Podcast appearances and mentions of stanley mcchrystal

Most leaders are preparing for the wrong enemy.Matt Thompson, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Socure, is helping lead the fight—where machine identities already outnumber humans 80 to 1.And fraud isn't just growing… it's evolving faster than most businesses can keep up.Most leaders are still treating this like a tech problem.It's not.It's truly a strategy problem.The adversary is decentralized, fast-moving, and increasingly powered by AI.After spending over a decade in Army Special Operations under Stanley McChrystal, Matt is now applying those same battlefield-tested tactics to fight this new kind of enemy.Which means the old playbook—protect the front door and call it a day—is already outdated.In this conversation, we break down:Why fraud now behaves like a networked enemy.What leaders are getting wrong about defending their organizations.And how battlefield-tested thinking is being used to fight it at scale.So the real question for leaders is:Can your team and organization adapt faster than the threats evolving around it?-----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

From the very start of his war with Iran, Donald Trump never laid out a coherent exit strategy. The regional implications have been massive: a complete upheaval all over the Middle East with Gulf allies of the US dragged into a war they wanted no part in. Retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal led US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and before that, as Special Forces Commander in Iraq he led the mission to kill Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab Al-Zaraqawi. McChrystal joins Christiane from Washington.  Also on today's show: Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah & Israeli Maoz Inon on their new book, "The Future is Peace"; author Michael Pollan on his new book, "A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness"    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two-thirds of Americans are exhausted by a political narrative that doesn't match how they actually see the world. Jason Mangone has the data to prove it and a roadmap for what to do about it. Jason Mangone is the executive director of More in Common US, the American arm of a global organization founded after the assassination of British MP Jo Cox — whose maiden speech in Parliament included the line, “We have more in common than that which sets us apart.” Since launching its landmark Hidden Tribes study in 2018, More in Common has become one of the most cited voices on polarization, the perception gap, and what it will actually take to rebuild civic trust in America. Jason came to this work through a genuinely eclectic path: Marine infantry officer, Yale graduate student, co-author (with General Stanley McChrystal) of the bestselling Leaders: Myth and Reality, and yes, briefly the CEO of a Jersey Shore home maintenance company. He brings both the data and the disposition of someone who has learned to move across very different worlds — which, it turns out, is exactly what this moment requires. Calls to Action ✅ If this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with someone who believes connection across difference still matters. ✅ Subscribe to Corey's Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion Key Takeaways The exhausted majority is real, and it's being ignored. More in Common's Hidden Tribes research identified seven segments of the American public. The middle five — roughly two-thirds of the country — are what the research calls the exhausted majority. These are people whose politics don't map neatly onto partisan narratives, who hold genuinely heterodox views, and for whom the current political environment is actively draining. They're not disengaged because they don't care. They're disengaged because what they see on offer doesn't reflect how they actually think. The wings aren't just louder, they're more wrong about each other. A perception gap is the difference between what you think a group believes and what they actually believe. The research finds that the further left or right someone sits, the larger their perception gap. The heaviest news consumers also tend to have the biggest gaps — a finding that cuts against the assumption that more information produces more understanding. As a concrete example: 73% of Republicans said the US should be a world leader in developing clean energy. Democrats estimated that only 26% of Republicans held that view. Trump's coalition is not monolithic. More in Common's Beyond MAGA study identified four distinct segments within Trump voters: MAGA Hardliners (29%), Anti-Woke Conservatives (21%), Mainline Republicans (30%), and the Reluctant Right (20%). Support for the war with Iran breaks sharply along those lines — 87% among Hardliners, down to just 25% among the Reluctant Right. About a quarter of that last group now say they regret their 2024 vote. The priority gap may be the defining political story of 2025. In November 2024, Americans' perception of Trump's top priorities matched their own: cost of living, the economy, immigration. Today only 13% believe cost of living is his top priority. Nearly half point to immigration, and nearly half to the war in Iran. Jason is careful to stay nonpartisan, but the implication is clear: the exhausted majority that gave Trump his margin may not feel seen by what's followed. Institutions are where character gets formed — and they're disappearing. Jason identifies three drivers of polarization: smartphones and the attention economy, the erosion of intermediary institutions (churches, little leagues, volunteer fire departments), and elite rhetoric that rewards conflict over compromise. The second one gets less attention than it deserves. These weren't just places where people got along — they were places where people learned what kind of person they wanted to be. Being religious might be the new rebellion. Hidden Tribes 2.0 is in progress, and one of the most intriguing signals from More in Common's recent work involves generational attitudes toward faith. Among younger voters — Trump voters and non-Trump voters alike — being religious is now more likely to be seen as countercultural than being an atheist. Jason's read: when the dominant culture trends progressive and secular, traditionalism becomes the counterculture. It's not all that surprising. Countercultures, by definition, push against whatever's dominant. About Our Guest Jason Mangone is the executive director of More in Common US. He began his career as a US Marine infantry officer, serving three deployments including western Iraq and Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. After graduate school at Yale, he served as a research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations, co-authored the bestselling Leaders: Myth and Reality with General Stanley McChrystal and Jeff Eggers, and served as COO of the Service Year Alliance. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife and four kids, coaches little league, and volunteers as a firefighter — which he notes is primarily a strategy to remain cool in the eyes of his children. Links and Resources More in Common US Hidden Tribes (2018) - hiddentribes.us Beyond MAGA (2026) - beyondmaga.us Leaders: Myth and Reality by Stanley McChrystal, Jeff Eggers, and Jason Mangone Connect on Social Media Corey is @coreysnathan on all the socials… Substack LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Threads Bluesky TikTok Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners Thanks to Pew Research Center (pewresearch.org) for making today's conversation possible. Proud members of The Democracy Group “Clarity, charity, and conviction can live in the same room. Yes, really.”

