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Podcast Episode

The West Forgotten How to Lead…From Napoleon to Trump - Andrew Roberts

The Brink··16 October 2026·49 min

About this episode

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com In this episode of The Brink, Jake is joined by historian Lord Andrew Roberts to ask what history can teach us about leadership in an increasingly dangerous world. Drawing on his new book Napoleon and His Marshals, Andrew explores how Napoleon inspired extraordinary loyalty, built a military elite around him and ultimately created rivalries that helped undermine his empire. The conversation moves from Napoleon and Churchill to Thatcher, Reagan and Trump, as Andrew examines the crisis of leadership in the West and the parallels he sees with the 1930s. They also discuss antisemitism in Britain, the rewriting of history, Holocaust denial and why understanding the past matters more than ever. Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:46 Are We Living Through The 1930s Again?04:52 Anti-Semitism, Britain & The Green Party 08:44 The West’s Crisis Of Leadership 12:55 Is Britain Prepared For War? 18:51 Napoleon & His Extraordinary Marshals 22:27 How Napoleon Inspired Loyalty & Rivalry 27:52 How Napoleon’s Leadership Began To Unravel 32:10 Waterloo & The Fall Of Napoleon 39:48 Churchill, Thatcher & Trump: Lessons In Leadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.