JRE #1345 – Steve Aoki

4-Sep-19

Joe Rogan Podcast: #1345 – Steve Aoki

This podcast explores the multifaceted life of Steve Aoki, a renowned musician, DJ, record producer, music executive, and author. Aoki delves into the personal stories and experiences that shaped his journey, as detailed in his new memoir “Blue: The Color of Noise.” From the profound impact of his father’s death to his relentless pursuit of success, the podcast reveals Aoki’s unique perspective on life, music, and the future of humanity.

The conversation traverses a diverse landscape of topics, delving into the creative process behind his music, his unique stage presence, his passion for health and wellness, his fascination with science and technology, and his philosophical musings on life, death, and the potential for transcendence.

Underlying themes weave throughout the podcast, highlighting Aoki’s commitment to pushing boundaries, his dedication to growth and self-improvement, his embrace of the unknown, and his unwavering belief in the power of human potential.

Major Topics

Here are some of the major topics discussed in the podcast:

1. “Blue: The Color of Noise” – Aoki’s Memoir: Aoki details the process of writing his memoir, sharing stories about his childhood, his relationship with his father, and his relentless pursuit of success. He emphasizes the book’s focus on the different shades of blue in his life, reflecting the various emotions and experiences he’s encountered.
2. The Power of Writing: Aoki discusses the benefits of writing regularly, both for personal reflection and for expressing oneself in a way that resonates with others. He reveals how writing helped him process his grief following his father’s death and how it has enhanced his musical creativity.
3. Aoki’s Signature Stage Presence: Aoki discusses the origins of his iconic “cake people” stage ritual, explaining how it evolved from a spontaneous idea to a signature element of his shows. He emphasizes the importance of creating unique experiences for his audience, aiming to deliver a memorable and transformative performance.
4. Health and Wellness: Aoki reveals his commitment to health and wellness, outlining his strict diet, high-intensity workouts, and experimentation with different supplements and therapies, including stem cell injections and IV vitamin therapy. He discusses his motivation for maintaining his health and fitness, especially given his demanding touring schedule.
5. Fascination with Science and Technology: Aoki expresses his deep fascination with science and technology, particularly in the realms of antiaging, brain research, and life extension. He discusses his collaborations with scientists and technologists, including Ray Kurzweil, Aubrey de Grey, and Yuval Noah Harari. He highlights his belief in the potential for scientific breakthroughs to enhance human life and capabilities.
6. The Future of Humanity: Aoki shares his thoughts on the future of humanity, discussing topics like technological singularity, artificial intelligence, and the potential for consciousness transfer. He explores the ethical and philosophical implications of these advancements, acknowledging the potential for both progress and peril.
7. The “Neon Future” Series: Aoki discusses his “Neon Future” album series, highlighting his collaborations with scientists and technologists on the music. He describes his vision for the series, which explores themes of technology, humanity, and the future.
8. The Steve Aoki Foundation: Aoki discusses his foundation, which supports brain research and organizations dedicated to understanding and expanding human brain capabilities. He expresses his hope that the foundation will help to find cures for brain diseases and unlock the full potential of the human mind.
9. The Importance of Brain Research: Aoki emphasizes the importance of understanding the human brain, highlighting the potential for breakthroughs in treating brain diseases and exploring the possibilities of mind-controlled technology, such as telekinesis.
10. The Power of Technology: Aoki shares his views on the transformative power of technology, acknowledging both its potential for good and the need for careful consideration of its ethical implications. He discusses the role of technology companies like Google in shaping information and the challenges of balancing freedom of speech with responsible use of technology.
11. The Potential for Mind Reading Technology: Aoki believes that future technology may allow for a new form of communication that transcends language, potentially enabling mind reading. He points to Elon Musk’s Neuralink project as an example of technology that could move us closer to this reality.
12. The Inevitability of Change: Aoki embraces the inevitability of change, seeing it as an essential element of progress. He rejects nostalgia for the “good old days,” instead emphasizing the excitement of exploring new possibilities and enhancing human experience.
13. Jim Morrison’s Prediction: Aoki shares a story about Jim Morrison’s prediction that the future would be dominated by a single person using electronic technology to create music for millions. Aoki sees a parallel between Morrison’s prediction and his own career path.
14. The Cultural Shift of the 1960s: Aoki discusses the profound cultural shift of the 1960s, attributing it to the influence of psychedelic drugs, the Vietnam War, and the counterculture movement.
15. The Dangers of Psychedelics: Aoki acknowledges the potential dangers of psychedelics, particularly for individuals with a predisposition towards psychosis. He shares his own experience with LSD at age 13, which prompted him to avoid psychedelics for the rest of his life.
16. The Role of Psychedelics in the Future: Aoki discusses the increasing interest in microdosing psilocybin, exploring its potential for enhancing cognitive function and promoting creativity.
