Best grunt work Podcasts (2025)

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The Abbé (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 16 – Part 5) 5:44

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3h ago5:44

5:44

The mystery has a name: Abbé Faria. At last, the voice in the dark reveals himself—not just in form, but in history. A brilliant, imprisoned mind, Faria recounts his long years of confinement and his fixation not on escape, but on the turning gears of history. While Dantès has fought for survival, Faria has been meditating on empires. As one man lo…

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499: Squelch The Noise. Disciplined Frameworks to Avoid Manipulation. 1:12:36

9h ago1:12:36

1:12:36

>Join Jocko Underground< How overreacting to headlines, battlefield reports, or business setbacks creates unnecessary panic and poor decision-making. Using the analogy of a “squelch” button on military radios, he explains the need to filter noise, assess information logically, and avoid emotional responses. Leaders must detach, gather reliable inte…

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“The Will of God” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 16 – Part 4) 6:30

1d ago6:30

6:30

Hope narrows to reality. After climbing to inspect the final wall, the elder prisoner confirms what he feared: sentries march day and night just beyond the window, rifles at the ready. With that, the possibility of escape through Dantès’ cell vanishes. But instead of despair, the old man responds with serenity. For Dantès, the moment is revelatory—…

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Ep. 15: Into The Sewers 2:40:38

1d ago2:40:38

2:40:38

Send us a text After vanquishing a ruthless gang in a skirmish behind the bakery, our fearless grunts stumble upon an unexpected ally—a mysterious figure eager to join their quest to track down the missing. Armed with fresh clues from the grateful baker, the party presses onward to the bustling emporium, where a crucial contact holds the next piece…

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“The Window” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 16 – Part 3) 7:42

2d ago7:42

7:42

Escape is a puzzle, and the fourth wall is the final piece. Dantès and his mysterious companion assess the last potential exit—the window. It’s narrow, barred, and cut into solid rock. But with the stranger’s feline agility and Dantès’ strength, they manage a daring inspection. The view offers more than just a glimpse outside—it sharpens their sens…

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Jocko Underground: Getting Over Tragedy | Get Out Of Your Slump and Crush It. 11:49

3d ago11:49

11:49

>Join Jocko Underground< Staying strong and grieving to get over tragedy. In a slump after a big failure. Finding a new mission to crush life. Facing your traumatic past from family members. Why are pull-ups even important? Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content…

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“Fifty Feet” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 16 – Part 2) 6:32

3d ago6:32

6:32

Dantès marvels at the ingenuity of his new companion, who casually unveils a handmade chisel crafted from the iron clamp of a bedframe. With it, the man has carved out a fifty-foot tunnel—alone, in secret, and with astonishing precision. But precision, he admits, is relative without tools, and a small miscalculation has left his plan for escape und…

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“A Learned Italian” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 16 – Part 1) 9:11

4d ago9:11

9:11

The man from the wall is no longer a mystery—he’s a scholar, a survivor, and a fellow prisoner. Dantès finally meets his neighbor face-to-face: an older Italian whose body is worn by time and captivity, but whose mind remains sharp and disciplined. The two men embrace not just with relief, but with purpose. Their first act together? Cover their tra…

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“The Arrival” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 16) 7:03

5d ago7:03

7:03

After years of silence, labor, and longing, the miracle finally happens: the wall gives way—and a man steps through. The voice in the dark becomes a flesh-and-blood presence as the prisoner known only as No. 27 emerges from beneath the floor of Dantès’ cell. It is a moment not just of escape, but of revelation. Isolation ends in impact. Stone parts…

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“Tomorrow” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 15) 7:12

6d ago7:12

7:12

Hope becomes a promise. After days of pleading and panic, Dantès earns the voice’s trust—and with it, a new plan. The two men agree to continue their escape together or, failing that, to simply speak. In a world of stone and silence, even conversation is liberation. For the first time in years, Dantès has someone to wait for—and something to live t…

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“No. 27” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 14) 6:45

7d ago6:45

6:45

Dantès finally meets the voice behind the wall—but trust is not easily won. The unseen prisoner reveals a tragic miscalculation: he had hoped to reach the sea but tunneled in the wrong direction. Now he threatens to retreat into silence. Dantès, desperate not to lose this human thread, pleads with his unseen neighbor for connection, for faith—and f…

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498: Regardless of the Distractions, You Know What To Do. Do It. 1:29:53

8d ago1:29:53

1:29:53

>Join Jocko Underground< >Explore Jocko Store< Exploring deeper themes from the Marine Corps Institute’s Leadership Credo. Leadership isn’t about rank—it’s about earning trust through action. True leadership requires understanding human will, stress, fear, and mission focus. The will to fight is central in combat—and in life. Emotional control, bot…

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“The Voice” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 13) 5:24

8d ago5:24

5:24

Just as Dantès teeters on the edge of despair, a voice answers his plea. It isn’t divine—it’s human, and it’s coming from the other side of the wall. For the first time in years, Dantès holds a conversation not bound by duty or cruelty. A buried soul replies from beneath the stone, and the miracle is not escape—but connection. Two prisoners, strang…

