Former Navy SEAL: "War Is The Most Addictive Drug On Earth" | Kaj Larsen

Former Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, war correspondent, and documentarian Kaj Larsen joins The Michael Chernow Podcast for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, suffering, purpose, and what it takes to perform at the highest level. Kaj shares incredible stories from SEAL training, nearly quitting Hell Week, the addictive nature of war, lessons from combat, and the leadership principles that have guided him through military service, entrepreneurship, journalism, and life. Michael and Kaj also explore modern masculinity, accountability, mental toughness, AI warfare, and why the ability to embrace discomfort may be the most valuable skill in today's world. If you've ever felt stuck, challenged, or called to become a stronger version of yourself, this episode is packed with wisdom that can help you take the next step. New episodes of The Michael Chernow Podcast drop every Wednesday at 12 PM. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Meeting Kaj Larsen 00:50 The SEAL Team Drug Scandal That Changed Everything 05:00 Doing The Hard Right Thing As A Leader 10:00 Accountability, Leadership & Extreme Ownership 16:45 Why Kaj Joined The Navy 18:30 How Navy SEALs Actually Select Candidates 21:20 Hell Week & What Breaks Most Men 23:30 Modern Day Knight Project & Facing Your Darkness 28:45 The Real Purpose Of SEAL Training 31:15 The Night Kaj Almost Quit Hell Week 37:20 Finding The Hidden Gear & Building Mental Toughness 42:40 Why Suffering Is Necessary For Growth 44:50 Why War Becomes Addictive 50:50 AI, Drones & The Future Of Warfare 59:20 Mission, Purpose & Becoming Mentally Strong 1:05:00 Building A Powerful Mind In An Age Of Distraction 1:12:00 Final Lessons On Discipline, Identity & Success #MichaelChernow #KajLarsen #TheMichaelChernowPodcast #NavySEAL #hellweek