
The Chris Voss Show
With nearly 10 million downloads, The Chris Voss Show Podcast is a top 1% most popular shows out of 3,254,177 podcasts globally. Over 17 years, 27 millions views of amazing interviews of top CEOs, BILLIONAIRES, Astronauts, the hottest new book Authors, TV & Print News & Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalists, Governors, Congress Members and other inspiring and insightful guests that will expand your mind. Our podcast guests are the CEO’s, thought leaders, presidential advisers and the hottest new book authors and journalists from all the large publishers like Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Hachette, Harper Collins, Macmillan, etc. Interviewed guests include top journalists from news anchors & journalists from all the top media: CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, WSJ, NYT, The Guardian, etc. FTC Disclosure: Some guests pay advertising/production costs to appear on the show. See more at TheChrisVossShow.com
Latest episodes

Mar 24, 2025 • 22min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner
A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner
Susanmeissnerauthor.com
Amazon.com
1956, Malibu, California: Something is not right on Paradise Circle.
With her name on the Hollywood blacklist and her life on hold, starlet Melanie Cole has little choice in company. There is her next-door neighbor, Elwood, but the screenwriter’s agoraphobia allows for just short chats through open windows. He’s her sole confidante, though, as she and her housekeeper, Eva, an immigrant from war-torn Europe, rarely make conversation.
Then one early morning Melanie and Eva spot Elwood’s sister-in-law and caretaker, June, digging in his beloved rose garden. After that they don’t see Elwood at all anymore. Where could a man who never leaves the house possibly have gone?
As they try to find out if something has happened to him, unexpected secrets are revealed among all three women, leading to an alliance that seems the only way for any of them to hold on to what they can still call their own. But it’s a fragile pact and one little spark could send it all up in smoke…About the author
Susan Meissner is the USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in print in eighteen languages. Her novels include The Nature of Fragile Things, starred review Publishers Weekly; The Last Year of the War, a Library Reads and Real Simple top pick; As Bright as Heaven, starred review from Library Journal; Secrets of a Charmed Life, a 2015 Goodreads Choice award finalist; and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten women’s fiction titles for 2014. She is also RITA finalist and Christy Award and Carol Award winner. A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University and is also a writing workshop volunteer for Words Alive, a San Diego non-profit dedicated to helping at-risk youth foster a love for reading and writing.

Mar 24, 2025 • 24min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – From Burnout to Badass: Flip the Script on Your Work-Life Story by Dana L Cox
From Burnout to Badass: Flip the Script on Your Work-Life Story by Dana L Cox
Danalcox.com
Amazon.com
From Burnout to Badass: Flip The Script on Your Work-Life Story is a cultural revolution and personal transformation guide that shatters the status quo of how we approach work, life, and success. Dana L. Cox, a seasoned business consultant and dynamic leadership expert, delivers an unapologetically bold and empowering roadmap to help you reclaim your time, energy, and purpose.
This isn't just another book filled with fluffy inspiration-it's a no-nonsense, action-packed call to greatness. Cox's electrifying voice resonates with powerful tough love and transparent honesty. She invites you to confront your reality, uncover your hidden blind spots, and challenge limiting beliefs holding you back. With her, it's not about excuses-it's about results.
What makes this book stand out is its inclusivity. Cox draws from diverse cultural perspectives, weaving insights from Asian, African-American, Latin American, and Middle Eastern experiences to create a global guide. By honoring these unique viewpoints, Cox ensures every reader finds themselves within its pages.
From Burnout to Badass positions you as the hero of your own story, equipping you with tools to reframe challenges as opportunities, realign priorities, and confidently rewrite your work-life narrative. Whether drowning in burnout or simply seeking to elevate your life to badass levels, this book is your wake-up call.
Are you ready for radical, lasting transformation? This book is not just a guide-it's a partner on your journey to reclaiming your power, rediscovering your joy, and redesigning your life on your terms. No fluff, no judgment-just real talk, practical strategies, and undeniable results. Your journey from burnout to badass starts now.

