In this election season, there's a lot of talk about the United States going into decline. Well on the show today, we discuss- what if that's what's happening? And not just the loud noises coming from this particular political cycle. But what if there's something big going on here, something historic. A turning point that forces the United States to choose one of two paths: That of the British, who gave up their empire and preserved their democracy, or that of the Romans- who didn't.

On the show today, Ryan spoke with John, who introduces us to a book called Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic. Author Chalmers Johnson was a former CIA consultant, and in the 80's favored a strong military buildup against the Soviet Union. But now, he warns that American democracy is deeply threatened by its foreign interventions and extensive military footprint, including 800 foreign bases & military installations worldwide. The Romans overreached, and their Republic went from a democracy to a dictatorship. Could it happen to the American Republic?

If you're like most of us, you go to sleep when conditions allow, and you get up when you have to get up. We all do it. When there's a time crunch, when there's stress, when the demands on our time require superhuman response - sleep is what gets the squeeze. In fact, we could be in the midst of a crisis of sleep deprivation. And it's impacting our health, our work, our relationships and even our happiness.

This week, John spoke with Ryan about The Sleep Revolution, by Arianna Huffington of the well-known Huffington Post news site. She argues especially in today's fast-paced, always-on world, we dismiss the importance of good sleep at our peril. Stay tuned to learn how technology is affecting our sleep, whether naps really are good for you, and how cherry juice - yea, cherry juice - is a possible sleep elixir.

Think back to the last sales call you received. Maybe not the highlight of your day, right? But what if the person on the other end of the line valued your time, deeply understood your problems, and challenged you to make your business better? Yeah, it's still a sales call, and yea, it'll never be the best moment of your day. But what if it were possible to take these conversations, and make them more constructive, better for everyone involved? What if we took sales, and reimagined it?

This week, Ryan spoke with Glen Cornell, who tells us how the sales world is undergoing a shift with the potential to improve the experience for everyone. We discussed a book called The Challenger Sale, by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson. If you're in sales, this book might just revolutionize your understanding of what it means to connect with customers. And even if you're not in the world of business, get ready for a rare peek behind the curtain, inside the mind of a salesperson.