JRE #1546 – Evan Hafer & Mat Best

7-Oct-20

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Joe Rogan Podcast #1546 – Evan Hafer & Mat Best

This podcast features Evan Hafer and Matt Best, co-founders of Black Rifle Coffee Company, a veteran-owned coffee roastery. They discuss their journey from Special Forces veterans to entrepreneurs, touching on their coffee obsession, military experiences, and insightful takes on American culture, health, and politics. Provocative topics include the military industrial complex, the use of burn pits in war zones, the over-reliance on processed foods in the American diet, and the complexities of post-military transition.

Topics Discussed:

1. Coffee Obsession:
   • Evan’s deep-rooted passion for coffee, evident in his meticulous approach to brewing.
   • His commitment to coffee quality, evident in his journey from roasting coffee on fires overseas to establishing a premium coffee company.
   • The comparison of coffee to wine, highlighting the niche subcultures dedicated to its intricate details.
   • The diverse facets of coffee, from its historical significance to its environmental impact, and its potential for future optimization.
2. Military Experiences:
   • The contrast between Evan’s meticulous coffee habits and his badass Special Forces persona.
   • The absurdity of government spending on extravagant items like armored vehicles in war zones.
   • The dangers of using uparmored vehicles in conflict zones, making them targets for insurgents.
   • The importance of blending in during covert operations and the challenges of utilizing bulky, expensive vehicles.
3. Armored Vehicles:
   • The prevalence of armored vehicles, including Mercedes G-Wagons, in war zones and their effectiveness in protecting occupants from gunfire.
   • The construction of armored vehicles, specifically those built from ground up, emphasizing their robust design and durability.
   • The limitations of armored vehicles, such as their weight and inability to operate at high speeds, posing challenges in certain situations.
   • The market for armored vehicles, including their use by dictators, wealthy individuals, and militaries worldwide.
4. The Carnivore Diet:
   • Evan’s experience on a month-long carnivore diet, resulting in increased energy levels and a more aggressive demeanor.
   • The potential impact of meat consumption on mental and physical states, potentially leading to heightened aggression.
   • The importance of fat intake in a carnivore diet, particularly tallow and bacon, to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
   • The benefits of consuming organ meats like liver and heart, highlighting their nutrient density and potential health benefits.
5. The Misconception of Fat:
   • The historical propaganda campaign against saturated fat, driven by sugar companies to protect their interests.
   • The detrimental effects of sugar and processed foods on human health, contributing to obesity and chronic diseases.
   • The benefits of natural fats, such as those found in meat, avocado, and chicken fat, compared to processed vegetable oils.
   • The importance of consuming whole foods and limiting processed foods, emphasizing a shift away from the traditional food pyramid.
6. Brown Rice vs. White Rice:
   • The misconception that brown rice is healthier than white rice, highlighting the presence of arsenic in brown rice.
   • The potential negative effects of brown rice on digestion and gut health, including bloating, diarrhea, and leaky gut syndrome.
   • The nutritional value of white rice compared to brown rice, highlighting its lower phytic acid content and better nitrogen retention.
   • The importance of considering the potential downsides of even seemingly healthy foods, emphasizing individual dietary needs.
7. The Gut Biome:
   • The impact of various factors on gut health, including lifestyle, medication, and environmental exposures.
   • The importance of individualizing dietary approaches based on unique gut microbiome composition and lifestyle factors.
   • The dangers of overgeneralizing dietary recommendations, recognizing that different diets work for different people.
   • The need for holistic approaches to health and well-being, acknowledging the interconnectedness of various factors.
8. Veteran Care:
   • The inadequate and often inadequate care provided to veterans by the VA, highlighting systemic failures and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
   • The need for individualized treatment for veterans, recognizing the diverse range of physical and mental health challenges they face.
   • The reliance on nonprofits to provide critical support for veterans, highlighting the government’s failure to adequately address their needs.
   • The urgent need for reform within the VA system to ensure comprehensive and compassionate care for those who have served.
9. Burn Pits and Their Impact:
   • The widespread use of burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, exposing soldiers to toxic chemicals and smoke.
   • The long-term health consequences of burn pit exposure, including cancer, respiratory problems, and other health issues.
   • The government’s inadequate funding for research into the effects of burn pits, highlighting a lack of commitment to veteran health.
   • The call for increased research and support for veterans impacted by burn pit exposure, emphasizing the need for accountability and proactive action.
10. The Military Industrial Complex:
    • The influence of the military industrial complex on political decisions, promoting prolonged military engagements for financial gain.
    • The role of lobbying groups and think tanks in shaping policy and advocating for increased military spending.
    • The lack of transparency and accountability in government spending on military contracts, highlighting potential conflicts of interest.
    • The call for greater scrutiny and oversight of military spending, emphasizing the need to prioritize taxpayer interests and responsible allocation of resources.
11. The American Dream:
    • The importance of finding purpose and fulfillment in life, challenging the notion of a traditional 9-to-5 career path.
    • The pursuit of independence and self-reliance, encouraging individuals to pursue their passions and take control of their destinies.
    • The power of risk-taking and embracing discomfort, recognizing the importance of stepping outside of comfort zones for growth.
    • The importance of building a supportive team and fostering authentic relationships, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human experience.
12. The Importance of Physical Health:
    • The detrimental effects of poor diet and lack of exercise on physical and mental well-being, emphasizing their impact on overall health.
    • The benefits of exercise in combating depression and anxiety, highlighting its role in promoting mental health.
    • The need for a national conversation about health and wellness, addressing the epidemic of obesity and chronic diseases.
    • The call for individuals to take responsibility for their health, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures and lifestyle choices.
13. Political Correctness in the Military:
    • The growing trend of political correctness within the military, potentially impacting training and operational effectiveness.
    • The dangers of applying politically correct language and practices to high-stakes environments, potentially compromising safety and mission success.
    • The importance of maintaining a warrior culture focused on mission accomplishment and operational proficiency, recognizing the unique nature of military service.
    • The need to protect the warrior class from the undue influence of political ideologies, emphasizing the importance of operational readiness and national security.
14. Leadership and Careerism:
    • The distinction between mission-driven leaders and career-focused individuals within the military, highlighting the potential for conflict.
    • The importance of prioritizing mission success over personal gain, emphasizing the role of ethical leadership in a military context.
    • The potential consequences of careerism on military effectiveness and the well-being of troops, highlighting the need for ethical checks and balances.
    • The importance of fostering a culture of accountability and transparency within the military, emphasizing the need for strong leadership and ethical decision-making.
15. Endless War:
    • The financial incentives behind prolonged military engagements, highlighting the role of the military industrial complex in perpetuating conflicts.
    • The lack of clear success criteria and exit strategies for military interventions, contributing to endless wars and a perpetual transfer of wealth.
    • The need for public discourse and critical examination of military interventions, challenging the status quo and promoting responsible decision-making.
    • The importance of prioritizing peace and diplomacy, emphasizing the need for alternatives to military solutions and a shift towards a more peaceful world.

