12 Geniuses Podcast

In a world being transformed by technological disruption, uncertainty, and unprecedented change, leadership skills and expertise are essential, but character may matter more than ever.In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson is joined by John Neyer and Troy Black to explore the role of character in effective leadership. Troy Black is a retired U.S. Marine whose distinguished military career culminated in serving as the fifth Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. John Neyer is a former Marine who went on to build a successful career in financial services and now works as a business and leadership coach.Together, they examine what character really means, how to recognize it in others, and how leaders can cultivate it in themselves and those they lead. They discuss why character is especially important when established norms are challenged, why great leadership depends on effective followership, and how trust, integrity, accountability, and shared purpose shape successful teams. They also explore what remains fundamentally human about leadership, even as technology and the world around us continue to change. As the future of work and leadership evolves, one question remains: What kind of person do you need to be to lead others well?About John Neyer & Troy BlackJohn Neyer has 30 years of experience in consulting and leadership development. His most impactful contributions have been in coaching and consulting for top financial advisors and executives in North America and Europe, where he has partnered with prestigious firms such as McKinsey & Company, American Express, and Wells Fargo.A proud Marine Corps veteran, John embodies the core principles of Marine Corps Leadership, emphasizing discipline, integrity, and teamwork. He is a lifelong learner dedicated to mentoring others, actively supporting initiatives like Everwise and Reboot Recovery to empower business professionals and assist veterans and first responders.Troy Black is a retired United States Marine with 37 years of active-duty service, culminating as the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and the 5th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC)—the senior enlisted position across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.As a senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Troy provided counsel on matters impacting the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilians who form the foundation of the Department of Defense. His experience includes leading through national-level crises, implementing institutional reforms, and guiding modernization initiatives that align operational capability with strategic objectives.Troy currently serves as a strategic advisor, educator, and speaker, focusing on leadership, organizational modernization, and national service. He is dedicated to developing leaders—both military and civilian—who possess the character, competence, and courage to excel in demanding environments and to strengthen the institutions they serve.

Medical doctors and researchers have done an amazing job extending human life expectancy, but healthspan - the time during which a person lives in good physical and mental health, free from chronic disease or serious disability - has not kept pace. In fact, in the United States, the average person reaching their late 60s can, on average, experience more than a decade in poor health.In this episode, Dr. Chuck Svendsen, co-founder & Chief Medical Officer at Astride Health, discusses his vision for the future of personalized medicine and how that vision will shrink the time people spend in poor health at the end of their lives. Dr. Svendsen provides advice for how people can improve diet, exercise, manage stress, and sleep better to improve healthspan. He also talks about supplements and the importance of social connection to living long, healthy lives.The conversation continues with a dive into GLP-1s and other peptides, as well as hormone and testosterone replacement. Dr. Svendsen even shares how AI and robots will shape the future of healthcare.

What if human flourishing was the measure by which we evaluate organizations? In this episode of 12 Geniuses entrepreneur and bestselling author Eric Ries discusses his groundbreaking book, Incorruptible, and why the future belongs to organizations designed not merely to generate wealth, but to help people flourish.Eric argues that too many businesses eventually succumb to what he calls "financial gravity” - the relentless pressure to prioritize short-term profits over purpose, people, and long-term value. Even companies founded with noble intentions can slowly drift away from their mission unless they intentionally build governance systems that protect what matters most.Eric explains what it means to create an incorruptible organization. He says these are organizations that resist unhealthy incentives, earn enduring trust, and empower employees, customers, investors, and communities to thrive together.Whether you're launching your first startup, leading a fast-growing company, or reimagining an established organization, this conversation offers a compelling vision for a new generation of leadership and a better way to do business.In this episode, you’ll discover: What makes an organization truly incorruptibleHow "financial gravity" quietly pulls organizations away from their founding purposeWhy ongoing governance is essential for protecting mission and cultureHow trust becomes one of an organization's greatest competitive advantagesPractical ways to build organizations where people flourish while creating profitsWhy human flourishing may become the defining metric of successful companies in the decades aheadHow entrepreneurs can create businesses that endure without sacrificing their valuesThe most admired organizations won't simply maximize shareholder returns. This is an optimistic conversations with a visionary who sees a future where companies maximize trust, purpose, innovation, resilience, and human potential.

