Leadership Lessons Episodes

Insights and analyses on leadership principles derived from military experiences, historical events, and notable figures that apply to everyday life.
March 24, 2025

Jocko Underground: What's Up With Military Recruiting, Recruiting Videos |

>Join Jocko Underground< Getting young, talented, but arrogant team members on board with the system. What's Up with the current state of Military recruiting? How to navigate good training for a fulfilling Jiu Jitsu experience. Loyalty VS My career. Solving recurring problems in my day to day professional life. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
March 19, 2025

482: Roll Up Your Sleeves and CHOP THAT S**T UP. With CSM Daniel Pinion.

>Join Jocko Underground< Daniel L. Pinion is a military veteran of the Cold War, Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and multiple tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in numerous Infantry, Armor and Cavalry units and leadership positions during his 28-year career. CSM (R) Pinion has served as Squad Leader, Section Sergeant, Drill Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Instructor, Operations Sergeant Major, and Command Sergeant Major. Born in Ohio, raised in Andover, NJ, CS...
March 12, 2025

481: Deeds. Not Words. With Airborne Ranger, Will Bardenwerper

>Join Jocko Underground< Will Bardenwerper was an Airborne Ranger qualified infantry officer in the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany and his service included a 13-month deployment to Nineveh and Anbar Provinces, Iraq in 2006-7. While in Iraq, he helped lead his infantry battalion's reconstruction, civil affairs and tribal engagement efforts in the city of Hit. His unit helped contribute to the beginning of what would later become known as the “Anbar Awakening.” Will was awarded a ...
Feb. 26, 2025

479: First Troops On The Ground In Afghanistan. With Green Beret Scott Neil

>Join Jocko Underground< Green Beret, Scott Neil. Task Force K-Bar. First boots on the ground in Afghanistan after Sept. 11. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Feb. 12, 2025

477: "There's No Freedom In The Facade. With Martial Artist and Mentor, Jason Wilson

>Join Jocko Underground< Jason Wilson faced many challenges growing up-the types of challenges that make many men turn down the wrong path-the demonic path that destroys people and ruins their souls. But, Jason was able to break away from that path-and get on another path: the Righteous Path...and he has helped thousands of people do the same through his books: Cry Like a Man, Battle Cry, and his most recent book, The Man the Moment Demands: Master the Ten Characteristics of the Comprehensive Ma...
Feb. 5, 2025

476: Dog Ain't Got Nuthin' For Ya. With Retired SEAL Harold "Dog" Underdown.

>Join Jocko Underground< Harold Underdown (aka Dog) is a co-founder of Four Branches Bourbon, where he brings his 30-year career as a Master Chief Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) to the company. As a former Navy SEAL Command Master Chief and VP of the UDT/SEAL Association, Harold leads Four Branches Bourbon's efforts to support special operations veterans and causes. He manages collaboration ventures and giveback initiatives, promoting the company's message of Drink Honorably. Currently, Harold is ...
Jan. 22, 2025

474: Building More United Communities. With Force Recon Marine, Jake Harriman

>Join Jocko Underground< Jake graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and served seven and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Platoon Commander in both the Infantry and Force Recon. Following his service, Jake enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. While at Stanford, he founded Nuru International to eradicate extreme poverty in the world’s most unstable, vulnerable regions to help end violent extremism. Jake played a vital role in drafting, introduc...
Jan. 15, 2025

473: Achieve The Intent In A Manner Best Fitting Reality. With Codey Gandy

>Join Jocko Underground< Codey Gandy is a Marine Corps Veteran, and currently a leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor for Echelon Front. Codey spent just over 5 years working as a ground combat leader for various units in the Marine Corps. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Jan. 8, 2025

472: Avoiding the Pressure Won't Get You Anywhere. W/ Matt Hasby

>Join Jocko Underground< Matt is a retired Navy SEAL, combat leader, and Leadership Instructor at Echelon Front with a distinguished 21-year career. He began at SEAL Team Three and was part of Task Unit Bruiser with Leif Babin and Jocko Willink. Matt's combat and training experiences honed his leadership skills, allowing him to rise through the SEAL ranks and collaborate with various special operations teams. After retiring, he earned an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management and worked a...
Jan. 2, 2025

471: Better K-9s and Better Humans. With Mike Ritland

>Join Jocko Underground< For Mike Ritland, the goal has always been to make an impact, and for most of his life, he has done just that, both personally and professionally. Born in suburban Waterloo, Iowa, Mike’s parents instilled a solid foundation of integrity, compassion, and hard work that carried him through his teen years into one of the most pivotal decisions of his life. After graduation, without a second thought, Mike decided he wanted to serve his country as a Navy SEAL. Support this p...
Dec. 25, 2024

470: Don't Get Caught In The Crossfire in The Information War. With Jeremy Stern.

>Join Jocko Underground< Jeremy Stern is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and news editor of Tablet magazine. He was previously a senior advisor in the Department of State and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officer in the US Army, deploying to five countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, Foreign Policy, and the American Interest, where he was a staff wri...
Dec. 18, 2024

469: Dangerous Secret Missions. With Army Col (Ret) Bill Reeder.

