creator of ThePhilosophyOfEverything.com.

Sophia Elizabeth Shapira is a blogger/vlogger, former software developer, and Stoic prokopton.

Rocio de Torres is a digital product designer and multidisciplinary artist.

Kathryn Koromilas is a writer and educator. She hosts the Stoic Salon Facebook group of, mostly, creatives reading and writing with the Stoics, hosts the Stoic Salon podcast, Flow to Flourish, and is writing a book on "Journaling with the Stoics."

Conference details

Date: Saturday 5th June

Time: 10:00 am EDT / 7:00 am PDT / 3:00 pm BST / Midnight AEST

Duration: 5.5 hours of talks (Including a 30 min break)

Tickets: Tickets are for donation amounts. Pay what you can. Donations start at $1. Our suggested donations are $10 bronze, $25 silver, $50 gold.

All donations of $50 and above will include an invitation to a Special Stoa event immediately following the conference, a two-hour journaling workshop on Sunday 6 June, and early access to video recordings of the talks.

All profits from this event will be donated to the Modern Stoicism nonprofit organization, which promotes discussion of Stoic philosophy and carries out research on its potential benefits.

Format: Zoom (video recordings will be made available)

Who should attend?

We think that everyone should attend this conference: students and professionals, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons; anyone who identifies as a Stoic or is curious about this practical philosophy of life.

What will you experience?

You will experience five hours of practical Stoicism that will inspire you to enhance or begin your own daily practice.

You will hear from academics, creatives, parents, entrepreneurs, authors who will talk about an aspect of Stoic philosophy that has been both personally and professionally transformational.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers and to meet casually with other conference attendees.

What will you take away?

You will take away practical tips and actionable insights to start practising Stoic principles in your daily life.

You will learn the basic principles of Stoicism, learn about the main philosophers (ancient and modern) and what to start reading, and learn how Stoicism works in practice.

You will make connections with like-minded Stoics and Stoic-curious attendees.

You will also learn about Stoic groups to join so you can further your own practice in the community.

Who we are

• Brittany Polat, organizer and co-host
• Kathryn Koromilas, organizer and co-host
• Kasey Pierce, conference ambassador – publicist
• Anne Gehrmann, conference ambassador – social media marketing & event moderator
• Donald Robertson, advisor

With special thanks to the Aurelius Foundation for their support.

*Book Bundle Prize

• Winner will be announced at the conference on June 5 and an email confirmation will be sent after the conference.
• Books will be either paperback or Kindle depending on winner's location.
• Books include The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness by Sharon Lebell, Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience by Nancy Sherman, Tranquility Parenting: A Guide to Staying Calm, Mindful, and Engaged by Brittany Polat, Stoic Spiritual Exercises by Elen Buzaré.