I’m Ben Baran. For years, I’ve been interested in how people, groups, and organizations deal with adversity. I’m an associate professor of management at Cleveland State University, co-founder of the consulting firm Indigo Anchor, and a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

I wrote a book. It’s titled Crucibles: How Faith and Science Help Us Navigate Suffering, and it’s set to publish on Sept. 8, 2026, but it’s available for pre-order now.

To learn more about the book and pre-order, click here. To get updates and more, subscribe to Reckoning—my blog/newsletter—below!