17. Brain Cap Technology: Aoki shares his experience using a brain cap that measures neurotransmitter activity, revealing insights into his own brain function and potential for different mental states.
18. The Importance of Self-Awareness: Aoki emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-critique, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their actions and choices rather than blaming others for their problems.
19. The Importance of Embracing Others’ Success: Aoki encourages individuals to celebrate and learn from the successes of others, rather than becoming jealous or bitter.
20. The Challenges of Fame and Celebrity: Aoki discusses the challenges of navigating fame and celebrity, including the constant attention and occasional intrusive behavior of fans.
21. The Uniqueness of the Vegas Nightlife: Aoki discusses the unique and vibrant nightlife of Las Vegas, highlighting its transformation into a global hub for electronic dance music.
22. The Evolution of Vegas: Aoki compares the Vegas of the Rat Pack era to the modern city, acknowledging the significant shift in entertainment landscape, with electronic music dominating the nightlife scene.
23. The Future of Vegas: Aoki shares his thoughts on the future of Vegas, suggesting that electronic music will likely continue to be a major force in the city’s entertainment landscape.
24. Pizza Oki: Aoki talks about his pizza company, Pizza Oki, emphasizing the quality of the product and the success of its delivery model.
25. Aoki’s Clean and Sober Lifestyle: Aoki shares his commitment to a clean and sober lifestyle, explaining how it helps him to stay sustainable in his demanding career.
26. The Importance of Exercise: Aoki emphasizes the importance of exercise, highlighting his own commitment to high-intensity training and his motivation for achieving fitness goals.
27. The Role of Supplements: Aoki discusses his use of various supplements, including cellergen, a cellular marine complex peptide designed to support antiaging.
28. The Benefits of Lion’s Mane: Aoki discusses his use of lion’s mane mushroom, a nootropic that supports brain function.
29. Wim Hof Method: Aoki talks about his practice of the Wim Hof Method, a breathing technique that involves cold exposure and cold plunges, designed to enhance immune function and mental clarity.
30. Martial Arts: Aoki discusses his interest in martial arts, particularly Bruce Lee, and his experience training with UFC fighters.
31. The Cultural Impact of Bruce Lee: Aoki reflects on the profound cultural impact of Bruce Lee, highlighting his influence on martial arts and his role as a representation of Asian power and success.
32. The “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Controversy: Aoki discusses the controversy surrounding Quentin Tarantino’s portrayal of Bruce Lee in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” expressing his disappointment that Lee was depicted as arrogant and a buffoon.
33. The Importance of Martial Arts Philosophy: Aoki emphasizes the importance of Bruce Lee’s philosophical teachings, highlighting their relevance to life beyond the martial arts arena.
34. The “Democ” Record Label: Aoki discusses his record label, Democ, and how it reflects his desire to embrace mystery and push boundaries.
35. The “Mysterious Death Touch”: Aoki shares his thoughts on the phenomenon of the “mysterious death touch,” a purported ability to cause death through touch.
36. The McDojo Phenomenon: Aoki discusses the McDojo phenomenon, a term used to describe martial arts schools that focus on commercialism over genuine martial arts skills.
37. The Importance of Maintaining a Positive Attitude: Aoki encourages listeners to embrace a positive attitude, even when facing challenges, and to find inspiration in the successes of others.
38. The Importance of Respectful Behavior: Aoki emphasizes the importance of respecting others, even when they are in the public eye, and avoiding intrusive behavior, such as interrupting conversations or meals.
39. The Power of Music: Aoki discusses the transformative power of music, and his commitment to creating experiences that uplift and inspire his audience.

Memorable Quotes

1. “At the end of the day, it’s been more about, like, how I got there. You know? The story and different piecemeal stories that that are thematic in, you know, with this overarching idea of blue, which is like the different shades of blue of my life.” – Aoki describes the core theme of his memoir, “Blue: The Color of Noise.”
2. “I think at the end of the day, when you do that enough, you just you just get better as a human being. Yes. And try, you know, If you always do the same thing over and over again, you’re never really learning.” – Aoki underscores the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone to achieve personal growth.
3. “You know, I’m like obsessed with trying out new ideas using myself as a guinea pig to work with different scientists, sleep doctors, you know, different people in different fields that are testing new ideas to to, like, deal with jet lag or things that I am dealing with that that are on the road that that can wear you down and make it not sustainable.” – Aoki reveals his commitment to health and wellness, especially in the context of his demanding touring schedule.
4. “I’m a big fan of the idea that we can live indefinitely.” – Aoki expresses his enthusiasm for the potential for life extension through scientific advancements.
5. “I think technology is going to provide us with a new way of communicating that’s not dependent upon language but rather can read actual intent, like an actual mind reading technology.” – Aoki shares his vision for the future of communication, suggesting that technology may eventually enable us to understand each other’s thoughts and intentions directly.