Built Not Born

Built Not Born Podcast (Episode 179)- Enri Pjetri: Rome Revealed - Gladiators, Emperors & Michelangelo's Secrets ⚔️🏛️🎨Roman art historian and tour guide Enri Pjetri takes us through 3,000 years of history walking the streets of the Eternal City of Rome. From the Sistine Chapel to the Colosseum, from Michelangelo to Marcus Aurelius, Enri reveals why Rome is like a lasagna - layers upon layers of Western civilization all in one city - and shares an epic 3-day itinerary for experiencing the Eternal City.What You'll Learn:• Why Rome is like a lasagna (layers of 3,000 years of history)• The perfect 3-day Rome itinerary (ancient sites, Vatican, and Baroque Rome)• What makes the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum must-see destinations• Why the Trevi Fountain tradition is actually THREE coins, not one• Hidden Rome: Trastevere and authentic neighborhoods tourists miss• Emperor Antoninus Pius: The 24-year reign of total peaceKey Quote:"Rome is the only city in the world where all the story of the past is still here in layers. You can touch it with your hands and feel the smell. From the foundation by Romulus to modern Italy - it's all here, waiting for you to discover." - Enri PjetriTimestamps:🏛️ 00:00 - From Albania to Rome: Following the dream of ancient history🏛️ 08:30 - Why Rome is like a lasagna (layers of civilization)🏛️ 15:20 - The Palatine Hill: Walking where emperors walked🏛️ 22:45 - Victor Emmanuel Monument: Beautiful but controversial🏛️ 28:15 - Mussolini's road that cut the Roman Forum in half🏛️ 35:40 - What makes the Colosseum one of the Seven Wonders🏛️ 42:20 - Vatican City: Where Christianity became a world religion🏛️ 48:50 - The Trevi Fountain myth: It's THREE coins, not one🏛️ 55:30 - Emperor Antoninus Pius: 24 years of peace (161 AD)🏛️ 62:15 - Marcus Aurelius and the tragedy of Commodus🏛️ 68:40 - The Sistine Chapel: Why Michelangelo said no to the Pope🏛️ 75:25 - Michelangelo's revolution: Creating space and time in painting🏛️ 82:10 - The Last Judgment: 25 years after the ceiling🏛️ 88:30 - Perfect 3-day Rome itinerary revealed🏛️ 95:15 - Day 1: Ancient Rome (Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill)🏛️ 101:45 - Day 2: Vatican City (Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's)🏛️ 107:20 - Day 3: Baroque Rome and hidden neighborhoods🏛️ 113:35 - Trastevere: Where authentic Rome comes alive at night🏛️ 119:50 - Caravaggio's free masterpieces in Roman churches🏛️ 125:40 - The church with the ceiling illusion (Sant'Ignazio)🏛️ 131:15 - What Rome teaches the modern world: Learn from the past🏛️ 137:45 - Julius Caesar: The leader every emperor copiedConnect with Enri Pjetri:• IG: Enri Pjetri • What's App Phone #: +39 328 461 6623• Private tours available for Vatican, Colosseum, and custom Rome experiences• Contact for tour bookings and Rome travel adviceSubscribe for more episodes exploring history, culture, and the stories behind iconic people and destinations.#Rome #Vatican #Colosseum #Italy #TravelItaly #ArtHistory #Michelangelo #AncientRome #SistineChapel #RomanEmpire #BuiltNotBorn #JoeCiccarone© Joe Ciccarone - Built Not Born Podcast. All Rights Reserved.Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

Dave Berke: "The Need to Lead" - Former Top Gun Instructor & F-35 Commander on Why Every Problem is a Leadership Problem ✈️Former Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Dave Berke shares his journey from Top Gun instructor to F-35 squadron commander to combat veteran fighting alongside Navy SEALs in Ramadi. Now a leadership instructor at Echelon Front with Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, Dave reveals lessons from his new book "The Need to Lead" - the third in the Extreme Ownership series.What You'll Learn:• Why every problem is a leadership problem (and how that empowers you to solve it)• The difference between extreme ownership and preemptive ownership• Why "someone's gonna do it, it