#1898 - Neal Brennan
NaN minutesEpisode #1898
Neal Brennan is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, director and producer. His latest special, "Neal Brennan: Blocks," is now streaming on Netflix.
www.nealbrennan.com
Episodes with Neal Brennan
Episode Timestamps
Cult leaders and sexual exploitation
- Leaders of religious cults often claim God spoke to them and ask to sleep with their followers' wives
- There was a female cult leader who asked her followers to have sex with her if they were having a hard time
- A building once used by a cult was almost bought by the speaker
- People gravitate towards a leader who appears confident and tall
Response to COVID-19
- Dealing with COVID-19 was a complicated issue with no easy solution
- Hospitals and hospital beds were a major concern
- Health issues played a significant role in the pandemic, especially with a high obesity rate in America
- People had different opinions on vaccinations and their effectiveness
Pre-existing Health Conditions; Importance - 8/10; Bullet point summary - Talks about how COVID exposed the pre-existing health conditions in America, such as obesity, diabetes, and poor immune systems. Discusses the unhealthy lifestyle of Americans, stating that almost half are unhealthy.
- Talks about how COVID exposed the pre-existing health conditions in America, such as obesity, diabetes, and poor immune systems.
- Discusses the unhealthy lifestyle of Americans, stating that almost half are unhealthy.
Confusing Medications and Vaccines; Importance - 7/10; Bullet point summary - Discusses the confusion surrounding medications and vaccines during the pandemic. Talks about how companies producing vaccines wanted a binary solution and suppressed information to make profits. Mentions that there was no solution that made sense during the pandemic.
- Discusses the confusion surrounding medications and vaccines during the pandemic.
- Talks about how companies producing vaccines wanted a binary solution and suppressed information to make profits.
- Mentions that there was no solution that made sense during the pandemic.
Being mentally prepared for stand-up comedy
- The speaker and interviewer discuss the mental conditioning required for stand-up comedy
- Filming a special after taking a break from comedy is challenging
- Taking time off from comedy can lead to nerves and lack of confidence
Returning to stand-up comedy after COVID-19
- The speakers discuss their experiences returning to comedy after a break due to COVID-19
- Outdoor shows and protocols were implemented to ensure safety
- First shows were nerve-wracking and required preparation
- Having material ready before the break helped during the transition back to comedy
Discussion around Netflix's commercials and controversies;
- Talks about how Netflix's advertisements might affect the viewer experience
- Discusses how the Chappelle controversy affected Netflix's stocks and how some creators were upset with the platform's behavior
- Jokes about loving a show that had controversies and is still available on the platform
How fame at a young age can affect someone's life;
- Discusses how becoming famous at a young age can negatively impact someone's development
- Mentions that some child stars' parents have taken their earnings
- Reflects on how some stars have managed to succeed after childhood fame, such as Jodie Foster and Emma Watson
- Shares an anecdote of a friend whose parents stole his earnings.
Entitled People
- The discussion turns to entitled individuals who take advantage of successful people, like opening acts who ask for things they are not entitled to.
- The hosts discuss the implications of this behavior and how it affects relationships.
Dealing with Attention
- The hosts discuss the stress that comes with receiving attention.
- They talk about how it can be difficult to balance the need for validation with the need for personal boundaries, and the importance of finding a healthy balance.
Dealing with Social media criticisms
- Joe Rogan discusses how people often send him negative reviews and comments about his work and how he deals with them.
- He shares how he believes people should be entitled to express their opinions about his work.
- However, he does not indulge in negative reviews and comments. He doesn't like to read them and asks people not to send them to him.
- Joe Rogan shares how negative comments can affect some people, and it has messed up his trips in the past.
- Joe Rogan shares how he works out really hard after dealing with negative criticism, and it helps him reset his day and remove stress.
Elevating your ability to handle discomfort
- Joe Rogan discusses how physical discomfort can help people raise their bar of normalcy.
- He shares how doing endurance workouts like Tabata sprints can make you barely survive a workout, and you can't think of anything else during the workout.
- Joe Rogan shares how doing difficult things can change your ability to withstand discomfort and make you resilient.
- He also shares how people should elevate their ability to withstand discomfort, and if they can get there, it's a better place to be.
- He shares how he makes himself resilient by exercising and getting rid of the negative impact of Twitter boycotts.
The problem with people who start fights to make up
- Some people enjoy starting conflicts just to make up because the intense making up feels amazing
- Getting stuck in a relationship with someone who likes to berate, badger and insult you is the worst place to be
- Relationships rely on trust and honesty, but when someone is pretending, it can be difficult to navigate
- Being alone may have its problems, but it is much more manageable than being in a bad relationship
- Older men and younger women are accepted, but older women and younger men are often looked down upon.
Gold digging should be taught as a course
- Gold digging is a legal form of business but no courses teach it
- There are ways to talk girls through real psychological manipulation to get close to wealthy men
- Humans manipulate people, and children learn it at a young age
- Older men are often targeted, and there should be ways to protect them from gold diggers
- Humans manipulate, and gold digging is just a form of this.
