logo
episode-header-image
Jul 23
1h 45m

500: We Choose To Live.

Jocko Defcor Network
About this episode

>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 lessons learned through pain. Exploring the path of mental resilience, the difference between despair and strength, and why choosing to live—and to lead—is a conscious decision we must make every day.



Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content
Up next
Yesterday
509: The Need to Lead: Lessons from Dogfights, Dunker Drills, and Ego Checks. With Dave Berke.
>Join Jocko Underground<Dave Burke breaks down why humility, detachment, and rejecting perfection are the foundation of true leadership. Jocko adds his perspective from the SEAL Teams to reveal what separates leaders who win from those who fail.Support this podcast at — https://r ... Show More
2h 11m
Oct 6
Jocko Underground: "Up Before The Enemy". Disciplined? Foolish? Or Not That Serious?
>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://redcircl ... Show More
8m 7s
Oct 1
508: The Mission Continues Beyond Ramadi. With Major Scott Huesing
>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 ... Show More
4h 6m
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
Episode 3 of Rebuilding Lives Podcast: Turning Trauma into Triumph
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the journeys of two extraordinary individuals, John and Sarah, who faced unimaginable challenges but refused to let those hardships define their futures. John battled years of addiction, enduring a downward spiral that seemed impossible to es ... Show More
13m 7s
Apr 2024
Episode 202 - Tuesdays With Morrie: The Play
On today's episode of the Tuesday People podcast, host Mitch Albom takes you behind the scenes of Tuesdays With Morrie: The Play, a heartfelt theatrical adaptation of the beloved book that captured the world's hearts. Join Mitch as he delves into how bringing this story to the st ... Show More
27m 37s
Nov 2024
Episode 8: The Jesus People Podcast | Nathan Mansfield | From Brokenness to Breakthrough
In this powerful episode of the Jesus People Podcast, we sit down with Nathan Mansfield—entrepreneur, former Special Forces operator, and follower of Christ. Nathan shares his raw and inspiring journey from a broken childhood and the pressures of performance-based love to near-de ... Show More
1h 1m
Mar 2025
Season 4, Episode 7: Richard Overy, Why War?
Send us a textJoin Professor Jeffrey Sachs and historian, Professor Richard Overy for an insightful conversation on one of humanity’s most unsettling questions: Why do we wage war? In his book, Why War? Overy takes us on a journey across time, from the ancient battlefields of the ... Show More
51m 34s
Aug 2024
SOG EP 1649 BONUS: “We Had to Create a Second Marriage” How to Heal a Relationship After Infidelity & Addiction
Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?"The very thing that was killing you and you were using to kill becomes the very thing that gives you life and you help others find life through it." -Carl LentzStep into the tumultuous world of Carl Lentz, the former megachurch pastor wh ... Show More
6m 56s
Aug 16
EP:8 Hidden Price of Empire - Endless War Is Changing Who We Are
What happens to a country that fights war after war, year after year? The price goes far beyond the money spent and the lives lost overseas. In this candid and unflinching conversation, Scott Horton and Daryl Cooper dig into the less visible ways America’s global military machine ... Show More
1h 34m
May 2025
Trailer
The Rebuilding Lives Podcast dives deep into the inspiring journeys of individuals who have overcome immense challenges, including life in prison, addiction, and despair, to build meaningful and fulfilling lives. Each episode highlights courageous stories of personal growth, rede ... Show More
51s
Oct 2024
The Human Advantage Ep. 27 - Valour and Vulnerability - WO2 Johnson Beharry VC COG
In this episode, we delve into the theme of courage in leadership, both moral and physical, through the powerful and inspiring story of Warrant Officer Class 2, Johnson Beharry VC COG.   Johnson Beharry takes us through his harrowing experiences in Iraq, where he displayed extrao ... Show More
1 h
Aug 18
STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM | Powerful Motivational Speeches
This episode is a call to rise above the victim mindset and resurrect the hero within. Life will hand you setbacks, but you choose the role you play. The victim stays stuck. The hero takes ownership, rises, and keeps moving forward.If you’re ready to stop playing small and start ... Show More
44m 35s
Sep 10
This Will Find You When You Need It Most | Powerful Motivational Speeches
This episode explores the unseen battles that shape who we become. Through the story of a Spartan who trained relentlessly when no enemy was in sight, we uncover the value of preparing in silence, sharpening our skills when no one is watching, and building strength before the wor ... Show More
47m 29s