SNAFU with Ed Helms

Episode: S4E14: Sarah Spain and Napoleon’s Russian Blunder
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Ed Helms
Guest: Sarah Spain

Overview

In this episode, Ed Helms—joined by journalist, podcaster, and sports fanatic Sarah Spain—dives into one of history’s iconic fiascos: Napoleon’s disastrous 1812 invasion of Russia. The show, known for mixing sharp history insights with humor and relatable banter, uses the catastrophe as a lens to explore themes of leadership, ego, group decision-making, and the difference between confidence and delusion. Sarah Spain brings in rich analogies from sports and modern life, making this one of SNAFU’s most engaging “history hangouts.”

Highlights and Key Discussion Points

Introducing Sarah Spain & Personal Snafus

• [01:52] Ed Helms introduces Sarah Spain as an award-winning journalist and sports podcast host, sharing his admiration for her.
• [03:16] Sarah shares a hilarious “snafu” from her own life involving getting lost, a flat tire, a polar vortex, losing a credit card in a party store, and her dog vomiting on a brand new carpet.
  • Quote: “It was one of those things where he had a different kind of accident and then ate it to clean it up and then put both into the carpet, if that makes any sense...” (06:17 – Sarah Spain)
  • The story closes with her husband buying her the football platter she’d resisted, trying to turn her day around.

Setting the Scene: France in Turmoil

• [08:02] The hosts recap the chaos and violence of the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.
  • Sarah quips about whether she’d survive as a strong woman during those times:
    Quote: “Either I would die almost immediately... or because I'm very tall and athletic, I would be one of those women who cosplayed as a man...to dominate some sort of army.” (09:08)
  • Ed draws parallels to Joan of Arc and the French appreciation for powerful women.

France’s “Directory” and Napoleon’s Rise

• [10:03] The Directory (France’s post-revolution leadership) is compared to modern-day secret clubs and “horrific databases.”

  • Sarah: “Or potentially like a Soho House... where you both learn your advanced biometrics and what age you'll die and also get to smoke cigars in a room that no one else is allowed in.” (10:34)

• [11:50] Napoleon’s meteoric rise—from Corsican outsider to emperor—is recounted, with discussion of his ego and penchant for the dramatic.

  • Jokes abound about Napoleon’s stature and fashion.

Egos, Delusion, and Downfalls

• [14:30] Ed narrates how Napoleon’s successes inflate his ego, leading to increasingly risky decisions.
  • Sports Analogy: Sarah draws a parallel to athletes, especially Michael Jordan, explaining:
    Quote: “True confidence actually usually manifests in someone who is much more laid back and wants to uplift others...Narcissistic insecurity...results in a dictatorial leader...” (15:13 – Sarah Spain)
    • The best leaders, she argues, empower rather than dominate.

The Invasion of Russia

• [20:07] Ed describes Napoleon’s alliance-breaking, ego-driven decision to invade Russia with the largest army Europe had ever seen—650,000 troops.
  • Sarah: “And all the bakers that made the baguettes for the troops every morning that were forced into battle with baguettes as swords when things went a stale.” (21:04)

The Russian Strategy: Scorched Earth

• [22:44] The hosts marvel at Russia’s scorched earth tactics, forcing Napoleon’s men ever deeper into hostile, empty territory.

  • Ed: “The Russian army was employing what is known as a scorched earth strategy, meaning they would burn down their own towns... basically saying, if we can't have it, neither can you.” (24:55)

  • Sarah is impressed:
    Quote: “I'm impressed by the Russians, which feels like a strange thing to say right now, but truly good plan, well executed. Five out of five stars, Russia.” (37:27)

  • Strategy vs. Strength:
    Sarah: “I am way more into strategy than brute strength. I believe...everywhere else where strategery is involved...it's more about the brain.” (25:30)

The Battle of Borodino & Moscow’s Burning

• [27:40] They recount the Battle of Borodino—a bloody stalemate with massive casualties—and Napoleon’s brief “victory” in Moscow.

