David Goggins: How to Build Immense Inner Strength
In this episode, my guest is David Goggins, retired Navy SEAL, highly accomplished ultramarathoner, best-selling author, and influential public speaker.David explains how he mastered his inner dialogue to build extraordinary levels of discipline and mental and physical toughness.He describes how confronting his early hardships, including physical and mental abuse, learning disorders, and obesity, became a practice of deep and excruciating self-reflection — eventually allowing him to transmute those experiences into a superhuman work ethic.This conversation is a unique window into David Goggins’ process in that it focuses both on the underlying science and how David manages and directs his inner dialogue.It’s a conversation that will inform and inspire anyone wondering how exactly to go about building discipline and confidence and reach their potential.Note: This conversation includes profanity. Some content might not be suitable for all audiences and ages.For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlabWaking Up: https://wakingup.com/hubermanMomentous: https://livemomentous.com/hubermanTimestamps(00:00:00) David Goggins(00:03:39) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up(00:07:58) Learning, Studying & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)(00:14:59) Writing & Learning, ADHD & Focus(00:20:35) Friction, Focus, “Conqueror’s Mindset”(00:25:16) Early Hardships, “Haunted”(00:30:48) Anger, Social Media; Growth & Challenges(00:34:41) Sponsor: AG1(00:37:11) Stick vs. Carrot, Negative Inner Dialogue, “Stay Hard”(00:42:39) Inspiration, Characters & Self Image(00:46:09) Willpower & Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex(00:53:23) Friction & the “Suck”, Willpower(00:59:14) Building Willpower, Brain & “No Days Off” Mentality (01:09:54) Losing Weight, Challenge & Willpower(01:18:47) Self-Criticism & Discipline; Recovery; Stutter & Building Confidence(01:26:45) Relationships & Honest Conversations, People Pleasing(01:34:49) Self-Reflection & Empowerment(01:39:06) Unseen Work, Real Passion & Purpose, Medicine Cabinet Analogy(01:46:32) Feeling Lost, Self-Reflection & Individual Process(01:54:11) Challenges & Two Internal Voices, Misunderstood(01:59:32) Running, Smoke Jumping; Success; Willpower & Perishable Skills(02:07:04) Self-Reflection & Action, Distractions(02:15:27) Inner Dialogue; Failing Properly(02:24:59) Introspection & Unconscious Mind, Cleaning “Cupboards”(02:35:19) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network NewsletterDisclaimerLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Huberman Lab
The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.
Huberman has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills, and cognitive functioning. He is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017.
Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell, and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets.
In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.
- No. of episodes: 315
- Latest episode: 2025-07-03
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