#626 - Baby Me
Theo Von records a Thanksgiving-themed solo episode with producer Riley Mao, reflecting on the holiday, American history, the current state of the world, and the importance of focusing on tangible relationships and small joys. He shares a humorous yet sincere list of little life experiences he appreciates, updates listeners on recent charity efforts, and reacts to several heartfelt listener calls about mental health, painful family dynamics, impending parenthood, and spiritual questions. Throughout, he and Riley also discuss Riley's upcoming fatherhood, Theo's evolving sense of purpose, and his desire to deepen his relationship with God and better care for himself.
#837: How to Simplify Your Life in 2026 - New Tips from Derek Sivers, Seth Godin, and Martha Beck
Tim Ferriss departs from his usual long-form interview format to explore how a few key decisions can dramatically simplify life in the coming year. He frames the episode with the idea of finding single choices that eliminate hundreds of downstream decisions, drawing on lessons from past guests and management thinkers. Derek Sivers, Seth Godin, and Martha Beck each share specific philosophies and concrete personal rules they've used to reduce complexity, set boundaries, and orient their lives around simplicity, focus, and deep joy.
I Reached a Major Milestone! 8 Life-Changing Lessons I've Learned From Incredible Guests Along the Way
Jay Shetty celebrates reaching 5 million YouTube subscribers for On Purpose by revisiting powerful moments from past conversations with guests including Tom Holland, Kobe Bryant, Emma Watson, Madonna, Benny Blanco, Selena Gomez, and President Biden. The episode highlights lessons on sobriety and addiction, mastering fear, building relationships from wholeness, integrating spirituality with success, cultivating mature love, and coping with loneliness and grief through presence and family support.
"Benedict Cumberbatch"
Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes talk with Benedict Cumberbatch about fatherhood, his upbringing as the only child of two working actors, and how that shaped his path into acting. They cover his experiences at British boarding schools, a formative gap year teaching in a Tibetan community near Darjeeling, and his early TV and film work, before diving into his approach to roles, working with major directors and actors, and navigating fan expectations around iconic characters. Benedict also discusses learning to surf in his 40s, dealing with a serious shoulder injury, and his producing work on a new film adaptation of Max Porter's grief-focused novella "Grief is the Thing with Feathers," as well as his long-gestating adaptation of the novel "Rogue Male."
#2415 - Adam Ray
Joe Rogan talks with comedian and impressionist Adam Ray about his character work, including his Dr. Phil act, playing Joe Biden opposite Shane Gillis as Trump, and impersonating Tony Hinchcliffe on Kill Tony. They veer into wide-ranging topics like lottery odds and payout structures, private investigator stories from Rogan's past, performance-enhancing drugs in sports, MMA talent pipelines, VR and active gaming, reality TV, religion, sociopathy, and how stand-up careers are shaped today by clips and social media. Adam also shares early experiences with impressions, an early-career firing for doing an off-color joke on a "clean" weekend, and plans for new characters and his touring.
#625 - Matthew McConaughey
Theo Von talks with Matthew McConaughey about childhood memories, old-school wrestling, and the daredevil legacy of Evel Knievel before exploring how modern technology has shifted our relationship to moments, identity, and validation. They dig into ego versus confidence, redefining humility, courage in the face of fear, and the psychology of peak performance in college football and SEC culture. McConaughey also shares deeply about fatherhood, marriage, family rituals, faith, prayer, his writing process for "Poems and Prayers," and the importance of pursuing transformation rather than a purely transactional life.
Most Replayed Moment: Why You're Never Satisfied! The 4 Pillars of Lasting Happiness
The conversation explores the components of happiness, distinguishing between pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction, and explaining how social connection and struggle contribute to deeper fulfillment. It examines the hedonic treadmill, the arrival fallacy, and an equation for satisfaction that emphasizes managing desires rather than accumulating more. The discussion then shifts to setting better goals around faith, family, friendship, and work that serves others, using fitness and habits as examples, and concludes with a framework for life meaning based on coherence, purpose, and significance, illustrated through two probing questions about why one is alive and what one is willing to die for.
#624 - Sketch
Theo Von talks with streamer and content creator Sketch about the realities of live streaming, his recent experiences touring college football stadiums, and the mental and physical toll the lifestyle can take. They discuss relationships, shame, therapy, and faith, including how Sketch handled a highly publicized leaked video and how it changed his dating life. The conversation also covers college and pro football culture, future creative ambitions like reality TV and treasure-hunt style content, and various comedic riffs about health, doctors, sexuality, and identity.
The Exact Words You Need to Hear Today If It Feels Like Nothing's Working
Mel Robbins speaks with poet and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo, joined by her husband Chris Robbins, about reconnecting to life, opening the heart, and finding meaning through love, suffering, and everyday ritual. Mark shares stories behind his seminal book "The Book of Awakening," his cancer journey, and his new work on creativity in the second half of life. Together they explore practical ways to honor your gifts, practice self-love, cultivate resilience, and participate more fully in the present moment.
Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome
Josh and Chuck discuss "third man syndrome," a phenomenon where people in extreme, often life-threatening situations report sensing a distinct, guiding presence that feels like another person with them. They explore classic accounts from Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, mountaineers like Frank Smythe and Joe Simpson, and survivors of the 9/11 attacks, then consider possible explanations ranging from an innate survival mechanism to the bicameral mind hypothesis. The conversation stays grounded in reported experiences while acknowledging that science has no definitive explanation yet.
Psychic Medium Laura Lynne Jackson: 3 Signs From the Universe You Have Been Missing (The Answers Are Right in Front of You!)
Psychic medium Laura Lynn Jackson returns to discuss how to move from merely noticing signs to actually living a guided life. She explains the concept of a "team of light," how intuition differs from the analytical "monkey mind," and how to work with signs, inner knowings, and everyday moments to feel supported, make decisions, and reframe past experiences. The conversation gives listeners practical ways to cultivate trust in their inner guidance, especially during periods of confusion, grief, or major life transitions.
Selects: How Conversion Therapy Doesn't Work
The hosts examine the history, methods, and impact of conversion therapy, also known as reparative or ex-gay therapy, which claims to change a person's sexual orientation from gay to straight. They trace its roots from early pseudo-scientific psychological practices to its adoption by the Christian right as a major culture-war issue, and detail why the medical and psychological communities now condemn it as ineffective and harmful. The episode also covers specific abuse stories, research findings on mental health risks, legal efforts to ban conversion therapy for minors, and the movement's public unraveling through high-profile ex-gay leaders who later renounced it.
Short Stuff: "Peace" Pipes
The hosts discuss the misnomer of the term "peace pipe" and explain that many Native American cultures simply refer to them as pipes or ceremonial pipes used in a variety of solemn and communal contexts, not just peace treaties. They describe the geographic spread, cultural meanings, construction, and materials of these pipes, with special attention to sacred red pipestone from Pipestone National Monument and Lakota traditions around the Chinunpa. The episode closes by emphasizing that these practices are ongoing and remain sacred parts of contemporary Native cultures, as highlighted by a quote from Yankton Sioux tribal member Gabriel Drapeau.
Brené Brown: We're In A Spiritual Crisis! The Hidden Epidemic No One Wants To Admit!
Brene Brown discusses how vulnerability, courage, and emotional "armor" shape our lives, relationships, and leadership. She shares personal stories from a chaotic Texas childhood, her long-term marriage, and caring for her mother with dementia, illustrating how shame, fear, and control patterns develop and how they can be changed. The conversation also explores power and politics, systems thinking, responsibility of large platforms, connection and belonging, and the practical skills needed to build trust, recover from failure, and live more bravely.
#2403 - Andrew Gallimore
Joe Rogan talks with Andrew, a scientist and author of "Death by Astonishment," about the phenomenology and neuroscience of DMT and why he believes the DMT state is one of the deepest mysteries in science. They explore how the brain constructs reality, how DMT experiences differ from dreams and ordinary hallucinations, and the possibility that DMT may allow contact with non-human intelligences or post-biological civilizations. The conversation also covers near-death experiences, artificial superintelligence, simulation-like views of reality, Japanese urban culture, and a new continuous-infusion DMT research approach known as DMTX.
The Alabama Murders - Part 6: The Porterfield Sessions
Malcolm Gladwell explores the life and psyche of death row prisoner Kenny Smith through the work of psychologist Kate Porterfield, who evaluated him after Alabama's botched attempt to execute him by lethal injection. Porterfield explains the unique physiological and psychological impact of mock and botched executions, situates Kenny's crime within a history of severe childhood abuse and family dysfunction, and reflects on how trauma and unconditional child-to-parent love shape later violence. The episode ends by tracing Kenny's deteriorating mental state, previewing his second execution via nitrogen gas, and questioning the human cost of the system that tried to kill him twice.
Introducing: The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall
Host Sarah Marshall introduces her mini-series "The Devil You Know," exploring the 1980s satanic panic through individual stories and sociological context. This first episode focuses on "Diane," a pseudonymous photographer who became the target of satanism rumors while teaching photography in rural Kentucky, and on how a Hollywood film shoot involving black dresses in Hazard, Kentucky was misread as evidence of devil worship. With commentary from sociologist Mary de Young and local resident Patrick Balch, the episode shows how small, unusual events were amplified by anxiety, rumor, and self-appointed experts into a nationwide moral panic.
"Oscar Isaac"
The hosts talk with Oscar Isaac about his winding path from playing in Florida ska and hardcore bands to training at Juilliard and becoming one of Hollywood's most versatile actors. He shares stories about nearly joining the Marines, his immigrant family background, his deep collaboration with Guillermo del Toro on Frankenstein, and how grief, family, and theater intertwined during his Hamlet run. The conversation also covers his sci‑fi work in Ex Machina, Dune, and Star Wars, his views on acting craft and decision-making, and his life as a husband and father who still makes music at home.
#2398 - Francis Foster & Konstantin Kisin
Joe Rogan speaks with Francis and Constantine about censorship and hate-speech policing in the UK, the social and psychological aftermath of the pandemic and protest era, and how social media algorithms amplify outrage and extremism. They discuss protests, ideological labeling, gender and puberty-blocker debates, AI-generated music, ancient history and human nature, Middle East geopolitics, political violence, and the role of religion and myth in giving people meaning and moral frameworks.
Short Stuff: Curse of Broken Mirrors
The hosts explore the superstition that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck and trace its roots through ancient Greek and Roman beliefs about reflections and souls. They discuss how mirrors evolved from reflective water and polished metal to glass, why mirrors came to be associated with the soul, and where the "seven years" idea may have originated. The episode also covers various folk remedies for broken-mirror bad luck, and other mirror- and glass-related superstitions surrounding death, demons, and marriage rituals, tying it all to the Halloween season.
Your Financial Comeback Starts Today
Ken Coleman and George Kamel host a call-in episode focused on getting control of money through budgeting, increasing income, and making hard lifestyle choices to get out of debt. Callers wrestle with irregular income, large student loans, credit card debt, car and housing decisions, work-family balance, and how to handle financial entanglements with relatives or partners. Bear Grylls joins in-studio to discuss his faith and his new book retelling the life of Jesus as an action-filled narrative aimed at people who may never read the Bible.
Jürgen Klopp: Would You Go Back To Manage LFC...? The Real Reason I Fell In Love With Liverpool!
Jürgen Klopp discusses his upbringing in Germany, the contrasting influences of his caring mother and demanding father, and how those experiences shaped his competitive mindset, work ethic, and confidence. He explains his evolution from an average player and early father working multiple jobs to a successful manager at Mainz, Dortmund, and Liverpool, focusing heavily on individualized leadership, team culture, pressing football, and learning from failure. Klopp also talks about turning down Manchester United, choosing Liverpool, coping with grief and burnout, leaving Liverpool, his current non-coaching role, his faith, and how he thinks about the possibility of one day returning to management.
#2396 - Andrew Schulz
Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz discuss AI-generated music, internet outrage dynamics, stand-up comedy culture, and the political climate in the U.S. and abroad. They explore topics ranging from pool hustling, parenting, and child stardom to free speech, immigration policy, and the possibility of alien contact as hinted in ancient religious texts. The conversation also covers MMA matchups, the psychology of cancel culture, and the importance of having humbling, skill-based hobbies outside of work.
A Question-Asker Becomes a Question-Answerer
In this feed-drop conversation from Design Matters, Stephen J. Dubner talks with Debbie Millman about his life, from a turbulent religious upbringing and early encouragement from a beloved teacher to his time in a rock band and eventual career as a writer and podcaster. They explore how inhabiting two faith traditions shaped his views on identity and belief, the power of curiosity, the making and impact of Freakonomics, his struggles with hero worship and anonymity, and his evolving thinking on creativity, confidence, and the human side of economics.
#618 - Sam and Colby
Sam and Colby, two YouTube creators known for exploring haunted and abandoned locations, talk with Theo about how they met in small‑town Kansas, built an online career from Vine days, and eventually shifted from illegal urban exploration to structured paranormal investigations. They describe the pivotal Queen Mary experience that changed their beliefs about the afterlife, the methods and equipment they use to investigate alleged hauntings, and some of the most disturbing locations they have visited, including Pendle Hill, the Paris catacombs, and the Smurl house. Throughout, they and Theo connect paranormal exploration to faith, intention, manifestation, and how people show up in their lives and relationships.
