PODCAST · business
Uncommon Excellence
by Liam Applegate
Discover the excellence of history's uncommon leaders, ideas, and businesses through weekly podcast episodes, each exploring key insights from a must-read book. "I am a voracious reader... I am convinced that the single most important thing you can do is to read and think. The more you read, the more you know, and the better decisions you make." — Charlie Munger
Episodes
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Uncommon Moments: The Act of Creating
In this Uncommon Moment, we explore the lessons of those who came before us, and the intensity required to pursue excellence. A reflection on how we choose to live, what we choose to create, and the legacy we leave behind. “Intensity is the price of excellence.”...
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Hi Me in 1 Year
Hi Me in 1 Year. This was recorded on October 12th, 2025, and will be uploaded on October 12th, 2026. I hope you have 5K downloads by then... _________________________________________________ Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence: Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every…
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#37 The Lessons of History
What I learned from The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant A concise survey of 5,000 years of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant. Distilling the rise and fall...
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#36 How Netflix Went From Idea to Reality (Part 2)
What I learned from That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph Six months before launch, Netflix was still far from the company we know today. The team was figuring out what kind of company they wanted to build, how they would work together, and even what they should call it. Before Netflix became...
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Uncommon Moments: The Art of Listening
In this Uncommon Moment, I pull together a few lessons from the Founders Podcast by David Senra that have stuck with me. These ideas are about listening and the importance of staying in the game. Here are a couple of my favorite ideas: “Successful people listen. Those who don’t listen don’t…
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Uncommon Moments: Lessons from Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor, military leader, and Stoic philosopher who ruled from 161 to 180 AD. Despite governing one of the most powerful empires in history, his private writings reveal a man constantly reminding himself how to think, act, endure hardship, and live well. Those writings...
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#35 Seneca: On the Shortness of Life
Seneca was a Roman philosopher, statesman, and one of the most influential thinkers of the ancient world. In On the Shortness of Life, Seneca examines one of life’s most valuable and misunderstood resources: time. He argues that life is not inherently short, but that we simply allow too much of…
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Uncommon Moments: Your Success Depends on Your Enthusiasm
I've listened to over 270 hours of this one podcast... This Uncommon Moment is a tribute to the Founders Podcast by David Senra. I talk about some of my top highlights and notes from recent episodes I've listened to. Here are some quotes mentioned: "Successful people listen. Those who don’t…
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#34 Ideas That Built Empires
These Ideas Built Empires. In this episode, we explore timeless ideas from some of the world’s greatest founders, builders, and thinkers. From John D. Rockefeller and Dietrich Mateschitz to James Dyson, Daniel Ek, Kevin Kelly, and more. Ideas on ambition, focus, execution, endurance, innovation,...
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#33 Marc Randolph (Co-Founder of Netflix) Part 1
What I learned from That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea by Marc Randolph That Will Never Work tells the story of how Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings turned a simple idea of renting movies online into Netflix. From early skepticism and failed ideas to...
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Uncommon Moments: The Greatest Fear Isn't Death
In this moment of Uncommon Excellence, we explore one of Marcus Aurelius’ most powerful quotes: “It is not death that a man should fear, but never beginning to live.” Through reflections on fear, purpose, and living fully, we dive into the timeless wisdom of the Stoics and explore what it means…
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#32 J.K. Rowling: The Benefits of Failure
What I learned from Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling This powerful book is based on her 2008 Harvard commencement address. J.K. Rowling is best known as the author of the Harry Potter series, wrote one of the most widely read book series in history after crawling out of rock bottom. This included…
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#31 How Walt Disney Thought (Part 2)
What I learned from The Official Walt Disney Quote Book During his long career, Walt Disney frequently commented on his philosophies of life, his ideas, his dreams, and his hopes for a better world. This book is a collection of those quotations attributed to Walt. Walt once said, “In order to…
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#30 The Philosophy of Walt Disney (Part 1)
What I learned from The Official Walt Disney Quote Book Drawn from his own words, this is a deep exploration of how Disney actually thought about work, failure, money, leadership, and what it takes to build something that lasts. This is more than a collection of quotes. It’s a blueprint about...
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Uncommon Moments: The Art of Concentration
Uncommon Moments #3 focuses on this quote... “Do not many of us who fail to achieve big things … fail because we lack concentration—the art of concentrating the mind on the thing to be done at the proper time and to the exclusion of everything else?”- John D. Rockefeller...
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#29 Why We Read
What I learned from The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others' Eyes by C.S. Lewis Most conversations about reading today are obsessed with speed, volume, and efficiency. C.S. Lewis thought this completely missed the point. For him, reading was not about finishing books but…
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David Senra, The Inspiration Behind A Year of Excellence
A year ago, Uncommon Excellence didn’t exist. What follows is a thank-you to the person most responsible for its existence: David Senra, host of The Founders Podcast. David has dedicated years to reading hundreds of biographies of history’s greatest founders, distilling timeless lessons on...
