Acta Non Verba

Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Peter Maguire — historian, author, surfer, black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and one of the most uncompromising truth-tellers working today. From firsthand accounts of the Khmer Rouge genocide to designing classified military watercraft, from the courtrooms of Nuremberg's legacy to the mat at Hickson Gracie's academy, Peter has lived the research most academics only read about. This conversation is raw, wide-ranging, and pulls no punches on history, accountability, power, and what it truly means to act with integrity.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[0:05:40] Peter reveals his family's deep connection to the Nuremberg Trials — his great-grandfather was a judge — and how that legacy drove him to travel to Cambodia in 1994 to document the Khmer Rouge genocide firsthand, at serious personal risk.
[0:06:55] Peter describes entering a civil-war-era Cambodia with a $5,000 bounty on Western heads, collecting testimony from survivors, guards, and perpetrators at S-21 prison — and how the experience permanently shattered his faith in international human rights institutions.
[0:17:00] The story of Peter's classified military boat project: how a team of surfers and civilians earned three sole-source government contracts and passed all military testing, only to watch their vision get dismantled by the military-industrial complex — all while simultaneously writing op-eds critical of U.S. prisoner policy.
[1:17:01] Peter opens up about watching Hickson Gracie's Parkinson's diagnosis unfold, the emotional difficulty of co-writing that book, and what Hickson's profound acceptance of his condition reveals about the nature of the ultimate fight.
[2:24:31] Peter describes founding the Fainting Robin Foundation — an organization that steps in when governments and legal systems fail — including helping veterans denied cancer treatment, conducting civilian evacuations in Ukraine, and tracking down a murderer in Cambodia.
Peter Maguire is a historian, author, martial artist, and adventurer whose work sits at the intersection of war, justice, and lived experience. He holds a PhD and wrote his dissertation under Brigadier General Telford Taylor, the chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials. His books include Law and War: An American Story, Facing Death in Cambodia, Thai Stick: Surfers, Scammers, and the Untold Story of the Marijuana Trade, and two books co-authored with Hickson Gracie. Peter spent years in post-genocide Cambodia documenting atrocities, interviewing survivors and perpetrators at S-21 prison, and working on MIA/POW investigations. He also designed a military watercraft that received U.S. government contracts before being co-opted by bureaucracy. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Hickson Gracie's lineage, he is the founder of the Fainting Robin Foundation, which provides investigative and legal support to those failed by conventional systems. He publishes independently on Substack at Sour Milk.
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Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down for a return visit with J. Jason Hicks — author, technologist, and storyteller — to dig into his new nonfiction book The War of Leadership: Hard Lessons and Practical Truths for Surviving In and Beyond Leadership. Drawing from 30 years in the corporate world, Jason unpacks the uncomfortable truths that no one tells new leaders: the manipulation, the blind spots, the politics, and the quiet treachery of organizational life. Marcus and Jason explore why awareness of dark leadership tactics doesn't make you a bad leader — it makes you a prepared one. They also cover the craft of writing, the role of AI in creative work, and why the human element in art, music, and literature will never be replaceable.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
The Dark Side of Leadership — 2:16 Jason reads the defining passage from the book: "You'll be misled. You will be asked to mislead..." — a raw, unflinching look at how leadership corrupts incrementally, and how good people get drawn into cycles they never intended to be part of.
The Blame Game & Double-Edged Sword — 6:23 Marcus and Jason break down how leaders attack their predecessors while their own teams are quietly building a case against them. Leadership blind spots, self-preservation, and the vicious cycle of blame are all on the table.
The Message in a Bottle — 12:05 Jason reveals who he really wrote this book for: the bright-eyed, naive young professional walking into the arena with no idea what's coming. This is the intel he wishes someone had given him early in his career.
Agreeable and Wrong vs. Disagreeable and Right — 17:57 One of the most quotable moments of the episode: Jason drops the line "It's better to be agreeable and wrong than disagreeable and right — you'll be remembered for being disagreeable, not for being right." Marcus and Jason unpack the tactical wisdom of knowing when to push back and when to let the dust settle.
Jason Hicks was born in Deerfield, Illinois, raised in New Berlin, Wisconsin, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he studied English literature, religions, and early Christianity. While attending a television screenwriting course, he won the department's screenwriting award for a Star Trek: The Next Generation script — then spent the next 30 years successfully avoiding writing while building a career in technology. Upon leaving that career, he returned to his first love and penned Ruin Waters: Bane Book One of the Annals of the Last Emissary, followed by the second book in the series, The Earth, My War. His debut nonfiction, The War of Leadership: Hard Lessons and Practical Truths for Surviving In and Beyond Leadership, draws directly from his three decades in the corporate world. He currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he writes, speaks, and coaches on leadership. Find him at linktr.ee/jjasonhicks and on social media @jjasonhicks.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
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In this episode Dr. Anthony Chaffee, an American medical doctor and neurosurgical registrar discusses his research on optimum nutrition for human performance and health, asserting that many chronic diseases can be improved or reversed with dietary changes toward a species-specific diet. Marcus and Dr. Chaffee also explore the economic burden of chronic diseases, the role of insulin and blood sugar in health, and how a high-fat, meat-based ketogenic diet can address various health issues. The conversation also compares the critical thinking approach of Dr. Chaffee with that of acclaimed author Thomas Sowell, noting the importance of evidence-based conclusions and practical dietary applications.
Episode Highlights:
02:03 The Real Healthcare Crisis
04:01 The Cost of Chronic Diseases
12:10 The Role of Insulin and Mitochondria
15:58 Ketogenic Diet and Cancer
25:41 Role of Mitochondria in Cell Regulation
26:49 Warburg's Theory and Modern Evidence
27:55 Link Between Glucose Metabolism and Cancer
28:35 Nuclear Transfer Studies
29:34 Thomas Sowell's Influence
Dr. Anthony Chaffee is an American medical doctor and Neurosurgical resident with over 20 years of research focused on optimal nutrition for human performance and health. He asserts that many chronic diseases are rooted in dietary choices and can be reversed with a species-specific diet. Dr. Chaffee began his academic journey at 16, studying Molecular & Cellular Biology and Chemistry at the University of Washington, later earning his MD from the Royal College of Surgeons. An All-American rugby player and MMA enthusiast, he currently practices in Australia, balancing his work as a Neurosurgical registrar and a functional medicine clinician.
You can learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkkRSboRx_u3Hf2FFNgpnufkh6AWVPdFX
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful episode of Acta Non Verba, Marcus sits down with John Howell, Super Bowl champion and North Creek Ranch innovator. John shares his incredible journey from small-town Nebraska eight-man football to the NFL, revealing the struggles, setbacks, and mental health challenges that shaped him into the man and leader he is today. From walking onto Colorado State as an unknown to winning a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, John's story is a masterclass in perseverance, faith, and the power of doing hard things. Now, John is building something even more impactful at North Creek Ranch—a six-generation family cattle ranch transformed into a retreat destination where men can reconnect with themselves, nature, and each other through hunting, leadership training, and authentic fellowship.
Episode Highlights
[22:48] The Freshman Who Almost Quit - John reveals how he nearly gave up during his freshman year at Colorado State, flunking every class except aerobics and planning to quit football entirely. A Christmas break drive past his high school reminded him of his dreams and the people who believed in him, leading to a pivotal decision to return with renewed determination.
[22:49] The Practice That Changed Everything - After arriving at Colorado State as a walk-on, John thought the team wasn't very good—until the fourth practice when the entire varsity squad showed up. This humbling moment taught him the difference between going 100% and understanding practice etiquette, eventually leading to mentorship from All-American Anthony Cesario.
[56:17] The Anxiety Attack Before Super Bowl Season - John courageously shares his breakdown the night before training camp in his second NFL season—calling Coach Jon Gruden to say he had to leave. Instead of cutting him, Gruden responded with love and support, saying "I don't know what you have going on, but I want you to know I love you and I'm here for you." John went on to win the Super Bowl that season.
[46:38] The Power of Not Quitting When It's Hardest - John's advice to young athletes and men: "Do not quit your freshman year." He explains the difference between stopping something and quitting something, emphasizing that we can live with failure, but regret from quitting when things are hardest will haunt us forever.
John Howell is a Super Bowl XXXVII champion who played defensive back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under legendary coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden. After an improbable journey from eight-man high school football in rural Nebraska to walking on at Colorado State University and eventually being drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, John spent five seasons in professional football. Today, John is the visionary behind North Creek Ranch, a six-generation family cattle ranch in Nebraska that he's transformed into a world-class retreat destination and hunting lodge. Through North Creek Ranch and his nonprofit Herd Bull University, John creates transformative experiences for men, teaching them to embrace challenge, build confidence, and live with purpose through hunting, outdoor skills, and leadership development. John is a man of deep faith, a devoted husband and father, and a passionate advocate for mental health awareness in athletics and business leadership.

