Joe Rogan Experience

Embrace the unknown; sometimes the most miraculous experiences happen when you step out of your comfort zone.

Joe Rogan podcast - check it out! The Joe Rogan Experience is a train by day and Joe Rogan podcast by night.

All day, all right! Are you taking a selfie? No, I'm just making sure that there's nothing completely off looking about myself right now. What could possibly be different than the way when you walked in here? I have no idea, dude. I'll tell you what, it's so much fun walking in here and not being ready to throw up out of nerves. The first time I walked out of here, I went, "holy [expletive], I was actually nervous!" I don't get nervous, but the first time I was. I'm not nervous now, though. Good! Beautiful! Perfect! It's good to see you again. Every time I see you, I'm like, "I'm glad he's still alive." It's like where you live is so crazy.

Let me tell you, man, I don't understand why you continue to do it, but I guess you love it. I have to do it; there's nothing else I can do at this point. How long do you think you're going to stay out there? Until the mission's complete. Until the mission's complete! I mean, my whole life has been based around one goal: protecting this River. This year, we've just been experiencing miracles. What's happened in the last few months has been life-changing on a level that I didn't understand these things could happen.

When Lex came down, everything that happened was unexpected. You go out and you don't think that miraculous things are going to happen, but there have been strides towards notching wins in protecting this River and saving the Amazon. It's wild! So, is it because you’ve become more high profile that you've got more support? What has been the change? Well, I mean, coming on here helped a lot. Just coming over here, like three different people stopped me in the airport and were like, "Are you that guy from Joe Rogan?" I was like, "Are you serious?" I'm over there, and I'm not used to this. I live in the jungle, so I don't know. Then I come back here, and people are like, "Dude, I know you; you're the jungle guy!" I'm like, "Oh [expletive], this is new for me."

So, really, the thing that happened recently was that I went on Lex's show a year and a half ago, and he said, "I'm going to come down to the Amazon," which everybody says. You went on Lex's show, but Lex actually went on your show. You can say that he did it in the Amazon. To see Lex with his customary suit on, how hot was it? It was hot! If you watch that carefully, you can see him glistening. I was doing fine, but we both covered ourselves in bug spray, and we sat down and said, "Okay, we're just going to try it out. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work; it's fine."

But yeah, he came down for two weeks. The first day that he was here, I was like, "I want to show you the start of the Amazon rainforest," which begins in the Andes mountains. So we were at the western edge of the Amazon rainforest, and you have these glacial peaks up at 17,000 feet. I said to Lex, "I want to take you up to 17,000 feet. I want to go from source to river." His first day, he arrived, and we drove five hours to the base of this mountain. Then we met up with these experts who brought us up to the glacier where we could barely breathe.

Wow! It was intense. You're driving on roads where the cliff goes down [expletive]. I've seen those roads! I opened the car door to goof around with Lex and say, "Oh, I'm with Lex Freeman right now," and I looked over to see the wheel go over the [expletive] edge and skid back on. I was like, "Oh, it happens all the time." So we got out, let the car drive, and I said, "Look, the car's driving." Then we took a rock, and I said, "Yo Lex, this would be us if the car flipped." We threw a rock over the edge, and this big rock was just spinning. I thought, "Man, we would be chop meat by the bottom."

So we got up to 17,000 feet and saw the glacier. Whenever you bring somebody to the jungle, the thing is, you don't know how some people will react. Some people take to it; some people don't. Some people get to the jungle, and their skin doesn't react well to the bug bites. They're overwhelmed by the fact that they're far from everything. But Lex's eyes lit up! I didn't know he had that setting. He walked into the jungle, and it was a sight to behold.

=> 00:04:23

Embrace the wild within you; sometimes the jungle reveals your true strength.

See the wheel go over the edge and skid back on, and I was like, "Oh, it happens all the time." So, yeah, we got out and we walked. We let the car drive, and then what we did was take a rock. I was like, "Yo Lex, this would be us if the car flipped," and we threw a rock over the edge. This big rock was just spinning like this, and I was like, "Man, we would be chop meat by the bottom."

We got up to 70,000 ft and saw the glacier. Whenever you bring somebody to the jungle, the thing is, you don't know how some people will react. Some people take to it, while others don't. Some people get to the jungle and their skin doesn't react well to the bug bites; they feel overwhelmed by the fact that they're far from everything. However, Lex's eyes lit up. I didn't know he had that setting. He walked into the jungle and was like, "I like this." He got this grin on his face; he was a secret savage. Just look at his face—he wasn't messing around. He could live out there.

If you notice, he came to the Amazon looking like Lex in his profile picture, but when he left, he looked totally different. That process is what happened. He said, "If I'm coming down, I want to do what you guys do. I want to go on a deep expedition." So, me and JJ, who is the guy I work with down there—the local indigenous SAA native who is the reason I do the work I do—we said, "Okay, what are we going to do? Let's find the wildest place we can think of."

We decided to go way up our river. We were already two days deep into the jungle by boat, and we said, "Let's go five more hours up river, leave the boat, and then go from our river up to this other tributary." It was about 20 miles. I thought, "This will be fine." We packed our backpacks and machetes, and Lex was all good to go.

However, within the first five minutes, JJ macheted a branch that had wasps. Oh God! His whole head and neck got surrounded by wasps, and he got 30 stings. He ran, and right away we were like, "Oh God, here we go." We had to use a stick to get his hat out from under where the wasps were attacking. We hiked all day, but here's the thing: you think it's the rainforest, so there’s going to be water everywhere, but there was no water.

Picture being in a sauna for 8 hours straight without any water. We drank all of our water thinking we would find a stream, but we didn’t. We camped that night, dry camped, and fell asleep. The next morning, we woke up and were like, "We got to find water." At this point, Lex was asking, "How do you find water?" Well, I mean, there should just be streams, right?

This section of the forest was different from where we usually were, which is very flat with clear streams. Here, the jungle worked like a huge filtering system, so you could drink that water right out of the streams. But where we were, it was up and down, and that’s why we were sweating all day. We camped without water, and the next day, we started going again, still with no water. Lex started looking at me and said, "Dude, we can’t keep doing this."

We were slipping and sliding down slopes, hiking up slopes, and grabbing onto things. When you grab onto trees in the Amazon, they have spikes on them. You worry about stepping on venomous snakes and twisting an ankle; it was brutal travel—level 10 hiking. JJ made eye contact with me behind him, and he was just conveying, "This is not good."

By day three, we had gone a whole day without water at all. The temperature was 99° with full humidity. Oh my God! We were experiencing full dehydration, probably a little delirious. Our bodies weren’t working well, and we started making errors.

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=> 00:08:13

In the depths of the Amazon, the wilderness can turn from awe to isolation, reminding us that nature is both beautiful and unforgiving.

The experience of being in the Amazon rainforest was intense, especially with 99° full humidity. The conditions led to full dehydration, and I was probably a little delirious, completely delirious. My body wasn't functioning well, and I started making errors.

As we continued our trek through the forest, I started to take bad steps because I was tired. I thought, "I'll just step on this thing," and ended up stepping on a root that went down. I slid, hit the ground, and got tangled up in vines. We had pack rafts from a company called Pack Rafts, and we had paddles sticking out of our backpacks that kept getting caught on the vines. As we navigated through this incredibly dense forest, I spotted a huge tree, the size of the room, and asked JJ, "What tree is that?" He smiled at me, teacher to student, and said, "You know why you don't know what that is? You've never seen a mature mahogany tree because the loggers down there took them all out."

This forest has never been cut; it has existed for millions of years. The Amazon rainforest, geologically forming, has never been cut. As we moved through this untouched forest, we saw jaguar tracks, ancient mahogany trees, and ironwood trees. There were no signs of uncontacted tribes; it was a forest that no one had been through.

During our lunch break, we stopped to eat the last of our food. I had a compass, and as we reached the top of the hills, we realized that we were taking a 30° tilt to the west. This deviation was taking us about another 20 miles off course. We needed to hit the river, but we were going to end up hitting it over there instead. So, we had to correct our course. While we were eating the last of our food, we drank water out of a puddle. I have a video of this moment, and we were going to release it.

Lex, who was with us, looked at me and asked why I didn't bring a SteriPEN or something. I usually do everything with the local guys, and they assured me that there would be water, but we didn't anticipate this situation. Lex was crouched by the puddle with his backpack on, looking at the water. He then said, "I'm going to drink it." I pleaded with him, "Please don't drink that!" He insisted, "I don't care about anything else on Earth right now except for water." I was genuinely worried and said, "Please don't drink it." Thankfully, he did not drink it.

We were aware that if we got sick, we had no cell phone or communication to the outside world. We were at least 30 miles from the nearest river, and help was 100 miles away, deep in the Amazon. The feeling of being in the deep jungle, that sense of wilderness, was overwhelming. I know that feeling well; it's similar to when you're out elk hunting, and you realize just how out there you are. The wilderness can feel uncaring and lonely, even when you're with people. We started getting quiet, and the atmosphere shifted; it felt like we weren't having an awesome time anymore.

=> 00:11:51

In the face of destruction, a community united to save the Amazon, turning loggers into protectors and transforming despair into hope.

Now, except for water, I was like, please don't drink it. J is no joke—nope. We stopped for lunch, and he did not drink it. Wow, no, you know, we didn't want to risk it because now we're going into the jungle. If we get sick, we have no cell phone, no communication to the outside world. We're at least 30 miles from the nearest river, let alone help—that's 100 miles away, deep in the Amazon. The feeling of deep jungle, that feeling of wilderness, is overwhelming. I know you understand this, especially when you're out elk hunting; you get that feeling like, this is out there and uncaring.

It's very lonely, even when you're with people. The weight of the wilderness starts to press on you, and we began to get quiet. We weren't having an awesome time; we were feeling it. So, we ate some nuts, but we had nothing to wash it down with, just chewing on them. After that, we got up and took a few steps, and all of a sudden, everything changed. We came out onto a logging road, and JJ's face fell. I was heartbroken, and Lex looked confused.

What we realized was that in this ancient patch of forest, the progression of the metastasizing destruction moving through the Amazon comes in the form of roads. Someone had just cut a road, but they hadn't cut the ancient mahogany trees or the ironwood trees, and the wildlife was untouched. However, there was a road, so we knew they were coming. We used the road to hike out and reached water.

When we reached the river, it was amazing. We plunged into the water and drank. We did have some iodine tablets, which we put in our water bottles, and we drank as much as we wanted. Then, we had to raft for an entire day back to the place where we got picked up. What happened next was significant; now we know that some of the most ancient forests on Earth are about to be destroyed.

When we got back to our base, to our research station, it just so happened that there was a client staying in the Ala Sanctuary treehouse. We told him the whole story while we were drinking and eating, sunburnt, bug-bitten, and dehydrated, our cheeks stuck to our skulls. We expressed how brutal it would be to watch this forest get dismantled, and he responded, well, I want to help. He said, find out how we can get that land.

It hadn't really occurred to me that we could do anything about it. This guy's name is Jay, and he said, I'll start you off. Whatever the land costs, I'll give you $150,000. Do a fundraiser, put it public, and try to get matching donations. So, while we set up the fundraiser, JJ called up his friends who happened to own that land. His friends didn't want the land; they were contracting it to loggers to make some money.

We put it up on Instagram and raised $150,000 in 48 hours. We talked to the loggers, bought the land, and then the craziest part happened. When we went there, we physically met with all the directors of Jungle Keepers. The Peruvian director sat down with the loggers and said, look, we own this land now; it's for conservation. We're going to save this forest. The loggers responded, that's fine, but can we still work here?

