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In this powerful conversation, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal joins Joe to discuss his new book, On Character: Choices That Define a Life. Drawing from decades of military leadership and personal reflection, General McChrystal breaks down why character is more than just a word—it's a daily practice rooted in conviction and discipline.

In this episode, they explore:

• Why journaling would have made him a better leader
• A practical method he used to align his time with his priorities in Afghanistan
• How reading shaped his thinking both in and out of uniform
• The subtle but dangerous effects of power on rising leaders
• Why leaders must continuously test their convictions under pressure

Whether you're in uniform or leading in another capacity, this episode is a must-listen for anyone striving to lead with authenticity, courage, and character.

Stan McChrystal retired in July 2010 as a four-star general after over 34 years of service in the U.S. Army. His final assignment was as the commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and all US forces in Afghanistan. He had previously served as the director of the Joint Staff and almost five years in command of the Joint Special Operations Command.

General McChrystal’s memoir, My Share of the Task, was a New York Times bestseller in 2013. He is also the author of New York Times bestseller Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World and wrote the forward for the sequel, One Mission:How Leaders Build a Team of Teams. He is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a partner at McChrystal Group, where he transforms organizations into adaptable teams. He and his wife, Annie, live in Virginia.

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In this episode, Joe sits down with Lieutenant General Mary Izaguirre, the 46th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and Commanding General of Army Medical Command, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, vulnerability, culture, and purpose. Drawing on over three decades of service, LTG Izaguirre shares hard-earned lessons on how to lead authentically and navigate professional complexity.

Together, they discuss the evolving role of Army Medicine, the power of modeling vulnerability, and how intentionality—not balance—is the key to managing life’s trade-offs. Joe and LTG Izaguirre cover:

• Why vulnerability is a leadership strength, not a weakness
• How leaders can model safety, trust, and curiosity within their teams
• The importance of asking the right questions—and being okay not knowing the answers
• How trade-offs, not balance, define sustainable leadership
• The impact of journaling and reflection in high-responsibility roles
• Breaking down the “us vs. them” mentality in large organizations
• What Army Medicine’s true mission is—and why it matters more than ever

Whether you’re a leader in uniform, a parent navigating a demanding career, or someone wrestling with how to show up fully for both your mission and your people, this episode is packed with wisdom, candor, and practical insights.

Lieutenant General Mary K. Izaguirre is the 46th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and the Commanding General of Army Medical Command. A board-certified family physician and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, she brings over three decades of military and medical leadership to her role. LTG Izaguirre has held key command and senior staff positions across the Army and deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. She holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Master of Public Health, and Master in National Security and Resource Strategy. She and her husband, Joseph, are the proud parents of five children.

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Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

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In this Notebook Notes episode of From the Green Notebook, we sit down with Bob O’Brien, the Army’s lead for the Command Assessment Program (CAP), to take a deep dive into how CAP is transforming how the Army selects and develops its future leaders. Bob explains how this multi-day assessment process captures over 1,800 data points per candidate to provide a more complete picture of leadership potential—beyond what a single OER can show. Together, Bob and Joe Discuss:

• How the Command Assessment Program Works
• The Importance of Self-Awareness
• Myths About CAP Debunked
• Communicating Under Pressure
• The Redemptive Power of “Not Yet Certified”
• Executive Coaching and Developmental Tools
• Data-Driven Command Team Building
• Preparing Early for CAP Success
• The Role of Reflection and Journaling
• How My Green Notebook: "Know Thyself" Before Changing Jobs helps leaders prepare for CAP

Whether you're preparing for CAP, coaching someone who is, or just interested in how organizations can better assess and grow talent, this episode offers both insight and practical advice. 

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Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!

Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Visit ROGER today! 

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In this Mother's Day episode, Joe sits down with Danny Ricker, Emmy-nominated comedy writer, producer, and author of Wow, You Look Terrible!: How to Parent Less and Live More, for a laugh-out-loud conversation on the highs and lows of parenting young kids. Drawing from both personal experience and sharp comedic insight, Danny unpacks the pressure modern parents face to do it all—and why doing less might actually be the key to doing it better.

