Something irritated you today. And you probably moved on — or didn't. In this episode, John Sampson examines the minor annoyances, petty frustrations, and small daily friction that constitute most of human experience — and makes the case that these moments aren't obstacles to a good life. They're the training ground for one.

Drawing on affective neuroscience, Stoic philosophy, and modern psychology, this episode explains why your brain is wired to overreact to small things, why daily hassles damage your health more than major life events, and how the practices of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius map with striking precision onto what modern brain science has since confirmed.

What you'll take away from this episode:

• Why the amygdala hijack happens before your rational brain even gets involved — and the neurological gap  ...