Retired Navy SEAL, Jocko Willink and Director, Echo Charles discuss discipline and leadership in business, war, relationships and everyday life.
The Jocko Podcast is a truly exceptional podcast that has had a profound impact on my life. As someone who does not have friends who share my passion for discipline, personal growth, and overcoming challenges, I see Jocko Willink and Echo Charles as my virtual buddies in this journey. The podcast has introduced me to a wide range of inspiring individuals and their stories, opening my mind to new perspectives and ideas. One aspect I particularly miss is the book reviews by Jocko himself, where he would discuss combat memoirs and extract valuable lessons from them.
The best aspects of The Jocko Podcast are the incredible guests and their fascinating stories. Jocko's ability to delve into the lives of his guests, starting from childhood all the way to adulthood, brings out their true character and provides deep insights into their journeys. His thought-provoking questions always hit the mark, keeping listeners engaged throughout each episode. The leadership skills exhibited by both Jocko and Echo are on full display in every episode, offering practical guidance for anyone striving to become a better leader in any area of life.
On the downside, there is very little to criticize about The Jocko Podcast. However, if there is one aspect that could be improved upon, it would be to bring back the book reviews. These segments added an extra layer of depth to the podcast and provided valuable knowledge from military history.
In conclusion, The Jocko Podcast is a must-listen for anyone seeking motivation, wisdom, and inspiration in their daily lives. It goes beyond being solely for those in the military or involved in jujitsu; it is relevant for everyone who considers themselves fighters in their own unique ways. Each episode offers invaluable lessons that can be applied across various aspects of life. By staying open-minded and embracing new perspectives shared by diverse guests on this podcast, we can truly learn and grow as individuals. Discipline truly reigns over motivation, and The Jocko Podcast showcases this principle in action.