Watching Human Development
- Watching children grow and develop is a surreal experience
- We often see people as static things and don't appreciate their development
- Having conversations with children like regular people is important
Spotify and Misinformation
- Decision-making in cases of misinformation can be tricky
- Accusations of misinformation can be unfounded, even with prominent doctors and physicians
- The lab leak hypothesis regarding COVID-19 is an important topic with funding implications for American taxpayers
Neuralink" -
- Importance of Neuralink as a new stage of human evolution
- Discussion of access and privilege in new technologies
- Potential advantages in business and calculations
Robot President" -
- Discussion of Presbot, an AI president
- Debate on what aspects of human history and psychology would be fed into the AI
The Plan for Ukraine
- The speaker discusses the idea of a robot president and how they would handle the situation in Ukraine
- The argument that Putin had about NATO encroaching on its borders is discussed
- The spread of ideology and government is noted as a reason for not letting G7 governments take land without consequences
- The speaker questions the idea that NATO would invade Russia, suggesting it was a fake argument
Extreme Wealth and Influence
- The dangers of extreme wealth and influence are discussed, specifically in relation to Elon Musk
- The difficulties of interacting with and responding to numerous social media followers are noted
- The speaker questions whether anyone can handle that level of interaction and influence while maintaining a sense of normalcy and balance
Selling Anti-Semitic Literature on Amazon
- The hosts discuss the film and book "Hebrews to Negros Wake Up Black America," which promotes anti-semitism and Holocaust denial.
- David Irving shared a link to the film on Amazon.
- The hosts express disbelief that the film is still for sale and discuss the cost of buying and renting it on Amazon.
- The book is also discussed and its placement on Amazon's charts.
The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Misinformation
- The hosts discuss the role of social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp in the spread of misinformation.
- They discuss a specific incident in Myanmar where the government used Facebook as a tool for ethnic cleansing.
- The risks of a "free for all" approach to misinformation and the difficulties of regulating it are discussed.
The Dilemma of Addressing Misinformation on Social Media
- Joe Rogan and guest discuss the challenges of addressing misinformation
- It's too late by the time misinformation is discovered in some cases (example: Myanmar)
- The potential negative effects of misinformation on real-world lives
- There are different opinions on whether to counter misinformation with truth or let it play out
- "Malinformation" is a new concept where true information is used out of context, making it dangerous
The Rise of Independent News Sources and the Decline of Corporate News
- The discussion shifts to people distrusting corporate news sources
- Independent journalists may have their own biases, but they don't lie or distribute propaganda
- The emergence of trusted independent journalists who adhere to the ethics of journalism
- People are turning to voices they trust rather than traditional news sources
Religion, Human Nature, and Ethics
- Joe and his guest discuss how religion can provide moral and ethical structure in societies.
- They acknowledge that people of any religion can be good or bad.
- They criticize the idea that religion is solely responsible for wars and argue that humans are naturally violent.
- They contend that institutions like religion have their flaws, which have led to criticism and atheism.
The Need for Structure and the Dangers of Misinformation
- Joe and his guest agree that people need structure and guidance in their lives.
- They discuss how some people turn to "wokeism" or cult-like systems for structure.
- They criticize the instability of institutional media and acknowledge that it can be factually correct.
- They discuss how misinformation, like the QAnon conspiracy, can influence easily influenced people and create real harm.
Rigging Elections
- The documentary Hacking Democracy is about Republican rigging during the Bush administration
- The company contributed largely to the campaign, and the owners had an interest in Republicans winning
- People have always been accused of rigging votes since the beginning of voting
- There is an incentive for someone to do something because of the power and money involved
Questioning Things
- People should question pretty much everything
- You're not automatically a hero for questioning or a sheep for accepting things
- People probably should accept some things because they don't have time to look into everything
- Having churches pay no taxes is wild
Psychedelic Experience and the Presence of God
- Author shares how his experience with the psychedelic ayahuasca changed his atheistic beliefs
- The author describes journey number three with ayahuasca, which made him feel as if he was in the presence of God
- The author describes a creation force, which is central to his experience but doesn't have rules or laws
Experience with Bufo and Thoughts on the Universe
- Author discusses his experience with Bufo, describing it as a rough and intense experience
- The author wonders if there is a trend in the universe of things becoming more complex
- The author wonders if this trend is all about moving towards a godlike being
Concerns about COVID-19 and misinformation
- COVID-19 is a topic that concerns many people, especially the elderly
- Information about COVID-19 is difficult to obtain and verify with certainty
- People need to be vigilant about misinformation and take necessary precautions
Government control of information
- Government control of information can be dangerous
- Allowing governments to control information can lead to propaganda and misinformation
- Instead of giving control to the government, it's better to trust the people and hope for more truthful, independent voices to emerge
Our biological limitations for dealing with an overwhelming amount of information
- Our biology is not equipped for the constant bombardment of information through technology.
- Many people are losing their minds because of the unnatural way they are interacting with the world.
- Online discussions can be unhealthy and affect mental health negatively.
Solving economic problems to address climate change
- The issue of climate change will result in significant migration and many deaths.
- Addressing economic problems in impoverished nations can help solve many issues related to climate change.
- Diseases like tuberculosis and malaria that primarily affect the poor should be more of a concern.
Other issues we should focus on |
- The speaker argues that there are other issues, such as economic development and innovation, that could save lives and improve people's quality of life in ways that also reduce disease, crime, and other preventable causes of death.
- He notes that climate change is also a problem, but that narrow-minded focus on it can distract from other important issues.
Concerns about loss of life |
- The speaker expresses sorrow over the impact of human activity on the environment and its effect on life.
- He acknowledges that reducing environmental harm is difficult, but stresses the need for action to improve quality of life, protect people from harm, and prevent death.
- He briefly touches on fracking and waste dumping as examples of environmental degradation.