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So much Bullhs!t Leadership Podcast

So much Bullhs!t Leadership Podcast

By: Nathan Pali
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About this listen

So Much Bullsh!t Leadership Podcast cuts through the myths, platitudes, and motivational nonsense to expose what bad leadership actually looks like—in history, in power, and in real life.

Each episode tells the true stories of failed leaders, disastrous decisions, and catastrophic judgment calls that were justified at the time with confidence, credentials, and—yes—bullsh!t. These are moments when leaders sounded smart, looked strong, and spoke in grand language… while quietly steering everything off a cliff.

From empires to corporations, revolutions to boardrooms, this podcast examines toxic leadership, ego-driven decision-making, mismanagement, groupthink, and the psychology of power. It’s about how bad ideas survive, how bad leaders stay in charge, and why obvious mistakes are often celebrated until it’s too late.

This is not a leadership podcast about best practices or inspirational quotes. It’s about bad leadership, false confidence, performative authority, and the stories we tell to justify terrible outcomes.

If you’re tired of leadership clichés, fascinated by historical failures, and curious why smart people keep falling for the same nonsense—this podcast is for you.

So Much Bullsh!t Leadership Podcast Because the problem usually isn’t a lack of leadership. It’s too much of the wrong kind.

© 2026 So much Bullhs!t Leadership Podcast All rights reserved.
Economics Management Management & Leadership
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
  • America’s Worst President? The Quiet Failure of James Buchanan
    Jan 16 2026

    Often ranked among the worst U.S. presidents, James Buchanan presided over a nation unraveling—and insisted it wasn’t his job to stop it. We break down the decisions, non-decisions, and institutional handoffs that turned crisis into catastrophe on the eve of the Civil War.

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    10 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
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