Leadership Lessons Episodes

>Join Jocko Underground< Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins about the realities of leadership in war, ministry, law, Congress, and now the VA. Collins shares hard lessons from funerals and eulogies, where grief and writing become tools for healing. He reflects on the brutality of “full-contact politics,” bipartisan wins that mattered, and the chaos of impeachment battles. From his close work with President Trump to his current mission inside the nation’s second-largest department, Collin...

>Join Jocko Underground< 00:00 – Intro Symbolism and sacrifice behind the 228th Brigade Combat Team memorial. 00:12 – Early Life & Coast Guard Knight’s unconventional path into military service and lessons in structure. 00:25 – Joining the Guard Transition from law enforcement to Army Guard officer and active duty. 00:55 – Ramadi Deployment Preparing for and arriving in one of Iraq’s most dangerous cities. 01:30 – Hard Lessons Learned Complacency, casualties, and the importance of humility i...

>Join Jocko Underground< Congressman and former Army Apache pilot Wesley Hunt, who shares his journey from West Point and combat deployments to the halls of Congress. He reflects on his family’s history from slavery to public service, the lessons of struggle and resilience, and the values of faith, family, and country. Hunt and Jocko discuss leadership, authenticity in politics, America’s challenges and strengths, and the importance of discipline, service, and personal responsibility in building...

>Join Jocko Underground< Norm Hooten was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier (a Green Beret) who became well known because of his role in the Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993, the operation later depicted in the book and film Black Hawk Down. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Apache pilot, Dan McClinton recounts the harrowing mission over Baghdad that claimed the lives of two fellow crew members. Through vivid memories and raw emotion, he shares the bond of the Crazy Horse team, the reality of combat in the skies, and the enduring weight of loss. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Frontline Army medic Rob Black recounts his time with the elite Brigade Recon Troop in Ramadi, fighting alongside Navy SEALs in one of Iraq’s most dangerous cities—and how those experiences shaped his life after war. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Stop living your life on auto pilot. Make conscious decisions. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< (Live in Chicago) Jocko Podcast 500 marks a major milestone—nearly 10 years of leadership, war stories, personal growth, and hard truths. In this powerful live episode recorded at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, Jocko Deeply personal reflection on the realities of war, the weight of leadership, and the power of choice. From recounting the harrowing cost of combat to the enduring bonds between team mates, Stories of fallen teammates, personal battles with grief, and the less...

>Join Jocko Underground< How overreacting to headlines, battlefield reports, or business setbacks creates unnecessary panic and poor decision-making. Using the analogy of a “squelch” button on military radios, he explains the need to filter noise, assess information logically, and avoid emotional responses. Leaders must detach, gather reliable intel, and act with calm deliberation. From combat to media consumption, Jocko emphasizes processing input through disciplined frameworks to avoid manipul...

>Join Jocko Underground< >Explore Jocko Store< Exploring deeper themes from the Marine Corps Institute’s Leadership Credo. Leadership isn’t about rank—it’s about earning trust through action. True leadership requires understanding human will, stress, fear, and mission focus. The will to fight is central in combat—and in life. Emotional control, both personally and within teams, determines success or failure. Jiu-jitsu parallels are drawn to show how will, not just skill, defines performance. Lea...

>Join Jocko Underground< The brutal legacy of the Battle of Iwo Jima—America’s bloodiest Marine Corps battle. Drawing from Marine Colonel Joseph H. Alexander’s powerful article Combat Leadership at Iwo Jima, they unpack the sheer scale, strategy, and human cost of the fight. Jocko highlights the critical role of combat experience, disciplined training, and small-unit leadership in surviving such savage conditions. The conversation also explores modern SEAL training, live fire exercises, and how...

>Join Jocko Underground< Discussing the broad and often misunderstood term "toxic leadership," noting how frequently he’s asked about it. A detailed paper by Colonel Denise F. Williams from the Army War College that identifies toxic leadership traits and categorizes 18 types of toxic leaders. Though the paper focuses on the U.S. Army, Jocko emphasizes that toxic leadership exists in all organizations, not just the military. Explore how such leaders emerge, why they’re tolerated, and whether str...

>Join Jocko Underground< Get "Check Engine Light", by Rob Wilson >> HERE Rob Wilson is a Human Performance Specialist with over twenty years of manual therapy, coaching, and education experience. Rob's work spans a variety of avenues in the field of health and human performance. This includes multiple trademarks, the creation of global seminars and curriculums, and the research, development and implementation of best practices in human performance. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.co...

>Join Jocko Underground< In UNDENIABLE, I bring together outliers of today-men and women who are experts in their field, to share their unique and motivating perspectives on reaching the pinnacle of success and remaining there. From popular neuroscientist Andrew Huberman to ultramarathon runner Courtney Dauwalter, you will hear how undeniable individuals have obtained their winning mindset. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Chris "Cappy" Capelluto is a former US Army infantryman, Iraq veteran, and YouTube content creator. He has gained recognition for his YouTube channel, where he focuses on defense analysis, military history, and geopolitical topics. Cappy also worked as a head of video for Task & Purpose before launching his own channel. He's known for his unique perspective, combining his military experience with a media background Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-p...

>Join Jocko Underground< Bravo Company 2-6 IN "Team Dealer" owned and controlled its battlespace, Al-Taʾmīm. The regulars of Team Dealer were never attached to the command of other units. All units planning operations in Al-Taʾmīm, including NSW (SEALs) and other SOF or OGA units always reported to Team Dealer before planning ops in Al-Taʾmīm. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Get "With The Old Breed: Full Story Revealed" >HERE< The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed brings to life an abundance of new material from the original manuscript of Eugene Sledge’s classic memoir With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa. By interspersing his own personal anecdotes throughout, Henry Sledge takes his father’s work and gives it newfound context, sharing memories of conversations between father and son. The result is a flowing narrative that portrays...

>Join Jocko Underground< After 9/11, Travis Barnes enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, driven by duty and purpose. He endured grueling training, served three combat tours in Iraq, and rose to Sergeant in a Recon unit, surviving IEDs and earning multiple commendations. After suffering traumatic brain injury and PTSD, he returned home, went to law school, and found healing through discipline — this time in crafting whiskey. In 2014, alongside his wife Hilary, he founded Hotel Tango, named in honor ...

>Join Jocko Underground< Jocko Podcast 489 explores the power of thought control, the vulnerability of the human mind, and historical brainwashing techniques. Jocko and Echo discuss a declassified 1956 CIA document on psychological manipulation, drawing from Korean War POW cases and Soviet tactics to show how beliefs and values can be deeply altered. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Bobby Holland joins the pod to discuss what we can all learn from the guidelines of being a "New Guy" in the SEAL Teams. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Two of the US Navy SEALS that were in the Battle of Ramadi in the events depicted in the Movie "Warfare". Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Jim Foreman is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL Command Master Chief with 27 years of elite military service, including leadership at Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU – SEAL Team 6) — one of the most selective and operationally demanding units in the world. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies produced a document called "Grayisms: And other Thoughts on Leadership from General Al Gray". Published by the Potomac Institute Press. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content