Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory

Join Tom Bilyeu and his co-host Drew as they tackle hot-button issues—from national protests and government response to the growing concerns of political polarization and economic instability. As the headlines scream about cities on fire and rumors of civil war swirl, Tom and Drew challenge each other's perspectives, debating how much of our current climate is real versus media-fueled overdramatization. They'll share their unique “inside the car vs. drone’s-eye view” approach to understanding how local experiences and national trends collide. In this episode, they break down the waves of protest in LA, the government’s response, and the political strategies at play—especially in the context of Trump’s and Newsom’s public standoff. Plus, they don’t shy away from the hard questions: Are we witnessing the early signs of a larger societal unraveling? How do personal freedoms, law and order, and economic distress fit into the bigger picture? And what can history—and thinkers like Ray Dalio—teach us about what might come next? SHOWNOTES 00:00 Stuck in a Recurring Cycle 06:36 National Guard's Role in Riots 11:45 Managing Conflict in Tense Situations 16:02 Overreaction and De-escalation Challenges 21:50 "Addressing Riots and Armed Response" 28:42 Debate on Borders and Civil Order 35:08 Marxism Critique and Popularity Debate 40:36 "Avoidance: Theory vs. Practice" 46:20 State Moves Highlight Political Dynamics 51:48 "China's Economic Gamble at Risk" 55:22 "Disproportionate Rewards Drive Innovation" 01:02:44 Government Seizure of Bitcoin 01:04:31 "AI-Driven Reality Verification" CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out ButcherBox: New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive their choice between steak tips, salmon, or chicken breast in every box for a year + $20 off their first box at ⁠https://butcherbox.com/impact⁠ [https://butcherbox.com/impact] Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at ⁠https://monarchmoney.com⁠ [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠https://shopify.com/impact⁠ [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Jerry: Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance - download the Jerry app or head to ⁠https://jerry.ai/impact⁠ [https://jerry.ai/impact] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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 leadership—Trump pushing for a hardline federal response, Newsom resisting—the 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 what’s at stake and where we go from here. SHOWNOTES 00:00 Random kickoff, LA immigration riots, Trump vs. Newsom 00:52 Media narratives vs. lived experience; historical cycles of riots 02:30 Deep dives: Creature from Jekyll Island and AI, preview of upcoming Ray Dalio civil war content 03:10 Tom’s “inside the car” vs. “drone's eye view” analogy on threat perception 05:12 Debt, wealth inequality, and existential threats to American stability 06:10 Examining news, protest origins in Paramount, media weaponization 06:36 Role of Trump, National Guard, and police statements 08:09 Agitation, escalation, law-and-order arguments 09:11 Tom on zero tolerance for violence, personal property, and police response 12:28 Drew on distinctions between protest and violence, the need for context 13:19 Discussion of left-wing agitators and policing dynamics 14:40 Blocking streets, crowd management, protest policing strategies 15:21 Debate on in-the-moment criminal crackdown vs. escalation risks 18:24 Societal order, community safety, and escalating force 19:30 Defining peaceful protest; competing moral frameworks for resistance 22:33 Tom lays out the slippery slope to civil war when national values diverge 24:49 The debate over armed vs. unarmed resistance, the nature of violence 25:05 Political theater in raids and the true nature of immigration enforcement 27:27 Discussion on California as a political flashpoint, media tactics 29:50 Political capital, incentives, and why the reactions might matter more 30:59 Are “let it burn” tactics viable? Drew and Tom’s fundamental disagreement FOLLOW TOM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ [https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/] Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en] Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu [https://twitter.com/tombilyeu] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu [https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu] CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out ButcherBox: New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive their choice between steak tips, salmon, or chicken breast in every box for a year + $20 off their first box at ⁠https://butcherbox.com/impact⁠ [https://butcherbox.com/impact] Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at ⁠https://monarchmoney.com⁠ [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠https://shopify.com/impact⁠ [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Jerry: Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance - download the Jerry app or head to ⁠https://jerry.ai/impact⁠ [https://jerry.ai/impact] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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 America’s youth. Jocko shares behind-the-scenes stories about translating hard-won military discipline into bestselling children’s books and a soon-to-be-released feature