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How Leaders Fail (And Why)

How Leaders Fail (And Why)

By: Nathan Pali
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About this listen

How Leaders Fail (And Why) is a history and leadership podcast about the moments when leadership breaks down—and the hidden reasons behind it.

Each episode explores real historical cases of leadership failure, bad decision-making, and misused power. Instead of focusing on outcomes alone, the show digs into why leaders failed: flawed incentives, overconfidence, fear, groupthink, bad information, moral shortcuts, and the pressure that distorts judgment at the top.

From military disasters and political collapse to corporate implosions and cultural breakdowns, this podcast examines how leaders fail, why smart people make terrible decisions, and how small leadership errors compound into irreversible consequences.

This is not a podcast about leadership theory or inspirational success stories. It’s a practical, story-driven look at leadership mistakes from history, organizational failure, decision-making under pressure, and the psychology of authority.

If you’re interested in leadership lessons, history podcasts, management failures, power dynamics, and understanding the real causes behind failure—not just the blame—this show is for you.

How Leaders Fail (And Why) Because failure is rarely accidental—and almost never sudden.

© 2026 How Leaders Fail (And Why) All rights reserved. Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Nikolai Vavilov: Science vs. Ideology and Starvation

    Nikolai Vavilov: Science vs. Ideology and Starvation
    Feb 15 2026
    In this episode, we explore the compelling story of Nikolai Vavilov, a botanist and geneticist who risked everything to collect seeds and prevent famine in the Soviet Union. We examine his conflict with Trofim Lysenko and illustrate how ideology and the pursuit of certainty can lead to devastating consequences when prioritized over scientific truth and reality.          Chapters    00:00 Introduction to Vavilov    00:37 Vavilov's Vision and Work    03:33 The Rise of Lysenkoism    08:21 Vavilov's Arrest and Legacy
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    8 mins
  • When the Referee Refuses to Enter the Game

    When the Referee Refuses to Enter the Game
    Jan 17 2026

    James Buchanan saw himself as a constitutional referee, not a player. In this episode, we unpack how that mindset failed when the country needed leadership—not commentary—during its greatest crisis.
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    10 mins
  • The Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg's Mary's Heights

    The Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg's Mary's Heights
    Feb 14 2026
    In this episode, we explore the devastating leadership failure during the Battle of Fredericksburg, focusing on the Irish Brigade's doomed advance at Mary's Heights. We discuss the strategic missteps, the immense casualties, and the lingering questions about why the brigade was sent forward into an unwinnable battle.          Chapters    00:00 Introduction to Fredericksburg    00:43 Burnside's Ill-Fated Plan    04:44 The Irish Brigade's Advance    10:55 Lessons in Leadership Failure
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    9 mins
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