Tomyris: The Steppe Queen Who Stopped an Empire

Chuck and Marco ride into the Central Asian steppe to meet Tomyris—the Massagetae queen who, in the most famous telling, brought down Cyrus the Great. We unpack what Herodotus says (and why), compare competing ancient accounts, and show how steppe strategy—mobility, tempo, and coalition craft—could humble an imperial army. Then we follow Tomyris through art, memory, and modern nation-building to see how a battlefield victory became a lasting symbol of justice, identity, and leadership. Expect sharp banter, vivid history, and takeaways you can apply anywhere you lead.

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