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How to Take Over the World
How to Take Over the World
Author: Ben Wilson
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© 2025
Description
Anyone who has achieved greatness has, in part, patterned themselves after those who came before. Napoleon learned from Charlemagne, Charlemagne learned from Caesar, and Caesar learned from Alexander the Great. This podcast analyzes the lives of some of the greatest men and women to ever live. By examining their strategies, tactics, mindset, and work habits, How to Take Over the World helps you understand the great ones, so that you can follow in their footsteps.
139 Episodes
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In part 3, we explore how Hitler went from taking over Europe to losing everything.
00:00 Introduction
06:51 Reichstag Fire
09:44 Working Toward the Führer
14:40 Night of the Long Knives
22:18 Rearmament
23:26 Rhineland Reoccupation
31:37 Berlin Olympics
42:03 Anschluss
44:51 Sudetenland
48:15 Czechoslovakia
53:45 Pact With Stalin
01:01:11 Phony War
01:03:17 Norway to Fall of France
01:06:16 Dunkirk and Aftermath
01:11:59 Battle of Britain Blitz
01:14:31 Barbarossa
01:20:08 Wolfsschanze And Early Confidence
01:21:08 Genocidal War
01:25:53 Winter Pushback
01:31:43 War With America Declared
01:34:31 Operation Blue
01:36:51 Stalingrad Catastrophe
01:39:31 Kursk And Lost Initiative
01:42:16 Allies Coordinate Axis Fractures
01:46:27 Unconditional Surrender Debate
01:49:19 D Day And July Plot
01:53:33 Bunker Collapse And Suicide
01:56:13 Conclusion
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Sources:
Hitler: A Biography by Ian Kershaw
Hitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny by RHS Stolfi
Hitler: A Global Biography by Brendan Simms
In His Own Words: The Essential Speeches of Adolf Hitler by CJ Miller
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler (New Ford Translation)
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The Classical Society
David Senra Podcast
Zodl (The new Zashi wallet)
Speechify
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* This episode is brought to you by Incogni. Go to Incogni.com/takeover for 60% off.
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In this premium-only episode, we take a deeper look into the mind and philosophy of Adolf Hitler. Drawing from Mein Kampf (Parts I and II) and his unfinished second book, we examine how he saw the world and how that worldview shaped his actions.
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In part 2, we look at how Hitler went from building a movement to taking total power in Germany.
00:00 - How Tyrants Take Power
01:30 - Beer Hall Putsch Begins
08:00 - Hitler Sways the Crowd
12:50 - The Coup Collapses
23:30 - The Trial of the Century
38:30 - Writing Mein Kampf
44:00 - Lebensraum Vision
51:20 - The Great Reunification
58:00 - Bamberg Power Play
01:03:17 - 25 Point Program
01:08:04 - Anti-Clericalism
01:21:14 - Building For the Future
01:29:24 - Weimar System Primer
01:33:49 - Hitler Runs For President
01:36:22 - Refusing Vice Chancellor
01:43:34 - Hitler Strategy Doing Nothing
01:59:00 - Enabling Act Ends Democracy
02:05:48 - Reichstag Fire Crackdown
02:11:22 Four Lessons Wrap Up
Sources:
Hitler: A Biography by Ian Kershaw
Hitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny by RHS Stolfi
Hitler: A Global Biography by Brendan Simms
In His Own Words: The Essential Speeches of Adolf Hitler by CJ Miller
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler (New Ford Translation)
-----
Sponsors:
The Classical Society
David Senra Podcast
Zodl (The new Zashi wallet)
Speechify
* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
* This episode is brought to you by Incogni. Go to Incogni.com/takeover for 60% off.
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How did Hitler rise from being a shiftless, borderline-homeless bohemian, to creating one of the largest mass movements of the 20th century? And what can we learn about building a movement from him?