film—highlighting 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 leader—both in war and everyday life. SHOWNOTES 27:48 Jocko’s Cultural Optimism—Why America’s Next Generation Will Thrive 30:35 The Reality Behind Grit, Hard Work, and Unsung Heroes 33:21 Warrior Kid Podcast, Working with Kids, and Building a Brand That Resonates 35:23 Jocko’s Creative Side—Music, Art, and the Story Behind the Warrior Kid Movie 38:38 From Book to Film: How Jocko’s Storyland Became a Feature Starring Chris Pratt 46:16 The Mind of a Warrior-Writer: Capturing and Processing the Chaos of Combat 54:52 The Limits of Memory: Why Jocko Didn't Journal at War & His Singular Focus 57:33 What Makes Great Leaders? Comparing Politics, Military, and Corporate Worlds 59:40 Power, Ego, and the Real Chain of Command 1:04:12 Leadership Factories, Promotions, and Avoiding the Trap of Incompetence 1:11:06 How Teams Survive “Dumb” or Egotistical Leaders 1:13:22 The Role of Ego—Why Teams Self-Destruct Under Bad Leadership 1:15:22 Building Alliances—Managing Hostile Environments in High-Stakes Roles 1:20:13 Machiavellian Truths and Staying Positive When Facing Dark Realities 1:24:03 How to Find & Connect with Jocko Willink CONNECT WITH JOCKO WILLINK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jockowillink/ [https://www.instagram.com/jockowillink/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/jockowillink [https://twitter.com/jockowillink] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JockoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@JockoPodcast] Website: https://jocko.com [https://jocko.com] CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out ButcherBox: New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive their choice between steak tips, salmon, or chicken breast in every box for a year + $20 off their first box at ⁠https://butcherbox.com/impact⁠ [https://butcherbox.com/impact] Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at ⁠https://monarchmoney.com⁠ [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠https://shopify.com/impact⁠ [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Jerry: Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance - download the Jerry app or head to ⁠https://jerry.ai/impact⁠ [https://jerry.ai/impact] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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 war—not 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 don’t want to miss. SHOWNOTES 00:00 Strategic Thinking in Modern Conflicts: Russia, Ukraine, and the Will to Fight 02:33 The Unpredictability of War—Overconfidence, Misjudgment, and Human Nature 04:17 Why America Loses Wars: The Cautionary Tale of “Wars We Don’t Have to Win” 06:12 Russian and American Cultural Attitudes Toward Sacrifice and War 09:01 Psychological Warfare: Israel, Hamas, and Turning World Opinion 13:38 Strategic Calculus: Collateral Damage, World Sympathy, and the Cycle of Retaliation 17:02 Morality in Modern Warfare: Threats, Response, and Values 19:15 Defending Values: America’s Future, Internal Struggles, and Global Commerce 23:04 Instilling Core Values in the Next Generation—The Origins of Jocko’s Kids Books 25:22 Cultural Influence Through Storytelling: The Power of the Warrior Kid Series CONNECT WITH JOCKO WILLINK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jockowillink/ [https://www.instagram.com/jockowillink/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/jockowillink [https://twitter.com/jockowillink] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JockoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@JockoPodcast] Website: https://jocko.com [https://jocko.com] CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out ButcherBox: New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive their choice between steak tips, salmon, or chicken breast in every box for a year + $20 off their first box at ⁠https://butcherbox.com/impact⁠ [https://butcherbox.com/impact] Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at ⁠https://monarchmoney.com⁠ [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠https://shopify.com/impact⁠ [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Jerry: Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance - download the Jerry app or head to ⁠https://jerry.ai/impact⁠ [https://jerry.ai/impact] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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 Griffin’s infamous and fiercely debated book "The Creature from Jekyll Island," Tom unpacks the shrouded origins of America’s central banking system and lays out a case for how it was designed—in secrecy—to 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 you’re 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 CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out ButcherBox: New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive their choice between steak tips, salmon, or chicken breast in every box for a year + $20 off their first box at https://butcherbox.com/impact [https://butcherbox.com/impact] Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at https://monarchmoney.com [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impact [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Jerry: Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance - download the Jerry app or head to https://jerry.ai/impact [https://jerry.ai/impact] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]