How to Take Over the World - Ben Wilson

Latest Episodes:

The Gangster Philosopher: Francois de la Rochefoucauld May 02, 2025

Show notes

Francois de la Rochefoucauld, was an infamous aristocrat who was always scheming, seducing, and fighting. He was equally infamous as a philosopher, a forerunner to Nietzsche with a cynical wit.

In this episode, we explore is adventurous life, his dangerous philosophy, and what we can learn from both. 00:00 What is a philosopher? 02:00 A Life of Action and Intrigue 03:00 Introduction 05:03 Early Life and Aristocratic Background 05:40 Political Intrigues and Rebellions 10:15 The Fronde and Its Aftermath 19:00 Literary Achievements and Maxims 22:00 Friendship, Love, and True Virtue 24:00 Strengths, Weaknesses, and Self-Honesty 35:00 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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“You Couldn’t Pay Me to Stop” — David Senra on Obsession and Great Founders Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

David Senra of the Founders podcast joins to discuss the most important attributes of great founders, how to find purpose, whether chicken fingers is a worthy dream, and much more!

00:00 Introduction

03:12 Church for Entrepreneurs

06:45 The Power of Consistency and Repetition

18:15 The Importance of AI in Modern Business

39:30 Analyzing Podcast Success

40:15 The Importance of Charisma and Obsession

41:00 Tennis as a Metaphor for Mastery

44:30 Creatine and Gains in Bulk

45:15 Who Can Be a Founder?

51:00 The Unique Genius of Da Vinci

51:47 The Obsession of Inventors

55:30 Fame and Focus

01:07:45 The Value of Private Ownership

01:20:00 The Game of Kings and Modern Power

01:22:45 The Artistic View of Life

01:32:40 The Power of Podcasting

01:47:00 Books Every Young Man Should Read

01:57:12 Final Thoughts

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How To Be More High Agency & A Political Plan for Taking Over the World (Free Preview) Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

On this premium subscriber I talk about how to be more high agency, including how to frame problems, design solutions, and take action.

Then I talk about my recent travels to the Bay Area and some thoughts that spurred about a concrete way to take over the world.

Links:

https://takeoverpod.supercast.com/

https://www.highagency.com/

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Jesus Revisited Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

Jesus of Nazareth was the son of a carpenter. He never traveled further than 150 miles from his home in his adult life. So how did the movement he founded come to dominate the world, bringing in billions of followers?

On this episode, we explore his life, his impact, and how he was able to build such a powerful movement.

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Sources:

The New Testament In Its World by NT Wright

Jesus: A Biography from a Believer by Paul Johnson

The New Testament - The King James Version

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Edwin Land (Polaroid Founder) Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Polaroid founder Edwin Land is one of the most innovative inventors to have ever lived. Steve Jobs considered him one of his greatest heroes. On this episode we explore the methods and strategies he used to build the beautiful products that he did.

00:00 The Eureka Moment: Birth of the Polaroid Camera

04:30 Early Life: High Agency Behavior

07:00 The Obsession with Polarization

09:30 From Harvard to Independent Research

16:40 Founding Polaroid: The Early Struggles

28:00 Wartime Innovations and Contributions

30:30 Maintaining The Vision

34:10 The Birth of the Instant Camera

37:00 Polaroid's Marketing Genius

38:30 The SX-70: A Revolutionary Camera

42:30 PolaVision: A Catastrophic Flop

45:50 Edwin Land's Legacy and Lessons

46:00 Final Takeaways and Reflections

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From Orphan to Icon: The Life and Legacy of Coco Chanel Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Despite an incredibly challenging childhood, Coco Chanel revolutionized women's fashion. The episode delves into her humble beginnings, her rise to fame, her relationships, the launch of her fashion empire, and of course, the strategies she used to accomplish it all.

00:00 Introduction to Coco Chanel

01:45 Coco Chanel's Humble Beginnings

03:17 The Power of Self-Creation

07:40 Coco's Early Career and Rise

12:21 The Birth of Chanel's Fashion Empire

22:10 Chanel No. 5: A Perfume Revolution

25:50 The Little Black Dress and Beyond

30:07 Coco Chanel and Great Leadership

31:46 Coco Chanel's Rise in the Fashion Industry

32:29 World War II and Controversial Allegiances

39:11 Post-War Challenges and Strategic Moves

43:59 Chanel's Comeback and Fashion Philosophy

47:44 Final Years and Legacy

48:52 Key Takeaways from Coco Chanel's Life

59:44 Closing Remarks

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Donald Trump Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

Donald Trump: real estate mogul, master marketer, and the most polarizing figure of our time. How did he go from a brash young developer in Manhattan to the most powerful man in the world? In this episode of How to Take Over the World, we break down the strategies, mindset, and raw ambition that fueled his rise.

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00:00 - Introduction: The Farce and Reality of Donald Trump

02:40 - Who is Donald Trump?

03:55 - Polarizing Figure: Love Him or Hate Him

06:06 - Fred Trump: The Formative Influence

08:56 - Young Donald: Aggression and Military School

14:53 - College Years and Avoiding the Vietnam War

18:31 - Early Real Estate Ventures

25:41 - The Grand Hyatt: A Major Success

35:40 - Trump Tower: Controversy and Prestige

43:45 - Trump's Wollman Rink Success

45:36 - Television City: A Bold Vision

48:01 - The Cringe Factor: Embracing Failure

51:12 - Recap of Trump's Early Success

54:24 - The Downfall Begins: Casinos and Distractions

01:01:35 - Trump's Desperate Measures

01:08:34 - The Apprentice: A Turning Point

01:11:22 - Understanding Trump: The Deal Maker

01:19:24 - Final Thoughts and Controversies

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Captain Cook Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Captain Cook was one of the greatest explorers of all time. And he also lived on of the most adventurous, exciting lives ever. On this episode we break down his discoveries and the strategies that allowed him to accomplish and discover so much.

00:00 - Introduction

09:00 - Early Life

14:00 - Cook in Canada

26:20 - First Voyage

1:14:00 - Second Voyage

1:25:30 - Third Voyage

1:30:00 - Takeaways

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Stay in touch:

Twitter/X: @BenWilsonTweets

Instagram: @HTTOTW

Email me: Ben@takeoverpod.com

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Writing, research, and production by Ben Wilson.

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Niccolo Machiavelli Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

The name of Machiavelli is synonymous with deceit, oppression, atrocity, and naked power. But his legacy is much more complicated than that. His thinking shaped the world we live in, and his advice can help anyone get further on their journey to taking over the world.

04:25 - The biography of Niccolo Machiavelli

34:30 - Advice from Machiavelli's works

01:05:30 - How to start a philosophy or movement that takes over the world

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