Episodes

  • This is part one of a two-part episode with classicist, Dr. Alex Petkas, a former Classics scholar turned host of the Cost of Glory podcast. Kevin and Alex discuss the remarkable story of Xenophon and the Ten Thousand. In this episode, both men discuss the background to the story, the nature of Ancient Greeks and Romans, and why their stories matter. Kevin is using Xenophon's story as an example in his upcoming book, "Strength in Chaos."

    Alex holds a PhD in Classics from Princeton University. He taught at the University of California, San Diego, and California State University, Fresno. He has published research on many subjects, including classical Athenian oratory, late ancient rhetoric and education, and epistle writing. His research on the ancient media technologies of writing (especially letters) led him to take an active interest in the Classics in modern New Media. His years of experience teaching at Paideia’s Living Greek in Greece program led him to a particular interest in the oral nature of classical texts. His day job is in marketing.

  • This is part one of a two-part episode with classicist, Dr. Alex Petkas, a former Classics scholar turned host of the Cost of Glory podcast. Kevin and Alex discuss the remarkable story of Xenophon and the Ten Thousand. In this episode, both men discuss the background to the story, the nature of Ancient Greeks and Romans, and why their stories matter. Kevin is using Xenophon's story as an example in his upcoming book, Strength in Chaos.

    Alex holds a PhD in Classics from Princeton University. He taught at the University of California, San Diego, and California State University, Fresno. He has published research on many subjects, including classical Athenian oratory, late ancient rhetoric and education, and epistle writing. His research on the ancient media technologies of writing (especially letters) led him to take an active interest in the Classics in modern New Media. His years of experience teaching at Paideia’s Living Greek in Greece program led him to a particular interest in the oral nature of classical texts. His day job is in marketing.

  • Missing episodes?

    Click here to refresh the feed.

  • This is part two of a two-part discussion with internationally renowned expert of Mission Command, Dr. Jörg Muth, author of 'Command Culture' and lecturer for strategic leadership. Kevin and the doctor discuss the intricacies of US and German officer training during WW2. Character versus intellect in hiring? Do the smartest go to the front or to the rear? Who awards initiative versus sacrifice? If you are interested in leader education, you won't want to miss this discussion!

    Kevin praises the book as one of his most important books he uses in his leadership practice. He's not the only one singing Dr. Muth's praises:

    Selected by General Raymond Odierno, 38th Army Chief of Staff, for the U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Professional Reading List, for "The Army Profession," 2012. Selected by Lieutenant General David Morrison, Chief of Army (Australia), for the Chief of Army's Reading List, 2012. Selected by General James F. Amos, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, as required reading for all senior enlisted men and all Majors and Lieutenant Colonels, 2013. Selected by Major General H.R. McMaster at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, for the Leader Development Study Program, 2013. Winner of the Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award, 2012.
  • This is part one of a two-part discussion with internationally renowned expert of Mission Command, Dr. Jörg Muth, author of 'Command Culture' and lecturer for strategic leadership. Kevin and the doctor discuss the intricacies of US and German officer training during WW2. Character versus intellect in hiring? Do the smartest go to the front or to the rear? Who awards initiative versus sacrifice? If you are interested in leader education, you won't want to miss this discussion!

    Kevin praises the book as one of his most important books he uses in his leadership practice. He's not the only one singing Dr. Muth's praises:

    Selected by General Raymond Odierno, 38th Army Chief of Staff, for the U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Professional Reading List, for "The Army Profession," 2012. Selected by Lieutenant General David Morrison, Chief of Army (Australia), for the Chief of Army's Reading List, 2012. Selected by General James F. Amos, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, as required reading for all senior enlisted men and all Majors and Lieutenant Colonels, 2013. Selected by Major General H.R. McMaster at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, for the Leader Development Study Program, 2013. Winner of the Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award, 2012.
  • Kevin interviews the guardian of the George C. Marshall library at VMI. The two discuss Marshall’s legacy along with some interesting facts about the man whom Churchill called the “Architect of Allied Victory.”

    Marshall’s early years in Uniontown, PA and at VMI in Lexington, VA, are covered along with his Army service before and during World War I in the main lobby. The Organizer of Victory exhibit in the west wing focuses on General Marshall’s leadership, including his many innovations and contributions to winning World War II.

