The Warrior Poet

Sri
  • 4.8 (30)
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**Get yourself unstuck and be a leader.** Andrew "Sri" Sridhar is a former Navy SEAL, Harvard MBA, Wall Street escapee, and technologist. He interviews top military leaders, academic thinkers, and business phenoms to up your game. The Warrior Poet is a tightly woven tapestry of leadership expertise, philosophical inquiry, and pop culture. It's a portmanteau of Brainpickings, Wait But Why, and (Sri only wishes) Seinfeld. Yes, Sri sometimes writes haikus.

  1. #99: Everyday Romance to Nomar’s Pre-Pitch Routine: The Power of Ritual || Harvard Business School Professor Michael Norton

    4D AGO

    #99: Everyday Romance to Nomar’s Pre-Pitch Routine: The Power of Ritual || Harvard Business School Professor Michael Norton

    Harvard Business School professor and behavioral scientist Mike Norton breaks down why rituals—small, often “irrational” actions—carry outsized emotional weight. From his own black binder “totem” for teaching, to sports routines and workplace team practices, Mike explains how rituals can reduce anxiety, create belonging, and add meaning to relationships and family life.  Mike and Sri also explore the line between habits (get it done) and rituals (it matters how it’s done). Some of the examples Mike cites will shock you. Others will melt your heart.  Michael Norton is author of the book The Ritual Effect (highly recommended).  Visit michaelnorton.com to take the fun and insightful quiz on your own rituals.  ___________ Key takeaways Anything can become a “totem.” Objects (a binder, a pen, a mug) can anchor confidence and readiness.  Rituals are a belonging engine: doing something in sync (even a made-up stomp/clap) bonds groups fast.  Top-down rituals can backfire—but even shared “eye-roll unity” can create camaraderie (sometimes against the boss 😅).  Rituals help manage performance anxiety, but they’re not magic; sometimes anxiety is simply too high for rituals alone.  In relationships, rituals are often tiny and adorable, and they correlate with satisfaction—especially when both partners experience them as meaningful.  Family rituals don’t need to be elaborate: simple, values-based practices beat “perfect dinner every night.”  Habits vs. rituals: same action, different meaning—what matters is whether it’s “check the box” or emotionally loaded/presence-driven.  Watch the danger zone: rituals can become the thing you do in order to do the thing, and then start interfering with life (OCD as the extreme case).  ___________ 📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    53 min
  2. #98: $70M in 8 Months—Before the Warehouse Burned 🔥 (Phil Neil)

    FEB 3

    #98: $70M in 8 Months—Before the Warehouse Burned 🔥 (Phil Neil)

    Phil Neil scaled a business to $70M in ~8 months—then watched a warehouse fire erase uninsured inventory.  Phil is a serial entrepreneur and former pro football player.  He currently coaches founders on "the middle layer" between intellect and tactics.  Sri and Phil tackle founder-mindset essentials: Overcoming fearBalancing family and a startupFinding a great cofounderRecovering from lossHow to be strategic Key takeaways Speed can hide fragility. Scaling fast doesn’t mean the foundation is stable.Risk isn’t just financial. There’s “risk of purpose” and “risk of identity,” too.Shadow patterns show up under pressure (burnout, reactivity, ego defense, avoidance).Frameworks reduce drama. Naming thinking styles (DISC / color archetypes) creates shared language.The “Courage Compass” idea: create a gap before action so intuition can speak.Rock bottom can be a reset—especially when your nervous system stops cooperating.Sales = human connection + precision. Listening and situational questions beat scripts.Influence vs persuasion: some deals are closed in a day; others are earned until they ask you. Keywords entrepreneurship, startup scaling, business pivot, decision making, courage, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, shadow work, cognitive preferences, DISC personality, leadership under pressure, emotional mastery, risk tolerance, identity, purpose, cofounder, partnerships, negotiation, sales psychology, listening skills, situational questions, persuasion vs influence, founder burnout, resilience 📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    1h 19m
  3. #97: True Grit | 🏀 Pro Basketball Player Chris Eversley

    11/15/2025

    #97: True Grit | 🏀 Pro Basketball Player Chris Eversley

    Sri talks with Chris Eversley, former professional basketball player and expert on resilience. Chris reinvented himself after sports through an arduous journey learning to walk again at the age of 33.  He gives you the secrets of elite performance that high-stakes decision makers pay him for. You won't want to miss this.  Learn more about Chris: website | insta  📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    51 min
  4. #96: Live a Story Worth Telling 📖 (Gregory Russell Benedikt)

    11/08/2025

    #96: Live a Story Worth Telling 📖 (Gregory Russell Benedikt)

