JRE MMA Show #36 with Brendan Schaub & Bryan Callen
Joe Rogan (host), Brendan Schaub (guest), Bryan Callen (guest), Brendan Schaub (guest), Bryan Callen (guest), Jamie Vernon (guest), Jamie Vernon (guest), Brendan Schaub (guest), Brendan Schaub (guest), Bryan Callen (guest), Joe Rogan (host)
In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, featuring Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub, JRE MMA Show #36 with Brendan Schaub & Bryan Callen explores joe Rogan, Schaub, Callen riff on science, stardom, and fighting Joe Rogan, Brendan Schaub, and Bryan Callen bounce through a long, free‑form conversation that ranges from pseudoscience debates to Hollywood celebrity, cults, combat sports, and political polarization.
Joe Rogan, Schaub, Callen riff on science, stardom, and fighting
Joe Rogan, Brendan Schaub, and Bryan Callen bounce through a long, free‑form conversation that ranges from pseudoscience debates to Hollywood celebrity, cults, combat sports, and political polarization.
They debate fluoride and online misinformation, idolize and dissect figures like Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and R. Kelly, and break down Scientology’s psychology and structure.
The trio also spends substantial time on MMA and UFC business: weight cutting, title shots, interim belts, fighter health, and legendary moments from Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida, and others.
Woven through are recurring themes about how people form beliefs, how media and tribalism warp discourse, and why civility and open conversation matter in an increasingly hostile culture.
Key Takeaways
Be skeptical of health information—cross‑check claims with primary evidence.
Their fluoride debate shows how authoritative‑sounding sites can completely contradict each other. ...
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Recognize how belief systems function as scaffolding for people’s lives.
Their Scientology discussion highlights that even obviously dubious systems can ‘work’ for adherents by providing purpose, structure, and tools for self‑improvement, a role that many ideologies and religions play.
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Conservation policy and trophy hunting are more nuanced than they appear online.
They unpack cases of rhinos, giraffes, and elephants where controversial hunts funded anti‑poaching and habitat protection, and involved non‑breeding, dangerous old males that local wildlife agencies planned to cull anyway.
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Weight‑cutting in MMA is a systemic problem that likely needs structural reform.
They argue that extreme cuts create unfair advantages and serious health risks, praising ONE FC’s hydration‑testing model and suggesting UFC should bump weight classes up to reflect fighters’ real physiological weights.
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Interim UFC titles can damage fighter trust and long‑term incentives.
Stripping Colby Covington’s interim belt when he couldn’t fight on a specific timeline shows fighters that ‘interim champion’ status may not mean much, making them less willing to accept risky short‑notice fights for placeholder belts.
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Outrage politics and public shaming are counterproductive persuasion tools.
They argue that screaming at Trump officials in restaurants or labeling all Trump voters as racists only hardens tribal identities, strengthens support for him, and erodes the possibility of compromise or problem‑solving.
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Detaching your ego from your ideas improves conversations and learning.
Rogan explains he deliberately tries not to ‘win’ arguments, but to argue the merits and stay open to being wrong—otherwise discussions stall, and both sides just defend identity rather than pursue truth.
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Notable Quotes
“This is why peer‑reviewed papers are so important—fucking morons like us don’t know who’s right.”
— Joe Rogan
“What’s good about crazy is, if you have a purpose in life, it doesn’t have to be rational.”
— Bryan Callen (on Scientology and belief systems)
“You’re not persuading anybody. Punishment and destruction are way easier than persuasion.”
— Bryan Callen (on outrage politics and shaming)
“You have to try to not be connected to your ideas…argue the merit, not your ego.”
— Joe Rogan
“Nobody should be president. It’s such a dumb move to take that gig at 70.”
— Joe Rogan
Questions Answered in This Episode
How should an average listener practically evaluate conflicting online health claims without a science background?
Joe Rogan, Brendan Schaub, and Bryan Callen bounce through a long, free‑form conversation that ranges from pseudoscience debates to Hollywood celebrity, cults, combat sports, and political polarization.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
To what extent is it ethical to use regulated trophy hunting as a conservation funding mechanism?
They debate fluoride and online misinformation, idolize and dissect figures like Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and R. ...
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
What concrete steps could UFC or athletic commissions take to implement a healthier ONE‑style weight and hydration system?
The trio also spends substantial time on MMA and UFC business: weight cutting, title shots, interim belts, fighter health, and legendary moments from Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida, and others.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
How can individuals realistically practice ‘ego‑free’ disagreement in today’s highly polarized social media environment?
Woven through are recurring themes about how people form beliefs, how media and tribalism warp discourse, and why civility and open conversation matter in an increasingly hostile culture.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Where should we draw the line between legitimate protest against political figures and counterproductive harassment that fuels further division?
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Transcript Preview
Four, three, two, one. So we get here and young Jamie is obsessed-
(laughs)
... with whether or not Leonardo da Vinci is gay. And, uh, so he says it to Kallen, and then Kallen says-
(laughs)
So you said-
I said the Mona Lisa, the Mona Lisa has a mischievous smile on her face. And appa-apparently, according to art historians, I believe that is a self-portrait, and that was da Vinci himself in drag.
Is this a conspiracy theory, sir?
And that's why he is looking back at you with sort of a wry smirk.
I don't see that wry smirk. Young Jamie, please pull up-
(clears throat)
... a photograph of-
This is-
... the masterpiece.
This is a conspiracy theory?
No. This is, I think this is-
This is real?
I think this is, um-
They didn't tell you that in school, bro?
At least Dan Brown in his book, uh, The Da Vinci Code actually talks about it. But I- I- this is, I think this is-
You talking about the Tom Hank- you talking about the Tom Hank movies?
... standard. Yes. Good movie. Good book.
Well...
Better book.
Well-
Oh.
The part, the book is a different thing than the movies.
Still though-
Dan Brown, I think, is a professor of theology in, at Harvard or he... Or something like that. (clears throat)
Okay. I don't see a sly smile. I see-
Oh, there's a smile.
... a chick who lives in a place where the food sucks-
(laughs)
... and her, her teeth are probably all fucked up.
She's a bit zaftig.
Oh, no, that's the-
She's zaftig.
No, that's that dick smile, bro.
Do you know-
She has a smirk for sure.
Ho- here's an interesting thing. Do you know that, like, people did have bad teeth back then, of course, but the majority of the teeth problems that we have in this country have to do with sugar.
I thought it was the, uh, the water, the fluoride in the water back there.
No, no fluoride in the water. The, that fluoride in the water thing is so sketchy. Have you ever looked into whether or not fluoride should be in the water?
Well, they, I know that-
You ever brush your teeth in Detroit?
I know that in the '50s-
But that's-
... Colorado had a high concentration of fluoride in its water. And apparently the-
(coughs) Apparently, Brad smokes weed and turns into a fucking-
I know, I know. (laughs)
... professor. (laughs)
And another thing, everyone-
Apparently.
Apparently-
Dead serious.
You're dead serious.
Apparently, if I could get my poker out, I'm going to poke at the, uh, at the board.
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