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Power, Mistakes, and Consequences

Power, Mistakes, and Consequences

By: Nathan Pali
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About this listen

Power, Mistakes, and Consequences is a history and leadership podcast about what happens when authority goes unchecked and decisions can’t be undone.

Each episode explores real moments from history where power, poor judgment, and critical mistakes collided. These are stories of leaders who made the wrong call, ignored warnings, trusted bad advice, or doubled down when reality demanded restraint—and the consequences that followed.

From political and military disasters to corporate collapses and cultural turning points, the show examines leadership failures, decision-making under pressure, power dynamics, and the human cost of authority used poorly. The focus isn’t on hindsight blame, but on understanding how mistakes form, why they persist, and how power shields them until it’s too late.

This isn’t a podcast about inspirational leadership or success stories. It’s a narrative-driven exploration of leadership mistakes from history, organizational failure, accountability, and the uncomfortable truth that consequences are often obvious—just delayed.

If you’re interested in leadership history, power and leadership, decision-making, management failures, and the real-world impact of bad choices, this podcast is for you.

Power, Mistakes, and Consequences Because power doesn’t eliminate mistakes. It multiplies their impact.

© 2026 Power, Mistakes, and Consequences All rights reserved.
Episodes
  • 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
  • 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
  • Napoleon's Ulm Maneuver of 1805
    Feb 13 2026
    In this episode, we explore Napoleon Bonaparte's Ulm maneuver of 1805, a brilliant campaign where an entire army surrendered without a major battle. We analyze the strategic missteps of Austrian commander Karl Mack von Lieberich and the psychological impact of Napoleon's unconventional tactics.          Chapters    00:00 The Ulm Maneuver of 1805    00:40 Austrian Misconceptions    04:07 Pressure Over Position    07:07 Surrender and Leadership Failure
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    6 mins
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