"The Black Russian": Lessons Learned From A Fascinating Life

Sometimes even a decisive victory is not enough. Your victory may immediately be followed by greater challenges that test you to the ultimate limit. There is no such thing as reaching an "end zone." We discuss the Battle of Cunaxa in 401 B.C., where the Greek mercenaries of Cyrus won the battle, but immediately realized that their fight for survival had just begun. One man, a natural leader named Xenophon the Athenian, then stepped forward to assume the responsibility of command.

This podcast is a book review of "General Eoin O'Duffy: The Political Life Of An Irish Firebrand," by Jack Traynor. This book is a scholarly but brief political biography of a key figure of Irish politics from the War of Independence through the end of the 1930s. We discuss the book and its subject matter, and venture some thoughts. What does O'Duffy's life teach us about the influence of character on a man's fate?

If you encounter someone who claims to have a perfect record, and says he has never lost in some field of endeavor, take the claim with a grain of salt. Statements like this often do not tell the whole story. If you want to learn and grow, you need to know that you're going to lose. And you will probably lose a lot! Someone with a perfect record may not have taken sufficient risks. If you cherry-pick all your battles, and never challenge yourself, you're not going to learn and grow.

In this podcast we describe the three branches of the United States government, their responsibilities, and some related details.

For a great personality to flourish and find expression, the historical times must be favorable. History is filled with examples of great men who withered in obscurity simply because the periods in which they lived were unable to hear their voices. Greatness can only accomplish so much; it must be nurtured by propitious events.

As a leader or someone responsible for another person, you will need to offer people hope when they are in dire situations. You have to find techniques and strategies for alleviating people's stress and anxiety, and for taking them across the finish line. We discuss some of these techniques that I've learned from practicing law for twenty-five years.

Some people think that as they become wealthier and more successful, their lives will resemble that of an idle aristocrat. The reality is very different. With more success come more work, and more responsibilities, not less. You will have to develop a whole new set of skills to adapt to these changed circumstances. But you can do it.

What are the traits and qualities that enable a man to survive in extreme adversity? How do different factors increase or decrease a man's odds? We weigh the competing variables, and try to arrive at some conclusions.

I recently watched a compelling four-part Netflix documentary entitled "Crime Scene: The Vanishing At The Cecil Hotel." I had never heard of the Elisa Lam story before, and I was struck by how tragic it was, on so many levels. In this podcast, I try to explain why. What are your thoughts? What do you think about it?

My new collection of essays, "Centuries," was published on June 23, 2024. It contains all pieces published between 2020 and 2023. The book is currently available in both paperback and Kindle, and a hardcover version will be coming shortly. This podcast is a reading from the book's preface. It contains some of the ideas I consider most important.