might as well be you" changes everything• How to lead when you're leading your equals and peers• Why good leadership must outlast the leader• The power of being a leader who listens firstKey Quote:"Someone's going to do it, it might as well be you. Every person needs to lead in order to succeed, no matter the environment." - Dave BerkeTimestamps:🛩️ 00:00 - The Star Wars moment that sparked a fighter pilot dream🛩️ 08:15 - Mom's powerful advice: "Someone's gonna do it, might as well be you"🛩️ 15:30 - Growing up in Marine Corps town: El Toro flight path childhood🛩️ 22:45 - First time behind the controls and the road to Top Gun🛩️ 28:20 - Only Marine to fly both F-22 Raptor and F-35B Lightning🛩️ 35:40 - Mom watching his first F-35B vertical landing - full circle moment🛩️ 42:15 - Becoming a Top Gun instructor: Leading your peers🛩️ 48:30 - Humble, credible, approachable: The ultimate teaching framework🛩️ 55:20 - Leaving the cockpit for combat on the ground in Ramadi🛩️ 62:45 - Fighting alongside Jocko and Leif's SEAL Team in 2006🛩️ 68:30 - The dichotomy: Coming home to San Diego after losing a Marine🛩️ 75:10 - Reconnecting with Jocko and Leif to join Echelon Front🛩️ 82:40 - Writing the third book in the Extreme Ownership series🛩️ 88:15 - Every problem is a leadership problem (and every solution is too)🛩️ 94:20 - Preemptive ownership: Solving problems before they happen🛩️ 101:30 - The leader as listener: Why talking less makes you more effective🛩️ 107:45 - Good leadership outlasts the leader - you don't pick when you leave🛩️ 114:20 - Everyone is a leader: Why title and rank don't matter🛩️ 120:15 - The brutal truth about writing: First drafts are humbling🛩️ 125:30 - Final lesson: Leadership is a skill anyone can learnBook: "The Need to Lead" by Dave Berke - Available October 2024Third book in the Extreme Ownership series following "Extreme Ownership" and "The Dichotomy of Leadership"Connect with Dave Berke:• Instagram: @DavidRBerke• Company: Echelon Front (with Jocko Willink & Leif Babin)Subscribe for more episodes with elite performers who've overcome the odds.#DaveBerke #TheNeedToLead #ExtremeOwnership #EchelonFront #JockoWillink #TopGun #Leadership #Marines #F35 #BuiltNotBorn #JoeCiccarone #LeifBabin© Joe Ciccarone - Built Not Born Podcast. All Rights Reserved.Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

Episode: Built Not BornGuest: Guy Kawasaki - Former Apple Chief Evangelist, Author of "Wiser Guy"Host: Joe CiccaroneRelease Date: September 22, 2025🎯 Power Quote"Your true scorecard isn't measured in dollars, followers, or fancy titles. It's measured in lives changed, relationships strengthened and personal growth achieved. I hope you made people's lives better. I hope the world is better for you having lived in it." - Guy Kawasaki📖 Episode OverviewApple's former Chief Evangelist Guy Kawasaki returns to share wisdom from his new book "Wiser Guy" and reveals the leadership lessons learned from Steve Jobs, the power of saying yes early in your career, and why he started surfing at 60. From getting mistaken for Jackie Chan to learning the high road from his father, Guy delivers actionable insights on motivation, sales mastery, and building a remarkable life.Key Topics Covered:Mission-driven leadership vs. being an assholeThe foundation of great teachers and mentorsWhy motivation doesn't matter (but being motivated does)Sales fundamentals and the power of empathyPunch up, never punch down leadership philosophyRegret analysis and taking bold actionLearning new skills later in lifeMeasuring impact over money⏰ Timestamps with Emojis🍎 [00:00] - Opening & Steve Jobs "Think Different" StoryGuy recalls being in the room when the iconic "Think Different" campaign was previewedThe moment Steve Jobs said "Don't give one to Guy" in front of everyoneGuy's response: "Steve, it's okay because I don't trust you either"Why this probably cost him $250 million👔 [08:15] - Mission-Driven Assholes vs. Regular AssholesThe distinction between people who are assholes for themselves vs. for a missionSteve Jobs as the ultimate mission-driven assholeWhy Melanie Perkins from Canva proves you don't need to be an asshole to succeedThe chicken-and-egg question: Does being an asshole make you successful, or does success make people tolerate your behavior?