How to Take Over the World
Episodes
Andrew Carnegie (Part 2)
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Carnegie names his price. J.P. Morgan accepts. In a single moment, a poor Scottish immigrant becomes the richest man in the world. But that is ...
Andrew Carnegie (Part 1)
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The rise of Andrew Carnegie from a poor Scottish weaver's boy to becoming an American millionaire.00:00 Introduction 03:00 Carnegie's Early Life and ...
Ernest Shackleton (Remastered)
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Description This episode explores the extraordinary life of Ernest Shackleton and the impossible challenges he faced at the edge of the world. Throug...
Cleopatra (Part 2)
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latter half of Cleopatra's life, from the death of Caesar until her own death.00:00 Cleopatra's Fall from Power04:15 Meeting Mark Antony11:00 Cleo...
Cleopatra (Part 1)
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cleopatra took over a kingdom, expanded it, captured the heart of the world's most powerful man, and lived one of the most iconic and controversial li...
Lee Kuan Yew (Video Version)
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lee Kuan Yew took a crowded, dirty, poor port town, and turned it into one of the world's great cities. How was he able to lead such an incredible tra...
Zero to One
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thoughts on Peter Thiel's Zero to One. ----- 00:00 Why this episode 05:15 Horizontal vs. Vertical Progress 09:19 The Importance of Startups and...
Nietzsch and Eternal Recurrence (Part 3)
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy on how to live a life worthy of eternity. It delves into Nietzsche's concept of eternal recurre...
Nietzsche and the Superhuman (Part 2)
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of Nietzsche's life, and his teachings about the superhuman (ubermensch) the last man, and the will to power. 00:00 Nietzsche's Radic...
Friedrich Nietzsche
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode covers the first half of Friedrich Nietzsche's life, his concept "the death of God" and master vs slave morality. 00:00 - Nietzsche's Ra...
Arminius: The Man Who Defeated Rome
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For centuries, Rome grew unchecked, until one man was able to reverse their fortunes, and free his country. On this episode, we take a look at the sto...
Roger Federer
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is Roger Federer the greatest tennis player of all time? Despite not being the winningest player, many people make exactly that argument. What is it a...
Lord of the Rings
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is an episode of Becoming the Main Character, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts. ---- Sponsors: - The Classical...
Scipio Africanus (with Alex Petkas)
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Petkas joins to discuss the great Roman general Scipio Africanus, his relationship with Hannibal, his strategic military victories, and his legac...
Joan of Arc
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How Joan of Arc went from a small peasant girl to determining the fate of nations, and what it tells us about the power of belief. 0:00 Was Joan a...
Thomas Jefferson (Part 2)
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jefferson rebounds from his disastrous and governorship and personal loss to create a political legacy that would define a nation. 00:00 Introductio...
Thomas Jefferson (Part 1)
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How did Thomas Jefferson overcome failure after failure to become the most significant politician of the early American Republic? On this episode we e...
Rome's Revenge: Hannibal Part 2
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hannibal Barca was Rome's greatest enemy. What was it about his strategies and leadership style that allowed him to haunt Romans' nightmares for centu...
The Rise of Hannibal (Part 1)
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hannibal Barca was Rome's greatest enemy. What was it about his strategies and leadership style that allowed him to haunt Romans' nightmares for centu...
JS Bach
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the great composers of all time. What stands out is not only how great his music is, but how much of it he wrote. On t...
The Gangster Philosopher: Francois de la Rochefoucauld
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Francois de la Rochefoucauld, was an infamous aristocrat who was always scheming, seducing, and fighting. He was equally infamous as a philosopher, a ...
“You Couldn’t Pay Me to Stop” — David Senra on Obsession and Great Founders
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Senra of the Founders podcast joins to discuss the most important attributes of great founders, how to find purpose, whether chicken fingers is ...
How To Be More High Agency & A Political Plan for Taking Over the World (Free Preview)
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this premium subscriber I talk about how to be more high agency, including how to frame problems, design solutions, and take action. Then I talk a...
