From The Green Notebook

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No More Business as Usual: Secretary Dan Driscoll on Fighting for the Force Jun 12, 2025

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In this candid conversation, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll joins Joe to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to modernize a military while staying grounded in soldier-level feedback. From wrestling with “irrationality and stupidity at scale” in the Pentagon to launching the Army Transformation Initiative, Driscoll shares why he’s flipping tables—sometimes almost literally—to give soldiers the tools and trust they need to win the next fight.

In this episode, they explore:

How a 15-year “gap decade” in law, finance, and private equity enriched Driscoll’s return to uniform and deepened his respect for everyday soldiers
The Army Transformation Initiative—delivering critical warfighting capabilities, optimizing force structure, and eliminating waste and obsolete programs
A Fort Jackson drone drill where recruits with just five weeks in the Army changed training doctrine—proof that innovation starts at E-1
Seasons vs. “work-life balance”: why high-tempo service demands conscious trade-offs at home, and how Driscoll keeps perspective as a husband and dad of two
The IED-factory raid where rules forbade cutting a $2 padlock, and what it taught him about broken feedback loops in combat
Concrete ways leaders at every level can accelerate change: send honest ground-truth up the chain, embrace small-unit credit-card innovation, and demand that processes serve soldiers first

Whether you’re a private, a Pentagon staffer, or a curious civilian, this episode offers a front-row seat to the Army’s most ambitious overhaul in decades—and a master class in leading large-scale change without losing sight of character, family, and the people who do the fighting.

Daniel P. Driscoll is the 26th Secretary of the Army, sworn in on February 25, 2025. He leads the Army’s efforts in operations, modernization, and resource management for nearly one million Soldiers and more than 265,000 Army Civilians.

A former Army officer and business executive, Driscoll brings a diverse background in military service, law, and the private sector. Commissioned as an Armor Officer in 2007, he served with the 10th Mountain Division and deployed to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His military honors include the Army Commendation Medal, Ranger Tab, and Combat Action Badge.

Following his service, he earned a J.D. from Yale Law School and held leadership roles in investment banking, private equity, and venture capital, including serving as COO of a $200 million fund. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He is married to his high-school sweetheart, and they have two children.

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Wandering into the Woods: Sarah Blake Morgan on Ego Death and Finding Purpose May 31, 2025

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In this powerful conversation, award-winning journalist turned Army officer Sarah Blake Morgan joins Joe for a raw and reflective discussion on identity, purpose, and what happens when we step away from the life we always thought we wanted.

From chasing stories as a national correspondent for the Associated Press to standing in formation at Army basic training at age 31, Sarah opens up about what led her to leave a successful journalism career behind—and what she’s discovered about herself in the process.

In this episode, they explore:

The slow erosion of purpose that pushed her out of journalism
Why sitting still has been more terrifying than the hardest assignment
The painful process of letting go of titles, identities, and ego
What she’s learning about storytelling in uniform
How walking into the metaphorical (and literal) woods helped her find her next chapter

Whether you're navigating a major transition or simply questioning what's next, Sarah’s story will remind you that growth often begins where the path ends—and that it's okay to not know exactly where you're going.

Sarah Blake Morgan is a storyteller and U.S. Army Reserve officer whose unconventional path took her from a successful career in television news to military service. After nearly a decade reporting for stations in Texas, North Carolina, and The Associated Press, Morgan felt stuck in a life of routine. That changed in 2020 when, inspired by a reporting trip with the 82nd Airborne Division, she decided to enlist in the Army.

At 31, she completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and earned her commission through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, beginning her journey as a military intelligence officer. Today, she balances her work serving in the special operations community with her ongoing mission to give voice to the unheard — and to discover her own evolving sense of purpose along the way.

In addition to her military and journalism careers, Morgan is the creator and host of The Forgotten: After Helene, a powerful podcast uncovering the overlooked stories of those affected by Hurricane Helene.

Follow her journey at @StorytellerSBM.

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On Character with General Stanley McChrystal May 23, 2025

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In this powerful conversation, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal joins Joe to discuss his new book, On Character: Choices That Define a Life. Drawing from decades of military leadership and personal reflection, General McChrystal breaks down why character is more than just a word—it's a daily practice rooted in conviction and discipline.

In this episode, they explore:

Why journaling would have made him a better leader
A practical method he used to align his time with his priorities in Afghanistan
How reading shaped his thinking both in and out of uniform
The subtle but dangerous effects of power on rising leaders
Why leaders must continuously test their convictions under pressure

Whether you're in uniform or leading in another capacity, this episode is a must-listen for anyone striving to lead with authenticity, courage, and character.