    The Soldier of Peace exhibit in the east wing features Marshall’s leadership after World War II. The Nobel Peace Prize he received in 1953 for his contributions to restoring the European economy through the Marshall Plan is on display. It will be another highlight among many during your visit. The lower gallery hosts temporary exhibits from the George C. Marshall Legacy Series.

    Address: 404 VMI Parade, Lexington, VA 24450. Number: 540-463-7103.

    Contact:

    Melissa Davis

    Director of Library and Archives

    540.463.7103 ext. 122

    [email protected]

  • Kevin interviews the guardian of the George C. Marshall library at VMI. The two discuss Marshall’s legacy along with some interesting facts about the man whom Churchill called the “Architect of Allied Victory.”

    Marshall’s early years in Uniontown, PA and at VMI in Lexington, VA, are covered along with his Army service before and during World War I in the main lobby. The Organizer of Victory exhibit in the west wing focuses on General Marshall’s leadership, including his many innovations and contributions to winning World War II.

    The Soldier of Peace exhibit in the east wing features Marshall’s leadership after World War II. The Nobel Peace Prize he received in 1953 for his contributions to restoring the European economy through the Marshall Plan is on display. It will be another highlight among many during your visit. The lower gallery hosts temporary exhibits from the George C. Marshall Legacy Series.

    Address: 404 VMI Parade, Lexington, VA 24450. Number: 540-463-7103.

    Contact:

    Melissa Davis

    Director of Library and Archives
    540.463.7103 ext. 122
    [email protected]

  • In this second of two podcasts, Christoph Lohr interviews Kevin Black in regard to his speaking at the Virginia Military Institute's Center of Leadership and Ethics on October 30-31, 2023. This was Kevin's first time visiting his and Christoph's alma mater in nearly a quarter century. Kevin describes his experiences speaking to cadets from multiple federal academies and other students of leadership across the nation.

  • In this first of two podcasts, Christoph Lohr interviews Kevin Black in regard to his speaking at the Virginia Military Institute's Center of Leadership and Ethics on October 30-31, 2023. This was Kevin's first time visiting his and Christoph's alma mater in nearly a quarter century. Kevin describes his experiences speaking to cadets from multiple federal academies and other students of leadership across the nation.

  • This is an interview with Ben Cleary, author of "Searching for Stonewall Jackson: A Quest for Legacy in a Divided America." Kevin and Ben discuss the famed Confederate general in terms of his military genius and his unique eccentricities.

    Ben is an author, journalist, and teacher. He has written extensively for a variety of media, including print, web, video, and radio. His journalism has aired on All Things Considered and appeared in the New York Times and Richmond’s Style Weekly. His creative biography of Stonewall Jackson is available now from Hachette Book Group.

    Find Ben at https://bencarloscleary.com/

    Find his book at Amazon.com: Searching for Stonewall Jackson: A Quest for Legacy in a Divided America eBook : Cleary, Ben: Kindle Store

  • This is part two of a two-part discussion with Michael F. Schein, the founder and president of MicroFame Media, a marketing agency that specializes in making idea-based companies famous in their fields. Some of his clients have included eBay, Magento, The Medici Group, University of Pennsylvania, Gordon College, University of California Irvine, United Methodist Publishing House, Ricoh, LinkedIn, and Citrix. His writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Inc., Psychology Today, and Huffington Post, and he is a speaker for international audiences spanning from the northeastern United States to the southeastern coast of China. His book The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult Leaders, Mischief Makers, and Boundary Breakers was released by McGraw Hill on January. 12, 2021.

    Find Michael here:

    https://michaelfschein.com/

    https://Microfamemedia.com/

    https://hypereads.com/

  • This is part one of a two-part discussion with Michael F. Schein, the founder and president of MicroFame Media, a marketing agency that specializes in making idea-based companies famous in their fields. Some of his clients have included eBay, Magento, The Medici Group, University of Pennsylvania, Gordon College, University of California Irvine, United Methodist Publishing House, Ricoh, LinkedIn, and Citrix. His writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Inc., Psychology Today, and Huffington Post, and he is a speaker for international audiences spanning from the northeastern United States to the southeastern coast of China. His book The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult Leaders, Mischief Makers, and Boundary Breakers was released by McGraw Hill on January. 12, 2021.

