Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!In this episode, Joe sits down with Stephen Riggio, former CEO of Barnes & Noble, to uncover the personal journey that led him to translate Sicilian Avengers, an epic historical novel set in 18th-century Sicily. But this is more than a conversation about a book—it's a story of deep roots, personal loss, and a quest to rediscover purpose.Stephen opens up about reconnecting with his Sicilian heritage ...

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!The 41st Chief of Staff of the Army invites Joe to the Pentagon for a discussion on innovation, leadership, and the continuous transformation needed to keep the Army at the forefront of modern warfare. General George shares insights from his recent experiences leading the Army through complex changes, touching on battlefield innovation, training at combat training centers, and how leaders at every level...

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!Joe McCormack returns to the show to discuss his newest book: Quiet Works: Making Silence the Secret Ingredient of the Workday . Together, Joe and Joe explore how quiet time enhances leadership, reduces distractions, and improves communication. They share insights on managing workplace noise, the balance between collaboration and focus, and practical strategies to help leaders and teams achieve cla...

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!In this episode, Joe welcomes Chase Jarvis, a creative powerhouse, entrepreneur, and author of Never Play It Safe. Chase shares how his own journey, from professional soccer aspirations to becoming a world-renowned photographer, taught him that real growth happens on the other side of fear. Together, they dive into actionable strategies for reclaiming creativity, focusing your attention, and leveraging ...

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!Joe Byerly welcomes back Jack Carr, former Navy SEAL and bestselling author to discuss his first nonfiction work, Targeted Beirut, which explores the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, a pivotal moment in U.S. military history and the War on Terror. Together, they discuss the strategic missteps, the human toll of national security decisions, and the lessons that remain relevant for military leaders today. Ja...

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!Erin Wade, founder and former CEO of Homeroom, a mac-and-cheese restaurant in Oakland, to discuss her latest book: The Mac and Cheese Millionaire: Building a Better Business by Thinking Outside the Box and her journey from being an unfulfilled attorney to a successful entrepreneur. Erin opens up about the lessons learned while building a company culture that balances freedom with structure, and how she ...

Send us a textOn June 17, 2020, while deployed to Afghanistan, Jacob Cool was woken at 2 a.m. with the devastating news of his 16-year-old son’s sudden death due to an undiagnosed heart condition. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Jacob grappled with the overwhelming pain and questioned his own will to live, reflecting on how he avoided becoming another military suicide statistic. Through deep reflection, he uncovered the strength of his family's resilience, built long before the tragedy stru...

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!Join Joe as he sits down with Silicon Valley legend Guy Kawasaki, author of Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference. In this episode, they dive into what it truly means to “Do Good Shit” and how to make a lasting impact on the world. Guy shares insights from his remarkable career and discusses key themes including:Embracing vulnerability and the power it brings to personal...

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear! General Scott Miller, U.S. Army Retired, returns to the show to reflect on a storied career spanning nearly four decades, offering candid insights on the key moments that shaped his leadership. In this episode, Joe and General Miller dive deep into foundational experiences that forged Miller’s approach to command, sharing valuable lessons that apply whether you're leading in the military or the corpora...

Send us a Text Message.Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life joins Joe to dive into the transformative power of asking quality questions and how this simple yet powerful practice can unlock hidden wisdom within any organization. In this episode, Joe and Jeff discuss:The reasons why people don't share what's really on their mindsBarriers to communication in organizationsJeff introduces the ASK appro...

Send us a Text Message.Laird Hamilton, a legend in the world of surfing joins Joe to provide a unique perspective on how to push boundaries, overcome fears, and find joy in the challenges life throws our way. In this episode, Joe and Laird discuss:Growth Through Adversity: Laird discusses how facing and overcoming challenges has shaped his life and career.Mental and Physical Preparation: The importance of rigorous training and mental fortitude in tackling big waves and life's obstacles.Leader...

Will Bowen, author of A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted joins Joe to discuss the negative impact of complaining on our perception of the world. They also explore how making a conscious effort to quit complaining can significantly improve our lives. In this episode, Joe and Will dive into the following topics:How the 21-Day Complaint Free challenge worksThe social reasons why people actually complainThe difference between processing a...