Two-thirds of Americans are exhausted by a political narrative that doesn't match how they actually see the world. Jason Mangone has the data to prove it and a roadmap for what to do about it. Jason Mangone is the executive director of More in Common US, the American arm of a global organization founded after the assassination of British MP Jo Cox — whose maiden speech in Parliament included the line, “We have more in common than that which sets us apart.” Since launching its landmark Hidden Tribes study in 2018, More in Common has become one of the most cited voices on polarization, the perception gap, and what it will actually take to rebuild civic trust in America. Jason came to this work through a genuinely eclectic path: Marine infantry officer, Yale graduate student, co-author (with General Stanley McChrystal) of the bestselling Leaders: Myth and Reality, and yes, briefly the CEO of a Jersey Shore home maintenance company. He brings both the data and the disposition of someone who has learned to move across very different worlds — which, it turns out, is exactly what this moment requires. Calls to Action ✅ If this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with someone who believes connection across difference still matters. ✅ Subscribe to Corey's Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion Key Takeaways The exhausted majority is real, and it's being ignored. More in Common's Hidden Tribes research identified seven segments of the American public. The middle five — roughly two-thirds of the country — are what the research calls the exhausted majority. These are people whose politics don't map neatly onto partisan narratives, who hold genuinely heterodox views, and for whom the current political environment is actively draining. They're not disengaged because they don't care. They're disengaged because what they see on offer doesn't reflect how they actually think. The wings aren't just louder, they're more wrong about each other. A perception gap is the difference between what you think a group believes and what they actually believe. The research finds that the further left or right someone sits, the larger their perception gap. The heaviest news consumers also tend to have the biggest gaps — a finding that cuts against the assumption that more information produces more understanding. As a concrete example: 73% of Republicans said the US should be a world leader in developing clean energy. Democrats estimated that only 26% of Republicans held that view. Trump's coalition is not monolithic. More in Common's Beyond MAGA study identified four distinct segments within Trump voters: MAGA Hardliners (29%), Anti-Woke Conservatives (21%), Mainline Republicans (30%), and the Reluctant Right (20%). Support for the war with Iran breaks sharply along those lines — 87% among Hardliners, down to just 25% among the Reluctant Right. About a quarter of that last group now say they regret their 2024 vote. The priority gap may be the defining political story of 2025. In November 2024, Americans' perception of Trump's top priorities matched their own: cost of living, the economy, immigration. Today only 13% believe cost of living is his top priority. Nearly half point to immigration, and nearly half to the war in Iran. Jason is careful to stay nonpartisan, but the implication is clear: the exhausted majority that gave Trump his margin may not feel seen by what's followed. Institutions are where character gets formed — and they're disappearing. Jason identifies three drivers of polarization: smartphones and the attention economy, the erosion of intermediary institutions (churches, little leagues, volunteer fire departments), and elite rhetoric that rewards conflict over compromise. The second one gets less attention than it deserves. These weren't just places where people got along — they were places where people learned what kind of person they wanted to be. Being religious might be the new rebellion. Hidden Tribes 2.0 is in progress, and one of the most intriguing signals from More in Common's recent work involves generational attitudes toward faith. Among younger voters — Trump voters and non-Trump voters alike — being religious is now more likely to be seen as countercultural than being an atheist. Jason's read: when the dominant culture trends progressive and secular, traditionalism becomes the counterculture. It's not all that surprising. Countercultures, by definition, push against whatever's dominant. About Our Guest Jason Mangone is the executive director of More in Common US. He began his career as a US Marine infantry officer, serving three deployments including western Iraq and Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. After graduate school at Yale, he served as a research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations, co-authored the bestselling Leaders: Myth and Reality with General Stanley McChrystal and Jeff Eggers, and served as COO of the Service Year Alliance. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife and four kids, coaches little league, and volunteers as a firefighter — which he notes is primarily a strategy to remain cool in the eyes of his children. Links and Resources More in Common US Hidden Tribes (2018) - hiddentribes.us Beyond MAGA (2026) - beyondmaga.us Leaders: Myth and Reality by Stanley McChrystal, Jeff Eggers, and Jason Mangone Connect on Social Media Corey is @coreysnathan on all the socials… Substack LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Threads Bluesky TikTok Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners Thanks to Pew Research Center (pewresearch.org) for making today's conversation possible. Proud members of The Democracy Group “Clarity, charity, and conviction can live in the same room. Yes, really.”

Retired general Stanley McChrystal and former media executive Michele Wucker share what they've learned about navigating an uncertain world. Sponsored By: Notion — Try Custom Agents now at ⁠notion.com/daily

Did President Trump fall for the myth of surgical warfare? Gen. Stanley McChrystal joins the columnist David French, both veterans of the Iraq War, to discuss what may have been overlooked in the planning of Operation Epic Fury. McChrystal, who retired from the Army in 2010, argues that the United States often overestimates the decisive power of aerial bombing while underestimating the weight of historical grievance. And the general weighs in on the current culture of bravado coming from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. This conversation was recorded on Friday, March 20.  Thoughts? Questions? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur and Victoria Chamberlin. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Alison Bruzek. Mixing by Isaac Jones and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. The deputy director of Opinion Shows is Alison Bruzek. The director of Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

General Stanley McChrystal⁠ is a retired four-star general, former commander of U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, and former commander of Joint Special Operations Command. He is the founder of the⁠ McChrystal Group⁠, a senior fellow at Yale University, and the author of several New York Times bestselling books, including his latest, ⁠On Character: Choices That Define A Life⁠. In this classic episode, General McChrystal returned to talk to host Robert Glazer on ⁠the Elevate Podcast⁠ to talk about character in leadership and much more. Thank you to the sponsors of The Elevate Podcast Shopify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠masterclass.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Framer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠framer.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Northwest Registered Agent: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠northwestregisteredagent.com/elevatefree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shipstation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shipstation.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indeed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Vanguard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vanguard.com/audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Notion: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠notion.com/elevate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 8 AM Hour: Larry O’Connor and Beverly Hallberg discussed: INTERVIEW: Stephanie Lundquist-Arora - Fairfax chapter leader of the Independent Women’s Network on the Fairfax County School Board’s budget corruption and proposed transgender proclamation. INTERVIEW: Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer – Retired Department of War senior intelligence operative on Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s criticism of Iran war effort, the Army’s easing restrictions on age and weed and John Brennan’s trusting of Iran over Trump. NASA Moon Base: NASA unveils ambitious $20 billion plan to build moon base near lunar south pole. Project Hail Mary: Buzz continues to build around new Ryan Gosling movie recently released in theaters. Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Audible, and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company Episode: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 / 8 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WMAL GUEST: LT. COL. TONY SHAFFER (Retired Intelligence Operative and President of Project Sentinel) on General Stanley McChrystal’s Iran warnings, the Army's decision to raise the enlistment age to 42, and John Brennan’s recent comments siding with Iran over Donald Trump. WEBSITE: ColonelTonyShaffer.com SOCIAL MEDIA: X.com/TSpooky Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Audible, and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company Episode: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 / 8 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a follow up to the most recent Booknotes+ featuring Seth Harp on his book "The Fort Bragg Cartel," we are replaying an interview from June 12, 2012. The guest on Q&A, the television program, was 31-year-old Michael Hastings, author of the book "The Operators," which he said is what the special forces call themselves. It is based on a Rolling Stone article that allegedly led to the dismissal of General Stanley McChrystal, who was commander of the Joint Special Operations Command from 2003 to 2008. One year almost to the day after our interview with Michael Hastings, he was killed in an automobile accident in Los Angeles at 4:25 in the morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a follow up to the most recent Booknotes+ featuring Seth Harp on his book "The Fort Bragg Cartel," we are replaying an interview from June 12, 2012. The guest on Q&A, the television program, was 31-year-old Michael Hastings, author of the book "The Operators," which he said is what the special forces call themselves. It is based on a Rolling Stone article that allegedly led to the dismissal of General Stanley McChrystal, who was commander of the Joint Special Operations Command from 2003 to 2008. One year almost to the day after our interview with Michael Hastings, he was killed in an automobile accident in Los Angeles at 4:25 in the morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dean Karayanis, Rush Limbaugh staffer and columnist at the New York Sun, delivers a fast-paced analysis of the ongoing conflict in Iran, contrasting current military actions with historical precedents. Despite media negativity and "Trump Derangement Syndrome," the Trump Administration's aggressive stance is a necessary victory against a regime that has threatened — and taken — American lives since the 1979 hostage crisis. Key discussion points include: The War in Iran: Touting military's success, emphasizing that the U.S. has significantly degraded Iranian leadership and neutralized threats without suffering the high casualty rates seen in previous conflicts. Historical Comparisons: A dive into the 1983 invasion of Grenada and how President Reagan "reset the clock" for American prestige. A vintage “Saturday Night Live” parody of Time-Life illustrates how media attitudes toward military victory have shifted — and not for the better. The "Jolene Doctrine": A scathing critique of General Stanley McChrystal's recent comments, mocking McChrystal's use of Dolly Parton lyrics to criticize the war effort, questioning the general's own record regarding the Pat Tillman investigation and the Afghan withdrawal. Domestic Politics & Crime: Rather than focus on the terrorist and the ideology, the commonwealth attorney prosecuting the ROTC attack at Old Dominion, Ramin Fatehi, blames a "national sickness" — our Second Amendment rights — as if we haven't had that for 250 years, but open borders and importing people who hate us plays no role. President Trump gets blamed for three murders in a Utah national part because some park rangers — who are not law enforcement — may have been laid off. The broadside ignores that crime in America is down to levels not seen since 1900 under this presidency. A clip of James Carville claiming to be “an instrument of God's will” and proudly touting his “hate” and “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as expression of Christ's will. It's the ravings of an angry, bitter guy who's hilarious in his frustration about his party's failures — a frustration similar to a man in a house of prostitution who forgot his Viagra. St. Patrick's Day Special: Closing on a lighter note, Dean plugs his History Author Show interview with Irene Levy Baker on her book, “Cheers to McGillin's: Philly's Oldest Tavern,” that being McGillin's Old Ale House in Philadelphia, founded in 1860.

NewsOpenClaw fait le buzzhttps://www.moltbook.com/Pubs dans ChatGPThttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001047-ads-in-chatgpt'Software-mageddon' leaves investors bargain-hunting but wary https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/bbc-confirms-landmark-youtube-deal-1236636483/Est-ce-que la RTS devrait faire des émissions pour YoutubeInspirationMoondog: L'HISTOIRE INCROYABLE DE CE SDF ! Evergreen, reread: Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World Euphoria Euphoria (Fernsehserie) - WikipediaFounders andre Agassi https://open.spotify.com/episode/0IepFcytfFe2w1FzI0W7y5Quote: “As Mark Twain was supposed to have mused: “What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so.” ― Stanley McChrystal, Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Agile in Construction: The Product Owner Role in Construction—Voice of the Customer Across Every Phase With Felipe Engineer-Manriquez Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, we refer to Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal, as well as our Agile in Construction episodes. The Great Product Owner: Bringing the Voice of the Customer to Every Decision "I want you to think like the owner, and bring that to the team meetings, because we can't have the owner in the meetings with us." - Felipe Engineer-Manriquez   The Product Owner role in construction is radically different from software—and Felipe has learned to find it in unexpected places. When Jeff Sutherland told his class to "tear up your business cards" because only three roles exist (Developer, Scrum Master, Product Owner), construction people were confused. Felipe's approach: ask the team who can bring the voice of the customer. Sometimes it's the superintendent, interfacing daily with charge nurses and doctors in a working hospital. Sometimes it's a project executive. Rarely, it's the project manager. The key is that the PO role changes across phases because every day in construction is brand new—the building is physically taking shape. Felipe studied military leadership in Extreme Ownership and Team of Teams and found strong product owner culture—leaders who brought customer voice to cell-level teams against hierarchical norms. Great product owners speak in terms of what the customer wants, transforming how teams prioritize and align naturally.   Self-reflection Question: Who on your team currently embodies the voice of the customer, and how might you coach them to bring that perspective more explicitly to every team interaction? The Bad Product Owner: When Gut Decisions Override Value "Value is a beneficial transformation of materials, information, or a combination of both. Let's not do things that don't transform information or materials." - Felipe Engineer-Manriquez   Felipe shares a powerful anti-pattern: owners who make gut decisions based on past project trauma without checking if conditions are still true. On a $100 million project, an owner repeatedly introduces work that doesn't add value—reacting to bad things that happened on previous projects, even when those conditions no longer exist. The result? Teams waste time on activities that don't transform materials or information. Felipe teaches teams an industrial engineering definition of value: "a beneficial transformation of materials, information, or a combination of both." Status updates that don't change behavior are waste. Markings on metal decking that will be buried under 5 inches of concrete are waste. The fix? Make the backlog visible and ask: "Where should we zipper this in so it has the most impact on transforming materials or information?" For construction, prioritization always comes back to getting the right materials in place, one time, at the right time—not touching things twice.   Self-reflection Question: When stakeholders introduce work based on past experiences, how do you help them evaluate whether those conditions still apply to the current situation?   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Charles Vogl joins John and Matt to talk about his book The Art of Community. He defines community and we discuss how it plays out in congregations. Resources The Art of Community by Charles Vogl (book) Charles Vogl's website The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman (book) Lost Connections by Johann Hari (book) Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal (book) Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasedale (book)

Baratunde returns to the How To Citizen feed with a conversation that sits right at the intersection of character, democracy, and what it means to citizen in this moment. This episode features Baratunde in a live discussion with retired U.S. General Stanley McChrystal at the 2025 Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco. The two dig into the responsibility of leaders in a time of democratic crisis, the historic norms around deploying the U.S. military inside American cities, and why character is not something we simply “have” but something we practice. They talk about the pressures facing the country, the role of national service, and how AI is changing the speed and stakes of decision-making in military and civic life. Stan shares candid reflections from his own experiences, including moments when he fell short of the character he expected from himself, and what it takes to recover and stay aligned with one’s convictions. This conversation originally aired on the Rapid Response podcast from the Masters of Scale network. Special thanks to their team for allowing it to run here. Baratunde closes with reflections on the polycrisis we’re living through, the people who continue to speak up for what’s right, and the power we still have to shape the next chapter of this country. For more from Baratunde, see his substack newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of State Secrets, Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks with retired four-star Gen. Stan McChrystal, who served as Commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and is author of the new book, On Character: Choices That Define a Life, about what character really means in an era where everything feels political, whether intended or not.

