CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 3:39
Catching up and the obsession with watching UFC live (and avoiding spoilers)
Joe and Steve-O reunite, riffing on how it’s a miracle Steve-O is still physically intact after years of stunts. They immediately dive into being hardcore MMA fans and the rituals required to avoid fight spoilers while traveling or performing.
- •Joe’s amazement that Steve-O is still healthy and mobile
- •Why UFC events are the best live spectator experience
- •Steve-O’s anti-spoiler tactics (moving apps, avoiding thumbnails)
- •Airline Wi‑Fi limitations and ESPN+ on-demand spoiler problems
- •Steve-O contacting Dana White to get spoiler thumbnails fixed
- 3:39 – 11:20
Adesanya vs. Pereira breakdown: calf kicks, stoppages, and striking vs. power
They analyze the Izzy–Pereira fight and what made it dramatic, including calf kicks changing the sport and the controversial nature of stoppages. Joe highlights Adesanya’s unusually composed response to losing and why Pereira’s power is a unique threat.
- •How calf kicks evolved into a game-changing staple
- •Debating whether the stoppage was fair and Marc Goddard’s role
- •Adesanya’s post-loss mindset and public composure
- •Pereira’s “nuclear option” power vs. Izzy’s technical sophistication
- •How wrestling/grappling could determine future matchups
- 11:20 – 15:51
Weight cutting transparency and why elite strikers in MMA are terrifying
Steve-O proposes weighing fighters at cage-side to expose real fight-night weights, leading to a discussion of weight cutting as ‘sanctioned cheating.’ Joe expands into why high-level kickboxers entering MMA create immediate danger because every fight starts standing.
- •Idea: weigh fighters right before entering the cage
- •Why weight cutting persists and who benefits from it
- •Adesanya’s unusual approach to weight and endurance trade-offs
- •Pereira’s size and the strategic limits of being a non-grappler
- •Why world-champion strikers are advantaged in MMA’s starting position
- 15:51 – 18:53
Kickboxing’s visibility problem and combat sports brain trauma (gloves, range, CTE)
The conversation shifts to why kickboxing hasn’t become as mainstream as boxing or MMA in the U.S. From there, they explore why boxing sees more deaths and how repetitive impacts—more than single knockouts—drive long-term brain damage and CTE.
- •Where to watch Glory kickboxing and why it’s less lucrative
- •Why kickboxing’s excitement doesn’t match its popularity in the U.S.
- •Steve-O’s theory: bigger gloves can increase cumulative brain trauma
- •Boxing’s limited range forces more head contact than MMA
- •CTE as cumulative sub-concussive damage (including soccer headers)
- 18:53 – 22:47
Steve-O’s pre-sobriety tour: beer-can head bashings and CTE genetics
Steve-O recounts his ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ tour where he repeatedly smashed beer cans over his head onstage for years. They discuss CTE risk factors, including the APOE-e4 gene, and Steve-O’s reluctance to test for genetic predispositions.
- •Promoting shows with ‘drunk and on drugs, or your money back’
- •Breaking multiple beer cans over his head nightly—hundreds of times
- •Why repeated smaller impacts are a major neurological risk
- •APOE-e4 gene and predisposition to Alzheimer’s/CTE vulnerability
- •Steve-O’s decision to avoid testing because there’s no ‘undo’ button
- 22:47 – 27:03
The cauliflower ear quest: UFC legends try to wreck Steve-O’s ear (and still fail)
Steve-O shares his bizarre attempt to intentionally get cauliflower ear as a comedy bit, recruiting a who’s-who of fighters to damage his ear. The plan escalates into graphic injuries, improvised ‘treatment,’ and darkly comedic Mike Tyson ear-culture references.
- •Trying to ‘earn’ cauliflower ear as part of multimedia comedy
- •Chuck Liddell golf-club stunt and other failed attempts
- •Ronda Rousey, Masvidal, and Jon Jones brutal ear experiments
- •Severe ear damage without achieving true cauliflower ear
- •Tyson/Holyfield ear lore and Tyson’s novelty ear gummies
- 27:03 – 32:25
Grappling horror stories: crucifix control, Kimuras, and why you must tap
They analyze grappling positions that neutralize defense—especially the crucifix—and why submissions like the Kimura can cause catastrophic fractures. Joe describes infamous break sequences and emphasizes ‘live to fight another day’ as the pragmatic choice.
- •Why the crucifix is one of the worst positions in MMA
- •Steve-O getting demonstrated-on by Holly Holm at Jackson Wink
- •Erin Blanchfield’s control and the mechanics of trapping arms
- •Kimura dangers: spiral fractures and permanent damage risk
- •Examples: Frank Mir breaking Nogueira’s arm; Khabib/Islam near-breaks
- 32:25 – 42:37
Live odds, gambling addiction, and Steve-O’s ‘thoroughbred’ addiction pedigree
Steve-O asks about showing live betting odds as an alternative to open scoring, which opens a broader talk about gambling as entertainment vs. addiction. Steve-O explains his family history of addiction and why he avoids gambling despite loving fights.
- •Live odds as a fan-friendly alternative to open scoring
- •Joe’s ‘gambling like drinking’ analogy: fun for some, ruinous for others
- •Uncut Gems as a vivid portrait of gambling addiction
- •Steve-O’s family history: addiction, gambling, suicide, and trauma
- •Steve-O’s only real betting experience and quitting after losses
- 42:37 – 1:01:18
Steroids, TRT, opioids, and the hidden dangers of common painkillers
A detour through bodybuilding culture and true crime (Killer Sally) leads to hormones, TRT vs. steroid abuse, and addiction pathways. They connect this to opioid overprescribing, then widen into the risks of Tylenol/Advil and even daily aspirin.
- •Bodybuilding extremes and hormonal side effects (including facial changes)
- •TRT as ‘normalization’ vs. abuse through dose escalation and doctor shopping
- •Opioid crisis responsibility (including large retail/pharmacy settlements)
- •Tylenol toxicity and liver failure risk; NSAID gut/inflammation issues
- •Aspirin trade-offs: clot prevention vs. bleeding complications, especially in elderly
- 1:01:18 – 1:15:49
Extreme risk, death on mountains, and living deliberately with mortality in mind
They watch and react to terrifying rooftop climbers and compare it to celebrated ‘Free Solo’ feats, debating why some people need danger to feel alive. From Everest bodies to high-fatality peaks, the discussion becomes a meditation on mortality and how society avoids it.
- •Skyscraper climbing vs. ‘Free Solo’ and why risk draws criticism selectively
- •Gabor Maté’s idea: some people need peril to feel truly alive
- •Everest realities: bodies left behind, moral dilemmas, death statistics
- •Most dangerous peaks and fatality rates (Annapurna, K2, etc.)
- •Steve-O’s view: avoiding mortality thoughts can prevent intentional living
- 1:15:49 – 1:28:32
Comedy gatekeeping, scarcity vs. abundance, and why beginners deserve respect
Steve-O explains writing about Joe in his book as someone who embodies ‘abundance’—supporting others rather than gatekeeping. Joe argues stand-up is an art anyone can attempt and frames hostility as insecurity, unmet needs, and fear of competition.
- •Steve-O’s book anecdote: Marc Maron’s ‘purist’ reaction to Steve-O doing stand-up
- •Scarcity mindset: fear that another person’s success reduces your opportunities
- •Joe’s case for open participation: talking + being funny is a learnable craft
- •Criticism as ‘unmet needs’ and avoiding self-examination
- •Treating open-mic comics like white belts: encourage effort and growth
- 1:28:32 – 1:38:26
Steve-O’s multimedia comedy: editing stunt footage into specials and building 'The Bucket List' tour
Steve-O details how he evolved from traditional stand-up plus ‘circus tricks’ into a distinctive multimedia format that integrates video proof of the stories. He explains how reviewing recordings accelerated his improvement and how the new tour focuses on fresh, current stunts and theater-level production.
