How to Take Over the World: Recent Episodes
Ben Wilson
Anyone who has achieved greatness has, in part, patterned themselves after those who came before. Napoleon learned from Charlemagne, Charlemagne learned from Caesar, and Caesar learned from Alexander the Great. This podcast analyzes the lives of some of the greatest men and women to ever live. By examining their strategies, tactics, mindset, and work habits, How to Take Over the World helps you understand the great ones, so that you can follow in their footsteps.
What did the movie Oppenheimer get right? What was historically inaccurate? Did they manage to capture the true spirit of all the characters involved? What does J Rober Oppenheimer's life ultimately mean? I answer all of these questions and share some of my unused notes about the life of J Robert Oppenheimer.
Sponsors: LinkedHacker.com/Ben - Follow this link for $100 off your next LinkedIn advertising campaign Indeed.com/Takeover - Use this link for $75 off your next hiring campaign Founders Podcast
Sources: American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
Writing, production, and sound design by Ben Wilson.
Learn the true story behind the father of the atomic bomb. This episode explores not only his groundbreaking achievements as the inventor of the nuclear bomb but also the profound lessons his life and work offer. From his relentless pursuit of knowledge to his remarkable ability to assemble and lead brilliant scientific minds, Oppenheimer's story serves as a case study on the complexities of leadership, scientific discovery, ethical responsibility, and the perils of human ambition.
Sponsors: LinkedHacker.com/Ben - Follow this link for $100 off your next LinkedIn advertising campaign Indeed.com/Takeover - Use this link for $75 off your next hiring campaign Founders Podcast
Sources: American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
Writing, production, and sound design by Ben Wilson.
Admiral Horatio Nelson's achievements and victories, including The Battle of Copenhagen and the battle of Trafalgar.
Sponsors: LinkedHacker.com/Ben - Follow this link for $100 off your next LinkedIn advertising campaign Founders Podcast
Sources: The Pursuit of Victory: The Life and Achievement of Horatio Nelson by Roger Knight Nelson: Britannia's God of War by Andrew Lambert
Writing, production, and sound design by Ben Wilson.
The early life and the dramatic rise of Admiral Horatio Nelson, a naval hero of Great Britain. Episode one takes us from his origins up through the battle of the Nile.
Sponsors: LinkedHacker.com/Ben - Follow this link for $100 off your next LinkedIn advertising campaign Founders Podcast
Sources: The Pursuit of Victory: The Life and Achievement of Horatio Nelson by Roger Knight Nelson: Britannia's God of War by Andrew Lambert
Writing, production, and sound design by Ben Wilson.
Thoughts on Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his motto "Quid Non" and Benjamin Bloom and his famous "two sigma problem."
Nintil on Bloom's Two Sigma Problem
My notes and takeaways from Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words.
Sponsors: Founders Podcast Upside Jobs
Joan of Arc's legacy, her greatest attributes, theories on the voices in her head, and more.
Please consider supporting this episode's sponsors:
- If you are raising funds for your startup, please visit Capitaly.vc
- If you are thinking about selling your home, please visit Clever
Sources:
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Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses
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Joan of Arc: A History
Special Shoutout: Elle Leemay (@elle_leemay)
Joan of Arc goes from being a peasant girl, to leading one of the greatest armies on earth in less than four months.
Please consider supporting this episode's sponsors:
- If you are raising funds for your startup, please visit Capitaly.vc
- If you are thinking about selling your home, please visit Clever
Sources:
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Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses
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Joan of Arc: A History
Special Shoutout: Elle Leemay (@elle_leemay)
The life and times of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, as told by Alex Petkas on The Cost of Glory. Find more episodes of The Cost of Glory at https://ancientlifecoach.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you are looking to start a podcast, check out PodRamp.io.
An interview with Dr. John Turner, professor at George Mason University and biographer of Brigham Young, about his legacy, what made him so special, and more.
If you are looking to sell a company, check out Tiny.com.
If you are looking to start a podcast, check out PodRamp.io.
Link:
- Brigham Young Pioneer Prophet
Brigham Young leads his people on a journey into the wilderness and builds a new kingdom in the desert.
If you are looking to sell a company, check out Tiny.com.
If you are looking to start a podcast, check out PodRamp.io.
Sources:
- Brigham Young American Moses
- Brigham Young Pioneer Prophet
- Great Basin Kingdom
- Brigham Young The Colonizer
- Six Days in August: Brigham Young and the Succession Crisis of 1844
The life and times of Elizabeth II, the late queen of the United Kingdom.
