Joe Rogan Experience #2253 - Theo Von

In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan and Theo Von engage in a wide-ranging conversation touching on topics from music legends like Angus Young of AC/DC to the health implications of fast food and the benefits of weighted blankets. They humorously discuss the idea of "gay meat" and explore societal issues such as the authenticity of online personas, the complexities of gender identity, and the implications of political correctness. The discussion also delves into global issues, including the Ukraine conflict, political manipulation, and the challenges of maintaining free speech in a digital age.

• The conversation begins with a mention of Angus Young, the guitarist from ACDC, and Bon Scott, the former lead singer who died of a drug overdose.
• The discussion touches on the impact of rock music and the lifestyle associated with it.

"Angus Young is the guitarist, right? God damn it, brother used to beat the out of me that music."

• Highlights the influence of Angus Young and ACDC's music on the speaker's life.

"Bon Scott died of a drug overdose, right? Oh man, is that how he died? Just went too hard."

• Reflects on the tragic end of Bon Scott and the intense lifestyle of rock musicians.

• A humorous exchange about putting a child to sleep and the effectiveness of routines.
• The idea of using weighted blankets is briefly mentioned.

"Carl is still up, he's like Dad you didn't even put me down yet. It takes three minutes to calm him."

• Illustrates the challenge of parenting and bedtime routines.

"Do they have a weighted blanket or not for him? I don't think they do that for dogs."

• Suggests weighted blankets as a solution for anxiety or sleep issues, but humorously notes it's not applicable for dogs.

• The conversation turns to fast food, specifically Chick-fil-A, and the importance of moderation in diet.
• Discusses the nutritional value of certain foods and the balance between indulgence and health.

"Chick-fil-A is like the number one fast food sandwich chicken sandwich and there's a thousand ingredients."

• Highlights the complexity and potential health concerns of fast food ingredients.

"Just don't eat it every day, stupid. I eat them, I'm healthy, I'm real healthy."

• Emphasizes moderation and balance in diet to maintain health despite occasional indulgence.

• A discussion on specific food preferences, including the Flying Dutchman from In-N-Out and tomato and onion salads.
• The conversation explores the nutritional value of onions and the unique culinary practices in different cultures.

"I get the Flying Dutchman. It's just patties with cheese on it and there's no bread."

• Describes a low-carb fast food option and its appeal.

"Whenever I eat onions, I'm like what am I doing here is this there's nothing here right?"

• Questions the nutritional value of onions while acknowledging their flavor contribution.

• Praises Mexican culture for its culinary contributions, work ethic, and overall positive impact on society.
• Discusses stereotypes and the reality of Mexican work ethic and cultural influence.

"Thank you to Mexican people just for doing everything that they do."

• Acknowledges the positive contributions of Mexican culture to society.

"One of the dumbest stereotypes ever was like the lazy Mexican."

• Challenges and debunks negative stereotypes about Mexican people.

• The conversation shifts to boxing, focusing on the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez and his discipline and work ethic.
• Discusses the historical rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers.

"Julio Cesar Chavez was one of the greatest of all time."

• Highlights Chavez's legacy and his impact on boxing.

"The Mexicans would always say that the Puerto Ricans didn't work hard enough."

• Reflects on the perceived differences in discipline between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers.

• Explores the challenges and responsibilities of refereeing in combat sports.
• Discusses the importance of protecting fighters and the complexity of making split-second decisions.

"The referee is there to save the fighter if he takes one more punch in those two seconds and that one punch kills him."

• Emphasizes the critical role of referees in ensuring fighter safety.

"It's one of the most difficult jobs in all of Combat Sports other than being a fighter."

• Highlights the difficulty and importance of refereeing in maintaining the integrity of combat sports.

• Discusses the role of online anonymity in shaping public discourse and the potential for misinformation.
• Explores the concept of controlled opposition and the impact of fake accounts on social media.

"If people can just have fake accounts and people should be able to, which I think they definitely should be able to do."

• Argues for the importance of online anonymity while acknowledging its potential drawbacks.

"How much of this is real interaction between people and how much of this is all this meddling that's being done?"

• Questions the authenticity of online interactions and the influence of misinformation.

• Reflects on the evolution of media from traditional networks to the current digital age.
• Discusses how the proliferation of media channels has changed the way information is consumed and perceived.

"It used to be that a lot of media was controlled by a few channels and networks."

• Highlights the shift from limited media sources to a diverse digital landscape.

"Now streaming and the Internet, it's like what I don't even."

• Acknowledges the overwhelming nature of modern media consumption and its impact on society.

