CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 2:28
Dropping diet labels: vegan vs carnivore as identity politics
Joe and John open by talking about how food choices turn into tribal identities, fueling needless hostility online. John explains why he practices a vegan/plant-based lifestyle but resists calling himself “a vegan,” preferring a spiritual framing over labels.
- •Toxic online energy between vegans and non-vegans
- •Why John avoids the "vegan" label despite living plant-based
- •Food tribes compared to political tribes (Republican/Democrat, hunters, etc.)
- •Humor, humility, and common ground as antidotes to polarization
- 2:28 – 10:23
John’s origin story: foster care trauma, incarceration, and finding yoga/PMA
John sketches his early life: abusive foster homes, violence, incarceration, and a turbulent path through punk/hardcore culture. He credits early exposure to yoga and metaphysical ideas—plus Bad Brains’ Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)—as foundational for rebuilding his life.
- •Abuse, incarceration, and a violent early environment
- •Meeting Bad Brains and encountering metaphysical/yogic ideas
- •Aham brahmasmi: identity beyond material labels
- •PMA as a survival tool and a guiding philosophy
- 10:23 – 13:45
“Meat Is for Pussies”: controversy, backlash, and the real meaning of the title
They unpack how John’s provocative book title emerged from a gym confrontation and branding advice from his partners. John explains the irony and intent: the book targets unhealthy, sedentary living and corporate food systems—not individual masculinity.
- •How the title was born from a gym interaction
- •Backlash from vegan feminists and online pile-ons
- •Tongue-in-cheek framing vs literal insult
- •Core message: health, discipline, and independence from Big Pharma
- 13:45 – 14:49
Learning to write: Robert McKee, memoir work, and telling the truth
John describes studying writing under Robert McKee and how craft training helped him shape his story. He frames writing as both discipline and self-cleansing, leading to his memoir and later health-focused work.
- •Studying under Robert McKee and the "Story Seminar" impact
- •Moving from script ideas to memoir and nonfiction
- •"Always write the truth" as a turning point
- •Writing as catharsis and service to readers
- 14:49 – 21:29
Lockup realities: smoking, “smoker fights,” and the mindset of survival
The conversation shifts into John’s experiences in juvenile detention and prison culture—where conflict often became organized glove fights. He explains quitting smoking for boxing conditioning and shares vivid details of contraband smuggling and daily survival logic.
- •What “smoker fights” are and how they function in lockup
- •Quitting cigarettes to box and improve conditioning
- •Street/prison survival tactics and contraband stories
- •How hardship shaped resilience and discipline
- 21:29 – 37:59
Hardcore to Hare Krishna: Jamaica, Rastafarian culture, and meeting Bad Brains
John traces his spiritual and dietary pivot through Rastafarian influences and an unforgettable encounter with Bad Brains. Stories from Navy ports, Jamaica, and the early punk/hardcore scene show how music, ideology, and community intersected.
- •First exposure to Rastafarian culture in Jamaica
- •Bad Brains’ influence: PMA and Ital food philosophy
- •NYC/DC punk scene intersections (Rollins, MacKaye, Beastie Boys)
- •Violence on the streets and protecting community spaces
- 37:59 – 46:53
Joining the temple: Bhagavad Gita, monk discipline, and training for peace
John explains how temple life and Vedic philosophy offered structure and meaning after chaos. He details brahmacari rules, daily routine, and how spiritual practice became a “path” that helped him heal and focus.
- •Temple entry through a health food store connection
- •Reading Bhagavad Gita/Srimad-Bhagavatam and daily practice
- •Brahmacari principles: no intoxication, meat, gambling, illicit sex
- •Monk routine (2 a.m. wakeups) and martial arts training
- 46:53 – 52:20
Power, shame, and Hollywood: Me Too, blackballing, and speaking up
Joe and John discuss how power structures silence victims, from Hollywood to broader culture. John connects this to his own history and to stories of careers destroyed for exposing misconduct, while emphasizing healing through honesty and service.
- •Why powerful systems enable abuse and silence people
- •Examples: Julia Phillips’ blackballing and industry retaliation
- •Parallels with Terry Crews and power-imposed fear
- •John’s motivation to help others heal through storytelling
- 52:20 – 1:00:29
Environmental cost of industrial meat & agriculture: runoff, CAFOs, ag-gag laws
They move into environmental impacts: pollution, dead zones, and the incentives that push industrial farming practices. Joe contrasts factory farming with regenerative models and explains why transparency is often legislated against.
- •Runoff-driven dead zones and environmental damage
- •CAFO waste lagoons and community impacts
- •Ag-gag laws restricting documentation of abuse/pollution
- •Regenerative farming examples vs monocrop industrial model
- 1:00:29 – 1:10:42
Diet wars and evidence: blue zones, bloodwork, and defining “healthy plant-based”
John cites blue zones and lifestyle patterns (movement, spirituality, mostly plant-based eating) while Joe stresses modern metrics like bloodwork and nutrient status. Both agree: “vegan” can still be unhealthy—whole-food quality matters more than a label.
- •Blue zones’ shared lifestyle factors
- •Joe’s insistence on bloodwork and measurable outcomes
- •Carnivore trend skepticism and lack of long-term data
- •Whole-food plant-based vs processed vegan junk food
- 1:10:42 – 1:15:10
Glyphosate, gut biome, and chemical exposure: from Roundup to indoor toxins
The discussion zooms in on glyphosate’s effects on gut health and the broader problem of pervasive chemicals in food and homes. They reference documentaries and research claims, connecting microbiome disruption to chronic disease and public confusion.
- •Glyphosate/Roundup and gut biome disruption concerns
- •Leaky gut and systemic inflammation framing
- •Probiotics/fermented foods (kombucha, kimchi)
- •Merchants of Doubt and the PR playbook for manufacturing uncertainty
- 1:15:10 – 1:23:45
30 to Life: plant-based support, reintegration, and dignity for ex-cons
John describes his documentary work with people released after decades in prison, focusing on rehabilitation, community, and practical support. He argues that compassion and opportunity—not moralizing about diet—help people change their trajectory.
- •Amity Foundation and reentry support after long sentences
- •Using fitness, meditation, and nutrition as tools, not identity
- •“Ban the box” and the challenge of employment after incarceration
- •Stories of elderly parolees and the human cost of warehousing
- 1:23:45 – 1:59:04
Ironman lifestyle and recovery tech: CVAC pods, NuCalm, Bemer, and injury management
John details his endurance training approach and the growing role of recovery technologies. Joe digs into how devices like NuCalm and CVAC are supposed to work, and they compare notes on aging, injuries, yoga, and consistency.
- •Training volume, racing experiences, and injury stories
- •NuCalm (microcurrent + audio) and deep rest claims
- •CVAC elevation simulation and VO2 max discussion
- •Shoes (Hoka), yoga/stretching, and recovery as performance drivers
- 1:59:04 – 2:58:18
From drug wars to privatized prisons: CIA/cocaine claims and systemic incentives
They pivot into politics: the crack era, draconian sentencing, and the business incentives behind privatized prisons. Joe and John cite public footage and allegations about intelligence agencies and drug trafficking, tying it to incarceration and policy cycles.
- •Crack era policy contrasts and racialized sentencing outcomes
- •Privatized prisons and incentives to expand incarceration
- •Michael Ruppert footage and declassified-document arguments
- •“Education not incarceration” as a reform principle
- 2:58:18 – 3:08:46
Food deserts and urban farming: community gardens, local supply, and rebuilding connection
The conversation returns to solutions: growing food locally, community gardens, and redesigning neighborhoods to reduce dependence on industrial supply chains. They highlight urban farming advocates and how access—not ideology—drives public health outcomes.
- •Food deserts and the lack of fresh produce access
- •Urban farming models (vacant lots, medians, container farms)
- •Community gardens as social cohesion and responsibility building
- •Local/seasonal eating tensions in big cities
- 3:08:46 – 3:22:49
Closing stories: UFC weekend plans and John’s NYC crime/music walking tour
They wrap with lighter topics: upcoming fights, martial arts culture, and wild stories involving Brian Callen and old-school dojo mentality. John plugs his New York City walking tour that blends music history, crime lore, and personal firsthand stories.
- •Plans to attend UFC fights and talk combat sports history
- •Old-school martial arts culture and real-world fighting lessons
- •“When New York Rocked” / Rocks Off walking tour details
- •Punk-era NYC anecdotes: venues, riots, and notorious crime sites
