Leadership Legion Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:25:16 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/693808 en-us © 2026 Leadership Legion yes 1c660810-fc0e-5ae9-9880-d165f76798bf Leadership Legion episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Leadership Legion https://storage.buzzsprout.com/nrywaos7vngzmp1oosvadfigcn8p?.jpg Leadership Legion 009 - Ripley 009 - Ripley Ellen Ripley: Futuristic Freighter Pilot in Space. Where no one can hear you scream...except Ripley, she hears the Alien's screams as she kicks its xenomorph tail up and down the cosmos. What can we learn from this tough as nails "astronaut" (I suppose anyone who goes into space is an astronaut, even in the future) who unwittingly found herself in one of the most terrifying situations imaginable? As it turns out, obviously, a lot! Join Adam and Travis as we cover Ellen Ripley in the second movie in the Alien franchise: Aliens - where we really get to see Ripley interact and become a leader not only for herself, but others as well. 

]]> Ellen Ripley: Futuristic Freighter Pilot in Space. Where no one can hear you scream...except Ripley, she hears the Alien's screams as she kicks its xenomorph tail up and down the cosmos. What can we learn from this tough as nails "astronaut" (I suppose anyone who goes into space is an astronaut, even in the future) who unwittingly found herself in one of the most terrifying situations imaginable? As it turns out, obviously, a lot! Join Adam and Travis as we cover Ellen Ripley in the second movie in the Alien franchise: Aliens - where we really get to see Ripley interact and become a leader not only for herself, but others as well. 

]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-8864667 Wed, 14 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0500 4940 1 9 full false 008 - Commander Shepard 008 - Commander Shepard Are you a Paragon or a Renegade? Adam and Travis are joined by Adam’s colleague Kate, also known as Calligraphie from Protagonist, to discuss the show’s first leader from a video game: Commander Shepard, the player character of the Mass Effect trilogy. Throughout the game series, the player’s choices determine the amount of morality/reputation points they gain: Paragon points for lawful good choices, and Renegade points for chaotic good (or, arguably, chaotic neutral) choices. How do the Paragon and Renegade leadership styles measure up?

]]> Are you a Paragon or a Renegade? Adam and Travis are joined by Adam’s colleague Kate, also known as Calligraphie from Protagonist, to discuss the show’s first leader from a video game: Commander Shepard, the player character of the Mass Effect trilogy. Throughout the game series, the player’s choices determine the amount of morality/reputation points they gain: Paragon points for lawful good choices, and Renegade points for chaotic good (or, arguably, chaotic neutral) choices. How do the Paragon and Renegade leadership styles measure up?

]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-8510065 Wed, 12 May 2021 17:00:00 -0500 5081 full false 007 - Alice 007 - Alice Alice in Wonderland! A classic story about a little girl who gets lost down a rabbit hole into a magical world called Wonderland. A tale of curiosity, of exploration, and imagination. Adam and Travis go down the rabbit hole and learn some interesting and important lessons about leadership from a kid just trying to find her way home through a wacky world.

]]> Alice in Wonderland! A classic story about a little girl who gets lost down a rabbit hole into a magical world called Wonderland. A tale of curiosity, of exploration, and imagination. Adam and Travis go down the rabbit hole and learn some interesting and important lessons about leadership from a kid just trying to find her way home through a wacky world.

]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-8205799 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:00:00 -0500 4157 full false 006 - Leonidas 006 - Leonidas Leonidas, hero of Sparta, the quintessential king’s king. His legendary stand at Thermopylae against the invading Persians under Xerxes is artfully depicted in the movie 300. Leonidas’ leadership is impressive, not only in the buildup to the battle but in the battle itself. Though this is a fictional retelling of a true story, what makes it amazing (other than the stylized action and the great one-liners) is the characters that make up the valiant defenders of Sparta, especially Leonidas. His leadership in the face of overwhelming opposition is nothing short of spectacular, and Adam and Travis dig right into what makes Leonidas so iconic as a leader.

]]> Leonidas, hero of Sparta, the quintessential king’s king. His legendary stand at Thermopylae against the invading Persians under Xerxes is artfully depicted in the movie 300. Leonidas’ leadership is impressive, not only in the buildup to the battle but in the battle itself. Though this is a fictional retelling of a true story, what makes it amazing (other than the stylized action and the great one-liners) is the characters that make up the valiant defenders of Sparta, especially Leonidas. His leadership in the face of overwhelming opposition is nothing short of spectacular, and Adam and Travis dig right into what makes Leonidas so iconic as a leader.

]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-8116098 Wed, 10 Mar 2021 15:00:00 -0600 5795 1 6 full false 005 - Aragorn 005 - Aragorn Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur, and future King of Gondor. The man, the myth, the legend of the Tolkien-verse. He is a hero among heroes of fantasy. One of the most undisputedly popular and near perfect leaders of fiction. Indeed, as many would attest, “he’s everything a man should be, and none of what they shouldn’t”, and Aragorn lives up to that.  We’re introduced to him as a reserved, mysterious man of few words. A simple but effective forest ranger, he shows true honor and valor throughout the beginning of the story. As it progresses, however, we learn of his legendary heritage, and through his deeds, he grows into the King he was destined to be. Adam and Travis take a deep dive into several situations in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and watch Aragorn grow from reclusive Ranger to triumphant King.



]]> Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur, and future King of Gondor. The man, the myth, the legend of the Tolkien-verse. He is a hero among heroes of fantasy. One of the most undisputedly popular and near perfect leaders of fiction. Indeed, as many would attest, “he’s everything a man should be, and none of what they shouldn’t”, and Aragorn lives up to that.  We’re introduced to him as a reserved, mysterious man of few words. A simple but effective forest ranger, he shows true honor and valor throughout the beginning of the story. As it progresses, however, we learn of his legendary heritage, and through his deeds, he grows into the King he was destined to be. Adam and Travis take a deep dive into several situations in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and watch Aragorn grow from reclusive Ranger to triumphant King.



]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-8024291 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 16:00:00 -0600 5552 1 5 full false 004 - Civil War (Iron Man vs Captain America) 004 - Civil War (Iron Man vs Captain America) What happens when two famous leaders go head to head, and how do their leadership choices make sense (or not) in the context of their circumstances? Adam and Travis bring their expertise from the previous two episodes to bear in a discussion of the movie Captain America: Civil War. The consequences of the Avengers’ previous actions have finally caught up to them, and Captain America and Iron Man have to decide how best to face those consequences.


]]> What happens when two famous leaders go head to head, and how do their leadership choices make sense (or not) in the context of their circumstances? Adam and Travis bring their expertise from the previous two episodes to bear in a discussion of the movie Captain America: Civil War. The consequences of the Avengers’ previous actions have finally caught up to them, and Captain America and Iron Man have to decide how best to face those consequences.


]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-7238446 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0600 6041 full false 001 - Captain Jean-Luc Picard 001 - Captain Jean-Luc Picard “Make it so.”

Adam and Travis introduce a new podcast series about leadership lessons from icons of nerd and geek culture. To kick it off: Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Universally (pun intended) considered a great leader, Picard’s adventures provide multiple opportunities for learning about leadership by example.

In our first episode, we dig into 4 scenarios in the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation "Encounter at Farpoint Station". Each of these scenarios depicts the initial leadership style we encounter from Captain Picard as we begin our journey with him and the crew of the Enterprise into the unknown. Here's some things we learned from those scenarios:

1: When encountering the unexpected, a good leader keeps his      equilibrium and trusts himself and his people; in a pinch, find an exit strategy for your whole team instead of just saving yourself.

2: It’s important to trust your people to make the right decisions; sometimes you need to be willing to break the rules in order to do the right thing.

3: There’s rarely a good reason to yell at someone on your team; it may have benefits in the short term, but in the long term it lowers morale.

4: "My way or the highway” people are frustrating to deal with; pulling rank is rarely an effective way to manage your team or build trust.

The Takeaway:

Over and over, Captain Picard demonstrates primarily good leadership choices and provides Star Trek viewers with the opportunity to reflect on how they would handle leadership in the scenarios Picard deals with. He works to build trust with his team, and then demonstrates his trust in them as experts.

Give it a listen and find out how we learn these lessons and how you can apply them to your life!

Resources

]]> “Make it so.”

Adam and Travis introduce a new podcast series about leadership lessons from icons of nerd and geek culture. To kick it off: Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Universally (pun intended) considered a great leader, Picard’s adventures provide multiple opportunities for learning about leadership by example.

In our first episode, we dig into 4 scenarios in the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation "Encounter at Farpoint Station". Each of these scenarios depicts the initial leadership style we encounter from Captain Picard as we begin our journey with him and the crew of the Enterprise into the unknown. Here's some things we learned from those scenarios:

1: When encountering the unexpected, a good leader keeps his      equilibrium and trusts himself and his people; in a pinch, find an exit strategy for your whole team instead of just saving yourself.

2: It’s important to trust your people to make the right decisions; sometimes you need to be willing to break the rules in order to do the right thing.

3: There’s rarely a good reason to yell at someone on your team; it may have benefits in the short term, but in the long term it lowers morale.

4: "My way or the highway” people are frustrating to deal with; pulling rank is rarely an effective way to manage your team or build trust.

The Takeaway:

Over and over, Captain Picard demonstrates primarily good leadership choices and provides Star Trek viewers with the opportunity to reflect on how they would handle leadership in the scenarios Picard deals with. He works to build trust with his team, and then demonstrates his trust in them as experts.

Give it a listen and find out how we learn these lessons and how you can apply them to your life!

Resources

]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-6788155 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 11:00:00 -0600 5053 full false 003 - Steve Rogers (Captain America) 003 - Steve Rogers (Captain America) “I can do this all day.”

Simultaneously simple and complicated, Steve Rogers won the role of Captain America (and the hearts of Marvel fans everywhere) because of who he is. Steve Rogers believes in service above self and never backing down from a fight when he knows he’s standing up for the right thing, and in every situation his moral compass dictates his actions and his leadership style.

