The Obstacle Is the Way came up with a genuine on-air endorsement 5 times across the episodes we processed. This page collects every one of those moments: who said it, what they said, and the exact point in the episode.
Ryan Holiday's modern take on Stoicism has quietly become a fixture on two very different shows. The Obstacle Is the Way shows up 5 times across Andrew Huberman and Tim Ferriss, hosts who don't usually share a bookshelf.
We tracked down every mention in the transcripts so you can hear the actual context, not just the title drop. Each one links to the exact timestamp on YouTube.
1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller The Obstacle is the Way has become a cult classic, beloved by men and women around the world who apply its wisdom to become more successful at whatever they do. Its many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), an NBC sportscaster (Michele Tafoya), and the coaches and players of winning teams like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Cubs, and University of Texas men’s basketball team.
Where to get it & every mention“An example of that for stoicism would be certainly Ryan Holiday's work. He's right here nearby. Obstacle is the way and so on.” — Tim Ferriss 01:17:27
Philosophize This! creator Stephen West tells Tim Ferriss how a homeless dropout warehouse worker built a beloved philosophy podcast.
“the barrier becomes the portal... shout out Ryan holid never yeah never met him but I like that book very much” — Brian Keating 02:38:05
Cosmologist Brian Keating takes Huberman on the most zoomed-out tour of the podcast: telescopes, time, the Big Bang, and a lost Nobel Prize.
“What I'm enjoying right now and I'm just getting into it is the obstacle is the way oh yeah by Ryan holiday very close friend of mine” — Christopher Sommer 02:59:09
Two strength legends, Pavel Tsatsouline and Christopher Sommer, explain why strength is a skill and patience builds bodies that last.
“the obstacle is the way by ryan holiday yeah yeah he's my neighbor... i love that book so much man” — Stefi Cohen 01:29:25
Powerlifting world-record holder Stefi Cohen breaks down strength training, back-pain science, mindset, and the case for strategic quitting.
“I've recently been gifting I must have given this book to at least like three or four people cuz I recently read it. Uh The Obstacle Is the Way.” — Rana el Kaliouby 00:57:18
Emotion AI pioneer Rana el Kaliouby on teaching machines emotional intelligence, her journey from Cairo to CEO, and embracing her own emotions.
