#2406 - Russell Crowe
Joe Rogan talks with Russell Crowe about Crowe's new film "Nuremberg" and the psychological, historical, and moral questions raised by portraying Hermann Göring and the Nazi leadership at the post‑war trials. They range across topics including gambling and addiction, alcohol and social media use, war and political polarization, Crowe's intense recent work schedule and burnout, and his long‑term project restoring and rewilding his Australian farm. The conversation also examines invasive species and land management, media consolidation and propaganda, healthcare systems, and the need for nuance when understanding both historical figures and contemporary issues.
#2399 - Daryl Davis & Jeff Schoep
Joe Rogan speaks with Daryl Davis, a Black musician known for befriending Ku Klux Klan members and neo-Nazis and helping hundreds leave extremist groups, and Jeff Schoep, the former longtime leader of the National Socialist Movement who has since renounced white supremacy. They discuss how Jeff was indoctrinated into neo-Nazism, his rise to leadership, the gradual process of his de-radicalization after meeting Daryl and others, and his current work helping people leave extremist movements. The conversation also explores the psychology of hate, white supremacist recruitment strategies, demographic fears driving modern extremism, and practical approaches to reducing racism and improving race relations.
RWH061: How To Thrive No Matter What w/ Arnold Van Den Berg
Host William interviews investor Arnold Vandenberg about his decades-long exploration of the subconscious mind, one-pointed attention, and flow states, drawing on examples from yogic practices, neuroscience, and extreme situations like concentration camps. Arnold explains how he has used focus, breathwork, self-hypnosis, affirmations, and character development to transform his health, athletic performance, investing career, and resilience in the face of adversity. He also shares his current investment positioning in an overvalued market, emphasizing commodities and capital preservation, and concludes with reflections on happiness, love, and overcoming selfishness.
Why Would Anyone Want to Appease Hitler?
Josh and Chuck examine why Britain, France, and other powers pursued a policy of appeasement toward Hitler in the 1930s. They walk through key events from the Treaty of Versailles to the invasions of Czechoslovakia and Poland, explaining the political, economic, and emotional forces that made leaders reluctant to confront Nazi Germany. The hosts also explore counterfactual scenarios about how different choices might have changed the scale and course of World War II and draw parallels to contemporary debates over Russia and Ukraine.
SYSK's Fall True Crime Playlist: The Hinterkaifeck Axe Murders
Hosts Josh Clark and Charles W. "Chuck" Bryant recount the 1922 Hinterkaifeck axe murders in rural Bavaria, where six members of the Gruber household, including a new maid, were brutally killed on their isolated farm. They walk through the eerie lead-up of strange noises and footprints, the grisly discovery and forensic details, and the major suspects, especially neighbor Lorenz Schlittenbauer, while discussing why the case remains officially unsolved. The episode ends with lighter tangents about Steve Guttenberg and a listener mail story about a formative hunting experience.
#481 - Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA
Lex Fridman talks with writer Norman Ohler about his research on drug use in Nazi Germany, including methamphetamine in the Wehrmacht and opioids in Hitler's inner circle. They discuss how overlooked pharmaceutical and illicit substances shaped military campaigns like the Blitzkrieg, Hitler's declining leadership, and postwar CIA programs such as MKUltra. The conversation also explores German resistance within the Third Reich, Berlin's postwar drug and club culture, and Ohler's broader project on the role of psychoactive drugs across human history.