Jesus Revisited
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jesus of Nazareth was the son of a carpenter. He never traveled further than 150 miles from his home in his adult life. So how did the movement he fou...
Edwin Land (Polaroid Founder)
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Polaroid founder Edwin Land is one of the most innovative inventors to have ever lived. Steve Jobs considered him one of his greatest heroes. On this ...
From Orphan to Icon: The Life and Legacy of Coco Chanel
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite an incredibly challenging childhood, Coco Chanel revolutionized women's fashion. The episode delves into her humble beginnings, her rise to fa...
Donald Trump
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump: real estate mogul, master marketer, and the most polarizing figure of our time. How did he go from a brash young developer in Manhattan ...
Captain Cook
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Captain Cook was one of the greatest explorers of all time. And he also lived on of the most adventurous, exciting lives ever. On this episode we brea...
Niccolo Machiavelli
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The name of Machiavelli is synonymous with deceit, oppression, atrocity, and naked power. But his legacy is much more complicated than that. His think...
Top 10 Lessons from 100 Episodes of How to Take Over the World
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Top lessons from 100 lessons of How to Take Over the World and more than 100 biographies on the great leaders of history. Wright's Law Great Leaders...
Isaac Newton
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Isaac Newton was one of the great geniuses in human history. He established the basic laws of physics, discovered the laws of gravity, invented calcul...
Charlemagne
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charlemagne was a king, emperor, conqueror, reformer, and the father of a united Europe. On this episode we look at how he forged the Holy Roman Empir...
Lee Kuan Yew
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lee Kuan Yew took a crowded, dirty, poor port town, and turned it into one of the world's great cities. How was he able to lead such an incredible tra...
John Williams: The Greatest Film Composer of All Time
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Williams is the brilliant composer behind film scores like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Schi...
Augustus Endnotes and Gladiator II Review
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My takeaways and endnotes from the life of Augustus Caesar. Plus a conversation with Alex Petkas, and a review of Gladiator II! ---- Come join us at t...
Augustus
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does one go about creating the Roman Empire? That is exactly what Caesar Augustus did, and on this episode, we dive into the strategies, tactics, ...
Dracula (Vlad the Impaler)
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who was Vlad Dracula, and how did he go from Romanian ruler to blood-sucking monster? On this episode we dive into the strategies and tactics that Dra...
The Rise and Fall of Rasputin: Savior or Sorcerer?
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did Grigory Rasputin become a close personal advisor to one of the most powerful people on earth, despite having no education, no money, and no ac...
How Christianity Took Over the World
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What was it about Christianity that allowed it to grow from a few dozen believers to a global religion with billions of adherents? On this episode, we...
Constantine the Great
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Constantine the Great united the Roman empire, founded one of the world's great cities, oversaw the creation of Christianity's most famous creed, and ...
Peter (Free Preview)
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Peter was Jesus's top guy. But he also denied him three times, and constantly got in trouble for misunderstanding Jesus's message. In this episo...
Jesus
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jesus of Nazareth was the son of a carpenter. He never traveled further than 150 miles from his home in his adult life. So how did the movement he fou...
The Greatest Coach of All Time: John Wooden
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The story of how John Wooden won ten national championships on the way to becoming the greatest coach of all time. ----- Sponsors: Vesto Gains In Bulk...
Nike Founder Phil Knight
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The story of how Phil Knight founded one of the great companies - and brands - of all time. ----- Sponsors: HTTOTW Event Founders Podcast Particl - U...
Michael Jordan
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something, but I can't accept not trying. I can't accept it." Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketbal...
Running Legend Steve Prefontaine
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful. When I run, I like to make people stop an...
Picasso
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"When I was a child, my mother said to me, If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the pope. Instead, I wa...
The Secret of the American Revolution
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this mini-episode, I talk about my combined takeaways from the founding father of the United States - Franklin, Hamilton, and Washington - and what...
The Franklin Guide (Free Preview)
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Topics on the Franklin Guide to taking over the world include: How to convince someone of your viewpoint Why Franklin almost started a swimming scho...