Mar 24, 2025 • 25min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Lead with Love: A Journey of Discovery by Jack Russell
Lead with Love: A Journey of Discovery by Jack Russell
Amazon.com
Selfsustainingleadership.com
Have you always known love?” a dear friend asked Jack as they were driving home on a dark, bitterly cold winter night. It took a mile or so before he responded, “Yes.” He felt the prevalent darkness deep in his being. It was an emotionally turbulent moment in his life. His wife had recently died after a short illness. But he also experienced Love in the deepest moments of his despair bringing rays of light and hope to the darkness. Yes, he could truly say that he had experienced Love’s comfort, guidance, healing, and protection in many, many ways throughout his life. His friend continued, “What is this Love that you’ve known?” Her question was the beginning of a focused journey of exploration and discovery lasting well over a decade.
In 1997, Jack created a cutting edge, quantum leadership model for the 21st century—Self-Sustaining Leadership. At its core, it says we are all connected, entangled together in a web-of-life. Leadership is about relationships; how we connect with others and ourselves in ways that contribute to our collective well-being, productivity, health, and peace. It is Love, a universal principle that sustains this connection; that connects us heart-to-heart. But how do we live this connection with ourselves and others in our daily lives? How does Love guide us to know what is the morally right thing to do in different situations? How do we practice loving ourselves so we can love others more deeply? How does fear and love motivate us in everything we do? What does Love have to do with leadership? Jack takes us on a journey of discovery in answering these questions and more. In doing so, he shows us how to lead with Love!
As I read Jack’s work,” one reader offers, “it feels like he’s sharing with me, like we’re having a conversation. He speaks to my heart.” This book is about connecting heart-to-heart.About the author
Jack is a proven leader, author, executive coach-mentor, organization trainer-instructor, and entrepreneur.
He is a leadership visionary who, in 1997, created a cutting-edge Self-Sustaining Leadership model based on the principles of quantum mechanics. It was the fulfillment of a life-long quest to discover a 21st-century model to meet the universal need for holistic, multi-dimensional, skillful, and morally courageous leaders in real-world settings. Describing his work, people comment on Jack’s visionary insights along with his integrity, trustworthiness, engagement, deep listening, and selfless heart character traits.
He has a diverse coaching, teaching and training background ranging from the U.S. Army to early child care, secondary and higher education to businesses and non-profits. Having lived and served in several countries, he brings a global perspective and a deep respect for diverse cultures to his work.
He lives among the Green Mountains of Vermont with his wife, Glenda, who partners with him in the leadership work.

Mar 24, 2025 • 32min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Hitting the Wall: Eliminate the Beliefs That Sabotage Your Business and Your Life by Shelly Lefkoe, Vahan Yepremyan
Hitting the Wall: Eliminate the Beliefs That Sabotage Your Business and Your Life by Shelly Lefkoe, Vahan Yepremyan
Amazon.com
Mortylefkoe.com
As an entrepreneur, you’re a master at solving problems and selling solutions. But limiting beliefs can still derail your progress. You struggle to delegate. Your company thrives, but your health and your nonbusiness relationships suffer.
In Hitting the Wall, Shelly Lefkoe and Vahan Yepremyan shine a light on the limiting beliefs that cause otherwise successful people to suffer from such blind spots. Discover how to identify and escape from the hidden beliefs that hold you back. Get inspired with real-life examples of people whose lives dramatically changed when they addressed the beliefs standing in their way.
Hitting the Wall shows you how to eliminate damaging behavior patterns so they no longer derail your career or decimate your relationships. Ridding yourself of inner barriers will unveil an exciting future full of more time, accomplishments, and personal freedom than you ever believed possible.About the author
Shelly Lefkoe is Co-founder and CEO of the Lefkoe Institute. An international keynote speaker and workshop leader, Shelly has helped thousands of entrepreneurs rid themselves of limiting beliefs. Her programs have reached over 150,000 people worldwide. Her work has been featured on the Today show, Leeza, and many others.