Special thank you to our sponsor Tiny Capital. If you are interested in selling your business, please check them out at tiny.com
How Brigham Young rose from abject poverty to lead The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
If you are looking to sell a company, check out Tiny.com
Sources:
- Brigham Young American Moses
- Brigham Young Pioneer Prophet
- Great Basin Kingdom
- Brigham Young The Colonizer
- Six Days in August: Brigham Young and the Succession Crisis of 1844
How Brigham Young rose from abject poverty to lead The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
If you are looking to sell a company, check out Tiny.com
Sources:
- Brigham Young American Moses
- Brigham Young Pioneer Prophet
- Great Basin Kingdom
- Brigham Young The Colonizer
- Six Days in August: Brigham Young and the Succession Crisis of 1844
How Brigham Young rose from abject poverty to lead The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
If you are looking to sell a company, check out Tiny.com
Sources:
- Brigham Young American Moses
- Brigham Young Pioneer Prophet
- Great Basin Kingdom
- Brigham Young The Colonizer
- Six Days in August: Brigham Young and the Succession Crisis of 1844
Vladimir Putin: Modern day czar, KGB man, billionaire, reformer, autocrat. In part 1, we examine his rise to power.
This is an updated version with a new introduction and a few minor additions.
Thank you to our sponsor, CopyThat. Take your writing to the next level. Go to TryCopyThat.com and use code TakeOver for $20 off.
Walt Disney's rise to greatness, including his creation of Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Disneyland, and more.
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Walt Disney's childhood, adolescence, how how he got his start in animation, and his first successes.
Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
John Wooden was known as one of the greatest coaches of all time. So why he did he have shorter practices than any of his contemporaries, and what can it teach us about greatness?
How exactly was Napoleon able to accomplish so much in such a short period of time? On this episode, I review the book Napoleon: How He Did It. It was written by Baron Fain, a private secretary of Napoleon's. He explains Napoleon's systems and work habits in minute detail.
On this episode, I highlight some of my top takeaways for how to be more efficient and maximize your impact.
This episode is brought to you by Cold Plunge. To learn more, go to TheColdPlunge.com and use code BenWilson for $150 off.
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about Alexander the Great. Topics include a brief review of the 2004 movie by Oliver Stone, Alexander's love life, what made Alexander so great, why did Alexander have blue eyes if he was Greek, and more.
Alexander the Great took his father's kingdom and made it the greatest empire the world had ever seen. Part two covers the apex of his powers, plots against his life, the unification of his empire, and more.
Sources:
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Alexander the Great and His Times by Agnes Savill
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Philip & Alexander: Kings and Conquerors by Adrian Goldsworthy
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The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander
Sponsor:
Use code BenWilson at TheColdPlunge.com to get $150 off.
Alexander the Great took his father's kingdom and made it the greatest empire the world had ever seen. Part one covers his childhood, education, rise to power, and early conquests.
Sources:
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Alexander the Great and His Times by Agnes Savill
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Philip & Alexander: Kings and Conquerors by Adrian Goldsworthy
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The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander
Sponsor:
Use code BenWilson at TheColdPlunge.com to get $150 off.
Recently, I was interviewed on the podcast "If I Was Starting Today" by Jim Huffman. He has graciously allowed me to play that audio in full. We talk about a lot, including:
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How I came up with the name and concept of his podcast
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Traits you need to have to take over the world
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The energy of the people who are the best in their fields
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How to maximize where energy goes
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The function of charisma
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What it means to be half-insider and half-outsider
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An unexpected common trait among leaders
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Half-baked startup ideas
...and much more.
Is there a formula for genius? One man thinks that he has found it - and he used it to raise all three of his daughters to be world champion chess players.
On this episode, I talk about the life of Laszlo Polgar, his training and teaching methods, and the successes of his three daughters - Susan, Sophia, and Judith.
Link: Raise a Genius! by Laszlo Polgar
This week's mini-episode has two stories and two quotes that all focus on a single theme: Just work.
Source of Arnold Schwarzenegger story: https://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Education-Bodybuilder-Schwarzenegger/dp/0671797484
Source of Jerry Seinfeld story: https://tim.blog/2020/12/08/jerry-seinfeld/
All my endnotes on Philip II of Macedon, including:
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Who was greater, Philip or Alexander?
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Why Athens really took over the world
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Other ways to take over the world.
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Why being Philip would have been a lot of fun.
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Shout out to my main source for the Philip episodes: Philip and Alexander by Adrian Goldsworthy
(Sorry about the faint scratching noise in the background, I'm on the road and not in my usual home studio.)
Philip II of Macedon is best known as the father of Alexander the Great. But was he an even greater conqueror than his more famous son? On this episode, we explore the life and lessons of one of the greatest conquerors and statesmen of all time.
This episode is brought to you by Taft. Go to TaftClothing.com and use the discount code HowTo10 for 10% off your order.
Mansa Musa was possibly the richest man of all time, but there was something that mattered much more to him. Find out what it was and how he achieved it, on this episode of How to Take Over the World.