Former Navy SEAL and New York Times bestselling author, Jack Carr, joins Joe for a powerful discussion ahead of the release of his 7th book in The Terminal List series, Red Sky Mourning. They explore the following:Why leaders need to be readers The perfect way to gift a bookTransitioning from the militaryThe importance of values in decision-makingFinding your purposeHow Jack became a writerand much more!!From a young age, Jack Carr had two dreams: serving his country in uniform as a Navy...

Former World Series of Poker Champion and best-selling author, Annie Duke, returns to the show to discuss the concepts from her book, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away. Annie shares insights on how grit, often celebrated as a virtue, can also lead to sticking with paths that no longer serve us. Joe and Annie draw parallels to other high-profile figures like Jerry Seinfeld and Will Smith, who chose to step down from projects at the pinnacle of their careers. They also di...

Former World Series of Poker Champion and best-selling author, Annie Duke, joins Joe to share her journey from studying cognitive science to becoming a poker legend, and how this experience led her to explore the cognitive underpinnings of decision-making in everyday life.Joe and Annie explore the fundamental concepts from her book, Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts, and discuss how treating life’s decisions as bets can significantly improve how we n...

Colin Stevens, author of Make Your Mark: Lessons from Legends for a Life of Fulfillment and Impact, joins the show to share his inspiring story of chasing a dream that didn't pan out the way he thought it would and the lessons he's learned along the way. Joe and Colin talk about the following topics:The importance of self-belief for achieving success Why we should study the "full game" over the "highlight reel". Leadership through transparency and ownin...

Dr. Amishi Jha joins Joe to discuss her book, Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day . Amishi sheds light on the complexities of the brain's attention system to help us understand how we can navigate and enhance our focus in stressful and demanding jobs. In this episode Joe and Amishi discuss: How our attention shapes everything from emotions to relationships Challenges in maintaining attention in an information-saturated ageHow the attention system ...

Dr. Michael Norton joins Joe to discuss his new book, The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions.  In this episode, Joe and Dr. Norton explore the hidden power of rituals in our daily lives. Highlights from this episode include: Understanding the powerful impact of rituals The difference between a habit and a ritualHow to find and examine our own personal rituals The role of rituals in transitions (becoming a leader, returning from combat,...

Lieutenant General Christopher Donahue returns to the show to continue his previous conversation with Joe on culture and leadership. In this episode, they discuss: What LTG Donahue has learned since his last appearance on the podcastHow the culture of the 82nd Airborne Division held up during the evacuation of AfghanistanFour reasons leaders need to focus on physical fitnessThe importance of innovation in today's ArmyWhat LTG Donahue is reading right nowTips for successful...

The 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy A. George makes his first appearance on the podcast for a great discussion about leadership, his vision, and the lessons he's learned over the course of his four-decade career. General George and Joe cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing topics including: Encouraging professional discourseWhy leaders need to ask questionsThe training management program that's in the Chief's crosshairsWhy great leaders are great editorsWhat...

Matt Higgins,  author the Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential  joins Joe and shares his amazing story of escaping poverty and how his "Burn the Boats!" philosophy has guided his life. Joe and Matt also discuss: Changing our relationship with imposter syndromeAdopting a "burn the boats" mindset in various contexts, including the military, entrepreneurship, and personal challenges.Role of authenticity in leadership positionsDealing with anxiety and the pressure...

Author Steven Pressfield returns for his 3rd appearance on the show to discuss his latest book The Daily Pressfield . In this episode, Joe and Steve talk about: How small, daily passages can change our livesThe power of answering your calling and the potential consequences of ignoring this internal pullHow to face and overcome Resistance, the force that inevitably shows up whenever we try to improve our livesWhat happens when our inner and outer worlds come into alignmentStrategies to combat...

Army Colonel Dave Butler joins Joe to discuss communication for leaders in today's information environment. This episode is a must-listen for leaders at all levels because Dave and Joe tackle the delicate dance military leaders must perform on social media, navigating the fine line between engagement and overexposure. Dave and Joe also discuss: The pitfalls of social media engagementWhy senior military leaders have glass jawsWhat to do if internal memos and emails spill into the public...

International Bestselling author Terry Hayes joins Joe to discuss his remarkable career(s) and how they prepared him to write  I Am Pilgrim and The Year of the Locust. Terry and Joe also talk about: Terry's decision to leave Hollywood to write novelsFighting through self-doubt Being ready for the difficulties when pursuing your callingHow Terry leveraged his subconscious when stuck while working on a scene with Mel GibsonFocusing on the task at hand instead of getting overwhelmed by the big...