Greatness

Jonathan Watts

Learn from history’s greatest.Each week, Jonathan Watts dives into the lives and moments of the world's most extraordinary people, uncovering timeless lessons and unforgettable stories.

  1. 6 days ago

    167. History Dump: Oprah, Michel de Montaigne, Bruce Springsteen, and More

    History dump is back. Diving into some of my favorite stories, people, and ideas I've learned and read about recently.  ----- Sources What I Know for Sure - Oprah Bruce Springsteen - Peter Carlin The Essays - Michael de Montaigne King of the World - David Remnick The Strenuous Life - Theodore Roosevelt ----- 0:40 - Oprah, what do you know for sure? 2:10 - "When you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance" - Lee Ann Womack 3:40 - Four- and five-star experiences 4:54 -  "The gift of deciding to face your mortality without turning away or flinching is the gift of recognizing that because you will die, you must live now. " 7:15 - The question Oprah kept writing: “What am I afraid of?” 9:30 - "Basically, when you get to my age, You’ll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you. That’s the ultimate test of how you have lived your life. The more you give love away, the more you get.” - Warren Buffett 14:35 - The words that changed Oprah's life: “Excellence is the best deterrent to racism. Therefore, be excellent.” 16:26 - Bruce Springsteen and the ambition trap 23:56 - Mike Appell and pushing past no 28:48 - "The Strenuous Life." 33:42 - Michael de Montaigne on death 39:55 - "The usefulness of living lies not in duration but in what you make of it. Some have lived long and lived little. See it while you are still here. Whether you have lived enough depends not on the count of years but on your will." 40:12 - Floyd Patterson, doubt, cowardice, and authenticity

  2. 20 Aug

    166. Muhammad Ali

    Diving into the life of the boxing icon, Muhammad Ali ----- Sources: King of the World - David Remnick Ali - Jonathan Eig ----- 0:00 - The story you tell yourself  4:05 - How a low point changed Ali's life forever 8:25 - Boxing became a religion 13:08 - Missionary to mercenary 15:25 - Self-confidence and showmanship 22:08 - Why he talked trash 23:45 - The man and religion that changed his life 25:20 - Liston vs Ali, being willing to bleed, and the lack of preparation 28:02 - How strong are your beliefs 29:58 - The moment that determined Ali's career 34:00 - Becoming Muhammad Ali 35:17 - Becoming the most hated man in America 41:17 - The paradox of the man 44:35 - A different fighter, a different approach, a different man 49:05 - Quit before it's too late ----- Check out my books below: Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming  Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence ----- You can check, stay connected, and support below: Website Books Instagram X LinkedIn

  3. 8 Aug

    165. Haruki Murakami

    0:00 - Find the torture you're comfortable with 2:55 -  The unusual path and story of how Murakami became a writer  18:35 - Finding the void 22:45 - Discipline = what suits you 26:15 - The failed marathon 28:52 - The 62-miler  32:43 - Be a self-competitor 34:48 - The pleasure is doing the thing 36:34 - The keys to Murakami's remarkable longevity  38:25 - Murakami and focus  39:35 - The key to building endurance 41:24 - Pace and pleasure  43:00 - How Murakami has run every day for decades 43:30 - The writing/creative process 47:35 - Becoming a "true artist."

  4. 1 Aug

    164. The Letters of John D. Rockefeller

    Diving into the letters John D. Rockefeller wrote to his son. ----- Sources: The 38 Letters From J.D. Rockefeller to his son Titan - Ron Chernow ----- 4:30 - Your destiny is determined by your actions 10:00 - Self-control and discipline 11:25 - Planning luck is planning life 13:34 - Work as a key to happiness 16:15 - Does it keep you up at night 17:35 - Don't be a passive person 20:00 - Mortgage for the future 21:25 - On failure 25:05 - Belief is necessary 31:17 - Excuses are the source of failure 32:55 - Attitude determines achievements 34:10 - Greed is necessary 36:50 - Keys to wealth 41:45 - The importance of self-reflection 46:35 - Two types of people to avoid 49:50 - The peace of conscience is the only reliable reward.

  5. 21 Jul

    163. The Enduring Wisdom of Seneca

    Diving into the teachings and philosophies of the philosopher Seneca ----- Sources:  On The Shortness of Life  Letters From a Stoic  ----- Check out my books below: Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming  Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence ----- You can check, stay connected, and support below: Website Books Instagram X LinkedIn

  6. 14 Jul

    162. The Fly Girls - The Women Who Changed Aviation

    Diving into the story of a handful of women who broke the social norms in aviation during the 1920s and 1930s ----- Sources: Fly Girls - Keith O'Brien ----- :30 - Make Yourself Proud 10:30 - Ruth Nichols: Relinquish yourself from the world 16:30 - Capacity for criticism 18:20 - "Make your atom count." 19:36 - Frances Grayson transatlantic attempt: Risk vs consequence 25:30 - Amelia Earhart: her first attempt, the importance of self-satisfaction 30:20 - The national air races + the battle for opportunity 35:10 - Be a thorn 36:20 - The cost/burden of challenging  41:40 - Prepare for a long fight 42:40 - Ruth Nichols - overlooking the small details 45:02 - The grudge flight 47:20 - More breakthroughs, more battles.  55:45 - Louise Thaden: speed with safety 58:38 - Plant some trees

  7. 1 Jul

    161. The Struggle and Burden of Lionel Messi

    Diving into the struggle Lionel Messi went through to become the greatest soccer player ever, and the burdens he had to carry along the way. ----- Sources Lionel Messi - Guillem Balague ----- Check out my books below: Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming  Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence Stay connected and check out more on our website: Chasegreatness.net

  8. 25 Jun

    160. The Mindset of Cristiano Ronaldo

    Diving into the mental approach and working ways of Cristiano Ronaldo ----- Sources: Cristiano Ronaldo - Guilleme Balague ----- 1:35 - A motivational weapon 4:00 - A want to play and work "Ronaldo spent ten to twelve hours with the ball every day.” 5:05 - Losing as a certain kind of death 7:12: The perfect mother 8:55 - The obsessive work ethic 11:00 - Never satisfied  14:37 - Earning the right to be confident 15:40 - Champions do more than people who think they've done more 17:45 - Seek out those who can help you 19:33 - The Ronaldo motto  22:00 - The discipline 24:29 - An intense competitor 27:00 - Confidence 29:00 - Ideas thief

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About

Learn from history’s greatest.Each week, Jonathan Watts dives into the lives and moments of the world's most extraordinary people, uncovering timeless lessons and unforgettable stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Watts
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Greatness
  • Show Website
    Greatness

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