👩‍🏫 [15:30] - The Teacher Who Changed Everything: Trudy AkauHow an elementary school teacher in Hawaii altered Guy's entire life trajectoryThe moment she told Guy's parents he had potential and should leave public schoolFrom potential "ghetto guy" to Stanford graduate because of one teacher's interventionHow to become a "Trudy" in someone else's life🌺 [22:45] - The Gardener Story: Taking the High RoadGetting mistaken for the gardener while trimming his hedge in an affluent SF neighborhoodHis father's surprising reaction: "Statistically, she was right"Why being Japanese American in Hawaii vs. mainland created different perspectivesThe lesson in giving people the benefit of the doubt🏎️ [28:20] - The Jackie Chan MomentDriving a Porsche, feeling like hot stuff, getting asked by teenage girls if he's Jackie ChanGuy's life goal: someday having Jackie Chan get asked if he's Guy KawasakiWhy you've got to get your motivation where you can find it🚗 [32:10] - What Really Motivated Guy: Cars, Not Changing the WorldThe Porsche ride in high school that made him want to study harderGetting robbed twice on the bus and vowing never to live in povertyThe Stanford friend's family with the Rolls Royce, Ferrari, and Arizona Biltmore lifestyle"Forget changing the world, you gotta change the car"✅ [40:25] - The Power of Saying Yes Early in Your CareerWhy Guy said yes to counting diamonds during MBA schoolHow seemingly random experiences (jewelry sales) prepared him for Apple evangelismLearning hand-to-hand combat sales skillsWhen to transition from saying yes to everything to being selective🤝 [46:50] - Sales Fundamentals: Empathy Over EverythingThe one thing that separates great salespeople from mediocre onesWhy great salespeople think about the customer, not their quotaThe importance of believing your product is genuinely good for the other personWhy Guy could never sell Microsoft Windows👆 [52:15] - Punch Up, Never Punch DownTrue strength means challenging those above you, never belittling those with less powerHow you can judge someone's character by how they treat "powerless" peopleThe pragmatic and moral reasons to avoid punching downWhy punching down is a sign of weak ego and overcompensation😔 [58:30] - Regret Analysis: Action vs. InactionDaniel Pink's Regrets Project findingsWhy people regret not taking risks more than taking risks and failingThe evolutionary vs. modern context of risk-takingHow social relationships factor into regret patterns🏄‍♂️ [65:40] - Learning New Skills at 60+: Surfing and HockeyStarted surfing at 60, hockey at 44 (both because his kids were interested)Why he reverses the typical parent approach - he takes up what his kids loveThe mental barriers people create about learning later in lifeStill surfing literally every day at 71🌊 [72:20] - Business Lessons from Surfing"If you don't try to catch a wave, you'll never catch a wave"Why waiting for the perfect wave means never catching any waveThe mental complexity of surfing as a metaphor for business decisionsHow surfing teaches you when to stop analyzing and just go👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 [78:45] - Staying Present as a ParentHow his parents modeled being involved and presentThe theory of taking up what your kids love instead of making them love what you doWhy he draws the line at wing suiting (his son's hobby)Being at the game vs. being at the game on your phone🌍 [85:10] - Measuring Impact Over MoneyKeeping score by lives changed, not dollars accumulatedWhy Trudy Akau is more remarkable than many famous billionairesThe difference between remarkable people and