America’s Founding Leaders with David Zanotti
In this special episode marking the 250th birthday of the United States, we sit down with David Zanotti, CEO of the American Policy Roundtable and creator of The Public Square, one of the longest-running daily audio programs in America.
This is a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the perils of founding a country in 1776 to the challenges of leading in the age of AI in 2026. It turns out that some of the very same mindsets that fueled America’s Founding Fathers are still what’s needed to effectively lead organizations and families today.
Show Notes
In this episode you’ll learn:
What the Founding Fathers understood about leadership that we've largely forgotten
Why some of history's most consequential leaders may surprise you
What qualities David believes matter most for leaders navigating today's world
Additional Resources
Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
Learn more about The Aperio Learn more about David The Public Square
Things to listen for:
00:00 Transcendent Founding Vision
00:32 Podcast Intro and July 4 Special
01:23 Meet David Zanotti
03:47 Leadership as Gift and Vision
05:55 Washington Service and Humility
08:26 Providence and Spiritual Roots
10:42 Founders Fear of God
13:16 Modern Leadership Lost Truth
17:42 Respect as Universal Principle
20:39 Authenticity in an AI Age
23:05 People Hunger for Real Connection
23:42 Why AI Falls Short
25:09 Back to Founding Leaders
25:38 John Quincy Adams Legacy
26:55 Benjamin Franklin Moral Arc
28:19 Leadership Through Modeling
31:06 Washington Gives Up Power
32:43 King George And Montesquieu
37:14 Sam Adams Network Builder
40:48 Humility And Conscience
42:55 Host Reflection Purpose
45:09 Values Mission And Impact
48:56 Closing Challenge And Farewell