The Alabama Murders - Part 4: The Protocol
Malcolm Gladwell continues the story of John Forrest Parker, focusing on Parker's decades on Alabama's death row, his relationship with prison minister Tom Perry Jr., and the events of his 2010 execution. The episode then traces the improvised origins of the lethal injection protocol and presents medical evidence from autopsies suggesting that executions by lethal injection likely cause agonizing internal injury while appearing peaceful. Gladwell frames the narrative with James Keenan's idea that sin is the failure to bother to care, contrasting Perry's steadfast care with the broader indifference to how executions actually work.
Short Stuff: China's Corpse Walkers
The hosts discuss a Chinese funerary custom from the Zhangji region of Hunan province in which Taoist priests would "walk" corpses back to their birthplace so the dead could be properly buried and avoid becoming restless, problematic spirits. They explain the beliefs behind corpse walking, how the rituals supposedly worked with black cats and magical reanimation, and then reveal the practical mechanics of how priests likely created the illusion using bamboo poles and group transport known as corpse herding. Along the way, Chuck shares a personal story about rescuing and nursing a kitten named Olivia back to health.
Neil deGrasse Tyson: The Brutal Truth About Astrology! Our Breath Contains Molecules Jesus Inhaled!
Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses mortality, meaning, and the "cosmic perspective," arguing that humans are literally made of stardust and fundamentally connected to the universe and each other. He explores religion and spirituality, the evolution of belief, simulation theory, artificial intelligence, space travel and why Mars colonies are unlikely soon, as well as black holes, alien life, UFO claims, and why astrology and other untested beliefs can be dangerous when they replace objective truth. Throughout, he emphasizes scientific literacy, humility about what we know, and the importance of creating, rather than searching for, meaning in life.
Creation Story
Host Latif Nasser interviews paleoanthropologist and evolutionary biologist Alaa Alshamahi about her journey from an ultra-conservative, creationist Muslim upbringing and teenage missionary work to becoming an evolutionary scientist. She describes studying evolution at University College London as a "double agent" intent on disproving Darwin, the specific genetic evidence that shattered her creationist worldview, and the personal cost of leaving her religious community. Alaa then connects her own experience of crossing worlds to the story of human evolution, including interbreeding with Neanderthals and Denisovans, and explains how her crisis of faith now shapes a more empathetic approach to people who reject scientific findings.
#2391 - Duncan Trussell
Joe Rogan and Duncan Trussell discuss contemporary political polarization, authoritarian drift, economic frustration, homelessness, immigration policy, and how social media algorithms fuel fear and division. They range into speculative territory on UFOs, possible alien involvement in human evolution, and the social impact of potential disclosure while also exploring spirituality, Christianity, evil, and the importance of family and individual responsibility. Throughout, they contrast large-scale systemic problems with the need to focus on personal action, compassion, and tending to one's immediate community.
CARDI B: Overcoming Depression, Blocking Out the Hate & Owning Your Power
Jay Shetty interviews Cardi B about her inner world, from the quiet, imaginative child planning her future to the global star navigating fame, motherhood, and relentless public scrutiny. She opens up in detail about growing up in the Bronx, her determination to escape poverty and be financially independent before having kids, and the hustle it took to build her music career. Cardi also shares candidly about severe depression linked to marital struggles, the toll of online hate on her creativity, her tough-love parenting style, deep faith in God, and the inspiration behind her new album "Am I the Drama".
Most Replayed Moment: Sadhguru on Why You Don't Need a Life Purpose!
In this replayed conversation, Sadhguru challenges the common notion that humans must discover a singular life purpose, arguing instead that life has no inherent purpose and that inner joy and stability should be the focus. He emphasizes taking responsibility for one's inner experience, learning how the mind and body function, and cultivating inner balance through conscious practices rather than depending on external circumstances. The discussion touches on the impacts of social conditioning, trauma, the limits of intellect, and the importance of turning inward to manage one's own inner state.