    Find Michael here:

    https://michaelfschein.com/

    https://Microfamemedia.com/

    https://hypereads.com/

  • A brief review of Nolan's Oppenheimer by Kevin Black, leadership and chaos expert, author of upcoming book, Strength in Chaos: A Leader's Guide to Mastering the Uncontrollable.

  • Kevin Black, author of the upcoming book, Strength in Chaos, speaks with fiction author, TS Ransdell, author of the trilogy, The Last Marine (A Dystopian War Novel). Both men recently finished the book, The Boxer Rebellion, by Diana Preston. Kevin and Travis break down the fascinating history in terms of leadership and chaos. In this episode, Travis discusses his work, the background of the Boxers as a spiritual and political movement, the reasons for the siege of Western and Japanese diplomats, and much more. You don't want to miss this episode!

    About TS Ransdell:

    Website: www.tsransdell.com Amazon: Amazon.com: The Last Marine: Book One (A Dystopian War Novel) eBook : Ransdell, T.S.: Kindle Store

    About Kevin's new book:

    www.thechaosbook.com
  • Kevin Black, author of the upcoming book, Strength in Chaos, speaks with fiction author, TS Ransdell, author of the trilogy, The Last Marine (A Dystopian War Novel). Both men recently finished the book, The Boxer Rebellion, by Diana Preston. Kevin and Travis break down the fascinating history in terms of leadership and chaos. This in this episode, Travis discusses his work, the background of the Boxers as a spiritual and political movement, the reasons for the siege of Western and Japanese diplomats, and much more. You don't want to miss this episode!

    About TS Ransdell:

    Website: www.tsransdell.com Amazon: Amazon.com: The Last Marine: Book One (A Dystopian War Novel) eBook : Ransdell, T.S.: Kindle Store

    About Kevin's new book:

    www.thechaosbook.com
  • Kevin Black, author of the upcoming book, Strength in Chaos, speaks with Dr. Michael Vlahos about Hernan Cortes. Join us for this fascinating discussion about military history. Why is Cortes considered a "master of the universe?" Dr. Michael Vlahos is a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs. He is currently a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs, teaching strategy and global net assessment. He is also a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show. Michael Vlahos, PhD is Professor of Strategy at the United States Naval War College. He is the author of Fighting Identity: Sacred War and World Change, a take no prisoners analysis of how war as culture has shaped national identity in the modern world. Vlahos, a graduate of Yale and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, began his career in the Navy and the CIA. Dr. Vlahos was formally a senior staff member of the National Security Assessment team of the National Security Analysis Department (NSAD) at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Dr. Vlahos has worked with anthropologists and Islamic Studies specialists to develop a culture-area concept to help the Defense World better understand and respond operationally to the changing environment of the Muslim World. This concept is developed in his two recent monographs, Terrors; Mask: Insurgency Within Islam (2002), and Culture; Mask: War and Change After Iraq (2004), and his paper Two Enemies: Non-State Actors and Change in the Muslim World.

  • Kevin Black, author of the upcoming book, Strength in Chaos, speaks with Dr. Michael Vlahos about Hernan Cortes. Join us for this fascinating discussion about military history. Why is Cortes considered a "master of the universe?" Dr. Michael Vlahos is a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs. He is currently a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs, teaching strategy and global net assessment. He is also a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show. Michael Vlahos, PhD is Professor of Strategy at the United States Naval War College. He is the author of Fighting Identity: Sacred War and World Change, a take no prisoners analysis of how war as culture has shaped national identity in the modern world. Vlahos, a graduate of Yale and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, began his career in the Navy and the CIA. Dr. Vlahos was formally a senior staff member of the National Security Assessment team of the National Security Analysis Department (NSAD) at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Dr. Vlahos has worked with anthropologists and Islamic Studies specialists to develop a culture-area concept to help the Defense World better understand and respond operationally to the changing environment of the Muslim World. This concept is developed in his two recent monographs, Terrors; Mask: Insurgency Within Islam (2002), and Culture; Mask: War and Change After Iraq (2004), and his paper Two Enemies: Non-State Actors and Change in the Muslim World.