• Discussion on the overwhelming amount of content people consume today compared to the past.
• Concerns about media control and manipulation through social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter.
• Mention of influencers being paid to promote political agendas, creating a false sense of public enthusiasm.

"It's gotten to be too much, but I think that there's what I'm saying is if somebody had all that control at one point or if a few networks did, there's no way that now that they have less control, they're not still trying to find that control."

• The quote highlights the suspicion that media entities are still attempting to exert control over public opinion despite the diversification of content sources.

"People have said flat out that they were offered money and then they got paid money to make things for political people."

• This quote underscores the commercialization of political influence, where influencers are financially incentivized to sway public opinion.

• Discussion on the economy as a major concern for voters, focusing on national debt, inflation, and crime.
• Criticism of political spending on celebrity endorsements and its impact on public trust.
• Comparison of political spending to irresponsible personal financial behavior.

"If that's true, you paid celebrities to like how am I supposed to trust you with spending money?"

• The quote questions the integrity of political spending when large sums are used for celebrity endorsements rather than addressing economic issues.

"You imagine if like if you were going to marry a gal and you just gave her access to your credit card... I'm All About fiscally being responsible."

• This analogy criticizes the reckless financial behavior of political entities, likening it to personal financial irresponsibility.

• Examination of how fame has evolved, with social media influencers gaining similar attention as traditional celebrities.
• Discussion on how public figures' off-screen behavior can alter public perception.
• Reflection on the changing landscape of celebrity influence in politics and culture.

"Fame has kind of gotten different over the years... you could have just as much infatuation for somebody that you saw that made an entertaining video on Instagram."

• The quote reflects on the shift in what constitutes fame, with social media personalities gaining prominence.

"One of the worst things that's happened to actors is they talk outside of acting... you don't like them as much anymore."

• This quote suggests that public figures may lose favor when they express opinions outside their professional roles.

• Discussion on the role of anonymity in social media and its impact on free speech.
• Concerns about the manipulation of online discourse through bots and fake accounts.
• Debate on the balance between anonymity and accountability in online platforms.

"I think you should be able to express yourself and not have to be famous."

• The quote supports the idea that individuals should have the right to express opinions anonymously without fear of retribution.

"More than 80% of Twitter's accounts are actually fake."

• This quote highlights the prevalence of fake accounts on social media, raising concerns about the authenticity of online interactions.

• Examination of the challenges faced by police officers and the societal perception of law enforcement.
• Discussion on the need for better training, respect, and appreciation for police work.
• Critique of the "defund the police" movement and its implications for public safety.

"The problem is not cops; the problem is cops are human and they have to stay human otherwise you're going to get RoboCop."

• The quote emphasizes the human element of policing and the potential consequences of removing it.

"It's a sign of the sickness of society that we don't appreciate Law and Order."

• This quote suggests that societal issues are reflected in the lack of respect for law enforcement.

• Exploration of the potential for technology, such as AI and cyber operations, to be manipulated.
• Discussion on the ethical implications of technological advancements and their impact on society.
• Concerns about the future of human interaction with technology and the environment.

"People with Autism are the link between regular people and machines."

• The quote speculates on the evolving relationship between humans and technology, particularly in terms of cognitive abilities.

"We're clearly on that path fast and we're also at the same time on the path of artificial intelligence."

• This quote reflects on the rapid advancement of technology and its potential consequences for humanity.

• Discussion on the complexity of gender identity and the spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities.
• Exploration of the concept of "Two Spirit" within Native American culture.
• Examination of societal reactions to transgender identities and the blending of various identities within the LGBTQ+ community.

"You're you don't like your sexual organs that you're born with you identify with another gender or at least you think you do right at least like you identify with what they like more than what the boys like you're probably just gay..."

• This quote discusses the confusion some people have regarding their gender identity and sexual orientation, suggesting that some who identify as transgender might actually be gay.

"I realized like oh there's a lot of things connected in this one group that are not the same thing like they're just trying to lump in every idea..."

• Highlights the complexity and sometimes conflation of different identities within the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the importance of understanding each identity separately.

• Discussion on how media and societal narratives shape perceptions of gender and sexuality.
• The role of social media and public figures in influencing public opinion on LGBTQ+ issues.

"In the attention Market that is social media there has to be a few people out there that are pretending to be gay that aren't..."

• Indicates the influence of social media on identity expression, suggesting that some people might exploit LGBTQ+ identities for attention or financial gain.

"Apparently the way to get a lot of views is to be a really hot trans person like really hot trans people are in right now..."

• Discusses the trend of trans identities being used as a means to gain popularity or views on social media platforms.

• Examination of biological factors related to gender and sexuality, including hormone levels and physical characteristics.
• Discussion on scientific research and the challenges in studying gender identity and sexual orientation.

