12 Geniuses Podcast

Hosted by Don MacPherson

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Episodes

211

Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The difference between average and greatness might be one or two well executed things. 12 Geniuses explores the highly successful people in business, athletics, and music so we can all learn how to perform at our highest level.

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June 15, 2026Episode 2642 min

An Odyssey of Resilience: Biking from Alaska to Argentina

When it comes to pushing through and achieving the unimaginable, our minds will give out well before our bodies. The question is: can you control the mind and overcome the doubts that it produces?After losing his leg in a motorcycle accident, Sam Maddaus made a decision few people would consider and even fewer would attempt: he set out alone to ride a bicycle 16,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina using a prosthetic leg.Over the course of 21 months, Sam crossed continents, endured physical pain, navigated uncertainty, confronted isolation, and repeatedly faced moments that could have ended the journey. Instead, he kept moving.In this episode of 12 Geniuses, we explore not only the expedition—but the operating system behind Sam’s extraordinary endurance.Sam shares how he prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally for an audacious goal with no guarantees. He reflects on the confidence required to begin, the role of identity after loss, and whether prior achievements mattered when facing a challenge of this scale.The conversation then turns to lessons every leader, founder, executive, and decision-maker can apply:How resilience is builtThe power and limits of self-talkWhat doubt sounds like in real timeHow to continue when quitting feels rationalDistinguishing between discomfort and painReinvention after disruptionWhat extreme adversity reveals about character, capability, and purposeHow small wins build on each other to create character, confidence, and exceptional resilienceThis is a conversation about endurance, adaptation, and discovering that your perceived limits may not be where you think they are.For global business leaders navigating volatility, change, and high-stakes decisions, Sam’s story offers a rare look at what sustained resilience actually requires.

May 12, 2026Episode 2538 min

A Navy SEAL's Guide to Raising Confident & Joyful Children

In a world of constant disruption, resilience is a superpower. In a world of convenience, ease, and growing abundance, building resilience is becoming increasingly difficult - especially among children. Grit, determination, tenacity, and resolve are valued traits, but too few parents know how to build these characteristics in their children through the “ordinary magic” of childhood.Brandon Webb is a former U.S. Navy SEAL sniper instructor and author of the book “Puddle Jumpers.” In this interview, Brandon shares how true mental toughness is built through calm consistency, emotional safety, and the everyday words our kids hear: “You’ve got this.” “Try again—I believe in you.” Brandon discusses how parents can set high expectations while giving high support—so kids feel safe enough to take risks, make mistakes, and bounce back stronger.Brandon goes on to discuss the difficult conversations - about sex, drugs, social media, and gun violence - many parents are uncomfortable having and when the appropriate timing is to introduce children to these real-world subjects. Brandon concludes with his advice for parents who want to prepare their children for the future. After leaving home at sixteen, Brandon Webb went on to become a decorated Navy SEAL sniper turned entrepreneur—but his most meaningful title is still Dad to three young adults who somehow all keep finding their way back home to raid the fridge and leave with clean laundry. As a U.S. Navy Chief, he led the Navy SEAL Sniper School, training some of America’s most legendary marksmen. He’s also a multiple New York Times bestselling author—though his kids like to remind him, “You’re still just Dad.”

April 8, 2026Episode 2442 min

Identic AI’s Productivity Explosion | Don Tapscott & Joseph Bradley

Imagine a world where the meetings people are required to attend are cut by 90% or more. Instead, leaders are able to spend more time doing higher value work connecting with other people while their “identic” selves go to meetings and do other work on their behalf. Instead of 24 hours in a day, each person can have a limitless number of AI digital twins representing them. Productivity could explode. Agentic AI - tools that can complete goal-oriented tasks for an individual - are becoming commonly used. However, Identic AI takes productivity to another level. Identic AI tools understand your judgment and values and can independently complete work and make decisions for you.  In this episode, Joseph Bradley and Don Tapscott - authors of the book “You to the Power of Two: Redefining Human Potential in the Age of Identic AI” - join the show to define what Identic AI is, they explain how these AI identities are being used, and how humans can benefit by having armies of these tools fully representing us while completing work on our behalf. The conversation continues with a discussion on how people can more effectively collaborate with AI. Joseph and Don share their ideas on how wealth disparity can be addressed and how meaning and purpose might evolve in an AI-first world. Joseph and Don argue that the most valuable asset any person will have is their identity. They make a very compelling case to support that argument. No conversation about AI innovation would be complete without exploring the benefits and risks to humanity. Don Tapscott has written 19 books and is one of the world’s leading authorities on the impact of technology on business and society. Joseph Bradley is an applied futurist and executive who is shaping the next wave of AI-powered growth and human advancement.