    Sri and Gregory Russell Benedikt talk about how to find your true calling and follow through on action.  They also discuss romantic relationships, life after finance, and whether Sri should be a Civil-War reenactor.  Gregory is a life and leadership coach who has helped over 170 clients feel alive again.  Here's Gregory's TEDx talk.  📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    57 min
  5. #95: Level Up Your Culture w Rachel Wilson Rugelsjøen

    07/16/2025

    #95: Level Up Your Culture w Rachel Wilson Rugelsjøen

    Sri takes the show to Oslo, Norway 🇳🇴, where he and Rachel Wilson Rugelsjøen talk all things culture and leadership through the lens of Human Resources.  🙉 They have the realest debate on psychological safety you'll find anywhere.  Plus everyone's favorite topic: cold plunges 🥶 ____ Rachel is the founder and managing director of LevelUp HR, which "help[s] global corporates, SME’s and scale-up’s achieve, through your most valuable asset - your people." Her experience spans over 20 years leading human capital at top-tier companies like Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, the Norwegian Oil Fund, Cognizant, and Barclays Capital — where she and Sri overlapped without knowing it!  ____ highlights "The leadership game has changed." How founders can build an effective cultureRole of values in leadershipAmazon's leadership principlesOwnership and accountabilityNorwegian vs. UK vs. American perspectives on ownershipHuman nature and leadership challengesThe evolution of leadership through historyHow to navigate instability Nuances of team dynamicsCold showers and dopamine regulationPsychological safety: just a buzzword? Trust as the foundation ____ 📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    59 min
  6. #94: Lead to Succeed w/ Jill Avey

    06/10/2025

    #94: Lead to Succeed w/ Jill Avey

    "Your work does not have a voice. You have to share what you're doing." —Jill Avey Get the results you deserve — not the ones you hope for. Sri and Jill Avey discuss how to lead in complex corporate environments -- in ways that are authentic, moral, yet tangibly rewarding.  Topics:  How to self-promote (in a non-cringy way 😬)Gender differences in leadershipPositive intelligence theory Navigating office politics Networking productivelyHow to build confidence'Mental saboteurs' that hinder your progressJill is a successful corporate marketing executive formerly at Timberland and Propet USA. She has an MBA from Columbia Business School and is the founder of SisterSmart, which aims to help women succeed in attaining the executive positions they deserve.   Find Jill here:  https://sistersmart.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillavey/keywords: leadership, women in leadership, workplace relationships, radical candor, self-promotion, career development, communication skills, networking, personal branding, professional growth, leadership, courage, fear, positive intelligence, saboteurs, gender differences, women in leadership, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, collaboration 📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    57 min
  7. #93: How to Be a Quality Leader

    05/13/2025

    #93: How to Be a Quality Leader

    Sri and Brandon Jenkins do a Round 2. This time they discuss the role of a leader when it comes to delivering quality.  And Sri has a household mishap.  📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    35 min
  8. #92: The Golden Path Fallacy w/ Brandon Jenkins

    04/14/2025

    #92: The Golden Path Fallacy w/ Brandon Jenkins

    Sri and Brandon Jenkins talk about optimizing your mind as a leader -- as well as finding systems that work for you (not the other way around).  Brandon "Jenks" Jenkins is a former Navy helicopter pilot and squadron commander. He founded Tier One coaching, which helps growth-minded leaders to align purpose with impact so they lead with confidence and elevate their teams.  Jenks is a Naval Academy grad and has an MBA from the University of Florida.  📌 Want to crush 2026? Book a free clarity call with Sri to get your priorities in order and start getting unstuck. 📩 Get free elite performance tools weekly through the Warrior Poet newsletter 👉 join ✅ _____ Follow Sri for elite leadership tips: ➡️ LinkedIn.com/in/andrewsridhar Connect on Instagram: @andrewsridhar + @sri_actually Intro and/or outro music in most episodes is by Paul Sridhar. 🎧 Disclaimer: Any audio clips are included with every intent and steps taken to abide by Fair Use and serve the purpose(s) of illustration, education, augmentation, or promotion of source content.

    1h 26m
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4.8
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

**Get yourself unstuck and be a leader.** Andrew "Sri" Sridhar is a former Navy SEAL, Harvard MBA, Wall Street escapee, and technologist. He interviews top military leaders, academic thinkers, and business phenoms to up your game. The Warrior Poet is a tightly woven tapestry of leadership expertise, philosophical inquiry, and pop culture. It's a portmanteau of Brainpickings, Wait But Why, and (Sri only wishes) Seinfeld. Yes, Sri sometimes writes haikus.

Information

  • Creator
    Sri
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Warrior Poet
  • Show Website
    The Warrior Poet