The Joe Rogan ExperienceJoe Rogan Experience #1326 - Maynard James Keenan
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:20
Falcon-powered pest control in the vineyard (and why birds remember)
Joe and Maynard kick off with Maynard’s farming life, including hiring falconers to protect grapes from pigeons, starlings, and sparrows. They talk about how predator presence reshapes bird behavior long after the attack.
- 1:20 – 3:35
Venice pigeons, Mongol eagles, and the drone-vs-falcon problem
Joe shares a Venice story where a falcon instantly clears out aggressive pigeons. The conversation escalates into Mongolian eagle hunting footage and why flying a drone near falcons is a losing proposition.
- 3:35 – 7:51
Tool announcement: streaming catalog finally goes live
Maynard addresses Tool fans directly and announces the band’s full catalog is arriving on streaming and digital platforms. He posts the news live during the recording, joking about Tool’s famously slow timelines.
- 7:51 – 9:44
New album reveal: 'Fear Inoculum' and release timing
Maynard reveals the title of Tool’s new album and briefly riffs on how different a joke title would land culturally. They banter about public perception, celebrity, and the pressure that comes with massive fan expectations.
- 9:44 – 12:09
Arizona rain, fire season, and the humility of natural disasters
They move from music to weather: heavy Arizona rain means more plant growth—but also more fire fuel later. Joe recounts wildfire evacuations and both reflect on how disasters reset priorities toward family and essentials.
- 12:09 – 19:30
The “reconnection” project: curing polarization without reality-TV toxicity
Maynard proposes a show concept that brings people with strong opposing views together to find common ground rather than amplify conflict. Joe agrees the biggest obstacle is performative behavior driven by audiences, likes, and public scoring.
- 19:30 – 39:34
Phones as dopamine machines: addiction parallels, kids, and digital detox
They compare social media validation loops to drug addiction and discuss research analogies (rats, cocaine buttons, environment). Maynard describes managing screen time with his young child and urges listeners to shut devices off and reconnect offline.
- 39:34 – 46:44
Harvest reality: cider-making, fermentation methods, and tasting-room-only releases
Maynard dives into the details of making cider from his orchard—quantities, temperatures, yeast inoculation, and process choices. Joe asks granular questions about fermentation and why Maynard’s cider ends up very dry and acidic.
- 46:44 – 53:37
Phoenix/Scottsdale food scene, then a CBD/ibuprofen health detour
They discuss where to eat and drink in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and Scottsdale’s party-town reputation. The talk pivots into CBD vs THC effects, why Maynard avoids cannabis (paranoia), and the risks of heavy ibuprofen use.
- 53:37 – 55:52
Too many projects: whiskey collaboration, Puscifer store, and delegation
Maynard outlines how he manages multiple businesses—wine, restaurant, retail, and collaborations—through organization and delegating to a trusted team (especially his wife). Joe marvels at the workload and asks how he finds time for anything else.
- 55:52 – 1:08:35
Training life: jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, hand strength, and mat-borne infections
They get into combat sports logistics: training on tour, switching between gi and no-gi, and why Muay Thai can be easier on the body. The conversation turns serious on staph/MRSA risks, hygiene, and protecting the immune system.
- 1:08:35 – 1:28:59
Desert dangers and nature horror: spiders, tarantula hawks, centipedes
A run of wildlife talk: Maynard’s experiences with brown recluse bites, Joe’s staph ‘spider bite’ story, and the nightmare fuel of tarantula hawks and centipedes. They watch videos and riff on pain scales and survival instincts.
- 1:28:59 – 1:37:35
Environment, water, and the Salton Sea: living in a changing ecosystem
They zoom out to climate, water sourcing, and regional ecology—Arizona’s water realities and the eerie decline of the Salton Sea. The talk includes ‘plague’ events like Vegas grasshoppers/locusts and what adaptation might look like.
- 1:37:35 – 1:41:27
Wells, ‘water witching,’ and a quick dive into religious spectacle
Maynard describes drilling multiple successful wells and mentions using a diviner/dowser, which Joe aggressively mocks as pseudoscience. They briefly pivot to snake-handling, speaking in tongues, and televangelist antics before wrapping up.
- 1:41:27 – 1:42:38
Wrap-up: streaming catalog live, album excitement, and Maynard heads back to harvest
Joe closes by recapping the major announcements and Maynard’s many ventures. Maynard emphasizes relief and excitement that the new Tool record is finished, then they sign off as he catches a flight back to his farm work.