What does it mean to be a courageous leader in 2025? Former U.S. General Stanley McChrystal joins futurist and culture critic Baratunde Thurston on stage at Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco to discuss the responsibility of leaders today, the importance of character, and the weight of being an active citizen in democracy. Considering President Trump's deployment of the National Guard, McChrystal explores the role of the military in civil society, and how the military is poised to evolve in the wake of AI. Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Navy SEAL and leadership strategist Chris Fussell reveals how elite teams operate under pressure—and how those principles can be applied far beyond the battlefield. Drawing from years of operational experience and his work with General Stanley McChrystal, Fussell explains how systems thinking, decentralized decision-making, and shared consciousness can transform organizations in fast-changing environments. He discusses mindset lessons from SEAL training, the psychology of high-stakes leadership, and how individuals can build internal clarity to overcome fear and act with precision. With insights into decision triage, organizational agility, and the human need for physical, creative, and emotional outlets, this episode offers a rare, deeply personal look at what it takes to lead yourself and others when the stakes are high. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karim Harbott: You Can't Make a Flower Grow Faster—The Oblique Approach to Shaping Culture Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.   "How can I make a flower grow faster? Culture is a product of the behaviors of people in the system." - Karim Harbott   For Karim, one of the biggest challenges—and enablers—in his current work is creating a supporting culture. After years of learning what doesn't work, he's come to understand that culture isn't something you can force or mandate. Like trying to make a flower grow faster by pulling on it, direct approaches to culture change often backfire.  Instead, Karim uses what he calls the "oblique approach"—changing culture indirectly by adjusting the five levers: leadership behaviors, organizational structure, incentives, metrics, and systems. Leadership behaviors are particularly crucial.  When leaders step back and encourage ownership rather than micromanaging, teams transform. Incentives have a huge impact on how teams work—align them poorly, and you'll get exactly the wrong behaviors.  Karim references Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal, which demonstrates how changing organizational structure and leadership philosophy can unlock extraordinary performance. He also uses the Competing Values Framework to help leaders understand different cultural orientations and their tradeoffs. But the most important lesson? There are always unexpected consequences. Culture change requires patience, experimentation, and a willingness to observe how the system responds. You can't force a flower to grow, but you can create the conditions where it thrives.   Self-reflection Question: Are you trying to change your organization's culture directly, or are you adjusting the conditions that shape behavior?   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

One of America's storied military leaders General Stanley McChrystal offers insights on the power of character and integrity in leaders—whether in the military or civilian life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we shift our thinking in order to break a pattern? And how can we take positive action to make transformative changes in our lives? That's the focus of Scott Miller's new book, “Master Mentors Vol. 2.” It examines key insights from 30 of the world's most transformational leadership thinkers – including Seth Godin, Susan Cain, General Stanley McChrystal and more – and provides simple steps to implement the same insights in your own life.  In today's episode, Scott joins me to talk about the most valuable lessons he's learned from his own mentor, the concept of transformational insight, the subtle nuances between self-worth, self-esteem and self-confidence, why vulnerability is a key element of leadership, and more. “I think the power of transformation has the power for you to see yourself differently. It has the power for you to challenge your paradigm, your mindset, your belief system, to say, gosh, I always thought about gratitude in this way, but now I'm gonna think about gratitude in this way. Or I thought about what's next for me or my business model. They're personal and professional. I think it's really intended to help kind of shake you to say you've been in this pattern of thinking this line of behavior and just shaking a little bit to say, is that serving you well? Is that serving those around you?” – Scott (06:03) Top 3 Takeaways  A mentor can be anyone. “I don't think you have to know or be in an intimate relationship, professional relationship with your mentor at all,” Scott says. It doesn't matter that you can't meet with them for one-on-one guidance; a mentor is anyone who helps you understand how to improve your life, and in the age of podcasts and YouTube, you can get that wisdom in a variety of ways.  Try to assume positive intent. Everybody makes mistakes, and sometimes even the most well-intended words come out wrong. A person's words say more about them than they do about you.  Self-worth is inherent and unchanging. “Self-esteem and your self-confidence ebbs and flows based on your sense of self and the kind of relationships you're in and the things that you do that you value or don't value,” Scott says. “But your self-worth cannot be changed and no one else can change it.” In This Episode (01:13) Why you don't need to meet your mentor to benefit from their wisdom (05:21) Scott's definition of a transformational insight (07:14) The practical applications of insights, and using them to transform your life (11:30) Bobby Herrera's life-changing bus ride (22:50) Self-worth vs self-esteem vs self-confidence (31:51) “Your future truth should be your present.” (36:03) BJ Fogg and the power of tiny pattern-breaking habits Resources & Links Billy Samoa  https://billysamoa.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BillySamoaSaleebey/ https://twitter.com/BillySamoa https://www.instagram.com/billybelieve/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjQ9RSxYqDS4_VxBHNyQJw https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/ https://billysamoa.com/podcast-archive/ https://billysamoa.com/video-carousel/ ⁠https://billysamoa.com/blog-with-sidebar/⁠ Scott Miller ⁠https://www.scottjeffreymiller.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/scottmillerj1⁠ ⁠https://twitter.com/scottmillerj1⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottjeffreymiller/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmillerj1/⁠ Mentioned ⁠https://tinyhabits.com/book/⁠ ⁠https://bobby-herrera.com/⁠ https://www.franklincovey.com/speakers-bureau/sean-covey/ This is an encore episode and was originally published on August 26, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most game studios think they have a talent problem. They don't. They have a structure problem.Chris Casanova spent 15+ years as a producer across Microsoft Xbox, Mojang (Minecraft), Relic Entertainment, Offworld Industries, and Hypixel Studios. He's watched talented teams fail repeatedly—not from lack of skill, but from organizational friction.Traditional studios organize around craft silos: design departments, engineering departments, art departments. Every feature requires handoffs. Every handoff loses fidelity. The result? Friction, misalignment, wasted iteration, and missed deadlines.Chris reveals the alternative: cross-functional outcome teams of 5-9 people who own their results from concept to ship.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━TIMESTAMPS━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━00:00 - Chris's background: Xbox, Mojang, Relic02:59 - Why he wrote "Structure Teams to Win"06:54 - The problem with craft-based teams08:17 - Outcome teams: The procedural worlds example18:32 - Why 5-9 people is optimal team size24:10 - Three organizational layers explained31:48 - When leaders resist change42:20 - The political reality of reorganization47:15 - Case study: 70-person AA co-op shooter58:07 - Advice for small teams (10 people)01:01:06 - How to connect with Chris━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━KEY INSIGHTS━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━THE PROBLEMS:- Design creates specs without context → over-engineered solutions- Art produces assets without validation → endless iteration- QA receives unclear requirements → irrelevant bug reports- Every handoff loses the original intentTHE SOLUTION:Cross-functional teams of 5-9 people with:→ Mixed disciplines (designers, engineers, artists, QA embedded)→ Clear mission and measurable KPIs→ Everything needed to own their outcome→ Minimal handoffs, maximum collaborationREAL EXAMPLE:Procedural worlds team mission: "Every world seed feels fresh, readable, performant"KPI: Biome novelty per minuteTeam: Generation engineers, world designers, environment artists, technical artists, QA━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━70-PERSON STUDIO STRUCTURE━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chris provides detailed org structure for AA co-op shooter:- Combat & Gameplay (15 people, 2 teams)- Progression & Economy (10 people, 2 teams)- Social & Co-Op (12 people, 2 teams)- Content & Live Ops (15 people, 2 teams)- World & Narrative (10 people, 1 team)- Technical Foundation (8 people, 1 team)Each team has 5-9 people with mixed disciplines focused on specific outcomes.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━THE HARD TRUTHS━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Some leaders won't make the transition from managing 30 people to being on a team of 8. They'll resist or self-select out. And that's okay—holding onto territorial structures to preserve egos is how studios fail."If you have a C-suite that's divided, you're not going to be able to make this change. You need unified leadership."━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━RESOURCES MENTIONED━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━- "Team of Teams" by Gen. Stanley McChrystal- "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink- "Structure Teams to Win" (Chris's Medium article)━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━CONNECT WITH CHRIS━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chris is seeking his next production leadership role.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-casanova/Email: ChrisCasanova@outlook.comArticle: https://medium.com/@chris.casanova/structure-teams-to-win-15d98e65c5d7━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━READ THE FULL BREAKDOWN━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Detailed newsletter post with implementation templates and additional examples:https://www.gamemakers.com/p/why-your-game-studios-organizational━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Gamemakers podcast: Gaming business insights for developers, executives, and investors. Hosted by Joseph Kim. New episodes weekly.#gamedev #productmanagement #teamstructure #leadership

