The Joe Rogan ExperienceJoe Rogan Experience #2248 - Michael Waddell
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 2:18
Bigfoot skepticism, trail cams, and why hunters rarely see cryptids
Joe and Michael riff on Bigfoot, joking about "non-vegan" Sasquatch while making a serious point: hunters spend huge time in the woods and still don’t produce credible Bigfoot evidence. Trail cameras, rare-cat tracking, and the difficulty of even spotting mountain lions become the practical reality check.
- 2:18 – 3:19
Graham Hancock, ancient cataclysms, and the mystery of lost civilizations
The conversation pivots to Hancock’s ideas: asteroid debris impacts around 11,800 years ago and the possibility that advanced societies existed earlier than commonly assumed. Joe frames modern civilization as potentially a "rebuild" after a global disruption.
- 3:19 – 7:18
Ark of the Covenant rabbit hole: Ethiopia rumors, Vatican intrigue, and a Trump replica
Joe explains Hancock’s early motivation: researching the Ark of the Covenant, including Ethiopian claims, guarded access, and stories of radiation-like effects on guards. They pull up images of a replica reportedly displayed at Mar-a-Lago and debate what the Ark might have been physically.
- 7:18 – 12:28
Arrowheads and artifact obsession: from Comanche territory to modern forgeries
They bond over the thrill of finding arrowheads—touching literal, handmade history—and how regional materials (quartz vs. flint) affect artifacts. Joe and Michael also note the modern problem: skilled knappers producing forgeries that muddy authenticity.
- 12:28 – 16:06
Buffalo drops and Indigenous hunting strategy: engineering mass harvests
Michael shares a vivid Montana story about a buffalo drop site on private land, where small points and bone remains still surfaced. They discuss how groups could herd bison over cliffs, the social division of labor, and even tales of rotting piles combusting into fires.
- 16:06 – 17:07
Navajo Nation hunts, youth mentorship, and preserving outdoor culture
Michael describes hunting relationships with the Navajo Nation and efforts to take Navajo youth hunting to keep traditions alive. He contrasts the vast landscape resources with modern distractions and highlights the cultural knowledge at risk of fading.
- 17:07 – 28:53
Ishi, Pope & Young, and the lineage of modern bowhunting
Michael traces bowhunting heritage through Ishi’s influence on Saxton Pope and Arthur Young, then to modern record-keeping and archery culture. They discuss what Pope & Young represents, how it parallels Boone & Crockett, and why archery feels uniquely meaningful.
- 28:53 – 36:00
Early bowhunting media and the pioneers’ “wild” ethics by today’s standards
Old footage and stories (including 1920s bowhunting) spark a discussion about how early hunters documented experiments that would be heavily criticized today. They emphasize historical context: long travel by ship, uncertain gear performance, and learning through trial and error.
- 36:00 – 42:37
Global bowhunting adventures: Pedro Ampuero, Mongolia elk, and hunting access worldwide
Joe recommends Pedro Ampuero’s channel as a window into difficult, culture-rich hunts across the globe—especially Mongolia elk hunts and yurt living. They compare hunting legality and access internationally, noting how unique North American hunting opportunities are.
- 42:37 – 52:01
Turkey hunting, Mayan ruins in the jungle, and LiDAR discoveries
Michael recounts hunting ocellated turkeys near the Yucatán and stumbling upon unexcavated Mayan structures that locals treat as commonplace. Joe ties it to modern LiDAR mapping that’s rapidly revealing hidden cities and pyramids beneath dense vegetation.
- 52:01 – 1:18:14
City vs. country perspectives: why hunting changes people (and why media misrepresents it)
Joe describes how hunting transformed him—food over fire, humility in harsh landscapes, and a deep sense of connection. They critique Hollywood tropes (Bambi effect), the distortion from short hunting shows, and the moral confusion of criticizing hunters while buying industrial meat.
- 1:18:14 – 1:34:49
Wildlife management, predators, and “ballot biology”: lions, wolves, coyotes, and politics
They argue that predator-prey balance is complex and that policy should be driven by field reality, not urban voting or activism. Examples include mountain lion density in California, Colorado wolf reintroduction issues, and Michael’s own trapping results showing unseen predator abundance.
- 1:34:49 – 2:00:56
Archery tech, ethics, and performance under pressure (pins, Garmin sights, buck fever)
Joe and Michael get technical about archery: angle compensation, multi-pin vs single-pin tradeoffs, and rangefinding built into modern sights. They connect gear choices to real hunting constraints—awkward stances, tight shooting lanes, adrenaline—and the psychology of executing one perfect moment.
- 2:00:56 – 2:52:11
Making a living in hunting: turkey calling contests, Realtree mentorship, and family disbelief
Michael outlines his unlikely career path: early turkey calling wins led to guiding, production work, and opportunities at Realtree, eventually becoming paid to do what he loved. He describes the cultural clash of leaving a stable trade job—while most of his family thought it was a reckless fantasy.