We were taken aback. They said, we do this because we love it. We were like, yeah, you could be Rangers. These dudes were over there destroying the thing they love because they had no other opportunity. The fact that we now have this global network of people who care is incredible. The local people in the Amazon rainforest are trying to protect it, and now we have supporters from all over the world.

Because of all the work we've been doing, people know they can help. We have donors who give $5, $10, or $100 a month, creating a huge network. Now, we're able to get those wins. When we see a threatened patch of forest, we act quickly. We hire the loggers as Rangers, and everybody wins while we save the forest. Since the last time I saw you, we've gone from 55,000 acres to almost 100,000 acres. That's one-third of the way to protecting the 300,000 acres that we have to protect, so we're one-third of the way through the goal.

Wow, that's all been happening in the last month and a half. That's incredible—miracles! So, when you're navigating, you're not using GPS?

=> 00:15:34

Conservation isn't just about saving nature; it's about understanding and respecting the cultures that live within it.

We are trying to protect the Amazon, and now we have all these people from all over the world involved because of initiatives like this. Thanks to the work that we've been doing, people are aware of our efforts. We have individuals who donate $5, $10, or even $100 a month, creating a huge network of donors. This support allows us to achieve significant wins; for instance, when we see a threatened patch of forest, we act quickly. We hire loggers as Rangers, ensuring that everybody wins while we save the forest.

Since the last time I saw you, we have made remarkable progress. We have increased the area we protect from 55,000 acres to almost 100,000 acres. This means we are one-third of the way to our goal of protecting 300,000 acres. It's incredible to think that all of this has happened in just the last month and a half—miracles indeed!

When navigating through these remote areas, I do not rely on GPS; instead, I use a compass. Why? Because I believe in using the best tools for the job. In truly remote places, where you cannot afford to get lost, we do bring a Garmin GPS, but there are times when we have to navigate without it. For example, we once thought we could easily hike 20 miles into the forest, but we soon discovered that the terrain was much more challenging than anticipated. The forest was up and down and denser than others because it is ancient.

During this trip, I realized how difficult it was, especially when I brought Lex Freeman along. I worried he might suffer from dehydration. There were moments when he looked at me, and I could tell he was thinking, "What have you gotten us into?" Finding water in the jungle can be tricky. However, from our base, if you walk just five minutes back into the jungle, you can find a beautiful clear stream. I drink straight from it without any issues, but I would advise newcomers to take a sip first and see how their stomach reacts. After spending 20 years in the jungle, my gut is accustomed to it.

Some people are more fragile when it comes to their stomachs. For instance, you can take someone to Italy, and they might get sick from the food. Sunscreen and bug spray are essential, too. I once posted a video of myself drinking monkey head soup and coffee out of a bowl, which caused quite a stir.

When I mention monkey head soup, people often freak out. However, when you live with the locals, you adapt to their customs. If you go to someone's house and they eat monkeys, you participate in their traditions. We were on a beach where local hunters had caught monkeys, and we had to make do with what we had. We heated up the food in the morning and used bowls for coffee since we were on a canoe and had limited supplies. I shared this experience to illustrate why some people might not want my job—monkey head soup is one of those reasons!

As for the taste, it’s exactly what you might expect, but surprisingly, it’s not as bad as you think. Monkeys are part of the local diet, and part of the conservation strategy involves managing the monkey population. Just like we have deer tags to ensure sustainable deer populations for local communities, the locals want to keep eating monkeys. They love monkeys and want to maintain a manageable population for future consumption.

It’s essential to recognize that imposing restrictions on local diets can be seen as colonialist conservation. For example, telling locals they can't eat monkeys because we think it’s wrong doesn’t make sense, especially when we engage in activities like trout fishing and deer hunting. Interestingly, people often react differently to various types of hunting. For instance, many do not get upset about fishing, but if you show a picture of a dead deer, it elicits strong reactions.

Just yesterday, I posted a video of my experience with some Machenga natives. We caught a yellow catfish, and their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter was there with us. This interaction highlights the connection between local communities and their environment, showcasing the delicate balance of conservation and cultural practices.

=> 00:19:13

People are disconnected from the reality of where their food comes from, often romanticizing industrial agriculture while criticizing traditional practices.

The discussion around food sourcing and hunting often reveals a fascinating disconnect in people's perceptions. Monkeys are too closely related to us, which might explain why some individuals react strongly against hunting. Interestingly, people who get upset about hunting do not necessarily express the same outrage towards fishing. For example, if you present a plate of salmon as lunch, most people respond positively, saying, "Oh, this is my lunch today, everybody's like, oh that's healthy salmon." However, if you show a picture of a salmon, some people become upset. In contrast, when it comes to a steak, the reaction is generally muted, but a picture of a dead deer elicits a strong emotional response.

This week, I posted a video of my experience with some Machenga Natives where we caught a yellow catfish. Their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter was excitedly hugging the fish. However, the comments section exploded with outrage, particularly from vegans, who said things like, "I'm unfollowing you, that's disgusting." This little girl was thrilled because she lives in the jungle, where her diet consists mainly of rice and yuca. If she didn’t catch that fish, she would face malnutrition. This reaction highlights how people are so accustomed to supermarkets that they become delusional about where their food comes from.

Vegans, in particular, might be the most disconnected. If they truly understood monocrop agriculture, which supplies most of our food, they would be horrified. The use of industrial pesticides and herbicides leads to the death of countless small animals in the process. To clear space for farming, not only do you have to clear land, but you also have to eliminate groundhogs, ground squirrels, and anything else that might eat your crops.

In the jungle, the ongoing destruction, such as the burning of the Amazon, is largely driven by agriculture. Sixty percent of it is for beef, but a significant portion is also for crops like papaya, corn, and cacao. I often see claims of "sustainable cacao from the Amazon," but I question how that can be sustainable when it involves cutting down ecosystems that support thousands of species.

The term "sustainable" is often misused, much like "organic." For instance, there’s a product called Apal, which is a coating applied to fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh longer. While it may be plant-based, the actual ingredients are not always disclosed. Many people are unaware that they should wash off this coating with soap and water.

While at Elk camp, we discovered that to remove this coating from avocados, you need to dunk them in boiling water for ten seconds and then rinse them off. This raises the question: what is actually in this stuff? Most people will simply eat the apple without washing it properly. The labeling of products as "plant-based" and "organic" can be misleading, making consumers feel better about their choices without knowing the full story.

In conclusion, the conversation around food sourcing and the emotional responses to hunting versus fishing reveal a deep-seated disconnect in our understanding of where our food comes from and the implications of our agricultural practices.

=> 00:22:53

Our food system is like a hoarder's house—overwhelmed and full of hidden dangers.

Nobody knows that I don't know that. Right? So, I come up here, and I'm eating that thing. Exactly! Most people are just going to eat the apple; they're not going to wash it off with soap and water. But the thing is, they're saying it's plant-based and organic. Like, that's a thing—sustainable. These words that people use make you feel okay about what's going on. But I mean, I don't even know what the thing is in there.

They say to use a brush—a brush! Scrub it! Do you scrub your apples? What the heck are you talking about? Why are you putting something on the apple that I need to scrub? It says you can only remove it 100% by peeling it off. Oh my God! But I don't know that about an apple, 'cause apples are like, "You want to eat this?" Click on that—how to wash, remove, peel coating, vegetable coating. Let's see if we can watch a video; it'll show us how to do it.

Let’s go anywhere. Let's see which one—pick, uh, let's go with the first one. That lady, she's peeling it. Yeah, why do you peel produce? But isn't a lot of the nutrients in the skin? Slide wax and peel. So this is different, though; this is wax. Yeah, this is—uh, that's carton wax. That's like normal, but appeal is a new product, and it's one of those things.

Okay, let's see what this lady has to talk about. Let's talk about appeal. I don't like her earrings, but let's listen to her. She says it reduces the use of plastic. This compound uses plant material to make monoglycerides and diglycerides, AKA fats—a fat coating on fruits and vegetables. The intent? Less plastic, amazing! Longer shelf life? Fabulous! But what about the human cost?

What human cost? These fats are extracted from plants using ethyl acetate and heptane in the chemical process. To make these fats, they add ingredients that contain heavy metals. Oh great! Not all fats that come from plants are safe for human consumption. Generally speaking, olive oil comes from plants, and it's healthy. But canola oil, rapeseed oil, and cottonseed oil are fats that come from plants but are not healthy; they cause a lot of inflammation. It all depends on how the fats were extracted and how the chemical compound was created.

At this time, there's no human trials to show what happens to humans who consume fruits and vegetables with appeal on them on a regular basis. Oh great! Keep going. Yeah, why would there be human trials on something that people eat and it's all over supermarkets? But there's a lot of stuff coming out right now about the safety of our food.

Oh yeah, I keep hearing about this; it keeps showing up. Well, there was a big hearing in front of the Senate that Brigham Berer, who was on yesterday, was talking about. He was in front of all these representatives, trying to explain what the system is and how messed up it is. Most of these European countries and Canada have a lot of ingredients, particularly dyes, that we use. Like, you know, he was talking about how Lucky Charms that you buy in America, you can't sell in Canada. They have to sell a completely different Lucky Charms in Canada because Canada doesn't allow all these dyes.

Those super bright colors? Yeah, those are toxic dyes! And we allow them because we want people to eat. There's also a bunch of other ingredients that make the food more addictive. Those are in our food supplies, and some of them are illegal in other countries. It's not good, and it seems like the way he was describing it is like the FDA is just completely overwhelmed. They, you know, and the companies are just pushing this stuff through.

It's kind of like the way we described it yesterday—it's like a hoarder's house. Like, how do you clean this up? You get into a hoarder's house, and you're like, "Oh God, where do we even start?" That's what our food system is like—our food system is like a hoarder's house.

Well, I heard that guy; I don't remember his name. He was like, he's a capitalist. In the last week, you guys were talking about him. He was saying that when he travels abroad, he can eat whatever he wants, and then when he comes back to the US, he puts on weight. Yes, and that was Chth. Yeah, that was a great one! He was incredibly intelligent.

Then I was looking up something else, and something popped up where they were saying that the bread in Subway sandwiches is considered cake in Europe because of the sugar content. Yeah, some countries consider it cake 'cause it's mostly—it's like it's cake, not really. It's crazy! We have crazy food, and you know, I don't eat most of that stuff. But if you do, you're going to be really unhealthy.

Most people aren't educated. You know, it took me a long time to understand this stuff. I mean, I tried to eat healthy before that, but mostly through the podcast and talking to people, I got an understanding of how bad the stuff is.

=> 00:26:48

The food we eat today is often loaded with harmful chemicals that can wreak havoc on our health, and many of us are completely unaware of the long-term consequences.

In discussing dietary habits and health, a notable observation was made regarding how some individuals, after traveling abroad, tend to gain weight upon returning to the US. This phenomenon was highlighted with the example of a particularly intelligent individual who experienced this issue.

An interesting fact was brought up about Subway sandwiches: in Europe, the bread used in these sandwiches is considered cake due to its sugar content. In some countries, it is classified as cake because it is primarily made with ingredients that resemble cake rather than traditional bread. The conversation then shifted to the broader topic of nutrition and health, emphasizing that many people are not educated about the implications of their food choices. The speaker shared their journey of understanding how unhealthy certain foods can be, which was largely influenced by discussions on a podcast and personal experimentation with diet. They noted a significant improvement in their well-being compared to friends who do not follow similar dietary practices.