famous/rich peopleMaking the world a better place as the ultimate scorecard💎 [90:25] - Lightning RoundWho he'd spend a day with: Nelson Mandela (dead) or Jane Goodall (alive)His life mantra: "Empower People"Why he'd never get a tattoo (sagging skin would distort the font)What would be on his gravestone: "Empower People"📚 [95:30] - Closing & What's NextHope for readers after "Wiser Guy": learn from every story and experienceUpcoming book: "Signal for Dummies" (December/January)Where to find Guy: Remarkable People podcastHis guest list: Jane Goodall, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Margaret Atwood, Angela Duckworth🔥 Key TakeawaysOn Leadership & Character:Mission-driven vs. ego-driven: Great leaders are assholes for the mission, not for themselvesPunch up, never down: True strength challenges those above, never belittles those belowGive people the benefit of the doubt: Assume positive intent rather than looking for offenseOn Career & Success:Say yes early, be selective later: Accept opportunities when starting out, even if they seem unconventionalLearn from every experience: Diamond counting led to Apple evangelism through sales skillsMotivation source doesn't matter: Whether it's cars or changing the world, just be motivatedOn Sales & Influence:Empathy is everything: Great salespeople think about the customer, not their quotaBelieve in your product: You must genuinely think what you're selling helps the other personHand-to-hand combat experience: Direct sales teaches skills that translate everywhereOn Personal Growth:Regret analysis: People regret inaction more than failed actionLearn at any age: Started surfing at 60, still going strong at 71Reverse parenting: Take up what your kids love instead of forcing them into your interestsOn...

End of Summer Recap, Camera Flashes, and Fall Preview - Episode 173 📸☀️🍂Episode Description 📖Built Not Born host Joe Ciccarone takes a break from guest interviews to share an end-of-summer reflection and preview the exciting lineup of guests coming in the fall season. Joe opens up about the "best of times and worst of times" summer, sharing the loss of his father Fran and celebrating sending his second son off to college.This episode offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the podcast's growth and Joe's personal journey, while building anticipation for upcoming conversations with bestselling authors, Navy Top Gun instructors, Apple executives, and championship coaches.Episode Highlights:Personal reflections on family loss and growthPreview of upcoming bestselling author guestsBehind-the-scenes podcast insightsCall to action for subscriber growthIntroduction to the Built Not Born Blog newsletterHost Personal Update 👨‍👨‍👦The Worst of TimesLoss of Father: Joe's father Fran Ciccarone passed away July 3rd after battling cancerFuneral Impact: 200 people attended the funeral luncheon for the 82-year-old - remarkable turnout that spoke to his father's characterFamily Process: July spent handling funeral arrangements, viewings, and reconnecting with familyEulogy Available: Joe recorded a special eulogy episode available on SpotifyThe Best of TimesCollege Send-off: Dropped second son off at college in upstate New YorkFamily Milestone: Now has two sons in college (senior and freshman) and one middle schooler at homePositive Outlook: Both college sons are "in great spots" and expected to thriveUpcoming Fall Season Guest Preview 🎙️Recently Released:Jon Gordon - Episode 17218-time bestselling authorDiscussed "The 7 Commitments of a Great Team"$100,000 speaking fee performer15-minute conversation packed with leadership insightsComing Soon:Jay PapasanCo-author of "The One Thing" - one of the most popular business books of all timeNew book: "The Rookie Real Estate Agent" (releasing next week)Expert on productivity, focus, and business success principlesSpecializes in thriving during recessions and crowded marketsGuy KawasakiFormer