For 29 years, Hiroo Onoda believed he was still at war. Alone in the jungle, cut off from reality, he refused to surrender—even when the world had moved on without him. This is the true story of a soldier who fought an invisible enemy long after the battle was over, and what it teaches us about knowing when to let go.
Most people aren’t stuck in the jungle with a rifle—they’re stuck in jobs, relationships, and mindsets that should have ended years ago. In this episode, we break down why people refuse to quit, how to recognize when you’re fighting the wrong battle, and what it really takes to walk away. Because the scariest thing in life isn’t losing the war—it’s wasting years fighting one that already ended.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🔥 The insane true story of Hiroo Onoda—the soldier who refused to surrender for 29 years
🔥 Why people stay stuck in unwinnable battles (and how to spot when you’re doing it)
🔥 The sunk cost fallacy—how your brain tricks you into holding onto things that no longer serve you
🔥 The psychology of quitting—why it’s not failure, it’s strategy
🔥 A practical challenge to help you recognize what’s holding you back right now
Because sometimes, the strongest thing you can do… is walk away.
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com