The speaker identified their current diet as being mostly carnivore, consisting primarily of meat and fruits. They mentioned that they hardly consume any vegetables but do not completely avoid them. For instance, if dining out, they would enjoy a Caesar salad without any adverse effects. However, they specifically noted that pasta and bread have a detrimental impact on their health. Interestingly, during a trip to Italy, they had no issues consuming pasta or pizza, which raised questions about the differences in food quality between the US and Europe.

The discussion then delved into the reasons behind these dietary differences, referencing insights from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Gary Brea. One significant factor mentioned was enriched flour, which contains various chemicals like folic acid that can be hard for the body to digest. In contrast, Italy uses heirloom wheat, the original form of wheat, which is less processed than the wheat commonly used in the US. The speaker explained that the US has modified wheat to increase yield, resulting in more complex gluten that complicates digestion.

Another critical point raised was the prevalence of glyphosate, a powerful pesticide found in many American diets. It was noted that approximately 90% of people tested had glyphosate in their systems, with alarming statistics indicating that 87% of children in the US have it in their urine. This situation is particularly concerning given that glyphosate has only been widely used since the mid-1990s, following the introduction of genetically modified seeds resistant to it. The speaker expressed concern about the long-term health consequences of consuming foods treated with such chemicals.

The conversation also touched on the historical context of harmful substances in food, mentioning that lead poisoning was a significant issue during the Gold Rush era, with many people suffering before the dangers were recognized. A humorous anecdote was shared about George Washington's dentures being made of lead, suggesting that this may have contributed to his erratic behavior.

Finally, the speaker highlighted the alarming discovery of microplastics in the human body, noting that many men have plastic found in their sperm and testicles, as well as in their brains. This revelation underscores the pervasive nature of plastic contamination and its potential health implications.

=> 00:30:54

Our health is at risk from the very things we consume daily, yet the conversation around food safety has become a political battleground instead of a universal concern.

The issue of chemical exposure in our daily lives is alarming, with terrible statistics indicating that 80% of people have it in their blood. Common culprits include Roundup, microplastics, and DDT. Historically, during the Gold Rush, many people used lead to replug cans after opening them, which led to thousands of deaths from lead poisoning before the dangers were understood. Shane Gillis humorously points out that George Washington's dentures were made out of lead, suggesting that his erratic behavior may have been a result of lead poisoning rather than bravery.

Recent studies reveal that many people, particularly men, have plastic in their sperm and testicles, as well as in their brains. A significant portion of this plastic comes from PVC, which is often found in water pipes. While some water pipes are metal, many houses utilize PVC pipes, especially under kitchen sinks. As water flows through these pipes, it picks up tiny particles of plastic, which then enter our food and drinks. For instance, cooking in the microwave with plastic lids or bowls contributes to this plastic intake.

I personally became concerned about this issue during an expedition where we used plastic cups to boil coffee. After realizing the potential risks, we switched to metal and glass cups. We also invested in a filtration system to reduce our reliance on bottled water. This shift reflects a broader movement in America, such as the Make America Healthy Again initiative led by Robert Kennedy Jr. and others. It is encouraging to see this movement gaining traction as people become increasingly aware of the chemicals in their food. However, the challenge arises when this concern is politically labeled as far-right ideology, particularly due to its association with the Trump administration's slogans.

It's troubling that in America, the poorest people often have the worst diets. While I have the privilege to choose healthier options like elk and vegetables, many cannot make those choices. It raises the question of why food safety has become a political issue. It should be a universal concern that transcends political divides. The same applies to nature conservation; it is perplexing how these issues have become politicized when they could easily be addressed collaboratively.

Moreover, it is shortsighted that we have ample resources to tackle problems in other countries, yet we neglect our own health issues. If left unchecked, corporations will continue to sell harmful products as long as they remain profitable and face no penalties. It is likely that those in power, who are aware of these dangers, do not consume the very products they promote. For example, there are claims that Steve Jobs did not allow his children to use screens, highlighting a disconnect between the elites and the general public. Meanwhile, in restaurants, it is common to see children mesmerized by iPads while their parents engage in conversation, illustrating how early exposure to technology is shaping the next generation.

=> 00:34:24

We must confront the reality that unchecked corporations prioritize profit over our well-being, while the very people behind these products often shield their own families from the harm they cause.

We need to do something about it now. It's just really scary when you think that if this goes unchecked, these corporations will continue to sell you things that are very bad for you, as long as they are profitable and not penalized for it. I guarantee you that those people who are in charge probably don't consume any of that.

It's like Steve Jobs; I don't know if it's true, but I heard that Steve Jobs wouldn't give his kids screens. Meanwhile, you go to restaurants and see little kids with an iPad sitting on a tray, just standing there so their parents can have a conversation. The kids are just hypnotized by some cartoon. They are swiping before they can even talk; they know this motion. Oh yeah, they got that finger out! I once saw a kid try to expand a magazine. I think I did that once too. I was just hanging out with a baby, showing him a book, and he put his hands on it and tried to swipe. I was like, "No, it doesn't work like that!" I think I almost did that once myself when I brought my hand up to a magazine. What the heck are you doing?

My thing is, the worst thing that I've done recently is that I started doing activities without my phone on me. I went for a run and saw something cool, and I thought, "Oh, I need to take a picture of that." I realized how the idea that I couldn't take a picture of something had become something I forgot about. I take a picture of everything; I probably take 400 pictures a day. I'm like, "I like that logo, bang! I like that street, bang!" It's cool to be able to do it, but now we're also inundated with images all over the world, and a lot of them are horrific events, which are the things that people are trying to capture the most.

So, every day, I ask myself, "What's going on today?" Right now, Iran is bombing Israel. There are missiles flying. Do you know about this? It's terrifying! It's on like Donkey Kong right now. See if you can get some of the footage. Iran is launching hundreds of missiles at Israel, and there was a mass shooting, some sort of terror attack in Tel Aviv today as well. So, there’s some sort of coordinated attack on Israel. Obviously, Israel just did that stuff with Hezbollah where they blew up the pagers and destroyed walkie-talkies, killing a bunch of people, and then shot a bunch of bombs into Lebanon. It's all getting very, very scary; it's ramping up in a terrifying way.

This video also shows that the Iron Dome, you know, Israel's famous missile defense system, doesn’t seem to be catching all of them. I mean, if you have enough launched your way at the same time, some of them are going to sneak through. This is what it looks like right now; it's crazy! These are all missiles flying at Israel. It's terrifying! The Iron Dome is basically a system designed to shoot them out of the sky. When they blow up, that’s the Iron Dome working. What it does is find the trajectory of these missiles; the ones that are going into open air areas are allowed to slip through because they won’t harm anything. But the ones that are heading into the city area are shot down.

I don’t know how many missiles they have to do this. I mean, you’d have to have thousands on standby. If they just launch enough at you, you're not going to have enough missiles. They launched 180 ballistic missiles! Can you imagine being in a city and seeing 180 missiles coming at you? I don’t know how people live continuously in areas where there are war zones. I know my friend Matt Gutman from ABC News works there, and I’ve seen him running through the streets doing hard-hitting stuff. But there are also just people getting their groceries. They say, "Yeah, man, this happens every day."

I have friends that live in Israel. Human beings are very adaptable, unfortunately, but fortunately, that's why we’re still here. However, we get accustomed to some pretty horrific conditions, and that’s what people are accustomed to. Imagine living in Gaza; imagine that you were living in a place where literally a year ago today, it was fine, it was normal. And now, it’s rubble, and there are tens of thousands of people dead. That’s an example of the harsh reality many face today.

=> 00:38:13

Human resilience is astonishing; we adapt to unimaginable horrors, but it's a heavy price to pay for survival.

Living continuously in areas where there's war zones is a reality for many people. For instance, my friend Matt Gutman from ABC News works in such environments, and I've seen him running through the streets, doing that hard-hitting stuff. However, amidst the chaos, there are also people just going about their daily lives, getting their groceries. They often say, "Yeah, man, this happens every day." I have friends who live in Israel, and it’s evident that human beings are very adaptable. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, this adaptability is why we’re still here. Yet, it’s disheartening how we can become accustomed to some pretty horrific conditions.

Imagine living in Gaza, where just a year ago, life was normal, and now it’s reduced to rubble with tens of thousands of people dead. This stark transformation exemplifies what I mean about the constant exposure to distressing images. I remember when the situation escalated; I firmly believe in focusing on one cause. For most people, unless you’re someone like Elon Musk who can juggle multiple commitments, you need to pick one thing to help. For me, I’ve dedicated myself to protecting the Amazon.

However, when I opened my phone one morning at my friend's house, I was confronted with a picture of a man lifting his dead baby with a crushed skull. It was so horrific that I threw my phone across the room, and it ruined my entire day. I’ve become someone who shields myself from much of what’s happening because the hysteria levels right now are overwhelming. I don’t think even during World War II, people were inundated with news 24/7. Back then, you might read a newspaper or talk to a few people and then return to your daily life. Now, it’s different; with constant updates on our phones, we see everything happening at once.

For example, news reports state that Iran launched a missile attack on Israel, but the Israeli military claims no casualties were reported. The Iron Dome system is designed to intercept threats, and a U.S. defense official mentioned that the United States intercepted some missiles to help defend Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have stated they will do everything necessary to protect the civilians of the state of Israel, urging people to stay in shelters. The explosions heard are often from interceptions or the falls of missiles.

Today, in Tel Aviv, there was a mass shooting that coincided with these tensions, which is incredibly frightening. Reports indicate at least eight people are dead from a suspected terror attack. Authorities say that two gunmen jumped off a train in the central Israeli city of Jaffa and began firing shortly after 7:00 p.m. local time, resulting in at least seven wounded. It’s alarming to see the chaos unfold, especially since many civilians in Israel are armed.

In Israel, it’s common to see civilians, including women, casually carrying weapons. There are numerous videos showcasing this, as many people have undergone mandatory military service. This means that in Israel, there are essentially no civilians; everyone is at least a former soldier and must be prepared for any situation. It’s a surreal reality where you might see someone with an AR-15 slung over their shoulder while enjoying coffee at a café. The juxtaposition of everyday life and the ever-present threat of violence is striking.

=> 00:42:05

Safety is a privilege we often take for granted, while many around the world live in constant readiness for conflict.

In Israel, it is common to see individuals, including hot girls walking on the street with machine guns. This phenomenon is largely due to the country's mandatory military service, which means that almost everyone is at least a former soldier. As a result, there are no civilians in the traditional sense; everyone is prepared for potential conflict. The reality is that at any moment, it could pop off, leading people to stay strapped with weapons of war. These are not just ordinary firearms; they come equipped with gigantic magazines, and it is likely that the individuals carrying them know how to use them effectively.

Both men and women are required to join the Israeli military, which is a stark contrast to the situation in the United States. The speaker reflects on this difference, noting that people in the U.S. have forgotten the importance of safety, which is a huge privilege. Growing up surrounded by the World War II generation, the speaker recalls how their experiences shaped the culture. However, for those born after 9/11, there seems to be a disconnect from the realities of conflict and the history that has led to the current state of safety in America.

The speaker points out that the few attacks on American soil, such as Pearl Harbor and 9/11, are stark reminders of the fragility of safety. In contrast, countries like Russia have endured significant losses throughout their history, particularly during World War II. The speaker highlights the horrific experiences faced by Russians during that time, emphasizing the ongoing conflicts that have shaped their national psyche.

In a more recent example of human shortsightedness, the speaker shares a troubling story about construction workers at the Great Wall of China. In an effort to save time, they broke down a section of this historic structure, illustrating a lack of respect for cultural heritage. The speaker expresses outrage, comparing this act to a previous incident where a 16-year-old cut down an iconic tree in the UK with a chainsaw. Such actions reflect a broader issue of people being gross and failing to understand the consequences of their actions.

Despite these negative examples, the speaker believes that there is a silver lining. They have spent the past year engaging with incredible people and have observed that more than ever, people are more considerate than they've ever been. While acknowledging the potential for disaster, there is also a sense of hope that we are alive at a time in history where awareness and consideration are on the rise.

=> 00:45:59

In a world where destruction often overshadows creation, it's the rare individuals dedicated to positive change that truly shine.

The discussion begins with a reflection on the iconic tree that was cut down, leaving many puzzled for two days about the decision. The sentiment expressed is one of frustration, as it highlights how people are gross and often shortsighted, failing to understand the consequences of their actions. The speaker acknowledges this tendency but contrasts it with their experiences over the past year, where they have been surrounded by incredible people. They believe that, more than ever, people are becoming more considerate.

While recognizing the potential for disaster in various capacities, the speaker emphasizes that we are living in a time when people are more considerate than they've ever been. They note that there will always be individuals willing to engage in destructive actions, such as launching missiles or chopping down ancient trees. However, there are also those, like the speaker, who dedicate their lives to saving the rainforest. This diversity in human behavior makes the exceptional efforts of individuals stand out even more.

The speaker reflects on the paradox of human nature, stating that you need evil to appreciate good and hate to appreciate love. This unfortunate reality is part of the human experience, where negative emotions can motivate positive actions, such as love, construction, and progress. They provide an example of this through the shift towards organic farming and regenerative agriculture. This change is driven by individuals who recognize the detrimental effects of industrial monocrop agriculture and the waste it produces.

One notable example is Will Harris, who operates a regenerative farm called White Oak Pastures in Georgia. It took him years to transition from an industrial farm to regenerative practices. The stark contrast between his farm and a neighboring industrial farm is evident in the river that runs alongside their properties. The speaker describes how there's a clear line of differentiation in the water quality, with Will's side being much clearer.

The discussion continues with a critique of industrial farming practices, where the topsoil is gone and essential minerals and nutrients are lacking. This leads to the reliance on industrial-strength fertilizers, which contribute to pollution in nearby rivers. The speaker emphasizes the dire consequences for aquatic life, as fish suffer from the toxic runoff. They express frustration that there seem to be no consequences for such harmful practices, questioning why farmers aren't held accountable for the damage they cause to the environment.

The conversation shifts to the topic of organic farming in Russia, where genetically modified crops are no longer allowed. The speaker highlights how, in a dictatorial regime, such regulations can be enforced. They draw a parallel between the destruction of natural resources and the accountability that exists in other contexts, such as damaging historical structures. The speaker concludes by suggesting that there is a need for more stringent regulations to prevent environmental degradation, particularly in the commoditization of resources like hemp, which could reduce the need to cut down trees.

=> 00:50:03

Hemp could revolutionize our world by replacing paper, reducing deforestation, and providing a sustainable resource that's stronger and faster to grow.

In Russia, organic farming has become a significant focus, with the government taking a strong stance against genetically modified crops. Interestingly, Putin has declared that such practices should be illegal. This is a reflection of how, when you are a dictator, you can enforce regulations that align with your vision. However, this raises a fundamental issue: if you were to approach a historical monument, like the Great Wall of China, with a sledgehammer, you would face severe consequences. Yet, it seems that activities such as cutting down forests, polluting rivers, and dumping waste in the ocean often go unchecked.

There is a pressing need to address the commoditization of hemp. A significant portion of the trees cut down each year is for paper production. In the United States alone, approximately 68 million trees are used annually for this purpose. The worldwide consumption of paper has surged by 400% in the last 40 years, with 35% of harvested trees being allocated for paper manufacturing. This is alarming, especially considering that hemp could serve as a sustainable alternative. Hemp grows rapidly and is genuinely renewable, thriving like a weed.

Hemp possesses remarkable properties; its fibers are incredibly durable, making it suitable for high-quality clothing, such as canvas. Interestingly, the word "canvas" actually derives from "cannabis." While hemp and psychoactive cannabis are related, they can be cultivated in non-psychoactive strains, primarily for industrial use rather than drug consumption.

The narrative surrounding marijuana took a turn in the 1930s with the invention of the decorticator, a machine that streamlined the processing of hemp fiber. This innovation coincided with the introduction of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, which made cotton a popular fabric. As a result, hemp, known for its durability, was overshadowed. For instance, a hemp Jiu-Jitsu gi can withstand significant wear and tear, unlike its cotton counterpart, which deteriorates much faster.

Moreover, hemp paper is far superior to traditional paper; it is tougher and more resistant to tearing. This unique quality has led some to describe hemp as an "alien plant," given its extraordinary characteristics. However, the rise of the decorticator posed a threat to certain industrial interests. William Randolph Hearst, who owned both Hearst Publications and paper mills, recognized the potential of hemp as a lucrative crop. His publications began to propagate a narrative against hemp, framing it as a threat to the paper industry. This shift in perception has had lasting implications for both hemp and cannabis in society.

=> 00:54:32

Hemp could save our forests and fight climate change, yet outdated propaganda keeps it sidelined.

Eight years in that shit's torn apart. The only thing that goes on are the threads, and you know, I don't even know if you can make hemp threads. The point is, it's far more durable as a paper; it's a far superior paper. It's much tougher. I've had hemp paper demonstrated to me, and it's hard to rip—man, it's crazy. It's weird; it's an alien plant.

When they invented the decorticator, William Randolph Hearst, who also owned Hearst Publications and paper mills, had on the cover of their magazine, "Hemp: The New Billion Dollar Crop." It showcased the decorticator, which was revolutionary at the time. The propaganda to stop the hemp industry from exploding was intense. Dupont came out with a chemical composition for nylon, claiming they would use nylon for ropes, even though hemp had always been used for ropes and sails.

The decorticator looks like a modern machine; it doesn't seem too complicated. It's basically a wheel with some teeth that grinds the fibers out of the hemp. Historically, they used slave labor for this incredibly backbreaking work, as the fibers are tough and durable. Once this machine got rolling, they realized, "Oh shit, let's start using hemp 'cause it's way better." All the forest cutting down was completely unnecessary, driven by the interests of a paper guy in the 1930s.

This paper mogul got together with Harry Anslinger, utilizing the same people who were enforcing alcohol prohibition to target marijuana. Interestingly, marijuana was never the term for cannabis; it was slang for a wild Mexican tobacco—a totally different plant. Hearst started printing articles about Mexicans and Black individuals smoking this new drug, marijuana, and supposedly raping white women. They funded Reefer Madness and other propaganda films, all stemming from their interest in hemp.

Research suggests that hemp is twice as effective as trees at absorbing and locking up carbon. Hemp is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, capable of growing four meters high in just 100 days. In that time, you can have a new crop, making it the best option for paper, which accounts for 40% of all the trees we’re chopping down.

Have you ever been to old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest where they do logging? Or seen the devastation in the Amazon from slash-and-burn practices? If you visit these cut places, you’ll see that while they plant new trees, it takes forever. It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for trees to grow back. I’ve seen pictures of trees double the size of a room before loggers come through, and then the heartbreaking aftermath. It's horrible that we can just walk up to something that's a thousand years old and make a basket out of it. This is unnecessary; it's totally unnecessary.

All of this can be mitigated. The real problem lies with hardwoods, which are very valuable and desirable. In some places, hardwoods are protected; for instance, in California, you can't chop down oak trees without a permit. We had a tree that was about to fall on our house, and in California, where earthquakes can occur, you have to be cautious. We need to figure out how our desire for hardwood, like a beautiful mahogany table, impacts the environment. If you could go to the Amazon and see that someone chopped down a tree for that purpose, it would change your perspective.

=> 00:58:41

Our desire for beautiful hardwood can come at a cost, as ancient trees fall to meet our cravings.

The real problem is hardwoods. Hardwoods are very, very valuable, and people like them. They are protected in some places and not in others. For example, in California, if you have oak trees, you can't chop them down unless you get a permit. We had a tree that was about to fall on our house; it was on its way down. You know, in California, the Earth tends to shake a little bit, and things can go sideways. Your house could get crushed by a tree.

We have to figure out how our desire for hardwood, like the source of that hardwood, affects the environment. If you desire a beautiful, mahogany table, it's gorgeous and amazing, but if you were to go to the Amazon and see that someone chopped down a tree to make that table, you might feel differently. Imagine seeing that massive tree, which people probably hadn't seen in a hundred years or maybe ever. Some of these trees are 1,200 years old. We might have been the first people to ever see that tree.

When I was in Scotland, I encountered something fascinating. They claimed to have a lot of really old stones. There are these guide stones on the ground, and when I asked about them, they said, "We don't know." I inquired about their age, and they told me they were about 5,000 years old. I was amazed that you could just walk up to a 5,000-year-old stone. There’s a stone circle out there, similar to Stonehenge but on a much smaller scale, and it's older than Stonehenge. It's just on the street in front of a guy's house.

This guy offered to show us the stones, which had a little plaque that was quite small. We got out of the car and walked over to it. You could stand on it, and I thought, "This is so weird." The guide said it was thousands and thousands of years old, made by the Druids, but they didn't know who constructed it or why. This guide stone was just lying on the ground next to a pathway, and I wondered why there wasn't a museum built around it. It seemed crazy that such an ancient artifact was just there.

While in Scotland, I also heard about the oldest tree in the world. I was skeptical, thinking it had to be in Africa or the Middle East. They claimed it was between 3,000 and 9,000 years old, which is a big swing in estimation. There seems to be a lot of guessing in that area. I asked to see a photo of the oldest tree, and they look gnarly, but when you walk by, you would think, "Oh, it's just a tree." You would never guess that it could be 9,000 years old.

I was curious about what the oldest tree in the world actually is. The person giving me the tour mentioned it, but I wasn't entirely convinced. I started looking up information, and it turns out the Bristlecone Pine in California is often cited as one of the oldest trees, with some being around 4,855 years old. One of them is named Methuselah. It was surprising to learn that the oldest tree looks like what you would expect an ancient tree to look like, but it’s not a massive tree. It seems that California has a rich history of ancient trees, which is fascinating.

=> 01:02:22

The oldest trees remind us that nature holds secrets we have yet to uncover, proving there's still so much we don't know about our world.

The discussion begins with a query about the Bristlecone Pine, specifically its location and age. The speaker expresses confusion, stating, "I don't know Bristlecone, where's that one?" They discover that the oldest tree in the world is indeed located in California, but there is some uncertainty regarding information from a website that mentions Atlanta. The speaker speculates whether the website might be studying trees from around the world, which leads them down a "wrong rabbit hole."

As the conversation progresses, they describe the appearance of the oldest tree, noting that it does not resemble the great redwoods of California. They inquire about the age of this ancient tree, revealing that it is 4,855 years old and is named Methuselah. The speaker mentions that the US Forest Service does not disclose the exact location of Methuselah nor do they release photographs of it, prompting a concern that someone might "mess it up."

The conversation shifts to the General Sherman tree, with the speaker curious about its age. They mention that another website claimed it might be 9,000 years old, but there is some confusion about whether they are referring to the same tree. The speaker reflects on the nature of estimating the ages of ancient trees, suggesting that it is often guesswork, and that it might benefit towns to exaggerate the ages of their trees for tourism purposes.

The discussion continues with a humorous observation about Scotland's population, stating, "there's no one in Scotland, bro." They then clarify that the General Sherman is a Sequoia and share their experiences in Northern California, describing the grandeur of the trees. They recall seeing a fallen sequoia that was 36 feet thick and how it spanned a city block. The speaker mentions a tree with a tunnel carved out for cars to drive through, expressing disbelief that some people want to cut down these magnificent trees.