Apple Chief Evangelist who launched the Macintosh with Steve JobsNew book: "Wiser Guy" - follow-up to 2019's "Wise Guy"Joe received early pre-read copyTechnology and entrepreneurship expertiseDave Burke (Echelon Front)Former Navy Top Gun flight instructorCombat veteran who served on ground in Ramadi, Iraq with Jocko Willink and Leif BabinNew book: "The Need The Lead"Currently working with Echelon Front leadership consultingAmy P. Kelly & Julie NeeCo-authors discussing "Gifted Growth"Leadership and business development focusDudley DuncanHall of Fame swimming coachExpert on succeeding in one of the most grueling sportsInsights on mental toughness and athletic excellencePodcast Growth Initiatives 📈Subscription DriveSubscribe to Built Not Born Podcast (Spotify, Apple, Google, Overcast)Why It Matters: Subscriptions drive algorithmic promotion within appsImpact: More subscribers = broader reach and discoverabilityGoal: Automatic episode downloads for loyal listenersBuilt Not Born Blog Launch 📝New Newsletter:Post-episode summaries of best habits, tactics, and strategies3-minute read format for busy professionalsDirect links to guest resources, books, courses, and platformsEasy way to follow and connect with featured guestsSubscription available for regular updatesSEO Keywords 🔍Built Not Born podcast, Joe Ciccarone, end of summer recap, podcast preview, Jon Gordon, Jay Papasan, Guy Kawasaki, Dave Burke, Echelon Front, Top Gun instructor, Apple Macintosh, bestselling authors, leadership podcast, personal development, business success, productivity, focus, military leadership, swimming coaching, Built Not Born blog, podcast newsletter, subscription growthTags 🏷️#BuiltNotBorn #PodcastRecap #JoeCiccarone #JonGordon #JayPapasan #GuyKawasaki #DaveBurke #EchelonFront #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #BusinessSuccess #Productivity #MilitaryLeadership #Apple #TopGun #Swimming #Newsletter #PodcastGrowth #FallSeason #BestsellingAuthorsAbout Built Not Born 🎙️Built Not Born explores how high achievers in business, sports, and life overcome obstacles to reach peak performance. Hosted by Joe Ciccarone, each episode delivers actionable insights and inspiring stories from leaders who've built something extraordinary.Subscribe to Built Not Born:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastAll major podcast platformsBuilt Not Born Blog: Subscribe for post-episode summaries and guest resources delivered in 3-minute reads.© Joe Ciccarone - Built Not Born Podcast. All Rights Reserved.Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

Built Not Born Podcast: Martin Dugard on Taking Midway, Epic History, and the Courage That Changed the World 🚢⚓Episode Description 📖New York Times bestselling author Martin Dugard joins Built Not Born to discuss his latest book "Taking Midway" and how he makes history as exciting as a spy thriller 🕵️‍♂️. From co-authoring 12+ books in The Killing Series with Bill O'Reilly to his solo Taking Series, Martin reveals his creative process for bringing pivotal moments in history to life ✨.In this episode, Martin shares the incredible story of the Battle of Midway - the most decisive naval engagement of WWII that shifted global power from the British Empire to the American Empire 🌍. Discover the intelligence breakthrough that changed everything, the courage of pilots who knew they wouldn't survive, and why this battle saved democracy itself 🦅.Key Topics Covered: 🎯⚔️ The Battle of Midway: Why it was the turning point of WWII🔐 Lieutenant Commander Joseph Rochefort's code-breaking breakthrough👥 Admiral Nimitz vs. Admiral Yamamoto: Contrasting leadership styles🌍 The "Europe First" strategy and its impact on the Pacific War🎉 How Churchill celebrated Pearl Harbor (and why)✍️ The creative process behind The Killing Series📚 Making history accessible to casual readers🔍 Research techniques for bringing historical moments to lifeGuest Bio 👨‍💼Martin Dugard is a New York Times bestselling author 12-13 times over 🏆 and co-author of The Killing Series, which has sold over 19 million books worldwide 📈. His solo work includes the Taking Series: Taking Paris, Taking Berlin, Taking London, and Taking Midway 🇺🇸. Martin describes himself as "a gateway drug for history's casual readers" and has mastered the art of making historical events as thrilling as modern spy novels 🎬.Key Quotes 💬"I don't have a research assistant, but I've got a really curious mind and it's like I just don't let go of a fact." 