Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory Podcast

Tom and co-host Drew taking listeners deep into the volatile landscape of American current events, zeroing in on the LA immigration riots that have dominated headlines. With tensions flaring between national and local leadershipTrump pushing for a hardline federal response, Newsom resistingthe conversation explores the patterns of civil unrest and political division that have marked recent American history. Tom and Drew set the stage by wrestling with the disconnect between lived experience on the ground and the dramatized narrative pushed by media and politicians, and they unpack the psychology and historical context that frame our national sense of crisis.



Join Tom and Drew as they analyze pattern recognition in societal upheavals, the rise and repetition of riots, and the role that both media and political actors play in stoking societal fear and division. They candidly debate law and order, the line between peaceful protest and violence, and how responses from leadership can either escalate or temper unrest. It's a raw, unfiltered look at American fault lines through the eyes of two thoughtful centrists with sharply different perspectives on whats at stake and where we go from here.



SHOWNOTES00:00 Random kickoff, LA immigration riots, Trump vs. Newsom00:52 Media narratives vs. lived experience; historical cycles of riots02:30 Deep dives: Creature from Jekyll Island and AI, preview of upcoming Ray Dalio civil war content03:10 Toms inside the car vs. drone's eye view analogy on threat perception05:12 Debt, wealth inequality, and existential threats to American stability06:10 Examining news, protest origins in Paramount, media weaponization06:36 Role of Trump, National Guard, and police statements08:09 Agitation, escalation, law-and-order arguments09:11 Tom on zero tolerance for violence, personal property, and police response12:28 Drew on distinctions between protest and violence, the need for context13:19 Discussion of left-wing agitators and policing dynamics14:40 Blocking streets, crowd management, protest policing strategies15:21 Debate on in-the-moment criminal crackdown vs. escalation risks18:24 Societal order, community safety, and escalating force19:30 Defining peaceful protest; competing moral frameworks for resistance22:33 Tom lays out the slippery slope to civil war when national values diverge24:49 The debate over armed vs. unarmed resistance, the nature of violence25:05 Political theater in raids and the true nature of immigration enforcement27:27 Discussion on California as a political flashpoint, media tactics29:50 Political capital, incentives, and why the reactions might matter more30:59 Are let it burn tactics viable? Drew and Toms fundamental disagreement

FOLLOW TOMInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeuYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu



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Picking up where part one left off, Tom Bilyeu and Jocko Willink continue their far-reaching conversation, diving even deeper into the foundations of leadership, cultural transformation, and the surprising optimism Jocko sees for Americas youth. Jocko shares behind-the-scenes stories about translating hard-won military discipline into bestselling childrens books and a soon-to-be-released feature filmhighlighting his belief that storytelling is a critical weapon for shaping culture and values.



The dialogue expands to explore the realities of military and corporate leadership, the dangers of arrogance and ego within teams, and the mechanics of power in both politics and business. Tom and Jocko dissect the process behind leadership development, examine the Machiavellian truths of power dynamics, and reflect on the lived realities of command in combat. Listeners will gain fresh perspectives on humility, accountability, and what it truly means to step up as a leaderboth in war and everyday life.



SHOWNOTES

27:48 Jockos Cultural OptimismWhy Americas Next Generation Will Thrive30:35 The Reality Behind Grit, Hard Work, and Unsung Heroes33:21 Warrior Kid Podcast, Working with Kids, and Building a Brand That Resonates35:23 Jockos Creative SideMusic, Art, and the Story Behind the Warrior Kid Movie38:38 From Book to Film: How Jockos Storyland Became a Feature Starring Chris Pratt46:16 The Mind of a Warrior-Writer: Capturing and Processing the Chaos of Combat54:52 The Limits of Memory: Why Jocko Didn't Journal at War & His Singular Focus57:33 What Makes Great Leaders? Comparing Politics, Military, and Corporate Worlds59:40 Power, Ego, and the Real Chain of Command1:04:12 Leadership Factories, Promotions, and Avoiding the Trap of Incompetence1:11:06 How Teams Survive Dumb or Egotistical Leaders1:13:22 The Role of EgoWhy Teams Self-Destruct Under Bad Leadership1:15:22 Building AlliancesManaging Hostile Environments in High-Stakes Roles1:20:13 Machiavellian Truths and Staying Positive When Facing Dark Realities1:24:03 How to Find & Connect with Jocko Willink



CONNECT WITH JOCKO WILLINKInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jockowillink/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jockowillinkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JockoPodcastWebsite: https://jocko.com



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In this powerful episode of "Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu," Tom sits down with former Navy SEAL commander, leadership expert, and bestselling author Jocko Willink for a compelling exploration of modern warfare, leadership, and human nature. Known for his no-nonsense approach to personal discipline and his frontline perspectives, Jocko offers listeners a rare glimpse into how he thinks about global conflicts like Ukraine, Russia, and the Israel-Hamas warnot from the comfort of theory, but from lived experience and profound strategic insight.