Memorable Quotes:

• “It’s funny because you know, pulling my knife out, going through, you know, as I’m feel dressing it. And I’m like, oh, we need to keep the heart and liver. And it’s funny because people — Some people don’t like it. — what the fuck are you doing? I’m like, man, it’s really good.”
• “I think, 1, you have to recognize you have a problem. And I think, you know, I’ve continued to recognize that I have a problem. And it it it’s it’s like quitting a habit or anything that that that you’re doing, whether it’s quitting smoking or, you know, working through a a very disciplined diet. It it it’s every minute you have the ability sometimes every second you have the ability to make a decision and have a conscious effort. to focus on improvement.”
• “But the world’s roots you know, people they grow roots — Right. — before they know what they actually wanna do. And what I mean by that is, look, you go to college. Right? Yeah. And then you have student debt. So these are roots. Right? Now you you have to pay off that student debts. So you have these obligations, then you get a job, and maybe you lease a car, maybe you get an apartment. Now you have roots. You have you have bills you have to pay, you have obligations that you can’t jerk. So you may might maybe you try to save. So you save a little maybe you’d receive 10% of your your income every week. So you’re putting it away, you’re putting it away, and you realize how quickly that goes away. You have taxes, and and then you find yourself 5, 6, 7 years in. You’re like, I wanna make a change, but you have all the shit that you’re paying for, and then you reward yourself for this terrible job that you hate by getting a new car or maybe you you buy a fucking boat or what it would you know, that’s what people do. And then you’re 38 and you’re like, goddamn it. I fucking hate my life, but now maybe you have a child. Maybe you’re married. Maybe your wife doesn’t work anymore because, you know, and she’s pregnant. And you’re like, fuck. Like, what am I going to do with my life? I mean, you find yourself stuck and you you you take pills, you take antidepressants, you do something. And this is this is the story of the American life. that is untold, and this is a lot of people’s existence. They find themselves in this meaningless path — Mhmm. — and then they they they they hear about guys like you and they get excited. like, maybe I could figure this out. And some of them do, and some of them start a business in the garage. Okay. And some of them get together with their friends and say, let’s let’s partner up. Let’s do something. And let’s take a chance. Like, let’s plan. In 2 years from now, we’ll we’ll we’ll make the leap. Let’s start it online. Let’s do something. And that’s the that’s the real American dream.”
• “You can always find time to work out. Like, you you wanna be your fitness goals. Find a fucking retention band in a kettlebell, and we’ll fuck you up. Trust me. Give me 30 minutes.”
• “The worst thing ever is when politics stop becoming a service to your country. It became political gain and monetary gain because you can get paid. But when it’s still on the politicians, that they they make a $100,000 a year, but they were the 100,000,000 bucks. Yeah. How how the fuck? Was that possible? Yeah. And everybody’s like, No one’s good. Nobody no one says, hey. Get in front of us and tell us exactly — Yeah. — where you got that money. Yeah. break it down. Tell us — Yeah. — why is your husband worth this much? Or why is your wife worth this much? I understand you’re only worth that much, but your wife’s worth $50,000,000. and your kids are all worth 50,000,000 apiece or whatever it is. How does that happen? Yeah. And now and why is like, why are we just, like, whistling and looking around and pretending this stuff doesn’t exist. What a noble cause? He works for a $100,000, and you’re like, he paid $1,300,000 in his tax filing the what’s going on here, man? What is going on?”

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