🧠 - Martin Dugard"If we had lost [at Midway] and the Japanese had taken Midway, they would've been in a perfect position to launch a completely destructive second raid on Pearl Harbor... We would've been completely out of the war in the Pacific." ⚡ - Martin Dugard"Those sailors, when they came home from the war, if they had seen what we have going on in our country right now, I think they would've been very disoriented. It is just weird to see history repeat itself." 🔄 - Martin DugardEpisode Highlights ⏰[00:00] 🎬 Introduction and Martin's incredible publishing track record[05:30] 💡 How Martin developed his "gateway drug to history" philosophy[12:15] 🤝 The creative process behind The Killing Series collaboration with Bill O'Reilly[18:45] 🎉 Why Churchill was excited about Pearl Harbor[25:20] ⚔️ The Battle of Midway: Most decisive naval engagement of WWII[32:10] 🔐 Lieutenant Commander Joseph Rochefort's code-breaking breakthrough[38:45] 😄 The "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps" sign[42:30] 📰 Censorship, propaganda, and the "ghost" USS Yorktown[48:15] 👥 Admiral Nimitz vs. Admiral Yamamoto: Leadership styles compared[52:40] 🌍 How Midway marked the end of the British Empire, birth of American Empire[58:25] 🤔 Why some battles capture popular imagination (Pearl Harbor vs. Wake Island)[65:10] 📚 Lessons from Midway relevant to today[70:45] 🦅 The courage of torpedo bomber and dive bomber pilots[75:20] ✍️ Martin's writing routine and research process[80:15] 📖 Favorite books and Bruce Springsteen influenceResources Mentioned 📚📖 Book: "Taking Midway" by Martin Dugard📚 Series: The Taking Series (Taking Paris, Taking Berlin, Taking London)🔥 Series: The Killing Series (co-authored with Bill O'Reilly)🏃‍♂️ Upcoming Book: "The Long Run" (April 2025) - About the running boom of the 1970s🎬 Movie Reference: Pulp Fiction and the Wake Island watch story🏢 Historical Location: Pearl Harbor code-breaking basement ("the dungeon")🎵 Music: Bruce Springsteen's "Darkness on the Edge of Town" albumConnect with Martin Dugard 🌐💻 Website: MartinDugard.com📸 Instagram: @authorMartinDugard🐦 Twitter/X: @MartinDugardAbout Built Not Born 🎙️Built Not Born explores how high achievers in business, sports, and life overcome obstacles to reach peak performance 🚀. Hosted by Joe Ciccarone, each episode delivers actionable insights and inspiring stories from leaders who've built something extraordinary ✨.Subscribe to Built Not Born: 📱🍎 Apple Podcasts🎵 Spotify📱 Google Podcasts🎧 All major podcast platformsTags 🏷️#MartinDugard #TakingMidway #BattleOfMidway #WWII #WorldWarTwo #KillingSeries #BillOReilly #History #HistoryBooks #PacificWar #AdmiralNimitz #NavalHistory #Codebreakers #Intelligence #Leadership #Courage #BuiltNotBorn #JoeCiccarone #Podcast #NewYorkTimesBestseller #HistoricalNonfiction #AmericanHistory #PearlHarbor #NavySeals #MilitaryHistorySEO Keywords 🔍Martin Dugard, Taking Midway, Battle of Midway, WWII history, Killing Series, Bill O'Reilly, Pacific War, Admiral Nimitz, code breakers, naval battles, World War 2, historical nonfiction, New York Times bestseller, Built Not Born podcast, Joe Ciccarone, history books, military history, Pearl Harbor, American empire, British empire, torpedo bombers, dive bombers, courage in battle, historical research, making history accessible© Joe Ciccarone - Built Not Born PodcastViews expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.