From The Green Notebook

• Turning Groups into Teams: Lessons for Leaders with Dr. Colin Fisher

  Send us a textAuthor and researcher Dr. Colin Fisher joins Joe to unpack the invisible forces that shape teams—and why leaders ignore them at their own risk.From his book The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups Dr. Fisher shows how group dynamics are always at play, whether in a locker room, a boardroom, or on the battlefield. Together, he and Joe explore why the myth of the lone genius persists, why synergy is real but rare, and how leaders can deliberately build trust, structure, and norms that drive high-performing teams.In this episode, Joe and Colin explore:Why the Sorting Hat—not Voldemort—might be the real villain of Harry PotterHow the “lone genius” narrative hides the reality of collaboration behind breakthroughsWhat synergy really means and why structure—not speeches—is the leader’s most powerful toolThe difference between relational trust and task-based trust, and why the latter makes teams excelHow group norms emerge, and why they can drive both excellence and dysfunctionWhy psychological safety is about the freedom to disagree, not surface-level harmonyHow power changes leaders’ relationships with others—and why who you surround yourself with mattersWhether you’re leading a squad, running a company, or just trying to understand the groups you’re part of, this episode will change how you see teamwork—and give you tools to lead with intention.Since his days as a professional jazz trumpet player, Dr. Colin M. Fisher has been fascinated by group dynamics. As Associate Professor of Organizations and Innovation at University College London’s School of Management, Colin’s research has uncovered the hidden processes of helping groups and teams in situations requiring creativity, improvisation, and complex decision-making. He has written about group dynamics for both popular science and management audiences, and his work has been profiled in prominent media outlets such as BBC, Forbes, NPR, and The Times. Originally from Redmond, Washington, he now lives in North London with his wife and two children.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

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• How Robotics and AI Will Transform Warfare and the Future of Human Conflict with George M. Dougherty

  Send us a textMilitary strategist and author George M. Dougherty joins Joe to unpack how robotics, AI, and precision weaponry are reshaping the future of warfare—and what history can teach us about navigating this transformation.From his book Beast in the Machine, George traces the roots of military robotics back over a century and shows how concepts like remote-controlled systems and autonomous weapons aren’t new at all—they’ve simply advanced with technology. Together, he and Joe explore the implications of universal precision, weapon–target asymmetry, and what it means for maneuver warfare in an era where small drones can neutralize tanks.In this episode, Joe and George explore:Why today’s robotics and AI revolution mirrors the onset of mechanization in World War IHow “universal precision” is disrupting maneuver warfare and creating a new no man’s landThe concept of weapon–target asymmetry: why cheap drones can outmatch billion-dollar platformsThe role of networks, ISR, and electromagnetic warfare in shaping the kill chainHistorical lessons—from Tesla’s 1898 robot to Kursk’s remote-controlled vehicles—that frame today’s challengesThe ethical and societal stakes of democratizing lethal technologyWhy leaders must avoid over-empowering AI and remain smarter than the algorithms they useWhether you’re a junior officer rethinking tactics or a senior strategist wrestling with AI’s role in warfare, this episode offers a sobering yet hopeful look at how leaders can outthink adversaries and shape the future fight.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Red Threadx is a team of industry leaders and veterans. As a follow-on to the conversation, Joe Byerly will join George Dougherty and a panel of experts at the Red Thread House during the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on 14 October 2025. The invitation-only event will explore Beast in the Machine and the ethics of killing in war, alongside critical topics such as artificial intelligence, contested logistics, layered protection, and 21st-century command and control. To learn more about attending, contact [email protected]

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• Who Are You Without the Rank? A Conversation on Leader Identity with Laura Weimer