Today's guest, General Stanley McChrystal, is a retired four-star general, former commander of U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, and former commander of Joint Special Operations Command. He is the founder of the McChrystal Group, a senior fellow at Yale University, and the author of several New York Times bestselling books, including his latest, On Character: Choices That Define A Life. General McChrystal joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about character in leadership and much more. Thank you to the sponsors of The Elevate Podcast Mizzen & Main: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mizzenandmain.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Promo Code: elevate20) Shopify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indeed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠masterclass.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Found: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠found.com/elevate⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retired four-star general Stanley McChrystal joins the show to celebrate the launch of his new Masterclass and share his approach to empowering teams and cultivating leadership at every level of an organization. He walks us through strategies for encouraging teams to take risks, even when failure carries serious consequences. But he admits that, despite a lifetime in the military, burpees are still the worst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to leading a team, there's no such thing as too much information.Good leadership is about good communication. And for General Stanley McChrystal, that means creating a culture of free-flowing information: “The goal is to have everyone know everything all the time,” he says.McChrystal is a retired four-star general, former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan, and a renowned leadership expert. In his experience building cohesive teams in complex environments, he's discovered that successful teams are built on a “shared consciousness [where] all have a common contextual understanding of what the situation is.” The key to creating that kind of culture, he says, is radical transparency — from leaders and subordinates alike. Whatever your position, “You are responsible for informing other people of things that they need to know,” he says.In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McChrystal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to build shared consciousness within teams, how to communicate across cultural divides, and how to lead with clarity, context, and character.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:General Stanley McChrystalGeneral McChrystal's Books: On Character / Team of Teams155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly161. Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You're Talking To  Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:03) - Building Shared Consciousness (06:13) - Leading Across Differences (07:53) - Delivering Difficult News (10:18) - Communicating in a Virtual World (16:17) - Character as an Iterative Practice (18:27) - The Final Three Questions (23:23) - Conclusion  ********This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.       

In the past, character wasn't just admired, it was expected. People demanded integrity, and even fought duels over questions of honor. But today, does character still matter?General McChrystal is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command in the mid-2000s. He established a consultancy firm, McChrystal Group, in 2011 and advises senior executives at multinational corporations on navigating complex change and building stronger teams.

In today's rapidly shifting world, experience at the top doesn't guarantee relevance. Darren Hardy highlights insights from General Stanley McChrystal that expose a new challenge every leader must face. What once made leadership credible is no longer enough, and the key to staying effective lies in an unexpected place. Get more personal mentoring from Darren each day. Go to DarrenDaily at http://darrendaily.com/join to learn more.

UZIC live on 90.4 FM or EVENTS https://uzic.ch/live-dj-events/ NEWSIFA 2025 draws a successful conclusion: https://www.ifa-berlin.com/press-releases/ifa-2025-draws-a-auccessful-conclusion-092025 Eufy Marswalker : le premier robot aspirateur capable de monter les escaliers L'IA pratiqueGemini Nano Banana & AI image generator https://gemini.google/overview/image-generation/ Otter Meeting Agent - AI Notetaker, Transcription, Insights https://otter.ai/ Oracle stock gains 36% to post best day since 1992, adding $244 billion in value https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/10/oracle-stock-cloud-backlog-ai.htmlAnthropic agrees to pay $1.5 billion to settle author class action. Is this the beginning ? https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/anthropic-agrees-pay-15-billion-settle-author-class-action-2025-09-05/ The web has a new system for making AI companies pay up https://www.theverge.com/news/775072/rsl-standard-licensing-ai-publishing-reddit-yahoo-medium The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), in collaboration with ETH Zurich and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), launched Apertus, Switzerland's first large-scale, open-source, multilingual large language model (LLM) Inspiration#RIP Coach George Raveling https://x.com/GeorgeRaveling/status/1962895175535198644 #PODCAST ::Inside AI at EPFL https://open.spotify.com/show/4iVpk9fbozjYpUfK5qBazg Tibo InShape YouTubeur Le Syndrome du personnage principal https://www.gdiy.fr/podcast/tibo-inshape/ #AUDIOBOOK :: On Character: Choices That Define a Life by General Stanley McChrystal https://www.amazon.com/Character-Choices-That-Define-Life/dp/0593852958 #SERIE :: Chief of War https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19381692/ #QUOTE :: « Pain falls drop by drop upon the heart, until in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom, through the awful grace of the divine. » Aeschylus Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Today we sit down with our own James Tippit, EVP and Director of Team Development here at SouthState. We discuss the term "Team of Teams" coined by General Stanley McChrystal and how it can be implemented at your bank to improve collaboration, communication, and organizational effectiveness.  The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

