6. Chris Spaleta on the simple yet effective way he runs the Stoa of Ontario

We talk with Chris Spaleta, co-founder of the Stoa of Ontario, about a number of topics:

• Chris's background and how he got interested in Stoicism, including how a group of friends started exploring Stoicism during the pandemic

• The format and structure of the Ontario Stoa's online and in-person meetings, including how they use a single quote as a discussion prompt

• The benefits and challenges of having a mix of newcomers and long-time Stoicism students in the group

• Strategies the group uses to keep discussions productive and avoid getting derailed, like having a set time limit and a reminder of the group's purpose

• The differences between the online and in-person meetings, including accessibility and the level of intimacy

• The value of having a co-facilitator to share the workload and provide support

• Chris's eloquent reflection on what Stoicism means to him

• The group's experience hosting prominent guest speakers from the Stoic community

• Advice for someone looking to start their own Stoic group or community