Skip to content

Jocko Willink, Matt McCusker & Jeff Dye - Mostly Wise #3

Modern Wisdom

Hosted by Chris Williamson

2h 33m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

In this wide-ranging episode of Modern Wisdom, the guest and host discuss military selection, the psychological toll of peace versus war for combat-trained individuals, and the realities of modern dating and sobriety. They explore the intense physical and mental requirements of Navy SEAL selection, the concept of violent men needing structured outlets, and humorous anecdotes about dating after quitting alcohol. The conversation shifts to the unexpected cultural footprint of military history, ranging from weaponized dolphins to the grueling realities of high-altitude mountaineering.

  • Physical preparation for Navy SEAL selection is essential, but mental resilience is what ultimately prevents candidates from quitting. 8:55
  • Combat-trained veterans often struggle in peacetime because their aggression lacks a constructive outlet. 17:57
  • Sobriety introduces new social challenges, particularly in dating and navigating environments where alcohol was previously a crutch. 1:07:43
  • Military operations have historically relied on unconventional tactical support, including trained marine mammals like dolphins. 29:49

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Military Career Considerations

    The hosts discuss whether they ever considered a military career and the influence of discipline and structure.

  2. 1:01
    Sexual Orientation Policies in the Military

    The conversation shifts to the historical “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and its implications for gay service members.

  3. 9:15
    SEAL Physical and Mental Requirements

    The hosts explore the physical tests, mental toughness, and selection criteria for Navy SEALs, including age limits and rope climbs.

  4. 19:02
    Leadership and Discipline in Special Forces

    Discussion focuses on how SEAL leaders manage aggression, maintain discipline, and handle unruly personnel within teams.

  5. 23:00
    Closing Reflections and Final Thoughts

    The episode concludes with reflections on the topics covered and a brief recap of key points.

  6. 23:37
    Supplement Industry and Athlete Performance

    The hosts promote a supplement brand, discussing quality standards and endorsements from professional athletes.

  7. 30:41
    Military Working Dogs and Animal Units

    The conversation moves to the use of dogs, dolphins, and other animals in military operations, including training and deployment.

  8. 37:09
    Extreme Sports and Physical Feats

    The discussion touches on extreme athletic achievements, such as marathon wheelies and mountaineering feats, highlighting human limits.

  9. 39:34
    Eight Sleep Mattress Pitch

    The hosts launch a commercial pitch for the Eight Sleep Pod 5, highlighting its temperature control, health sensors, and sleep‑extension benefits while offering a discount code.

  10. 40:41
    Everest Climber Without Legs

    The conversation shifts to an inspiring story of a man who lost his legs yet successfully climbed Mount Everest using only his arms, sparking admiration and discussion about perseverance.

  11. 45:33
    Military Training Across Environments

    The speakers discuss how military units train for various terrains—snow, desert, urban—and how deployment locations influence the type of training they receive.

  12. 51:58
    Sober Dating Challenges

    The hosts explore the difficulties of dating after sobriety, noting how alcohol used to facilitate social interactions and how sober relationships feel different.

  13. 1:00:30
    Love on the Spectrum Critique

    A debate unfolds over the reality show “Love on the Spectrum,” with concerns about exploitation, lack of compensation, and the need to treat participants as adults.

  14. 1:08:30
    Health Testing and Supplements

    The episode covers health optimization tools, including the AG1 supplement and the Function health testing service, emphasizing the importance of regular, comprehensive health monitoring.

  15. 1:17:54
    Single Men’s Late‑Night Insanity

    The hosts discuss how single men tend to go wild after 7 PM, citing headstand videos and odd hobbies.

  16. 1:18:27
    Relationship Perspectives and Advice

    The conversation turns to personal views on romance, marriage, and dating, with reflections on skepticism, commitment, and the challenges of finding a compatible partner.

  17. 1:23:01
    Dating in the Age of Apps

    The conversation shifts to modern dating, the challenges of online platforms, and the impact of casual hookups.

  18. 1:29:56
    Closing Reflections on Life Choices

    The episode concludes with personal reflections on relationships, career focus, and the importance of making intentional life decisions.

  19. 1:33:48
    Substance Use and Lifestyle Choices

    They debate various substances—weed, alcohol, kratom, and even cacao ceremonies—examining personal experiences and societal attitudes.

Highlights

  • 8:55

    SEAL Selection Demands Bothinsight

    The guest explains that physical capabilities alone are not enough to survive Navy SEAL selection; candidates must also possess the mental fortitude not to quit when physically broken down.

  • 17:57

    Warriors in Peacetimeinsight

    The guest and host discuss how men bred for combat struggle to adapt to peacetime environments, often requiring physical outlets like martial arts to manage their aggression.

  • 29:49

    Military Dolphin Programsstory

    The speakers discuss the historical use of military dolphins by the US and Soviet navies for finding underwater mines and protecting harbors.

  • 1:07:43

    Sober Dating Realitiesstory

    The guest shares his candid experience of navigating the dating world after nearly three years of sobriety, noting how much more complex and unvarnished it feels without alcohol.

  • 1:46:29

    Testing a Massive Sniper Riflestory

    The guest recounts a story about a massive twenty-five-millimeter sniper rifle brought to a sniper school, which gave such a severe shockwave that students refused to shoot it until a hardened instructor mastered it.

  • 2:12:58

    Capitalism Warfare and Dronesinsight

    The guest explains how the war in Ukraine has accelerated technological adaptation through rapid capitalization, particularly with fiber-optic guided drones.

  • 2:29:12

    The Allure of Re-enlistmentdata

    The guest reveals that if he sent a text message to his former platoon members asking them to re-assemble for a deployment, ninety-seven percent would immediately agree.

Quotes

  • “I, I remember, I was in graduate school and I would get the reserve emails and I really thought, I was like, damn, 20 grand right now.”
    Unnamed speaker · 0:03
  • “I wish I would have done it. I could have used some structure, some discipline, some older male influence.”
    Unnamed speaker · 0:33
  • “The program is called the US Navy Marine Marine.”
    Unnamed speaker · 32:49
  • “The standoff with Iran has gotten strange enough that weaponized dolphins are now being discussed at a US military briefing.”
    Unnamed speaker · 33:27
  • “The amount of dogs that enter the pipeline to become a working dog is probably like one out of every twenty or thirty that actually become a full‑fledged working dog.”
    Unnamed speaker · 25:44
  • “It's around 31, I think is the actual cutoff. And occasionally a guy will get through that's like 32 or 33, got a special permission or special waivers, they call it.”
    Unnamed speaker · 10:03
  • “Man with no legs makes history by climbing Mount Everest using only his arms.”
    Chris Williamson · 42:09
  • Momentus 23:37–24:36
  • Eight Sleep 39:32–41:07
  • AG1 56:15–56:57
  • Function 1:13:51–1:14:42

About this episode

In the third episode of Mostly Wise, we explore: * If Matt and Jeff could survive Navy SEAL selection, training and hazing. * Whether the Navy actually has trained animals like killer assassin kamikaze dolphins. * How the guys deal with their own versions of sobriety. * Why Love on the Spectrum is potentially problematic. * What it was like for Jocko to be in the Military on 9/11. * The story of the gun no manufacturer dared to make after testing it. * And much more... Guests * Jocko Willink is a retired United States Navy officer in SEAL Team 3, an author and a podcaster. * Matt McCusker is a comedian, writer, author and podcaster. * Jeff Dye is a comedian, actor, television host and podcaster. - Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Get up to $350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 at https://eightsleep.com/modernwisdom Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠⁠https://chatgpt.com - 0:00 Can You Be Openly Gay in the Military? 2:26 Are Women’s Sports As Good As Men’s? 8:19 What It Really Takes to Become a Navy SEAL 20:17 The Most Uncontrollable Navy SEALs 24:35 Do Dolphins Work For the Navy SEALs? 37:08 Could You Run a Marathon in Wheelies? 38:34 Is Climbing Everest a Good Idea? 44:32 The Privacy Problem With High-Rise Living 51:14 How Embarrassment Pushed Jeff Into Sobriety 01:01:12 Why Men Can’t Win During Labour 01:05:32 Why Jocko Didn’t Have a Batchelor Party 01:07:39 Is Sober Dating Like Love On the Spectrum? 01:17:47 Do Single Guys Go Crazy After 7pm? 01:23:00 Why Social Dating is Too Complicated 01:30:27 Are Women Trying to Reset Their Body Count? 01:34:22 Why Weed Affects Everyone Differently 01:46:23 Why a 25mm Sniper Rifle Should Never Exist 01:52:46 The Best Perks of Being a Veteran 01:58:31 The Reality of Waking Up to the Iraq War 02:01:07 How 9/11 Changed the World Forever 02:10:00 Why War Never Goes to Plan 02:12:48 How the Russia/Ukraine Conflict Changed Modern Warfare 02:20:27 Is the Military Already Enhancing Soldiers? 02:27:40 Would Veterans Do One More Tour? 02:31:59 Where to Find the Guys - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spotify.modernwisdom.com or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.modernwisdom.com Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Transcript

0:00
2:33:22

34,964 words · 7 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • New York
  • Netflix
  • Love on the Spectrum
  • Everest
  • Liquid Death
  • Back Rooms
  • Amazon
  • England
  • Cacao ceremony
  • Love Island

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated