Sharing Stoic Wisdom And Insights On A Better Life: An Interview With Anderson Silver

Learning about the philosophy of Stoicism has become an important part of my daily routine and hearing the perspectives of others in the community is always enjoyable. 

I recently chatted with author and podcast host Anderson Silver, who’s committed to helping others through talking about Stoicism on his podcast Stoicism For A Better Life and sharing insights in his books. 

Read on to learn more about how Silver became started his Stoic journey, his approach to content production and what to expect from him in the future. 

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Content Contradictions, Best Selling Books And Questionable Advice With Copywriter Andrew Boulton

The life of a copywriter is often fraught with procrastination, lots of briefs, conflicting advice and the occasional spark of creative brilliance that keeps us all paid and functioning from day-to-day. Andrew Boulton is one such copywriter who’s seen his fair share in the industry and has plenty of war stories to tell.

The author of the insightful Copywriting Is, Boulton was kind enough to share his process on writing the best-selling book with The Comic Vault. He also discusses why he’d make a terrible writing mentor, why his book isn’t meant to be taken as the gospel of content marketing and how good writers will always be at the heart of a successful content marketing strategy. 

Stoicism, Comics And Horror: Donald Robertson On Writing The Life Of Marcus Aurelius

The philosophy of Stoicism has inspired the works of countless people and continues to be a driving force for many business leaders and authors today. The same can be said for psychotherapist Donald Robertson, who’s made a career out of applying the principles of Stoicism to everyday life through publications such as How To Think Like A Roman Emperor. 

Robertson’s latest project is a graphic novel focused on the life of Marcus Aurelius and The Comic Vault caught up with him on the process behind writing the comic. In this interview, we explore the challenges of writing a graphic novel steeped in ancient history, capturing the voice of Marcus Aurelius and how Stoicism can be interpreted through the lens of comics. 

Fantasy Author Sebastien De Castell Reveals New Details About The Greatcoats

I think books are one of the most precious resources on the planet. As soon as you open a novel, you’re transported to a brand new world. A good author makes their characters stand out. A great author makes their stories resonate for years to come. That is how I feel about The Greatcoats quartet, a collection that has turned into my favourite book series of all time. So, what could be better than reading them, you ask? Getting to talk to the guy that created the books!

Sebastien De Castell was awesome enough to take time out of his busy schedule to talk to me about The Greatcoats and his writing process. In the interview, Sebastien reveals how he created the characters of Falcio, Kest and Brasti and who he’d pick for Falcio to duel in another fantasy novel. Oh, and something about a new Greatcoats series coming out in the future. 

Growing Up In A Family Of Samurai: An Interview With Michiko Hashiba

Japan attracts visitors from all over the world, with many being drawn to the country because of the samurai. Japanese history is entwined with warriors who followed a strict code of honour, devoting their lives to duty. There were many proud samurai and one of the most famous was Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A capable general and politician, Hideyoshi was considered the second ‘great unifer’ of Japan. He rose to prominence during the 1500s and founded the Hashiba samurai line.

I’m fascinated by samurai history, so I couldn’t help but be excited to interview a descendent of Hideyoshi.  I’m pleased to present a conversation with Michiko Hashiba about what it means to come from a family of samurai.

Helen McCarthy Talks About What It Means To Be An Anime Writer

If there’s one thing I enjoy about pop culture, it’s the idea that it can connect people from different walks of life. Comics, gaming, anime and cosplaying are all part of the same phenomenon. Anime has experienced a huge increase in popularity and it’s writers like Helen McCarthy who’ve championed it as a legitimate field of study. Helen has written 13 books, which have been translated into seven languages, on anime, manga, art and Japanese pop culture. They include 500 Essential Anime Movies, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation and Anime! A Beginner’s Guide To Japanese Animation.

I’m pleased to present an interview with Helen about her writing experiences and her connection to pop culture. Read on to find out about what it was like meeting Jonathan Ross in a comic book store and how she braved a snow storm to see her favourite Japanese shrine.

Hero Within’s Tony Kim Speaks On The Evolution Of Geek Fashion

In the pop culture world, there are a variety of avenues to explore, ranging from writing comics to selling graphic novels. An emerging trend is geek fashion, especially with cosplay and people looking to represent their favourite characters on a t-shirt. Pop culture entrepreneur Tony B Kim has set out to provide a market for geek fashion with his Hero Within clothing brand.

It was a pleasure to interview Tony about how he set up his brand, how he got into comics and what it felt like to host panels at San Diego Comic Con.

Luke Cage: Everyman Writer Anthony Del Col Talks About CTE And Mental Health In Comics

Luke Cage is the kind of down to earth hero that a lot of people can relate to. His indestructible skin gives him an edge when protecting the community of Harlem. But what happens when an unbreakable man becomes vulnerable? Anthony Del Col invites comic fans to find out in his Luke Cage: Everyman miniseries.  Luke has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a concussive disease that’s common in contact sport athletes.

It was great to check in with Anthony and interview him about the series, his thoughts on CTE and what he thinks of mental health in comics. 

GeekSmash Director Joe Delbridge On Combining Digital Marketing And Comics

In the modern world, digital marketing has become one of most popular methods of branding and business building. There are so many different avenues within the industry and having worked as a copywriter, I’m always on the lookout for new techniques. GeekSmash is an example of a digital marketing agency that’s doing something different because they’re catering to people who work in the pop culture industry.

It was fun to talk to GeekSmash CEO, Joe Delbridge about the message behind the agency and how it helps professional geeks. Joe talks about starting off as a blogger, growing his passion from comics and what the current status of influencer marketing is like in his opinion. 

Red Hood And The Outlaws Artist Dexter Soy Talks Comics, Collaboration And Rooftop Fights

Ever since DC: Rebirth, one of best titles has been Red Hood and The Outlaws because of the story quality, characters and art. Jason Todd, Artemis and Bizarro have all received amazing development, courtesy of writer Scott Lobdell and artist Dexter Soy. The Philippines born artist has created some incredible panels. After an epic two year run, Dexter recently finished up on the series with Red Hood and The Outlaws #25.

But before he signed off, I couldn’t resist interviewing him about his time on the series and how he got into the comic industry.