Mar 23, 2025 • 37min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Stoic Empathy: The Road Map to a Life of Influence, Self-Leadership, and Integrity by Shermin Kruse
Stoic Empathy: The Road Map to a Life of Influence, Self-Leadership, and Integrity by Shermin Kruse
Amazon.com
Sherminkruse.com
Correct the power imbalances in your work and life with a science-backed practice that combines the rigor of Stoic philosophy with the relational impact of empathy.
Stoicism combined with empathy may sound like a contradiction in terms. But when these seemingly opposing forces are harnessed together, they have the power to change your life.
From surviving missile attacks and political oppression in Iran to leading high-stakes legal teams and negotiations in corporate America, Shermin Kruse's journey fuels her mission to merge empathy and stoicism as tools for navigating power, justice, and human connection in every facet of life. In this eye-opening book, she offers you this radical perspective shift—anchored in up-to-the-minute research—to help you navigate life's challenges with power and principles.
We often think of empathy as an emotional stance: we feel what someone else is feeling. But Kruse outlines a form of empathy that’s based in cognition, not emotion—a way for us to understand what the other person is thinking and feeling while keeping a distance from their feeling state—and shows us how we can strategically maneuver our level of engagement from “emotional empathy” to “cognitive empathy” in different circumstances. Then she utilizes Stoic philosophy and modern science to outline the how of emotional regulation and control. The bridge she builds between Stoicism and empathy gives us the knowledge and discipline we need to:
Calmly assess the power dynamics of any situation
Understand and manage our own emotions as well as the emotions of others
Defuse danger and turn conflict into connection
Skillfully steer a challenging conversation toward the result we want
Whether you're a leader striving to succeed in your role with integrity, an educator seeking to guide curious minds with compassion, a parent nurturing resilience in your children, or simply facing a personal or professional crossroads, Stoic Empathy is an essential toolkit for negotiating success in every area of your life.

Mar 21, 2025 • 33min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Awakening the Advocate: Memoir of a Modern Slavery Activist by Matthew Friedman
Awakening the Advocate: Memoir of a Modern Slavery Activist by Matthew Friedman
Amazon.com
Themekongclub.org
If you're looking for a way to make a positive impact on the world, Matthew S. Friedman's inspiring book is the perfect guide. Through his incredible experiences and tireless activism over 35 years, he shows us that one person truly can create a ripple effect that leads to global change. As you read his powerful stories, you'll be reminded of the immense suffering in the world, but you'll also be uplifted by the sheer strength and determination of those who fight against it. Friedman's message is clear: we each have the power to make a difference in our own unique way. This captivating sequel to his previous memoir, ‘Where Were You: A Profile of Modern Slavery,’ is bound to leave a lasting impact on you. It will ignite your passion, challenge you, and encourage you to take action toward bringing about meaningful change. In this book, you'll learn how a once-shy boy from a New England town dedicated his life to battling the scourge of human trafficking in over 40 countries. Join us on an unforgettable journey with a man whose compassion and relentless dedication to justice have made him a global force in the fight against modern slavery. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.
About the author
Matthew Friedman is a leading, internationally renowned global expert on modern slavery and human trafficking. An award-winning public speaker, author, filmmaker, and philanthropist, Matthew regularly advises heads of governments and intelligence agencies.
As the founder and CEO of The Mekong Club, Matthew is considered the leading catalyst for the anti-slavery movement in Asia’s business sector by captains of industry.
In 2017, Matthew received the prestigious “Asia Communicator of the Year Gold Award” for giving more than 800 presentations to 80,000 people including government leaders and the Vatican on the topic of modern slavery within a five-year period in different countries. Matthew has a unique and powerful speaking style that inspires people and helps them reach their fullest potential.
Each year he is cited at least 40 times in the news media (CNN, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, the Financial Times, the Economist, etc.) and invited to speak at major international conferences around the world.
He has managed and directed tens of millions of dollars to major humanitarian portfolios impacting millions of people for the World Bank, the U.S. State Department, and the United Nations. His work over the last 30 years of pioneering and managing international anti-human trafficking projects from Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Hong Kong has given him access to many influential networks in different countries throughout the world.
Matthew is the author of 13 books ranging from action novels, non-fiction accounts of his human rights work, to a book that outlines his unique philosophy of “time.” A long-time supporter of film and the media arts, Matthew was an executive producer and advisor on four award-winning films, one of which was nominated for an Emmy and another executive produced by Emma Thompson.

