What happens when the past starts sounding uncomfortably like the present?

In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh sits down with historian Tad Stoermer to explore the recurring cycle of power, resistance, and transformation in American history. Tad traces his journey from the military and Democratic politics into historical scholarship, explaining why moments of resistance often emerge when authority overreaches. Drawing from his forthcoming book, “A Resistance History of the United States,” releasing June 2, 2026, he connects today’s unrest to earlier chapters of the American story.

This conversation challenges conventional political thinking and invites listeners to examine current events through a longer historical lens, exploring generational memory, shifting values, and what tends to rise when societies reach a breaking point.

In this episode, Darius and Tad will discuss:

• (00:00) Introduction to Tad Stoermer and His Work
• (02:53) Tad’s Journey to Becoming a Historian
• (05:40) Understanding Resistance in American History
• (08:33) The Role of Values in Politics
• (11:40) The Dynamics of Resistance and Authority
• (14:12) Political Parties and Their Disconnect with Values
• (17:02) The Need for Change in Political Systems
• (20:06) The Founders’ Vision and Its Flaws
• (27:08) The Dynamics of American History
• (32:19) The Evolution of Republics in the U.S.
• (37:33) Generational Memory and Historical Context
• (42:42) Youth Perspectives on Power and Authority
• (47:18) Resistance Dynamics: A Values-Agnostic Framework

Meet Tad:

Tad Stoermer is a public historian and author of “A Resistance History of the United States”. One of the most widely followed public historians in the world, he reaches millions each month with work focused on the American Revolution and the enduring myths that shape American identity. A former U.S. Army Reconnaissance Scout and veteran of a decade in Democratic politics, Stoermer holds a PhD in History from the University of Virginia and is an alumnus of Johns Hopkins and Harvard. He has taught public history at Harvard, held major fellowships at Brown, Yale, and Monticello, and currently serves as a Lecturer at Johns Hopkins, a Visiting Scholar at the University of Southern Denmark, and Film and Digital Media Editor of The Public Historian. He splits his time between Denmark and Cape Cod.

Meet Darius: 

Darius is your host of The Greatness Machine. Darius is a mad scientist, high-growth CEO, serial entrepreneur, author, conscious capitalist, speaker, and entertainer. Darius is on a quest to create 1,000,000 Core Value Driven Organization by 2030. He is calling this “The Core Value Revolution.” Darius is an alumni of the Birthing of Giants Entrepreneurial Program at MIT and Stagen Integral Leadership Program. Darius’s accolades include being ranked #9 Top Rated CEO in America on Glassdoor, has won numerous Stevie Awards, and has founded and grown organizations that have been ranked #40 in the Inc. 500 and were ranked #3 Best Places to Work By the San Francisco Business Time. He is all about the P’s: Passion, Pizza, Puzzles, and, especially, Pink Unicorns. His book, The Core Value Equation, is an Amazon #1 Best Seller and is available at www.thecorevalueequation.com.

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