Get to know us
Ryan and Melinda Mayes have been married since 2018 and have three wonderful children. They currently reside in Arizona where The Octad program was created.
Melinda has been in early education for over ten years and serves as editor, host, and social media liaison for the program. Ryan is the director of a private school and holds degrees in educational studies, elementary education, a master's degree in behavioral analysis, and an education leadership certification from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is currently working toward his PhD in developmental psychology.
Both Ryan and Melinda have dedicated their lives to education but have struggled with several health issues throughout the years. For years Ryan has dealt with the side effects of being overweight and having depression and anxiety. Melinda has struggled with arthritis and other chronic hereditary issues. While bettering themselves through the practice of Stoicism, they decided to create a program firmly rooted in their love for Western philosophy and faith. This program would address both of their needs and set them on a course for mental and physical well-being. Thus, the Octad was created. Their goal is for others to find the success they did within the program and be satisfied with a happier, more fulfilled life.
Our mission
Our mission is to use Western philosophy, psychology, and faith to help others establish a foundation for greater self-control, self-discipline, and equanimity. We are students first and we rely on the wisdom of the world's most influential philosophers, men and women of faith and modern psychology to move ourselves away from the chains of excess want and find the true path to a life of satisfaction.
Our vision
We imagine a world where people can rediscover the wisdom that existed two thousand years ago and apply it to their lives to create positive relationships, peaceful interactions, and an appreciation for the world around them. We see a world where we all can care for ourselves with an intelligent mind and in the process be a beacon of help to those who desperately want to find happiness and purpose in the world around them.