  Send us a textArmy officer and Harvard-trained scholar Laura Weimer joins Joe to unpack leader identity—how it’s formed, why it matters, and what happens when we never stop to question it.From leading Soldiers in the field to earning a PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, Laura has navigated both the operational Army and academia. Along the way, she’s learned that one of the most important questions a leader can ask is: Do I want to do this job—or do I just want to be selected for it?In this candid conversation, Laura and Joe explore how ego, purpose, and values shape career decisions. They share how small changes—like moving one swim lane over—can dramatically improve fit and fulfillment, and why leaders must help their subordinates figure this out before life forces the question.In this episode, we explore:Why separating ego from purpose is critical in career decision-makingThe “swim lane” approach to finding a better fit without leaving the ArmyHow coaching and reflection can clarify your leader identityPractical exercises for uncovering your values and reframing your workWhy helping others find the right role strengthens the whole organizationWhether you’re a junior leader at a crossroads or a senior officer mentoring the next generation, this episode offers tools and hard-earned wisdom for building a leader identity that lasts beyond any rank or title.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

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• The History of the (Green) Notebook and How It Can Change Your Life with Roland Allen

  Send us a textAuthor Roland Allen joins Joe for a deep-dive into his book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper, and the surprising legacy of one of humanity’s most powerful tools: the humble notebook.Whether it’s a green notebook in your cargo pocket, Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches, or a modern writer’s Moleskine, notebooks have shaped how people think, learn, and lead for centuries. In this fascinating conversation, Roland shares how these simple collections of thoughts, drawings, and quotes—what he calls “the first mixtape”—have been central to creativity, memory, and meaning throughout history.Whether you're a leader, writer, soldier, or student, this episode will inspire you to pick up a pen and rediscover the power of thinking on paper.In this episode, we explore:How a personal diary led Roland to uncover the global story of notebooks and their impact on civilizationThe Zibaldoni: a 14th-century Florentine notebook tradition that sparked the birth of modern literatureWhy Leonardo da Vinci never left home without his notebook—and how it supercharged his creativity across disciplinesHow Isaac Newton rewrote his own history by editing his notebooksThe power of the commonplace book: a forgotten practice that shaped minds from Shakespeare to modern military leadersHow notebooks create lasting knowledge—from 19th-century whalers to 21st-century climate scientistsThe quirky and wildly different notebook habits of Agatha Christie, Virginia Woolf, and Roland himselfWhy writing by hand helps us remember more, make better decisions, and build resilience through tough timesJoe’s reflections on keeping a green notebook in combat and why he now journals with his future self in mindWhether you use a green notebook, a Moleskine, or a legal pad, this episode will change the way you think about what it means to write—and why it matters.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

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• How We Grow up with Matt Richtel

  Send us a textPulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Matt Richtel joins Joe for a powerful conversation about his new book, How We Grow Up: Understanding Adolescence.Blending neuroscience, history, and real-life stories from teens and families across the country, Matt offers a transformative understanding of adolescence—not as a problem to fix, but as a critical phase of growth. Whether you’re a parent, military leader, coach, or mentor, this conversation is packed with insight on how to support young people as they step into the most intense learning period of their lives.In this episode, we explore:Why adolescence isn’t just a set of teenage years—but a biologically driven journey of self-discoveryHow to understand risk-taking, rebellion, and boundary-pushing not as defiance, but as testing for survivalThe powerful metaphor of adolescents as “castaways,” and why we must let them leave the shore to growHow The Odyssey offers a timeless framework for understanding the adolescent hero’s journeyWhat neuroscience teaches us about reward sensitivity, risk tolerance, and the adolescent brainWhy digital life isn’t inherently bad—but what it displaces can harm growth and mental healthHow to lead, parent, and mentor with empathy—by not taking rebellion or distance personallyWhether you’re leading young soldiers, raising kids, or reflecting on your own adolescent journey, this episode delivers timeless wisdom and practical tools for helping the next generation grow up well.Matt Richtel is a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist and bestselling writer of mysteries and thrillers. His books are fast-paced, character-centered stories in which things are not always as they seem. The backdrop for the books is the modern world. Technology is everywhere. Everything moves at lightning speed, from conspiracy, to love, business, and violence. Technology is our slave. Or has it become our dark master?The books relate to Matt's journalism. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for a series of stories on distracted driving. The next year, he wrote an acclaimed series for the New York Times called "Your Brain On Computers" exploring how heavy technology use impacts our behavior and our brains.Matt lives with his family in San Francisco. He writes from an office with a window that looks onto the former house of baseball legend Willie Mays. He -- Matt, not Willie -- is an avid tennis player, takes pride in making guacamole and coffee, and writes the occasional song.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it’s banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

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