Podcast

Former World Series of Poker Champion and best-selling author, Annie Duke, joins Joe to share her journey from studying cognitive science to becoming a poker legend, and how this experience led her to explore the cognitive underpinnings of decision-making in everyday life.

Joe and Annie explore the fundamental concepts from her book, Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts, and discuss how treating life’s decisions as bets can significantly improve how we navigate uncertainty. Some of the topics they discuss include:

• The two factors that determine the quality of your life
• Using poker strategies for making decisions
• Separating outcome quality from decision quality
• How our self-narrative affects reflection and learning
• The benefits of mental time travel
• …and much more

Colin Stevens, author of  Make Your Mark: Lessons from Legends for a Life of Fulfillment and Impact,  joins the show to share his inspiring story of chasing a dream that didn’t pan out the way he thought it would and the lessons he’s learned along the way.  Joe and Colin talk about the following topics:

• The importance of self-belief for achieving success
•  Why we should study  the  “full game” over the “highlight reel”.
•  Leadership through transparency and owning mistakes.
• The impact of social media on young athletes’ mental health.
• How to develop resilient kids
• The role of fear and failure in pursuing passions.
• The power of being true to oneself.

Dr. Amishi Jha joins Joe to discuss her book, Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day . Amishi sheds light on the complexities of the brain’s attention system to help us understand how we can navigate and enhance our focus in stressful and demanding jobs. In this episode Joe and Amishi discuss: 

• How our attention shapes everything from emotions to relationships 
• Challenges in maintaining attention in an information-saturated age
• How the attention system works 
• The vulnerability of attention to stress and its impact on performance
• Insights into memory and emotional regulation 
• How mindfulness training helps strengthens our attention system 
• A practical approach to mindfulness training for enhancing attention 

Whether you’re struggling to stay present, looking to enhance your memory, or seeking solace in the whirlwind of the digital age, this episode promises to turn the light of your attention onto pathways that could lead to a calmer, more focused state of being. Learn more about Amishi’s research in military cohorts here.

Dr. Michael Norton joins Joe to discuss his new book, The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions.  In this episode, Joe and Dr. Norton explore the hidden power of rituals in our daily lives. Highlights from this episode include:

• Understanding the powerful impact of rituals 
• The difference between a habit and a ritual
• How to find and examine our own personal rituals
•  The role of rituals in transitions (becoming a leader, returning from combat, retiring from the military)
• How rituals can improve our performance and help us better navigate life
• Rituals and family life
• How to create family traditions when you move all the time
• ….and much more!  

Lieutenant General Christopher Donahue returns to the show to continue his previous conversation with Joe on culture and leadership. In this episode, they discuss:

• What LTG Donahue has learned since his last appearance on the podcast
• How the culture of the 82nd Airborne Division held up during the evacuation of Afghanistan
• Four reasons leaders need to focus on physical fitness
• The importance of innovation in today’s Army
• What LTG Donahue is reading right now
• Tips for successful communication

he 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy A. George makes his first appearance on the podcast for a great discussion about leadership, his vision, and the lessons he’s learned over the course of his four-decade career. General George and Joe cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing topics including:

• Encouraging professional discourse
• Why leaders need to ask questions
• The training management program that’s in the Chief’s crosshairs
• Why great leaders are great editors
• What transforming in contact looks like
• How General George recharges his batteries after a long day
• The importance of professional boundaries
• What topics General George wants leaders to write about
• ….and more!

Matt Higgins,  author the Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential  joins Joe and shares his amazing story of escaping poverty and how his “Burn the Boats!” philosophy has guided his life. Joe and Matt also discuss:

• Changing our relationship with imposter syndrome
• Adopting a “burn the boats” mindset in various contexts, including the military, entrepreneurship, and personal challenges.
• Role of authenticity in leadership positions
• Dealing with anxiety and the pressure of high-stakes environments
• Why a growth mindset is uncomfortable
• Self-awareness and leadership
• …and much more! 

Author Steven Pressfield returns for his 3rd appearance on the show to discuss his latest book The Daily Pressfield. In this episode, Joe and Steve talk about:

• How small, daily passages can change our lives
• The power of answering your calling and the potential consequences of ignoring this internal pull
• How to face and overcome Resistance, the force that inevitably shows up whenever we try to improve our lives
• What happens when our inner and outer worlds come into alignment
• Strategies to combat self-doubt
• What Steve learned from Field Marshall Viscount Slim about thriving in chaos 

Army Colonel Dave Butler joins Joe to discuss communication for leaders in today’s information environment. This episode is a must-listen for leaders at all levels because Dave and Joe tackle the delicate dance military leaders must perform on social media, navigating the fine line between engagement and overexposure. Dave and Joe also discuss:

• The pitfalls of social media engagement
• Why senior military leaders have glass jaws
• What to do if internal memos and emails spill into the public domain
• The power of relationships
• Why leaders need to keep repeating themselves
• Tips for being an effective staff officer
• A lot of great book recommendations on communication to include Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less
• …and much more! 

International Bestselling author Terry Hayes joins Joe to discuss his remarkable career(s) and how they prepared him to write  I Am Pilgrim and The Year of the Locust. Terry and Joe also talk about:

• Terry’s decision to leave Hollywood to write novels
• Fighting through self-doubt 
• Being ready for the difficulties when pursuing your calling
• How Terry leveraged his subconscious when stuck while working on a scene with Mel Gibson
• Focusing on the task at hand instead of getting overwhelmed by the big picture
• Finding courage in novels and real life
• …and Joe and Terry provide teasers on the plot for The Year of the Locust

Anna Papalia, author of Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing,  joins Joe to discuss her new book and help leaders get better at interviews. Joe and Anna  talk about:

• The Four Interview Styles: Charmers, Challengers, Harmonizers, and Examiners
• Top interview myths
• Why we need self-awareness
• Leveraging your interview style and how to avoid the pitfalls that comes with it 
• The importance of using the STAR method when answering questions
• …and much more! 

Sergeant Major of the Army, Sergeant Major Michael Weimer joins the show to discuss what he’s learned from his decades of experience in the Army and how family, mentors, and self-reflection have helped him grow into the leader he is today. Joe and Weimer also talk about:

• Why the military can be “the family business”
• Weimer’s biggest obstacle in his career
• The importance of being present at work and at home
• Managing the tension between family and professional obligations
• Balancing accountability with empathy
• Why tough conversations lead to growth
• The power of self-reflection
• and much more!