History’s Greatest Leaders

From Elizabeth I to Joan of Arc, this season of History's Greatest Leaders has explored some of the past's most powerful people. But what are the recurring skills and traits that made them so formidable? In this special bonus episode, Mike Soutar speaks to HistoryExtra's David Musgrove about what he's learned from his conversations with the experts – and what looking to history can reveal about leadership today, in the 21st century.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

For more on the life and times of History's Greatest Leaders, don’t miss our curated collection of articles, podcasts and videos: ⁠https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/beyond-the-podcast-historys-greatest-leaders/⁠

Catch up on previous episodes on our YouTube channel here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@historyextra⁠

And check out the HistoryExtra app for our full archive here: ⁠https://www.historyextra.com/the-historyextra-app/
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From peasant to martyr, rebellious teenager to national icon, Joan of Arc’s story is one of the most remarkable chapters of medieval history. But how much is it grounded in reality? And what does her meteoric rise, and equally dizzying decline, tell us about the importance of persuasion, self-belief, and leadership authority?

In this episode, Mike Soutar is joined by historian, author and broadcaster Janina Ramirez to explore those questions and more – and to investigate just how far having the courage of your convictions can take you.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

For more on Joan of Arc's life and times, don’t miss our curated collection of articles, podcasts and videos: ⁠https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/beyond-the-podcast-historys-greatest-leaders/⁠

Watch Mike’s interview with Janina on our YouTube channel here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@historyextra⁠

And check out the HistoryExtra app for our full archive here: ⁠https://www.historyextra.com/the-historyextra-app/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The trail of devastation that Genghis Khan left in his wake means that his name is now synonymous with brutality and bloodshed. But there’s another side to the medieval Mongol leader that we should also consider – his ability to manage a complex organisation. So how did he combine destruction with administration to become so terrifyingly successful? And why might this success have lessons for us in the 21st century?

To explore these questions and more, Mike Soutar is joined by historian and author Nicholas Morton, who offers new insights into why this figure of fear is more complicated than we might expect.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

For more on Genghis Khan's life and times, don’t miss our curated collection of articles, podcasts and videos: ⁠https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/beyond-the-podcast-historys-greatest-leaders/⁠

Watch Mike’s interview with Nicholas on our YouTube channel here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@historyextra⁠

And check out the HistoryExtra app for our full archive here: ⁠https://www.historyextra.com/the-historyextra-app/⁠
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She may not be well known to us today, but Zenobia – who was queen of what’s now Syria in the third century BC – definitely deserves to be. That’s because she took on the might of the Roman empire and, for a short time at least, emerged victorious. So how did she succeed where so many others failed? Was she a skilled leader, or merely an opportunist taking advantage of her opponent’s weakened circumstances?In this episode, historian and author Shushma Malik talks to Mike Soutar about the remarkable story of this forgotten female leader – and whether her eventual downfall can offer any lessons about the dangers of aiming too high.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

For more on Zenobia's life and times, don’t miss our curated collection of articles, podcasts and videos: https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/beyond-the-podcast-historys-greatest-leaders/

Watch Mike’s interview with Shushma on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@historyextra

And check out the HistoryExtra app for our full archive here: https://www.historyextra.com/the-historyextra-app/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Few brands are as famous as Disney. From animation blockbusters to theme parks and TV series, it’s a name with enormous cultural cachet around the world. But what do we know about Walt Disney himself? Was he the avuncular, creative genius of his public persona, or do some of the darker tales about the man – of his ruthlessness and need for control – have some truth to them?

In this episode, Christopher Holliday – senior lecturer in liberal arts and visual cultures education at King’s College London – tells Mike Soutar about the man who came to represent an entire industry, and asks whether his story has lessons for creative leaders in the modern world.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

For more on Walt Disney's life and times, don’t miss our curated collection of articles, podcasts and videos: https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/beyond-the-podcast-historys-greatest-leaders/

Watch Mike’s interview with Christopher on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@historyextra

And check out the HistoryExtra app for our full archive here: https://www.historyextra.com/the-historyextra-app/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices