The Toxic Leader Podcast

Prophet, utopian visionary, fugitive from justice. John Humphrey Noyes was a charismatic leader who promised a life closer to God for those who followed his rules. His followers never seemed to notice those rules applied to everyone but him. Join Johanna and Eli on a journey through the dark underbelly of a Victorian-era sex cult, and experience the tragic combination of Messianic vision with a co...

Johanna and Eli welcome their first ever guest interview to the podcast with Liz Kamins. Liz brings decades of leadership practice and coaching to a discussion on the changing dynamics of the modern workplace, and how organizations are adapting.

Ed Land was a brilliant inventor, securing over 500 patents throughout his life, including the iconic instant camera. His founding of Polaroid in 1939 led him to the heights of success, but his obsession with inventing and refusal to adapt to the market resulted in his downfall in 1982. Polaroid would never recover. Join Johanna and Eli for a fascinating look at a man whose personal genius contras...

In this special episode, Johanna and Eli pause to discuss their own perspectives of toxic leadership based on their experiences. Join our hosts as the explore the elusive definition of toxic leadership and provide personal insights behind their analysis of historical figures. Feel free to share your own in the comment section!

Hero or villain? Whether we remember him as a Nobel Prize winning chemist who doubled the world's food supply, or as the "Father of Chemical Warfare," Fritz Haber was a man of vision. Join me and Dr. Johanna Wolf as we learn more about this complex man and explore the dangers of big visions breaking free of their ethical guardrails.

Soldier. Politician. Spy. Traitor. James Wilkinson may be the perfect toxic leader. Using charm and intrigue, Wilkinson found himself in the middle of many of the key events in early America and sought to enrich himself in the process. Join Eli and Johanna as they explore the fascinating life of this consummate survivor, and the "Dark Triad" of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopath...

Brig Gen Alfred Iverson marched his Confederate Army brigade to disaster on the first day of Gettysburg, July 1st 1863. Like most disasters, it was no fluke. Iverson's history of toxic leadership began years before, and culminated in a terrible, bloody climax that left hundreds dead and wounded. Joint Johanna and Eli to explore what went wrong and how we can avoid being the leader that history...