  • Kevin Black, author of the upcoming book, Strength in Chaos, speaks with Dr. Michael Vlahos about Hernan Cortes. Join us for this fascinating discussion about military history. Why is Cortes considered a "master of the universe?" Dr. Michael Vlahos is a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs. He is currently a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs, teaching strategy and global net assessment. He is also a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show. Michael Vlahos, PhD is Professor of Strategy at the United States Naval War College. He is the author of Fighting Identity: Sacred War and World Change, a take no prisoners analysis of how war as culture has shaped national identity in the modern world. Vlahos, a graduate of Yale and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, began his career in the Navy and the CIA. Dr. Vlahos was formally a senior staff member of the National Security Assessment team of the National Security Analysis Department (NSAD) at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Dr. Vlahos has worked with anthropologists and Islamic Studies specialists to develop a culture-area concept to help the Defense World better understand and respond operationally to the changing environment of the Muslim World. This concept is developed in his two recent monographs, Terrors; Mask: Insurgency Within Islam (2002), and Culture; Mask: War and Change After Iraq (2004), and his paper Two Enemies: Non-State Actors and Change in the Muslim World.

  • Kevin Black, author of the upcoming book, Strength in Chaos, speaks with Dr. Michael Vlahos about Hernan Cortes. Join us for this fascinating discussion about military history. Why is Cortes considered a "master of the universe?" Dr. Michael Vlahos is a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs. He is currently a professor at The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs, teaching strategy and global net assessment. He is also a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show. Michael Vlahos, PhD is Professor of Strategy at the United States Naval War College. He is the author of Fighting Identity: Sacred War and World Change, a take no prisoners analysis of how war as culture has shaped national identity in the modern world. Vlahos, a graduate of Yale and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, began his career in the Navy and the CIA. Dr. Vlahos was formally a senior staff member of the National Security Assessment team of the National Security Analysis Department (NSAD) at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Dr. Vlahos has worked with anthropologists and Islamic Studies specialists to develop a culture-area concept to help the Defense World better understand and respond operationally to the changing environment of the Muslim World. This concept is developed in his two recent monographs, Terrors; Mask: Insurgency Within Islam (2002), and Culture; Mask: War and Change After Iraq (2004), and his paper Two Enemies: Non-State Actors and Change in the Muslim World.

  • Black Market Leadership movies and shows from streaming services, like Netflix, Prime, and #Apple, as resources for coaching and developing leaders. This exciting, engaging education is an unconventional, and highly effective model, and it is discussed in Forbes® online, "Leveraging Streaming Services for Leader Development" (8.15.20). This analysis is with David Johnson of the David Johnson Show. We discuss the eight-part series, Wecrashed. Specifically, we address issues of leadership, strategy and chaos. SERIES OVERVIEW. WeCrashed is an American drama streaming television miniseries that premiered on Apple TV+ on March 18, 2022. The series stars Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway as Adam and Rebekah Neumann, the real-life married couple at the heart of WeWork, a coworking space company whose valuation reached $47 billion in 2019 before crashing as a result of financial revelations. The series is based on the podcast WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork by Wondery.

  • Black Market Leadership movies and shows from streaming services, like Netflix, Prime, and #Apple, as resources for coaching and developing leaders. This exciting, engaging education is an unconventional, and highly effective model, and it is discussed in Forbes® online, "Leveraging Streaming Services for Leader Development" (8.15.20). This analysis is with David Johnson of the David Johnson Show. We discuss the eight-part series, Wecrashed. Specifically, we address issues of leadership, strategy and chaos. SERIES OVERVIEW. WeCrashed is an American drama streaming television miniseries that premiered on Apple TV+ on March 18, 2022. The series stars Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway as Adam and Rebekah Neumann, the real-life married couple at the heart of WeWork, a coworking space company whose valuation reached $47 billion in 2019 before crashing as a result of financial revelations. The series is based on the podcast WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork by Wondery.