00:00 Hitler Finds His Voice03:15 Why Study Hitler06:20 Birth and Family Roots12:00 School and Artist Dreams17:00 Vienna Bound26:00 Homelessness and Hustle33:00 Steve Jobs Comparison34:30 Conversion to Antisemitism48:30 Habsburg Multicultural Backlash52:55 Munich Move and Draft Dodge01:00:00 World War 101:08:50 Gas Attack and Defeat01:16:15 Spying on German Workers Party01:24:15 Hitler Becomes Party Star01:33:45 Rhetoric Tools and Practice01:39:00 Controversy Marketing Tactics01:42:00 NSDAP Growth and Branding01:46:40 SA Formation and Power Grab01:53:15 Crisis and Coup Planning02:00:38 Beer Hall Putsch02:02:30 Closing Quotes and Next Steps-----Sources:Hitler: A Biography by Ian KershawHitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny by RHS StolfiHitler: A Global Biography by Brendan SimmsIn His Own Words: The Essential Speeches of Adolf Hitler by CJ MillerMein Kampf by Adolf Hitler (New Ford Translation)-----Sponsors:The Classical SocietyDavid Senra PodcastZodl (The new Zashi wallet)Speechify
* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
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Stanford GSB professor Jeffrey Pfeffer breaks down his 7 rules for taking power.
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The Classical Society
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This episode explores the thought of Gustave Le Bon was a French researcher and writer whose seminal work, The Crowd, greatly influenced Adolf Hitler and was partially responsible for teaching him how to be a great speaker at mass rallies.
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In this episode of How to Take Over the World, I do something a little different. Instead of breaking down one life, I share my top 10 leadership lessons drawn from every episode I released in 2025.
00:00 Introduction and Overview
02:19 Communicate Clearly at Scale
06:17 Define Your Myth
10:12 Seize Your Moment
13:28 Be Alone to Think, Collaborate to Build
16:33 Antis Inspiration
18:58 Make Extreme Decisions Quickly
24:31 Decision-Making Frameworks
28:06 Going a Little Too Far
31:20 The Power of Knowing What You Want
34:58 Being Competitively Playful
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Andrew Carnegie names his price. J.P. Morgan accepts. In a single moment, a poor Scottish immigrant becomes the richest man in the world. But that is just the beginning of Andrew Carnegie's story.
00:00 The Historic Deal: Carnegie and Morgan
02:50 Introduction to Part Two: Carnegie's Early Success
08:00 Navigating Recessions and Strategic Acquisitions
14:28 Labor Relations and Strikes
22:32 Carnegie's Reputation and Industry Dominance
30:39 Carnegie's Philanthropic Beginnings
31:45 The Sale to JP Morgan and US Steel Formation
40:54 Carnegie's Efforts for Peace and Anti-Colonialism
45:39 The Impact of World War I on Carnegie
47:33 Key Takeaways from Carnegie's Life
50:50 Conclusion
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Sponsors:
David Senra Podcast
Zashi Wallet
Speechify
The Classical Society
----
Sources:
Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw
* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
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The rise of Andrew Carnegie from a poor Scottish weaver's boy to becoming an American millionaire.00:00 Introduction
03:00 Carnegie's Early Life and Inspirations
07:50 Coming to America
12:00 The Power of Self-Education
28:15 Becoming a Capitalist: The Adams Express Investment
36:30 Rapid Rise in the Railroad Industry
42:15 Carnegie's Role in the Civil War
50:30 Carnegie's Business Philosophy and Networking
56:15 Final Reflections and Takeaways----Sponsors:David Senra PodcastZashi WalletSpeechify----Sources:Autobiography of Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie by David Nasaw
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Description
This episode explores the extraordinary life of Ernest Shackleton and the impossible challenges he faced at the edge of the world. Through his failures, decisions, and unbreakable resolve, we uncover timeless lessons on leadership under extreme pressure.
00:00 The Endurance's Final Moments02:19 Introduction to Ernest Shackleton05:32 The Nimrod Expedition and Beyond14:15 Setting Sail and Early Challenges24:27 The Endurance is Crushed35:10 Shackleton's Leadership and Shared Hardships39:01 Launching the Boats to Elephant Island47:17 Reaching Elephant Island52:47 The Treacherous Voyage to South Georgia01:05:27 Rescue and Return01:07:05 Lessons from Shackleton's Expedition
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Sponsors:
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Speechify.com/ben - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium
Founders Podcast
Coaching
----
Stay in touch:Twitter/X: @BenWilsonTweets
Instagram: @HTTOTW
Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com
----Sources:
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible VoyageSouth!: The Story of Shackleton's Last ExpeditionShackleton by Ranulph Fiennes
* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
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The latter half of Cleopatra's life, from the death of Caesar until her own death.00:00 Cleopatra's Fall from Power04:15 Meeting Mark Antony11:00 Cleopatra and Antony's Alliance21:40 The Birth of a New Dynasty29:00 The Donations of Alexandria35:00 The Final Civil War of the Roman Republic38:00 The Battle of Actium43:00 The Aftermath of Actium and Antony's Despair47:38 The Tragic Deaths of Antony and Cleopatra56:30 Cleopatra's Legacy and Final Reflections----
Sponsors:Zashi for Z Cash
GainsInBulk.com/ben - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more
Speechify.com/ben - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium
Founders PodcastCoaching----
Stay in touch:Twitter/X: @BenWilsonTweets
Instagram: @HTTOTW
Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com----Sources: Plutarch's Life of Marc Antony
Cassius Dio Volumes V and VI
Cleopatra: A Life
* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
* This episode is brought to you by Incogni. Go to Incogni.com/takeover for 60% off.
