Episode
#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
1:45:13
Published: Tue May 11 2021
Description
Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World | Brought to you by Mack Weldon premium men's basics, Wealthfront automated investing, and Oura smart ring wearable for personalized sleep and health insights. More on all three below. Sebastian Junger (@sebastianjunger) is the New York Times bestselling author of Tribe, War, A Death in Belmont, Fire, and The Perfect Storm, and co-director of the documentary film Restrepo, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He is also the winner of a Peabody Award and the National Magazine Award for Reporting. He’s based in New York City and Cape Cod. His newest book is titled Freedom.For more Sebastian, you can find our first conversation from 2016 at tim.blog/sebastian.Please enjoy!This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon! Mack Weldon is reinventing men’s basics. They believe in smart design, premium fabrics, and simple shopping. I’ve been focusing on their underwear and have been wearing their AIRKNITx 5-inch boxer briefs for a while now, and I absolutely love them. They are engineered to keep you dry, cool, and comfortable to the end of your workout (or workday). The fabric is soft, lightweight microfiber, which maximizes airflow and stretches in every direction. It’s breathable, moisture-wicking, and odor-fighting.To get 20% off your first order, visit MackWeldon.com/TimTim and enter promo code TIMTIM. Mack Weldon—reinventing men’s basics.*This episode is also brought to you by Wealthfront! Wealthfront pioneered the automated investing movement, sometimes referred to as ‘robo-advising,’ and they currently oversee $20 billion of assets for their clients. It takes about three minutes to sign up, and then Wealthfront will build you a globally diversified portfolio of ETFs based on your risk appetite and manage it for you at an incredibly low cost. Smart investing should not feel like a rollercoaster ride. Let the professionals do the work for you. Go to Wealthfront.com/Tim and open a Wealthfront account today, and you’ll get your first $5,000 managed for free, for life. Wealthfront will automate your investments for the long term. Get started today at Wealthfront.com/Tim.*This episode is also brought to you by Oura! Oura is the company behind the smart ring that delivers personalized sleep and health insights to help you optimize just about everything. I’ve been using it religiously for at least six months, and I was introduced to it by Dr. Peter Attia. It is the only wearable that I wear on a daily basis.With advanced sensors, Oura packs state-of-the-art heart rate, heart-rate variability, temperature, activity, and sleep monitoring technology into a convenient, noninvasive ring. It weighs less than 6 grams and focuses on three key insights—sleep, readiness, and activity.Try it for yourself. The Oura Ring comes in two styles and three colors: Silver, Black, and Matte Black. For $299, you can give or get the gift of health by visiting OuraRing.com.*If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
Mac Weldon's underwear is praised for its luxury and comfort, with the brand spending over 10,000 hours perfecting their product.
00:00 - 02:14 (02:14)
Summary
Mac Weldon's underwear is praised for its luxury and comfort, with the brand spending over 10,000 hours perfecting their product. Testers from The New York Times and Wire Cutter praised the brand's 18-hour jersey boxer briefs for its high-quality feel and comfort.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Aura Ring packs advanced sensors for heart rate, HRV, temperature, activity and sleep monitoring into a convenient non-invasive ring, delivering personalized sleep and health insights.
02:14 - 07:03 (04:48)
Summary
Aura Ring packs advanced sensors for heart rate, HRV, temperature, activity and sleep monitoring into a convenient non-invasive ring, delivering personalized sleep and health insights. With the Aura Ring, users can optimize their lifestyle by tracking how certain factors affect their sleep and health.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A man shares his experience of being consoled by his dead father after almost dying and receiving 10 units of blood in a moment of uncertainty.
07:03 - 11:45 (04:41)
Summary
A man shares his experience of being consoled by his dead father after almost dying and receiving 10 units of blood in a moment of uncertainty.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The conversation revolves around the previously covered running times of the guest and the effect of his risky experiences on his life.
11:45 - 16:28 (04:43)
Summary
The conversation revolves around the previously covered running times of the guest and the effect of his risky experiences on his life. The guest has a record-breaking marathon time of 2 hours, 21 minutes but also discusses other aspects of his life.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on life's unexpected moments and advises to hold onto any sense of security that one can find.
16:28 - 19:52 (03:23)
Summary
The speaker reflects on life's unexpected moments and advises to hold onto any sense of security that one can find. Later, the topic turns to playing the accordion and the importance of the left-hand bass line.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Music has a therapeutic effect on children that gives them a sense of peace and completeness, and in some cases, even improve their cognitive abilities for a short period of time after listening to it.
19:52 - 23:57 (04:05)
Summary
Music has a therapeutic effect on children that gives them a sense of peace and completeness, and in some cases, even improve their cognitive abilities for a short period of time after listening to it.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The co-founder of The Ready, Aaron Dignan, discusses how society has created unnecessary products for parents and children and advocates for a simpler and more natural approach to parenting.
23:57 - 28:36 (04:39)
Summary
The co-founder of The Ready, Aaron Dignan, discusses how society has created unnecessary products for parents and children and advocates for a simpler and more natural approach to parenting.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses the various roles needed in society from mothers and fathers to warriors and grandparents.
