JRE #147 – Duncan Trussell

This podcast features Joe Rogan and Duncan Trussell engaging in a wide-ranging conversation that delves into topics ranging from the absurd to the profound, with a healthy dose of philosophical musings and controversial opinions. They tackle the nature of consciousness, societal norms, the impact of technology, the absurdity of modern life, and the potential for revolution.

Major Topics

1. The Absurdity of the Sex Toy Industry

   1. Joe and Duncan discuss the awkwardness of the term “sex toy” and how it trivializes the purpose of these products.
   2. They explore the irony of the industry’s need to market these products in more socially acceptable ways, such as referring to vibrators as “personal massage units.”
   3. They humorously ponder the implications of a world where these products are labeled more honestly.
   4. The discussion highlights the societal repression and discomfort surrounding sexuality.

2. The Role of Religion in Society

   1. They discuss the power dynamics within Catholicism, particularly the role of priests and the concept of confession.
   2. They critique the practice of transubstantiation, finding it both fascinating and bizarre.
   3. The conversation touches on the hypocrisy and absurdity of certain religious beliefs and practices.
   4. They explore the underlying motivations for religious control and repression.

3. The Controversy Surrounding Gender Reassignment

   1. Joe and Duncan discuss the case of an 11-year-old boy who identifies as a girl and is being considered for hormone blockers.
   2. They debate the ethics of intervening in a child’s development, questioning whether a decision made at such a young age can be truly informed.
   3. The conversation touches on the complexities of gender identity and the societal discomfort surrounding these issues.
   4. They highlight the potential for abuse and exploitation within the context of gender reassignment.

4. The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

   1. They discuss the potential of Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, to evolve into a powerful AI capable of providing information and engaging in conversations.
   2. They speculate on the future of AI, envisioning a world where technology becomes increasingly intertwined with our lives, potentially leading to emotional connections with machines.
   3. The conversation touches on the philosophical implications of AI, including the potential for human-machine symbiosis and the blurring of the lines between reality and simulation.
   4. They also discuss the potential dangers of AI, highlighting the possibility of control and manipulation.

5. The War on Drugs and the Legalization of Marijuana

   1. Joe and Duncan express frustration with the continued criminalization of marijuana, especially in light of its medical benefits and the societal harm caused by prohibition.
   2. They critique Obama’s stance on medical marijuana, questioning the hypocrisy of a president who admitted to using marijuana while pursuing policies that continue to lock people up for using it.
   3. They discuss the potential for a marijuana lobby to emerge, mirroring the power of the pharmaceutical industry, and how that could ultimately lead to legalization.
   4. The conversation explores the deeper motivations behind the war on drugs, suggesting that it’s not just about money, but also about maintaining a certain level of societal control.

6. The Occupy Wall Street Movement

   1. They discuss the Occupy Wall Street movement, highlighting its significance as a grassroots movement challenging the power of the financial elite.
   2. They critique the media’s portrayal of the movement, arguing that focusing on a few isolated incidents of stupidity ignores the broader message of injustice and corruption.
   3. They debate the potential for the movement to lead to meaningful change, questioning whether a decentralized movement can effectively challenge a deeply entrenched system.
   4. They discuss the potential for a revolution, both its beauty and its dangers, while acknowledging the complexities of societal change.

7. The Illusion of Reality

   1. They ponder the nature of reality, exploring the idea that our perception of the world may be influenced by our own consciousness and imagination.
   2. The conversation touches on the concept of Maya, the Hindu concept of illusion, and how our understanding of reality may be limited by our senses and biases.
   3. They discuss the potential for a universe that is self-aware and capable of experiencing emotions, suggesting that our fears and desires may be part of a larger cosmic process.
   4. They explore the idea that our individual consciousnesses may be interconnected, potentially leading to a future where we merge with technology and achieve a higher level of awareness.

8. The Importance of Community

   1. Joe and Duncan emphasize the importance of building genuine communities based on shared values and positive interactions.
   2. They discuss the potential for online communities to play a role in facilitating connection and communication, while acknowledging the potential for negativity and toxicity online.
   3. The conversation touches on the importance of surrounding oneself with positive people and the power of collective energy.
   4. They explore the idea that our individual realities may be interconnected, potentially influencing the experiences of those around us.

9. The Power of Imagination and Creativity

   1. Joe and Duncan celebrate the power of imagination and creativity, arguing that these are essential ingredients in the process of innovation and discovery.
   2. They highlight the importance of embracing the unknown and challenging conventional thinking, recognizing that true progress often comes from unexpected places.
   3. The conversation touches on the role of dreams and the subconscious mind in influencing our creative output.
   4. They explore the idea that our ability to imagine and create may be a reflection of a deeper cosmic consciousness.

Memorable Quotes

1. “A toy makes it seem like you would, like, sit and, like, GI Joe’s would play on top of it or something.”
2. “It’s erotic, dude. It’s really sexy because he’s you know there’s guys in the booth being like, man, I put my fingers, inner pussy, and then she wanted father she wanted me to fist her pussy. Cool. Go on my son.”
3. “You can’t you can’t lock people in a jail. You block people in the cage for making someone feel good with their mouth. What the fuck is wrong with you? It’s insanity.”
4. “It’s like, try getting really hot on a really good weed and start thinking about those fucking drones zooming around to Afghanistan and blast and missiles at kids And it’s like, you’ll really start getting a clear understanding of how fucked up that is.”
5. “I think that all these things, whether they’re greed or selfishness or jealousy or fear, or lust, all of them are are essentially numbers or equations in a in a grand scheme of mathematical like like, what’s the word? Not not an algorithm, but like a program, like literally, like everything that exists, whether it’s hot or cold or pleasure or pain, are all these different things that the human animal and any other animal experiences or to guide that animal into a certain direction.”