- •Why watching your own sets is painful—but essential for growth
- •Breakthrough: intercutting story footage into the special in post-production
- •Testing the concept by recording sets and editing footage to match beats
- •Success releasing independently and marketing with extreme stunts (billboard tape)
- •New tour concept: ‘The Bucket List’ with footage brought on the road
- 1:38:26 – 1:55:56
How comics get good: bombing, rewriting, and the discipline of starting over after a special
Joe and Steve-O trade process notes: how to write, how to tour with openers, and why working with killers makes you better. Joe explains comedy’s unique reset button—after filming, you must build a new hour from scratch—making the craft both humbling and addictive.
- •Different writing workflows: writing vs. stage-building vs. hybrid methods
- •Choosing openers: Jackass friends, standups, and ‘don’t bring weak acts’ mentality
- •The danger of stepping on premises and accidental ‘neighborhood of stealing’
- •Why bombing can be productive: tightening, cutting fat, finding beats
- •Comedy vs. music touring: specials force reinvention rather than greatest-hits loops
- 1:55:56 – 2:03:19
Consciousness, spirituality, and the brain as a receiver (plus Jordan Peterson’s benzo cautionary tale)
They pivot into philosophical territory: Steve-O’s ‘brain as receiver’ model of consciousness and Joe’s broader view that consciousness may be both local and universal. Joe connects this to self-management, relationships, and the reality that even great guides can struggle—like Peterson’s benzodiazepine dependence.
- •Steve-O’s ‘radio signal’ analogy: brain receives consciousness like a tuner
- •Joe’s view: consciousness may be internal, external, and interconnected
- •How ideas feel ‘pulled from the ether’ in altered states (psychedelics/meditation)
- •Relationship dynamics tied to insecurity, control, and craving love
- •Benzos and alcohol withdrawal danger; Peterson’s addiction as a warning
- 2:03:19 – 2:15:37
Nose damage lore: perforated septum, shoelace stunt, and the Mike Tyson ‘nose job’
They compare deviated vs. perforated septums and Steve-O reveals he can thread a shoelace through a hole in his septum from past cocaine use. Steve-O also recounts breaking his nose on Jackass, re-breaking it via a Tyson stunt at the Charlie Sheen roast, and having it set by a random kung fu instructor.
- •Perforated septum vs. deviated septum (and what causes each)
- •Steve-O’s shoelace-through-the-nose party trick (filmed by Knoxville)
- •Jackass 3D ‘Rocky’ sucker-punch bit that broke Steve-O’s nose
- •Mike Tyson fist impact at the Charlie Sheen roast re-breaking it badly
- •DIY nose-setting stories (including Josh Barnett’s ‘pen reset’ clip)
- 2:15:37 – 2:26:11
Tesla stunts, car UX complaints, distracted driving, and why comments mess with your head
Steve-O shares new Tesla-based stunts (sleeping in it hoisted by a crane, skating over it with Tony Hawk) and hopes Elon notices. Joe reviews Tesla performance while criticizing screen-only controls, then they broaden into phone-driven distraction, mental health effects of social media, and why reading comments can destabilize identity.
- •Steve-O’s Tesla crane sleep stunt enabled quickly via Dana White’s permission
- •Skateboard ramp over a moving Tesla with Tony Hawk driving
- •Joe’s praise for Tesla Plaid speed and critique of screen-only controls/horn/blinkers
- •Distracted driving and how tech changes accident patterns over time
- •Social media comparisons, airport interactions, and Joe’s ‘don’t read comments’ rule
- 2:26:11 – 2:51:37
Podcasting in a van, mobile studios, and a quick turn into fanny packs and ethical leather
Steve-O explains his early hesitation to start a podcast and how the ‘van podcast’ idea was meant to reduce the burden on guests—until he realized filming while driving was a bad idea. Joe compares that to Tim Pool’s mobile trailer studio and closes this segment with a side discussion on product merch and sourcing leather responsibly.
- •Steve-O’s reluctance to become ‘the guy asking’ people to do his podcast
- •First attempt: suction-cup setup while driving (too distracting/unsafe)
- •Better approach: park and record, or use a dedicated mobile studio
- •Joe on limiting projects and avoiding overcommitment
- •Leather ethics: using suppliers that utilize the whole animal (regenerative farming)
