Leadership Lessons From The Great Books
Understanding great literature is better than trying to read and understand (yet) another business book, Leadership Lessons From The Great Books leverages insights from the GREAT BOOKS of the Western canon to explain, dissect, and analyze leadership best practices for the post-modern leader.
Episodes
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne
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Exploring the rise and fall of the Comanches, this episode examines S.C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon and its unflinching look at Native and settler histories during American westward expansion. The conversation focused on the legendary Comanche horsemanship, contr...
Infanterie Greift An. (Infantry Attacks) by Erwin Rommel
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Examining what leaders in business and civic life can learn from Erwin Rommel’s classic military account, Infantry Attacks, this episode dives into the value of tactical thinking, the reality of self-selection in civic engagement, and why direct, “boots on the ground” leadership outperforms over-reliance on technology. The hosts challenge prevalen...
The Builder’s Stone: How Jews and Christians Built the West—and Why Only They Can Save It by Melanie Phillips with Richard Messing and Jesan Sorrells
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Exploring Melanie Phillips’ The Builder’s Stone, Jesan Sorrells and Richard Messing examine the pivotal role of Judeo-Christian values in shaping—and potentially saving—Western civilization. They discuss the cultural and ethical ramificati...
The Man That I Would Become: Lessons from a Life of Hard Work, Faith and Purpose by Victor L. Bretting
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Exploring the intersection of legacy, grit, and faith, this episode features a candid conversation with Victor Bretting about his memoir, The Man That I Would Become. The discussion unpacks the vital role of hunting in conservation and ecological stewardship, the necessity of resilience and discipline for the next genera...
Neuromancer by William Gibson with John Hill and Jesan Sorrells
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Jesan Sorrells and John Hill dive deep into William Gibson’s Neuromancer, unravelling how this seminal work predicted the psychological and societal ramifications of our fully networked times. They discuss the book’s dystopian tech vision, how its themes shaped tech leadership and culture, and why leaders must now confront meaning, value, and nois...
Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo with Tom Libby and Jesan Sorrells
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Dive into Don DeLillo’s Cosmopolis as Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby unpack the novel’s critique of leadership in an era of wealth, technology, and cultural upheaval. They discuss the dangers of disconnected leadership, the ongoing crisis of accountability among elites, and the pitfalls of managing strictly by data and dashboards. The episode draws shar...
"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut with Jesan Sorrells and Libby Unger
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Diving into Kurt Vonnegut’s Welcome to the Monkey House, Jesan Sorrells and Libby Unger examine the prophetic warnings about conformity, institutional control, and the battle over language and individual agency. The conversation connects the stories “Harrison Bergeron,” “Report on the Barnhouse Effect,” and “Where ...
A Conversation on How to Lead in a Post-Literate Work World
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The panel examines the meaning and crisis of literacy in a post-literate society and what it means for 21st-century leadership. The discussion highlights how declining long-form reading impacts critical thinking, decision-making, and social cohesion, while exploring the evolving responsibilities of leaders as communicators, teachers, and curators of insight in a ...
The Power of the Powerless by Vaclav Havel [REDUX] w/Harvey Seifter & Jesan Sorrells
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Exploring Václav Havel’s influential essay, The Power of the Powerless, Jesan Sorrells and Harvey Seifter unpack what it means for leaders to “live in truth” in the face of societal conformity. They examine the dangers of moral and cultural hollowness, the practical implications of dissidence, and how authentic leade...
The Life of Henry V by William Shakespeare w/Jesan Sorrells and Zac Stucki
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Delving into William Shakespeare’s The Life of Henry V, Jesan Sorrells and Zac Stucki analyze the cultural foundation of leadership, the decline of cultural confidence in Western societies, and the complex responsibilities leaders face when making consequential decisions. They connect Shakespeare’s lessons on accountability and mentorsh...
The Tragedy of Coriolanus by William Shakespeare w/John Hill and Jesan Sorrells
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Unpacking Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Coriolanus, this episode draws out timeless leadership insights on integrity, social hierarchies, and the tension between individual values and the demands of the group. The hosts explore how Coriolanus’ unwavering personal code clashes with political and social expectations, what the play rev...
The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare w/Katie Mestres & Jesan Sorrells
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Exploring William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this episode examines the enduring power of tragic storytelling in leadership and culture. The conversation focused on why Macbeth continues to resonate with modern audiences, the complexities of Lady Macbeth’s ambition and gender roles, and how marriage dynamics shape decision-making und...
The Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers - What Lies at the Bottom of Our Constitutional Order w/Dorollo Nixon
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Jesan Sorrells and Dorollo Nixon, Jr. examine the foundational debates framing citizenship, rights, and law in the United States through readings from The Federalist Papers and recent (2026) Supreme Court case analysis. They discuss the evolving meanings of “a more perfect union,” birthright citizenship ...
The Odyssey by Homer, translation by T.E. Shaw (Lawrence of Arabia) w/Jesan Sorrells
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Examining Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, this episode dives into timeless leadership lessons for modern managers and entrepreneurs. The conversation focused on the decline from heroic responsibility to entitlement in Western culture, the enduring value of facing challenges head-on, and the need for leaders to reclaim meaning by embracin...
Project Hail Mary, Masters of the Universe, and Sunsetting the Dark Knight w/Tom Libby & Jesan Sorrells
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Explore the cultural impact and evolution of superhero films as Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby compare the archetypes of Batman and Superman, analyze changing generational tastes in cinema, and dig into new millennial-focused heroic narratives in movies like Project Hail Mary and Masters of the Universe. They discuss...
Millennials are beginning to be heroic at the movies.
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- Opening theme composed by Felipe Sarro - Bach - Silotti - "Air" from Orchestra Suite No. 3, BWV 1068
- Closing theme composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.
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- Pick up your copy of 12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Intentional Leadership NOW on AMAZON!
- Check out the Leadership Lessons From the Great Books podcast reading list!
The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, July 4, 1776.
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Music: Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa, Performed by European Archive (https://musopen.org/)
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- Opening theme composed by Felipe Sarro - Bach - Silotti - "Air" from Orchestra Suite No. 3, BWV 1068
- Closing theme composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.
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The Declaration of Independence at 250 w/Dorollo Nixon, Jr. and Jesan Sorrells
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In this special 250th anniversary episode, Jesan Sorrells and Dorollo Nixon, Jr. dive into the enduring leadership lessons from the U.S. Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers. They debate whether the U.S. is now in its “sixth republic,” explore the generational and ideological shifts shaping Americ...
Leaders, never bet against the American people.
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- Opening theme composed by Felipe Sarro - Bach - Silotti - "Air" from Orchestra Suite No. 3, BWV 1068
- Closing theme composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.
---
- Pick up your copy of 12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Intentional Leadership NOW on AMAZON!
- Check out the Leadership Lessons From the Great Books podcast reading list!
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<...Les Misérables by Victor Hugo w/Jesan Sorrells & Libby Unger
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Jesan Sorrells and Libby Unger explore Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Misérables, examining its insights on moral authority, the impact of historical trauma, and the power of redemption in leadership. They discuss Hugo's romanticism, the enduring influence of French history on civic institutions, and how individual heroism still inspires contemporary audience...
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