Leadership Lessons From The Great Books

The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty w/Tom Libby & Jesan Sorrells
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Explore how Eudora Welty’s The Optimist’s Daughter delves into themes of grief, regional identity, and the challenge of preserving cultural memory in a rapidly globalizing world. Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby discuss the impact of community traditions, the evolving role of observation in literature, and the struggle to find objective meaning amid today’s digital noise. They highlight the contrast between sincere storytelling and modern content creation, drawing leadership lessons from Welty’s keen insight into relationships and local culture.

Leaders, we are in the midst of a cultural transition as we head into a generational Spring.
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Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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Exploring Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground, hosts unpack the dangers of self-deception and the challenge of living with integrity as a leader. They analyze how self-awareness without mastery leads to alienation, the importance of matching words with actions, and the societal consequences of habitual lying. The episode weaves Dostoevsky’s legacy with real-world leadership, discussing how courage and honest self-examination are vital in modern organizations.

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Leaders, can I get a witness?
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Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov
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Exploring the surreal world of Vladimir Nabokov's Invitation to a Beheading, Jesan Sorrells and Claire Chandler analyze the novel’s absurdist critique of totalitarianism and the societal pressures for conformity. They examine Nabokov’s literary style, the challenge of translating Russian nuance into English, and how the narrative’s exploration of meaning, individuality, and truth remains relevant for modern leaders. The episode draws powerful connections between the search for meaning in the 20th and 21st centuries, the impact of technological noise, and the leader’s responsibility to pursue authenticity in an in...

Leaders, Dostoyevsky had some ideas about how to navigate the prison known as the Land of Nod.
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East of Eden by John Steinbeck
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Exploring John Steinbeck’s magnum opus, East of Eden, Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby break down how the novel’s multi-generational narrative reveals timeless truths of human nature, leadership, and morality. They discuss Steinbeck’s powerful depiction of rural California and the tension between rural and urban values, dissect the novel’s deep biblical allusions and the theme of free will, and examine how leaders can leverage the diversity of personalities within teams for collective success. The episode emphasizes the novel’s ongoing relevance and what modern leaders can learn from Stein...

Leaders, the myth of the city is almost as old as the city itself. 
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Mash Up Episode ft. 12 Rules For Leaders Deep Dive - Leadership Models from Sun-Tzu to Albert Murray w/David Baumrucker & Jesan Sorrells
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Explore the gap between leadership models and real-world practice as Jesan Sorrells and guest David Baumrucker examine the pitfalls of rigid frameworks and the necessity for leader courage in today’s volatile environment. They discuss the enduring value of classical wisdom, the influence of myth according to Carl Jung, and the critical challenge technology poses to authentic leadership and organizational culture. The conversation is rooted in Sorrells’ own "12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Inte...

The death of the novel isn't exaggerated, but the death of the book is. 
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The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton
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This episode dives into G.K. Chesterton’s novel The Man Who Was Thursday, exploring its psychedelic narrative twists, literary influences, and enduring philosophical questions for leaders. Jesan Sorrells and guest Neal Kalechofsky discuss Chesterton’s critique of nihilism and anarchy, the book’s connections to figures like Nietzsche and Tolkien, and the challenge of retaining moral clarity in an age saturated by distraction and technology. They reflect on the power of literature to transmit subversive ideas, the legacy of Western tradition, and the importance of rooting leader...

Will our egos rule over us, or will we master them?
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This one is going to be a little more spiritual than perhaps you might be used to from me.
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The Third Man by Graham Greene
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Exploring Graham Greene’s postwar classic, The Third Man, Jesan Sorrells and Ryan J. Stout unravel the psychology of unreliable narrators, leadership in times of nihilism, and the timeless challenge of ethical decision-making amid a world of grifters and cons. They dive into Greene’s cinematic writing style, his nuanced character portrayals, and how postwar Vienna mirrors our own era of skepticism and manipulation. The conversation draws out practical leadership lessons—particularly the need for sincerity and humility—in a landscape shaped by both history and human nature.

Leading in absurd times requires a commitment to objective truth.
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Oil! by Upton Sinclair
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Exploring the first 100 pages of Oil! by Upton Sinclair, Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby dive into the gritty realities of entrepreneurship, the evolving concept of work-life balance, and how leadership demands both killer instinct and humility. They draw parallels between entrepreneurship and film direction, critique society’s shifting attitudes toward work and success, and dissect how true leaders mentor others amidst competitive challenges. Hear lively debates on generational expectations, lessons from pop culture, and the importance of intent and teachability on the entrepreneurial journey.

God, save us from the tender mercies of the social reformer.
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Stomping the Blues by Albert L. Murray
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Exploring Albert Murray’s landmark book, Stomping the Blues, Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby unpack the true roots of jazz and blues as uniquely American art forms. The hosts break down how Murray distinguishes the blues idiom from jazz, the importance of improvisation in both music and leadership, and why understanding America’s cultural “soundtrack” is vital for restoring meaning and moral direction in turbulent times.

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Leaders, we begin rebuilding Chesterton's Fence by restoring the fences in ourselves. 
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A Conflict of Visions: The Hidden Origins of Ideological Conflict by Thomas Sowell
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Exploring Thomas Sowell’s A Conflict of Visions, Jesan Sorrells and Ryan J Stout break down the enduring clash between constrained and unconstrained worldviews at the root of ideological and political strife. They discuss how these visions shape society’s approach to justice, leadership, and individual responsibility, and examine practical impacts in everything from education to personal development. The episode emphasizes why understanding these competing frameworks is essential for today’s leaders and citizens striving for meaningful resolution.

