What if the key to becoming a better leader wasn’t found in boardrooms or business schools—but in the survival instincts of our ancestors? In this episode, we explore The Mammoth in the Room by Nicolas Pokorny, a groundbreaking look at how evolutionary psychology shapes modern leadership. We break down the fundamental drivers of human behavior—self-interest and collaboration—and how they shape company culture.

Pokorny’s leadership-followership matrix will help you assess your influence, while his four-level transformation framework offers a roadmap for sustainable growth. We also discuss why personal leadership—your health, mindset, and ability to manage stress—is the foundation of great team leadership.

So, what’s the mammoth in your room? What’s the challenge that requires you to lean into collaboration and trust? Join us as we unpack these evolutionary leadership principles and explore how to build high-performing, resilient teams. Plus, be sure to grab a copy of the book The Mammoth in the Room—it will change the way you lead!

In this Episode:

- Connecting ancient practices to modern leadership

- The crucial role of company culture

- Evolutionary psychology in leadership

- The importance of personal leadership and self-care

- How to build and lead effective teams

- Understanding trust and power dynamics in teams

- Leading by example and clear communication

- Navigating cognitive biases in leadership

- The four levels of continuous transformation

- Evolutionary pitfalls in leadership

- The leadership-followership matrix

- How to implement effective leadership

- Final thoughts on evolutionary leadership

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Some leaders leave office and fade into history—others redefine what leadership means long after their tenure ends. In today’s episode, we explore the legacy of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, a leader who proved that true influence isn’t confined to a title.

From his bold honesty during his presidency to his post-office humanitarian work that nearly eradicated Guinea worm disease, Carter demonstrated that true leadership is measured by the lives we touch, not just the positions we hold. The question is: What will your legacy be when your current role ends?

Well, great leaders never stop learning. Tune in now to discover how Carter’s leadership principles can inspire your own journey—because the impact you make today determines the legacy you leave tomorrow.

In this episode:

- Authenticity over popularity

- Building a lasting legacy

- The power of empathy

- Final takeaways and conclusion

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Used in the Episode:

Hogan, R., & Kaiser, R. B. (2005). What we know about Leadership. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 169-180. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.169

Vugt, M. van, & Ronay, R. (2014). The evolutionary psychology of leadership: Theory, review, and roadmap. Organizational Psychology Review, 4(1), 74-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386613493635

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Most leaders obsess over their own abilities, but the real magic happens when you unlock what your team can do. Here's the truth. The best leaders don't create clones; they cultivate champions by recognizing and amplifying individual strengths. So today, we’re exploring why every team member is already a champion—and how you can help them prove it.

We’ll break down the evolutionary psychology behind why appreciation fuels performance, how great leaders like Oprah Winfrey and Satya Nadella built high-impact cultures, and the step-by-step framework you need to create a thriving, strengths-based team.

Tune in now for a roadmap to transform your team into a powerhouse of collaboration and results.

In this episode:

- Recognizing team members as champions

- The psychology of appreciation and performance

- Practical steps to building a champion culture

- Key takeaways and conclusion

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Used in the Episode:

Gratton and Erickson (2021), "Eight Ways to Build Collaborative Teams" (Harvard Business Review): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5689232_Eight_ways_to_build_collaborative_teams

Baumeister and Leary (2019), "The Need to Belong: Desire for Interpersonal Attachments as a Fundamental Human Motivation" (Psychological Bulletin): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15420847_The_Need_to_Belong_Desire_for_Interpersonal_Attachments_as_a_Fundamental_Human_Motivation

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Imagine leading a team that’s fully engaged, motivated, and driven by a shared purpose. The secret? It’s not about assigning tasks or managing checklists—it’s about igniting a deep desire for the mission. Today, we explore why the most effective leaders don’t just tell people what to do; they inspire them with a vision that fuels action.

Drawing from historical moments, neuroscience, and business insights, we uncover how great leaders—from Eisenhower to NASA’s janitor—created cultures of commitment, not compliance. We’ll explore why humans are hardwired to seek purpose, how dopamine fuels motivation, and what evolutionary science teaches us about leadership.

Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a business, or managing a high-performance team, this episode gives you practical steps to boost employee motivation and engagement. If you want to go even deeper, check out my book, The Mammoth in the Room, for a roadmap for turning evolutionary insights into powerful business strategies.