March 9, 2026Episode 2341 min

Generative AI: Anxiety & Ethics | Dr. Andrea Bonime-Blanc

In a world where technology is advancing faster than many people can comprehend, anxiety and uncertainty are becoming part of the human experience. Breakthroughs in generative AI, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies are transforming how we live, work, and govern ourselves faster than institutions and individuals can adapt.In this episode, global ethics expert Dr. Andrea Bonime-Blanc explores the human side of this technological acceleration. She discusses why the rapid rise of artificial intelligence is creating widespread unease, how the nature of work is likely to shift as intelligent machines become more capable, and what leaders should be doing now to prepare their people and organizations for a radically different future.Andrea also addresses how technologies should be governed when they are evolving much faster than regulation can keep up. From corporate boardrooms to national governments to global institutions, she explains the complex challenges of building ethical frameworks that allow innovation to flourish while protecting society from unintended harm.The conversation finishes with Andrea’s thoughts on how the same technologies that provoke fear could help solve some of humanity’s most difficult challenges, from healthcare breakthroughs to climate solutions. She shares what gives her hope and she provides advices for how leaders, organizations, and citizens can help ensure that powerful new technologies ultimately serve the human condition rather than undermine it.Andrea Bonime-Blanc, JD/PhD, is founder and CEO of GEC Risk Advisory, a board member, strategic advisor, and multiple book author. She specializes in the governance of change focusing on global strategic risk, leadership trust, geopolitical change, sustainability, cyber resilience, and exponential tech, advising business, NGOs, and government. Her latest book is “Governing Pandora: Leading in the Age of AI and Exponential Technology.”

February 9, 2026Episode 2233 min

Is Work Worth Saving? | Dr. Ben Zweig

Dr. Ben Zweig joins the podcast from NYU’s Stern School of Business to discuss what is wrong with the world of work and how to fix it. Ben is the author of the book “Job Architecture: Building a Language for Workforce Intelligence,” professor of Economics, and CEO of Revelio Labs. In this conversation, Ben discusses the challenges created when a new employee finds out after working a few months that the job that was described to them is different than what they are doing. Ben says this lack of clarity results in pendulum swings between rapid job expansions and mass layoffs. He also discusses how work can be better designed to be a source of dignity and purpose. Ben believes that management is about job reconfiguration in order to keep employees relevant so those employees are able to meet current and future needs at their organizations. Ben also shares his opinion on whether or not work - in an augmented world of robots and AI - should be saved. The interview finishes with a conversation about the future of work, how artificial intelligence will augment every job, and the likelihood AI and robots will be taxed in order to generate revenue to pay for universal basic income. Dr. Ben Zweig is the CEO of Revelio Labs, a workforce intelligence company that leverages the latest advances in AI research to create a universal HR database from public sources. Ben teaches courses on Data Science and The Future of Work at NYU Stern. His first book is “Job Architecture: Building a Language for Workforce Intelligence.”

January 9, 2026Episode 2145 min

Creating Dignity at Work | Bob Chapman

For 50 years, Bob Chapman was CEO of Barry-Wehmiller until his retirement in 2025. Bob’s approach to organizational culture is unique and inspiring. He believes the workplace should be a source of dignity that enables every team member to flourish. This approach is the subject of Bob’s book “Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Treating Your People Like Family” and the ethos behind Barry-Wehmiller’s success. In this interview, Bob and host Don MacPherson discuss what it looks like to have leaders throughout an organization care for their people like members of their own family. They discuss the advantages of creating a culture where people are willing to sacrifice for one another and how to create that culture throughout a multinational organization with thousands of team members. The interview continues with a conversation about managing poor performance, surviving economic downturns, and Bob shares his thoughts on the ways he believes artificial intelligence will change and enhance organizations around the world. Recently recognized as a 2025 Top 50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc., Bob Chapman became the senior executive of Barry-Wehmiller in 1975 at age 30 - a position he held until 2025. In 2022, Chapman was named the Tharseō CEO of the Year by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He’s been ranked as the #3 CEO in the world in an Inc. article, and a Top 10 Social Capital CEO by International Business Times.

December 10, 2025Episode 2046 min

The Psychology of Leadership | Sébastien Page

Sébastien Page is Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of “The Psychology of Leadership.” In this interview, Sébastien discusses what he has learned about sports psychology that applies to leading in the corporate environment and in the management of $500B in assets at T. Rowe Price. The conversation continues as Sébastien dives into the psychological principles that distinguish truly great leaders from good ones and how leaders can use positive psychology to better run their teams. Sébastien also talks about how relationship development and trust creation are crucial to thriving in an economy enhanced by artificial intelligence. Sébastien concludes the interview by providing tips on stress management, sharing how to avoid goal-induced blindness, and giving advice for people who want to guide their team members into a rapidly-changing future. Sébastien Page is Head of Global Multi-Asset and Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price. He oversees a team of investment professionals actively managing over $500 billion in assets under management. Sébastien won research paper awards from The Journal of Portfolio Management in 2003, 2010, 2011, and 2022 and the Financial Analysts Journal in 2010 and 2014. In addition to The Psychology of Leadership, he is the author of Beyond Diversification: What Every Investor Needs to Know About Asset Allocation (McGraw Hill, 2020) and the coauthor of Factor Investing and Asset Allocation (CFA Institute Research Foundation, 2016).Sébastien is also a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Portfolio Management and the Financial Analysts Journal, and the Board of Directors of the Institute for Quantitative Research in Finance (Q Group). He regularly appears in the media, including Bloomberg TV and CNBC, and was recently named amongst the 15 Top Voices in Finance by LinkedIn.