"All it means to be a human being I can't tell you where you are in that curve yeah I don't know what you are you man you'd be you I'll be I want you to be happy but you can't pretend you're in that other group..."

• Emphasizes the complexity of human identity and the challenges in categorizing individuals strictly based on biological or physical traits.

• Exploration of cultural appropriation and the boundaries of identity expression.
• Discussion on societal norms and the potential for exploitation of identity politics.

"You can't have no fake trans people but only real trans people but don't let anybody right in control of who decides what's real and what's not real..."

• Discusses the challenges in defining authenticity within identity politics and the potential for control over personal identity expression.

"It's almost the same with like a lot of cultural appropriation stuff at a certain point it just gets ridiculous..."

• Highlights the complexities and sometimes absurdities in cultural appropriation debates, drawing parallels with identity politics.

• Examination of legal and ethical implications of gender identity in public spaces, such as bathrooms and sports.
• Discussion on the potential for policy changes and the impact on societal norms.

"If you want to have an all trans League do that that's what we should do I feel like it seems like there should be that so that it's just a cheat code..."

• Suggests the creation of separate spaces or leagues for transgender individuals to ensure fairness and safety.

"There's a reason girls don't want to be in a bathroom with dudes..."

• Highlights concerns regarding safety and privacy in public spaces, reflecting ongoing debates about bathroom policies for transgender individuals.

• Discussion centered around the perceived performative nature of political figures, specifically Justin Trudeau, comparing them to characters from classic literature.
• The conversation critiques the authenticity of political personas, suggesting that some are more performative than genuine.

"Here's this guy who is trying to... he's freezing bank accounts from the people that donated money to the truckers."

• This quote highlights the criticism of Justin Trudeau's actions during the trucker protests, suggesting authoritarian behavior.

"He's like a fake Progressive... that's why he was an authoritarian."

• The speaker accuses Trudeau of being inauthentic in his progressive claims, implying that his actions during the protests were authoritarian.

• The conversation discusses how communication styles have evolved in media from early film and television to modern times.
• It highlights the shift from formal, theatrical speech to more naturalistic dialogue in movies and media.

"Marlin Brando was the first guy to not talk fake and everybody's like what is this guy doing... it's revolutionary."

• This emphasizes the shift in acting styles introduced by Marlon Brando, who brought naturalism to film acting.

"The standard was terrible like we had a terrible standard for communication that standards changed over time."

• This reflects on how communication standards in media have evolved, suggesting that earlier standards were less authentic.

• Discussion about the current state of America's identity and the influence of online discourse and media manipulation.
• Concerns about the loss of a unified national identity and the impact of social media on public discourse.

"I don't know what America is anymore... that's when you get all these activist groups that are not real."

• This quote reflects the confusion and manipulation perceived in the current American social and political landscape.

"If they can lock down on us we are the last Beacon of Hope for the world."

• This suggests a belief in America's role as a protector of freedom amidst global chaos.

• Conversation about the potential and implications of AI technology in communication and media.
• Concerns about the authenticity of content and the ability to distinguish real from fake in an AI-driven world.

"They could for sure have a version of you that's quick enough with AI that it could respond like a person would."

• Highlights the potential of AI to mimic human interaction, raising questions about authenticity.

"There's not that many of those places anymore... we got to protect America we got to protect freedom."

• Points to the diminishing spaces for freedom and the importance of protecting democratic values in an AI-influenced world.

• Discussion on international conflicts, misinformation, and the challenges in discerning real news from fake.
• The conversation touches on global political issues, including tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East.

"There was a bunch of footage that turned out to just to be video games... because people can make money from clicks."

• This quote addresses the prevalence of misinformation and the difficulty in verifying news during conflicts.

"But they wanted a regime change and uh they got it."

• Reflects on the complexities of international politics and the outcomes of regime changes.

• Discussion on the division within the United States and the potential for states to function like separate countries.
• The conversation explores the idea of centralized versus decentralized governance and its impact on social issues.

"We're like Europe really like New York is so much different than Idaho."

• Highlights the cultural and political diversity within the United States akin to different countries in Europe.

"That's the problem with centralized control."

• Expresses concerns about the loss of individual freedoms under centralized government control.

• Discussion on the influence of media personalities and the impact of their narratives on public opinion.
• The conversation critiques mainstream media figures and praises those who challenge dominant narratives.

"Those guys all melt in front of actual conversations with people like Dave Smith who know what they're talking about."

• This quote praises individuals who challenge mainstream media narratives with informed and honest discussions.

"He's not going to argue with you if you're right if you're right he's going to agree with you."

• Highlights the value of honest discourse and the importance of acknowledging truth in discussions.