Episodes

  • Ernest Shackleton (Remastered)

    Ernest Shackleton (Remastered)
    Nov 20 2025
    Description This episode explores the extraordinary life of Ernest Shackleton and the impossible challenges he faced at the edge of the world. Through his failures, decisions, and unbreakable resolve, we uncover timeless lessons on leadership under extreme pressure. 00:00 The Endurance's Final Moments02:19 Introduction to Ernest Shackleton05:32 The Nimrod Expedition and Beyond14:15 Setting Sail and Early Challenges24:27 The Endurance is Crushed35:10 Shackleton's Leadership and Shared Hardships39:01 Launching the Boats to Elephant Island47:17 Reaching Elephant Island52:47 The Treacherous Voyage to South Georgia01:05:27 Rescue and Return01:07:05 Lessons from Shackleton's Expedition ---- Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Zashi⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Z Cash⁠⁠⁠ Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Founders Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching⁠⁠ ---- Stay in touch:Twitter/X: ⁠⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets ⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@HTTOTW⁠⁠⁠ Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com ----Sources: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible VoyageSouth!: The Story of Shackleton's Last ExpeditionShackleton by Ranulph Fiennes
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Cleopatra (Part 2)

    Cleopatra (Part 2)
    Nov 14 2025
    The latter half of Cleopatra's life, from the death of Caesar until her own death.00:00 Cleopatra's Fall from Power04:15 Meeting Mark Antony11:00 Cleopatra and Antony's Alliance21:40 The Birth of a New Dynasty29:00 The Donations of Alexandria35:00 The Final Civil War of the Roman Republic38:00 The Battle of Actium43:00 The Aftermath of Actium and Antony's Despair47:38 The Tragic Deaths of Antony and Cleopatra56:30 Cleopatra's Legacy and Final Reflections---- Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Zashi⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Z Cash⁠⁠ GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coaching⁠⁠---- Stay in touch:Twitter/X: ⁠⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@HTTOTW⁠⁠⁠ Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com----Sources: ⁠Plutarch's Life of Marc Antony⁠⁠ Cassius Dio Volumes V and VI⁠⁠ Cleopatra: A Life
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Cleopatra (Part 1)

    Cleopatra (Part 1)
    Nov 11 2025
    Cleopatra took over a kingdom, expanded it, captured the heart of the world's most powerful man, and lived one of the most iconic and controversial lives of all time. On this episode, we explore how she did it. 00:00 Caesar's Egyptian Dilemma 02:40 Introduction to Cleopatra 04:30 Cleopatra's Early Life and Education 14:40 Cleopatra's Rise to Power 24:00 The Encounter with Julius Caesar 31:00 The Siege of Alexandria 34:00 Cleopatra's Strategic Moves 49:00 Cleopatra's Public Relations in Rome 54:00 Key Takeaways from Cleopatra's Story --- Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠HTTOTW Premium⁠⁠⁠ - For part 2, all endnotes, takeaways, and bonus episodes, subscribe to How to Take Over the World Premium⁠⁠⁠ Zashi⁠⁠⁠ for Z Cash ⁠GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Coaching⁠ --- Stay in touch: Twitter/X: ⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@HTTOTW⁠⁠ Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com Sources: Plutarch's Life of Marc Antony Cassius Dio Volumes V and VI Cleopatra: A Life
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    58 mins
  • Lee Kuan Yew (Video Version)

    Lee Kuan Yew (Video Version)
    Nov 9 2025
    Lee Kuan Yew took a crowded, dirty, poor port town, and turned it into one of the world's great cities. How was he able to lead such an incredible transformation of Singapore? 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Early Life and Education 12:00 The Japanese Occupation and Its Impact 17:30 Post-War Singapore and the Road to Independence 24:45 The People's Action Party and Early Governance 37:30 Operation Coldstore and the Fight Against Communism 40:00 Ethnic Tensions and Operation Cold Store 41:15 Formation of Malaysia and Rising Tensions 42:30 Singapore's Expulsion and Independence 43:50 Lee Kuan Yew's Emotional Address 46:40 Building a Defense Strategy 51:20 Lee Kuan Yew's Ideology and Governance 59:00 Economic Growth and Development 01:06:20 Social Progress and Urban Development 01:15:00 Conclusion and Legacy --- Sponsors: ⁠⁠Zashi⁠⁠ for Z Cash ⁠HTTOTW Premium⁠ - For all endnotes, takeaways, and bonus episode, subscribe to How to Take Over the World Premium GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Coaching --- Stay in touch: Twitter/X: ⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠ Instagram: ⁠@HTTOTW⁠ Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com Sources: ⁠No Man Is An Island: A Portrait of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew by James Minchin⁠ ⁠Lee Kuan Yew: The Grandmaster's Insights on China, United States, and the World by Graham Allison, Michael McConnohie, et al.⁠ ⁠From Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yew⁠ ⁠Singapore: A Modern History by Michael D Barr⁠ --- Writing, research, and production by Ben Wilson.
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Zero to One