November 11, 2025Episode 1936 min

The U.S. Marine Corps: 250 Years of Tradition & Innovation

One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history. In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why he believes the Marine Corps is so resilient and has maintained its relevance throughout its history. Ben also discusses what leaders in business can learn from the Marine Corps culture, discipline, and approach to leading through uncertainty. Ben also looks into the future while sharing what he believes the next 25 to 50 years will look like for the Marines. In a sign that “imitation is the sincerest form of flatter,”  Ben finishes the conversation by talking about how other countries have attempted to pattern portions of their militaries after the United States Marine Corps. Ben Davenport retired from active duty following 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Naval Aviator, an operational planner, and an Olmsted Scholar. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Masters of Art in International Law and Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Fudan University, People’s Republic of China; Masters of Art in Operational Studies from Marine Corps University; Graduate from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), and Graduate from the Grand Strategy program with a Master of Strategic studies from Air University.Ben is currently serving as the Deterrence Analyst and Strategic Advisor on China with NATO Allied Command Transformation, one of two Bi-Strategic Operational Commands within the NATO Alliance.

November 1, 2025Episode 1930 min

Teens & Tech | Dr. Jean Twenge

Parenting today often feels like an uphill battle, with technology invading every corner of our kids’ lives. From the rise of social media addiction to the growing mental health crisis among children and teens, parents are grappling with how they can create a healthy, balanced relationship with technology for their kids.In this interview, Dr. Jean Twenge draws on her decades as a psychologist studying the impact of technology and mental health and her personal experience as the mother of three teenagers. She describes how technology is harming children and how that harm has grown in recent years. She goes on to describe the damage to the minds of teens caused by social media usage, video gaming, and pornography consumption. She shares how she'd like lawmakers to regulate tech usage among teens and younger children. Dr. Twenge also shares the risks AI companions pose to teen development and, drawing from her book 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, she provides guidance for ways in which parents and teachers can help raise independent, well-rounded children in a tech-centric world. Dr. Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, is the author of more than 190 scientific publications and books. Her books include 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, Generations, iGen, Generation Me, and others. Dr. Twenge frequently gives talks and seminars on generational differences and technology based on a dataset of 43 million people. Her research has been covered in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, and The Washington Post, and she has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Real Time with Bill Maher, Meet the Press, Fox and Friends, NBC Nightly News, Dateline NBC, and National Public Radio.She holds a BA and MA from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

October 14, 2025Episode 1845 min

The Rise & Risk of AI Companions | Mandy McLean

Most people have an understanding of just how devastating social media and unrestrained access to technology have been to teens and young adults. What’s less understood is what the next threat is going to be to young people and their mental health. Evidence is mounting that it’s likely to be artificial intelligence and the very strange relationships people are starting to create with AI companions. People are using AI as their coaches, therapists, trusted friends, and even their romantic partners. According to Common Sense Media, more than half of American teens are using AI companions at least once a month. What’s forgotten is the deep, dark secrets being shared with AI companions are not protected or private. More concerning, many users lose touch with the fact that the AI companions are not real people. In this episode, Mandy McLean, CEO of ClassWaves, discusses what AI companions are, the risks they pose to users, why AI companions are appealing, and what parents and educators should be doing to avoid safety and manipulation risks AI companions introduce to students. Mandy says now is the perfect moment for AI companions to exponentially grow because of the loneliness epidemic, the amount of time people are spending using digital devices, and the quality of the AI companions in market. Mandy also discusses what is likely happening to the brains of children who frequently use AI companions. She talks about what happens to people who lose an “AI spouse” when outdated technology is sunset. She closes out the interview by providing advice to parents and educators who want to help children avoid the dangerous use of AI companions and she shares what is filling her with a sense of optimism. Mandy McLean is the co-founder and CEO of ClassWaves, an AI-powered platform that helps teachers transform learning by fostering learner agency and social capital through dialogue. A former high school teacher with a PhD in education and statistics, she has spent over a decade studying how people learn and later held leadership roles at Guild as Director of Research, Head of Applied Science, and Director of AI Transformation. At ClassWaves, Mandy is redefining the teacher’s role—not as a content deliverer, but as a guide for deeper conversation and connection. She also writes on Substack and speaks widely about education, adolescent development, and the social impact of technology. She lives in Colorado with her husband, two kids, and two cats, and she loves running, mountain adventures, and exploring big questions.