Jocko Willink and Sebastian Junger - The Tim Ferriss Show

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best-some of my favorites-from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode No. 107 "The Scariest Navy SEAL Imaginable… And What He Taught Me" and episode No. 161 "Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)."
Please enjoy!
Sponsors:
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Timestamps:
[00:00] Start
[06:43] Notes about this supercombo format.
[07:46] Enter Jocko Willink.
[08:15] What separates good leaders from mediocre or bad leaders?
[10:17] Identifying good leadership candidates.
[12:02] Teaching the skill of detachment.
[17:14] Jocko’s grueling workout that made platoons “tap out.”
[19:02] Jocko’s morning rituals.
[21:13] People Jocko associates with success.
[23:28] Recommended reading.
[27:13] How does discipline equal freedom?
[32:06] Enter Sebastian Junger.
[32:37] Thomas Paine and Stoic philosophy.
[34:41] The “chainsaw story” and its impact on Sebastian’s writing career.
[38:43] Athleticism and long distance running.
[39:16] Developing a writing style.
[41:02] Sebastian’s attraction to journalism.
[46:38] Sebastian’s writing style and the importance of structure.
[56:07] Commencement speech advice for high school graduates.
[59:25] Sebastian’s inspiration to visit war-torn countries.
[1:01:30] Explanation of “skin walkers.”
[1:05:16] Striving for political correctness in gender.
[1:11:59] The Iroquois’ peace process and its relevance to modern politics.
[1:19:31] Psychiatric effects of war.
[1:22:23] Bringing primitive, war-time cohesion into modern society.
[1:27:44] PTSD, the C-Train, and returning to New York City after war.
[1:32:40] The lonely nature of society.
[1:36:40] PTSD prevalence in elite special forces units vs. support units.
[1:41:46] How to “support the troops.”
[1:48:03] How a Viking helmet started - and stopped - a barfight in Spain.
[1:53:32] Developing male closeness while decreasing violence.
[1:59:21] Veterans becoming victims in society after returning from war.
[2:03:43] Photography/videography habits and Sebastian’s start as a war reporter.
[2:08:01] Tim Hetherington’s story and Sebastian’s decision to stop war reporting.
[2:11:18] Sebastian’s future writing plans.
[2:12:20] One thing anyone can do for a military veteran.
[2:16:30] Who comes to mind when Sebastian hears the word “successful?”
[2:17:02] Defining courage.
[2:17:08] Most gifted books.
[2:18:02] What close friends say Sebastian is exceptionally good at.
[2:18:25] Combining three writers to create the ultimate writer.
[2:19:03] Advice to Sebastian’s younger self.
[2:20:23] Recent purchase with the most positive impact on Sebastian’s life.
[2:22:32] Something Sebastian believes, despite being unable to prove it.
[2:22:39] Disliked habits and common practices of journalists.
[2:23:55] Advice from Sebastian’s 70-year-old self to his current self.
[2:25:04] Knowing when to write a book.
[2:27:09] Sebastian’s billboard.
[2:28:38] Final requests for the audience and parting thoughts.
Links to everything discussed:
tim.blog/2024/06/06/jocko-wil...
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded 900 million downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
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[@timferriss]

This episode is brought to you by: Vuori Clothing high-quality performance apparel: vuoriclothing.com/tim (20% off your first purchase) Helix Sleep premium mattresses: helixsleep.com/tim (20% off all mattress orders and two free pillows) Momentous high-quality supplements: livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)

[@SvaSattva]

Pura vida greetings from Costa Rica Tim ! Action precedes motivation. Great to have Jocko and his message on discipline

[@SajStrong]

Love Junger’s work

[@dankuida]

1:38:27 the question here was, more about regular infantry/ tank units, not rear support. Speculating here, but these units might have higher PTSD rate. SOF are hunters, they control their environment more. while regulars, are either hunted/rabbits, in known positions, pillboxes etc. Even in a proactive activity, such as fight against terrorists in Gaza for example, they are the open no covert, attention=fire drawing force. Very speculative of course

[@dankuida]

most was answered by this time 1:47:43

[@carolspencer6915]

💜

[@waynebunch9167]

Junger sure talks a lot about God and divine spark, then the next sentence is I don't believe in God.

[@dankuida]

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ 1:39:45

[@SupperUpper]

Just don’t put a frickin no video at all-podcast on KZbin, goddamnits.

[@YtSu-no7bt]

My argument is I want to hear Jocko talk longer than 20 minutes, but to each their own.......

[@QueenOfTheGreen27]

KZbin is free not everyone pays for apps

[@SupperUpper]

@@QueenOfTheGreen27 Gotcha, but you don’t need to pay for a podcast playing app, neither on Android, nor on iOS.

[@CryptoC4T]

It's unbelievable for me how a all-around capable guy like Jocko still thinks of his solider-self as a good guy. He even still thinks about "enemy in Iraq". The guy he thinks about is just someone desperate enough to defend his country when Jocko invades it. And again - I respect Jocko and I don't blame him, it's just so strange to see someone smart lie to himself this blantly.

[@Sl33zytheclown]

I don't know.what goes in Jocko's mind. But it could be due to trauma. He has mentioned that he's seen his comrades die in the battlefield. I'm sure if you saw you brothers die in a battlefield. You would have a whole lot of hatred towards those responsible. Not saying I agree with Jocko. It's just more complex than. Why doesn't he agree that the Iraqi war was a ploy of the military industrial complex. It's probably boils his blood when he realizes that fact if he does. Must be tough.

[@innerlocus]

Joe is a leader and Don is not.

[@RayWilliamJohansen]

than kyou for bringing in a war criminal, it helps me see what a real monster looks like

[@juanrivera8566]

What u talking about

[@RayWilliamJohansen]

@@juanrivera8566 lmao look up the allegations against him bruh, theyre legit

[@Sl33zytheclown]

Monster or.not. anyone can learn a lot from Jocko. Blame the politicians and the military industrial complex. They viewed Jocko as pawns as they did the civilians of Iraq.

[@RayWilliamJohansen]

@@Sl33zytheclown Lmao, youre still a kid or very naive,

[@davidpobran4425]

The pharmaceutical complex requires poppy seeds that can be safely grown and harvested.