Together, they explore:

• Why parenting today often feels like a full-time personal assistant gig for unpredictable tiny humans
• The trap of performative parenting and how social media fuels unrealistic expectations
• The genius of the “17-Minute Birthday Party” and why kids don’t need extravagance to have fun
• How the “Purgatory Cabinet” can save your sanity (and your child’s lucky nickel)
• Parenting as exercise: from claw-machine wakeups to carrying kids like a living weighted vest
• The power of “garbage time” and why the little moments matter more than the big events
• Lessons Danny learned writing for Jimmy Kimmel Live! and how to deal with rejection, failure, and ego in high-pressure creative environments (Read the blog post!!) 

Whether you’re a parent knee-deep in toys and tantrums or just trying to hold on to a sense of humor amidst the chaos, this conversation offers a much-needed reminder that the most meaningful moments are often the messiest ones.

Danny Ricker is a TV writer, producer, author, and nine-time Emmy nominee who currently serves as a Head Writer and Co-Executive Producer at “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

His other notable writing credits include The Oscars (2017, 2018, 2023, & 2024), The Primetime Emmys (2012, 2016, & 2020), the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and his debut book Wow, You Look Terrible!

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Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!

Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Visit ROGER today! 

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In this special edition of From the Green Notebook, Joe sits down with Command Sergeant Major Christopher Mullinax from the Army’s Training Directorate to break down the most recent changes to the Army’s fitness assessment—the newly updated Army Fitness Test (AFT).

After years of collecting data from the field and listening to feedback from soldiers and leaders at all levels, the Army is rolling out a revised approach to physical fitness. CSM Mullinax explains the changes.

Joe and CSM Mullinax discusses how the Army continues to evolve fitness standards to build a more combat-ready force. They also tackle common misconceptions, the logic behind removing overly technical events, and how leaders can implement the new test without disrupting unit readiness.

Whether you're a first sergeant trying to understand the rollout timeline or a squad leader wondering how this affects your soldiers' promotion packets, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating change in today's Army.

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Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!

Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Visit ROGER today! 

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In this episode, Joe sits down with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a leading neuroscientist and author of How Emotions Are Made, to explore groundbreaking insights on how emotions are formed and how we can better understand and regulate them. Together, they dive deep into the science behind emotions, how the brain predicts our feelings, and how we can gain more emotional agency in our personal and professional lives. Joe and Dr. Barrett cover:

• The theory of constructed emotions and how emotions are predictions, not reactions
• The role of the brain in regulating the body and how it shapes emotional experiences
• Why uncertainty feels like anxiety—and how to reframe it
• How emotional granularity can help us build better emotional vocabulary and control
• Practical steps to improve emotional regulation and decision-making
• The impact of body budgeting on mood, stress, and overall health

Whether you're leading a team, navigating personal relationships, or simply trying to better understand your emotional life, this conversation will give you powerful tools to enhance your emotional intelligence and well-being.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, is among the top 0.1% most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior.

In addition to the books Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain and How Emotions are Made, Dr. Barrett has published over 275 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, as well as six academic volumes published by Guilford Press. She writes regularly about science in the popular press, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Scientific American, BBC Science Focus, Popular Science, Nautilus, BigThink, Cosmopolitan,  Time magazine, MIT Technology Review, and more (see full list). Her popular TED talk has been viewed over 7 million times.

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Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!

Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Visit

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In this special episode, Joe sits down with Lieutenant General Greg Anderson, Commanding General of XVIII Airborne Corps, to discuss one of the most significant structural changes to the airborne community in decades. With 22,000 paid parachutist positions on the table for reclassification, LTG Anderson explains the data-driven process behind the decision, what it means for readiness, and how the Army is adapting to modern operational demands.

They explore how emotional reactions to change can cloud understanding, why building consensus through transparency and method matters, and what this transformation says about leadership in complex organizations. Whether you're a paratrooper, a leader managing change, or someone passionate about the future of the force, this episode offers a rare inside look at how the Army balances tradition with transformation.

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!

Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!

Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Visit ROGER today! 

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In this episode, Joe sits down with Victoria Trammel from the Arbinger Institute to explore the life-changing insights from the newly revised edition of Leadership and Self-Deception. Together, they dig into the patterns of self-justification, the emotional energy we waste on false narratives, and the practical tools leaders can use to shift from an inward to an outward mindset. Joe and Victoria cover: 

• The concept of self-deception and how it shows up in leadership and relationships
• How “collusions” form between individuals and groups, sabotaging collaboration
• The difference between being helpful and looking helpful
• Real-world stories of self-betrayal at work and at home
• How to identify and interrupt the inward mindset in yourself and your team
• The power of journaling and reflection in shifting perspective
• Steps for becoming more outward-focused without sacrificing accountability

Whether you’re a leader in the military, the corporate world, or at home, this conversation offers powerful reminders and tools for transforming how we relate to others—and ourselves.

