The American Leader
A ruthless search for the leader America needs in the White House in 2028.
Why This Podcast Exists
The American Leader podcast is a competition-based series hosted by attorney, veteran, and ego-killing Stoic Eric Ruth to find America’s next great leader. Unlike podcasts where people talk about finding America's next leader, we're going to actually do something about it.
We need a leader forged by hardship, shaped by discipline, and tempered by ego. Americans get to vote between two candidates chosen by political parties. How about we choose the best candidate based on their character, without political party BS, and see what happens?
The mission is to find a person who genuinely believes in duty, daily discipline, and uncomfortable truths. This show will test their ego and challenge their values. It will ask the questions that matter.
The Format
On American Leader, every episode is a crucible. Initially, candidates will be interviewed in a deposition, direct examination-type gauntlet in which they'll be placed under oath by a licensed attorney. They'll be tested with their answers dissected and examined so you can be the judge of their character and merit. It’s part podcast, part proving ground. Over the course of a year, we'll watch as the best rise. Once it’s been narrowed to a field of 16, we move to a head-to-head competition until we have a final four.
Competition Structure
Eligibility: Any American eligible to run for President of the United States in 2028
Duration: Fall 2025 – Fall 2026
Candidates: 48 total
Rounds: 3 - Discovery Round, Knockout Round, Finals
Discovery Round
2 candidates per episode, 2 episodes per week = 24 episodes total
48 candidates total
Runs over 12 weeks
Each candidate faces the same core questions under oath
Audience votes after each episode
Top 16 advance based on public voting
Knockout Rounds. Head-to-head until four remain.
Three rounds;
Political & Current Event Trivia;
Topic Debate; and
Physical competition
Finals:
The Trials: Simulated crises. Ranked by performance.
The Summit: Long-form interviews. Public Q&A.
The Final Pitch: Last four make their final speech for votes.
Why Now?
Because the American political system is a circus and most of the performers are clowns driven by their egos. It is undeniable that the traits that make a truly great leader have been buried by the noise created by characters without integrity and emotional maturity.
This competition is the antidote.
We aren’t picking another rich puppet or puppeteer. We’re building a movement of good, principled humans. And if the right person steps forward, maybe, just maybe we’ll show the world what an American leader can really accomplish for humanity.
Why Me?
This is all due to a scene in the television series The West Wing. The future President, played by Martin Sheen, is paid a surprise visit by an old political buddy, played by the late, great, John Spencer. Spencer’s character, Leo, says he’s been thinking of making a run at the White House. Sheen’s, character, Jeb Bartlett, says there’s no way he’d get far in a national political race with all the skeletons in Leo’s closet. Leo says he’s not thinking of running. He wants Bartlett to run and Leo wants to head the campaign. Leo then goes on to tell a story about how he had been walking around for weeks thinking of how Bartlett was the perfect candidate for America at that time in history.
I want to find my Jeb Bartlett.
I am not a political operative. I dabbled in politics in college after the military and then attended law school with the hope of one day I would make a name for myself in national politics. But law school ended up being the beginning of a challenging time for me. I’ve since found my way, but the path of charred destruction I left behind in my personal and professional life ensured there wasn’t going to be a place in national politics for me. Or is there?
Given where politics stands now, so many want to see it change course. I too want politicians to be honorable and revered and to stand with prideful, undeniable character. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t have what it takes to be President. But I have what it takes to help find and keep that person on their path to lead us all.
This isn’t another bitch-fest. This is a real search for the person who can lead America going forward. If they’re out there, we’re going to find them.