In the final episode of our Standard Oil series, the empire reaches its peak—and faces the consequences. As Rockefeller tightens control, resistance grows. Journalists, politicians, and the public turn against the monopoly, and Standard Oil becomes a target of the U.S. government’s most aggressive antitrust case to date.

What follows is not just a legal defeat, but a strategic turning point. We explore how the dissolution of Standard Oil in 1911 gave rise to a constellation of powerful successor companies—and how Rockefeller’s influence lived on long after the trust was broken. This is the story of transformation through collapse, and how strategy adapts in the face of pressure.

Episode Chapters

(02:45) Part 6 - The Inferior Power

(32:03) Part 7 - The Fracture

(43:44) Part 8 - The Shadow Empire

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes—it takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 11

In this second episode of our Standard Oil series, John D. Rockefeller crosses the threshold from disciplined outsider to dominant industry force. What began as a moral and financial covenant among a few partners transforms into a sweeping strategy to consolidate power, cut waste, and outmaneuver rivals.

We follow the birth of the Standard Oil Trust—one of the most effective and controversial business structures ever created. As Rockefeller’s empire expands, he encounters new challenges, allies, and unexpected rewards. This is the story of ambition becoming infrastructure, and belief turning into monopoly.

Episode Chapters

(01:45) Part 3 - The Covenant

(34:03) Part 4 - The Trust is Born

(52:44) Part 5 - The Promised Land

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes—it takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Bonus content for The Oil Empire episode

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 10

Before Standard Oil became a titan of American capitalism, there was a young man with a ledger and a quiet, relentless drive. In the first episode of our three-part series on Standard Oil, we meet John D. Rockefeller—not as the richest man in modern history, but as a meticulous clerk with an almost spiritual devotion to order, discipline, and numbers.

But Rockefeller’s world was anything but orderly. The oil fields of Pennsylvania were wild, speculative, and wasteful—a far cry from the structured empire he would one day build. As we enter the chaos of America’s first oil boom, we begin to see the forces that would push Rockefeller toward his radical vision: to tame the frontier, eliminate waste, and create a new kind of business.

This is the story of how strategy, faith, and frontier ambition collided—setting the stage for one of the most powerful companies in history.

Episode Chapters

(02:22) Part 1 - The Divine Ledger

(30:21) Part 2 - The Wild Frontier

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes—it takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

All episode sources, including background music used

Read the full episode transcript

Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 9

In our final episode of the Dubai series, we explore Dubai at the close of Sheik Rashid's rule in 1990—a period that set the stage for a bold new era. Under his guidance, Dubai became the Middle East’s first post-oil economy, launching global icons like Emirates Airlines. Yet, rapid development also brought challenges.

We examine how decades-old strategic decisions continue to resonate in modern Dubai, influencing everything from the Nationals vs. Expats debate and a thriving tax-free economy to successes in tourism, banking, internet industries, and other surprising sectors. Join us as we unpack the legacy of visionary leadership and the enduring quirks that make Dubai a global marvel.

Episode Chapters

(01:52) Part 7 - The Post-Oil World

(13:36) Part 8 - The Modern Economy

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 8

Following the collapse of the once-flourishing pearl industry, Dubai entered a period of hardship and uncertainty. In this second episode of our Dubai series, we follow the turbulent years leading up to the rise of Sheik Rashid—a leader whose strategic vision would drive Dubai into prosperity.

When oil was discovered in 1966, its quantity was modest. Undeterred, Sheik Rashid was forced to craft a bold strategy, parlaying limited oil wealth into a diversified economy. His calculated decisions set the stage for one of the fastest transformations in history, while rapid development brought with it unforeseen challenges and consequences.

Episode Chapters

(01:21) Part 4 - The Quest

(16:15) Part 5 - The Lottery Ticket

(37:01) Part 6 - The New Pearls

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 7

Dubai is often seen as a city built on oil wealth, but its transformation started long before oil arrived in 1966. In the early 1900s, it was a quiet village on the edge of the Arabian Gulf—lacking roads, electricity, and running water. Yet, amidst the harsh desert conditions, the seeds of ambition were already being planted.

This is the first of three episodes exploring Dubai's rise and the strategy behind its transformation. From its Bedouin roots to its early modernization efforts, we examine the calculated decisions that established an iconic global city. Before skyscrapers and luxury, resilience, risk-taking, and a long-term vision would shape Dubai’s future.

Episode Chapters

(02:56) Part 1 - The Desert

(29:12) Part 2 - The Sleepy Village

(39:53) Part 3 - The Collapse

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes takes less than 60 seconds and helps others discover the show.

Links

* All episode sources, including background music used

* Read the full episode transcript

* Get email updates on upcoming episodes and bonus content

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

Episode 6

In 1670, King Charles II granted his cousin a grandiose charter to trade furs in faraway territory of North America. At one point, the charter covered nearly 12% of the earth's land surface and area ten times that of the Holy Roman Empire at its height.

The Hudson's Bay Company would forever change the lives of everyone it touched, especially the hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people. The business model is simple by modern standards. It primarily traded one good, the beaver furs, in exchange for metal goods.

It would become a pawn in the chess game of empire-building and directly influence the formation of Canada and the United States. In episode five, we will explore the creation of one of the oldest commercial enterprises (still in existence today) and its rise to influence.

Episode Chapters:

(03:35) Part 1: A Strategy of Harmony

(01:02:53) Part 2: A Strategy of Chaos

(01:35:34) Part 3: A Strategy of Conquest

(03:35:41) Conclusion

**

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and the review helps others discover the podcast.

**

Links:

* All episode sources

* Read the full episode transcript

* Bonus content for The Company episode

* Get email updates on the next episode, updates from previous ones and bonus content.

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

* Background music is called "Adding the Sun" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Episode 5

In the early 20th century, a new profession was born: management consulting. While it took some time for the field to establish itself, McKinsey & Company quickly rose to the top working with the largest organizations, governments and nonprofits.

How did The Firm become so influential? Episode 4 will try to answer this question by looking at McKinsey in the middle of the 20th century when it was led by the man who molded the organization in his image, Marvin Bower.

Sometimes called the Jesuits of capitalism, McKinsey has shaped the modern world, directly and indirectly, and often behind the scenes. When big decisions have been made, a McKinsey advisor was likely in the room.

Episode Chapters:

(06:12) Part 1 - Birth of a Profession

(43:23) Part 2 - A Law Firm That Doesn’t Practice Law

(01:45:43) Part 3 - The Gospel of the Multidivisional Model

(02:10:26) Part 4 - Jesuits of Capitalism

(02:39:42) Part 5 - Rise of Strategy

(03:17:07) Part 6 - Are They Worth It?

(03:35:41) Conclusion

**

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and the review helps others discover the podcast.

**

Links:

* All episode sources

* Read the full episode transcript

* Bonus content for McKinsey episode

* Get email updates on the next episode, updates from previous ones and bonus content.

* Email me your feedback or questions about the episode

* Background music is called "Adding the Sun" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Episode 4