The Proceedings Podcast

EP. 506: The Stoic Anchor: Resilience, Readiness, and the Future of Naval Leadership

A new voluntary program at the U.S. Naval Academy is using Stoic philosophy to help midshipmen build resilience, moral clarity, and inner discipline during Plebe Summer. In this episode, we discuss how ancient ideas from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, and Vice Admiral James Stockdale are being applied to modern military leadership—and why spiritual readiness may need to evolve for an increasingly diverse and less religious force.

Naval History podcast: Midway's Unsung Hero: The Long Fight to Honor Codebreaker Joe Rochefort

Host Emily Abdow talks to author Ed Offley about his article on the quest to award the unsung codebreaking hero of the Battle of Midway, Commander Joe Rochefort, the Distinguished Service Medal.

EP. 505: When “Figure It Out” Becomes Bad Leadership

For generations, "A Message to Garcia" has been used to celebrate initiative and getting the job done. But Captain Jonathan Corbin, U.S. Marine Corps, argues that “figure it out” leadership can go too far. This episode explores why true decentralized command requires clear intent, useful context, and a culture where smart questions are encouraged—not punished.

Naval History Podcast: Find the Captain

Host Emily Abdow talks to Dr. Howard Fuller about his search for the wreckage of the Royal Navy ironclad HMS Captain and the historical circumstances that led to her capsizing in 1870.

EP. 504: Why Wargames Get Cyber Wrong

In this episode, Lieutenant Mary Racicot, U.S. Navy, joins the Proceedings Podcast to discuss why joint wargames may be training commanders to misunderstand cyber operations. Too often, exercises either leave cyber out entirely or treat cyber effects as instant, reliable tools that can be “sprinkled on” a plan.