Mar 21, 2025 • 23min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Warrior Soldier Brigand: Institutional Abuse within the Australian Defence Force by Ben Wadham, James Connor
Warrior Soldier Brigand: Institutional Abuse within the Australian Defence Force by Ben Wadham, James Connor
Amazon.com
Flinders.edu.au
Questions of institutional abuse have been at the centre of numerous royal commissions, inquiries and reviews of the clergy, the police and defence forces over the past decade. This scrutiny has highlighted how those organisations foster forms of violence and violation. One of their principal characteristics is that the culture of abuse and its perpetration is largely the work of men. In Warrior Soldier Brigand, Ben Wadham and James Connor argue that three pillars shape the patterns of abuse in the Australian Defence Force: martial masculinities, military exceptionalism and fraternity. Historically, the military has been an almost exclusively male domain, but since the Vietnam War it has become an all-volunteer force and more culturally diverse, a change that has proven to be profoundly challenging, and one the ADF has not always readily welcomed nor sufficiently addressed. While the ADF may train and accommodate some of the best military personnel in the world, it has not resolved the use of that violent potential against its own. Exploring the fundamental paradox that underpins abuse in the military, Wadham and Connor report on the shifting landscape of the ADF since 1969.

Mar 20, 2025 • 28min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Resurrecting America’s Entrepreneurial Spirit: A Practical Approach for Creating Jobs by Joe Nicassio
Resurrecting America's Entrepreneurial Spirit: A Practical Approach for Creating Jobs by Joe Nicassio
Amazon.com
Employeeescapeplan.com
Where Do Entrepreneurs Come From? Entrepreneurs are ordinary people, with a spirit of creativity. These people create commerce. When they are successful, they create JOBS. Every living person on this planet has the fibers of creativity, just like we all have muscle fibers. Every person on this planet has the capacity to be an entrepreneur. When we exercise our muscles, we get stronger, and if we don't, our muscles get weak, and atrophy. The same concept applies to our "business creation muscles." When we train our minds to create value, for the benefit of mankind, we become stronger entrepreneurs. When we fail to train our "business fibers," business stagnates, fewer jobs are created, and eventually, companies fold, and unemployment soars. At the time of this writing, most entrepreneurs emerge as a societal "aberration," because their Spirit is so strong, they are driven by clear purpose, a willingness to learn "whatever it takes", and overcome all environmental and psychological barriers. The thesis of this book is: In order to have a thriving capitalism tomorrow, we, as a nation, have an on-going vested interest in nurturing entrepreneurs today. The book is divided into 3 major sections. Section 1) Moving Our "Economic Mentality" From Employer-Reliance To Self-Reliance Section 2) Eliminating "Spirit Killers" & Replace Them With "Spirit Builders" Section 3) Prayerful Meditation To Build Your Personal Spirit, and Create The Conditions For Miracles To Manifest in Your Business This book is a unique approach to job creation. It is NOT about tax codes, economic policy, or regulations. It is about nurturing entrepreneurs at the grass roots level. This book will remind you that if you want a "dream job," you will need to create it for yourself. No one else is going to do it for you. If you own a business, if you want to start a business, or you are interested in education reform, you will find this book thought-provoking, insightful, and uniquely valuable.
About the author
Joe Nicassio (1961-present) was born in Los Angeles, California, he grew up in Alta Loma, California, then lived in Long Beach for 30 years. After his interest with technology, he became more interested in human nature, and obsessed with discovering "the truth" of business success. He has been a sought after marketing consultant, and named the "very best" copywriter in LA by Levine Communications Office.
He currently is an offline marketing expert.
He is active in his church.
Joe practices Shotokan Karate to keep healthy.

