Former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink and author Sebastian Junger discuss effective leadership qualities, rigorous workout routines, discipline leading to freedom, Stoic philosophy, war experiences, and societal integration in this engaging podcast episode.

If you want a better understanding of warriors, tribal societies, human nature, and what we can learn from it all, this is for you. My podcast guest is Sebastian Junger (@sebastianjunger), the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, War, and Tribe. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world and has received both a National Magazine Award and a Peabody Award. Junger is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film "Restrepo," a feature-length documentary (co-directed with Tim Hetherington), was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. "Restrepo," which chronicled the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, is widely considered to have broken new ground in war reporting. Junger has since produced and directed three additional documentaries about war and its aftermath. In this episode, we cover rites of passage (and their importance), warfare, the art of great non-fiction writing, PTSD, evolutionary biology, and much more. Some of the topics will no doubt offend many of you, and this is a good thing. I urge you to bite your lip, if need be, and listen to the entire episode. There are gems within, including hilarious stories, surprising statistics, and tear-jerking epiphanies. Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by FreshBooks. FreshBooks is a bookkeeping software, which is used by a ton of the start-ups I advise and many of the contractors I work with. It is the easiest way to send invoices, get paid, track your time, and track your clients. FreshBooks tells you when your clients have viewed your invoices, helps you customize your invoices, track your hours, automatically organize your receipts, have late payment reminders sent automatically and much more. Right now you can get a free month of complete and unrestricted use. You do not need a credit card for the trial. To claim your free month, go to FreshBooks.com/Tim and enter “Tim” in the “how did you hear about us section.” This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world's largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs. I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, and I've also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you're happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run. ***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sebastian Junger, an award-winning journalist and bestselling author, shares his transformative near-death experience that reshaped his understanding of life and mortality. He discusses the profound insights he gained about gratitude, emotional awareness, and the randomness of existence. Junger explores the intersection of physics and philosophy while contemplating the afterlife. His journey reveals the delicate balance between life and death, urging listeners to reflect on their beliefs and the sacredness of everyday moments.

Bestselling author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger discusses the downsides of smartphone dependency, navigating emotionally charged situations, recognizing toxic relationships, and exploring personal struggles in creative fields. The podcast covers a wide range of topics including bipolar disorder, ancient narratives, survival stories, atheism, quantum physics, and the legacy of Genghis Khan.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Episode Description: Sebastian Junger is an award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and New York Times best-selling author. In this wide-ranging discussion, Sebastian shares stories from his time as a war reporter and how it shaped his understanding of the psychological effects of combat, including the sacred bond of soldiers, the forces that unify a tribe, and the psychological mechanisms that protect humans from painful experiences. He draws upon his personal struggle with PTSD as he discusses trauma as an all-too-common consequence of war and the importance of community in the healing process. He explains his interest in viewing human behavior through an evolutionary lens, including how it influences his parenting style, and he voices concerns over society’s continuous shift away from our evolutionary roots. Sebastian also tells the story of his near-death experience and his new perspective on the possibility of an afterlife.  Additionally, Sebastian shares his thoughts on the mental health implications of current events, such as the pandemic and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and contemplates what it really means to be “free” in modern society.    We discuss: Sebastian’s upbringing and early lessons about the evil of fascism [3:20]; Sebastian’s search for a career, interest in writing, and what he loved about tree removal [11:30]; How Sebastian became a great writer [19:30]; Sebastian’s experience with his Achilles injuries [25:30]; Work as a war reporter and his experience in combat in Afghanistan [28:00]; Psychological effects of war and Sebastian’s own experience with PTSD [36:30]; The sacred bond of soldiers and what Sebastian learned from his time with troops in Afghanistan [48:30]; An evolutionary perspective on the forces that unify and bind tribes [1:00:00]; Hunter-gatherer societies, dealing with loss, and the ancestral connection to the spiritual realm [1:08:30]; Psychological mechanisms that protect humans from painful experiences and the power in giving thanks [1:13:15]; How parenting has changed Sebastian, and the incredible pain of losing a child [1:21:15]; PTSD and the influence of community on healing [1:32:15]; Isolation of modern society and the debate over young kids sleeping in bed with their parents [1:37:45]; Why Sebastian doesn’t own a smartphone [1:43:30]; Parenting through an evolutionary lens [1:50:00]; Sebastian’s near-death experience and new perspective on the possibility of an afterlife [1:54:00]; Sebastian’s experience with depression and anxiety [2:12:00]; The pandemic’s impact on mental health [2:16:45]; Sebastian’s thoughts on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan [2:22:00]; Sebastian’s latest book—Freedom, and knowing when to quit [2:27:00]; Defining freedom in modern society [2:44:30]; More.   Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

War journalist Sebastian Junger recounts his near-death experience surviving an aneurysm, reflecting on life's fragility. He delves into finding purpose in chaos and the importance of sacrifice. The podcast explores post-trauma depression, loss in relationships, and the concept of being necessary for others.

When most people think about war, they think about senseless killing, brutality, violence and horror. But when journalist Sebastian Junger thinks about war — even though he has witnessed firsthand how war is all of those things — he also thinks about meaning, purpose, brotherhood and community. It's why, he posits, so many veterans actually miss war when they return home. As Junger argues, war gives people all of the things that religion aspires to impart to people and often fails. War, he says, delivers.Junger was a war correspondent for many decades. His reporting on the front lines of Afghanistan was captured in his best-selling book, War, and was made into an Academy Award winning documentary, Restrepo, which follows a platoon of U.S. soldiers in one of the bleakest, most dangerous outposts in Afghanistan. Through his raw, unfiltered, on the ground reporting, perhaps no one has done more to illuminate the full picture and reality of war.One of those realities is that men seek and need danger. They have a deep desire to prove their valor. They find community and meaning in crisis. And yet, much of the Western world lives without any kind of high-stakes, high-risk danger at all. It is, of course, a great blessing we don't live in constant crisis. But our comfort, safety and affluence, he argues, come with unexamined costs. So for today, a conversation with Sebastian Junger about reporting from the most dangerous regions of the world, his new book Freedom, what it means to be human, and how danger is inextricably tied to living a meaningful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Sebastian Junger discusses his experiences reporting from war zones and surviving a near-death aneurysm. Topics include the connection between danger and meaning, trauma, psychedelics, near-death experiences, atheism, consciousness, and the brain.

Sebastian Junger, a best-selling author and war correspondent known for his book "Freedom," discusses the multifaceted nature of freedom and its definition. He explores the innate human desire to resist oppression and the tension between autonomy and societal norms. Junger shares insights from a transformative 400-mile journey, reflecting on camaraderie and personal growth. He also recounts a near-death experience that reshaped his understanding of life and connection, highlighting the sacredness found in vulnerability.

Authors, psychologists, and a journalist discuss the importance of purposeful gatherings, setting clear rules, and creating meaningful connections. They explore book clubs, effective party dynamics, and the impact of technology on social interactions.