Stan McChrystal retired in July 2010 as a four-star general after over 34 years of service in the U.S. Army. His final assignment was as the commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and all US forces in Afghanistan. He had previously served as the director of the Joint Staff and almost five years in command of the Joint Special Operations Command.

General McChrystal’s memoir, My Share of the Task, was a New York Times bestseller in 2013. He is also the author of New York Times bestseller Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World and wrote the forward for the sequel, One Mission:How Leaders Build a Team of Teams. He is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a partner at McChrystal Group, where he transforms organizations into adaptable teams. He and his wife, Annie, live in Virginia.

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It’s Not Balance, It’s Trade-Offs: Lessons in Leadership and Life with Lieutenant General Mary K. Izaguirre May 17, 2025

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In this episode, Joe sits down with Lieutenant General Mary Izaguirre, the 46th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and Commanding General of Army Medical Command, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, vulnerability, culture, and purpose. Drawing on over three decades of service, LTG Izaguirre shares hard-earned lessons on how to lead authentically and navigate professional complexity.

Together, they discuss the evolving role of Army Medicine, the power of modeling vulnerability, and how intentionality—not balance—is the key to managing life’s trade-offs. Joe and LTG Izaguirre cover:

Why vulnerability is a leadership strength, not a weakness
How leaders can model safety, trust, and curiosity within their teams
The importance of asking the right questions—and being okay not knowing the answers
How trade-offs, not balance, define sustainable leadership
The impact of journaling and reflection in high-responsibility roles
Breaking down the “us vs. them” mentality in large organizations
What Army Medicine’s true mission is—and why it matters more than ever

Whether you’re a leader in uniform, a parent navigating a demanding career, or someone wrestling with how to show up fully for both your mission and your people, this episode is packed with wisdom, candor, and practical insights.

Lieutenant General Mary K. Izaguirre is the 46th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and the Commanding General of Army Medical Command. A board-certified family physician and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, she brings over three decades of military and medical leadership to her role. LTG Izaguirre has held key command and senior staff positions across the Army and deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. She holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Master of Public Health, and Master in National Security and Resource Strategy. She and her husband, Joseph, are the proud parents of five children.

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The Command Assessment Program Episode with Bob O'Brien May 15, 2025

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In this Notebook Notes episode of From the Green Notebook, we sit down with Bob O’Brien, the Army’s lead for the Command Assessment Program (CAP), to take a deep dive into how CAP is transforming how the Army selects and develops its future leaders. Bob explains how this multi-day assessment process captures over 1,800 data points per candidate to provide a more complete picture of leadership potential—beyond what a single OER can show. Together, Bob and Joe Discuss:

How the Command Assessment Program Works
The Importance of Self-Awareness
Myths About CAP Debunked
Communicating Under Pressure
The Redemptive Power of “Not Yet Certified”
Executive Coaching and Developmental Tools
Data-Driven Command Team Building
Preparing Early for CAP Success
The Role of Reflection and Journaling
How My Green Notebook: "Know Thyself" Before Changing Jobs helps leaders prepare for CAP

Whether you're preparing for CAP, coaching someone who is, or just interested in how organizations can better assess and grow talent, this episode offers both insight and practical advice.

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Wow, You Look Terrible! Parenting, Humor, and Embracing the Chaos with Danny Ricker May 09, 2025

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In this Mother's Day episode, Joe sits down with Danny Ricker, Emmy-nominated comedy writer, producer, and author of Wow, You Look Terrible!: How to Parent Less and Live More, for a laugh-out-loud conversation on the highs and lows of parenting young kids. Drawing from both personal experience and sharp comedic insight, Danny unpacks the pressure modern parents face to do it all—and why doing less might actually be the key to doing it better.

Together, they explore:

Why parenting today often feels like a full-time personal assistant gig for unpredictable tiny humans
The trap of performative parenting and how social media fuels unrealistic expectations
The genius of the “17-Minute Birthday Party” and why kids don’t need extravagance to have fun
How the “Purgatory Cabinet” can save your sanity (and your child’s lucky nickel)
Parenting as exercise: from claw-machine wakeups to carrying kids like a living weighted vest
The power of “garbage time” and why the little moments matter more than the big events
Lessons Danny learned writing for Jimmy Kimmel Live! and how to deal with rejection, failure, and ego in high-pressure creative environments (Read the blog post!!)

Whether you’re a parent knee-deep in toys and tantrums or just trying to hold on to a sense of humor amidst the chaos, this conversation offers a much-needed reminder that the most meaningful moments are often the messiest ones.

Danny Ricker is a TV writer, producer, author, and nine-time Emmy nominee who currently serves as a Head Writer and Co-Executive Producer at “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

His other notable writing credits include The Oscars (2017, 2018, 2023, & 2024), The Primetime Emmys (2012, 2016, & 2020), the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and his debut book Wow, You Look Terrible!