Tom and Jocko unravel the unpredictable realities of war, the dangers of overconfidence in leadership, and the psychology that drives nations into protracted conflicts. They also examine the concept of "why America loses wars," the test of wills at the heart of every battle, and how who needs to win often determines the real outcome. Whether you care about geopolitics, leadership under fire, or just want to understand how values play out on the world stage, this is a conversation you dont want to miss.



SHOWNOTES

00:00 Strategic Thinking in Modern Conflicts: Russia, Ukraine, and the Will to Fight02:33 The Unpredictability of WarOverconfidence, Misjudgment, and Human Nature04:17 Why America Loses Wars: The Cautionary Tale of Wars We Dont Have to Win06:12 Russian and American Cultural Attitudes Toward Sacrifice and War09:01 Psychological Warfare: Israel, Hamas, and Turning World Opinion13:38 Strategic Calculus: Collateral Damage, World Sympathy, and the Cycle of Retaliation17:02 Morality in Modern Warfare: Threats, Response, and Values19:15 Defending Values: Americas Future, Internal Struggles, and Global Commerce23:04 Instilling Core Values in the Next GenerationThe Origins of Jockos Kids Books25:22 Cultural Influence Through Storytelling: The Power of the Warrior Kid Series

CONNECT WITH JOCKO WILLINKInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jockowillink/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jockowillinkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JockoPodcastWebsite: https://jocko.com



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Tom Bilyeu takes listeners to the heart of one of the most controversial stories in modern finance: the secretive birth of the Federal Reserve on Jekyll Island. Drawing from G. Edward Griffins infamous and fiercely debated book "The Creature from Jekyll Island," Tom unpacks the shrouded origins of Americas central banking system and lays out a case for how it was designedin secrecyto benefit a powerful elite at the expense of the masses.



Tom vividly narrates the covert meeting that would change the course of economic history, the transformation of money from gold-backed to fiat, and breaks down complex banking concepts such as fractional reserve banking and the Mandrake Mechanism. With his signature clarity and urgency, Tom reveals how the system was crafted to siphon wealth through engineered inflation and debt. If you've ever wondered how the rich keep getting richer, and why the stability youre promised always seems just out of reach, this is the episode you cannot miss.



SHOWNOTES

00:00 "Griffin's Economic Conspiracy Thesis"

07:24 "The Illusion of Free Money"

15:57 "Bailouts and Economic Manipulation"

26:24 Fed's Role in War Financing

42:24 Rothschild Market Panic Myth Debunked



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Fan Favorite: This episode originally aired on April 24, 2018. As the Chaplain for the Seattle Seahawks and pastor of a massive congregation that counts names like Justin Bieber and Tim Tebow as members, Judah Smith knows a thing or two about leadership. His messages of radical love and inclusion have resonated with hundreds of thousands around the world from all different walks of life. Judah shares the leadership principles that have helped him build a strong community on this episode of Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu.

SHOW NOTES: Judah explains his role with the Seattle Seahawks and what it's taught him about leadership. [4:00] Judah discusses the art of accountability and conflict. [7:46] Judah tells the power of exposing his vulnerability to the masses. [19:22] Judah shares why communication is the backbone of all his relationships. [29:26] Judah reveals the impact he wants to have on the world. [41:25]

QUOTES: "Avoiding conflict minimizes the depth of relationship that you can experience, and of course the excellence in which you can experience progress and fulfillment and live your dreams." [10:15] "I don't think people can be who they're supposed to be without community. And community doesn't have to be 10,000 people, it can be five, it can be three, it can be the right people. Not just a bunch of people, but the right people." [14:15] "The pain is part of being alive. We're not living a Disney cartoon, we're living real life. And the pain we feel, it makes us more human, it makes us more alive." [28:43]

FOLLOW JUDAH SMITH: TWITTER - https://bit.ly/2HnQiWH FACEBOOK - https://bit.ly/2K6G4b3 INSTAGRAM - https://bit.ly/2HpMO1K

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