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“The Beam” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 12) 5:45

9d ago5:45

5:45

With the iron handle finally in hand, Dantès digs toward his neighbor with renewed hope—but freedom is not so easily won. As days pass in grueling silence, he begins to wonder if the prisoner next door has given up, or worse, given up on him. And just as progress begins to feel possible, Dantès strikes a new obstacle: a beam. The promise of connect…

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Jocko Underground: Blast Past Old Mistakes and Get Respect at Work 9:29

10d ago9:29

9:29

>Join Jocko Underground< Getting past your past mistakes to get back on the track to excellence. My woman brings me stress and refuses to change. Lets talk about people who claim to be progressive, but disparage the troops. What to do if you ruined your reputation in a certain community. If you are anti-social media, listen to this last one. Suppor…

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“The Lever” (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 11) 9:06

10d ago9:06

9:06

In this episode, Dantès seizes a long-awaited opportunity. When his jailer unwittingly leaves behind the iron-handled soup saucepan, Dantès finally acquires the tool he’s been desperate for. With strategic patience and focused effort, he levers out the hewn stone that has blocked his passage for days. The wall begins to give way—hope now has form, …

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The Iron Handle (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 10) 9:08

11d ago9:08

9:08

No weapons. No tools. Just wit. Dantès is halted by the rough stone of his prison wall—until he seizes on a new idea. He needs an iron tool. His jug is broken, his nails are useless—but the soup comes in a shared iron saucepan. If he can only separate the handle… This is where escape begins to resemble invention: every item is repurposed, every mot…

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The Jug and the Wall (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 9) 11:41

12d ago11:41

11:41

No chisel. No knife. Just a broken jug—and the will to escape. In this chapter, Dantès makes a decision that changes his fate: he shatters his water jug and hides the sharpest shards. That fragment of pottery becomes his only tool. It’s not the great escape—yet. But it’s the moment where Edmond begins carving possibility out of impossibility. By tr…

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The Answer in the Wall (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 8) 9:24

13d ago9:24

9:24

Three knocks. Silence. Three days. And then—a sound returns. In this episode, Edmond Dantès crosses from hope into action. He tests the mysterious noise in the wall with three deliberate strikes—and the sound immediately stops. Silence follows for days. But when the noise resumes, Dantès no longer hesitates: he is no longer dying. He is preparing. …

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The Song Of America 11:40

14d ago11:40

11:40

Independence day. 2025. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-contentBy Jocko DEFCOR Network

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The Test of the Wall (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 7) 8:12

14d ago8:12

8:12

Edmond Dantès hears the noise again—and now, he dares to believe. In this chapter, Dantès’ hope returns not in a rush, but through strategy. Though physically weak, his mind regains clarity, and he begins to think not like a victim, but like a participant again. Is the noise in the wall made by a prisoner or a worker? Could it be hope—or a trap? Da…

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497: Lessons About Human Will and Those Who Don't Break. "Combat Leadership at Iwo". 1:26:46

15d ago1:26:46

1:26:46

>Join Jocko Underground< The brutal legacy of the Battle of Iwo Jima—America’s bloodiest Marine Corps battle. Drawing from Marine Colonel Joseph H. Alexander’s powerful article Combat Leadership at Iwo Jima, they unpack the sheer scale, strategy, and human cost of the fight. Jocko highlights the critical role of combat experience, disciplined train…

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The Sound in the Wall (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 6) 8:56

15d ago8:56

8:56

In the silence of slow death, Edmond Dantès hears something impossible. As Dantès lies on the edge of starvation, a sound begins—scratching, scraping, chipping at the wall behind him. In a place where time has died and hope has dissolved, this sound is electric. Is it a rat? Is it death? Or is it… someone? Dumas masterfully captures the hallucinato…

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The Twilight of Death (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 5) 10:39

16d ago10:39

10:39

Edmond Dantès has stopped counting the days. Now he stops eating. In this excruciating chapter, Dantès follows through on his plan to die. He doesn’t leap into it—he starves with full awareness, slowly and deliberately. At first defiant, then mournful, his hunger becomes a battle between his oath and his instinct to survive. Dumas crafts a haunting…

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Jocko Underground 171: Does Jiu Jitsu Ruin More Lives Than It Saves?? 11:02

17d ago11:02

11:02

>Join Jocko Underground< Does Jiu Jitsu ruin more lives than it saves? Does "Playing The Game" cause you to lose the edge? Is being a cheater in the past, a Red-Flag for the future? When superiors go off-script. How to recover from a damaging outburst. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content…

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The Choice of Death (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 4) 8:55

17d ago8:55

8:55

When hope dies, choice begins. Edmond Dantès doesn’t lash out—he lets go. Death no longer frightens him; it comforts him. He reflects on past storms at sea, when fear made him fight to survive. But now, nothing ties him to life. He chooses not despair, but detachment. Suicide becomes a methodical, almost peaceful plan. Dumas carefully draws this no…

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The Abyss Opens (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 3) 9:42