Mar 20, 2025 • 24min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Empowering Lives Through Genetic Testing with Dr. Matt Goldstein
Empowering Lives Through Genetic Testing with Dr. Matt Goldstein
Jscreen.org
About the Guest(s):
Dr. Matt Goldstein is a renowned physician, scientist, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing genetic research. As the CEO of JScreen, he is committed to providing accessible and life-saving genetic testing to empower individuals with crucial health insights. With a background in biotech, he has spearheaded significant initiatives, playing pivotal roles at entities like Tango Therapeutics and Neon Therapeutics. Dr. Goldstein holds an MD and PhD from Stanford University and completed his clinical training at Harvard Medical School. His dedication to proactive health management is deeply personal, influenced by the tragic loss of his eldest daughter.
Episode Summary:
In this engaging episode of The Chris Voss Show Podcast, host Chris Voss converses with the distinguished Dr. Matt Goldstein, CEO of JScreen, about revolutionary developments in genetic research and testing. Dr. Goldstein guides listeners through the intricacies of genetic testings, such as preconception carrier screening, which assesses potential hereditary conditions to better inform family planning decisions. He articulates the profound impact these advancements have on personal healthcare, influenced by his own heartbreaking experiences, notably the loss of his eldest daughter to a genetic disorder.
The conversation delves into two primary testing services offered by JScreen. Dr. Goldstein explains reproductive carrier screening, designed for individuals who plan to start families, and hereditary cancer testing, meant to identify cancer risks through genetic markers. The episode sheds light on complex parenting decisions that may arise from these tests, strategies for managing genetic risks, and the potential of technologies like CRISPR to alter gene structures as future solutions. Packed with relevant insights on prenatal health, genetic testing's significance, and the latest advancements in biotechnology, this episode underscores the importance of proactive health management.
Key Takeaways:
JScreen provides accessible genetic testing that informs individuals about hereditary health risks, fostering proactive health management.
The reproductive carrier screening mainly benefits those considering starting a family, while hereditary cancer testing helps assess cancer risks.
CRISPR technology presents a promising future by allowing scientists to edit genes, potentially eradicating inherited diseases.
Knowledge from genetic testing empowers individuals, enabling informed family planning and mitigating hereditary disease impact.
Dr. Goldstein’s personal journey, marked by his daughter's passing due to Tay-Sachs disease, highlights the essential value of precise genetic screening and its life-altering implications.
Notable Quotes:
"Prevention is the most powerful tool we have in healthcare."
"CRISPR technology is an incredible advancement that allows us to cut and paste DNA."
"The ability to use genetic testing to inform family planning decisions is an incredibly powerful technology."
"Nearly everyone will carry a variant that makes them a carrier for some disease."
"Our daughter was born on our wedding anniversary, and before long, we began a diagnostic odyssey."

Mar 19, 2025 • 24min
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – A History of the World in Six Plagues: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity Shaped Us, from Cholera to COVID-19 by Edna Bonhomme
A History of the World in Six Plagues: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity Shaped Us, from Cholera to COVID-19 by Edna Bonhomme
Amazon.com
Ednabonhomme.com
A deeply reported, insightful, and literary account of humankind’s battles with epidemic disease, and their outsized role in deepening inequality along racial, ethnic, class, and gender lines—in the vein of Medical Apartheid and Killing the Black Body.
Epidemic diseases enter the world by chance, but they become catastrophic by human design.
With clear-eyed research and lush prose, A History of the World in Six Plagues shows that throughout history, outbreaks of disease have been exacerbated by and gone on to further expand the racial, economic, and sociopolitical divides we allow to fester in times of good health.
Princeton-trained historian Edna Bonhomme’s examination of humanity’s disastrous treatment of pandemic disease takes us across place and time from Port-au-Prince to Tanzania, and from plantation-era America to our modern COVID-19-scarred world to unravel shocking truths about the patterns of discrimination in the face of disease. Based on in-depth research and cultural analysis, Bonhomme explores Cholera, HIV/AIDS, the Spanish Flu, Sleeping Sickness, Ebola, and COVID-19 amidst the backdrop of unequal public policy. But much more than a remarkable history, A History of the World in Six Plaguesis also a rising call for change.ABOUT
Edna Bonhomme is a historian of science, culture writer, and journalist based in Berlin, Germany. She writes cultural criticism, literary essays, book reviews, and opinion pieces. Her writing explores how people navigate the difficult states of health—especially subjects that discuss contagious outbreaks, medical experiments, reproductive assistance, or illness narratives. She is a contributing writer for Frieze Magazine. Her writing has appeared in Al Jazeera, The Atlantic, The Baffler, Berliner Zeitung, Esquire, Frieze, The Guardian, London Review of Books, The Nation, Washington Post, among other publications.