James Buchanan saw himself as a constitutional referee, not a player. In this episode, we unpack how that mindset failed when the country needed leadership—not commentary—during its greatest crisis.

James Buchanan saw himself as a constitutional referee, not a player. In this episode, we unpack how that mindset failed when the country needed leadership—not commentary—during its greatest crisis.

When the Referee Refuses to Enter the Game

How Leaders Fail (And Why) is a history and leadership podcast about the moments when leadership breaks down—and the hidden reasons behind it.Each episode explores real historical cases of leadership failure, bad decision-making, and misused power. Instead of focusing on outcomes alone, the show digs into why leaders failed: flawed incentives, overconfidence, fear, groupthink, bad information, moral shortcuts, and the pressure that distorts judgment at the top.From military disasters and political collapse to corporate implosions and cultural breakdowns, this podcast examines how leaders fail, why smart people make terrible decisions, and how small leadership errors compound into irreversible consequences.This is not a podcast about leadership theory or inspirational success stories. It’s a practical, story-driven look at leadership mistakes from history, organizational failure, decision-making under pressure, and the psychology of authority.If you’re interested in leadership lessons, history podcasts, management failures, power dynamics, and understanding the real causes behind failure—not just the blame—this show is for you.How Leaders Fail (And Why) Because failure is rarely accidental—and almost never sudden.

Education

Self-Improvement

How Leaders Fail (And Why) is a history and leadership podcast about the moments when leadership breaks down—and the hidden reasons behind it. Each episode explores real historical cases of leadership failure, bad decision-making, and misused power. Instead of focusing on outcomes alone, the show digs into why leaders failed: flawed incentives, overconfidence, fear, groupthink, bad information, moral shortcuts, and the pressure that distorts judgment at the top. From military disasters and political collapse to corporate implosions and cultural breakdowns, this podcast examines how leaders fail, why smart people make terrible decisions, and how small leadership errors compound into irreversible consequences. This is not a podcast about leadership theory or inspirational success stories. It’s a practical, story-driven look at leadership mistakes from history, organizational failure, decision-making under pressure, and the psychology of authority. If you’re interested in leadership lessons, history podcasts, management failures, power dynamics, and understanding the real causes behind failure—not just the blame—this show is for you. How Leaders Fail (And Why) Because failure is rarely accidental—and almost never sudden.

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When the Referee Refuses to Enter the Game

When the Referee Refuses to Enter the Game