Summary
In this episode of The Peter Atia Drive podcast, Peter Atia interviews Jocko, a former SEAL team commander and New York Times bestselling author. They discuss various topics related to leadership, mindset, and health, including Jocko's experience in the military, the treatment of veterans returning from war, the future of warfare, and the importance of instilling good values and principles in kids. The conversation also touches on the importance of allowing teams and families to come up with their own plans, sleep habits, personal responsibility, and the benefits of fasting and discipline.
Jocko shares his experience of joining SEAL team seven after finishing college in 2003, six months after the Iraqi invasion. He emphasizes the importance of finding and attacking the weaknesses of a larger opponent instead of engaging in a war of attrition. The conversation then shifts to the treatment of veterans returning from war, specifically comparing the treatment of Vietnam veterans to those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. They note that while Vietnam veterans were often treated poorly, the treatment of more recent veterans has been much better.
The discussion also revolves around the use of technology in surgery and warfare, with the speaker sharing his belief that people inherently trust human beings more than robots, even though the robot may be able to do a better job. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of leading a team or family by allowing them to come up with their own plan rather than barking orders at them.
The topic then shifts to sleep habits, with the speaker sharing that he typically goes to bed at 11 pm and wakes up at 4:30 am. He falls asleep quickly and wakes up naturally or with an alarm. The speaker also shares that he occasionally has vivid nightmares that result in sweating and wakes up in a puddle of sweat. He has not conducted any experiments on the impact of sleeping more than his usual 6 hours per night.
The conversation also includes a discussion about al ulos, a new sweetener that is not absorbed by the body and can lower blood sugar levels, and the benefits of fasting and discipline. Jocko shares his workout routine, which includes common exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, and squats, as well as sprinting and using weights. The speaker also shares how they got their nickname "Jocko" and discusses their favorite book, "About Face," and their daughter's favorite book, "Warrior Cat." Overall, the conversation touches on various topics related to optimizing performance, health, longevity, and critical thinking.