The conversation touches on the General Sherman tree, which contains more wood volume in its trunk than any other tree on Earth. The speaker reflects on the contrast between the majestic trees and smaller desert plants, expressing skepticism about the claims of their age. They ponder the environmental conditions that allow trees to grow slowly over thousands of years, suggesting that knowledge of the world has expanded significantly compared to 500 years ago.

The discussion then shifts to the discovery of new human species, specifically the Denisovans, which were only identified in 2010. The speaker notes that many Aboriginal people in Australia may have Denisovan ancestry, as well as possibly Neanderthal lineage. They also mention the historical context of elephant species in Africa, highlighting that it wasn't until the 1990s that it was recognized there were two species instead of one.

Finally, the speaker reflects on the historical perception of gorillas, suggesting that they were considered mythical creatures until the early 19th century. They speculate about the first European encounters with gorillas, noting that local populations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon were already familiar with these animals long before European explorers arrived.

=> 01:06:03

The line between myth and reality blurs in the wild, revealing astonishing creatures that challenge our understanding of evolution and adaptation.

A lot of the Aboriginal people in Australia have Denisovan in them and maybe possibly even Neanderthal in them. They only described the fact that there were two species and not one species of elephant in Africa in the 1990s.

Wasn't a gorilla like a myth until the 1800s? When did they discover gorillas? I think the first European to see a gorilla probably saw it and couldn't get the word out. The first explorer, with his chain mail, showed up and looked at a gorilla. It wasn't until the early 19th century that the people native to the areas where they live, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon, knew gorillas better. However, among people outside of Africa, they were mostly considered mythological creatures—human-like, big, 400 lb monsters that seemed insane.

There’s a really controversial one called the Bondo ape, which is found in a particular area of the Congo called Billy. This area has an unusual strain of chimpanzees that have a crest on their head like a gorilla. Normally, a chimpanzee skull is smooth on the top, while gorillas have a big crest because their mandibular muscles are so massive; they mostly eat plants and fiber, crushing roots all day long.

Initially, these chimpanzees were thought to perhaps be a hybrid between chimpanzees and gorillas because they are much bigger—around five feet tall. This idea is controversial; some people think they are just an unusual group of chimpanzees. There’s a documentary on this area called Relentless Enemies, which is amazing. It tells the story of how a river changed course over the years, causing lions to get stuck on an island with nothing but water buffalo. As a result, all the lions looked like Yoel Romero; they just looked like Brock Lesnar lions. The female lions were as big as male lions in other parts of Africa, and they did all the heavy lifting, adapting to their environment.

There was some thought that maybe this unusual strain of chimpanzees had adapted and was just unusually large. There’s a guy named Carl Arman, a Swiss wildlife photographer, who dedicated his life to exploring these animals and documenting them. He got photographs of them using a camera trap, walking on two legs. You guys should see what they look like; they look nutty. They are hunched over a little bit, but they look so much bigger than a regular chimpanzee.

This is a real thing; this isn't like cryptozoology. They have tissue samples, bones, and even DNA. There are plenty of videos of these things; it’s an actual animal. The question is whether this is a subspecies or a completely different species. They have Bobo tissue, which is novel, so if it is, they’re trying to figure out exactly what happened and how many of them there are. It seems to be in this incredibly dense, war-torn area of the Congo where these things live.

We know there are bonobos, which kind of look like chimpanzees but are really different. They are not violent at all; they just have arguments and resolve conflicts. They probably eat hemp; I wonder what's in their diet. These chimpanzees are very different from the others, such as those from Chimp Nation, where they are super violent and kill monkeys all day, fighting over fruit.

Chimp Nation is the Netflix documentary where scientists were embedded with these chimpanzees for 20 years. The chimpanzees behaved completely normally. When you say "embedded," it’s like what Jane Goodall did—sitting right there with them. They set up camp in the forest and had very clear rules: number one, stay 20 yards away. Not much closer than that, but if it gets closer, get out of there. They brought no food, didn’t look them in the eyes, and didn’t mess around.

The chimpanzees, throughout their lives—probably living in the wild for 15 to 20 years—had been around these people, so they acted completely normally. Those people were just like another tree, just another thing that didn’t steal resources from them.

=> 01:09:58

Chimpanzees have a complex social structure that mirrors our own, showcasing fairness, community, and surprising behaviors that challenge our understanding of animal intelligence.

Scientists were embedded with these chimpanzees for 20 years, allowing the chimpanzees to behave completely normal. When you say "embedded," it's like what Goodall did—sitting right there with them. They set up camp in these forests and had very clear rules: number one, stay 20 yards away at all times. Not much closer than that; if you get closer than 20 yards, you have to get out of there. They also had strict rules about no food, don't bring any food, and don't look them in the eyes. There was no fooling around.

Throughout their lives, chimpanzees in the wild typically live around 15 to 20 years. Because these chimpanzees had been around these people their whole lives, they acted completely normal. To them, the researchers were just like another tree—just another thing that didn’t steal resources from them, didn’t try to intimidate them, and didn’t infringe on their territory. They never got closer than 20 yards, so there were no worries.

As a result of this unique setup, they captured insane footage, creating one of the most incredible documentary series of all time. They studied the social behavior between the chimpanzees, and I had the director of the series on my show. It was really fascinating. I asked him, "How often do they eat monkeys?" He replied, "Dude, we couldn't even show them all; they just eat monkeys all day—that's their favorite thing to do." They would rip them apart, and they didn’t even know that until the '90s.

There was a striking scene where a chimp had a monkey in its grasp, eating it from the hips down. The monkey had this little face that looked so much like ours, so close to us, while the chimp was just chewing chunks and pulling a leg off to hand it to another chimp, who was also chewing it. They share their food, which is a significant part of this documentary series.

Interestingly, their social structures are very similar to ours. We often think that the biggest chimpanzees, like the alpha male, hold the most power. However, sometimes it’s not about size; it’s about being smart and forming comrades and a community. Chimpanzees have a very strong sense of fairness. If one of the elders doesn’t get a piece of the monkey, they get furious—it’s a big deal. They have to make things right and soothe the anger of the others when someone feels slighted.

I always remember this from when I was a kid. I was watching a nature show that discussed what I call the third beetle principle. In this scenario, two male beetles were battling while the female was watching. During their fight, a third beetle would sneak in and mate with the female. This behavior is similar to what happens with elk and has been observed in white-tailed deer as well. The big guys are fighting, and while they are distracted, the smaller, sneakier ones take advantage of the situation.

Regarding the Bondo ape, it’s a controversial topic because many people don’t want to believe it’s real. There’s a photograph of a dead one that was shot at an airport, and it’s much bigger than the people around it. This brings to mind the movie The Congo, which, despite being a silly film, was based on the idea of these Bondo apes.

If you look at the camera trap photo of the Bondo ape, you can see how enormous they are. The researchers who captured the photo had a Land Rover and reported that when one walked by, it was taller than the truck. Some of these chimpanzees are around six feet tall, and just imagine how strong a regular chimp is.

=> 01:13:49

The Bondo ape is a real-life giant that challenges everything we thought we knew about primates. Imagine a six-foot-tall chimp with the strength of a 500-pound man—nature's true heavyweight.

There is a fascinating creature known as the Bondo ape, which some people mistakenly believed to be a hybrid between a chimpanzee and another species. At one point, they referred to it as "humanz." A wildlife photographer named Carl Aman captured a camera trap photo of this subspecies, which, although not the clearest version, shows the ape walking around. According to reports, these creatures are enormous; in fact, there was an incident where individuals in a Land Rover claimed that one of these apes was taller than their truck. Some of them are said to be around six feet tall, which is astonishing when considering the strength of a regular chimpanzee.

The Bondo ape is not well-studied due to its remote habitat, which is also quite dangerous to access. The skull of the Bondo ape is significantly larger than that of a regular chimpanzee, as illustrated in photographs that show the size difference. The locals refer to chimpanzees with two names: "tree beaters" and "lion killers." It's interesting to note that there are no lions in the jungle, as they typically inhabit the savannah. The name "lion killers" might just be a playful term, but there have been instances where these apes were filmed eating a leopard, although it remains unclear whether they killed it or found it dead.

Considering the strength of a regular chimpanzee, which can weigh around 180 pounds and possess the strength of a 500-pound man, the Bondo ape, being 6 feet tall and potentially weighing between 300 to 350 pounds, would be incredibly powerful. The thought of such an animal in a physical confrontation is quite daunting. There is a photograph of two men with a Bondo ape they shot, and the size difference is striking. While perspective can play tricks in photographs, the sheer size of the ape is undeniable.

Another intriguing case is that of a chimpanzee named Oliver, who was dressed up like a person and exhibited unusual facial features that made him appear almost human. This led some to speculate that he might be a hybrid, but it seems he is just a unique chimpanzee. Oliver was often seen in a suit and tie, and he developed a sexual attraction to his caretaker, preferring human interaction over that of other chimps. This situation highlights the complexities of primate behavior, as they can exhibit strong sexual urges and attachments, similar to humans.

In conclusion, the world of primates, particularly the Bondo ape and Oliver, showcases the remarkable and sometimes unsettling traits of these creatures. Their behaviors and physical characteristics continue to intrigue researchers and the public alike. Have you seen the Chimp Nation show on Netflix? It explores some of these fascinating aspects of primate life.

=> 01:17:48

Captive chimps and tigers are living in a twisted reality where wild instincts clash with human desires, leading to a cycle of exploitation and tragedy.

The discussion begins with the confusion surrounding the name Oliver, leading people to think he is some sort of hybrid. However, it seems that he is not a hybrid; he simply appears to be a chimpanzee. The situation is further complicated as he has been dressed in a suit and tie, which adds to the absurdity of the scenario. It is noted that he became sexually attracted to his caretaker and preferred humans over other chimps. The problem with this situation is that, like many animals, chimps can be quite sexually driven. Oliver, not having the opportunity to see other chimps, is unaware of their existence. Observers remark that he seems to express attraction towards his caretaker, which raises concerns about his behavior as a "horny" chimpanzee.

The conversation shifts to a Netflix show called Chimp Crazy, which features individuals who, instead of owning tigers, keep chimps in their homes. The hosts express disbelief at the recklessness of these people, with one character, Carl, humorously warning about the dangers of chimps, stating, "they'll eat you, Carl, you know goddamn well." An article about Oliver includes a photo that is misidentified, leading to further confusion about his identity. It is suggested that Oliver was likely taken from the Congo or another similar location.

The discussion continues with insights from the creators of Chimp Crazy, who explain the illegal trade of chimps. They describe how baby chimps are kidnapped from their mothers and raised in captivity in places like Wyoming and Missouri, where it is legal to own them. The conversation then touches on the infamous Tiger King and the bizarre world of individuals who keep wild animals. One of the guests recounts an invitation from a lesser-known character from the Tiger King saga, who claimed to be a conservationist and sought help in legitimizing his operations.

During a visit to this individual's facility, the hosts learned about the disturbing practices involved in breeding tigers. They discovered that after the tiger cubs grow too large and dangerous, the facility has an incinerator on site for disposal. The hosts were shocked to find that these operations were breeding tigers while simultaneously promoting a message of conservation. One host describes a surreal experience where a liger—an enormous hybrid of a tiger and a lion—walked by, evoking a sense of unease.