Benjamin Franklin
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Benjamin Franklin was one of the greatest scientists, writers, diplomats, and statesmen of all time. How does one man accomplish so much in one life? ...
The Hamilton Guide to Taking Over the World (preview)
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ten-step guide to being Alexander Hamilton. In the endnotes section, I also discuss: My review of Hamilton the Musical (👎🏻👎🏻) Wheth...
The Legacy of Alexander Hamilton (Part 2)
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alexander Hamilton was the greatest and most indispensable of the American founding fathers. On this episode we see how he made such lasting contribut...
The Rise of Alexander Hamilton (Part 1)
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alexander Hamilton was the greatest and most indispensable of the American founding fathers. (At least that's my contention). On this episode, I begin...
Washington vs Cato with Alex Petkas
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation with Alex Petkas of the Cost of Glory podcast, we talk about one of Washington's great inspirations in life: Cato The Younger. We...
The Washington Guide to Taking Over the World (Free Preview)
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What was the key to George Washington's success that made him such a beloved president and leader? On this subscriber-only episode, we dive deeper in...
President George Washington (Part 3)
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did George Washington shape the future of the United States of America as its first president? In this episode, we examine his presidency, his pos...
George Washington: Revolutionary General (Part 2)
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
George Washington is one of the most celebrated and beloved leaders of all time. What was it about Washington that made him such an effective leader? ...
The Making of George Washington
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
George Washington is one of the most celebrated and beloved leaders of all time. What was it about Washington that made him such an effective leader? ...
The Shackleton Guide to Taking Over the World (Free Preview)
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What was the key to Ernest Shackleton's success that made him "the greatest leader that ever came on God's earth - bar none?" On this subscriber-only...
Ernest Shackleton: Enduring The Impossible
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Ernest Shackleton's ship is trapped in Antarctic ice, he and his crew must figure out how to survive and make their way home. On this episode, we...
Ask Me Anything + Dune 2 Review (Free Preview)
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AMA #1 - I answer questions about obsession vs discipline, where my intro music came from, who is coming up next on the podcast, and more. At the end ...
The Caesar Guide to Taking Over the World
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is Julius Caesar one of the greatest men to have ever lived? What made him so remarkable? And how was he able to accomplish what he did? We unpack...
Arnold Schwarzenegger Endnotes (Free Preview)
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did Arnold Schwarzenegger train? What was his approach to failure? Why did he just make things up during interviews? Find out on this endnotes epi...
Arnold Schwarzenegger
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bodybuilder. Actor. Governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger has managed to make his way to the top of three wildly different games. On this episode, we outlin...
How to Start a Country (Network State Review)
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Want to take over the world? Well, how about we start with a country? On today's episode I review Balaji Srinivasan's The Network State where he expla...
John D Rockefeller - Endnotes (Free Preview)
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Was John Rockefeller a good man or a bad one? What did he do after he retired? How do his charitable contributions affect us to this day? Find out on ...
John D Rockefeller
25 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did John D Rockefeller become the richest man of all time, and leverage that wealth into unparalleled influence? On this episode, we trace his ris...
MrBeast Endnotes (Free Preview)
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More of my takeaways about obsession, cloning yourself, keeping a schedule, and more. --- New Website: TakeOverPod.com Talk with Ben Ask a questi...
MrBeast (Interview)
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To watch this episode on YouTube, tap here: https://youtu.be/xlwwhAeknkA ----- MrBeast joins the podcast to discuss how he trains and manages his emp...
Napoleon Endnotes (Free Preview)
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this endnotes episode, I cover Napoleon's psychology, his leadership style, his love life, his children, why France accepted an emperor so soon aft...
The Reign and Ruin of Napoleon
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 covers the reign and eventual fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, starting shortly after his crowning as emperor, tracing his victories over his enemie...
The Rise of Napoleon
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 1 covers the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, tracing his journey from a modest beginning on the island of Corsica to his coronation as the Emperor of...