With almost 3 million copies sold worldwide, this new edition of an enduring classic is the definitive guide to dramatically improve leadership effectiveness, transform personal and professional relationships, and unleash organizational results.

Significantly revised throughout, this edition includes updated stories, brand new content, and a practical group discussion guide.

Over two decades since first being published, Leadership and Self-Deception continues to help readers discover and overcome the persistent lies that are at the heart of the people-related dysfunction that plagues relationships and hinders organizational results. Told through an engaging story, this book reveals the ways we blind ourselves to our true motivations and unwittingly sabotage our efforts to achieve success and rebuild broken relationships.

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!

Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!

Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Visit ROGER today! 

Cairn Leadership helps teams build trust, clarity, and accountability—without the buzzwords. Their approach blends coaching with real outdoor adventures, like climbing in Joshua Tree. Visit cairnleadership.com/ftgn for 10% off your team’s program.

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In this episode of From the Green Notebook, General Randy George, the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, returns to discuss the habits, practices, and mindset that have shaped his leadership journey. From the pocket-sized notebook he started as a field grade officer to the lessons he's learning from visiting troops and reading deeply, General George offers a candid reflection on growth, command, and staying grounded in your values.

In this conversation, they discuss:

• The leadership lessons General George captured in his personal notebook and how reflection has guided him through multiple levels of command
• The role reading plays in staying intellectually curious and professionally sharp, including the books that have shaped his thinking
• How bottom-up innovation is driving the Army’s "Transforming in Contact" initiative and what he’s learning from frontline units
• The importance of consistency in communication and why leaders must seek out and act on honest feedback
• How personal values—and regular conversations with his spouse—help him stay aligned with what matters most, both in and out of uniform

This episode is brought to you by the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
We know the U.S. Army protects our freedoms every day—but have you ever thought about who’s protecting the U.S. Army? Meet AUSA—the Army’s premier professional association, dedicated to supporting every aspect of the Army journey.

This year marks an incredible milestone: 250 years of the U.S. Army defending our nation. To celebrate, AUSA is offering exclusive Premium membership discounts for a limited time:

• 2 years for just $30 (normally $40)
• 5 years for $50 (normally $75)
• Lifetime membership for only $250 (normally $400)

Premium members receive top-tier benefits, including a subscription to ARMY magazine and access to over $300,000 in scholarships.

Join now and stand with those who serve. Sign up today at ausa.org/membership/premium—no code necessary.
AUSA—Supporting Soldiers. Strengthening America.

And don’t forget to check out AUSA’s official podcast, Army Matters.
Hosted by LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey, Army Matters brings you in-depth conversations with Army leaders past, present, and future—from the battlefields to the boardrooms and beyond. New episodes drop every other Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this episode, host Joe sits down with Melody Wilding, an executive coach and author of Managing Up: How To Get What you Need From the People In Charge   to explore the dynamics of power, status, and influence in the workplace. Melody shares practical strategies for managing up effectively, not by being a sycophant, but by building stronger relationships, communicating with confidence, and navigating workplace dynamics with integrity. Together they discuss

• What it really means to “manage up” (Hint: it’s not about being a suck-up)
• Why proximity to power can distort your focus—and how to avoid the status trap
• The importance of upward empathy and understanding your boss’s pressures
• How to adapt to different leadership styles to build stronger relationships
• The power of the “ME Manual” and why self-awareness is key to success
• How to set boundaries at work—without damaging your reputation
• The concept of “Pushback Power” and how to know when (and how) to say no

Whether you work in the military, corporate world, or any hierarchical environment, this conversation will help you become a more effective leader from wherever you stand.

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Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!

FightCamp is the largest boxing and kickboxing community in the world. Their innovative fitness system combines real-time tracking, professional coaching, and an extensive workout library of over 3,000 sessions. 

Family-Friendly Access: Supports multiple user profiles under one subscription.

Flexible Membership: After the trial, members can continue on a month-to-month basis with no contract obligations.

To get the exclusive FREE offer and an additional 15% off accessories, email Joe@fromthegreennotebook for a listeners-only discount code at checkout. 

Free FightCamp Package: Includes punch trackers, quick wraps, and a 45-day membership trial to the FightCamp app. We will cover the shipping and taxes too (a $278 value per redemption).