One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history.
In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why he believes the Marine Corps is so resilient and has maintained its relevance throughout its history. Ben also discusses what leaders in business can learn from the Marine Corps culture, discipline, and approach to leading through uncertainty. Ben also looks into the future while sharing what he believes the next 25 to 50 years will look like for the Marines. In a sign that “imitation is the sincerest form of flatter,” Ben finishes the conversation by talking about how other countries have attempted to pattern portions of their militaries after the United States Marine Corps.
Ben Davenport retired from active duty following 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Naval Aviator, an operational planner, and an Olmsted Scholar. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Masters of Art in International Law and Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Fudan University, People’s Republic of China; Masters of Art in Operational Studies from Marine Corps University; Graduate from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), and Graduate from the Grand Strategy program with a Master of Strategic studies from Air University.
Ben is currently serving as the Deterrence Analyst and Strategic Advisor on China with NATO Allied Command Transformation, one of two Bi-Strategic Operational Commands within the NATO Alliance.
All content for 12 Geniuses Podcast is the property of Don MacPherson and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history.
In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why he believes the Marine Corps is so resilient and has maintained its relevance throughout its history. Ben also discusses what leaders in business can learn from the Marine Corps culture, discipline, and approach to leading through uncertainty. Ben also looks into the future while sharing what he believes the next 25 to 50 years will look like for the Marines. In a sign that “imitation is the sincerest form of flatter,” Ben finishes the conversation by talking about how other countries have attempted to pattern portions of their militaries after the United States Marine Corps.
Ben Davenport retired from active duty following 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Naval Aviator, an operational planner, and an Olmsted Scholar. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Masters of Art in International Law and Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Fudan University, People’s Republic of China; Masters of Art in Operational Studies from Marine Corps University; Graduate from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), and Graduate from the Grand Strategy program with a Master of Strategic studies from Air University.
Ben is currently serving as the Deterrence Analyst and Strategic Advisor on China with NATO Allied Command Transformation, one of two Bi-Strategic Operational Commands within the NATO Alliance.
Each day, more than 10,000 Baby Boomers in America turn 65…and it’s been happening for years. By 2034, there will be more Americans over the age of 65 than under the age of 18. It’s unprecedented. How those Baby Boomers continue to participate in society will be an overwhelming factor in what kind of country and world younger generations inherit.
An aging population is not just an American phenomenon. It’s happening in many developed countries. Aging is one of the trends that will have an outsized influence over the next 20 years. Artificial intelligence is another. The AI we experience in 2025 is juvenile compared to the magical technology that will be embedded in just about every part of our work and personal lives a decade or more from now.
In this interview, Matthew Edgerton describes how he and his team at Cogensus are using artificial intelligence to help seniors alleviate loneliness, extend community, empower care, and preserve legacy. In addition to discussing how seniors and their loved ones benefit from using an AI bot to actively journal their daily thoughts and feelings, Matthew shares how these insights can assist in providing better health outcomes for the seniors who use this platform. Matthew goes on to talk about his vision for the final decade of an aging adult’s life, his vision for the future of aging, other innovative ways AI is being used to help older adults flourish, and advice for people who have anxiety about the advancements in the field of artificial intelligence.
Matthew Edgerton is the Founder & CEO of Cogensus; a technology company focused on improving mental health in the elderly and providing enhanced cognitive insights for providers. Matthew is a polymath and recognized thought leader in the areas of Innovation, Technology, and Media. His experience spans a variety of disciplines including: GTM strategy, AI, Product Development, and Entrepreneurship. In 2022, he was published by the United Nations under the ITU. His globally recognized technology emissions frameworks and rating system offer a more unified approach to measuring and categorizing business impact on climate.
12 Geniuses Podcast
One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history.
In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why he believes the Marine Corps is so resilient and has maintained its relevance throughout its history. Ben also discusses what leaders in business can learn from the Marine Corps culture, discipline, and approach to leading through uncertainty. Ben also looks into the future while sharing what he believes the next 25 to 50 years will look like for the Marines. In a sign that “imitation is the sincerest form of flatter,” Ben finishes the conversation by talking about how other countries have attempted to pattern portions of their militaries after the United States Marine Corps.
Ben Davenport retired from active duty following 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Naval Aviator, an operational planner, and an Olmsted Scholar. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Masters of Art in International Law and Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Fudan University, People’s Republic of China; Masters of Art in Operational Studies from Marine Corps University; Graduate from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), and Graduate from the Grand Strategy program with a Master of Strategic studies from Air University.
Ben is currently serving as the Deterrence Analyst and Strategic Advisor on China with NATO Allied Command Transformation, one of two Bi-Strategic Operational Commands within the NATO Alliance.