We take a deep dive into 4 situations spanning all 3 MCU Captain America movies and learn about leadership through the eyes of one of our greatest heroes. Here are some of the lessons we learn:

1: The tools you have to accomplish your goals are sometimes secondary to the moral conviction to accomplish them.

2: Understand when to brute-force your way in and when to come at things from a different angle. Stay humble; don’t let your leadership change your morals.

3: Sometimes it’s necessary to hold your subordinates and your superiors accountable—but make sure you have cooled off enough to be tactful.

4:  Beware of taking an all-or-nothing approach or of trying to apply a black-or-white solution to a very gray problem. Make sure to use the right tool for the job.

The Takeaway:

Steve Roger’s biggest strength is his moral character, which forms the backbone of his leadership style. Despite the situations he finds himself in again and again, his belief in people never seems to waver, and he fights for the cause he believes in no matter the cost to himself. He always speaks for himself, not with words, but with who he is as a person.

Give it a listen and find out how we learn these lessons and how you can apply them to your life!

Resources



]]> “I can do this all day.”

Simultaneously simple and complicated, Steve Rogers won the role of Captain America (and the hearts of Marvel fans everywhere) because of who he is. Steve Rogers believes in service above self and never backing down from a fight when he knows he’s standing up for the right thing, and in every situation his moral compass dictates his actions and his leadership style.

We take a deep dive into 4 situations spanning all 3 MCU Captain America movies and learn about leadership through the eyes of one of our greatest heroes. Here are some of the lessons we learn:

1: The tools you have to accomplish your goals are sometimes secondary to the moral conviction to accomplish them.

2: Understand when to brute-force your way in and when to come at things from a different angle. Stay humble; don’t let your leadership change your morals.

3: Sometimes it’s necessary to hold your subordinates and your superiors accountable—but make sure you have cooled off enough to be tactful.

4:  Beware of taking an all-or-nothing approach or of trying to apply a black-or-white solution to a very gray problem. Make sure to use the right tool for the job.

The Takeaway:

Steve Roger’s biggest strength is his moral character, which forms the backbone of his leadership style. Despite the situations he finds himself in again and again, his belief in people never seems to waver, and he fights for the cause he believes in no matter the cost to himself. He always speaks for himself, not with words, but with who he is as a person.

Give it a listen and find out how we learn these lessons and how you can apply them to your life!

Resources



]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-7238434 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0600 4569 full false 002 - Tony Stark (Iron Man) 002 - Tony Stark (Iron Man) “The truth is...I am Iron Man.”

Adam and Travis examine the leadership qualities of Tony Stark in Marvel’s Iron Man Trilogy (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Iron Man 3). Arrogant, quick to judge, but very smart, Tony frequently acts off the cuff in a Han Solo-ish, never-tell-me-the-odds manner, using his intelligence to steamroll his way through the “spin cycle” of problems in his life. 

The leadership lessons we can learn from him as he grows into the superhero we know and love are incredible and very applicable to our lives. Here's a few things we learn throughout this journey with Iron Man:

1: Remember those who helped you get where you are, keep an eye on the bigger picture, and make big decisions with a clear head.

2: Trust the people who support you; erratic behavior causes strife that can be prevented by consistency; and it’s better to discuss and tackle issues when they arise, rather than have hidden problems come to light in the worst way.

3: “The universe will keep teaching you the same lesson until you learn it,” “with great power comes great responsibility,” give credence and value to the people around you, and intelligence is not an indicator of value in all things.

The Takeaway:

Tony Stark will always be a hotshot to some degree, but despite his “elephant,” his character arc demonstrates how to grow as a leader and learn from past mistakes. His leadership strengths lie in his ability to think and act decisively in high-pressure situations, but his weakness is his inability to take a pause before making big decisions that could lead to heavy consequences. 


Resources:

]]> “The truth is...I am Iron Man.”

Adam and Travis examine the leadership qualities of Tony Stark in Marvel’s Iron Man Trilogy (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Iron Man 3). Arrogant, quick to judge, but very smart, Tony frequently acts off the cuff in a Han Solo-ish, never-tell-me-the-odds manner, using his intelligence to steamroll his way through the “spin cycle” of problems in his life. 

The leadership lessons we can learn from him as he grows into the superhero we know and love are incredible and very applicable to our lives. Here's a few things we learn throughout this journey with Iron Man:

1: Remember those who helped you get where you are, keep an eye on the bigger picture, and make big decisions with a clear head.

2: Trust the people who support you; erratic behavior causes strife that can be prevented by consistency; and it’s better to discuss and tackle issues when they arise, rather than have hidden problems come to light in the worst way.

3: “The universe will keep teaching you the same lesson until you learn it,” “with great power comes great responsibility,” give credence and value to the people around you, and intelligence is not an indicator of value in all things.

The Takeaway:

Tony Stark will always be a hotshot to some degree, but despite his “elephant,” his character arc demonstrates how to grow as a leader and learn from past mistakes. His leadership strengths lie in his ability to think and act decisively in high-pressure situations, but his weakness is his inability to take a pause before making big decisions that could lead to heavy consequences. 


Resources:

]]> Leadership Legion Buzzsprout-7238428 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0600 4699 full false