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My Top 5 Books (Out of 38 Read This Year)
Books: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson Disney's Land by Richard Snow Endurance by Alfred Lansing How to Make a Few Billion Dollars by Brad Jacobs Four Seasons by Isadore Sharp _________________________________________________ Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence: Readwise…
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#28 15 Quotes That Rewire Your Mind
What if one sentence could unlock decades of wisdom from the sharpest minds? These 15 quotes—from Munger's reading obsession to Jobs on simplicity, Tyson's reality check, and Walsh's process mastery—aren't just words. They're tools to think clearly, decide faster, and build better. Packed with...
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#27 The Million Dollar Hack So Good It Might Break Your Business
What I learned from Oversubscribed, Key Person of Influence, Entrepreneur Revolution, and 24 Assets by Daniel Priestley There’s a business hack so powerful most founders never use it — not because it doesn’t work, but because it works too well. In this episode, we break down a simple but…
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#26 The Hidden Cost of Power: Zemurray’s Final Chapter (Pt. 2)
What I learned from The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King Sam Zemurray’s story isn’t just about building an empire—it’s about what happens when power demands a price. This episode pulls back the curtain on the unseen battles, the sacrifices made in silence, and...
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#25 The Banana King: How Sam Zemurray Built an Empire from Nothing (Pt. 1)
What I learned from The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we trace Sam Zemurray’s rise from a penniless 14-year-old immigrant to the “Banana King” who built an empire from waste. It begins in 1891, when Zemurray flips...
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#24 Hitting 1K Downloads: What I've Learned and What’s Next
In this milestone episode of Uncommon Excellence, we’re celebrating a huge moment—1,000 downloads! What started as a dream for the end of the year has become a reality, and I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who’s tuned in, shared an episode, or supported the journey so far. In this, I'll...
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#23 Tyler Schuster: Extreme Ownership
In this episode, Tyler Schuster explores the principle of extreme ownership, stressing the importance of taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. He explains how this mindset has been shaped by his experiences with business mentors like Patrick Bet-David, who emphasized that…
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Uncommon Moments: How to Hire A-Players
In this moment of Uncommon Excellence, we dive into the hiring philosophy of Brad Jacobs, one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs and the author of How to Make a Few Billion Dollars. Jacobs built his empire by assembling world-class teams, and his insights on hiring A-players are nothing...
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#22 Jonathan Jarecki: Question Everything
Jonathan Jarecki lives by one principle: question everything. In this episode, he shares how that mindset has shaped his views on health, decision-making, and entrepreneurship. From rethinking conventional wisdom to building a values-driven protein bar company, Jonathan explains why critical...
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#21 12 Maxims On Running (Part 2)
What I learned from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami This episode is about the quiet power of discipline—of showing up even when motivation fades, of sticking to your personal rules when no one’s watching. Whether it’s writing, training, building a business, or…
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#20 The Art of Running (Part 1)
What I learned from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami In this solo episode of Uncommon Excellence, I dive into the philosophy of Haruki Murakami and what it means to create, endure, and grow for yourself. Through quotes pulled from What I Talk About When I Talk About...
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Uncommon Moments: Pain is Inevitable, Suffering is Optional
Uncommon Excellence Premium: Founder’s Rate If you’re tired of average and ready to unlock your next level, Uncommon Excellence Premium is your edge. For a limited time, join the exculsive Founder’s Rate: Launch Special. It's only $4.99/month for the first 100 subscribers. Gain exclusive…
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#19 Zero to One: The Power of Being a Contrarian
What I learned from Zero to One by Peter Thiel Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the...
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#18 The Hidden Science of First Impressions
What I learned from Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we explore the hidden science behind first impressions, connection, and conversation—drawing from Vanessa Van Edwards’ powerful book Captivate. You'll learn why people make snap judgments in under 2...
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#17 50 Maxims from Naval Ravikant (Part 3)
My Key Takeaways from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant By Eric Jorgenson In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we dive headfirst into the wisdom of Naval Ravikant, unpacking 50 of his most powerful maxims that can transform the way you think about wealth, happiness, and life itself. Naval, the...
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#16 AMA- One Quote That Changed My Life Forever
In this special AMA episode, I break down the single quote that reshaped how I approach life, work, and personal growth. This isn’t just a motivational line — it’s a mental operating system. I share where I found it, how it hit me at just the right time, and the specific ways I’ve applied it to...
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#15 Lessons from a Trillion Dollar Investor (Part 2)
My Key Takeaways from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant By Eric Jorgenson In this episode, we break down 12 timeless lessons from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant—a distilled playbook on how to build wealth, live wisely, and operate with maximum leverage. Naval, the co-founder of AngelList and early...