18d ago9:42

9:42

Dantès has prayed. He has waited. Now he begins to unravel. In this devastating installment, Dumas walks us through the next psychic chamber of Edmond Dantès’ descent. Rage replaces faith. Memory burns. The letter from Villefort—once just a betrayal—is now a curse etched into his mind like divine judgment. He lashes out at the walls, at the air, at…

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The Turn to God (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 2) 9:30

19d ago9:30

9:30

Alone and exhausted, Dantès finally turns to the last power he has not yet pleaded with—God. In this haunting chapter, Dumas charts the next phase of Edmond Dantès’ psychological descent. He asks for the company of even the madman in the next cell, but is denied. Then, having exhausted every earthly plea, he remembers the prayers of childhood and f…

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Number 34 and Number 27 (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 15 – Part 1) 11:29

20d ago11:29

11:29

What happens to a mind when it’s left alone for too long? In this harrowing chapter, Dumas traces the emotional collapse of Edmond Dantès—not with violence, but with silence. From righteous innocence to desperate bargaining, Dantès endures the slow grind of solitary imprisonment. He speaks just to hear a voice. He begs for movement, for conversatio…

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The Treasure (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 14 – Part 8) 9:20

21d ago9:20

9:20

The madman in the cell offers six million francs—and no one listens. Abbé Faria makes his offer: wealth beyond comprehension, in exchange for a chance at freedom. But he’s already been labeled mad, and in this system, that label is stronger than reason. In this chapter, Dumas introduces the secret that will reshape the entire novel: a hidden treasu…

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496: Toxic Leadership. This Is How You Spot It. This Is How You Know. 1:53:46

22d ago1:53:46

1:53:46

>Join Jocko Underground< Discussing the broad and often misunderstood term "toxic leadership," noting how frequently he’s asked about it. A detailed paper by Colonel Denise F. Williams from the Army War College that identifies toxic leadership traits and categorizes 18 types of toxic leaders. Though the paper focuses on the U.S. Army, Jocko emphasi…

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The Madman’s Truth (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 14 – Part 9) 9:23

22d ago9:23

9:23

He offered proof, logic, and a promise—but he was already dismissed. In his final plea, Abbé Faria makes a simple, airtight offer: test me. Dig where I say, and I’ll stay here. No risk, no escape, just verification. And still—he’s denied. Because in the eyes of the institution, he’s already mad. Dumas shows us how truth can be ignored not because i…

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Jocko Underground: It's Not Real. Getting Others Over Fear. 11:26

24d ago11:26

11:26

Getting your child (and others, including yourself) over fear. More valuable tools for getting over a break-up and crushing forward. Being someone you can be proud of. Managing adrenaline dumps, nervousness, and high-stress situations. Embracing responsibility to get to the next level. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/e…

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A Secret of the Greatest Importance (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 14 – Part 7) 7:14

24d ago7:14

7:14

He claims to know something that could change everything—but no one will listen. In this unforgettable scene, the so-called madman Abbé Faria demands a private audience—not to complain about the food or filth, but to reveal a secret of world-altering importance. The inspector and governor scoff. They call him delusional. But Dumas does something di…

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The Mad Abbé (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 14 – Part 6) 7:43

25d ago7:43

7:43

In a cell below the sea, a man draws circles in plaster—and speaks of millions. This chapter introduces one of the most important characters in The Count of Monte Cristo: the mysterious Abbé Faria. While Dantès pleads for reason, Faria appears to embody madness—but it’s a madness filled with structure, symbols, and startling clarity. With reference…

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A Fresh Inmate (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 14 – Part 5) 5:26

26d ago5:26

5:26

He meets a man with power—and mistakes kindness for change. For the first time in over a year, Dantès has someone listen to him. He pleads not for pardon, but for understanding—for a trial, a verdict, a reason. The inspector listens. He even promises to investigate. But Dantès doesn’t realize what we do: this is not a rescue. This is a delay. Dumas…

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Seventeen Months (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 14 – Part 4) 7:30

27d ago7:30

7:30

He doesn’t beg for freedom—he begs to be judged. In this devastating passage, Dantès speaks not just of imprisonment, but of the emotional erosion that comes with lost time, lost love, and lost purpose. He remembers the exact hour of his arrest. He measures time not in days, but in emotional ages. And above all, he asks not for pity, but for justic…

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The Inspector Listens (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 14 – Part 3) 7:28

28d ago7:28

7:28

Dantès finally gets his chance to speak—but the system is deaf. In this powerful moment, Dantès springs from the shadows, not in anger but in desperate hope. He performs sanity. He pleads for logic. But to the inspector, he’s just another case study. Dumas paints a brutal portrait of bureaucracy at its most indifferent: the metrics are fear and foo…

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495: Look. Is Your "Check Engine" Light On? . With Human Performance Specialist, Rob Wilson. 3:27:38

29d ago3:27:38

3:27:38

>Join Jocko Underground< Get "Check Engine Light", by Rob Wilson >> HERE Rob Wilson is a Human Performance Specialist with over twenty years of manual therapy, coaching, and education experience. Rob's work spans a variety of avenues in the field of health and human performance. This includes multiple trademarks, the creation of global seminars and…

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