Stephen Riggio, the former CEO of Barnes & Noble, shares his inspiring journey of translating the epic Sicilian novel 'Sicilian Avengers.' Motivated by personal loss and a quest for connection with his Sicilian roots, he brings the story of the Beati Paoli—a secret society fighting injustice in 18th-century Sicily—to English-speaking audiences. Riggio discusses the healing power of storytelling, the challenges of translation, and his reflections on a successful retail career that began with a single bookstore.

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!The 41st Chief of Staff of the Army invites Joe to the Pentagon for a discussion on innovation, leadership, and the continuous transformation needed to keep the Army at the forefront of modern warfare. General George shares insights from his recent experiences leading the Army through complex changes, touching on battlefield innovation, training at combat training centers, and how leaders at every level must embrace risk to drive progress. In this episode, we discuss:What it means to “transform in contact”  How empowering soldiers and junior leaders to innovate is crucial for adapting to ever-changing battlefield conditions.The role of leadership in fostering a culture of growth, The importance of sharing lessons learnedHow personal and professional development go hand-in-hand with leading change.General Randy A. George assumed duties as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army on September 21, 2023.A special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Exray a veteran-owned apparel brand elevating the custom gear experience. Exray provides free design services and creates dedicated web stores for unitsMy favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here

Joseph McCormack, founder of The BRIEF Lab and author of multiple books on communication, dives into the transformative power of quiet in the workplace. He shares insights on how intentional silence enhances clarity and focus for leaders and teams. Topics include the dangers of scattered leadership, strategies for overcoming workplace distractions, and the importance of brief moments of reflection. Joe advocates for managing noise through practices like journaling and establishing quiet times, fostering a culture that thrives on clarity.

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!In this episode, Joe welcomes Chase Jarvis, a creative powerhouse, entrepreneur, and author of Never Play It Safe. Chase shares how his own journey, from professional soccer aspirations to becoming a world-renowned photographer, taught him that real growth happens on the other side of fear. Together, they dive into actionable strategies for reclaiming creativity, focusing your attention, and leveraging failure as a tool for success. Joe and Chase also discuss:Stepping out of your comfort zone for better opportunities and connections.The seven key levers for success that everyone can use.Using leverage to get maximum results with smart effort.The importance of focus, attention, and finding flow.Learning from failure and adapting quickly to succeed.Chase Jarvis is an award-winning photographer, entrepreneur, and the founder of CreativeLive, an online learning platform with over 10 million students. His work spans global campaigns for brands like Nike and Apple, and he's been named one of the most influential photographers of the last decade. Beyond photography, Chase is a best-selling author, podcast host, and a thought leader in creativity, innovation, and personal growth. His latest book, Never Play It Safe, explores the power of stepping outside your comfort zone to unlock true potential. Through his podcast and platform, Chase empowers people to pursue their passions and build meaningful careers.A special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Exray a veteran-owned apparel brand elevating the custom gear experience. Exray provides free design services and creates dedicated web stores for unitsMy favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here. 4o

Jack Carr, a former Navy SEAL turned bestselling author, returns to share insights from his nonfiction work, Targeted Beirut. He discusses the tragic 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and its lasting impact on U.S. military strategy in the War on Terror. Carr emphasizes the importance of learning from history to avoid repeating mistakes, the emotional toll on service members, and the complexities of military decisions influenced by leadership. His reflections on resilience and camaraderie among troops highlight the human side of warfare amidst strategic missteps.

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!Erin Wade, founder and former CEO of Homeroom, a mac-and-cheese restaurant in Oakland, to discuss her latest book: The Mac and Cheese Millionaire: Building a Better Business by Thinking Outside the Box and her journey from being an unfulfilled attorney to a successful entrepreneur. Erin opens up about the lessons learned while building a company culture that balances freedom with structure, and how she turned her passion into a thriving business. Joe and Erin dive into the power of titles, leadership, and the importance of creating a workplace that people genuinely want to be a part of. Episode Topics:Erin’s transition from law to the restaurant industry.The balance between freedom and structure in leadership.How facing struggles shaped Erin’s entrepreneurial journey.The role of intentional culture-building in business success.Leadership beyond titles and the power of influence.Watch the interview here.Erin Wade is a best-selling author, chef, and entrepreneur. Erin opened a cultishly popular restaurant, Homeroom, which has been covered everywhere from Cooking Channel to The Wall Street Journal. She authored The Mac & Cheese Millionaire, the best-selling The Mac and Cheese Cookbook, and a viral op-ed in the Washington Post about her restaurant’s solution to sexual harassment that was named one of the publication’s best of the year.Erin's work on business culture has been covered in Forbes and The New York Times, and she was named one of thirty-five “World-Changing Women” by Conscious Company magazine. Erin has a public policy degree from Princeton and a law degree from UC Berkeley. She lives in the Bay Area with her family and an array of surfboards.A special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Exray a veteran-owned apparel brand elevating the custom gear experience. Exray provides free design services and creates dedicated web stores for unitsMy favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here. 

Send us a textOn June 17, 2020, while deployed to Afghanistan, Jacob Cool was woken at 2 a.m. with the devastating news of his 16-year-old son’s sudden death due to an undiagnosed heart condition. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Jacob grappled with the overwhelming pain and questioned his own will to live, reflecting on how he avoided becoming another military suicide statistic. Through deep reflection, he uncovered the strength of his family's resilience, built long before the tragedy struck. Now, Jacob is on a mission to share his hard-earned wisdom on resilience and preparedness.In this powerful episode, Joe and Jacob discuss:The habits and foundational practices to cultivate before life's challenges arise.Steps to take immediately when faced with a personal tragedy.The importance of building a support system and accessing the right professional help.Life maintenance strategies to bolster physical, emotional, and spiritual health.Jacob’s journey offers proven lessons on resilience, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to prepare themselves for life’s unexpected challenges.A special thanks to this week's sponsors! Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Exray a veteran-owned apparel brand elevating the custom gear experience. Exray provides free design services and creates dedicated web stores for unitsMy favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here. 

Join Silicon Valley legend Guy Kawasaki, an influential author and chief evangelist of Canva, as he explores the essence of "doing good shit". He shares personal anecdotes on embracing vulnerability and overcoming impostor syndrome, emphasizing that failure can be a launchpad for success. Guy highlights the importance of authenticity and passion in making a meaningful impact. He uses the metaphor of life as a mosaic to illustrate how individual contributions create a larger communal tapestry, inspiring listeners to align their purpose with their actions.

General Scott Miller, a retired U.S. Army General with nearly four decades of military experience, reflects on his impactful career. He shares lessons in leadership drawn from events like the Battle of Mogadishu, emphasizing communication, trust, and resilience. Miller discusses the importance of ongoing self-development and fitness post-retirement. He also highlights the critical role of storytelling in leadership and examines current global conflicts, underscoring the need for preparation and community support for veterans.

Jeff Wetzler, an accomplished author and international management consultant, dives into the power of asking questions to unlock potential in organizations. He discusses common barriers to communication and the ASK approach, emphasizing the need for genuine curiosity in leadership. Wetzler highlights techniques for fostering a culture of openness and trust, including the 'question sandwich' and active listening. He also shares insights on using journaling for self-reflection and how leaders can transform their teams by encouraging inquiry, driving innovation, and building connections.