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The Joe Rogan ExperienceThe Joe Rogan Experience

Joe Rogan Experience #1712 - Bert Kreischer Part 1

Bert Kreischer is a standup comedian, broadcast personality, and podcaster. He hosts television's "Go-Big Show," "The Bertcast" podcast, and co-hosts the "2 Bears, 1 Cave" podcast with Tom Segura. (This part 1 of a 2-part podcast.)

Bert KreischerguestJoe Roganhost
Jun 26, 20242h 43mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Bert Kreischer, Drive-In Comedy, Pandemic Survival, And Rogan’s Influence

  1. Joe Rogan and Bert Kreischer catch up after months apart, unpacking how the pandemic upended stand-up and how Bert pioneered drive-in theater comedy tours to keep performing safely. They dive into Bert’s tour logistics, bubble life, barbecuing on the road, and how podcasting with Tom Segura (Two Bears, One Cave) kept him sane and even grew his career.
  2. The conversation veers into hyper-competitive versus collaborative comedy culture, how Rogan’s encouragement pushed Bert to leave TV hosting and bet on stand-up and podcasting, and how a single story (“The Machine”) evolved into a major feature film. They also explore pandemic anxiety, prepper mindsets, family dynamics, kid stories, and how shared adversity reshaped their outlooks.
  3. Later, they range widely: IV drips and recovery, cold exposure, injuries and surgeries, jiu-jitsu fundamentals, MMA fighters’ mindsets, and how hardship (from fighters to Amanda Knox) can forge unusually resilient, empathetic people. Throughout, the through-line is improvisational: friendship, risk-taking, and building a supportive ‘tribe’ in comedy and in life.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Innovate instead of waiting for normal to return.

Bert’s decision to invent a drive-in comedy tour—despite bad economics and uncertainty—kept him working, gave audiences a safe outlet, and ultimately led to recognition (Variety’s “Damn the Torpedoes” award) and new opportunity.

Treat podcasting as both therapy and a business engine.

Doubling down on podcasts during lockdown (especially Two Bears, One Cave) gave Bert purpose, maintained connection, and actively grew his fanbase even when live shows disappeared.

Listen when trusted peers tell you you’re under-utilizing your talent.

Rogan and Bill Burr bluntly told Bert his Travel Channel work was limiting him and that he should focus on stand-up and podcasting; taking that uncomfortable advice reshaped his entire career trajectory.

Build a tribe, not just a stockpile, for crises.

Both emphasize that guns, food, and cash matter in emergencies, but the most important resource is a reliable circle of people with complementary skills, shared trust, and mutual support.

Adversity can sharpen you—if it doesn’t break you.

They frame injuries (Bert’s tricep, Tom Segura’s devastating fall) and Amanda Knox’s wrongful imprisonment as examples of how brutal experiences can produce unusually articulate, empathetic, and resilient people.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

I remember telling the idea to Tom and he goes, ‘You don’t wanna be a guinea pig.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t mind being a guinea pig.’

— Bert Kreischer

You’re too funny to be constricted. You’re not a G, you’re an R. And they’re turning you into a G movie.

— Joe Rogan

Without friends like you guys, this is all boring. It’s gotta be fun. You gotta bring people along with you.

— Joe Rogan

Sometimes it’s okay to have anxiety just so you’re ready for bad shit.

— Bert Kreischer

Why does incredible adversity break some people and turn others into an Amanda Knox—one of the most intelligent, empathetic people I’ve ever talked to?

— Joe Rogan

Bert’s pandemic drive-in comedy tour concept and executionRole of podcasts (Two Bears, One Cave, JRE) in career growth and mental healthRogan’s influence on Bert’s career pivot from Travel Channel to full-time stand-upComedy culture shift from cutthroat competition to collaborative, supportive networksPandemic anxiety, preparedness, and building a reliable ‘tribe’ for hard timesInjuries, physical training, recovery tools (IVs, NAD, cold exposure, hyperbaric)Jiu-jitsu/MMA fundamentals, fighter psychology, and handling adversity

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