The Joe Rogan ExperienceJoe Rogan Experience #1374 - Justin Wren
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 2:19
Habit tracking, morning routines, and starting the day proactive
Joe notices Justin’s organized notebook and asks about his daily habits. Justin describes a structured morning routine centered on breathing/meditation, hydration, and exercise to avoid starting the day reactively.
- •Using a habit tracker (inspired by James Clear) to stay consistent
- •Breathing/meditation first thing to “set the tone” for the day
- •Avoiding the phone early to prevent a reactive mindset
- •Peloton training and hydration as anchors of the routine
- 2:19 – 4:10
Fundraising inspiration: a supporter walks across America for Fight for the Forgotten
Justin tells the story of Jeremy, a drummer who walked 3,100 miles to raise awareness for the pygmies and Fight for the Forgotten. The conversation branches into Jeremy’s Tourette’s, mentorship, and the extreme conditions of cross-country trekking.
- •Jeremy’s cross-country walk as grassroots fundraising and awareness
- •Tourette’s, stuttering, and how drumming helped him rewire habits
- •Wild trek stories: cliffs, coyotes, mountain lions, and a prison-break siren
- •Joe compares other cross-country walkers and jokes about “assistance vehicles”
- 4:10 – 13:32
Justin’s health crisis begins: schistosomiasis and months of unresolved symptoms
Joe steers the discussion back to Justin’s health and the parasite situation. Justin explains schistosomiasis exposure from African rivers and describes a long chain of infections and debilitating symptoms that have derailed training.
- •Schistosomiasis exposure via skin contact in rivers (snail-borne parasite)
- •Recurring severe illnesses: Shigella, malaria (multiple times), dengue fever
- •Six+ months of symptoms with conflicting medical opinions and tests
- •Crashes during training, extreme fatigue, and shingles occurring repeatedly
- 13:32 – 16:58
Brain scans, PTSD markers, and the stellate ganglion block conversation
Justin describes intensive testing including brain imaging and what doctors claim they can see (PTSD patterns and other functional issues). Joe connects it to Dakota Meyer’s experience with the stellate ganglion block as a fast-acting PTSD intervention.
- •Detailed medical workup: radioactive tracer imaging, blood flow mapping, multiple samples
- •PTSD “ring of fire” concept and how it’s identified on scans
- •Stellate ganglion block (SGB) discussed as a potentially dramatic PTSD treatment
- •Justin’s PTSD sources: dangerous jungle events and earlier-life trauma
- 16:58 – 21:10
Rallying around Raiden: bullying footage, bystander culture, and giving support
Justin introduces Raiden’s case—an autistic, diabetic 12-year-old bullied on camera—and explains why it struck him personally. Joe and Justin discuss diffusion of responsibility, why people film violence, and how community support can change outcomes.
- •Raiden’s background and the severity/visibility of the bullying incidents
- •Bystanders filming as “encouragement” and the ethics of inaction
- •Justin’s local involvement: showing up, spending time, building confidence
- •Linking bullying, trauma, and the need for adult intervention and mentorship
- 21:10 – 25:13
Martial arts, confidence, and the downside of modern MMA trash talk
Joe argues martial arts can reduce bullying by building confidence and community, while Justin highlights character development as prevention. Joe then critiques MMA’s trash-talking trend—entertaining but culturally corrosive—and they pivot to fighter reputation and doping accusations.
- •Gyms (especially jiu-jitsu) as pro-social communities that reinforce humility
- •Confidence vs insecurity as a driver of bullying and cruelty
- •Joe’s conflict about trash talk: sells fights but degrades martial values
- •Raphael Lovato Jr.’s championship and frustration with steroid accusations
- 25:13 – 29:20
Congo travel realities and why Justin might have “unknown” exposures
Justin explains the multi-day, multi-flight route into remote Congo rainforest areas and how deforestation has changed access. The logistics, corruption, and dangerous roads underscore how difficult (and medically risky) this work can be.
- •Six flights and days of travel to reach deep rainforest locations
- •Deforestation scale and the economic forces behind illegal logging
- •Road conditions: mud traps, overturned vehicles, and multi-day drives
- •How remoteness increases the chance of unusual infections/parasites
- 29:20 – 35:51
Drug toxicity and compounding damage: mefloquine, Cipro, and severe malaria episodes
Justin details how treatment drugs may have created lasting neurological and musculoskeletal problems. He describes extreme malaria complications (including blackwater fever) and connects antibiotic side effects to tendon/ligament issues and multiple tears.
- •Mefloquine toxicity: nightmares, mood swings, neurological effects; military history
- •Justin’s unusually high dosing due to drug reactions and severe malaria
- •Blackwater fever, collapsing veins, and near-fatal dehydration/organ stress
- •Cipro risks: tendon/ligament/cartilage weakening and injury cascade (labrum/meniscus)
- 35:51 – 52:34
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: why it’s helping and the recovery stories that convinced him
Justin credits hyperbaric oxygen therapy with immediate improvements in sleep, mood, and cognitive function and explains the proposed mechanism (pressurized oxygen reaching cells/mitochondria). He shares dramatic recovery stories—Caleb Freeman and Eden Carlson—to illustrate the potential.
- •How hyperbaric sessions work and why they may aid brain healing
- •Reported benefits: best sleep of his life, improved focus, reduced symptom intensity
- •Caleb Freeman’s TBI recovery milestones after dozens of treatments
- •Eden Carlson’s drowning/brain injury reversal claims tied to hyperbarics
- 52:34 – 1:00:44
Fight for the Forgotten wins: Poirier/Khabib/Dana donations and scaling wells + land
Justin explains how a UFC title-fight storyline turned into major funding for wells and infrastructure. The donations expand their capacity from one water project to multiple wells and new land acquisition for displaced communities.
- •Dustin Poirier’s fundraiser and The Good Fight Foundation connection
- •Khabib auctioning gear and donating proceeds; Dana White matching
- •Moving from a single well project to drilling multiple wells
- •Strategy shift: return to Africa with better safety protocols while expanding impact
- 1:00:44 – 1:08:49
U.S. expansion: suicide risk, bullying statistics, and the 'Heroes in Waiting' curriculum
Justin connects bullying to mental health outcomes and youth suicide risk, sharing CDC-based framing for who is most at risk. He describes their 12-week program designed for schools and martial arts communities to build character and proactive kindness.
- •Youth suicide context and bullying’s links to isolation, depression, addiction
- •CDC framing: bully, victim, and highest-risk group (those who are both)
- •The 'Heroes in Waiting' digital curriculum and weekly “Hero Challenges”
- •Teaching kids to reject bystander behavior and practice anonymous kindness
- 1:08:49 – 1:56:57
Gifts, tools, and fundraising mechanics: planners, knives, competitions, and how to help
Justin brings several gifts tied to supporters of Fight for the Forgotten, including training planners and custom knives whose sales donate proceeds. The episode closes with concrete ways to support: the academy fundraising competition, monthly giving club, and direct support for Raiden.
- •Jiu-Jitsu Planner concept: training autopsies, injury tracking, competition notes
- •Knife makers donating percentages (and special runs) to the charity
- •End-of-year fundraising competition: gym renovations + “draft pick” seminars with stars
- •How to support: fightfortheforgotten.org, monthly Fight Club, and #StandWithRayden
