Not Dead Yet

Latest Episodes:

William McRaven Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Ben can’t do pull-ups anymore, so it’s a great time to talk to Admiral William McRaven. The guys talk about the fine line between swagger and arrogance, the importance of clear communication, and the way McRaven built his teams of Navy Seals. Lots of conversation about failure as a teacher and McRaven’s top-5 must-read book recommendations.
Show Notes:
Admiral McRaven's book recommendations:
— Marcus Aurelius: Meditations
— Anton Myrer: Once an Eagle
— Erich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front
— Will Durant
— Ella Wheeler Wilcox
— Rudyard Kipling
— Stephen M. R. Covey: The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything
— Ian MacHorton: The Hundred Days of Lt. MacHorton

Listener Mail May 26, 2026

Show notes

This Q&A episode has everything. Habits, dispositional conservatism, family bookshelves, Bo Jackson, Viking longboats, Apollo space ships, theology, and more. In an effort to avoid premature elaboration, the gang does a lightning round of false binaries.

Ben Thompson May 19, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Chris talk with tech analyst Ben Thompson about the future. Is AI heaven, or hell, or both? Does the future belong to China or the United States? What’s the deal with Silicon Valley and does American ingenuity require a little insanity?

Clint Black May 12, 2026

Show notes

Singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer Clint Black joins underachievers Ben and Chris. The gang talks about country music, writing, parenting, career choices, and gratitude. How much does art depend on lived-experience and pain, or can performers serve their audiences without working through their own trials?

Clayton Anderson May 05, 2026

Show notes

Astronaut and Nebraskan Clayton Anderson joins the guys to talk about all things space. The human desire to explore, the vocation of spacewalking hundreds of miles above the earth, the rigors of NASA’s selection process, and the challenges of getting to Mars. Ben and Clayton agree Nebraska is better than West Virginia — it’s science.

Walter Russell Mead Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Renaissance man Walter Russell Mead joins the guys to talk about history and global affairs. This episode has everything: Hamiltonians, Jeffersonians, Jacksonians, Wilsonians, Israel, Iran, tech companies, and the kitchen sink.

Nicholas Eberstadt Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Chris talk a bit about their first jobs and how child labor laws are ruining the country. Then things get super nerdy when Nicholas Eberstadt joins the guys to talk about demographic decline, labor force participation, why men need work.

Drew and Ellie Holcomb Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Drew and Ellie join the guys to talk about family, art, and soul. Ben has no rhythm, but the musicians talk about art as ache, embodied prayer, and yearning for home. Also, make your kids listen to the Beatles.

Jonah Goldberg Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Jonah joins the boys for their first in-person podcast. Friendship, morphine (higher than average morphine-brain for Ben), note cards, institutions, and journalism. Ben and Chris talk about the why behind the podcast. Wonks have fun too.

Chris Pratt Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

The guys talk about hard work and hustle, the choices parents make, the ups, downs, and idols of success, and real vs Ned Flanders Christianity. The dude from Avengers, Jurassic Park, and Super Mario Bros. talks about how he wants his kids to understand what it means to be a man.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected