JRE #378 – Dan Carlin

This podcast features Dan Carlin, an amateur historian and former radio talk show host known for his popular podcasts “Common Sense” and “Hardcore History.” Joe Rogan and Carlin engage in a wide-ranging conversation covering a diverse array of topics, exploring historical events, social commentary, and the nature of human behavior.

• Anthony Weiner’s Folly

  1. The podcast begins with a discussion of Anthony Weiner’s repeated scandals involving sexually explicit messages and photos.
  2. Rogan and Carlin delve into Weiner’s apparent disregard for the consequences of his actions, despite knowing the potential for exposure and the negative impact on his career and personal life.
  3. The conversation highlights the irony of Weiner’s involvement in nuclear nonproliferation while exhibiting such reckless behavior in his personal life.
  4. The topic leads to broader discussions about the psychology of those who seek public office and the potential for individuals with deep-seated flaws to achieve positions of power.

• The Nature of Conflict and the Police

• Rogan and Carlin discuss the inherent contradiction in seeking a career where conflict is the primary focus, questioning the psychology of individuals drawn to such professions.
• They question the practice of romanticizing the role of police officers in recruitment videos, suggesting that the focus on adrenaline-pumping scenarios might attract individuals ill-suited for the profession.
• The conversation explores the difficulties in identifying and selecting candidates who possess both the necessary skills and the emotional stability required for law enforcement.
• The topic highlights the potential for individuals with pre-existing psychological issues to be drawn to professions involving power and control, leading to potentially harmful consequences.

• The Internet’s Impact on Society

• Rogan and Carlin discuss the internet’s profound impact on society, highlighting its ability to both empower and expose individuals and institutions.
• The conversation explores the shift from a world with limited access to information to one with near-unlimited communication and information sharing.
• They discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by this new communication landscape, including the potential for anonymity and the increased exposure to harmful content.
• The topic raises questions about the future of information control and the potential for both positive and negative consequences as the internet continues to evolve.

• The Nature of Leadership and Human Flaws

• Rogan and Carlin explore the complex relationship between leadership qualities and personal flaws, suggesting that individuals with notable strengths often exhibit significant weaknesses as well.
• They discuss the challenge of balancing the need for effective leadership with the potential for individuals with personal issues to abuse their power.
• The conversation highlights the limitations of traditional political systems and the potential for the internet to facilitate new forms of governance.
• The topic raises the question of whether societies can truly evolve beyond the inherent flaws of human nature or if such flaws will always remain a factor in leadership and governance.

• Historical Moments and Pivotal Events

• Rogan and Carlin discuss the concept of historical moments, recognizing that certain events have a profound and lasting impact on the course of history.
• They highlight 9/11 as an example of such a pivotal event, arguing that it fundamentally shifted the world’s geopolitical landscape and the way societies view terrorism and security.
• The conversation explores the concept of “butterfly effects,” suggesting that seemingly small events can have cascading consequences that shape the future.
• The topic emphasizes the importance of understanding historical moments and their enduring influence on the present and the future.

• The Mongol Empire’s Legacy

• Carlin provides a detailed account of the Mongol Empire, emphasizing its brutality and the immense scale of its conquests.
• The conversation highlights the Mongol Empire’s impact on the world, including the opening of trade routes, the spread of cultural exchange, and the lasting consequences of its destructive campaigns.
• The podcast delves into the Mongol’s sophisticated military tactics, their use of psychological warfare, and their ability to mobilize vast armies.
• The topic raises questions about the balance between historical progress and the human cost of achieving such progress.

• The Future of Information and Human Evolution

• Rogan and Carlin discuss the potential for technology to revolutionize the way humans record and access information.
• They speculate on the development of sophisticated brain-computer interfaces and the potential for artificial memory implants.
• The conversation explores both the positive and negative possibilities of such technologies, highlighting the potential for both greater understanding and potentially harmful manipulation.
• The topic raises fundamental questions about the nature of consciousness, the role of information in shaping human perception, and the ethical implications of advanced technologies.

• The Role of Journalism and Media

• Rogan and Carlin discuss the state of journalism in the digital age, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities presented by the internet and social media.
• The conversation examines the role of investigative journalism in holding powerful institutions accountable and the potential for self-censorship and undue influence on media outlets.
• They discuss the importance of critical thinking, skepticism, and the need for journalists to remain independent and pursue truth even when facing pressure or threats.
• The topic raises questions about the future of media, the impact of social media on public discourse, and the responsibilities of journalists in a rapidly changing information landscape.

• The Nature of Human Behavior and the Search for Meaning

• Rogan and Carlin grapple with the fundamental question of human nature, exploring the conflicting impulses that drive human behavior.
• The conversation delves into the destructive tendencies of individuals and societies, suggesting that the capacity for violence and aggression is deeply ingrained in human nature.
• They discuss the role of societal structures, historical events, and personal experiences in shaping human behavior.
• The podcast explores the challenges and potential of human evolution, questioning whether societies can truly transcend their inherent flaws or if such flaws will always remain a part of the human condition.

5 Memorable Quotes:

1. “The reason why we all recognize with him [Anthony Weiner] is we all know that could have been us. That could have been you if you were that guy, living that life, thinking that way, for that long, doing the and making the decisions he made.” – Joe Rogan, emphasizing the commonality of human frailties and how easily individuals can be seduced by destructive impulses.
2. “If you wanna be protected from nuclear weapons, you might have to jettison some human rights.” – Dan Carlin, highlighting the difficult choices societies must make when balancing security concerns with the preservation of individual freedoms.
3. “We’d like to think that we are eventually going to achieve the highest levels of understanding and that that’s the trend that things are going and eventually gonna work everything out, and we won’t have war someday in the future.” – Joe Rogan, addressing the optimistic belief in human progress and the possibility of achieving lasting peace, a notion Carlin later challenges.
4. “I think the Internet is judging. They’re passing judgment in a sentence on George Zimmerman in a lot of ways.” – Joe Rogan, highlighting the internet’s power to shape public opinion and its potential for collective judgment and condemnation.
5. “It is the camp that says we humans must evolve past all this stuff.” – Joe Rogan, referencing a common belief in human progress and the potential for societies to overcome their flaws.