• The city, however, has been burned to the ground, leaving the French stuck with no supplies and facing the punishing Russian winter.

  • Sarah: “This is like when you play the Packers in December... you know that you've got an extra man on your side and it's the hail and sleet.” (30:17)

• The Russian Ghosting: Napoleon requests a Russian surrender and is simply ignored for five freezing weeks.

  • Ed: “He sends Tsar Alexander a letter politely requesting his surrender... And the Russians were just like, shh, don't pay him any attention. He'll leave.” (31:20)

Napoleon’s Retreat and Aftermath

• [32:06] With his army starving and rumors of a coup back in France, Napoleon is forced to retreat. Only about 100,000 of his original 600,000+ troops survive.

  • Sarah draws a parallel to NFL player Vontae Davis, who retired mid-game: “At halftime, he was like, yep, think that's about it for me.” (33:41)

• Napoleon abandons his troops to rush home and douse political fires.

• [34:38] The defeat shatters Napoleon’s aura of invincibility, setting dominoes falling across Europe—leading to his first exile, brief return (the Hundred Days), Waterloo, and final exile to St. Helena.

  • Sarah (joking obituary): “Spoiler alert. Napoleon's dead.” (35:18)

Themes and Lessons: Ego, Leadership, Co-direction

• [38:13] Ed and Sarah discuss the enduring perils of unchecked ego and the wisdom of listening to advisors—or even sharing power.

  • Sarah: “The directory...the idea of co leading is something that should be getting a lot more attention... because it prevents that one egotistical, dictatorial person who will not stop themselves from being checked...” (38:13)

• Ed’s music reference: “I feel like Kenny Rogers said it best. Right? You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run...” (37:38)

Notable Quotes & Banter

• “How do you say penis measuring contest in French?” – Sarah Spain, [11:24]
• “If we learned one thing from history, it’s that we don’t remember history.” – Ed Helms, [22:07]
• “In victory, you deserve it. In loss, you need it.” – Sarah Spain, referencing a Napoleon champagne quote, [27:03]
• “You could put almost anything in an alley in Chicago, and someone will give it a go.” – Sarah Spain, [07:05]
• “Leaders don’t create followers, followers make leaders.” – Sarah Spain, [16:21]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:16] — Sarah's cascading “snafu” personal story
• [08:02] — Reign of Terror overview and banter
• [11:50] — Napoleon’s rise; ego and confidence
• [15:13] — Sports analogies on leadership and ego
• [20:32] — Napoleon invades Russia, scale of the blunder
• [22:44] — Russia's scorched earth strategy explained
• [27:40] — Battle of Borodino and Moscow’s devastation
• [31:20] — Russian “ghosting” and Napoleon’s defeat
• [32:06] — Retreat, army losses, Napoleon rushes home
• [35:18] — Aftermath, exiles, and death of Napoleon
• [38:13] — Lessons on ego, co-leadership, and power

Closing: Sarah Spain’s Projects

• [39:34] — Sarah talks about her daily women’s sports podcast “Good Game,” emphasizing the need for daily cadence in women’s sports coverage.
• [40:23] — Sarah promotes her new book “Runs In: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood and Belonging,” exploring identity, adoption, and found family in sports.

Takeaways

• Ego and stubbornness led Napoleon to one of history’s greatest blunders, proving the peril of leadership unchecked by humility or reality.
• Sound strategy beats brute force, as exemplified by Russia’s relentless retreat and scorched earth tactics.
• Co-leadership and listening may prevent such catastrophic errors, both in history and today’s business and political climates.
• History repeats itself—as much in failed group projects as in international disasters.

Ed’s Final Word: “Unfortunately, this is a vibe we still see a lot of today. Leaders doubling down instead of backing off, mistaking stubbornness for strength...” (38:13)

Sarah: “Bring everyone together, utilize the strengths of all the different people, elevate the people beneath you, empower them to make great decisions...” (39:22)

A must-listen for history buffs, sports fans, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of leadership, ego, and epic disasters—with plenty of laughs along the way.