The Warrior Poet

Sri and Edmund Hillary talk about the Japanese concept of Ikigai: how to figure out what to achieve & how to persevere in the face of adversity.

notes

Errata: Ugh, I think I said "Dorgay" instead of "Norgay." Apologies. 

• Man on Wire: Amazing documentary about the tightrope walker who crossed between the twin towers. 

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ). 

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

"Water boils at 212 degrees. I was at 210."

Will Branum is a former Navy SEAL who founded Naked Warrior Recovery based on his own struggles with anxiety. Sri talks with Will about veteran suicide (see charities below!) and leadership lessons from the military.

After never wanting to be a leader, Will learned to be comfortable in this role. His experience will help you understand how to unleash "controlled chaos" on your team.

CONTAINS MATURE THEMES: This episode does not contain explicit language but does contain references to alcohol and drugs. So if you have kids in the car, we hope you’ll choose another.

notes

• CBD from Naked Warrior Recovery. Listeners get 20% off with the code POET.
• GET INVOLVED! --> Ways to help veterans transition and improve vet mental health: 
  • VETS - charity focused on veteran suicide and traumatic brain injury founded by SEAL Marcus Capone and his wife Amber 
  • One Mile Leadership Project: focused on PTSD, suicide, addiction, and abuse
  • Centurion Military Alliance: helps vets transition to civilian life across multiple facets of work and personal issues. 
  • The Honor Foundation: helps members of Special Operations Forces (SOF) transition to civilian life; founded by Navy SEAL Joe Musselman 
• Other notable themes from Will in this episode: 
  • "You can suffer in the back, or you can suffer in the front."
  • "Find your team."

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ). 

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

A deep dive on some of the concepts from Sri's interview with Nat Thompson on episode #57. Namely, what it means to "cultivate appropriate levels of tribalism" on your team -- and examples of "work the problem" in combat and crisis. 

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually 

notes

• Apollo 13 post-flight press conference (Youtube) 
• The song "You Gotta Go To Work" by Rex Griffin, cover on Fiddle Hickey (Youtube)

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ). 

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

Nat Thompson, Sri's longtime brother from the SEAL Teams, teaches us how to hire and develop new leaders. Plus, how to nurture a sense of team exceptionalism without becoming Colonel Kurtz.

Nat's experience ranges from conducting strategic military operations in austere environments to revamping operations at Amazon to leading teams at one of America's growth startups, Carvana. Regardless of your leadership maturity, you won't want to miss Nat's insights on running high-performing teams -- and a high-performing self.

EXPLICIT EPISODE: If you have kids in the car, we hope you’ll choose another.

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually 

notes

• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway ("I can take it.")

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ). 

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

Sri emerges from his cave and sees six early weeks of spring -- plus exciting changes coming to the podcast soon. Thanks for your patience!!!

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

Sri distinguishes leadership from, well, other things.


notes

• Related episodes:  #48: Leader as Therapist

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ).

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually 

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

You can't compete if you don't have the best people. But interview processes are all the same these days. As a society we've converged on a method that is safe, supposedly rigorous, and predictable. But are the same old proxy checks, phone screens, power days, and consensus calls really helping you bring the best talent onboard?

Sri explores alternate approaches with examples from pro baseball, Amazon, and the military.

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually

notes

• Sri's article on Medium: "The Portfolio Theory of Hiring: A Story of Flawed Beauty" 
• Books by Jim Collins:
  • Good to Great
  • Built to Last

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ). 

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

Listen before you make your 2021 resolutions! Oriah's 'The Invitation," tips to garden rare lettuces, and boot camp. 

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

Focus is all the rage in self-help culture, but what does it really mean? And what does true focus entail?

"Tools and techniques" of successful people amount to self-help porn, which is worse than regular porn because of how easy it is to tell yourself you're being productive. Successful people are already focused, while you are probably not. No matter how much you optimize your mornings or drink the right mushroom tea, none of that will achieve your goal.

Focus takes care of everything else. The problem is that most of us are too busy living up to society's expectations to actually focus, to truly commit.

EXPLICIT EPISODE: If you have kids in the car, we hope you’ll choose another.

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually 

notes

• Guy nails every accent (Youtube) 
• Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
• Longest novels (Wikipedia)

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ). \

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

Sri talks about a type of knowledge that is largely ignored relative to its siblings: the unknown known.

Connect with Sri on Instagram: @sri_the_warrior_poet  + @sri_actually 

notes

• Wikipedia description of the Donald Rumsfeld press conference that brought the concept of "known knowns" (etc) to light
• https://www.communicationtheory.org/the-johari-window-model/

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar ( Spotify ). 

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 

📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅

_____

Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: 
➡️  LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar

Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar  + @sri_actually 

Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧

Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.