    Zero to One
    Oct 31 2025
    Thoughts on Peter Thiel's Zero to One. ----- 00:00 Why this episode 05:15 Horizontal vs. Vertical Progress 09:19 The Importance of Startups and Monopolies 23:33 Definite Optimism vs. Indefinite Optimism 37:10 Power Laws and Their Impact 45:58 The Importance of Company Foundations 46:51 Building a Strong Company Culture 50:47 The Role of Vision 51:47 The Cult-Like Nature of Successful Startups 53:21 The Necessity of Sales and Marketing 55:25 The Paradox of Founders ----- Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠TakeoverPod.Supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - All premium content for just $7/month ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Zashi - Coaching - Buy Zero to One ---- Stay In Touch - Sign up for the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠takeoverpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Twitter/X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@HTTOTW
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Nietzsch and Eternal Recurrence (Part 3)

    Nietzsch and Eternal Recurrence (Part 3)
    Oct 17 2025
    This episode explores Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy on how to live a life worthy of eternity. It delves into Nietzsche's concept of eternal recurrence, where one's life would have to be lived over and over again, and asks if such a life would be fulfilling and self-justifying.00:00 Introduction: Measuring a Good Life03:30 Eternal Recurrence: Thought Experiment or Truth?08:30 Nietzsche's Moment of Affirmation13:00 Instinct vs. Reason: Nietzsche's Perspective17:00 The Singular Vision: Striving for Greatness21:15 Understanding the Higher Self22:00 Defining Yourself by Your Best Moments22:40 The Importance of Mastering a Craft26:45 The Metaphor of Dance in Life34:35 Nietzsche's Life Advice-----Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Austin AI Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----Stay In Touch- Sign up for the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠takeoverpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Twitter/X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@HTTOTW
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    47 mins
  • Nietzsche and the Superhuman (Part 2)

    Nietzsche and the Superhuman (Part 2)
    Oct 8 2025
    The second half of Nietzsche's life, and his teachings about the superhuman (ubermensch) the last man, and the will to power. 00:00 Nietzsche's Radical Response to the Death of God02:20 Nietzsche's Life and Career06:00 Nietzsche's Views on Nationalism and Antisemitism17:00 Nietzsche's Personal Struggles and Relationships19:00 Nietzsche's Major Works and Philosophical Contributions33:00 Debating the Cause of Nietzsche's Death38:00 The Philosophy of the Superhuman51:00 The Aristocratic Society57:30 Will to Power: Nietzsche's Core Doctrine01:07:30 Nietzsche's Philosophy Summarized01:15:00 Nietzsche's Popularity and Misinterpretations ----- Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠TakeoverPod.Supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - All premium content for just $7/month - ⁠Austin AI Lab⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- Stay In Touch - Sign up for the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠takeoverpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Twitter/X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@HTTOTW
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Nietzsche and the Death of God (Part 1)

    Nietzsche and the Death of God (Part 1)
    Sep 22 2025
    This episode covers the first half of Friedrich Nietzsche's life, his concept "the death of God" and master vs slave morality. 00:00 - Nietzsche's Radical Philosophy 01:20- The Life of Friedrich Nietzsche: Early Years 04:00 - Nietzsche's Academic Journey 08:30 - The Influence of Schopenhauer and Wagner 18:30 - Nietzsche's First Major Work: The Birth of Tragedy 25:39 - The Controversy and Criticism 30:00 - Nietzsche's Non-Systematic Approach 32:10 - The Death of God 37:30 - The Origins of Morality 40:45 - Christianity and Slave Morality 47:45 - Nietzsche's Critique of Modern Europe ----- Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠TakeoverPod.Supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - All premium content for just $7/month - Austin AI Lab ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠⁠ ---- Stay In Touch - Sign up for the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠takeoverpod.com⁠⁠⁠ - Twitter/X - ⁠⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠⁠⁠ - Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠@HTTOTW
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    58 mins