Was Nero Really That Bad? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 23, 2026 · 32 MIN

Was Nero Really That Bad?

from The Daily Stoic

Was Nero really that bad, or has history been telling the same story for 2,000 years without asking who started it? In today’s episode, Ryan looks at the myths, accusations, and contradictions behind Nero’s reputation, and asks whether he was really a monster, a scapegoat, or a warning. 📚 Books Mentioned: Nero: Emperor and Court by John F. DrinkwaterDying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero by James RommLives of the Stoics by Ryan Holiday🎙️ Check out the full episodes:Bert Kreischer on The Daily Stoic Podcast | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeJames Romm on The Daily Stoic Podcast | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeWhy Narcissistic Leaders Always Fail (In The End)Anthony Everitt on The Daily Stoic Podcast🎶 Song: Unexplored Moon by Miguel Johnson🎙️ AD-FREE | Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/🎥 VIDEO EPISODES | Watch the video episodes on The Daily Stoic YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic/videos✉️ FREE STOIC WISDOM | Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemailSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Was Nero really that bad, or has history been telling the same story for 2,000 years without asking who started it? In today’s episode, Ryan looks at the myths, accusations, and contradictions behind Nero’s reputation, and asks whether he was really a monster, a scapegoat, or a warning. 📚 Books Mentioned: Nero: Emperor and Court by John F. DrinkwaterDying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero by James RommLives of the Stoics by Ryan Holiday 🎙️ Check out the full episodes:Bert Kreischer on The Daily Stoic Podcast | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeJames Romm on The Daily Stoic Podcast | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeWhy Narcissistic Leaders Always Fail (In The End)Anthony Everitt on The Daily Stoic Podcast 🎶 Song: Unexplored Moon by Miguel Johnson 🎙️ AD-FREE | Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content: https://dailystoic.supercast.com/ 🎥 VIDEO EPISODES | Watch the video episodes on The Daily Stoic YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic/videos ✉️ FREE STOIC WISDOM | Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Was Nero Really That Bad?

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This episode was published on May 23, 2026.

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Was Nero really that bad, or has history been telling the same story for 2,000 years without asking who started it? In today’s episode, Ryan looks at the myths, accusations, and contradictions behind Nero’s reputation, and asks whether he was really...

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