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Leadership Under Pressure

Leadership Under Pressure

By: Nathan Pali
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About this listen

Leadership Under Pressure is a history and leadership podcast about what happens when leaders are forced to decide with incomplete information, limited time, and everything on the line.

Each episode examines real moments from history where leadership was tested by crisis, uncertainty, and high stakes. Some leaders rose to the moment. Many did not. The show explores decision-making under pressure, leadership failure, judgment errors, power dynamics, and how stress, fear, and urgency change the way leaders think.

From military and political crises to organizational and cultural turning points, this podcast breaks down how leaders respond when plans collapse, advice conflicts, and consequences are unavoidable. You’ll hear how small choices made under pressure can spiral into catastrophic failure, unintended consequences, or lasting change.

This is not a leadership theory podcast or a collection of motivational stories. It’s a narrative-driven exploration of real leadership decisions from history, focusing on crisis leadership, management under stress, and why pressure reveals more about leadership than success ever does.

If you’re interested in leadership under pressure, crisis decision-making, leadership lessons from history, and understanding how power behaves in moments that can’t be rehearsed—this podcast is for you.

Leadership Under Pressure Because leadership is defined in moments that don’t allow do-overs.

© 2026 Leadership Under Pressure All rights reserved.
Education
Episodes
  • America's Red Scares: Palmer & McCarthy
    Feb 19 2026

    In this episode, we explore the historical context of America's 'Red Scares,' examining the events of 1919 and 1950. We uncover how figures like A. Mitchell Palmer and Joseph McCarthy leveraged fear and suspicion to gain power, ultimately damaging institutions and individual lives.

    Chapters

    00:00 The 1919 Palmer Raids

    00:47 J. Edgar Hoover's Role

    04:33 McCarthyism in 1950

    11:49 Lessons from History

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    11 mins
  • A Case Study in Leadership Failure: James Buchanan
    Jan 17 2026

    This episode isn’t about villains—it’s about hesitation. James Buchanan had warnings, power, and time. What he lacked was the willingness to risk short-term chaos to prevent long-term disaster. A leadership case study with modern relevance.

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    10 mins
  • Leadership Failure: Saddam's Paper Tiger Military
    Feb 18 2026

    In this episode, we analyze the catastrophic collapse of the Iraqi army in 1991, highlighting how Saddam Hussein's fear-based leadership led to a culture of misinformation and ultimately, military defeat. We also discuss the crucial role of psychological safety in command structures and how its absence can lead to organizational breakdown.

    Chapters

    00:00 Saddam's Fear-Based Leadership

    00:18 The 'Mother of All Battles' Mindset

    04:05 Fear-Based Command Structure

    06:43 Ground War and Leadership Paralysis

    09:49 The Highway of Death

    13:21 Lack of Mission Command

    17:05 Psychological Safety Checkpoints

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    11 mins
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