Commandant’s Call

This episode draws leadership lessons from Craig L. Symonds’ Nimitz at War by placing listeners in key moments of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz’s Pacific command. After arriving at Pearl Harbor on Christmas 1941, Nimitz controls his emotions over Wake Island’s loss and restores morale by trusting and retaining a defeated staff. Before Midway, he demands the USS Yorktown be repaired in three days, empowers Fletcher and Spruance with mission command, and issues guidance to act by “calculated risk,” enabling decisions that help avoid disaster. In 1944, he defuses the Army–Marine feud after the relief of Ralph Smith, protecting joint unity through diplomacy. He preserves talent by giving Mark Mitscher a second chance after Midway, later elevating him to Task Force 58. The episode closes with Nimitz’s moral burden after Tarawa and his insistence the public see war’s cost.

This episoderecounts Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter’s actions on November 21, 2010, at PB Dakota in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when a grenade came over a wall and he moved toward it, covering it to protect fellow Marine Nick Eufrasio, suffering catastrophic wounds and surviving after multiple resuscitations. The story traces the roots of that split-second act through Carpenter’s upbringing in South Carolina, early models of leadership and follow-through, boot camp at Parris Island, and combat losses in Afghanistan, arguing that what a person does without thinking reveals who they are. It then highlights Carpenter’s recovery at Walter Reed through more than 40 surgeries and frames leadership lessons for any leader around character built in ordinary choices, bearing under pressure, purpose as a decision, and caring for people as human beings.

This episode of explores Ian Gardener’s firsthand account of 45 Commando in the Falklands War, focusing on the night assault on Two Sisters (June 11, 1982) and what it reveals about leadership under extreme conditions. After Argentina’s invasion and Thatcher’s decision to send a task force, the British face early losses like HMS Sheffield and then endure brutal yomp conditions across East Falkland. As British forces attack the defensive ring of mountains around Port Stanley, junior leaders make decisive choices in darkness, snow, and heavy fire. When the assault stalls on Two Sisters, Lieutenant Clive Dytor’s aggressive uphill charge restores momentum and helps break the Argentine defense. The episode highlights shared hardship, trust, and initiative, concluding that success depends on countless small decisions made at the lowest level.

"If you haven't read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate." It’s a harsh truth from one of the most storied leaders in modern military history: General Jim Mattis. But how does a "Warrior Monk" translate the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius into tactical success in the mud of a platoon line or the high-stakes halls of the Pentagon?

In this episode of Commandant’s Call, host Brandon Dierker breaks down Mattis’s seminal memoir, Call Sign Chaos. We move beyond the legends to examine the grueling, three-stage evolution of a leader: Direct, Executive, and Strategic. Inside this episode:

• The Midnight Thesaurus: Why Mattis stayed up until 3:00 AM writing fitness reports and what it teaches us about the "Three Cs" (Competence, Caring, and Conviction).

• The 7,000 Lego Blocks: How a pile of plastic bricks helped the 1st Marine Division visualize the march to Baghdad and "see the movie" before the first shot was fired.

• Vicious Harmony: The shift from rigid "Command and Control" to a "Jazz" mindset—allowing 40,000 Marines to improvise at 60 miles per hour.

• The Ethical Obligation to Read: Why Mattis believes not reading isn't just a missed opportunity—it's an ethical failure to those you lead.

Whether you are a Platoon Commander, a NCO, or a civilian leader looking to find order in the "chaos," this episode provides a masterclass in stewardship and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Berlin, 1936. The swastikas were flying, the propaganda machine was churning, and Adolf Hitler was preparing to showcase the supremacy of the "Aryan race" to the world. But on the water, nine working-class sons of loggers and farmers from the University of Washington were about to dismantle that narrative, stroke by stroke.

In this powerful episode of Commandant's Call, we explore the intersection of Olympic history and military doctrine through the lens of Daniel James Brown’s masterpiece, The Boys in the Boat.

While this is a story about rowing, it is fundamentally a case study in unit cohesion. We analyze how a group of individuals surrenders their ego for the good of the boat—a concept every military leader recognizes as the foundation of an effective squad. We break down the concept of "The Swing"—that perfect, elusive moment of synchronization—and discuss how it mirrors the tactical rhythm required in combat operations.

Join us as we dissect the strategy behind the upset, the resilience required to overcome the Great Depression, and how a victory in a rowing shell became a symbolic triumph of democratic brotherhood over authoritarian tyranny.

Commandant's Call is a podcast focused on exploring the professional reading list released by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Each episode, the show delves into one of these books, discussing key takeaways, historical context, and real-world applications. Featuring discussions with veteran Marines, subject matter experts, and special guests, the podcast aims to enhance leadership skills, critical thinking, and overall understanding of the Marine Corps. It's targeted at seasoned Marines, new recruits, and anyone interested in military strategy and leadership. Listeners can subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other podcast platforms.