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Cleopatra took over a kingdom, expanded it, captured the heart of the world's most powerful man, and lived one of the most iconic and controversial lives of all time. On this episode, we explore how she did it.
00:00 Caesar's Egyptian Dilemma
02:40 Introduction to Cleopatra
04:30 Cleopatra's Early Life and Education
14:40 Cleopatra's Rise to Power
24:00 The Encounter with Julius Caesar
31:00 The Siege of Alexandria
34:00 Cleopatra's Strategic Moves
49:00 Cleopatra's Public Relations in Rome
54:00 Key Takeaways from Cleopatra's Story
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Sponsors:
HTTOTW Premium - For part 2, all endnotes, takeaways, and bonus episodes, subscribe to How to Take Over the World Premium
Zashi for Z Cash
GainsInBulk.com/ben - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more
Speechify.com/ben - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium
Founders Podcast
Coaching
---
Stay in touch:
Twitter/X: @BenWilsonTweets
Instagram: @HTTOTW
Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com
Sources:
Plutarch's Life of Marc Antony
Cassius Dio Volumes V and VI
Cleopatra: A Life
* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
* This episode is brought to you by Incogni. Go to Incogni.com/takeover for 60% off.
-----
Lee Kuan Yew took a crowded, dirty, poor port town, and turned it into one of the world's great cities. How was he able to lead such an incredible transformation of Singapore?
00:00 Introduction
03:50 Early Life and Education
12:00 The Japanese Occupation and Its Impact
17:30 Post-War Singapore and the Road to Independence
24:45 The People's Action Party and Early Governance
37:30 Operation Coldstore and the Fight Against Communism
40:00 Ethnic Tensions and Operation Cold Store
41:15 Formation of Malaysia and Rising Tensions
42:30 Singapore's Expulsion and Independence
43:50 Lee Kuan Yew's Emotional Address
46:40 Building a Defense Strategy
51:20 Lee Kuan Yew's Ideology and Governance
59:00 Economic Growth and Development
01:06:20 Social Progress and Urban Development
01:15:00 Conclusion and Legacy
---
Sponsors:
Zashi for Z Cash
HTTOTW Premium - For all endnotes, takeaways, and bonus episode, subscribe to How to Take Over the World Premium
GainsInBulk.com/ben - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more
Speechify.com/ben - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium
Founders Podcast
Coaching
---
Stay in touch:
Twitter/X: @BenWilsonTweets
Instagram: @HTTOTW
Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com
Sources:
No Man Is An Island: A Portrait of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew by James Minchin
Lee Kuan Yew: The Grandmaster's Insights on China, United States, and the World by Graham Allison, Michael McConnohie, et al.
From Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yew
Singapore: A Modern History by Michael D Barr
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Writing, research, and production by Ben Wilson.
* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
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Thoughts on Peter Thiel's Zero to One.
