JRE #2046 – Brian Redban

This Joe Rogan podcast with Brian Redban is a wild ride through various topics, touching on anxieties about the world, UFO sightings, military technology, the future of AI, and even the ethics of killing animals. The conversation is peppered with humor, skepticism, and a healthy dose of philosophical pondering. Redban’s comedic perspective and Rogan’s inquisitive nature blend seamlessly, creating a dynamic and thought-provoking dialogue.

Major Topics Explored:

1. Global Anxiety and the Fear of War: Rogan expresses his anxieties about potential global conflicts and nuclear war. This fear stems from the current geopolitical landscape, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict. He discusses the potential impact of such events on everyday life, emphasizing the fragility of our infrastructure and communications systems.
2. The UFO Phenomenon and Military Technology: Rogan and Redban dive into the UFO debate, scrutinizing various videos and testimonies. They express skepticism about many UFO claims, attributing them to misidentifications of aircraft, drones, or natural phenomena. However, Rogan acknowledges the possibility of advanced, classified military technology, drawing connections between unexplained sightings and military exercises.
3. Made in China: Redban discusses the manufacturing prowess of China, highlighting how they dominate industries like smartphone production. He explores the implications of this dominance, questioning the ethical and environmental considerations of relying on China for such essential products.
4. The Rise of AI and Its Implications: Rogan and Redban speculate on the future of artificial intelligence and its potential role in governance. They ponder the potential benefits of an AI-driven government, free from human bias and corruption, but also acknowledge the risks of an AI overreach and the possibility of an AI dictator. They reference sci-fi movies and real-world examples like North Korea to illustrate the dangers of centralized power.
5. Terrorism and Security Concerns: Rogan and Redban express concerns about potential terrorist threats, particularly in the context of increased immigration. They discuss the challenges of securing borders and the delicate balance between security and civil liberties.
6. Social Media and the Spread of Misinformation: Rogan and Redban explore the impact of social media on public discourse, highlighting its role in the spread of misinformation and the polarization of society. They discuss the influence of foreign actors, bots, and government censorship on online platforms, raising concerns about the manipulation of public opinion.
7. The “Patriot Act” and Government Overreach: Rogan and Redban critique the “Patriot Act,” passed in the aftermath of 9/11. They express concern about the act’s expansion of government surveillance and its potential for abuse, emphasizing the importance of protecting individual rights in the face of national security concerns.
8. The Canadian Trucker Protests: Rogan and Redban discuss the Canadian trucker protests, questioning the government’s response and its use of authoritarian measures. They criticize the freezing of bank accounts and other actions taken against protesters, highlighting the potential for government overreach in times of crisis.
9. The War in Ukraine and Its Global Implications: Rogan and Redban delve into the war in Ukraine, expressing concern about the escalating conflict and its potential to trigger a wider war. They discuss the global implications of the conflict, including the economic and political fallout.
10. The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Rogan and Redban discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict, expressing concern about the escalation of violence and the lack of a peaceful resolution. They question the role of international actors and the motivations behind the conflict, highlighting the complexities and challenges of finding a lasting peace.
11. The “Game of Thrones” of Global Politics: Rogan and Redban compare global politics to the fictional “Game of Thrones,” emphasizing the power struggles, alliances, and betrayals that characterize the international stage. They argue that the world is a dangerous place, with powerful actors playing a dangerous game with real-world consequences.
12. Climate Change and Its Impact on the Environment: Rogan and Redban discuss climate change and its impact on the environment. They acknowledge the reality of climate change but debate the role of human activity and the best solutions for addressing the issue. They particularly emphasize the damage being done to the oceans.
13. The Prevalence of Autism and Potential Causes: Rogan and Redban discuss a recent study linking diet soda consumption during pregnancy to an increased risk of autism in boys. They explore the implications of this study, questioning the safety of artificial sweeteners and discussing the potential for environmental factors to contribute to neurological conditions.
14. Aspartame and its Controversial History: Redban and Rogan discuss the history of aspartame, highlighting the alleged involvement of Donald Rumsfeld in pushing its approval. They examine the potential health risks of aspartame and question the scientific evidence that supports its safety.
15. Animal Testing and its Ethical Implications: Rogan and Redban discuss the ethics of animal testing, acknowledging the use of rats and monkeys for testing potential toxins and poisons. They question the validity of such testing and express concern about the suffering inflicted on animals.
16. The Ethics of Killing Animals: Rogan and Redban debate the ethics of killing animals, acknowledging that humans kill animals for food, clothing, and other purposes. They discuss the differences in public perception of killing certain animals, contrasting the acceptance of fishing with the condemnation of eating turtle soup.
17. The Cultural Shift in Pornography: Rogan and Redban explore the cultural shift in attitudes towards pornography, discussing how “Deep Throat” was initially embraced by a wider audience, including mainstream celebrities. They ponder why society has become more sensitive to explicit sexual content while remaining comfortable with graphic violence in films.
18. The Role of Censorship and the Internet: Rogan and Redban discuss the role of censorship in the internet age, highlighting the challenges of balancing free speech with the need to protect individuals and society. They discuss the demonetization of certain content on platforms like YouTube and the potential for algorithms to stifle dissenting voices.
19. The Success of “Kill Tony” and the Evolution of Comedy: Rogan and Redban discuss the success of “Kill Tony,” highlighting its role in fostering a thriving comedy scene in Austin and across the country. They emphasize the importance of being funny and the unique challenges of performing stand-up in a one-minute format.

Memorable Quotes:

• “I’ve been freaking out over the last like few weeks. Like at night time. Like at night time I’ll be alone and then just start thinking about the future of the world. And I start like legit freaking out. Like what would happen if we were like legit Armageddon, Mad Max, Nuclear War? Like how far are we away from that? And it just it’s just give me anxiety before I go to sleep.” – Rogan expresses his anxiety about the future of the world.
• “The only ones that I ever really make me pause are the ones from the military guys. And the ones from the military guys, the more I think about it, the more I think that is some absolute top secret shit that the United States government has developed.” – Rogan speculates about the possibility of advanced military technology behind UFO sightings.
• “It’s almost like, if you wanted to go full tin foil hat, if you want to ensure there’s going to be more conflict, you leave weapons with the enemy.” – Redban criticizes the decision to leave behind weapons in Afghanistan.
• “It’s so polarized, and I think that has to be social media. And some of that has to be engineered. Some of that we know that there’s a ton of trolls out there that aren’t really people that are either from another country or maybe from our country that are just literally designed to stir shit up and attack things and go after stuff.” – Rogan discusses the role of social media in polarizing society.
• “I really think it’s religion because like, look at how many people, you know, don’t have sex before marriage, or very few, very few, right? But yet they, there are all those people that are for or against like that kind of stuff, uh, still have no problem with violence and war.” – Rogan speculates about the influence of religion on attitudes towards sex and violence.