In this episode:

- Introduction to purpose-driven leadership

- Lesson 1: Purpose – The Eisenhower example

- Lesson 2: Paint a vision, not just a task list

- Lesson 3: Connect tasks to meaning

- Lesson 4: Empower instead of micromanaging

- The science behind purpose-driven leadership

- Summary of key takeaways and call to action

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Used in the Episode:

Hamid, A., Pettibone, J., Mabrouk, O. et al. Mesolimbic Dopamine Signals the Value of Work. Nat Neurosci 19, 117–126 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4173

Mark van Vugt and Anjana Ahuja, 'Naturally Selected: The Evolutionary Science of Leadership' (2011). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006CDDSIU

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Today we explore the powerful legacies of Ancient Rome’s most influential leaders. From resilience under pressure to bold decision-making, the strategies these leaders used are as relevant now as they were centuries ago.

Their stories offer powerful insights into how vision, adaptability, and even humility can drive sustainable success in business. But they also highlight the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of ethical decision-making.

We’ll also explore the risks of nepotism, the ethics of power, and why aligning leadership with values is more important than ever. These ancient lessons aren’t relics—they’re the keys to thriving in today’s business world.

So, tune in for actionable strategies to inspire your team, navigate disruption, and build a legacy that lasts. And, of course —my pick for the GOAT of these Roman leaders!

In this episode:

- #5 Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE)

- #4 Constantine the Great (272–337 CE)

- #3 Julius Caesar (100–44 BCE)

- #2 Augustus (63 BCE–14 CE)

- #1 Trajan (53–117 CE)

- Key Leadership Lessons from Ancient Rome’s leaders

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1503280462

Constantine the Great: The Man and His Times by Michael Grant: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0684195208

Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300126891

Augustus: The First Emperor of Rome by Adrian Goldsworthy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300216661

Trajan: Optimus Princeps (Roman Imperial Biographies) by Julian Bennett: https://a.co/d/3R8sq5P

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

In today’s episode, I take you on a journey into the dynastic era of ancient China, uncovering the leadership strategies of its most remarkable figures. From adaptability to moral integrity, we explore how these timeless principles still resonate in modern organizations. Trust me, the lessons, including what NOT to do, are as relevant now as they were thousands of years ago.

I rank the top five leaders of ancient China, delving into their achievements, failures, and the transformative power of their strategies.

The episode isn’t just about history; it’s a roadmap for navigating today’s leadership challenges. I connect the dots between evolutionary psychology, leadership science, and the traits that define great leaders. So, stick with me until the end because my pick for the greatest leader of ancient China might surprise you.

In this episode:

- Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty

- Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty

- Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty

- Confucius of Zhou Dynasty

- Wu Zetian of Tang Dynasty

- Leadership lessons from ancient China

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

China’s Cosmopolitan Empire: The Tang Dynasty (History of Imperial China) by Mark Edward Lewis: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0674064011

Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K'ang-Hsi by Jonathan Spence: https://www.amazon.com/dp/067972074X

Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China by Frances Wood: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1846680417

The Analects of Confucius: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27297.The_Analects

The Empress of Brightness by Harry Rothschild

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Are you brave enough to let your team challenge you? What if the greatest threat to your team’s success isn’t the market, competition, or economy—but you? Today, we’ll uncover why the most transformative leaders don’t just embrace challenges—they actively invite them, even when it means questioning their own ideas.

Through compelling stories of leaders like Satya Nadella of Microsoft and cautionary tales like Adam Neumann of WeWork, we’ll explore why fostering a culture of open dialogue is the ultimate key to innovation and growth.

We’ll discuss how radical transparency, psychological safety, and constructive dissent can revolutionize your leadership approach. You’ll also gain practical tools to create an environment where your team feels empowered to challenge the status quo.

Leadership isn’t about being right; it’s about getting it right. Tune in now and discover how leaning into challenges unlocks your team’s full potential and builds a culture of trust and growth.

In this episode:

- Greg’s stagnant leadership vs. Satya's collaborative leadership

- The psychology behind inviting challenges

- Practical examples: Netflix and Jacinda Ardern

- Creating a culture of constructive challenge

- The downfall of Adam Neumann and WeWork

- The benefits of embracing challenges

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

What if the key to unlocking your team’s full potential isn’t driving results but investing in their growth? Today, I dive deep into what it truly means to be a leader who inspires individual and team growth from day one.

Together, we’ll explore how investing in individual development creates a ripple effect of motivation, engagement, and innovation. You’ll learn why prioritizing regular feedback, offering tailored learning opportunities, and celebrating milestones are game-changers for any organization.

Plus, I’ll reveal the common pitfalls leaders must avoid, like offering lip service without action or imposing one-size-fits-all development plans. If you want to build a high-performing team that thrives in any environment, join the conversation.

In this episode:

- The two-way investment in your team’s growth

- Partnering on goal setting

- Providing learning opportunities for individual growth

- Common leadership pitfalls in individual development

- Five steps to fostering individual development

- The long-term impact of investing in team development

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences