CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 4:37
Wallet phone cases, man purses, and the courage to wear a fanny pack
Joe and Rashad kick off with playful roasting about Rashad’s thick wallet-phone case and the evolution from man purse to fanny pack talk. They riff on masculinity, bag “status,” and how different carry styles get judged socially.
- 4:37 – 6:21
Spirulina, going fully vegan, and how diet shifts mood and mindset
Rashad introduces his green spirulina drink and explains his move to a strict vegan diet. Joe contrasts it with his carnivore/meat-heavy eating and they discuss how diet can change aggression, energy, and mental state.
- 6:21 – 14:49
Mushroom ceremonies, ego death, and losing the taste for meat
Rashad describes a deep mushroom ceremony and an “ego death” experience that reframed how he thought about eating animals. A sudden realization—tied to smell and the idea of ‘dead flesh’—led to an immediate aversion to meat.
- 14:49 – 23:57
ACL surgeries, losing explosiveness, and the mental cost of injuries
The conversation pivots to Rashad’s late-career physical decline—especially knee damage—and how it affected his confidence. They break down ACL surgeries, graft types, rehab realities, and the psychological spiral of not feeling elite anymore.
- 23:57 – 28:58
From personal transformation to psychedelic research: Unlimited Sciences & Johns Hopkins
Rashad explains how he connected with Denver organizers and joined Unlimited Sciences to support real-world psilocybin data collection. They discuss Denver’s decriminalization push, privacy protections, and how large-scale surveys can guide clinical research.
- 28:58 – 40:16
Terence McKenna, the Stoned Ape Theory, and mushrooms in ancient culture
Joe outlines Terence McKenna’s controversial ‘Stoned Ape’ theory and connects it to cattle worship, early civilization myths, and psychedelic sacraments. Rashad adds why mushroom experiences can feel ‘ancient’ and ineffable.
- 40:16 – 44:53
Ego, consciousness, and fighting after inner peace: does calm kill the killer instinct?
They explore how psychedelics change ego attachment and how that affects competitive drive. Rashad describes training with less emotional ‘hangover,’ while Joe questions whether elite performance requires obsessive intensity and pain from mistakes.
- 44:53 – 56:57
Jon Jones vs Dominick Reyes: scoring controversy, judging standards, and what “winning” means
Joe and Rashad dissect the Reyes vs Jones title fight, focusing on round-by-round scoring, judging inconsistencies, and why championship rounds feel decisive. They broaden into systemic judging problems and the difference between point-fighting and ‘to the death’ logic.
- 56:57 – 1:07:48
Coaching innovation and fighter cultures: Mark Henry’s “code” system and Dagestani work ethic
Rashad details Mark Henry’s unique coaching method—personalized codes for combinations—and how it can ‘remote control’ fighters in sparring. They also discuss the intensity and creativity of Dagestani training culture and standout talents like Zabit and Kattar.
- 1:07:48 – 1:15:56
Modernizing MMA training gear: Onyx, Trevor Wittman’s glove designs, and reducing gym injuries
Rashad explains the mission behind Onyx and why MMA gear shouldn’t be borrowed from boxing/kickboxing templates. They examine Wittman’s design process, glove curvature, hand safety, and why improving training equipment could reduce injury rates.
- 1:15:56 – 1:26:16
Blackzilians vs ATT, super-camp economics, and the chaos of early MMA training
They revisit the Blackzilians experiment—building a full-service camp—and why it was difficult to sustain financially and culturally. The discussion expands to gym rivalries, coach egos, and the brutal conditioning mentality of earlier eras.
- 1:26:16 – 1:32:24
Early striking roots, iconic knockouts, and Rashad’s mom as a corner critic
Rashad talks about his early boxing and Tang Soo Do background and how it shaped his kicking ability. He relives the Sean Salmon head-kick and the Chuck Liddell knockout, including the media disrespect he felt and his mom’s blunt reactions to follow-up shots.
- 1:32:24 – 1:44:34
From TUF heavyweight to a leaner body: vegan performance, fasting, and whole-food fueling
They discuss Rashad winning The Ultimate Fighter at heavyweight and how different his body is now. Rashad outlines intermittent fasting, fruit/veg-heavy meals, functional mushroom tinctures, and how endurance and recovery improved—plus why many ‘vegan’ diets fail in practice.
- 1:44:34 – 1:53:39
Awareness vs performative ‘woke’: yoga, mental balance, and guru pitfalls
Joe and Rashad parse what it means to be truly ‘aware’ without turning it into a coercive identity. Joe explains why hot yoga works for him as a mental reset, and they discuss Kundalini claims, the dangers of guru worship, and the value of consistent practice.
- 1:53:39 – 2:24:58
DMT visions, mentoring fighters, visualization training, and life after championship identity
They swap experiences about N,N-DMT vs 5-MeO-DMT, including Rashad’s snake-being visions and Joe’s ‘jesters’ message about ego. The talk closes with Rashad’s approach to helping younger fighters, his visualization methods, current analyst work, and his desire to focus on service and healing.