The conversation delves into the genetics of ligers, noting that they are hybrids resulting from a male tiger and a female lion. The issue with ligers is that they lack the gene that regulates size, leading them to grow excessively large. The hosts discuss how ligers can weigh over 900 pounds, making them one of the largest big cats. They compare this to Siberian tigers, which can also reach significant weights, but emphasize that ligers are often even larger. The discussion highlights the bizarre and troubling nature of keeping such animals in captivity, underscoring the ethical dilemmas surrounding exotic animal ownership.

=> 01:21:44

Ligers are the ultimate size anomaly, growing larger than any wild cat, but they come with a genetic twist that makes them unique and not quite right.

Lions possess a gene that regulates size. This gene is significant when a male lion breeds with a female lion. However, there is a notable issue with the liger, which is a hybrid of a male lion and a female tiger. The problem arises because one of the parents, either the female lion or the male tiger, has this gene that regulates size, but it does not exist in the liger. Consequently, ligers grow to be exceptionally large and do not appear "right."

Ligers can reach astonishing sizes; for instance, they can weigh over 900 pounds. Jamie mentioned that a liger named Hercules, the largest non-obese liger, weighed 922 pounds. At just three years old, Hercules weighed 408 pounds (approximately 184 kilograms). Another liger named Nook, residing at the Kings Animal Sanctuary in Wisconsin, weighed over 1,213 pounds. In contrast, lions and tigers in captivity typically weigh under 1,100 pounds.

When discussing Siberian tigers, the largest can weigh around 900 pounds and measure about 12 feet from nose to tail. A notable example is a tiger from a book titled "The Tiger," which is 10 feet 11 inches long and weighs 932 pounds. These magnificent creatures are often associated with the jungle, particularly in India, yet they thrive in the snowy regions of Siberia, where they dominate their environment, even controlling the bear and wolf populations.

The beauty of tigers is striking, especially considering their predatory nature. Their appearance can be mesmerizing, which might contribute to their hunting success. Interestingly, deer perceive colors differently; they do not see the color orange. This leads to the question of why tigers have orange and black stripes. The answer lies in their habitat; tigers blend into the grass and shadows, making them nearly invisible to their prey.

Moreover, the unique stripes of zebras serve a similar purpose, confusing predators. Animals like deer do not see the world as humans do; their vision relies heavily on edge detection and motion. This was highlighted during a recent elk hunting experience, where it became clear how well animals blend into their surroundings.

In an innovative approach to wildlife observation, a team is now utilizing Starlink technology to deploy camera traps in remote areas. By placing a Starlink device atop a tree, along with a solar panel, they can run remote camera traps that provide live feeds from previously inaccessible regions. This method is set to enhance our understanding of wildlife behavior and habitat use.

=> 01:25:46

Exploring the wild is a battle against nature and humanity, where every step can lead to discovery or danger.

In the densely foliated jungle, there are numerous trees where animals can easily blend right in and lay in wait for something slower than themselves. When discussing the Bondo ape, one of the innovative methods we are currently employing involves using Starlink to deploy camera traps in remote areas. A member of my team, Stan, figured out that by placing a Starlink unit at the top of a tree, we can gain access to areas that are otherwise unreachable. This setup includes a solar panel and a small box to run everything, allowing us to deploy remote camera traps around the area.

We are now receiving live feeds from parts of the Amazon where there are no people. With Starlink, we can send the data back via WiFi, eliminating the need to retrieve memory cards. We even get updates on our phones, which is incredible! If we were to do this in Bondo ape territory, we would likely find them, but the challenge lies in the human element. The region is essentially a war zone, controlled by warlords.

In the Congo, for instance, there are cobalt mines and various operations run by China, often involving slave labor. My friend Justin runs a charity called Fight for the Forgotten, which aims to build wells in the Congo. However, getting to these communities to help them is fraught with peril. Gunfights can break out, people get robbed, and individuals are often threatened at gunpoint. The lawlessness in these areas is rampant, with different towns controlled by different warlords. Sometimes, even translators will warn you that the situation is dangerous.

Studying chimpanzees in such environments is vastly different from, say, exploring the Pacific Northwest. In the latter, one might simply go into the woods and encounter wildlife, but in these regions, you are dealing with desperate humans who have lived their entire lives under these conditions.

Switching topics, when it comes to elk hunting, I typically give myself a week for the hunt. Some hunters, especially those with more time, may extend their trips to ten days. The hunting locations I choose are often private access, which makes a difference. On public land, there are usually many hunters, especially if elk are present, which pushes the elk deeper into the forest. To find them, my friend Aaron Snider will often pack a backpack and venture 26 to 30 miles in for two weeks.

Once you find an elk, the challenge is not just the hunt but also the packing out. If you kill an elk 30 miles in, that distance is not a straight line; it involves navigating up and down thousands of feet of elevation. It can take days to retrieve the animal. I've seen videos of Donnie Vincent, who documents his elk hunts well. He often carries a backpack with antlers attached, and it requires a strong back and trekking poles to manage the load.

When you finally get the elk, you have to preserve the meat, which can weigh hundreds of pounds. After we shot elk in Utah, we took the meat to a processing place that makes sausages and other products. They weigh the meat, and it’s quite a substantial amount, reflecting the effort and endurance required to retrieve it from the wilderness.

=> 01:29:41

Hunting elk isn't just about the thrill; it's a test of endurance, strategy, and teamwork. If you're not ready to carry 300 pounds through rugged terrain, you might want to rethink your approach.

When hunting elk, the process can be quite demanding, especially when it comes to preserving the meat. Depending on what the temperature is outside, you have to ensure that the meat is stored properly. Typically, you would put it somewhere cool, often in a cooler, and then you would quart it out and bone it out. After that, you might find yourself going back 30 miles for load number two. If you're hunting solo, which many guys do, you might have to make four trips to get all the meat out, as carrying it all at once is physically impossible without risking serious injury.

Elk are gigantic animals, weighing hundreds of pounds. For instance, after shooting elk in Utah, we took them to a meat processing place that makes sausages and other products. They weighed the harvested meat, which totaled 400 lbs. This weight does not account for the bones, which, if we estimate, could be around 100 lbs. Therefore, you're still looking at 300 lbs of meat that you need to transport on your own. Realistically, you would need to do this in 100 lb trips to avoid overexertion.

I know a guy who injured his back trying to carry 180 lbs over 25 miles, resulting in severe damage that affected his nerves and left him with lasting issues. When you shoot an elk, you take as much as you can carry and then return to retrieve the rest. In the meantime, the carcass is left behind, and you need to get back as soon as possible to prevent spoilage. During my hunting experience, it was hailing, and temperatures ranged from the 30s to the 40s. Fortunately, we managed to pack everything out the same day, thanks to friends who helped.

We were in a very steep canyon, which is a challenging location to access, making it a prime spot for elk. To prepare for such hunts, I train as if I'm preparing for a fight, doing sprints on the air dime machine, box jumps, and bodyweight squats to build strong legs. This training is crucial because the terrain can be incredibly tough, and elk are adept at navigating these areas. They instinctively know where to hide from hunters, often in locations that are difficult to reach.

During my hunt, I was fortunate to have five guys in camp with me, and everyone took a load to help with the transport. There’s a photo of us packing it out on Instagram, which captures the teamwork involved. If it had just been my friend Colton and me, it would have taken us most of the day to get everything to the top of the hill where we could access a vehicle.

Many effective hunters who venture into public land face tougher challenges due to the pressure from other hunters. To find where the elk are hiding, they often have to cover a lot of ground. These hunters typically carry their entire camp on their backs, making sacrifices like chopping their toothbrush in half and bringing only essential items. They are well-prepared, knowing where the water sources are, and they utilize various techniques to ensure a successful hunt.

=> 01:33:18

True wilderness hunting demands strength, strategy, and a willingness to embrace the challenge of nature, where survival is a test of both body and mind.

Most of the day, we spent hiking to get to the top of the hill where we could access it with a 4x4. It’s good that we weren't worried about camping gear, so we were okay. However, a lot of guys do carry camping gear, and those guys are the most effective hunters who venture into public land, which is a much tougher challenge. This is due to the pressure from other hunters and the need to go where the elk are. With so many people around, the elk will quickly get the out of Dodge, so you have to find out where they are.

It requires a lot more groundwork, and you end up covering many more miles. These dedicated hunters put their camp on their backs, often chopping their toothbrushes in half and bringing lightweight gear. They know where the water is located and utilize tools like OnX Maps to chart their paths. When we pack out, we carry all the elk quarters on different people's backs. In the photo, you can see me carrying the head out with the antlers. We were really lucky to have friends there to help us. If you do that by yourself and you're 30 miles in, you have to be incredibly strong.

The shot that day was from my friend Adam Green Tree, an awesome photographer living in Australia who was with us hunting. The kind of hunting I do is the easiest kind in terms of bow hunting in the wilderness. You can do it with a gun, which is 100 times easier. However, what I mean is that there won’t be a lot of people around, and you know the elk are there. The much more difficult path is for the public land hunter who has to go deep into the forest to escape the crowds. My friend Adam once went 23 miles into the forest, thinking no one would be there, only to find two other hunters.

There’s a category of hunter that consists of athletes who love the challenge. These guys are super physically fit, allowing them to venture 25 to 30 miles in and be alone, which is pretty serious. You did a great job explaining to one guy about the relationship between wolves and elk. You mentioned that fundamentally, animals eat each other, and because of wolves, elk are mega athletes that can run up mountains. I was listening and thinking, "Yes, yes, yes!" That’s why they are the way they are; you can’t take that out of the equation.

Some people want all the elk to live in harmony without the fear of being eaten, but that’s not realistic. If you argue against hunting, you’re essentially advocating for these animals to die in a far more horrific way. We need population control; some argue we need it with people, but that’s a separate discussion. With animals, we have wildlife biologists who are incredibly skilled at their jobs. They understand the holding populations, determining how much food is available and how many deer are present. They can issue a sustainable number of tags to keep populations in check.

However, we must also consider the impact of wolves. When wolves move into an area, everything gets turned upside down. They kill off a significant percentage of the calves and domestic animals. There are instances of surplus kills, like in Wyoming, where wolves killed around a hundred cow elk, leaving them just lying there. If they can do it, they will; they can’t help themselves. If they corner their prey or if the animals are trapped in snow, they can go on a slaughter fest.

This reminds me of when we were in school and learned that Native Americans only took what they needed. After reading Empire of the Summer Moon, I realized how misleading that narrative was. The Native Americans were incredibly brutal to each other, and the conflicts were intense. That book changed my entire perspective. I heard they are making a movie about it; I hope they do it right. It’s being produced by Taylor Sheridan, so I have faith it will be handled well. I was reading that book during an expedition and reflecting on when we stopped being warriors—not in the physical sense, but in terms of mentality.

=> 01:37:05

History isn't always what it seems; the truth can be brutal and complex, reshaping our understanding of the past.

They got them cornered; they just go on a slaughterfest. Well, it's like when we were in school, and they were like, you know, the Native Americans only took what they needed. Then, you read Empire of the Summer Moon, and you're like, oh, it's all lies. The Native Americans were unbelievably brutal to each other. The comanches were insane. That book changed my whole view of everything. They're going to do a movie; they better do it right. Is it a movie or a series? It's a movie, right? I hope they do a movie, but it's Taylor Sheridan, so yeah, he'll do it right.

I was reading that book on an expedition, and I was like, when did we stop being warriors? Never! No, I'm talking about the mentality. The mentality where they'd be like, oh yeah, Quanah was, you know, by this stream, and they saw another tribe going by, and they just went, let's go get them. Yeah, you don't need to do that; you might die. But they were just like, let's go. They went on raiding parties. That's what it was to them; they'd go and find other native tribes and [expletive] them up—and sometimes eat them.