The Alabama Murders - Part 2: Coon Dog Cemetery Road
Malcolm Gladwell continues his exploration of the Alabama Murders by reconstructing the 1988 killing of Elizabeth Dorleen Sennett, the investigation that followed, and the early suspicions that her preacher husband Charles may have orchestrated the crime. Through interviews with congregants, investigators, and locals, he details the killers' confessions, the red flags in Charles Sennett's behavior, and the eventual revelation of Sennett's infidelity and suicide. Gladwell contrasts the messy, ongoing reality of this case with the tidy resolutions of typical crime stories, introducing the idea of a 'failure cascade' in the justice system.
The Alabama Murders - Part 1: The True Church
Malcolm Gladwell opens a seven-episode series by introducing psychologist Kate Porterfield and the death row client "Kenny," whose botched execution and focus on love after trauma lead Gladwell into an Alabama murder case decades in the making. The episode then shifts to northwestern Alabama and explores the culture and theology of the Church of Christ, including its strict rules, lack of grace, and practices like disfellowshipping, and how that environment shaped the life and unraveling of preacher Charles Sennett. Through interviews with Church of Christ members and ministers, Gladwell sets up the idea that a rigid, shame-driven religious system helped create the conditions for a moral and legal catastrophe that will unfold in the series.
Short Stuff: La Lechuza - The Witch Owl
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the legend of La Lechuza, a terrifying owl-woman figure from folklore along the Texas-Mexico border and other Spanish-speaking regions. They describe her appearance, behaviors, and various versions of the story, including how she lures or punishes people and her supposed connection to witchcraft or demonic forces. The discussion also covers possible pre-Columbian roots, how Christian influence may have transformed an older deity into a demon, modern gender-focused interpretations, and appearances of La Lechuza in pop culture and local hoaxes.
#2386 - The Red Clay Strays
Joe Rogan talks with members of the Red Clay Strays about their origin as a bar cover band on the Gulf Coast, how their manager learned booking from scratch, and how the group has stayed together through heavy touring by centering their faith and a service-oriented mindset. They discuss writing emotionally heavy songs that resonate with depressed and suicidal fans, the grind of driving Uber during COVID to survive, and broader topics including hospitals as profit-driven businesses, extreme body modification and gene editing, social media-fueled hatred, government surveillance, UFOs, ancient civilizations, the Book of Enoch, and controversies around religious relics and the moon landing.
Atheist vs Christian vs Spiritual Thinker: The Paperclip Problem That Exposes Religion!
The host brings together three thinkers-an atheist/agnostic philosopher, a Christian apologist, and a Hindu-trained psychiatrist and spiritual practitioner-to explore why so many people today report a lack of meaning and purpose. They debate whether purpose is objective or purely subjective, how religion, spirituality, neuroscience, trauma, technology, and social conditions contribute to a "meaning crisis," and whether any worldview can adequately address deep suffering such as children dying of cancer. Alongside high-level philosophical disagreement, they also discuss concrete psychological tools and spiritual practices that can help individuals move from feeling lost to experiencing more direction and purpose in their own lives.
EMMA WATSON EXCLUSIVE: The Story She Has Not Shared Until Now
Emma Watson joins Jay Shetty to have a long-form, personal conversation about stepping back from acting, disentangling her public persona from her private self, and learning to live more truthfully. She talks about growing up between two households, using acting as an escape, the emotional costs of fame and Hollywood, and the health and nervous-system burnout that forced her to pause her career. Emma also explores love and relationships, creative writing as therapy, friendship and interdependence, and how she holds nuanced positions on activism, including disagreements with J.K. Rowling and speaking about Palestine and Israel.
The Alabama Murders
This short episode introduces a special seven-episode Revisionist History series titled "The Alabama Murders." Using the 2003 Northeast blackout as an analogy for a "failure cascade," the host frames a decades-long Alabama murder case as a moral and legal cascade involving a woman killed in her home, a charismatic preacher, disputed jury and judicial decisions, long imprisonment, lethal injection, and far‑reaching harm. Interview clips hint at themes of religious culture, judicial power, the death penalty, and how a justice system meant to respond to suffering can instead amplify it.
(#4) Elise's Top Ten: The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown
Host Elise Hu introduces a replay of Brene Brown's seminal TEDxHouston talk, which explores her research on shame, vulnerability, and what she calls "wholehearted" living. Brown explains how a sense of worthiness is the key factor that separates people who feel love and belonging from those who struggle for it, and describes how embracing vulnerability-rather than numbing it or seeking certainty and perfection-leads to greater joy, connection, and authenticity. She closes by urging listeners to let themselves be seen, love with their whole hearts, practice gratitude and joy, and believe they are enough.
#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.