28:36 - 32:45 (04:08)
Summary
The speaker discusses the various roles needed in society from mothers and fathers to warriors and grandparents. He emphasizes the importance of community in shaping a person’s values and character.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The concept of being a warrior includes not just physical aggression but also the wisdom of softness, as seen in the story of Plenty Koo.
32:45 - 37:53 (05:08)
Summary
The concept of being a warrior includes not just physical aggression but also the wisdom of softness, as seen in the story of Plenty Koo. This story serves as a metaphor for aging and maintaining utility and dignity.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The concept of freedom is often misused, and this is partly due to its abstract nature.
37:56 - 42:39 (04:42)
Summary
The concept of freedom is often misused, and this is partly due to its abstract nature. While it can be used to justify terrible actions, it is also integral to preserving human dignity and safeguarding the things that make life worth living.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Humans have evolved several unique advantages such as superior running ability and the ability to create advanced technology, allowing us to outlast and outsmart competitors in various situations.
42:39 - 46:49 (04:10)
Summary
Humans have evolved several unique advantages such as superior running ability and the ability to create advanced technology, allowing us to outlast and outsmart competitors in various situations.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The use of women in espionage is not only tactical at a basic level, but is also believed to be more effective due to the lateral connections they hold within society that can be exploited for communication and spying purposes.
46:49 - 51:51 (05:01)
Summary
The use of women in espionage is not only tactical at a basic level, but is also believed to be more effective due to the lateral connections they hold within society that can be exploited for communication and spying purposes. However, there is a hesitancy to inflict violence upon women which makes it difficult to get young men to use violence against them.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast talks about what it's like to be an American platoon in a firefight and the simple things that one needs to do in order to survive like eating, walking, hiding, and sleeping.
51:51 - 56:14 (04:23)
Summary
The podcast talks about what it's like to be an American platoon in a firefight and the simple things that one needs to do in order to survive like eating, walking, hiding, and sleeping. The Last Patrol, a long, hard, and weird trip that entailed walking 400 miles along railroad lines and sleeping under bridges, woods, and abandoned buildings, was also discussed.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast host talks about his idea of mixing his trip, alone and vulnerable in a small group in a hostile environment, with the human endeavor of making a society, surviving and raising children, and avoiding danger.
56:14 - 1:04:43 (08:29)
Summary
The podcast host talks about his idea of mixing his trip, alone and vulnerable in a small group in a hostile environment, with the human endeavor of making a society, surviving and raising children, and avoiding danger. He also talks about the Native Americans' way of keeping white people from infiltrating their land and taking it and how they upheld the human values of caretaking the helpless.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The concept of freedom is only applicable to those within your own tribe or community and is not a universal right.
1:04:43 - 1:14:54 (10:11)
Summary
The concept of freedom is only applicable to those within your own tribe or community and is not a universal right. The fight for freedom throughout history has been so brutal that only an animal could survive it.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The exploitation of powerful individuals in leadership positions is a moral problem that leads to a society with a high Gini coefficient, where wealthy individuals hold power and access that others lack.
1:14:54 - 1:25:04 (10:09)
Summary
The exploitation of powerful individuals in leadership positions is a moral problem that leads to a society with a high Gini coefficient, where wealthy individuals hold power and access that others lack.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker encourages individuals to recognize the gift of society and to look for ways to give back and contribute to society, as every person can act as a countervailing force against entitlement and tyranny.
1:25:04 - 1:29:38 (04:34)
Summary
The speaker encourages individuals to recognize the gift of society and to look for ways to give back and contribute to society, as every person can act as a countervailing force against entitlement and tyranny. He shares a story of a refugee who contributed to his new country in meaningful ways, highlighting the importance of giving back to the society we depend on for survival.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The idea of national service, not necessarily in the military, is discussed in regards to the benefits of working together and relying on each other for the greater good of the country.
1:29:38 - 1:36:47 (07:08)
Summary
The idea of national service, not necessarily in the military, is discussed in regards to the benefits of working together and relying on each other for the greater good of the country.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Aura Ring is a convenient, non-invasive ring packed with advanced sensors for heart rate, heart rate variability, temperature, activity, and sleep monitoring.
1:36:47 - 1:42:27 (05:40)
Summary
Aura Ring is a convenient, non-invasive ring packed with advanced sensors for heart rate, heart rate variability, temperature, activity, and sleep monitoring. The speaker also offers a Friday newsletter and show notes for more information on the topic of freedom.
Episode#513: Sebastian Junger — Seeking Freedom, Near-Death Experiences, and Reordering Your Place in the World
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A tester describes feeling conflicted about the indulgent and luxurious sensation provided by Mac Weldon's boxer briefs, while the brand promises a 10,000 hour perfecting process and a no-questions-asked policy for first-time buyers.
1:42:27 - 1:45:03 (02:36)
Summary
A tester describes feeling conflicted about the indulgent and luxurious sensation provided by Mac Weldon's boxer briefs, while the brand promises a 10,000 hour perfecting process and a no-questions-asked policy for first-time buyers.