Are You Negotiating Screen Time — or Negotiating Sanity? Shermin Kruse would know.
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How to Stay Soft Without Breaking: Shermin Kruse Gets Real
There’s something electric about two minds meeting at the edge of what matters. In this case, it’s Philipp Kobald and Shermin Kruse — each navigating the tension between intellect and soul, between modern chaos and timeless wisdom. Kruse isn’t just here to promote her new book Stoic Empathy — she’s ready to dive deep behind the meaning, to explore what happens when ancient philosophy meets real-world emotional grit. The podcast is called Spiritual Conversations, and this episode? It hits different.
Produced by HolisticCircle, the series isn’t just another round of feel-good chatter. It’s an excavation. A nudge to pay attention. And Kruse — lawyer, philosopher, war survivor, and author of the new book Stoic Empathy — brings a kind of intensity that never shouts, but somehow pierces anyway.
Stoicism With a Beating Heart
Shermin Kruse doesn’t do surface-level. From the first moments, she pulls you into the paradox at the core of her book: can we remain emotionally open and resilient in a world constantly testing our limits? That’s the magic of Stoic Empathy — a title that sounds like a contradiction until you listen to her explain it.
Stoicism, for Kruse, isn’t about stiff upper lips or passive suffering. It’s about cultivating a deep emotional intelligence that can weather storms without denying their power. And empathy? It isn’t about absorbing the pain of others like a sponge. It’s about presence, awareness, and grounded compassion.
Philosophy as Survival Kit
This isn’t some coffee-table version of mindfulness. Kruse’s take on philosophy comes from lived experience: fleeing war in Iran as a child, navigating elite legal circles as a woman of color, and raising four kids while running on very little sleep and a whole lot of purpose.
Her voice is calm, but her words land with the precision of someone who’s earned every inch of their worldview. Philipp Kobald, ever the intentional host, lets her expand without interruption — only stepping in with the kind of question that shows he’s not reading from cue cards. He’s in it with her. That chemistry is rare, and it’s why this episode doesn’t just inform — it disarms.
When Philosophy Meets Parental Screen-Time Negotiations
About halfway through the podcast, something beautifully human happens. Just as Kruse is unpacking Stoicism with the finesse of someone who’s read more than just the Wikipedia page, the conversation takes a delightful detour — straight into the chaos of parenting in the digital age.
She and Philipp Kobald suddenly find themselves in full-on solidarity mode: two grown adults, both highly accomplished, swapping survival strategies for screen-time negotiations with their kids. You can almost hear the eye rolls from their children echoing in the background. It’s the kind of bonding moment that philosophers don’t usually write about but probably should.
The tension of balancing values with the daily grind? It’s right there. One minute, Kruse is dissecting Marcus Aurelius; the next, she’s joking about the absurdity of bargaining down Minecraft time. And Kobald? He’s not just nodding — he’s in the trenches too, clearly.
It’s a moment that says: even if you’re fluent in ancient wisdom, raising kids in 2025 still requires Jedi-level diplomacy and an iron will when confiscating tablets.
This is the genius of Spiritual Conversations, produced by HolisticCircle: it doesn’t keep deep talk on a pedestal. It lets it roll up its sleeves, get messy, and laugh at itself.
Empathy Isn’t Weak — It’s Strategy
One of the most compelling moments? When Kruse explains why empathy isn’t optional in leadership — it’s essential. She argues that emotional literacy is not a luxury in today’s world. It’s a strategic tool for navigating everything from boardrooms to kitchen tables.
It’s the kind of insight that sounds obvious until you realize how rarely it’s lived. And when she links it back to ancient Stoic teachings? That’s when the episode quietly levels up from inspiring to paradigm-shifting.
Not a Guru in Sight
Here’s the best part: there’s no preaching. No branding. No “five steps to transform your life.” Just two humans asking better questions — and offering a little light for anyone fumbling toward meaning in a messy world.
If you’re into truth without the gloss, this one’s worth your full attention. And not just because Shermin Kruse has a new book. But because conversations like these are becoming endangered. And we forget what they can do until we’re in the middle of one.
About the Podcast
This episode is part of the Spiritual Conversations series, hosted by Philipp Kobald and produced by HolisticCircle. It’s available now on YouTube via the @HolisticCircle channel, where the full archive of boundary-pushing, soul-searching episodes lives.
Whether you’re curious about Stoic Empathy, seeking wisdom beyond the usual quotes, or just need to hear two brilliant people think out loud — don’t miss the full episode.
Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticCircle
Contact & Info:
Website: HolisticCircle.org
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Written by: Philipp Kobald
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