Leaders, you might be listening to it, but can you hear it?
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Leaders, two visions of human nature and human institutions have been locked in conflict since the time of Cain and Abel.  
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The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America by Coleman Hughes
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Exploring Coleman Hughes’s new book, The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America, Jesan Sorrells and Dorollo Nixon, Jr. examine how generational shifts challenge old narratives around race and victimhood. They discuss the historical roots of colorblindness, the rise of neo-racism in elite institutions, and practical solutions for leaders navigating race politics in 21st-century America. The episode tackles nuanced distinctions between race and ethnicity, confronts ideological shifts, and proposes actionable ideas for a united future.

Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements. George Breitman, ed. w/Dorollo Nixon & Jesan Sorrells
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Exploring “Malcolm X Speaks” by Malcolm X, Jesan Sorrells, and Dorollo Nixon, Jr. examine the fiery rhetoric, legacy, and leadership lessons of Malcolm X in the context of Black History Month. They break down the revolutionary’s stance on political action versus violence, his critique of the American political system, and the tension between moral authority rooted in religion versus contemporary movements. The episode also traces the impact of Malcolm X's speeches on modern Black political thought, the fragmentation of Black cultur...

Leaders, it’s time to articulate a vision for black Americans, here at the end of the Fourth Turning. 
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RE-BROADCAST - The Omni-Americans by Albert L. Murray w/Tom Libby & Jesan Sorrells 
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Exploring Albert Murray’s The Omni Americans, hosts Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby unpack what it means to be “American” through the lens of race, culture, and music, and how these lessons inform modern leadership. They discuss the tension and synthesis inherent in America’s multicultural identity, the unique challenges of passing wisdom between generations, and the leadership insights found in Murray’s reflections on resilience, authenticity, and improvisation. The episode highlights Murray’s influence as a critic of blues and jazz, his lived wisdom...

Leaders, our national critical thinking fails us around issues of race.
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Mash Up Episode ft. Leadership Models w/John Hill
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Examining themes from 12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Intentional Leadership by Jesan Sorrells, Jesan Sorrells and guest co-host John Hill discuss the critical role of vision in effective leadership, exploring the difference between constrained and unconstrained approaches. They break down the impact of post-pandemic changes on organizational models, the importance of alignment between leaders and teams, and why literature—rather than just business books—provides valuable lessons for developing leadership frameworks. The episode also covers practical methods for moving from vision to actionable models using the “3 Cs” me...

Leaders, you must have a vision before you have a model of leadership.
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"The Great Instauration" by Francis Bacon w/Brian Bagley & Jesan Sorrells
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Delving into Francis Bacon’s "The Great Instauration," Jesan Sorrells and guest Brian Bagley examine how Bacon’s foundational ideas on empirical skepticism shape leadership and challenge modern secular idols. The conversation explores Bacon’s historical context, his impact on the scientific method, and how theology and humility inform true leadership transformation today. They address the rise of contemporary idols—personal identity, individualism, and media—and discuss actionable ways leaders can confront and “tear down” modern psychological idols within themselves and their communities.

Leaders restoration has more meaning behind it than as a synonym for gentrification. 
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Candide by Francois Voltaire w/Tom Libby & Jesan Sorrells
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Dissecting Voltaire’s Candide with Jesan Sorrells and Tom Libby, this episode kicks off Season Five by exploring the absurdities of leadership, the legacy of Enlightenment thinking, and the challenge of sincerity in a meme-driven world. They unpack Voltaire’s satire to reveal practical lessons for modern leaders, including confronting organizational absurdity, distinguishing between moral and physical courage, and the enduring impact of literary wit on Western civilization.

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00:00 "Voltaire, Leadership, and...

Leaders gain more value from Voltaire than from the Harvard Business Review.
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Season Five Trailer - Literate Leaders Restore The Chaotic World
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Kicking off Season Five, host Jesan Sorrells explores how deep literacy from great books equips leaders to separate signal from noise, solve problems, and prepare for generational change. The episode previews upcoming literary analysis, including The Great Instauration by Francis Bacon, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, and The Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion, focusing on restoration, collective thinking, and solution-oriented leadership in chaotic times. Jesan Sorrells also teases collaborations with past guests and an upcoming leadership education platform, all aimed at providing practical...

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis w/Christen Blair Horne & Jesan Sorrells
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00:00 Welcome and Introduction - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.
00:10 Belief, Theology, and Worldview.

08:32 "Confused Reading Journey"

10:44 "Fear of Critiquing Islam"

20:01 "Somme: 60,000 British Lost"

21:40 "Reflections on War and Legacy"

29:44 "Chesterton vs. Lewis: Class & Wit"

36:48 "Enlightenment's Law of Human Nature"

42:05 "Secular Shift in Christian Education"

44:49 "Exploring the Hebrew Roots Movement"

49:42 "Revelations, Robots, and Survivalists"

58:09 "Towards a Unique American Theology"

01:01:26 Critique of Billy...

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 1:1 through Chapter 2:23, KJV Translation
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Music: Orchestra Gli Armonici, 100908 Concerto della Madonna dei fiori, 18 G.F.Haendel, The Messiah, Hallelujah & Carol of the Bells

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens w/Tom Libby
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A Burglar's Christmas by Willa Cather w/Tom Libby
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A collection of ramblings about Christmas memories...
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Opening and closing themes composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.
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At Christmas Time by Anton Chekhov
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Opening and Closing theme composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.