The Bad Leadership Podcast cover art

The Bad Leadership Podcast

The Bad Leadership Podcast

By: Nathan Pali
Listen for free

About this listen

The Bad Leadership Podcast is a history-driven show about the worst leadership decisions ever made—and the people who made them.

Each episode examines real moments in history where leaders failed spectacularly: strategic blunders, ethical breakdowns, toxic authority, and ego-driven decisions that led to disaster. These aren’t hindsight-is-20/20 critiques. They’re deep dives into how intelligent, powerful people make catastrophically bad choices when pressure, fear, pride, and incentives collide.

Through storytelling and analysis, the show unpacks bad leadership, failed decision-making, organizational collapse, political miscalculation, and the psychology of power. You’ll hear how armies were lost, companies imploded, movements collapsed, and entire nations paid the price for one leader’s blind spot.

This podcast isn’t about inspirational quotes or leadership hacks. It’s about the consequences of poor leadership, unchecked authority, and leaders who stopped listening.

If you’re fascinated by leadership failures, historical disasters, power dynamics, management mistakes, and the uncomfortable truth that bad leadership is usually obvious—just not to the person in charge—this show is for you.

The Bad Leadership Podcast Because leadership lessons are often written in mistakes, not victories.

© 2026 The Bad Leadership Podcast All rights reserved.
Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Bernard Kornfeld's Mutual Fund Empire
    Jan 30 2026
    In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of Bernard Kornfeld, an American salesman who built one of the world's largest mutual fund empires, Investors Overseas Services (IOS). We discuss how his relentless pursuit of growth and confidence ultimately led to its collapse, leaving a trail of financial devastation.          Chapters    00:00 Introduction to Bernard Kornfeld    00:40 Formation of IOS and Sales Strategy    04:46 The Downfall of IOS    10:12 Aftermath and Lessons Learned
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • Oleg Penkovsky: The Soviet Colonel Who Saw Through the Bluff
    Jan 29 2026
    In this episode, we explore the story of Oleg Penkovsky, a Soviet GRU colonel who became a crucial Cold War spy after realizing the Soviet leadership was dangerously misguided about their missile capabilities. We learn how his intelligence disclosures significantly impacted the Cuban Missile Crisis, allowing the West to navigate the precarious situation with vital insights.          Chapters    00:00 Introduction to Oleg Penkovsky    00:42 Penkovsky's Rise and Realization    04:56 The Decision to Spy and its Impact    10:26 Capture, Execution, and Legacy
    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • Leadership by Delay: How James Buchanan Let the Civil War Happen
    Jan 16 2026

    James Buchanan believed that staying calm and following the letter of the law would save the Union. Instead, his refusal to act accelerated its collapse. This episode examines Buchanan’s presidency, the Dred Scott decision, secession, and why delay can be the most dangerous leadership strategy of all.

    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
No reviews yet