Napoleon Movie Review
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My review of the Ridley Scott directed movie, Napoleon. I go through what I liked and didn't like, some of the historical inaccuracies, and how the mo...
Rasputin
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE (AND ALL FUTURE BONUS CONTENT) SUBSCRIBE HERE --- Takeoverpod.supercast.com ----- The mysterious life of Grigory Rasputin, th...
Wright Brothers Endnotes
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE (AND ALL FUTURE BONUS CONTENT) SUBSCRIBE HERE --- Takeoverpod.supercast.com ----- Topics Covered: - Catherine Wright - The ti...
Wright Brothers (Part 2)
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 covers the the triumph of the Wright Brothers, and how achieved human flight for the first time - and popularized it. Sponsors: Premium Feed - ...
Wright Brothers (Part 1)
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 1 covers the the rise of the Wright Brothers, and how they went from frontier bicycle salesmen to aviation researchers. This episode covers some ...
Genghis Khan Endnotes
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE (AND ALL FUTURE BONUS CONTENT) SUBSCRIBE HERE --- Takeoverpod.supercast.com ----- Topics Covered: - Mongol invasion of Europe...
Genghis Khan (Part 2)
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 covers the creation Genghis Khan's empire. It dives deeper into how he led, the strategies he used to win his battles, how he consolidated his ...
Genghis Khan (Part 1)
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 1 covers the awe-inspiring ascent of Genghis Khan, the legendary conqueror. Discover how he overcame adversity to become a unifying force among f...
Oppenheimer: Movie Review + Endnotes
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What did the movie Oppenheimer get right? What was historically inaccurate? Did they manage to capture the true spirit of all the characters involved?...
Oppenheimer
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the true story behind the father of the atomic bomb. This episode explores not only his groundbreaking achievements as the inventor of the nucle...
Britain's Greatest Hero: Horatio Nelson (Episode 2)
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Admiral Horatio Nelson's achievements and victories, including The Battle of Copenhagen and the battle of Trafalgar. --- Sponsors: LinkedHacker.com/Be...
Britain's Greatest Hero: Horatio Nelson (Episode 1)
01 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ba...
Mini-Episode: Quid Non and Bloom's Two Sigma Problem
17 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Probl...
Steve Jobs (Part 3)
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My notes and takeaways from Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words. ----- Sponsors: Founders Podcast Upside Jobs
Leonardo Da Vinci (Endnotes)
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of the life of Leonardo Da Vinci - artist, inventor, scientist, writer, playwright, and genius. --- Sources: Leonardo Da Vinci by Walt...
Leonardo Da Vinci (Part 2)
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of the life of Leonardo Da Vinci - artist, inventor, scientist, writer, playwright, and genius. --- Sources: Leonardo Da Vinci by Walt...
Leonardo Da Vinci (Part 1)
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The early life and career of Leonardo Da Vinci - artist, inventor, scientist, writer, playwright, and genius. --- Sources: Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter...
William Randolph Hearst (Part 2)
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The rise of Williams Randolph Hearst as a politician, the expansion of his media empire, the creation of Hearst Castle, and more. --- Speak Lead Retre...
William Randolph Hearst (Part 1)
11 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The rise of Williams Randolph Hearst, founder of the Hearst Corporation and the first media magnate. --- To consult with Ben, click here To listen to ...
A Conversation with Alex Petkas of The Cost of Glory
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hey everyone - next week I'll be back with a normal episode but in the mean time please enjoy this conversation with Alex Petkas about the power of bi...
Joan of Arc (Part 2)
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 y...
Joan of Arc (Part 1)
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Sulla (Part 1 from The Cost of Glory)
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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://an...
Brigham Young (Part 3) - Interview with John Turner
04 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with Dr. John Turner, professor at George Mason University and biographer of Brigham Young, about his legacy, what made him so special, a...
Brigham Young (Part 2)
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ou...
Elizabeth II
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 sell...
Brigham Young (Part 1)
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ti...
Vladimir Putin Part 1 (Updated)
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...