Special thanks to research assistant Jack Jowers.
This episode is brought to you by Taft. Go to TaftClothing.com and use the discount code HowTo10 for 10% off your order.
Slave. Runaway. Abolitionist. Orator. Statesman. Legend.
On this episode, we explore how Frederick Douglass was able to go from the most challenging of beginnings to playing an integral role in the abolition of slavery in The United States.
A short anecdote about the greatest poet of all time, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and why some people might accidentally learn the wrong lesson from his life.
For more updates and information, find the podcast on Instagram at @HTTOTW or visit HTTOTW.com.
Thanks you to our sponsors at Taft. To support the show, go to Taft.com and use code HOWTO10.
All of my Edison notes that didn't make it into Part 1 & Part 2, including:
- Edison vs. Tesla
- Edison vs. Elon Musk
- Puritanism and Edison
- How Edison Went Deaf (Maybe)
Sources:
Edison by Edmund Morris
The Wizard of Menlo Park by Randall Stross
The Thomas A Edison Papers - Rutgers University
Empires of Light by Jill Jonnes
How did Thomas Edison rise from obscure origins in a frontier town in Michigan to become the most famous man of his age and one of the greatest inventors of all time? In part 2, we cover Edison's life from his invention of the light bulb to his death.
Sources:
Edison by Edmund Morris
The Wizard of Menlo Park by Randall Stross
The Thomas A Edison Papers - Rutgers University
Empires of Light by Jill Jonnes
How did Thomas Edison rise from obscure origins in a frontier town in Michigan to become the most famous man of his age and one of the greatest inventors of all time? In part 1, we cover Edison's life from his birth up through his invention of the phonograph.
Sources:
Edison by Edmund Morris
The Wizard of Menlo Park by Randall Stross
The Thomas A Edison Papers - Rutgers University
Empires of Light by Jill Jonnes
How did a German girl from a family of little note become one of the most powerful people in the world and one of the greatest rulers in Russian history?
On this mini-episode, we explore the life of Catherine the Great and the attributes that defined her life: Ambition and Adaptability.
Want to get in touch? Follow me on Instagram at @HTTOTW or email me at Ben@HTTOTW.com
This is the first-ever HTTOTW short. These 3-minute in-between-isodes will run during weeks when there isn't a new full episode. This is in addition to the regular length episodes, and these will not distract from or delay new full-length episodes.
This week's short features three stories from the life of Steve Jobs.
Let me know what you think of the new format by emailing Ben@HTTOTW.com.
How did the Rothschilds go from a poor family inhabiting a part-share of a home in a Jewish ghetto to the richest family of all time in less than 50 years? Listen to how they reach their zenith, and what has happened to the family since then.
How did the Rothschilds go from a poor family inhabiting a part-share of a home in a Jewish ghetto to the richest family of all time in less than 50 years? Listen to how their story begins on How to Take Over the World.
Julius Caesar wraps up his conquest of Gaul and is forced to make the most crucial decision of his life.
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In Gaul, Julius Caesar gives a master class on how to demonstrate leadership and cultivate trust when you are tasked with leading a new team in a new environment.
In the first episode on the life of Julius Caesar, I analyze his rise and some of the fundamental character attributes that made him great, analyze some of the ways Caesar was like Steve Jobs and Napoleon, and look at his political strategies.
A big thank you to my sources, the biggest of which were Julius Caesar by Philip Freeman and Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy.
In the second episode on the life of Vladimir Putin, I analyze his communication strategy, his vast wealth and why it doesn't matter, and the possibility that Putin orchestrated multiple false flag terrorist attacks within Russia.
Once again my main sources for this episode are "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin" by Steven Lee Myers and "The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin" by Masha Gessen.
Vladimir Putin: Modern day czar, KGB man, billionaire, reformer, murderer. In part 1, we examine his rise to power. Tune in next Thursday for part 2.
The second episode on Steve Jobs explores his comeback and extremely successful second act. Again looking at his life, strategies, tactics, work habits, leadership style, and more.
As always, go to HTTOTW.com to see more of my writing, learn more about the podcast, or sign up for my newsletter. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at @HTTOTW.
Today we're talking about Steve Jobs, the innovator, businessman, and technologist who has arguably shaped our world in the 21st century more than any other. I explore his life, strategies, tactics, work habits, leadership style, and more.
As always, go to HTTOTW.com to see more of my writing, learn more about the podcast, or sign up for my newsletter. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at @HTTOTW.
Today we're talking about Napoleon Bonaparte, the French general, reformer, innovator, and emperor. I explore his life, strategies, tactics, work habits, leadership style, and more.
As always, go to HTTOTW.com to see more of my writing, learn more about the podcast, or sign up for my newsletter. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at @HTTOTW.