In this special recast episode, host Bradley Hamney revisits one of his most memorable interviews from the Above The Business podcast archives. Originally recorded several years ago, this conversation with retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal remains as relevant and impactful as ever. This recast episode offers timeless wisdom from a legendary leader that's just as valuable today as when it was first recorded.Bradley admits this was "by far the most nervous I have ever been on a podcast" - and for good reason. General McChrystal literally reported to the President of the United States and is considered one of America's greatest military leaders. Despite Bradley's nerves, General McChrystal couldn't have been more kind and gracious throughout the interview.About General McChrystal:Retired four-star general Stanley A. McChrystal has lived a life associated with the deadly risks of combat. Called "one of America's greatest warriors" by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, he's a transformational leader who revolutionized modern warfare by leading a comprehensive counter-terrorism organization that fused intelligence and operations.Special Announcement:Don't forget to register for Bradley's quarterly planning event for small business owners! Join him on Tuesday, September 23rd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Time to reflect on Q3 and plan for a fantastic Q4. Register at https://www.blueprintos.com/assets.Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we're just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we've got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that's what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The...

#226: General Stanley McChrystal, a retired four-star general, is best known for his leadership as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan and as head of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), where he reshaped counterterrorism efforts and interagency collaboration. Over his decorated military career, he commanded elite units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment and spent more than six years deployed to combat following 9/11. In 2009, he was appointed Commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan and NATO ISAF, leading over 150,000 troops from 45 allied nations until his retirement from the Army in 2010.After retiring from military service, McChrystal founded the McChrystal Group in 2011, a leadership advisory firm that works with global businesses to help them navigate complexity and build stronger, more adaptive teams. He has also served as a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he taught courses on leadership. In addition, he sits on the boards of several major companies, including JetBlue Airways, Siemens Government Technology, and Navistar International, and is a highly sought-after public speaker on leadership, organizational culture, and team dynamics.McChrystal is also a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, with works including My Share of the Task, Team of Teams, and Leaders: Myth and Reality, Risk, & On Character. A strong advocate for service and veteran affairs, he chairs the Board of Service Year Alliance, promoting national service opportunities for young Americans. A graduate of West Point and the Naval War College, McChrystal has also completed fellowships at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the Council on Foreign Relations, further shaping his perspective on leadership, strategy, and civic responsibility.His newest book On Character: Choices that Define a Life can be found in the link below as well as www.mcchrystalgroup.com, Amazon, and where all books are sold. For more on General McChrystal check out www.mcchrystalgroup.com Enjoy the show! 

The test of character is simple: what do you do when you have nothing to lose… or everything? Ryan and General Stanley McChrystal continue their conversation about what true leadership demands, why “later” never comes, how parenting tests your values, and the lessons McChrystal carried into life after the military.General McChrystal is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command in the mid-2000s. He established a consultancy firm, McChrystal Group, in 2011 and advises senior executives at multinational corporations on navigating complex change and building stronger teams.

Retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal brings his military leadership style to this week's episode. He explains why most one-on-one meetings are "inefficient" because "you have 20 one-on-one meetings and 20 people will hear different things." McChrystal also shares his direct approach to feedback, and why he lets opportunities guide his career instead of rigid goals. To get more great insights from leaders direct to your inbox, subscribe to the free This is Working newsletter ⁠here⁠.

We control who we are. We control what we do. We control the standards we hold ourselves to. Ryan sits down with retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal to talk about the thing that makes or breaks every person: character. They explain what character actually is, why discipline matters more than raw talent, and how great leaders can lose their way.General McChrystal is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command in the mid-2000s. He established a consultancy firm, McChrystal Group, in 2011 and advises senior executives at multinational corporations on navigating complex change and building stronger teams.

What does it mean to have character in a world that doesn't care? Or even worse: platforms and incentivizes a LACK of character?  If anyone should know, it's a retired four-star General whose career ended in resignation. In this episode, Russell talks with General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan and author of On Character: Choices That Define a Life. They discuss the Rolling Stone article that ended McChrystal's military career, why his wife's single-word reaction changed the trajectory of his life, and how character is shaped over decades by family, mentors, mistakes, and moral decisions under pressure.  Along the way, McChrystal shares his thoughts on why the U.S. needs a mandatory service year as a way to heal divisions, how leadership choices prevented a hostile environment toward Islam in the United States, and his process for making difficult decisions of national importance. Plus, hear a retired four-star general give his take on the tensions in the Middle East and what should be done to ease them. You don't need to be weighing options of national security to appreciate this conversation — If you're weary of living in an era that excuses a lack of integrity and honor in its leadership, this conversation may give you hope that it's possible to bring those back. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: On Character: Choices That Define a Life by Stanley McChrystal Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Carl Sandburg's six-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln Listener question: Where are all the mature single Christian men? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to lead effectively in any environment — whether in business or on the battlefield? Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal talks to LinkedIn editor-in-Chief Dan Roth about the core principles of leadership that transcend industries. His key insights? High standards matter: Carrying the rigor and expectations from military operations into civilian organizations can redefine excellence. Trust builds leadership: Credibility and loyalty are fundamental to effective leadership in any scenario. Adapt and empower: Great leaders equip their teams to make mission-aligned decisions, even in unpredictable circumstances. Subscribe to the This is Working newsletter for more great insights: linkedin.com/thisisworking

Legacy Dads was proud to welcome General (ret.) Stanley McChrystal onto the podcast to talk about his new book "On Character: Choices That Define a Life." Listen in as Dante, Dave, and Lance talk through what it means to have character, and get some high-value pointers from one of our nation's top military commanders. Click the link for more information: McChrystal Group For more about Legacy Dads, click here: Legacy Dads Website Legacy Dads Facebook Group: Legacy Dads Facebook Legacy Dads Instagram: Legacy Dads IG

General Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general and former commander of U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), where he led the nation's most elite counterterrorism efforts. With 34 years of military service, he's recognized for reshaping modern warfare and pioneering team-based leadership approaches in high-stakes environments. Today, he is the founder and CEO of the McChrystal Group, a leadership advisory firm that helps organizations adapt and thrive in complex, fast-changing environments. He is the author of multiple bestselling books, and his most recent work, On Character: The Choices That Define Us, explores how leaders are remembered—not just for what they achieve, but for who they are.   Summary In this conversation, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal reflects on the qualities that define meaningful leadership, focusing on character, culture, and personal growth. He shares how he almost got expelled from West Point for disciplinary issues and poor study habits, and how that period of immaturity helped shape his evolution as a leader. He talks about his famously intense morning routine, including waking up at 4 a.m. and working out for 90 minutes, and how these habits are rooted in self-discipline and clarity of purpose. McChrystal defines character as a combination of convictions and the discipline to live by them. He makes the case that it's not enough to believe in the right things if you don't act on them. He also challenges the idea that someone can be one kind of person in private and another in public. To him, character is consistent, and integrity either holds up across all domains or it doesn't hold up at all. He speaks openly about moral ambiguity in leadership, including moments when he disagreed with decisions made by the administration but chose to follow orders because they were legal and within the boundaries of his role. He warns of the dangers of rationalizing small compromises over time, which can slowly erode a person's values. McChrystal also explains why elite military units like the Rangers are not necessarily made up of elite individuals. What sets them apart is a shared commitment to high standards. He believes the same principle applies in business and argues that a strong organizational culture drives performance more than talent or strategy. The conversation touches on charisma, humility, and how leadership style evolves over time. McChrystal admits he wasn't always consistent in his early years and had to learn to lead in a way that built trust and clarity. He also discusses the importance of critical thinking, especially in an era where media narratives often distort reality. Finally, he reflects on the abrupt end to his military career following the Rolling Stone article and how he chose to move forward rather than dwell on the past. He credits his wife and close friends for helping him shift his focus and find new purpose in civilian life, including launching a leadership advisory firm, teaching at Yale, and writing multiple books. His latest, On Character, is a deep exploration of what it means to live by your values and be someone others can count on.   Takeaways ·        Morning routines and physical discipline help create structure and momentum ·        Character comes from having strong convictions and the discipline to live by them ·        Integrity in your personal life matters just as much as in your public role ·        A strong culture built on shared standards can outperform raw talent ·        Good leadership means knowing how to handle moral complexity, not just following orders ·        The best leaders combine confidence with humility and know when to show each ·        Charisma only matters if it's backed by substance, courage, and consistency ·        It's easy to be misled by the media, which makes critical thinking more important than ever ·        Leadership styles change with experience, but consistency builds trust ·        Moving forward after setbacks starts with choosing not to live in the past   Notes Books: On Character: Choices That Define a Life Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World My Share of the Task: A Memoir    Organizational consulting: McChrystal Group

In this episode, Jim and Jan explore the power of doing nothing and why it might be the most strategic move a leader can make.  They begin with a discussion on Jan's Crucible® expeditions, and the consistent lesson is that you have to slow down to speed up.  For Jim, it means intentional time without distractions. For Jan, it means hiking alone in silence, letting his mind wander and connect unexpected thoughts. They share how leaders like Einstein and Da Vinci embraced doing nothing as a form of active thinking. Jim and Jan also talk about character and discipline, referencing General Stanley McChrystal's formula where character equals conviction times discipline. They explain how many people are disciplined but have never paused to ask whether their actions are aligned with their true values. They also stress that alignment is not a one-time event but a continuous process that requires regular feedback and adjustment. Jim and Jan also talk about the pressure people feel today, especially around layoffs and uncertainty. They highlight the importance of stepping back to identify the real problem before jumping into action. Jim points out that when leaders rush to act without reflecting, they waste those resources.  Jim and Jan believe leaders need a think list, not just endless to-do lists.  If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to focus next, this episode is a chance to reset.   You can find episode 468 wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube |   Key Takeaways [01:22] Jan asked Jim what he learned from his three crucibles. Jim said the biggest lesson is that “you have to unplug.” Solitude and stillness are essential for deep thinking and avoiding distractions. Jan added that you have to slow down to speed up, a principle he discovered during a hike in the snow-covered mountains. [02:29] Jan shared that doing nothing doesn't mean sitting still. His mind was racing during the hike, processing thoughts like a “1985 MTV video.” He explained that movement without distractions lets his thoughts roam freely and helps him reset mentally. He drew inspiration from Einstein, who used solitude to spark creativity. [04:04] Jan discussed General McChrystal's formula: character equals conviction times discipline. He said discipline alone is not enough if your convictions are flawed. Jim referenced a quote often attributed to Abraham Lincoln: if you have six hours to cut down a tree, spend three sharpening the axe. He stressed the importance of thinking before acting.  [07:02] Jan advised leaders to keep a think list instead of a to-do list. He asked Jim how he finds time to think. Jim shared how stepping back during his entrepreneurial journey helped him recognize the right opportunity. Jim said doing nothing is about quieting your mind to open your eyes and ears. He explained that opportunities often go unnoticed when you're laser-focused or moving too fast.  [10:20] Jan said people under pressure need to “do nothing” in a productive way, like building relationships. He recalled early career advice that helped him shift from non stop work to meaningful connections. Jan reflected on how aging helped him realize what truly matters. He emphasized learning from others' mistakes to save time.  [13:56] Jim used to tell veterans to focus on themselves before helping others. He later realized that helping others while seeking support lifts your spirits and sharpens your own clarity. Jim encouraged leaders to define the problem clearly before solving it. In meetings, he suggests everyone write down what problem they think they're solving. If the team isn't aligned on the problem, they can't solve it effectively. [16:05] Jan shared a military lesson on shooting an azimuth to stay on course. He explained that even small mistakes in direction compound over time. Jim said alignment is not a one-time event but a continuous process. Jan emphasized the need for constant adaptability. Jan also noted that being “lazy” in the right way is really about being efficient with effort and resources. [23:40] Jim explained that efficiency isn't just about maximizing profit. It's about managing limited resources like time, money, warehouse space, and customer attention. Jan said energy is another limited resource that must be protected.  [25:49] Jan said leaders must care for themselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Jim closed by noting that throughout history, great leaders have stepped away to think. Those quiet periods led to their most valuable insights. If you never step back, you may never realize what you're missing. [28:45] And remember...“Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.” - May Sarton   Quotable Quotes "You have to slow down to speed up." "Some people can sit. I can't sit. My doing nothing is moving." "Character is conviction times discipline." "The pressure's on. Well, what do you think most people are going to do when they hear the pressure's on from the boss? Let's get busy, let's do something." "You should have a think list, not a to do list." "It's not about doing nothing. It's about quieting your mind so you can open your ears and your eyes to see things that were already there." "You gotta take care of yourself, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually..." "You have to schedule quiet time." "Loneliness is the poverty of self. Solitude is the richness of self." — May Sarton "Alignment isn't a static thing that happened once." "If you don't take the time and make the time to check out, you'll never understand what value you're missing."   Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | Sponsored by | Rafti Advisors. LLC | Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | Jan Rutherford LinkedIn | Jan Rutherford X | Jim Vaselopulos LinkedIn | Jim Vaselopulos xX |  

