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.
- •Maynard uses trained falcons to keep birds away from vineyard fruit
- •Predator “memory” effect: local bird populations avoid areas after a kill
- •Joe reacts to the falcon footage Maynard shared
- •Quick detour into how aggressive urban pigeons can be
- 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.
- •Falcons used as humane deterrents in public spaces (Venice docks)
- •Golden eagles hunting wolves as an example of apex aerial predators
- •Falcons will attack and destroy drones; insurance won’t help
- •Peregrine falcons’ extreme speed as a practical threat to gear
- 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.
- •Maynard intentionally shares the news early for fans
- •Tool catalog goes up on major streaming/digital services (date referenced: Aug 2)
- •Jokes about ‘new’ technology like streaming, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify
- •Maynard refuses to explain past delays (“take the Fifth”)
- 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.
- •Album title announcement: “Fear Inoculum”
- •Release date referenced: Aug 30
- •Comedy riff about a provocative alternate title and modern backlash
- •Maynard describes the relief of finally getting announcements out
- 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.
- •Extra spring rain increases vegetation, raising wildfire risk later
- •Joe’s personal evacuation experience during the Woosley fire
- •Perspective shift: “you’re not your stuff” in emergencies
- •Maynard’s evacuation priorities: photo albums, pets, family
- 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.
- •Concept: assemble diverse participants, start with strong beliefs, then build on shared values
- •Avoiding clickbait/reality-TV manipulation and producer-driven drama
- •In-person conversation vs. online performance for approval
- •Need for a neutral facilitator with no commercial incentive
- 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.
- •Likes/notifications compared to dopamine-driven substance behavior
- •Rat “cocaine button” studies reframed by environment and social context
- •Parenting challenge: iPad meltdowns and redirecting to real-world activities
- •Practical plea: turn off devices, go walk, talk to people safely
- 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.
- •Apple harvest scale and limited production (tasting rooms only)
- •Inoculating apple must with active ferment/yeast from Chardonnay
- •Fermenting “on the must” (apple sauce) vs pressing juice first
- •Flavor profile: dry, acidic, refreshing (not sweet cider)
- 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.
- •Recommendations for Phoenix-area restaurants and where to find Maynard’s spots
- •Scottsdale’s image: nightlife, aesthetics, and a thriving dining scene
- •CBD as anxiety relief; THC can trigger paranoia for Maynard
- •Ibuprofen risks (gut biome, inflammation) and topical medication dangers for pets
- 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.
- •Angel’s Envy bourbon finished in Maynard’s fortified-wine barrels
- •Puscifer store features: merch, barber shop, vinyl, gelato, popcorn machine
- •Delegation as the only way to run multiple ventures sustainably
- •Maynard frames constant projects as his “healthy” dopamine source
- 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.
- •Muay Thai as a counterbalance to jiu-jitsu’s compressed posture and joint strain
- •Different coaching styles and conflicting technique advice
- •Grip tools and methods for hand/tendon strength (grippers, gi chin-ups)
- •Staph/MRSA realities in grappling; soap, wound care, probiotics, and caution
- 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.
- •Brown recluse bites and consequences of delayed treatment
- •Tarantula hawk lifecycle (parasitizing tarantulas) and extreme sting pain
- •Coyote Peterson’s “Brave Wilderness” self-sting content
- •Centipede predation footage as a visceral example of nature’s brutality
- 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.
- •Arizona water sourcing and the Colorado River’s role
- •Salton Sea history, agricultural runoff, and mass fish die-offs
- •Grasshopper/locust swarms as a modern ‘biblical’ moment
- •General theme: humans adapting (or failing to) amid environmental shifts
- 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.
- •Maynard’s redundancy planning: wells plus ditch rights for irrigation
- •Dowsing/water-witching debate: anecdotal success vs skepticism
- •Religious practices: tongues, snake-handling references, televangelist humor
- •Closing setup as Maynard prepares to leave for travel/harvest
- 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.
- •Recap: Tool catalog on streaming and the ‘Fear Inoculum’ album news
- •Joe’s admiration for Maynard’s multi-track life (music + agriculture + businesses)
- •Maynard’s excitement: finishing the record as a major milestone
- •Friendly sign-off and promise to visit Maynard’s restaurant/winery