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The Army Fitness Test Episode with Command Sergeant Major Christopher Mulllinax Apr 24, 2025

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In this special edition of From the Green Notebook, Joe sits down with Command Sergeant Major Christopher Mullinax from the Army’s Training Directorate to break down the most recent changes to the Army’s fitness assessment—the newly updated Army Fitness Test (AFT).

After years of collecting data from the field and listening to feedback from soldiers and leaders at all levels, the Army is rolling out a revised approach to physical fitness. CSM Mullinax explains the changes.

Joe and CSM Mullinax discusses how the Army continues to evolve fitness standards to build a more combat-ready force. They also tackle common misconceptions, the logic behind removing overly technical events, and how leaders can implement the new test without disrupting unit readiness.

Whether you're a first sergeant trying to understand the rollout timeline or a squad leader wondering how this affects your soldiers' promotion packets, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating change in today's Army.

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Mastering Your Emotions with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett Apr 17, 2025

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In this episode, Joe sits down with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a leading neuroscientist and author of How Emotions Are Made, to explore groundbreaking insights on how emotions are formed and how we can better understand and regulate them. Together, they dive deep into the science behind emotions, how the brain predicts our feelings, and how we can gain more emotional agency in our personal and professional lives. Joe and Dr. Barrett cover:

The theory of constructed emotions and how emotions are predictions, not reactions
The role of the brain in regulating the body and how it shapes emotional experiences
Why uncertainty feels like anxiety—and how to reframe it
How emotional granularity can help us build better emotional vocabulary and control
Practical steps to improve emotional regulation and decision-making
The impact of body budgeting on mood, stress, and overall health

Whether you're leading a team, navigating personal relationships, or simply trying to better understand your emotional life, this conversation will give you powerful tools to enhance your emotional intelligence and well-being.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, is among the top 0.1% most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior.

In addition to the books Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain and How Emotions are Made, Dr. Barrett has published over 275 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, as well as six academic volumes published by Guilford Press. She writes regularly about science in the popular press, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Scientific American, BBC Science Focus, Popular Science, Nautilus, BigThink, Cosmopolitan, Time magazine, MIT Technology Review, and more (see full list). Her popular TED talk has been viewed over 7 million times.

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The Future of Airborne: A Conversation with Lieutenant General Greg Anderson Apr 09, 2025

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In this special episode, Joe sits down with Lieutenant General Greg Anderson, Commanding General of XVIII Airborne Corps, to discuss one of the most significant structural changes to the airborne community in decades. With 22,000 paid parachutist positions on the table for reclassification, LTG Anderson explains the data-driven process behind the decision, what it means for readiness, and how the Army is adapting to modern operational demands.

They explore how emotional reactions to change can cloud understanding, why building consensus through transparency and method matters, and what this transformation says about leadership in complex organizations. Whether you're a paratrooper, a leader managing change, or someone passionate about the future of the force, this episode offers a rare inside look at how the Army balances tradition with transformation.

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“Maybe I’m the Problem”: Leadership and Self-Deception with Victoria Trammel Apr 04, 2025

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In this episode, Joe sits down with Victoria Trammel from the Arbinger Institute to explore the life-changing insights from the newly revised edition of Leadership and Self-Deception. Together, they dig into the patterns of self-justification, the emotional energy we waste on false narratives, and the practical tools leaders can use to shift from an inward to an outward mindset. Joe and Victoria cover:

The concept of self-deception and how it shows up in leadership and relationships
How “collusions” form between individuals and groups, sabotaging collaboration
The difference between being helpful and looking helpful
Real-world stories of self-betrayal at work and at home
How to identify and interrupt the inward mindset in yourself and your team
The power of journaling and reflection in shifting perspective
Steps for becoming more outward-focused without sacrificing accountability

Whether you’re a leader in the military, the corporate world, or at home, this conversation offers powerful reminders and tools for transforming how we relate to others—and ourselves.

With almost 3 million copies sold worldwide, this new edition of an enduring classic is the definitive guide to dramatically improve leadership effectiveness, transform personal and professional relationships, and unleash organizational results.
Significantly revised throughout, this edition includes updated stories, brand new content, and a practical group discussion guide.
Over two decades since first being published, Leadership and Self-Deception continues to help readers discover and overcome the persistent lies that are at the heart of the people-related dysfunction that plagues relationships and hinders organizational results. Told through an engaging story, this book reveals the ways we blind ourselves to our true motivations and unwittingly sabotage our efforts to achieve success and rebuild broken relationships.

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