Overview of Daily Stoic Podcast — Jaimie Alexander: “I Was Asked If I Wanted to Live or Die”
This episode of the Daily Stoic Podcast features actress Jaimie (spelled J-A-I-M-I-E) Alexander in conversation with host Ryan Holiday. Alexander tells the story of a life-changing medical emergency in 2018 (a ruptured appendix and sepsis), how that near-death moment triggered her decision to get—and stay—sober, and how Stoic philosophy (Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca) and 12-step principles shaped her recovery and day-to-day practices. The episode connects personal crisis, practical philosophy, and concrete daily habits she uses to remain grounded, useful, and curious.
Key topics & themes
- Jaimie Alexander’s near-death experience: rupture of her appendix, sepsis, surgery, and a clear internal moment where she was asked, “Do you want to stay or do you want to go?”
- The turning point to sobriety: a choice to stay and an internal message that sobriety was required.
- High-functioning alcoholism and hidden suffering: heavy drinking to cope with persistent pain and stress from physical, stunt-heavy acting work.
- Stoicism and recovery: overlap between Stoic teachings and the 12-step approach (e.g., acceptance of what you can/can’t control; the “higher power” concept).
- Practical routines: daily Stoic reading, gratitude lists, intention cards, and using service to others as an antidote to fear/self-focus.
- Reinvention and purpose: learning new skills (she recently learned to swim), shifting identity beyond celebrity and acting, and focusing on usefulness to others.
- Curiosity vs. compulsion: replace rigid expectations with curiosity about outcomes—and accept whatever comes.
Main takeaways
- Crisis can catalyze radical, positive change. Alexander’s survival moment gave her a clear choice and a new moral and practical framework (sobriety + Stoic practice).
- Stoicism and recovery are practical complements. Stoic ideas—distinguishing what’s up to you from what isn’t—mirror the serenity and responsibility at the heart of recovery.
- Small daily practices matter. Alexander reads a Stoic passage each morning, writes a half-page gratitude list, and carries intentions to stay grounded and purposeful.
- Being useful and of service reduces fear and self-centered anxiety. When she focuses on helping others, she feels less afraid and more alive.
- Embrace being a beginner. Returning to learning (swimming) humbles the ego and builds resilience—valuable in sobriety and life reinvention.
- Purpose isn’t always obvious; it can converge from unexpected places (e.g., acting, writing, philosophy), and showing up matters more than having everything figured out.
Notable quotes & insights
- “Do you want to stay or do you want to go?” — the question she heard before surgery that precipitated her decision to live and be sober.
- “Then you can never drink again.” — the internal directive tied to her choice to stay.
- “I’m not what happened to me. I’m what I choose to become.” — Carl Jung quote she has tattooed and uses as a guiding principle.
- “We are not our outside situations. We are how we choose to respond.” — the Stoic framing she finds most useful.
- “Stoicism is basically the serenity prayer 2,000 years before the serenity prayer.” — connecting Stoic philosophy and 12-step spirituality.
- “Both of us have survived 100% of what has happened to us.” — reminder of resilience and lived experience as evidence of capacity to endure.
Practical, actionable recommendations (from the episode)
- Read one Stoic passage each morning (Daily Stoic or classic Stoic writings).
- Write a half‑page gratitude list daily—include small and big items.
- Pull an intention card or choose a short daily intention to carry through the day.
- Prioritize being useful: volunteer, help a neighbor, be present for someone—service reduces fear/self-focus.
- When facing fear or a new challenge, adopt a “be curious” stance: treat setbacks as experiments rather than catastrophes.
- If struggling with addiction, seek help: tell someone you trust, consult medical professionals, and consider 12-step or recovery programs.
- Embrace humility by learning something new—even if it means being bad at it at first (e.g., learn to swim, join a class).
Guest context & background (condensed)
- Jaimie Alexander: actress notable for roles as Lady Sif in the Thor films, appearances in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and lead on NBC’s Blindspot. Background includes competitive high-school wrestling and extensive stunt work—leading to many injuries.
- Personal history: difficult childhood with abuse, early responsibility, and patterns of people-pleasing—factors she acknowledges without using them as excuses.
- Current focus: sobriety (nearly eight years), daily Stoic practice, writing (Substack), learning new skills, and living a life centered on usefulness to others.
Episode flow / structure (brief)
- Host intro, sponsor reads, and context on Stoicism and recovery.
- Casual opening (shopping/family anecdote) → transition to guest arrival.
- Conversation about learning to swim and confronting fear.
- Full recounting of the 2018 medical emergency and the “stay or go” experience.
- Discussion of sobriety, Stoicism, and daily routines that helped sustained recovery.
- Reflections on purpose, identity, curiosity, and being of service.
- Closing remarks, sponsor reads, and episode sign-off.
Who this episode is for
- People in recovery or supporting someone in recovery.
- Listeners interested in practical Stoicism and real-life application.
- Fans of Jaimie Alexander curious about her personal journey beyond her public persona.
- Anyone seeking concrete morning routines and mindset tools for resilience and purpose.
If you want a distilled starting plan from this episode: read one Stoic passage each morning, write a short gratitude list, set a single daily intention, take one action of service each day, and be willing to start small at something new.