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#14 The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (Part 1)
My Key Takeaways from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant By Eric Jorgenson In this episode, we dive into The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, a distilled guide to building wealth and finding happiness from one of the sharpest minds in entrepreneurship and investing. Naval Ravikant, co-founder of AngelList...
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#13 The Greatest Rescue Mission in History Part 3
My Key Takeaways from Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing After nearly 500 days stranded in Antarctica, Ernest Shackleton launched a desperate journey to save his men — navigating freezing seas in lifeboats, sailing 800 miles in a storm-wracked boat, and crossing uncharted...
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#12 Endurance Over Ice: Shackleton's Blueprint Part 2
My Key Takeaways from Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we dive into one of history’s greatest examples of leadership...
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#11 Ernest Shackleton: By Endurance We Conquer (Part 1)
My Key Takeaways from Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing Ernest Shackleton set out to achieve the last great prize of exploration—crossing Antarctica—but when his ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice, his mission instantly changed from conquest to survival. In this...
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#10 Worldwide Excellence: How Four Seasons Conquered the World (Part 5)
My Key Takeaways from Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy by Isadore Sharp In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Isadore Sharp and the rise of Four Seasons as a global symbol of luxury and excellence. From its humble beginnings in Canada to its expansion into some of...
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#9 Excellence is the Capacity to Take Pain: The Four Seasons Legacy (Part 4)
My Key Takeaways from Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy by Isadore Sharp In this episode, we explore the powerful journey of Isadore Sharp and how he built Four Seasons into a global luxury hotel brand. The foundation of Four Seasons was built not just on great service, but on the...
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#8 Isadore Sharp (Founder of Four Seasons) Part 3
My Key Takeaways from Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy by Isadore Sharp In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we take a deep dive into the remarkable journey of Isadore Sharp, the visionary founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and uncover how he built one of the world’s...
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#7 Isadore Sharp (Founder of Four Seasons) Part 2
My Key Takeaways from Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy by Isadore Sharp This was one of the hardest episodes I've ever done, this includes the tragic but amazing story of Christopher Sharp, the son of Isadore Sharp, who passed away at age 18 due to melanoma. In this episode, we…
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#6 Isadore Sharp (Founder of Four Seasons Hotel) Part 1
My Key Takeaways from Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy by Isadore Sharp “The reason for our success is no secret. It comes down to one single principle that transcends time and geography, religion and culture. It’s the Golden Rule – the simple idea that if you treat people well…
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#5 How to Make a Few Billion Dollars | Part 2
My Key Takeaways from How to Make a Few Billion Dollars By Brad Jacobs To Join the Revolution behind Uncommon Excellence Premium How to Make a Few Billion Dollars (Part 2) | Brad Jacobs "When I hire key people, I’m trying to achieve a two-part goal: accomplish big things and have fun doing it....
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#4 How to Make a Few Billion Dollars (Pt. 1)
My Key takeaways from How to Make a Few Billion Dollars By Brad Jacobs In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we dive into the mind of Brad Jacobs, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time, who has built seven billion-dollar companies across multiple industries. Drawing insights from...
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#3 Disney's Land: Opening Day & the Road to Expansion
My main takeaways from Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park that Changed the World To Elevate your Journey (and to save 5% Off): Uncommon Excellence Premium Disneyland's Opening Day Video Part 3: We explore the high-stakes final days leading up to Disneyland’s grand...
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#2 Disneyland: The Invention That Revolutionized the World Part 2
My Main takeaways from Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park that Changed the World Part 2: Amusement Park Industry at the time/ Construction of Disneyland/ Deal with Sponsors and the ABC Network Walt Disney revolutionized the concept of amusement parks, transforming...
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#1 Disneyland: The Invention That Revolutionized the World Part 1
My Key Takeaways from Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park that Changed the World by Richard Snow. Part 1: Intro- Conception/Idea of Disneyland from Walt Disney. Disney's Early Life: Birth & Family Background: Born in 1901. 4th child in the family. Father: Elias...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Discover the excellence of history's uncommon leaders, ideas, and businesses through weekly podcast episodes, each exploring key insights from a must-read book. "I am a voracious reader... I am convinced that the single most important thing you can do is to read and think. The more you read, the more you know, and the better decisions you make." — Charlie Munger
HOSTED BY
Liam Applegate
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Uncommon Excellence have?
Uncommon Excellence currently has 48 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Uncommon Excellence about?
Discover the excellence of history's uncommon leaders, ideas, and businesses through weekly podcast episodes, each exploring key insights from a must-read book. "I am a voracious reader... I am convinced that the single most important thing you can do is to read and think. The more you read, the...
How often does Uncommon Excellence release new episodes?
Uncommon Excellence has 48 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Uncommon Excellence?
You can listen to Uncommon Excellence on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Uncommon Excellence?
Uncommon Excellence is created and hosted by Liam Applegate.
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