>Join Jocko Underground< Home Gym, Easy. Jiu Jitsu Training schedule on limited time. Want to join, but family might not approve. My parents worry about my joining. Good job and salary VS my desire to serve.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Blackbox unifies every major AI agent into one powerful platform. One subscription. One workflow. Unlimited possibilities.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< How to prepare for a future to be proud of. How to deal with a pathological liar. How to bounce back from failure. How to get back on the Path after you fell off. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Throughout his 17-year career, Andy executed hundreds of combat operations throughout the world in support of the Global War on Terror. He was medically retired in June of 2013. His awards and decorations include 5 Bronze Star Medals (Four with Valor), the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, The Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal with Valor, Three Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons, and the presidential Unit Citation.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< The Ups and Downs If You Won The Lottery. What to do against the evil in the world today. How to support your partner in the way that they need. What to do if your daughter develops an eating disorder. How to lead people who have no responsibility to you.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Abandoned in Hell: The Fight for Vietnam's Firebase Kate: When Firebase Kate was surrounded by a determined enemy force, there were no guarantees of relief and no easy way out. Cut off, outnumbered, and under constant attack, the men on the hill had one mission: hold the line and survive. This is the story of fear, faith, leadership under fire, and the breakout that got them off the hill alive.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< How to make the mental shift upward.How to overcome feelings of inferiority after failure.More money VS More Family time.How to deal with Long-Talkers who waste time with words.Lost motivation after success. How bad do you want it?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Breaking down a 1965 U.S. Army manual, Basic Problems in Small Unit Leadership, and show how its lessons still apply today. They explore the fundamentals of leadership: building trust, developing confidence, balancing mission and people, and creating psychological “steel” within a team.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Nathan Fry shares the hard lessons that shaped his journey from a frustrated young officer to a battalion commander in the Vermont National Guard. Through failures, second chances, elite mountain training, and combat leadership, he explains why mentorship matters, why ego gets leaders in trouble, and why preparing people — not just equipment — is what ultimately wins wars.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Breaking down a 1951 U.S. Army research report based on interviews with 57 infantrymen fighting in Korean War. The episode pulls blunt, field-tested answers on what makes a good vs. poor combat man and leader—things like combat know-how, staying on task under pressure, remaining calm, taking care of gear, putting the team first, and giving clear, fair leadership. They connect those traits to everyday life and work: master your job, take quick appropriate action, control emotions, avoid selfishness and excuses, and build trust by sharing risk and being consistent.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< A Message For Your If You Think You Should Be More Than You Currently Are.Getting older, but you can still stay in the game and on the path.How to settle Disagreements with future inlaws about wedding details.When I'm off duty, I still feel like a scared kid. What to do.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Would you take a demotion in rank for convenience? Handle vindictive gatekeepers. Feeling ashamed of your service like you didn't do enough? How to deal with people who need to be put in their place. Give big time advice to small-time people.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< How to end drama when you're caught in the middle. How to get out of a massive slump from injuries from life. What to do if your peers are progressing faster than you. Walking the line between taking the responsibility and allowing others to. Got on the path with great results and now my ego may be out of control. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Examining the wartime leadership of Air Commodore Leonard Burchill, a Canadian POW who protected and unified fellow prisoners under brutal conditions. His story illustrates extreme ownership, integrity, discipline, and selfless leadership, showing how character, competence, and comradeship sustain teams through the harshest adversity.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Jocko and Echo break down why “discipline wins wars” is not just about D-Day and SEAL teams, but about the quiet war in your own head every day. Using a 1944 Army pamphlet, combat lessons, and real-world examples (from donuts to debt to doom-scrolling), they show how tiny daily choices add up to victory or defeat—and how to train yourself to obey your own orders so you can actually reach your long-term goals.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Jocko in Las Vegas for UFC BJJ, coaching his daughter Rana in a tough match against Bella Mir. He recaps the fight—Bella's wrestling and top control versus Rana's constant submission attempts—then shares what sticks with him most: after losing, Rana says, “If I only had one more minute.”That comment becomes the episode's main point: in life, you don't get extra time. Jocko ties it to Shakespeare (“I wasted time, now time doth waste me”), calls for an honest end-of-year time audit, and stresses time is the one resource you cannot control or recover—so wasting it has real consequences.He closes by promoting the January “DEF Reset,” a four-week discipline challenge built around daily habits like getting up earlier, doing morning physical activity, planning priorities (especially long-term strategic goals), hydrating, eating clean, cutting junk/sugar, reading or writing daily, and reflecting with gratitude—ending with a reminder that the clock never stops.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Preparing your kids for evil in the world. How to get in shape as fast as possible. How to balance maximizing self-development and family/life obligations. How to serve when you're "unfit to serve."Developing new skills: How to fit it in.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< My best man insulted me and my wife. Should I forgive him? What to do when your leader has checked out. Valuable tips to become move vocal when you take action and lead. What's the best direction to go in life when you move out on your own. Getting over the loss of a dog (or pet) can be harder than you think. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Everyday combat, devastating losses, and the weight carried long after leaving the battlefield. Army medic Adam Anderson shares his raw story of Ramadi, recovery, and the ongoing fight at home — with Ryan Jackson on Canines for Warriors.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< How To Deal With Having a Child From a One Night Stand.When to speak up at work when things have not been going the way they should. How to get back on top when your drowning in stress from Work, Home, Kids, and a new town. How to achieve your goals when you have trouble as a finisher and keep failing. How to get your great life back after you lost your dream job.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Ryan Manion joins to share stories from her brother Travis — Naval Academy graduate, Marine officer, Silver Star recipient — and how his character and choices live on through her new children's book and the Travis Manion Foundation.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Heavy Duty Ex-con in Jiu Jitsu class. How to create the best relationship with your co-workers to out perform everyone else. How to smash life even when it seems impossible. Best way to recover from injury FAST, and get back to the path. How do you choose between to girls that you love?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< From boat insertions under monsoon rains to surprise assaults on hidden VC camps, this episode takes you deep into the Mekong Delta with SEAL veterans Tom Boylan and Hal McNulty. They reveal the challenges of intelligence, leadership, and survival—plus the hard lessons carried into life, family, and business long after the war.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< From the chaos of Ramadi to the pain of losing his best friend, Ben Sledge recounts combat, moral injury, and how faith and storytelling became his path to healing.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< What to Do When Your Boss's Plan Will Destroy EverythingIs It Betrayal to Train Somewhere Else?How Do I Lead When I Feel Like I'm Not Good Enough?Why Can't I See My Progress When I'm Getting Better?How Do I Escape the Grind Without Losing Everything?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Accept That The People Around You May Not Want To Do Their Best How to have the best relationship with your family members when they do not want to improve themselves.How to influence people to be a better version of themself.If you're struggling with balance and have an addictive personality.The 1-5 system of evaluating your performance on ANYTHING.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

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>Join Jocko Underground< Up before the enemy. Disciplined vs. CrazyBalancing it all. Training as a Specialized OfficerDiscovering a family member's InfidelityHomeschool vs. Public School DebateFriendship Destroyed by Politics. What to do.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Retired Marine Major Scott Huesing, author of Echo in Ramadi, to walk through the brutal realities of combat in Iraq's deadliest city, the cost of leadership, and the transition back home. Scott shares the powerful story of his Marines, the memorials for the fallen, his personal battles after service, and how writing became a new mission to honor and preserve these stories. From Gold Star families to fellow veterans finding their voice, this is a conversation about sacrifice, resilience, and keeping the legacy alive.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>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, Collins lays out the scale of the VA—health care, benefits, cemeteries—and the fight to cut through bureaucracy. This conversation is about service, accountability, and the relentless effort to honor veterans not as victims, but as warriors who deserve the best care their nation can give.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< How to honor your commitment when it gets hard. Physical confrontations and how to handle them. Doing well in life on paper, but deeply unhappy--What to do. How to handle a toxic romantic relationship. Developing Jiu Jitsu techniques to deal with good wrestlers. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

>Join Jocko Underground< Clay Martin, former Green Beret and author, shares his journey from brutal combat in Iraq to the battles of life after war. He reveals how writing saved him, how visions of an ancestral spirit reshaped his path, and why Barbarian Spirit is a call to purpose and survival for veterans today.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content