Change is no longer an event. It's the environment. The leaders who thrive won't be the ones who resist it, but those who embrace it, learn to navigate it with confidence and purpose, and understand that change brings opportunity.In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson welcomes Dr. Gilles Benoit and Dr. Mitch Kusy, co-authors of The Playbook for Leading Change, for a practical conversation about leading through the social, political, technological, and organizational changes reshaping our world.Drawing from decades of research and executive coaching, Gilles and Mitch share proven strategies for helping individuals, teams, and organizations embrace change rather than fear it. They explain why perfectionism often prevents growth, how accountability partners can dramatically improve personal transformation, and why today's leaders must become intentional architects of change instead of passive observers.The conversation also explores the role of artificial intelligence as a powerful tool for navigating uncertainty, along with practical frameworks for determining when change is truly necessary.Whether you're leading an organization, managing a team, or managing personal growth, this episode offers actionable insights to help you adapt, lead, and thrive.In this episode you'll discover:Why leading change is becoming a defining leadership competencyPractical frameworks for deciding when change is necessaryHow to overcome perfectionism and make meaningful progressWhy accountability partners accelerate personal and professional growthHow AI can become a valuable partner in navigating changeStrategies for leading teams through uncertainty with confidenceHow to build organizations that remain resilient in an era of constant disruptionIf you want to prepare yourself and your team for the future, this conversation is your playbook.

When it comes to pushing through and achieving the unimaginable, our minds will give out well before our bodies. The question is: can you control the mind and overcome the doubts that it produces?After losing his leg in a motorcycle accident, Sam Maddaus made a decision few people would consider and even fewer would attempt: he set out alone to ride a bicycle 16,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina using a prosthetic leg.Over the course of 21 months, Sam crossed continents, endured physical pain, navigated uncertainty, confronted isolation, and repeatedly faced moments that could have ended the journey. Instead, he kept moving.In this episode of 12 Geniuses, we explore not only the expedition—but the operating system behind Sam’s extraordinary endurance.Sam shares how he prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally for an audacious goal with no guarantees. He reflects on the confidence required to begin, the role of identity after loss, and whether prior achievements mattered when facing a challenge of this scale.The conversation then turns to lessons every leader, founder, executive, and decision-maker can apply:How resilience is builtThe power and limits of self-talkWhat doubt sounds like in real timeHow to continue when quitting feels rationalDistinguishing between discomfort and painReinvention after disruptionWhat extreme adversity reveals about character, capability, and purposeHow small wins build on each other to create character, confidence, and exceptional resilienceThis is a conversation about endurance, adaptation, and discovering that your perceived limits may not be where you think they are.For global business leaders navigating volatility, change, and high-stakes decisions, Sam’s story offers a rare look at what sustained resilience actually requires.

In a world of constant disruption, resilience is a superpower. In a world of convenience, ease, and growing abundance, building resilience is becoming increasingly difficult - especially among children. Grit, determination, tenacity, and resolve are valued traits, but too few parents know how to build these characteristics in their children through the “ordinary magic” of childhood.Brandon Webb is a former U.S. Navy SEAL sniper instructor and author of the book “Puddle Jumpers.” In this interview, Brandon shares how true mental toughness is built through calm consistency, emotional safety, and the everyday words our kids hear: “You’ve got this.” “Try again—I believe in you.” Brandon discusses how parents can set high expectations while giving high support—so kids feel safe enough to take risks, make mistakes, and bounce back stronger.Brandon goes on to discuss the difficult conversations - about sex, drugs, social media, and gun violence - many parents are uncomfortable having and when the appropriate timing is to introduce children to these real-world subjects. Brandon concludes with his advice for parents who want to prepare their children for the future. After leaving home at sixteen, Brandon Webb went on to become a decorated Navy SEAL sniper turned entrepreneur—but his most meaningful title is still Dad to three young adults who somehow all keep finding their way back home to raid the fridge and leave with clean laundry. As a U.S. Navy Chief, he led the Navy SEAL Sniper School, training some of America’s most legendary marksmen. He’s also a multiple New York Times bestselling author—though his kids like to remind him, “You’re still just Dad.”

