"Did you bring anything that you made yourself?
 Did it all come from somebody else?
 Are you in there anywhere?
 Change, but be yourself now."

 -Wide Mouth Mason

I guess you can blame Joe Rogan for this.

Several years ago, several wonderful people urged me to start paying attention to the Joe Rogan Experience podcast because they just knew I would love the topics and find all of his antics hilarious. All I had to say to that was: “What? Joe Rogan? You mean the janitor guy from News Radio?”  I had no idea about podcasts at all, and certainly had not followed Rogan’s stand up career. I never watched Fear Factor, nor any of his UFC announcements. However, my people kept pushing me and, finally, I gave in and watched an episode.

Then another, and another…

Pretty soon, I was downloading JRE podcasts and listening to them during my commute, while I went for a walk, on road trips. You get the picture.

I have to admit that listening to the Joe Rogan Experience podcast gave me the push I needed to start writing down what has been rattling around in my own head, and then to launch my own website. So, I would like to share with you my key points and take-aways from the Powerful JRE:

1 – You can always reinvent yourself: Here’s a 50-year-old guy hobnobbing with some of the most interesting people on the planet and spouting off his take on every crazy thing that floats through his head. And, not only that, he is setting the agenda for independent thought by bringing in the best and brightest people that are leaders in their fields. It wasn’t always like that though. JRE was originally a place where Rogan and his buddies could get together to shoot the shit and just have a good time. But now the podcast has become a global phenomenon.

Now, I know that Joe Rogan is a celebrity, and that he has spent decades perfecting his craft of speaking to an audience. But I also think that his level of celebrity was C-list at best, and (for me at least) it wasn’t until the JRE podcast hit its stride at about episode #310 with special guest Neil DeGrasse Tyson that his message or “signal” really took off. That episode marked the point where Joe stepped out of his comfort level and reinvented himself. Transitioning from purely comedic to a knowledge bearer role, and he began using his platform to inform as well as to entertain.

2 – Throw it out there and be yourself: AKA, to thine own self be true. Too many people are too careful to not offend, and too many people take offense at the slightest slight. Enough of that shit is enough.

Joe has interests that are all over the map: Aliens, Hunting, Ancient History, Martial Arts, Astrophysics, Muscle Cars, Politics, and for sure Drugs. Many of these topics are controversial, many are in the fringe, but he works through all of them with complete disregard to what others think about him.

Look, we were all forced to read 1984, but we went ahead and did it anyway. Now we have this thought police and social justice warrior movement that is just wrong. We all live here together on good ‘ol planet Earth and we will all make mistakes. It’s human nature. So, when that happens, it doesn’t mean you get to try to ruin someone’s life just because while they were sharing their thoughts and opinions with the world, they didn’t guess right on your particular hot topic of the month and inadvertently pushed your buttons when you weren’t ready. What it means is that the time is ripe to have an honest conversation, to openly discuss your difference in opinions and work toward an understanding.

3 – You need to get boots on the ground: If you choose to talk about something that you could actually experience, then you had damn well better experience it first. There’s a big world out there… Get off the couch and take a look around.

This is actually a criticism I have for Joe. He is a person of means and could afford a firsthand glimpse of all the locations, ruins, and antiquities that he talks about on his show. Often however it’s: “Jamie pull that up…” Instead I would like to see him begin to talk more from personal experience than from speculation. With his connections, Joe could have a backstage pass to everything, he could pay close, close attention to the man behind the curtain, and could then bring his perspective back to us. Perhaps that is the difference between a journalist and a commentator. With that said, seeing things firsthand is a goal I have established for myself. Time will tell.

4– Everyone needs a kick-ass sidekick: Speaking of “… pull that up…” In my opinion, Jamie doesn’t get the credit he deserves for all of the rapid research he performs, at the same time that he is producing/editing the show, in real time. I aspire to someday begin hosting a podcast of my own. I think it would be a ton of fun, but I also know that to create a good show it would take a ton of work. When that time finally arrives, I can only hope to find someone half as good as Young Jamie to help me get my signal out.

5 – There’s more to this life than violence: Rogan is a martial arts expert, an MMA commentator as well as a general, all-around bad ass. However, he frequently advises his listeners to avoid violence, speaks out against hitting and harming other people, and is a big proponent for civil discourse and discussion.

I never wanted to watch Tarantino movies. I could never see the draw in watching the Sopranos or Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones. I certainly didn’t want to sit and talk about those shows for hours on end, everywhere I went.  The closest I came was binge watching The Walking Dead for the first six seasons. (Again, by recommendation of my wonderful people, because I actually think a Z-poc could occur.) But when season 7 began and Negan was clubbing everyone in the head with a baseball bat, that was the end for me.

In a world where people can get killed because the commute is long, where gamers can call up a SWAT team to your house because they think it will be funny, where college professors are taking a swing at people’s heads with a bike lock just because they disagree, and actually happens, resorting to mindless, personal, “entertainment” violence just to pass the time doesn’t make any sense.

6 – Have something interesting to offer: Here I mean that you specifically should bring something unique and unexpected to share at the table. Joe typically lands on weed or booze, but artisan soap or smoked salmon would work just as well. Make it personal, regional, and sensory.

People are longing to belong, so make it easy for them to connect with you and become part of your tribe. I have a friend who makes and shares slaw style sauerkraut. I have another who makes his own bacon. For myself, I’m nearing in on a really good, hard apple cider. In our modern, mass produced, big box, lowest common denominator world, ANYTHING you can craft yourself appears as a miracle. We have forgotten how to make things by hand, and with others in mind. Time to bring that back.

7 – Be generous: Watch the podcast and listen for Joe to offer up almost everything he owns to his guests: “You should try my float tank; you should drive my Tesla; you need to take home some elk meat…” Go back and listen to some of the Duncan Trussell episodes where you learn how Joe brought Duncan into his home and put him up for a while during hard times. Listen to Joes friends talk about how he would buy everyone dinner at the best restaurant in whatever city their comedy tour happens to be that night. And leave huge tips for the staff. More recently, Joe offered to pay $30,000 for his friend, Miriam Nakamoto, to have stem cell treatment for her damaged knee.

Yes, yes, I know – Rogan is rich. But he’s also actively helping others with his riches, and more than that, he’s also generous with his time. He uses his podcast to help young talent get a start, or to allow underdog politicians have the depth of time to fully articulate their campaign goals. This level of generosity is a respectable display of character, and much easier talked about than emulated, but something to strive for nonetheless.

Anyway, that’s my take. While it may be a stretch to say that Joe Rogan changed my life, It isn’t that far from the truth. The more I learn about this guy, the more amazed I am with his drive and commitment. The world needs more people like Joe, and he has certainly made me question some of the things I was doing and start turning things around for the better.

I just know you have your own thoughts and opinions, and I would love to hear them. Let me know what you think

Thanks for the inspiration Joe.