Jocko Podcast 558: What We Can Learn From John Spencer Almost Dying 20 Times.
Why this one hits different
Twenty close calls, one personal code. On Jocko Podcast 558, urban-warfare expert John Spencer walks through the near-death moments in his book "20 Times I Almost Died" and what they taught him about leadership.
Who is John Spencer?
Spencer is a retired U.S. Army officer and one of the best-known experts on urban warfare, who has led urban warfare studies at West Point's Modern War Institute. His career runs from Ranger School and Iraq to studying battlefields in Ukraine and Gaza.
What's on the table
John and Jocko go through stories from the book, and use them to talk about leadership, intuition, resilience and the importance of having a code to live by. They also cover modern conflicts, including India and Pakistan, Hezbollah in Lebanon and how drones are changing warfare in Ukraine. Use the chapter list to jump to any part.
Why it's worth your time
Two combat leaders comparing notes on what actually keeps people alive, and on how the battlefield is changing, which matters to anyone following current conflicts.
Quick answers
- When did Jocko Podcast 558 come out?
- September 16, 2026.
- What is John Spencer's book?
- "20 Times I Almost Died."
More episodes: Jocko Podcast.
Chapters
Episode notes from Jocko Podcast
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Urban warfare expert and retired Army officer John Spencer returns to share stories from 20 Times I Almost Died, from Ranger School and Iraq to Ukraine, Gaza, and some incredibly close calls. Along the way, John and Jocko break down leadership, intuition, modern warfare, resilience, and the importance of developing a personal code to live by.
00:00 – John Spencer: 20 Times I Almost Died
02:53 – Kashmir: India, Pakistan & Modern Warfare
05:10 – Lebanon, Hezbollah & the Changing Battlefield
11:17 – Ukraine, Drones & the Future of War
15:54 – Inside a Hamas Tunnel Under Gaza
24:43 – Iraq: Common Sense, Orders & Leadership
39:08 – The IED Trap: Trusting Your Intuition
45:28 – “Pepper”: The Fight That Cost John His Ear
1:08:27 – The “Sopranos of Baghdad” & Humility
1:29:02 – Ukraine, Bucha & the Will to Resist
1:38:00 – Ranger School: “You Can Always Quit Tomorrow”
1:44:03 – The Best Ranger Competition & a 40-Foot Fall
1:55:48 – Iraq: A Deadly Humvee Crash & Duty
2:01:31 – Azerbaijan’s Special Forces & the Battle of Shusha
2:11:08 – Going Full Rambo as an OPFOR Soldier
2:16:01 – The Mission to Capture Saddam Hussein
2:27:05 – The Current Situation in Gaza
2:42:38 – Who Are You? Building a Code to Live By
2:53:21 – Closing Thoughts With John Spencer
2:54:19 – Jocko & Echo Closing / Supporters
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