Imagine a world where the meetings people are required to attend are cut by 90% or more. Instead, leaders are able to spend more time doing higher value work connecting with other people while their “identic” selves go to meetings and do other work on their behalf. Instead of 24 hours in a day, each person can have a limitless number of AI digital twins representing them. Productivity could explode. Agentic AI - tools that can complete goal-oriented tasks for an individual - are becoming commonly used. However, Identic AI takes productivity to another level. Identic AI tools understand your judgment and values and can independently complete work and make decisions for you.  In this episode, Joseph Bradley and Don Tapscott - authors of the book “You to the Power of Two: Redefining Human Potential in the Age of Identic AI” - join the show to define what Identic AI is, they explain how these AI identities are being used, and how humans can benefit by having armies of these tools fully representing us while completing work on our behalf. The conversation continues with a discussion on how people can more effectively collaborate with AI. Joseph and Don share their ideas on how wealth disparity can be addressed and how meaning and purpose might evolve in an AI-first world. Joseph and Don argue that the most valuable asset any person will have is their identity. They make a very compelling case to support that argument. No conversation about AI innovation would be complete without exploring the benefits and risks to humanity. Don Tapscott has written 19 books and is one of the world’s leading authorities on the impact of technology on business and society. Joseph Bradley is an applied futurist and executive who is shaping the next wave of AI-powered growth and human advancement.

In a world where technology is advancing faster than many people can comprehend, anxiety and uncertainty are becoming part of the human experience. Breakthroughs in generative AI, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies are transforming how we live, work, and govern ourselves faster than institutions and individuals can adapt.In this episode, global ethics expert Dr. Andrea Bonime-Blanc explores the human side of this technological acceleration. She discusses why the rapid rise of artificial intelligence is creating widespread unease, how the nature of work is likely to shift as intelligent machines become more capable, and what leaders should be doing now to prepare their people and organizations for a radically different future.Andrea also addresses how technologies should be governed when they are evolving much faster than regulation can keep up. From corporate boardrooms to national governments to global institutions, she explains the complex challenges of building ethical frameworks that allow innovation to flourish while protecting society from unintended harm.The conversation finishes with Andrea’s thoughts on how the same technologies that provoke fear could help solve some of humanity’s most difficult challenges, from healthcare breakthroughs to climate solutions. She shares what gives her hope and she provides advices for how leaders, organizations, and citizens can help ensure that powerful new technologies ultimately serve the human condition rather than undermine it.Andrea Bonime-Blanc, JD/PhD, is founder and CEO of GEC Risk Advisory, a board member, strategic advisor, and multiple book author. She specializes in the governance of change focusing on global strategic risk, leadership trust, geopolitical change, sustainability, cyber resilience, and exponential tech, advising business, NGOs, and government. Her latest book is “Governing Pandora: Leading in the Age of AI and Exponential Technology.”

Dr. Ben Zweig joins the podcast from NYU’s Stern School of Business to discuss what is wrong with the world of work and how to fix it. Ben is the author of the book “Job Architecture: Building a Language for Workforce Intelligence,” professor of Economics, and CEO of Revelio Labs. In this conversation, Ben discusses the challenges created when a new employee finds out after working a few months that the job that was described to them is different than what they are doing. Ben says this lack of clarity results in pendulum swings between rapid job expansions and mass layoffs. He also discusses how work can be better designed to be a source of dignity and purpose. Ben believes that management is about job reconfiguration in order to keep employees relevant so those employees are able to meet current and future needs at their organizations. Ben also shares his opinion on whether or not work - in an augmented world of robots and AI - should be saved. The interview finishes with a conversation about the future of work, how artificial intelligence will augment every job, and the likelihood AI and robots will be taxed in order to generate revenue to pay for universal basic income. Dr. Ben Zweig is the CEO of Revelio Labs, a workforce intelligence company that leverages the latest advances in AI research to create a universal HR database from public sources. Ben teaches courses on Data Science and The Future of Work at NYU Stern. His first book is “Job Architecture: Building a Language for Workforce Intelligence.”

For 50 years, Bob Chapman was CEO of Barry-Wehmiller until his retirement in 2025. Bob’s approach to organizational culture is unique and inspiring. He believes the workplace should be a source of dignity that enables every team member to flourish. This approach is the subject of Bob’s book “Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Treating Your People Like Family” and the ethos behind Barry-Wehmiller’s success. In this interview, Bob and host Don MacPherson discuss what it looks like to have leaders throughout an organization care for their people like members of their own family. They discuss the advantages of creating a culture where people are willing to sacrifice for one another and how to create that culture throughout a multinational organization with thousands of team members. The interview continues with a conversation about managing poor performance, surviving economic downturns, and Bob shares his thoughts on the ways he believes artificial intelligence will change and enhance organizations around the world. Recently recognized as a 2025 Top 50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc., Bob Chapman became the senior executive of Barry-Wehmiller in 1975 at age 30 - a position he held until 2025. In 2022, Chapman was named the Tharseō CEO of the Year by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He’s been ranked as the #3 CEO in the world in an Inc. article, and a Top 10 Social Capital CEO by International Business Times.