View show notes for this episode: https://bit.ly/33fvyg8 Become a member to receive exclusive content: https://bit.ly/3sNDMoz Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://bit.ly/4c602k2 Sebastian Junger is an award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and New York Times best-selling author. In this wide-ranging discussion, Sebastian shares stories from his time as a war reporter and how it shaped his understanding of the psychological effects of combat, including the sacred bond of soldiers, the forces that unify a tribe, and the psychological mechanisms that protect humans from painful experiences. He draws upon his personal struggle with PTSD as he discusses trauma as an all-too-common consequence of war and the importance of community in the healing process. He explains his interest in viewing human behavior through an evolutionary lens, including how it influences his parenting style, and he voices concerns over society’s continuous shift away from our evolutionary roots. Sebastian also tells the story of his near-death experience and his new perspective on the possibility of an afterlife.  Additionally, Sebastian shares his thoughts on the mental health implications of current events, such as the pandemic and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and contemplates what it really means to be “free” in modern society. We discuss: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:10 - Sebastian’s upbringing and early lessons about the evil of fascism 00:09:55 - Sebastian’s search for a career, interest in writing, and what he loved about tree removal 00:18:58 - How Sebastian became a great writer 00:25:35 - Sebastian’s experience with Achilles injuries 00:28:34 - Work as a war reporter and his experience in combat in Afghanistan 00:38:36 - Psychological effects of war and Sebastian’s own experience with PTSD 00:52:25 - The sacred bond of soldiers and what Sebastian learned from his time with troops in Afghanistan 01:05:05 - An evolutionary perspective on the forces that unify and bind tribes 01:14:46 - Hunter-gatherer societies, dealing with loss, and the ancestral connection to the spiritual realm 01:20:19 - Psychological mechanisms that protect humans from painful experiences and the power in giving thanks 01:29:08 - How parenting has changed Sebastian, and the incredible pain of losing a child 01:42:04 - PTSD and the influence of community on healing 01:48:15 - Isolation of modern society and the debate over young kids sleeping in bed with their parents 01:54:32 - Why Sebastian doesn’t own a smartphone 02:01:43 - Parenting through an evolutionary lens 02:06:17 - Sebastian’s near-death experience and new perspective on the possibility of an afterlife 02:26:54 - Sebastian’s experience with depression and anxiety 02:33:11 - The pandemic’s impact on mental health 02:39:07 - Sebastian’s thoughts on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan 02:44:52 - Sebastian’s latest book—Freedom, and knowing when to quit 03:04:52 - Defining freedom in modern society -------- About: The Peter Attia Drive is a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking…and a few other things. With over 30 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more. Peter is a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. His practice deals extensively with nutritional interventions, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, emotional and mental health, and pharmacology to increase lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life). Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Bcyzdm Connect with Peter on: Facebook: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDTW Instagram: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDIG Subscribe to The Drive: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveApplePodcasts Overcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveOvercast Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheDriveSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheDriveGoogle