The Joe Rogan ExperienceJoe Rogan Experience #1607 - Fahim Anwar
CHAPTERS
- 0:02 – 2:18
Fahim’s “Dance Hour” podcast and the mistaken longboard dancer
Joe and Fahim open by talking about Fahim’s podcast name and his love of dance. They revisit the viral moment when Joe posted a longboard-dancing video thinking it was Fahim, which accidentally sent followers to the wrong person.
- 2:18 – 4:37
Giving credit online, meme “open source” culture, and dance on social media
They pivot from the repost story into the broader problem of attribution online. Fahim compares meme culture to open-source software, and both talk about how TikTok/Instagram have revived mainstream dancing and made talent more visible.
- 4:37 – 8:49
Dance as body control: Michael Jackson, pop-star choreography, and “feeling it”
Fahim explains how he learned to dance by studying Michael Jackson footage and why authenticity matters more than memorized moves. Joe agrees, focusing on precision and how certain performers transcend the medium.
- 8:49 – 11:45
Martial arts forms and why “impractical” movement training matters
Joe connects dance to martial arts, describing taekwondo forms (poomsae/kata) and the role of precision training. They joke about how forms might intimidate bullies, then get into how movement disciplines transfer across sports.
- 11:45 – 13:21
Fahim’s breakdancing era: learning online, VHS culture, and South Korea’s dominance
Fahim recounts trying to learn breakdancing in a mostly white suburb with little local community, relying on early internet clips and VHS tapes. They discuss international breakdancing culture and the rise of South Korea in competitions.
- 13:21 – 18:42
Insane breakdance power moves, practice injuries, and the risk/reward of flips
They watch and react to elite breakdancing (BBoy PocketKim and similar clips), debating style vs power. Fahim describes practicing on wrestling mats, learning flips, and why he won’t attempt those stunts at 36.
- 18:42 – 20:25
Moving to Texas, comedian migration, and Tom Segura’s injury as a cautionary tale
The conversation shifts to Texas and the ongoing relocation of comedians and creatives. Joe and Fahim discuss Tom Segura’s dunk attempt injury and the broader lesson about fragility, weight, and explosive movements.
- 20:25 – 28:21
“Pillow night,” broken bones, and Joe’s chocolate milk ad (plus body-shaming hypocrisy)
Fahim tells a childhood story about fracturing his wrist during a chaotic “pillow night.” That leads to milk/calcium talk, Joe’s old chocolate milk campaign, and a long riff on selective body positivity and the culture of body-shaming.
- 28:21 – 33:23
LA vs Austin pandemic realities and Fahim’s CBS writing job: ‘United States of Al’
Fahim explains why he temporarily left LA, noting pandemic restrictions and perceptions of Texas. He details landing a writing job on Chuck Lorre’s ‘United States of Al’ and why traditional credentials still change how people treat you.
- 33:23 – 39:11
Family expectations, immigrant ‘security’ mindset, and how success changes respect
Fahim and Joe talk about immigrant parents valuing structure and stability over artistic ambition. Fahim describes how his dad’s attitude toward comedy shifted dramatically once the job looked like a 9-to-5 with a recognizable brand name.
- 39:11 – 54:01
Comedy Store experimentation and the birth of Lance Cantstopolis
Fahim describes creating his alter-ego Lance (mullet, dance intro, Q&A crowdwork) during the Comedy Store’s “dark ages,” when low stakes encouraged big swings. Joe recalls first seeing Fahim as Lance and being genuinely fooled.
- 54:01 – 1:50:49
Standup craft: earning trust, bombing as a gift, and the ‘economy of words’
They broaden into standup fundamentals: building audience trust, handling controversial topics through framing, and why bombing drives growth. Joe shares lessons from early career failures and emphasizes editing, pacing, and the irreplaceability of stage time.
- 1:50:49 – 2:00:05
Live performance vs specials, Comedy Store culture, and the limits of online communication
Joe explains why live comedy is always more powerful than recorded versions and highlights comics who truly shine in the room. They also critique Twitter/IG as low-bandwidth communication that strips intent, incentivizes call-outs, and fuels misread conflicts.
- 2:00:05 – 3:41:10
Representation debates in acting, watch ads as ‘male jewelry,’ and loving mechanical things
They riff on casting controversies (who ‘should’ play which roles) and how online outrage often ignores business realities. The conversation ends in a tangent about watches, engineering, tactile experiences, and nostalgia for mechanical life in a digital age.