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00:00 Why this episode
05:15 Horizontal vs. Vertical Progress
09:19 The Importance of Startups and Monopolies
23:33 Definite Optimism vs. Indefinite Optimism
37:10 Power Laws and Their Impact
45:58 The Importance of Company Foundations
46:51 Building a Strong Company Culture
50:47 The Role of Vision
51:47 The Cult-Like Nature of Successful Startups
53:21 The Necessity of Sales and Marketing
55:25 The Paradox of Founders
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- Founders Podcast
- Zashi
- Coaching
- Buy Zero to One
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Stay In Touch
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- Twitter/X - @BenWilsonTweets
- Instagram - @HTTOTW
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This episode explores Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy on how to live a life worthy of eternity. It delves into Nietzsche's concept of eternal recurrence, where one's life would have to be lived over and over again, and asks if such a life would be fulfilling and self-justifying.00:00 Introduction: Measuring a Good Life03:30 Eternal Recurrence: Thought Experiment or Truth?08:30 Nietzsche's Moment of Affirmation13:00 Instinct vs. Reason: Nietzsche's Perspective17:00 The Singular Vision: Striving for Greatness21:15 Understanding the Higher Self22:00 Defining Yourself by Your Best Moments22:40 The Importance of Mastering a Craft26:45 The Metaphor of Dance in Life34:35 Nietzsche's Life Advice-----Sponsors:- Austin AI Lab- GainsInBulk.com/ben - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more- Speechify.com/ben - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium- Founders Podcast----Stay In Touch- Sign up for the newsletter at takeoverpod.com- Twitter/X - @BenWilsonTweets- Instagram - @HTTOTW
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The second half of Nietzsche's life, and his teachings about the superhuman (ubermensch) the last man, and the will to power.
00:00 Nietzsche's Radical Response to the Death of God02:20 Nietzsche's Life and Career06:00 Nietzsche's Views on Nationalism and Antisemitism17:00 Nietzsche's Personal Struggles and Relationships19:00 Nietzsche's Major Works and Philosophical Contributions33:00 Debating the Cause of Nietzsche's Death38:00 The Philosophy of the Superhuman51:00 The Aristocratic Society57:30 Will to Power: Nietzsche's Core Doctrine01:07:30 Nietzsche's Philosophy Summarized01:15:00 Nietzsche's Popularity and Misinterpretations
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This episode covers the first half of Friedrich Nietzsche's life, his concept "the death of God" and master vs slave morality.
00:00 - Nietzsche's Radical Philosophy
01:20- The Life of Friedrich Nietzsche: Early Years
04:00 - Nietzsche's Academic Journey
08:30 - The Influence of Schopenhauer and Wagner
18:30 - Nietzsche's First Major Work: The Birth of Tragedy
25:39 - The Controversy and Criticism
30:00 - Nietzsche's Non-Systematic Approach
32:10 - The Death of God
37:30 - The Origins of Morality
40:45 - Christianity and Slave Morality
47:45 - Nietzsche's Critique of Modern Europe
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- Founders Podcast
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Stay In Touch
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* This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Go to HelixSleep.com/TakeOverPod for 20% off your purchase.
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For centuries, Rome grew unchecked, until one man was able to reverse their fortunes, and free his country. On this episode, we take a look at the story of Arminius, and what it teaches us about how to overcome an unstoppable force.
00:00 Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
03:00 Introduction to Arminius
05:40 Understanding the Germanic Tribes
13:00 Arminius' Early Life and Roman Service
21:00 The Rebellion Begins
25:00 Varus's Leadership in Germany
27:23 The Battle of Teutoburg Forest Revisited
31:30 Aftermath and Roman Reaction
34:20 Arminius' Legacy and Influence
46:20 Lessons from Arminius' Life
----
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Is Roger Federer the greatest tennis player of all time? Despite not being the winningest player, many people make exactly that argument. What is it about Federer that inspires such admiration, and why can he rightly be called the greatest of all time?
00:00 Introduction: The Enigma of Roger Federer
01:00 Federer's Unique Playfulness
03:45 Early Life and Childhood
05:00 Adolescence and Early Tennis Career
07:30 Struggles and Triumphs in Junior Tennis
22:00 The Turning Point: Peter Carter's Influence
33:00 The Federer Era
40:00 The Rise of Rafael Nadal
50:00 Federer's Late Career Resurgence
56:00 The 2017 Australian Open Comeback
01:06:40 Federer's Final Years and Retirement
01:08:30 Reflections on Federer's Career and Legacy
----
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This is an episode of Becoming the Main Character, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts.
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Stay In Touch
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I would never trust a yankee to do an accurate biography of a political enemy
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This is supposed to be unbiased? It completely glosses over anything negative. I'll give the second episode a listen, but if it doesn't get around to addressing the darker side of Brigham Young and the early LDS church than I'm going to give up on this podcast; so far, it just feels dishonest.
you ever coming back?
🤩
Put some btc, eth and cardano adress
great caster
yoski yoski it's good to see you back broski
great to see you back again. love the podcast
This podcast takes about Putin are American-Biased. Unproven assumptions, exaggerations, manichean. It's quite disappointing to invest almost 2hs listening to both episodes and come to realise this.
A great one 👍🏻