The Joe Rogan ExperienceJoe Rogan Experience #2242 - Bert Sorin
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:53
Sorinex “X-Factor” machine: rotational power training for fighters
Joe and Bert kick off by geeking out over the Sorinex X-Factor—an unusual push/pull, dual-axis rotational machine designed to develop core stability and rotational power. They discuss why it’s especially relevant for striking sports and how it compares to cable-based setups.
- •What the X-Factor is and why it’s different (push + pull rotation, balance/stability element)
- •How ground force transfers through the core into strikes
- •Why rotational training is hard to replicate well with standard gym equipment
- •Sorinex.com and seeing the machine online
- 1:53 – 2:52
“Remastered” strength equipment: reviving old ideas with modern design
Bert explains how Sorinex rebuilds and improves forgotten or flawed legacy gym machines by dissecting what worked and fixing safety, loading, and usability. The X-Factor is presented as a multi-iteration product refined until the dual-axis ‘feel’ clicked.
- •The concept of a ‘remastered series’ of classic equipment
- •Iterative prototyping: multiple versions before the final design
- •User experience and safety improvements over older machines
- •Early adoption by colleges and interest from elite throwers like Ryan Crouser
- 2:52 – 4:37
Old-school training culture: bro science, martial arts myths, and learning from winners
Joe and Bert reflect on how training knowledge spread before social media—mostly via gyms, word-of-mouth, and trial-and-error. They laugh at outdated martial arts advice (like ‘don’t lift weights’) and discuss how serious athletes sought insights directly from better competitors.
- •How training info used to be discovered (in-person gym culture)
- •“Don’t lift weights” martial arts myth and why it never made sense
- •Bert’s tactic: taking better athletes to dinner to extract training details
- •The shift from anecdote-driven coaching to video/online education
- 4:37 – 11:43
Steroids, legality, and the “you can abuse anything” argument
The conversation veers into performance-enhancing drugs, the lack of testing in past eras, and how policy shaped what became controlled substances. Joe broadens it into a philosophical point about personal responsibility and addiction, using gambling and drugs as examples.
- •Evander Holyfield as a turning point for strength training (and likely PEDs) in boxing
- •Steroids becoming illegal and the politics around it
- •Joe’s stance on self-control vs banning things (online gambling analogy)
- •Personal avoidance of hard drugs and why environment and identity matter
- 11:43 – 15:20
’80s nostalgia to archery obsession: compound vs traditional bows
After a quick ’80s movie detour, they dive deep into archery: how Bert got his first bow after Rambo, why traditional archery is brutally difficult, and how compound bow technology changes the game. They describe the feel of hunting shots, flow state perception, and why practice volume matters.
- •Rambo/’80s influences and early archery memories
- •Traditional archery difficulty vs compound consistency and accuracy
- •Hunting ‘flow state’ and time-perception changes under pressure
- •The necessity of daily practice to perform when it counts
- 15:20 – 22:06
Jiu-jitsu mastery: drilling, flow state, and why strength still matters
Joe explains how high-level jiu-jitsu becomes automatic through drilling with intent and light resistance—like tying your shoes. They debate technique vs power, why big athletes can develop gaps in their game, and why the best grapplers combine skill, strength, and relentless training volume.
- •Flow state as the product of thousands of hours of correct reps
- •Why drilling beats only ‘rolling’ for skill acquisition
- •How size/strength can mask technical weaknesses (no bottom game)
- •Gordon Ryan as the model of skill + work ethic (and the PED reality of grappling)
- 22:06 – 28:57
Bert’s ‘throws world’ origin: hammer throw, Highland Games, and Scottish stone lore
Bert defines the ‘throws world’ (hammer/shot/discus/javelin) and traces its weapon origins, especially in Scotland. They explore Highland culture: clan stones (Clachnart), cairns as monuments, ancient stone circles, and the strongman pilgrimage to legendary lifting stones.
- •Hammer throw mechanics and its historical weapon roots
- •Scottish ‘stone of strength’ traditions and cairn symbolism
- •Joe’s Scotland trip: ancient stone circles and unknown origins
- •Invercauld Stone and strongman ‘stone tour’ lore (Kazmaier story)
- 28:57 – 32:12
Cardio vs power: Cam Hanes, runner’s high, and training specificity
They contrast endurance addiction with power-sport priorities, using Cam Hanes as the extreme example. Joe explains runner’s high, while Bert argues that excessive cardio can be detrimental for throwers/strength athletes, reinforcing that training must match the sport’s demands.
- •Cam Hanes’ ‘psycho’ conditioning and why he trains that way
- •Runner’s high vs strength athlete psychology
- •Why CrossFit-style conditioning may clash with power-event performance
- •Training specificity: ‘beneficial’ vs ‘detrimental’ adaptations
- 32:12 – 43:13
Injuries, rehab tech, and peptides: knees, backs, and healing debates
Joe details his knee history and overuse injuries from heavy bow shooting, then describes using electrical muscle stimulation (Neufit) to rehab his back. They discuss modern recovery tools—BPC-157, TB-500, and stem cells—plus the gap between cutting-edge practice and conservative medicine.
