Stratagems

In the final episode of our Standard Oil series, the empire reaches its peak—and faces the consequences. As Rockefeller tightens control, resistance grows. Journalists, politicians, and the public turn against the monopoly, and Standard Oil becomes a target of the U.S. government’s most aggressive antitrust case to date.

What follows is not just a legal defeat, but a strategic turning point. We explore how the dissolution of Standard Oil in 1911 gave rise to a constellation of powerful successor companies—and how Rockefeller’s influence lived on long after the trust was broken. This is the story of transformation through collapse, and how strategy adapts in the face of pressure.

Episode Chapters

(02:45) Part 6 - The Inferior Power

(32:03) Part 7 - The Fracture

(43:44) Part 8 - The Shadow Empire

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes—it takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 11

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

In this second episode of our Standard Oil series, John D. Rockefeller crosses the threshold from disciplined outsider to dominant industry force. What began as a moral and financial covenant among a few partners transforms into a sweeping strategy to consolidate power, cut waste, and outmaneuver rivals.

We follow the birth of the Standard Oil Trust—one of the most effective and controversial business structures ever created. As Rockefeller’s empire expands, he encounters new challenges, allies, and unexpected rewards. This is the story of ambition becoming infrastructure, and belief turning into monopoly.

Episode Chapters

(01:45) Part 3 - The Covenant

(34:03) Part 4 - The Trust is Born

(52:44) Part 5 - The Promised Land

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes—it takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Bonus content for The Oil Empire episode

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 10

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

Before Standard Oil became a titan of American capitalism, there was a young man with a ledger and a quiet, relentless drive. In the first episode of our three-part series on Standard Oil, we meet John D. Rockefeller—not as the richest man in modern history, but as a meticulous clerk with an almost spiritual devotion to order, discipline, and numbers.

But Rockefeller’s world was anything but orderly. The oil fields of Pennsylvania were wild, speculative, and wasteful—a far cry from the structured empire he would one day build. As we enter the chaos of America’s first oil boom, we begin to see the forces that would push Rockefeller toward his radical vision: to tame the frontier, eliminate waste, and create a new kind of business.

This is the story of how strategy, faith, and frontier ambition collided—setting the stage for one of the most powerful companies in history.

Episode Chapters

(02:22) Part 1 - The Divine Ledger

(30:21) Part 2 - The Wild Frontier

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes—it takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

All episode sources, including background music used

Read the full episode transcript

Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 9

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

In our final episode of the Dubai series, we explore Dubai at the close of Sheik Rashid's rule in 1990—a period that set the stage for a bold new era. Under his guidance, Dubai became the Middle East’s first post-oil economy, launching global icons like Emirates Airlines. Yet, rapid development also brought challenges.

We examine how decades-old strategic decisions continue to resonate in modern Dubai, influencing everything from the Nationals vs. Expats debate and a thriving tax-free economy to successes in tourism, banking, internet industries, and other surprising sectors. Join us as we unpack the legacy of visionary leadership and the enduring quirks that make Dubai a global marvel.

Episode Chapters

(01:52) Part 7 - The Post-Oil World

(13:36) Part 8 - The Modern Economy

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 8

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

Following the collapse of the once-flourishing pearl industry, Dubai entered a period of hardship and uncertainty. In this second episode of our Dubai series, we follow the turbulent years leading up to the rise of Sheik Rashid—a leader whose strategic vision would drive Dubai into prosperity.

When oil was discovered in 1966, its quantity was modest. Undeterred, Sheik Rashid was forced to craft a bold strategy, parlaying limited oil wealth into a diversified economy. His calculated decisions set the stage for one of the fastest transformations in history, while rapid development brought with it unforeseen challenges and consequences.

Episode Chapters

(01:21) Part 4 - The Quest

(16:15) Part 5 - The Lottery Ticket

(37:01) Part 6 - The New Pearls

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 7

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

Dubai is often seen as a city built on oil wealth, but its transformation started long before oil arrived in 1966. In the early 1900s, it was a quiet village on the edge of the Arabian Gulf—lacking roads, electricity, and running water. Yet, amidst the harsh desert conditions, the seeds of ambition were already being planted.

This is the first of three episodes exploring Dubai's rise and the strategy behind its transformation. From its Bedouin roots to its early modernization efforts, we examine the calculated decisions that established an iconic global city. Before skyscrapers and luxury, resilience, risk-taking, and a long-term vision would shape Dubai’s future.

Episode Chapters

(02:56) Part 1 - The Desert

(29:12) Part 2 - The Sleepy Village

(39:53) Part 3 - The Collapse

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 6

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

In 1670, King Charles II granted his cousin a grandiose charter to trade furs in faraway territory of North America. At one point, the charter covered nearly 12% of the earth's land surface and area ten times that of the Holy Roman Empire at its height.

The Hudson's Bay Company would forever change the lives of everyone it touched, especially the hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people. The business model is simple by modern standards. It primarily traded one good, the beaver furs, in exchange for metal goods.