But I'm saying, given the modern context, we're raised to be so sensitive and so considerate. And it's like these people you read about—I don't remember Quanah's mom's name, but the woman that was... there’s a photo of her in the lobby, yeah, breastfeeding her baby. She was kidnapped, and I think she had a baby that they killed. Fast forward like 5 years, 10 years later, and she only speaks Comanche. She didn’t have a baby when they caught her; no, she was only nine. Okay, I thought there was someone that they caught, and she had a baby, and they killed it on the rock. But then she became a Comanche. I think they killed her mother’s other child. Yeah, I think that's what happened when they killed her mother, and they raped her mother. They were unbelievably brutal.

But they had a hard time with their population because they were riding horses so much, so they were losing a lot of babies. Exactly! So, to mitigate that, they would take young kids. They would find young kids, kidnap them, and bring them into the tribe. They would kill the parents, and oh my God, some of the stories are so... And what the craziest thing is what our government did. Our government was like, Hey, you want a homestead? Go out there; we'll give you a chunk of land. What was that? They did it to bait people.

The first scene of that book, the guy goes out there and he's like, Hello, good friends! Good day to you! and they cut his head off and peel his face off. It's like, holy [expletive], they kill everybody! Well, you know you're on their land as far as they're concerned. What the [expletive] are you doing? And what the government was doing was saying, Hey, you can go homestead out there, and it was baiting them. Then they made these people fight off the Comanche. If it wasn't for Jack Hayes and the Texas Rangers, Texas would have never been settled. This was all the Comanche, dude.

There are so many arrowheads here; it's mad! I would go nuts if I found an arrowhead in real life. Like, if I was walking and I found an arrowhead, it would be the best day of my life! I found one once in Nevada. You found it? No, I did not find that one; that one was given to me. It’s a real Native American arrowhead. Absolutely! My friend Remy said that’s probably one they used for fish because it's larger. He said the ones they use for deer are smaller because, you know, they don't have a lot of force in their bows, and they have to penetrate, so they want a smaller diameter arrowhead.

Ouch! That would [expletive] you up! Oh, that's so cool! They used to have the ability to hold all their arrows in between their fingers so they could fire off arrows one after another. This is why when they came up with the gun, they were like, this is not good enough; one shot? Yeah, and then you got to sit there and [expletive] and they just fill you up with arrows. So when Colt developed a revolver, that changed the game because now all of a sudden these guys had cartridges. I think the initial one was five shots. So then they could just pop the cartridge out, put a new one in, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. It changed the game!

The crazy thing is he was sitting over there in New Jersey, I think, developing that, and he was like, I'm tinkering, and he sent it to... I think they said he sent it over there, and everyone was like, What is this? Not only that, the government didn't want it for soldiers. Why do we need this? We don't need this. But the Texas Rangers used it and figured out, Yeah, we need that [expletive] thing! So they were really the predecessor to our image of the cowboy. That's the birth of the cowboy, right?

=> 01:40:38

Innovation often comes from unexpected places, and sometimes the most revolutionary ideas are initially dismissed.

The development of the revolver by Colt was a significant turning point in firearm technology. Colt developed a revolver that changed the game because, all of a sudden, these guys had cartridges. I think the initial model had five shots, allowing them to pop the cartridge out, put a new one in, and fire rapidly—bang bang bang bang bang. This innovation truly changed the game. Interestingly, Colt was tinkering away in New Jersey, and when he sent his invention out, many people were puzzled, asking, "What is this?" Not only that, but the government initially rejected it for soldiers, questioning, "Why do we need this?" However, the Texas Rangers recognized its potential and decided, "Yeah, we need that [__] thing." They became the predecessors to our modern image of the cowboy, marking the birth of the cowboy.

This iconic image of a cowboy—a man with a hat on a horse—emerged during a transitional period in American history. It seems that the period of the Wild West was relatively short-lived. It’s amusing to note that while there are not many cool movies about the Civil War, there are plenty of romanticized Western films. This genre is popular because it captures the imagination, despite the history of genocide in North America being poorly documented in film. Most movies focus on shootouts in saloons between "bad Americans," with only occasional appearances by Native Americans, often portrayed as antagonists. For instance, in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, there’s a scene where they have a Native American tracker, which reflects a narrow perspective—the perspective of the people that came over.

The real history of what happened to Native Americans is akin to what occurred in the Amazon. When explorers first arrived, they found complex cities and abundant resources, but by the time they returned, many indigenous people had died from diseases brought by Europeans. The infamous blanket incident involving smallpox is often exaggerated; while there may have been instances of blankets being intentionally infected, the disease spread rapidly because Europeans had some immunity, having been exposed to it for generations. In contrast, the indigenous populations had no such defenses, leading to devastating consequences.

Recently, I embarked on an expedition in the Amazon with my friend JJ. We chose a remote area on the map, devoid of towns or modern civilization, and began our journey. It took us a week to reach our destination, involving multiple flights and a three-day boat ride, spending nine hours a day on the water. Upon arriving at the last town, we inquired about the area ahead. The most shocking experience was encountering small, indigenous people who were still using bows and arrows. As soon as they noticed us, they hid. We learned that they were known as the Nawa, a group that has remained largely uncontacted and isolated from the modern world.

=> 01:44:14

In the heart of the Amazon, uncontacted tribes face a modern world that threatens to erase their existence, caught between ancient traditions and the relentless advance of capitalism.

In a remote part of the Amazon, there were tiny little people who seemed to exist in a world apart from the modernity surrounding them. As we walked through the area, we encountered normal Peruvians engaged in various activities like logging and gold mining. They were using chainsaws and operating gasoline barges, while also navigating the waters with prostitute boats that functioned like floating brothels, where payment could surprisingly be made in wood—no joke.

This place felt like stepping into a time machine. While modern machines were present, in the corners of our vision, we spotted these small individuals still wielding bows and arrows. As soon as they noticed us, they would hide, prompting our curiosity about their identity. We learned they were the Nawa, a group that had been shooting arrows at oil company workers trying to access a previously untouched part of the forest. As people began to venture deeper into the Amazon, the situation escalated, with arrows flying by the oil workers.

To address this conflict, the oil companies funded missionaries to engage with the Nawa. The missionaries were sent to persuade them to return to the nearest town. These were uncontacted tribes, and we found ourselves in a position to communicate with them, greeting them with a simple "Ola." The missionaries, however, seemed to struggle with communication, often resorting to holding up a Bible and hoping for understanding. I wondered if they were affiliated with the Mormons, but I couldn't confirm their identity. One missionary even gave me a dirty evil look as he walked away, which felt ominous.

The missionaries appeared to be working for the oil companies, clearing the way through the forest under the guise of helping the Nawa. They were following missionary protocols to bring these people into modern society. Through two translators, we learned that one of the Nawa men expressed his desire to return to his home in the jungle. He revealed that the missionaries had promised him food if he came to the town, but once there, he found himself in a capitalist society where he needed money to buy food. The Nawa, armed only with their bows and arrows, discovered that the animals they once hunted were no longer around due to overhunting.

Trapped in this new reality, the Nawa were stuck—three days' travel by boat from their home, approximately 70 miles up the river. They arrived in modern society a thousand years late, terrified and confused, unable to navigate this new world. I felt a deep sense of empathy for them as they sat at the edges of the streets, surrounded by motorcycles and boats, desperately trying to find something to hunt, like a rat. It was a terrifying sight.

Their situation was dire; they had no understanding of the language or the society they were thrust into. The Nawa spoke their own language, which was two degrees removed from the local tribal language, Yin. Communication was a challenge, requiring translation from Spanish to Yin to Nawa. We were present during this chaotic moment, trying to comprehend how long the Nawa had lived in isolation. They were literally living in a camp at the edge of this rapidly changing world, and it was clear that no one was there to help them.

=> 01:47:42

Encountering uncontacted tribes reveals the stark divide between worlds, where one side holds modernity and the other clings to ancient ways, leaving both terrified and misunderstood.

It was terrifying. Oh my God, it was terrifying. I felt so bad for them because they had no idea what was happening. They don't even speak the language; they are two degrees separated with language. For example, you could speak Yin, which is the local tribal language there, but these people don’t even speak that. They speak their own language, so you would have to go from Spanish to Y to Nawa. Oh my God, we were there, and these people were asking, “How does someone know Nawa that you talk to?” One of the Y guys I knew had been living there, so he picked up a few Nawa words.

These people had been living in a camp by the trees; they wanted to be by the trees. Oh my God, there were people there where you could buy a Coca-Cola. This was like a place where you could buy gasoline, Coca-Cola, whatever. Way out there, there was a boat that had some gasoline cylinders to fill up your boat. This place was like during the gold rush in Alaska; it was the last stop before you go into the wild. Oh my God, it was really horrible to see.

I think reading "Empire of the Summer Moon" made it even worse because it describes how dirty the situation is. They trick these people, take them into town, and just abandon them. Yeah, oh my God, how could they know that someone would do that to them? They don’t even know what a town is like. It was terrifying. You could see them washing by the river, trying to feed their babies, but no one gives a [__]. They are treated like dirt too. Humans are humans, and right now, no one wants to help them. Nobody could talk to them, and of course, they were frustrated, so they weren’t exactly friendly either.

Wow, it was crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy. Have you seen that overhead footage? There’s a camera on some op or something photographing these guys, and they’re all pointing arrows. How wild is that? I can show you something that I can’t show publicly, but look at this. Really? I got something that no one’s seen. This is from last week.

Oh wow, what Joe is looking at right now is a bunch of uncontacted tribes standing in the rain. Again, they don’t speak the language of the people trying to interact with them. This is across a river. Are these the same people that were in that town? No, these are not the Nawa; this is a different tribe. Oh my God, man, this is wild. It’s like imagining what it would be like to run into people hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Are you on the single guy yet? Incredible, man. I mean, that guy looks like someone from the past. Yep, he doesn’t look like someone from now. They sent them a canoe full of bananas, and now that guy is standing there in the cold, shaking his head. He might just not know the word for “blanket.” This is insane, man; this is incredible.

These are essentially some of the last people on Earth. There’s a huge debate about how we protect them. There are two camps: some people say they are running scared during the Industrial Revolution, pushed further out, and they are too scared to come in and get help. Then there are others who argue that they are Noble Savages who live out there because they want to, and they are the last free people.

Looking at these videos and seeing some of the stuff, they are trying to carefully interact with some of the most remote tribes. There are people who live seven days from the nearest town and speak a dialect of native language in the Amazon. The tribes will come out; they’ll look at them, make gestures, and do things. But if you get too close to them, they shoot you. So, you can’t just go up to them and say, “Hey man, what’s up? Do you want some eggs?” You can’t do that.

What happens is this standoff on either side of the river, where you have people living a remote lifestyle who are very indigenous but can still interact with us. They know about the modern world; they have seen a dollar before, have seen a spoon, the wheel, and so on.

=> 01:51:19

In the jungle, survival isn't just about finding food; it's a delicate dance with nature where every step could lead to danger.

In the Amazon, there are remote tribes whose members live seven days away from the nearest town. These tribes speak a dialect of a native language and often come out to observe outsiders. They may make gestures and sounds, but if someone gets too close, they will shoot. Therefore, you can't just approach them casually, saying, "Hey man, what's up? Do you want some eggs?" This creates a standoff on either side of the river, where you have people living a very indigenous lifestyle who can still interact with the modern world. Some of these individuals have seen a dollar or a spoon, while others might be wearing an Under Armour t-shirt.

