In this episode, my guest is David Goggins, retired Navy SEAL, highly accomplished ultramarathoner, best-selling author, and influential public speaker.

David explains how he mastered his inner dialogue to build extraordinary levels of discipline and mental and physical toughness.

He describes how confronting his early hardships, including physical and mental abuse, learning disorders, and obesity, became a practice of deep and excruciating self-reflection — eventually allowing him to transmute those experiences into a superhuman work ethic.

This conversation is a unique window into David Goggins’ process in that it focuses both on the underlying science and how David manages and directs his inner dialogue.

It’s a conversation that will inform and inspire anyone wondering how exactly to go about building discipline and confidence and reach their potential.

Note: This conversation includes profanity. Some content might not be suitable for all audiences and ages.

Access the full show notes for this episode: go.hubermanlab.com/emxCgmM

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our chat-based tool, for summaries, clips, and insights from this episode: go.hubermanlab.com/g9nj7p

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David Goggins
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Timestamps
00:00:00 David Goggins
00:03:22 Sponsors: Maui Nui, AeroPress & Eight Sleep
00:07:58 Learning, Studying & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
00:14:59 Writing & Learning, ADHD & Focus
00:20:35 Friction, Focus, “Conqueror’s Mindset”
00:25:16 Early Hardships, “Haunted”
00:30:48 Anger, Social Media; Growth & Challenges
00:36:14 Sponsor: AG1
00:37:11 Stick vs. Carrot, Negative Inner Dialogue, “Stay Hard”
00:42:39 Inspiration, Characters & Self Image
00:46:09 Willpower & Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex
00:53:23 Friction & the “Suck”, Willpower
00:59:14 Building Willpower, Brain & “No Days Off” Mentality
01:08:52 Sponsor: InsideTracker
01:09:54 Losing Weight, Challenge & Willpower
01:18:47 Self-Criticism & Discipline; Recovery; Stutter & Building Confidence
01:26:45 Relationships & Honest Conversations, People Pleasing
01:34:49 Self-Reflection & Empowerment
01:39:06 Unseen Work, Real Passion & Purpose, Medicine Cabinet Analogy
01:46:32 Feeling Lost, Self-Reflection & Individual Process
01:54:11 Challenges & Two Internal Voices, Misunderstood
01:59:32 Running, Smoke Jumping; Success; Willpower & Perishable Skills
02:07:04 Self-Reflection & Action, Distractions
02:15:27 Inner Dialogue; Failing Properly
02:24:59 Introspection & Unconscious Mind, Cleaning “Cupboards”
02:35:19 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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