This week Andrew and Ellen boldly go where no podcast has gone before, deep into the command style of Captain James T. Kirk. Maverick? Visionary? HR’s worst nightmare? We chart the life and leadership of Starfleet’s most decorated captain, exploring his blend of charm, courage, and chaos.

We debate whether Kirk’s flair for risk is a strength or a flaw, unpack his servant-leadership instincts, and question if his “strategic rule-bending” would fly in the 21st-century workplace. Along the way, we draw parallels with modern leadership theory, test Kirk’s credentials in other universes (Avengers HQ or Jedi Council?), and ask the ultimate question: would you want to serve under him?

Packed with humour, insight, and just the right dose of Starfleet nostalgia, this episode reminds us that imperfect leaders can still inspire perfect loyalty, and that sometimes, to go boldly, you’ve got to rewrite the Prime Directive.

We turn our attention to Gotham’s brooding vigilante: Batman. From his trauma-fuelled drive to his obsessive need for control, Ellen and Andrew explore whether Bruce Wayne is a leader, or simply a micromanager in a cape. Is Batman’s servant-leadership really self-sacrifice, or just vengeance disguised as virtue? Does he inspire teams like the Justice League, or fracture them through mistrust and emotional repression?

Along the way, we debate Batman’s role as a situational leader, question if Bruce Wayne is really the mask, and ask the ultimate question: would you want to work for him? Spoiler - probably not.

Scathing, insightful, and occasionally sympathetic, this episode unpacks what leaders can learn from the Dark Knight—mostly by showing us what not to do.

This week we turn our attention from individual heroes to one of the most iconic teams of all time: The Avengers. But are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes actually a great team, or just a collection of super-powered egos bound together by circumstance?

From Nick Fury’s manipulative recruitment tactics to the constant clashes between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, Andrew and Ellen unpack the Avengers’ dysfunction through the lens of Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Tuckman’s team development model. They explore how trust, conflict, accountability, and ego play out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and why psychological safety is just as vital for superheroes as it is in any boardroom.

Along the way, they spotlight Black Widow’s role as the team’s emotional glue, debate whether the Avengers could survive in other universes, and even imagine what Nick Fury’s performance reviews might look like.

Join us for a witty, insightful, and sometimes scathing look at what the Avengers can teach us about teamwork, leadership, and why not every group of “the best” automatically makes the best team.