1/25/2017
Joe Rogan Experience #905 – Shane Smith
This episode of the Joe Rogan Experience features Shane Smith, a Canadian-American journalist and co-founder of the international media company VICE. The conversation delves into the current state of journalism, the political climate, the future of technology, and the environmental challenges facing humanity. The conversation is punctuated by moments of humor and introspection, exploring both the serious and the absurd aspects of our modern world.
1. The Rise and Evolution of VICE Media:
- Shane Smith co-founded VICE in the 1990s as a punk zine, which evolved into a global media empire encompassing television, film, news, and digital content.
- VICE’s success is attributed to its unique perspective and willingness to tackle controversial and often overlooked topics.
- Their approach is characterized by an “unpolished” and “unfakified” style, drawing criticism from traditional media outlets.
- Smith defends VICE’s unconventional format, arguing that it allows them to reach younger audiences and offer a fresh take on news.
2. The Perils of Fake News and Polarization:
- The rise of fake news and partisan media has created a challenging environment for credible journalism.
- The podcast explores the impact of fake news, particularly on issues like climate change, where scientific consensus is challenged by misinformation campaigns.
- Smith stresses the importance of fact-based reporting and calls for a return to a more centrist approach to journalism.
- The conversation highlights the dangers of political polarization, which can lead to gridlock and hinder progress on important issues.
3. The Future of Technology and its Impact on Humanity:
- The conversation touches upon the rapid advancements in technology, particularly in fields like CRISPR gene editing and augmented reality.
- Smith expresses both optimism and apprehension about the potential of these technologies to reshape humanity.
- He envisions a future where technology could be used to address global challenges, but also warns of the potential for misuse and unintended consequences.
- The discussion explores the ethical implications of these advancements, particularly in relation to privacy, equality, and the very definition of what it means to be human.
4. The Environmental Crisis and the Need for Collective Action:
- Smith highlights the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, arguing that scientific consensus on climate change is undeniable.
- He criticizes the role of fossil fuel companies in spreading misinformation and delaying action on climate change.
- The podcast explores various potential solutions, including renewable energy, carbon capture technology, and even the possibility of using woolly mammoths to restore the permafrost.
- Smith emphasizes the need for global cooperation and a shift in mindset to address this existential threat.
5. The Role of Psychedelic Drugs in Healing and Transformation:
- Smith discusses the potential of psychedelic drugs, such as mushrooms, MDMA, and Ayahuasca, to treat mental health conditions like PTSD and addiction.
- He advocates for a more open and scientific approach to exploring the therapeutic benefits of these substances.
- The conversation touches upon the current legal restrictions on psychedelic drugs and the political barriers to research and legalization.
- Smith argues that the stigma surrounding these substances is often based on misinformation and prejudice, and that their potential to heal and transform lives should not be overlooked.
6. The Need for Sanity and Common Sense in a Fractured World:
- Smith expresses concern about the increasing polarization and dysfunction in society, particularly in the political sphere.
- He proposes the idea of a “Council of Elders” composed of diverse, intelligent individuals from various fields who could provide guidance and solutions.
- The conversation highlights the importance of critical thinking, open-mindedness, and a willingness to see multiple perspectives in a world saturated with information.
- Smith emphasizes the need to move beyond tribalism and partisanship and focus on common goals that benefit all of humanity.
7. The Power of Storytelling and the Need to Amplify Diverse Voices:
- Smith underscores the importance of journalism in providing context and understanding to complex issues.
- He believes that media outlets should strive to present a diverse range of perspectives and challenge dominant narratives.
- Smith highlights the need to amplify the voices of marginalized groups and ensure that their stories are heard.
- He argues that journalism has a responsibility to hold power accountable and foster greater understanding and empathy among different communities.
8. The American Dream and the Immigrant Experience:
- Smith, as an immigrant himself, reflects on the American dream and its significance in shaping his life.
- He criticizes the hypocrisy of a country built by immigrants that often restricts immigration and creates barriers to citizenship.
- The conversation touches upon the importance of diversity and the contribution of immigrants to American society.
- Smith argues that the American dream should be accessible to all, regardless of their place of birth or origin.
9. The Importance of Social Bonds and Human Connection:
- Smith discusses the significance of social interaction and human connection in fostering empathy, understanding, and a sense of community.
- He expresses concern about the potential for technology to isolate people and erode these vital social bonds.
- The conversation highlights the role of shared experiences, rituals, and gatherings in creating a sense of belonging and reducing the potential for conflict and division.
- Smith believes that preserving these connections is crucial for maintaining a healthy and resilient society.
10. The Evolution of Humanity:
- The podcast explores the potential for technology to accelerate human evolution, both biologically and culturally.
- Smith envisions a future where technology could enhance our abilities, extend our lifespans, and even allow for interstellar travel.
- He acknowledges the challenges and risks associated with such rapid advancements but remains optimistic about the potential for a positive transformation.
- The conversation touches upon the concept of “technology-induced evolution” and the profound implications it could have for our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.
5 Memorable Quotes from the Podcast:
- “The problem is, you know, we view ourselves as centrist and sort of press record all that stuff. But if the world takes us our giant leap to the right with you know, fake news and all this crazy shit happening, then you’re sitting there sort of going, well, all of a sudden, we were put in this position.”
- “It’s not a fucking left thing. Like, you’re a hunter, you’d like to go out. It’s it’s an everybody who likes to go outside thing. It’s like everybody likes to hunt thing. everyone likes the swim thing. It’s everyone likes to surf Everyone likes to drink fucking water. You know?”
- “It’s very strange. Yeah. Yeah. We did this story. You know the Kings of Cannabis. You know these guys, they they’re like the seed hunters, they fly around the world, and they find, like, the best seed strains. No. And then they go back to Holland, and they they make like, they won the cannabis cup, like, 6, 8 years in a row. They, you know, they did white weight out. I mean, tell you something about the cannabis cup real quick. I was one of the fucking judges.”
- “The reason why I like him so much is he came up with a fail safe reactor little tiny one. And he’s like, with all the sort of the the the old power plants? No. Yeah. They’re they’re spent waste. And the weapons that we have to store, which we can store for more 100 years, but they need to be stored for 10000 years. He can take little p size bits of that, put it into a fail safe reactor that sort of drains into a salt thing, whatever, and it and it can’t be whatever. It’s fail safe. And but they it’s they’re small, but they do, like, 50,000 houses or 100,000 houses. And just by using the fuel that we already have that we can’t store, we can power the world for the next 10,000 years.”
- “I think a lot of people with a lot of diseases that hitherto have been incurable are sitting there going, come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Yeah. Like, you know, because it’s just it’s it’s going exponentially. And when you can map the genome, then you can figure this out, and we can rewire that fucking thing.”