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 France. We explore the remarkable transformation of a young, ambitious artillery officer into a master strategist and charismatic leader. We uncover Napoleon's strategies, tactics, work habits, and leadership ... Show More
Jul 3
Thomas Jefferson (Part 1)
How did Thomas Jefferson overcome failure after failure to become the most significant politician of the early American Republic? On this episode we examine his habits, tactics, approach, and life up until his service in the Washington administration. 00:00 The Misunderstood Pres ... Show More
52m 56s
Oct 2023
382. Young Napoleon: Teenage Revolutionary (Part 1)
“I would plunge the avenging dagger, up to the hilt, in the breast of the tyrant!”Born in Corsica a year after the island was given to France by the Genoese, Napoleon Bonaparte grew up in a world of political and civil unrest. His father had close ties with the leader of the Cors ... Show More
48m 20s
Nov 2023
Vive la révolution, Vive L'Empereur: The Mixed Legacy of Napoleon (Part I)
This week we had our long time comrade and resident France expert, Matthew, back on the show to talk about the mixed legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte. Was Napoleon a force for progress or the death of the revolution? The answer is yes. Revolutionary Figures: Napoleon Bonaparte https: ... Show More
57m 57s
Nov 2023
383. Young Napoleon: The Shadow of the Guillotine (Part 2)
Within the turmoil of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte stands out to his military superiors, first by defeating the British at Toulon, then by putting down a royalist mob in Paris when outnumbered four to one, with a “whiff of grapeshot”. Having finally shaken off the hu ... Show More
53m 52s
Mar 2022
World Conquerors: Napoleon Pt. 1
As a young Corsican boy, Napoleon dreamed of his island’s independence from France. But by the time he reached 30 years old, with a military career inspired by the likes of Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great, he was a hero of France — and one of the country's most powerful men ... Show More
45m 43s