The Doneson Podcast

Let episode ten of the Doneson podcast take you on a journey to South Africa with none other than Nelson Mandela! Mandela was known for abolishing apartheid but does the bigger picture always trump the steps it takes to get there? That's the question we aim to answer when we are faced with the fact that Mandela largely ignored the HIV/AIDS issue until after he was elected. Ultimately, he did stand for the cause and his prison number reflected that when it was designated as the hotline number. However, millions died before being able to take advantage of his dedication to this epidemic. Listen as our discussion takes on this controversial angle to a leader known for his radical ways and forces our panel into opposition.

Today on episode nine of the Doneson podcast, we have the great Chinese military leader Sun Tzu! This was a man who made history as an effective leader due to his family's military background, the famous quotes that he lived and ruled by and his forward-thinking ideas. However, like any great leader-the same things are not successful each and every time they are used. His philosophies carried great weight but have also been proven to not work as well in modern times. In opposition, his idea as the first leader to incorporate women as soldiers failed during his time but has proven successful in the years since. So, the question remains…was Tzu truly a great leader?

Welcome to episode eight of the Doneson podcast!

Join the gang as we dive into the details surrounding the leadership of prolific American sociologist and psychologist W.E.B Du Bois. Du Bois was an interesting leader both on account of his work as a historian and author, as well as a civil rights activist and Pan-Africanist. This was a man who co-founded the NAACP, was the first African-American man to earn a PHD from Harvard and even coined the term "The Talented Tenth". We will discuss his beliefs about how patience was all that was needed to turn things around. Due to this belief, he was never recorded as an active participant in any of the civil rights movement marches or protests. Despite his non-violent and incredible passive approach, it's worth noting that DuBois actually joined the communist party -which makes for some dynamic debates about his true intentions.

Today on episode #7 of the Doneson Podcast…Napoléon Bonaparte! This was a leader who was known for taking care of his troops and introducing the notion of freedom of religion in his country. Despite these incredible advances, Bonaparte was also a sexist who encouraged nepotism. How could such a leader still manage to conquer multiple territories with these opposing values? Join us, as we discuss all this and more!

Today we are diving in to everything about the notorious leader Winston Churchill! Join us as we learn about his humor, his anger and how both molded him as a one of the world's greatest speakers despite his battles with depression. We discuss how his wartime decisions changed the fate of millions of people in India. One of his famous quote's and even how he was responsible for the minimum wage system which was in direct opposition to his racist world view.

Welcome to episode five of the Doneson podcast! Join the gang as we tackle the details about the leader of the civil rights movement -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The impact he made on our country is undeniable, as were his beginnings as a fifteen-year-old college student. Although accused in some circles of academic plagiarism and plagued with rumors of his participation in compromising sexual gatherings. This was a man who was far ahead of his time, using the media to promote his platform of freedom and equality. Unlike others who would have left their assets to their family, after his assassination, MLK's went to the movement itself. Thereby, solidifying his eternal commitment to the cause.

Today on episode four of the Doneson podcast! Join us as we dive into the details of the leadership of Bill Clinton. Despite the infamous sexual scandals and his controversial "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, his leadership made a deep impact on the American economy. We will discuss everything from how his religious upbringing shaped his choices, to how he revolutionized the war on drugs, the public education system and finally how he was the driving force behind leveraging a rising economy with a lower crime rate.

Today we discuss the complicated history of Abraham Lincoln. The president who both freed the slaves and yet maintained a contradictory stance of slavery. His story is the ultimate political debate of morality versus economics. True equality versus a better equilibrium. A starting point that changed our country for the better but still allowed for inequality to fester beneath the surface.

Today on episode two of the Doneson podcast! Join the crew as we dive into everything you ever wanted to know about one of the most popular presidents of our time: JFK. From being the father of the space program, a speed reader and the preventer of nuclear war. To calling off the Bay of Pigs invasion, a relentless womanizer and the dubious way he manipulated the black vote right before the election…JFK was certainly a popular yet controversial leader.

Welcome to the first episode of the Doneson podcast! Join us as we examine the pros and cons of the 1st President of the United States: George Washington. Find out why two terms are the maximum for any president and what the Navy and the American foxhound have in common. There's even some crazy facts about George's dental history, the slaves he owned and finally, his connection to weed.