- •Joe’s knee and back issues (surgeries, fractures, overuse)
- •Neufit/EMS training for rehab and blood flow/activation benefits
- •Peptides (BPC-157, TB-500) and stem cells as ‘Wolverine’ recovery tools
- •Why some clinicians resist new methods (ego, inertia, incentives)
- 43:13 – 1:08:19
Archery tech rabbit hole: rangefinders, apps, arrow ballistics, and bow draw weight
Joe and Bert go full gear-nerd: rangefinders that calculate arrow trajectory, OnX integration, image stabilization binos, and why missed branches create ‘mind games’ in the woods. They debate heavy draw weights, arrow spine, speed vs accuracy, and the pursuit of lethal, ethical setups.
- •Rangefinders that model arrow arc; mapping targets in OnX
- •Stabilized binoculars and field-of-view vs magnification tradeoffs
- •Bow draw weight philosophy: capability, lethality, confidence (and criticism of ‘weakness virtue’)
- •Arrow spine, speed windows, and why too-fast setups can get twitchy
- 1:08:19 – 1:20:41
Combat sports meta: boxing vs UFC pipelines, greatness, and fight damage
Joe compares how boxing ‘builds’ fighters while UFC matchmaking forces elite competition early—leading to more losses even for champions. They discuss Tyson, Ali, and pivotal historical moments, then shift to why fighting careers are short due to cumulative training damage and injuries.
- •Boxing matchmaking as career ‘orchestration’ vs UFC’s ‘fight the best’ model
- •Heavyweight Mount Rushmore debates and Tyson’s prime as a unique peak
- •How one fight can permanently alter a career trajectory
- •Why fight primes are short: training injuries, chronic damage, and wear-and-tear reality
- 1:20:41 – 1:34:47
Social media, trolling, and in-person communication: how to stay sane
They unpack why reading comments and doom-scrolling corrodes mental health and why ‘posting ghost’ is often the healthiest approach. Joe argues that online discourse amplifies tribalism and bad-faith attacks, while real-life conversation usually reveals more nuance and goodwill.
- •Why ‘reading comments’ is psychologically toxic and how quitting helps
- •Troll economies: making money by rage-baiting and shaming people
- •The value of patience, steel-manning, and disagreement without dismissal
- •How online arguments differ from real-life dialogue and accountability
- 1:34:47 – 1:57:42
Westside Barbell stories: Louie Simmons, extreme culture, and channeling addiction
Joe and Bert trade stories about Louie Simmons and the intensity of Westside Barbell culture—where pain tolerance, chaos, and obsession were normalized. They connect this to a broader idea: people with addictive tendencies can sometimes redirect that energy into training, for better or worse.
- •Louie Simmons’ personality and ‘max out anyway’ mentality
- •Wild Westside anecdotes (fights in the gym, training a random drunk visitor)
- •Addiction redirected into training as a ‘good addiction’
- •How extreme performance cultures create animals—and also injuries
- 1:57:42 – 3:02:42
Surveillance, protests, and politics: drones, encryption doubts, and mob psychology
The conversation expands into modern distrust: drones in New Jersey, disappearing videos, and skepticism about encrypted messaging. They revisit 2020-era unrest, argue that mob mentality is ancient and ‘war-like,’ and discuss how censorship, propaganda, and power incentives shape institutions.
- •Drones/UFO chatter and how myths spread around ordinary tech
- •Encryption skepticism (Signal) and the belief that ‘privacy is a myth’
- •Mob mentality as an evolved ‘war mode’ and why law/order matters
- •Censorship, narrative control, and the incentives of institutions in power
- 3:02:42 – 3:36:23
Lifestyle balance and “the line”: Bert’s blood clot, Africa hunting ethics, and food rituals
Bert shares a near-fatal blood clot story that forced him to reconsider obsessive competition and long-term responsibility. They explore personal ‘lines’ in hunting ethics (Bert declines lion hunting), then land on practical joy: fishing, cooking methods, and meat-forward nutrition as a sustainable baseline.
- •Bert’s hidden blood clot, months of risky travel/training, and recovery
- •The ‘GOAT vs 90%’ life tradeoff: excellence vs balance
- •Africa hunting: poverty reality, using the whole animal, and ethical limits (no lion)
- •Food as culture and fuel: dock lights for striped bass, reverse-sear steaks, carnivore-with-flexibility
- 3:36:23 – 3:38:16
Wrap-up: gear, gratitude, and what’s next from Sorinex
Joe thanks Bert for outfitting his gym and highlights daily-use staples like the Franken Hyper, teasing upcoming upgrades. Bert plugs Sorinex and his socials, and Joe closes by reminding viewers about the new X-Factor machine now in the studio.
- •Joe’s favorite Sorinex pieces and why they’re practical for longevity
- •Franken Hyper versatility and a new module update tease
- •Where to find Sorinex and Bert online
- •Final shout-out to the X-Factor and episode close
