12 Geniuses Podcast

When it comes to pushing through and achieving the unimaginable, our minds will give out well before our bodies. The question is: can you control the mind and overcome the doubts that it produces? After losing his leg in a motorcycle accident, Sam Maddaus made a decision few people would consider and even fewer would attempt: he set out alone to ride a bicycle 16,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska...

In a world of constant disruption, resilience is a superpower. In a world of convenience, ease, and growing abundance, building resilience is becoming increasingly difficult - especially among children. Grit, determination, tenacity, and resolve are valued traits, but too few parents know how to build these characteristics in their children through the “ordinary magic” of childhood. Brandon Webb i...

Imagine a world where the meetings people are required to attend are cut by 90% or more. Instead, leaders are able to spend more time doing higher value work connecting with other people while their “identic” selves go to meetings and do other work on their behalf. Instead of 24 hours in a day, each person can have a limitless number of AI digital twins representing them. Productivity could explod...

In a world where technology is advancing faster than many people can comprehend, anxiety and uncertainty are becoming part of the human experience. Breakthroughs in generative AI, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies are transforming how we live, work, and govern ourselves faster than institutions and individuals can adapt. In this episode, global ethics expert Dr. Andrea Bonime-Blanc ex...

Dr. Ben Zweig joins the podcast from NYU’s Stern School of Business to discuss what is wrong with the world of work and how to fix it. Ben is the author of the book “Job Architecture: Building a Language for Workforce Intelligence,” professor of Economics, and CEO of Revelio Labs.  In this conversation, Ben discusses the challenges created when a new employee finds out after working a few mon...

For 50 years, Bob Chapman was CEO of Barry-Wehmiller until his retirement in 2025. Bob’s approach to organizational culture is unique and inspiring. He believes the workplace should be a source of dignity that enables every team member to flourish. This approach is the subject of Bob’s book “Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Treating Your People Like Family” and the ethos behind Barry-...

Sébastien Page is Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of “ The Psychology of Leadership .” In this interview, Sébastien discusses what he has learned about sports psychology that applies to leading in the corporate environment and in the management of $500B in assets at T. Rowe Price. The conversation continues as Sébastien dives into the psychological principles that distinguish...

One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history.  In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why...

Parenting today often feels like an uphill battle, with technology invading every corner of our kids’ lives. From the rise of social media addiction to the growing mental health crisis among children and teens, parents are grappling with how they can create a healthy, balanced relationship with technology for their kids. In this interview, Dr. Jean Twenge draws on her decades as a psychologist stu...

Most people have an understanding of just how devastating social media and unrestrained access to technology have been to teens and young adults. What’s less understood is what the next threat is going to be to young people and their mental health. Evidence is mounting that it’s likely to be artificial intelligence and the very strange relationships people are starting to create with AI companions...

Living and working in groups is both a blessing and a curse. Too often, groups are in the news for all the wrong reasons: conformity, polarization, prejudice, conflict, and general mass stupidity. The secret is understanding how to work with the invisible forces of group dynamics instead of being mindlessly pushed around by them. In this interview, Dr. Colin Fisher shares his research on what lead...

To have liberated lives, people often need to overcome past narratives, survivor's remorse, fear, the inability to forgive, and a host of other barriers. These barriers can be “hidden prisons,” according to Shaka Senghor - the author of “How to Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life’s Hidden Prisons.” Shaka knows about prisons - the hidden ones and the ones with locks, walls, and bars. He spent...

Getting people to voluntarily share their best information and act in the best interest of their team are two of the biggest challenges leaders face. In an insecure economy, it can be more difficult to get people on a team to demonstrate prosocial behavior, however, Dr. Vanessa Druskat’s research proves that emotionally intelligent teams that are supportive of each other - by listening deeply, off...

Tien Tzuo has been at the epicenter of Silicon Valley innovation for three and a half decades. In 1990, Tien was hired by Oracle. Eight years later, he joined Salesforce as employee #11. In 2007, he co-founded Zuora, a company he has been running since its creation. Tien and his team grew Zuora from an idea to a company that was valued at $1.5B when it was acquired in early 2025. In this interview...

There is a theory that humanity is on the precipice of abundance. But what exactly is abundance? Speaker and author Chad Sanschagrin says that abundance is often confused with things or money. He describes abundance as “more than enough” - love, health, faith, and contribution. In the full interview, Chad shares his definition of abundance and the most common barriers that prevent people from expe...

It’s clear that artificial intelligence is going to be one of the most powerful forces shaping the future of humanity and the planet today and over the next two decades. Much of the AI discourse is negative or dystopian themed. Far too little AI news is highlighting how the planet’s problems and the challenges humans face can be solved. In this conversation, futurist Jack Uldrich paints a picture...

Achieving peak performance is something athletes strive to attain and getting that peak performance to coalesce is the goal for coaches, managers, and trainers leading teams in pursuit of victory. As sports psychologist Simon Hartley says, getting elite athletes to perform up to their potential is more about the mind than it is the body. In this conversation, Simon Hartley - author of “Master Ment...

Why do people make it so difficult on themselves to achieve their goals and pursue happiness? Why do people “attach” themselves to unhealthy things that hold them back or hold them down? These attachments vary widely, ranging from attachments to the past or future, control or perfection, and success or pleasure. In this interview, Dr. Bob Rosen says the secret to letting go of the attachments hold...

In a world where technology is doing more work for humans, the connections we create with other people will become more important than ever. But for many people, phones and screens are the main ways they see the world and communicate with others. The question is how can we cultivate relationships - through a screen or in real life - that are fulfilling and will help us reach our goals. In this int...

Each day, more than 10,000 Baby Boomers in America turn 65…and it’s been happening for years. By 2034, there will be more Americans over the age of 65 than under the age of 18. It’s unprecedented. How those Baby Boomers continue to participate in society will be an overwhelming factor in what kind of country and world younger generations inherit. An aging population is not just an American phenome...

The United States is deeply divided politically and it’s not the only country experiencing this challenge. Too many people are focused on what makes us different rather than taking the time to understand what we have in common. In this interview, Doug Lennick, CEO of Think2Perform, discusses what he has learned from Think2Perform’s global study on personal values. Hundreds of thousands of people f...

The future can be a terrifying, anxiety-inducing destination for many people. Thoughts of robots running amok, out-of-control AI, and a speed of life that is beyond comprehension are often ways in which the future is described. That doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, the future doesn’t have to be something that happens to people. The future can be created. That’s the position of Dr. Bertalan Me...

Magical technologies surround humans in the developed world. It’s taken for granted that on-demand electricity, stocked grocery stores with food from around the world, communication that enables anyone with a smart phone to broadcast their lives globally, and various modes of safe, cheap transportation are the norm. Someone living just a century earlier would find today’s world unrecognizable. Yet...

Humanity has a dangerous flaw. Despite the amazing progress we've made eradicating diseases, extending life, creating safe and often fulfilling workplaces, and developing a wide variety of magical machines, humans still fight wars, hate irrationally, and create groups of others who are intentionally marginalized. Our big brains have helped us create incredible tools and marvelous works of art. Sti...

Marshall Goldsmith has been one of the world’s leading executive coaches for years. He has helped CEOs all over the world become better leaders and his books on leadership have sold millions of copies. The problem is that Marshall’s time is limited and he is very expensive. To solve this problem, Marshall has been trying to give away everything he has learned about leadership and coaching for free...