In today's episode, General Stanley McChrystal sits down with Ryan for a special Father's Day reminder that you won't want to miss. General McChrystal shares personal stories from his own parenting journey, lessons that changed his perspective as a father, and what he admires most about his son. General Stanley McChrystal is a retired U.S. Army general best known for leading Joint Special Operations Command in the mid-2000s. In 2011, he founded the McChrystal Group, a leadership consultancy that helps senior executives navigate complex change and build stronger teams. His new book, On Character, offers a blueprint for living with purpose and integrity—challenging us to examine not just what we do, but who we become in the process. This Father's Day, give yourself the ultimate gift of tools, structure, and community. Become a Founding Member of The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society 

Nicolle Wallace is joined by Ted Deutch, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Mike Schmidt, and Amb. Bridget Brink. Michele Norris hosts the second hour and is joined by Tim Miller, Rep. Sam Liccardo, Jake Lahut, and Jendayi E. Frazer.

Today on the show, Fareed is joined by Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Randa Slim, non-resident fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, to discuss President Trump's trip to the Middle East — his first major foreign trip of his second presidency — and his evolving foreign policy.    Next, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal speaks with Fareed about why he believes that the erosion of character is at the heart of America's problems.    Finally, media mogul Barry Diller joins the show to discuss his new memoir “Who Knew,” in which he details his successful career running three different top businesses — a movie studio, a TV network and an internet giant.   GUESTS: Richard Haass (@RichardHaass), Randa Slim (@rmslim), Stanley McChrystal (@StanMcChrystal), Barry Diller  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill's guests are Stanley McChrystal, Scott Jennings, Peter Hamby (Originally aired 5/16/25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gen. Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star U.S. Army general, former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and and an author. From the battlefield to daily life, it's the small consistent choices that win both. So how can traits like discipline, integrity, and character shape everyday success and even prepare you to lead at the highest level? Expect to learn how the General thinks about discipline and what makes discipline such a powerful predictor of personal and professional success, how to balance high standards for yourself with gratitude for what you've achieved, why character is so important and how Stanley defines it, how leaders balance personal ambition with the greater good, and much more… Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: https://tinyurl.com/43hv6y59 #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: https://tinyurl.com/2rtz7avf #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: https://tinyurl.com/3ccn5vkp - Get In Touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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General Stanley McChrystal was the top commander of American and international forces in Afghanistan in 2009 when his career was cut short. McChrystal resigned after an article in Rolling Stone quoted him and his aides making candid yet disparaging remarks about President Obama and Vice President Biden. He joined Amna Nawaz to discuss his new book, “On Character: Choices that Define a Life.” PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Amid polarization, AI disruption, and eroding trust in institutions, retired four-star general, Stanley McChrystal, argues that what leaders need now more than ever, is character. Head of the business consulting firm McChrystal Group, Gen. McChrystal returns to Rapid Response to discuss his new book on the subject of character. From AI ethics and modern warfare to hot-button issues like Signalgate and transgender service in the military, McChrystal explains why character is the foundation of lasting leadership. Drawing from decades of experience, he urges today's leaders to start standing up for what matters and “be not afraid”. More details about On Character: Choices that Define a Life here.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired General Gen. Stanley McChrystal joins to discuss his book On Character: Choices that Define a Life, and how real character transcends grit or discipline to include values that hold under fire. Plus, Trump touches the economic stove, recoils, and suddenly recession odds drop along with tariffs rates. And from The Hague, Rodrigo Duterte wins re-election as mayor of Davao in a landslide. Produced by Corey WaraEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠sales@advertisecast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general. Stan is the former commander of the nation's premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (also known as JSOC). His command included more than 150,000 troops from 45 allied countries. Since he retired from the Army, Stan has written multiple best-selling books including, Team of Teams, and most recently, On Character. The most crucial discipline is to think for yourself. To a sad degree, we're lazy. People comment on things they haven't watched or read, but have seen comments by others who align with their political party. They aren't thinking for themselves (this is why it's almost impossible to align completely with one political party for me). If you find yourself saying “I just do” or  “that's what I heard,” that's not thinking. Being Obsessed – “I am convinced that few truly great achievements are reached by individuals with an impressive work-life balance, and the price of greatness, in a word, is great. In the end, I'm an advocate for obsession." The Ranger Effect – The value of unwavering standards.Created near the end of Vietnam when the Army had lowered its standards. They created 2 units of Rangers to raise the standard. It permeated the entire Army. How does a leader do this in Corporate America? Clearly establish expectations. You cannot have a “say-do” gap. The leader must demonstrate the values on a constant basis. BE what you want. Discipline to hold people accountable. “My major takeaway at almost 70 years old is conclusive. I wish I'd thought more, been more contemplative about my convictions, and been more deliberate about the person I sought to be.” Stan's mom — she died on New Year's Day 1971 at age 45. Stan was 16. Had 6 kids. Mary Bright McChrystal. Writes about her in the civil rights chapter. “I accept no belief or claim to truth automatically or unconditionally.” White Water Rafting – When the subject of America's involvement in Afghanistan arises, Stan is frequently asked, what he might do differently if given the chance to do it all over again. Answer: “Go white water rafting.” In Patient Pursuit of Greatness – In the spring of 2012, Stan was teaching a leadership class at Yale. That's when he met their football coach, Tony Reno: “Not many things materially affect my trajectory. But this time was different. What was different? Coach Reno.” Choosing to Lead – Leadership is not a title or position. It's a choice. “Embrace the suck” – “Why suck a little, when you can suck a lot?” Eat one meal a day. It's built on being undisciplined with food. If you only eat dinner, you can eat a lot for that one meal. Self-Discipline - Most important attribute for a leader. Wife Annie - Dependent on her. Kind, thoughtful, caring. Life/Career Advice: Have the discipline to decide want you want to be. Be intentional. LISTEN: Don't just talk. Be respectful. Don't be afraid to fail. Try it, get back up. Try again.