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
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Former Nebraska national champion and Carolina Panthers Super Bowl safety Mike Minter joins Marcus Aurelius Anderson to share his incredible journey from small-town Oklahoma to championship glory at every level of football. Now a leadership coach and motivational speaker, Minter reveals the culture-building secrets behind winning teams, how he transitioned from player to elite coach, and why true leadership starts with understanding belief systems rather than just behavior. This raw conversation explores what separates championship teams from average ones, the power of detachment in leadership, and how to unlock the one-percenter mindset in yourself and your organization.
Episode Highlights
[0:59] Introduction to Mike Minter: Former NFL player, college football national champion, and leadership coach who has achieved excellence at every level from youth football through the Super Bowl.
[6:15] Championship Culture at Nebraska: Mike breaks down why the 1995 Nebraska team was the greatest college football team in history and how they built an unstoppable culture of excellence.
[16:38] The Secret Sauce of Winning Teams: The critical difference between championship and losing teams - leadership drives culture, and culture is built on shared belief systems, not just behavior modification.
[42:19] Exclusive Leadership Retreat Announcement: Mike, Marcus, Scott Sadowski, and John Howell announce an elite leadership retreat for one-percenters who want to take their performance and their organizations to the next level.
Mike Minter is a former NFL safety who played 10 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, earning a trip to Super Bowl XXXVIII. Before his professional career, he was a two-time national champion at the University of Nebraska (1994, 1995), playing on what many consider the greatest college football team of all time. After retiring from the NFL, Mike transitioned into coaching, leading his high school team to multiple state championships before becoming a college head coach. Today, he serves as a leadership and mindset coach, working with CEOs, executives, and high-performing teams to help them build championship cultures in their organizations. Mike is known for his "No-Show-Go" leadership system and his ability to connect with one-percenters who want to elevate their performance beyond what they thought possible.

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.