>Join Jocko Underground< COL (Ret.) William S. Reeder is a legendary aviator who has made contributions to survival, evasion, resistance, escape (SERE) training and the attack helicopter community. His 30-year career included two combat tours in Vietnam flying armed OV-1 Mohawk reconnaissance airplanes and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. On May 9, 1972, he was leading a team of AH-1 Cobras supporting two Vietnamese ranger battalions and their American advisors. He was shot down, his co-pilot/gun...
Dec. 11, 2024

468: Some Lessons Only Life Can Teach. With Sean Glass.

>Join Jocko Underground< Sean Glass is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, combat leader, and now a leadership instructor with Echelon Front. Sean spent 13 years in the SEAL Teams with three combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Eastern Africa. He led five SEAL platoons in Iraq against Islamic State forces during some of the most dynamic and demanding environments where he saw first-hand the power of leadership on the battlefield. Sean returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of trai...
Nov. 27, 2024

466: Some Lessons Are Learned By Getting Smacked In The Face. With Lt. James Lechner

>Join Jocko Underground< In 1993 Lieutenant James Lechner, a member of the 3rd Ranger Battalion, was selected for a top secret special operations task force being sent to Mogadishu, Somalia, to capture the insurgent leader Mohamed Farah Aideed. In early October, after conducting a number of raids in the city, the Task Force is called upon to conduct a daring daylight mission into the heart of Aideed's territory. During the raid, one of the Black Hawk helicopters is shot down and Lechner and his ...
Nov. 20, 2024

465: Black Hawk Down. Revealed Details From Somalia. Col. James Lechner

>Join Jocko Underground< In 1993 Lieutenant James Lechner, a member of the 3rd Ranger Battalion, was selected for a top secret special operations task force being sent to Mogadishu, Somalia, to capture the insurgent leader Mohamed Farah Aideed. In early October, after conducting a number of raids in the city, the Task Force is called upon to conduct a daring daylight mission into the heart of Aideed's territory. During the raid, one of the Black Hawk helicopters is shot down and Lechner and his ...
Nov. 13, 2024

464: Default Aggressive. Combat Ready Leadership From Estonia. With Estonian Spec Ops Soldier, Remo Ojaste

>Join Jocko Underground< Estonian Special Operations Soldier, Remo Ojaste. Extreme Ownership principals and how they apply to leadership and life. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Nov. 6, 2024

463: Urban Warfare Perspective on Ukraine and Israel. With John Spencer

>Join Jocko Underground< John Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies w the Madison Policy Forum. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Oct. 30, 2024

462: Leadership and Social Connections in Modern Warfare. With John Spencer

>Join Jocko Underground< John Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies w the Madison Policy Forum. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Oct. 9, 2024

459: No Matter What Happens, Keep Moving Forward. w SOG Warrior, "Dynamite" Dick Thompson

>Join Jocko Underground< Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized consultant, educator, speaker and author. Over the past 30 years, he has gained valuable experience developing and leading teams—from the battlefield to the boardroom. He uses his vast experiences and knowledge to help leaders and organizations improve performance. Career Dr. Thompson is the founder, president and CEO of High Performing Systems, Inc., an international management consulting and training fi...
Oct. 2, 2024

458: Things Will Not Go As Planned. W US Navy SEAL, Sean Murphy.

>Join Jocko Underground< Sean Murphy served in special operations for 22 years where he tested himself physically and mentally. During his career he gained incredible insight into how elite teams are established, operate, and perform in austere environments. Through these experiences his dedication remains to being the best at what he does. This is the mindset and commitment he brings to you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Sept. 25, 2024

457: Slogging Through Ambushes and Booby Traps. GUNS UP!!! With Vietnam Machine Gunner, Johnnie Clark

>Join Jocko Underground< Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines. Johnnie Clark is an American author and Vietnam Veteran, best known for his 1984 Vietnam War memoir Guns Up!. Many of his works fall into the genre of non-fiction military and contain a tough, no nonsense portrayal of combat, courage, and camaraderie. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Sept. 18, 2024

456: 1st Of The 506th. Protecting Our Way of Life. With Jason Kedzior.

>Join Jocko Underground< In the Battle of Ramadi, in 2005 and 2006, the soldiers from the 1st of the 506th upheld the highest traditions of bravery and professionalism-and it was an honor for SEALs from Task Unit Bruiser to fight alongside them. Jason Kedzior is one of those soldiers. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Sept. 11, 2024

455: Pay Attention to The Condition of Your Mind, Body, and Spirit. With Vietnam SEAL, Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy is a retired SEAL Officer who served for 25 years, including combat tours as a SEAL in Vietnam. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Sept. 4, 2024

454: Support Your Team and You ALL Will Overcome. With EOD Tech. Nick Kush

Nick Kush, EOD, Explosive Ordnance Technician. Job: identify and dispose of enemy explosives and I.E.Ds. Battle of Ramadi. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content