It would become a pawn in the chess game of empire-building and directly influence the formation of Canada and the United States. In episode five, we will explore the creation of one of the oldest commercial enterprises (still in existence today) and its rise to influence.

Episode Chapters:

(03:35) Part 1: A Strategy of Harmony

(01:02:53) Part 2: A Strategy of Chaos

(01:35:34) Part 3: A Strategy of Conquest

(03:35:41) Conclusion

**

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and the review helps others discover the podcast.

**

Links:

* All episode sources

* Read the full episode transcript

* Bonus content for The Company episode

* Get email updates on the next episode, updates from previous ones and bonus content.

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

* Background music is called "Adding the Sun" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Episode 5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

In the early 20th century, a new profession was born: management consulting. While it took some time for the field to establish itself, McKinsey & Company quickly rose to the top working with the largest organizations, governments and nonprofits.

How did The Firm become so influential? Episode 4 will try to answer this question by looking at McKinsey in the middle of the 20th century when it was led by the man who molded the organization in his image, Marvin Bower.

Sometimes called the Jesuits of capitalism, McKinsey has shaped the modern world, directly and indirectly, and often behind the scenes. When big decisions have been made, a McKinsey advisor was likely in the room. 

Episode Chapters:

(06:12) Part 1 - Birth of a Profession

(43:23) Part 2 - A Law Firm That Doesn’t Practice Law

(01:45:43) Part 3 - The Gospel of the Multidivisional Model

(02:10:26) Part 4 - Jesuits of Capitalism

(02:39:42) Part 5 - Rise of Strategy

(03:17:07) Part 6 - Are They Worth It?

(03:35:41) Conclusion

**

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and the review helps others discover the podcast.

**

Links:

* All episode sources

* Read the full episode transcript

* Bonus content for McKinsey episode

* Get email updates on the next episode, updates from previous ones and bonus content.

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

* Background music is called "Adding the Sun" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Episode 4

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

In 1972, Polaroid released the SX-70, a true one-step instant photography, culminating 30 years of technical brilliance. Led by the enigmatic Edwin Land, Polaroid left a deep groove in history. Kids today use the word "polaroid" as a stand in for an instant picture even though they are not impressed by the technology nor know the rich history behind their photograph.

Today’s episode will look at how Edwin Land molded Polaroid in his image and drove the company to create a market, instant photography, through groundbreaking research. Land’s story is endlessly fascinating and we will also look at his secretive but highly influential military career with several U.S. administrations.

The SX-70 was a successful strategy for Polaroid but it also planted the seeds that would eventually derail the company and force it into bankruptcy. This episode might invoke deep feelings of nostalgia as we go back in time to look at one of America’s most influential companies.

Episode Chapters:

(02:23) PART 1 - “If you are right, the facts at the moment don't matter because in due course the facts will catch up with you.”

(08:13) PART 2 - “If anything is worth doing, it's worth doing to excess.”

(45:01) Part 3 - "Do not undertake a program unless the goal is manifestly important and its achievement is nearly impossible."

(01:10:18) Part 4 - "If you are able to state a problem then the problem can be solved. The rest is just hard work."

(01:22:06) Part 5 - "The only thing that keeps us alive is our brilliance. The only thing protecting our brilliance is our patents."

(02:06:37) Part 6 - "The bottom line is in heaven."

(02:28:23) Conclusion

**

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and it really helps others discover the podcast plus I love to hear your feedback.

**

Links:

* All episode sources

* Read the full episode transcript

* Bonus content for Polaroid episode

* Get email updates on the next episode, updates from previous ones and bonus content.

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

* Background music is called "Adding the Sun" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Episode 3

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca

In this episode, we will explore the audacious (and crazy) story of Boeing and the release of the 747. The Jumbo Jet (nickname by the press) would go on to change the aviation industry at every level, while allowing a growing middle class to experience air travel. 

The 747 is big in every metric possible but this is not necessarily a strategy with a happy ending. The aircraft manufacturing industry is tough and was once described by Jean Pierson, CEO of Airbus, with a single sentence; “you can't win, you can't break even, and you can't quit.” You’ll see why unit economics are inescapable like gravity and why issues can persist for years, such as what we see with the 737 MAX.

Boeing captured the zeitgeist of 1960 America, a bold and innovative era where anything seemed possible. From putting on a man on the moon to toppling the existing political structures. Get ready to go back in time and relive one of the most exciting decades in American history.

Episode Chapters:

(08:49) Boeing: Aviation Royalty

(21:57) The Jet Age

(36:56) The Cultural Decade

(51:13) The 747 is Born

(01:10:38) A Changed World

(01:29:42) Conclusion

**

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and it really helps others discover the podcast plus I love to hear your feedback.

**

Links:

All episode sources

Read the full episode transcript

Get email updates on the next episode, updates from previous ones and bonus content.

Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Background music is called "Adding the Sun" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Season 1, Episode 2

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stratagems.ca