The contrast is stark; on one side, you have modern individuals, and on the other, there are tribespeople who are often unclothed and engage in unique behaviors. For instance, they may tie their genitals to avoid injury from thorns while navigating through the jungle. One might see a man with his genitals tied up, which is a practical adaptation to their environment. The challenges of their surroundings are significant; they must protect themselves from mosquitoes and other insects that could pose health risks.

When nature calls in the jungle, the experience becomes even more complicated. As one prepares to relieve themselves, they must be vigilant against various bugs, including dung beetles that can be quite aggressive. These beetles can fly and have sharp exoskeletons, and there are stories of them injuring people, such as when one hit a friend's eye. The act of defecating in the jungle requires careful planning; one must break a stick to create a barrier of leaves to keep bugs away, hold onto a tree for support, and swat away any approaching dung beetles.

This is the reality of life in the jungle, where every action is fraught with potential dangers. When one decides to venture deeper into the jungle to observe these tribes, it can be both a fascinating and perilous journey. In one instance, it took a week to reach a launch point for an expedition, which included fishing and camping along the river. However, upon discovering signs of uncontacted tribes, the trackers, who were experienced in navigating these areas, deemed it too dangerous to proceed. They made the decision to turn back, realizing that continuing could lead to fatal consequences.

The tribes are aware of outsiders long before they are seen, and the noise from boats can alert them to an approaching presence. The trackers had heard of loggers encountering these tribes just weeks prior, underscoring the risks involved in such explorations.

=> 01:54:44

Respect nature or risk facing its wrath.

During a recent expedition, we experienced the thrill of drinking out of the river and camping on the beaches. However, we eventually reached a point where we found signs of uncontacted tribes, which made the situation increasingly dangerous. At that moment, the team decided, "we're going back, wow, 100% going back." It was a unanimous decision; there was absolutely no way to continue. The risks were too high, as it could lead to either getting killed or being killed. The team turned around, loaded their shotguns, and made it clear that they were leaving.

The tribes are aware of outsiders' presence long before the outsiders realize they are there. When approaching by boat, the noise can alert them from a distance. Just a few weeks prior, loggers had encountered a similar fate. They were working on the Taam Manu River when they were attacked. The loggers, who were cutting down trees, had no idea that the tribes were surrounding them. They were ambushed and two loggers were killed, their bodies found where they had stood.

I mentioned this incident to Jamie, who could probably find more information about it. I recalled seeing a blurry picture of the loggers, but it was too graphic to share. The dark web has some wild content, and my WhatsApp group is filled with crazy images. I promised to share some of the more shocking pictures with Jamie, including one of a gruesome scene where the bodies of the loggers had been left on the beach for days. They had bloated and turned white, resembling the Michelin Man. When vultures arrived, they began to rip out their eyeballs and disembowel them, leaving behind nothing but skeletons.

Now, due to my large social media following, I receive disturbing videos from people. One particularly unsettling video showed someone feeding a deer before shooting it in the head. I was taken aback and decided to be more cautious about what I opened. Recently, someone sent me a video of an elephant trainer in India. In the video, the trainer was working next to an elephant when it suddenly decided it had had enough. The elephant knocked him over, crushed his pelvis, and then pushed its foot on the trainer's head, flattening him.

Jamie found a picture of the aftermath, showing the trainer's broken gun and flattened head. This incident highlights the dangers of working with elephants, as they are not to be underestimated. The trainer had likely been around the elephant every day, but that day, the elephant decided it was time to retaliate. The video was horrific, showing the elephant stomping on the trainer, who was already severely injured. It serves as a stark reminder that people should know not to mess with elephants; they are not the cuddly creatures many believe them to be.

=> 01:58:20

Elephants are not just gentle giants; they can be fierce and unpredictable when pushed too far. Respect their space and nature.

Many people think elephants are cuddly, but the truth is they're not. They're not to be messed with. In one instance, an elephant had simply had enough of being poked and prodded. The situation escalated slowly; the elephant was likely around the person every day, but the constant annoyance finally pushed it over the edge. At that moment, the elephant decided, "that's enough."

The consequences were severe. By this point, the person was already injured, with a broken pelvis, and even if he survived, he would have been in excruciating pain. The elephant's anger was palpable, and the scene was horrifying as it began to stomp on the man. "He's already dead," someone remarked, as the elephant continued its assault, picking the person up in its mouth. It was clear that the elephant was extremely angry, and the situation was dire.

Interestingly, the elephant involved was not even one of the largest species. As noted, "that's probably like a 5,000 lb Asian elephant," while the largest African elephants can weigh around 24,000 lbs. These creatures are massive, comparable to 18-wheelers. The issue becomes even more complicated when considering the interactions between elephants and human communities. When elephants find crops, they often take over, as they have no understanding of ownership. "These are my pineapples," they might think, consuming everything in sight, leading to food shortages for the people who depend on those crops.

In discussing elephants, I can't help but share my favorite elephant story. I began working with a private game reserve in Africa called Buffalo Clof, run by incredible people, Warren and Wendy Ripping. They were using post-9/11 veterans to protect their elephants and rhinos. They discovered that a Saudi prince had elephants in the reserve, but due to a lack of irrigation, the elephants were dying.

After a flight over the area revealed dead animals, they learned there were about 10 or 11 elephants still alive. They took action by going to the South African court to repossess the elephant herd. The owners of the reserve used a helicopter to gather the elephants, darting the entire family at once. They transported them to Buffalo Clof, where they would be safe.

When the elephants woke up and came off the trucks, they were in a private game reserve where they could live out the rest of their lives safely. The transformation was incredible; they "exploded" into the water, drinking, playing, and rearranging the entire ecosystem. One of the females was even pregnant, which was a surprise to the team.

The work being done at Buffalo Clof is remarkable. They are not only protecting critically endangered species like the Black Rhinos and White Rhinos but also ensuring that elephants have a safe environment. The reserve is fenced in, which is common in South Africa, but it allows these animals to thrive. The elephants are now in a place where they are free and wild, with access to as much food as they want across 50,000 acres.

It's a dream scenario for an elephant. Imagine the moment they realize they are no longer in a barren environment, but instead in a bountiful place. The joy of being rescued and the stark contrast to their previous conditions is a powerful testament to the efforts being made to protect these magnificent creatures.

=> 02:01:47

Sustainable hunting can protect endangered species and support local communities, proving that valuing wildlife as a commodity can lead to conservation success.

In South Africa, hunting is conducted in a unique manner, particularly within fenced reserves. These reserves are essential for the conservation of species like Black Rhinos, which are currently on the brink of extinction. The environment in these reserves allows for a bountiful existence for elephants, who thrive in a space that spans 50,000 acres, providing them with ample food and freedom. However, the reality outside these reserves can be starkly different.

The contrast is evident when one considers the plight of wildlife in areas like the Amazon, where the owner of the reserve remarked, “you can no one’s going to pay you $30,000 to take a picture of a buffalo.” Instead, people are willing to pay that amount to hunt a buffalo, which highlights the role of sustainable hunting in protecting the entire ecosystem. This practice not only supports the conservation of leopards, elephants, and both black and white rhinos but also promotes tourism alongside hunting in these incredible game reserves.

Unfortunately, the harsh truth remains that the only way many people appreciate animals is by making them a commodity. This commodification can take the form of safari experiences or hunting opportunities. In the past, rampant poaching and market hunting pushed many species to the brink of extinction. For instance, there are animals in Texas that are endangered in their native habitats but have been bred in captivity, leading to a situation where there are more tigers in Texas than in the wild.

Moreover, hunting in Africa often results in the donation of meat to local tribes. A friend who participated in such an initiative shared an experience of visiting a school with dirt floors and no windows, where children relied on canned food. The community was overjoyed when they received hundreds of pounds of fresh meat, demonstrating the impact of these hunting practices on impoverished communities. However, the underlying issue remains: the need to elevate the standard of living for people in these impoverished countries.

Efforts should focus on providing resources such as fresh water and irrigation, rather than exploiting the local population for commodities like cobalt. This approach mirrors initiatives in the Amazon, where the goal is to offer loggers better job opportunities. Most individuals do not aspire to be loggers, gold miners, or poachers. While some may find excitement in gold mining, the reality for many is far less glamorous, especially when it involves destructive practices in the Amazon rainforest.

In a lighter vein, the conversation shifts to cinema, specifically the movie Sisu, which is likened to a John Wick film set during World War II. The plot follows a soldier turned gold miner who encounters Nazis while transporting his gold. The film features a protagonist who, despite being covered in scars from a life of war, manages to take down numerous adversaries, a scenario that, while entertaining, raises questions about realism in action films. The actor's identity remains a mystery, leaving the audience intrigued about the film's portrayal of a gritty, action-packed narrative.

=> 02:05:31

Chasing adrenaline is a lifestyle; it's about finding your wave and riding it, no matter the risks.

In a gripping narrative, a character finds gold after being retired from the war. As he attempts to hike out with his treasure, the Nazis show up, forcing him into a situation where he must kill them all. This scenario resembles those movies where one man can take down an entire room full of people, akin to John Wick. While some may find such plots unrealistic, this character, covered in scars from a lifetime of war, presents a more believable portrayal.

The actor, whose name remains unknown, is not Brendan Gleeson, but he is nonetheless compelling. The trailer, featuring a knife, promises an exciting experience. The conversation shifts to the series Peaky Blinders, which the speaker praises, expressing admiration for the character Alfie Solomons. The speaker admits to having trouble not adopting Alfie's mannerisms in daily life.

Additionally, the speaker shares enthusiasm for a new show called 100 Foot Wave, which chronicles surfers like Garrett McNamara who seek out massive waves. The story revolves around the discovery of a famous wave in Portugal, where the couple's journey is depicted in detail. The speaker describes the show as "wave porn," highlighting its stunning visuals and storytelling.

The intensity of the show is palpable, especially when discussing the brutal injuries sustained while riding 70-foot waves. The weight of the water is immense, and the risks involved are significant. The show also touches on the safety systems in place, such as the jet ski rescue system, which adds to the tension as viewers wonder about the surfers' fates.

The speaker reflects on the adrenaline-seeking nature of surfers, drawing parallels to veterans who remain calm after their experiences. This calmness is fascinating, as it contrasts with the adrenaline-fueled lives they lead. The conversation then shifts to Kelly Slater, who has been a guest on the show, and Laird Hamilton, a good friend of the speaker. Both are described as chill dudes, despite their intense pursuits.

Laird's unique workout routine, which involves walking on the bottom of a pool with weights, showcases his dedication and physical prowess. The speaker admires Laird's action-figure-like physique and notes that he is always striving for the next big wave, embodying the relentless spirit of surfers who seek the thrill of conquering nature's most formidable challenges.

=> 02:09:06

Life's not meant to be safe and boring; it's about embracing challenges that push you to grow and discover your true potential.

They are Kelly Slater. Yeah, have you had him in here? Yeah, I've had him; he's awesome. You've had Laird Hamilton? Yeah, Hamilton is a good friend of mine. He does that [] too. All these guys are chill dudes, like real serious people. Yeah, you know, Laird shows up in there, and they have him being like, "Yeah, that [] wave is crazy," you know, with his huge neck. He's just like, "Dude, you ever see his workout where he takes weights in the pool and walks on the bottom of the pool?" He's a [__] maniac.

No, he's always been incredible. I mean, you just look at him; he's built like an action figure. He's always been incredible—no days off with that guy. The world of just wanting to constantly get on the biggest waves is just such a nutty proposition. I totally understand it, though. I think it's like, to do something that’s insane, it’s like saying, "You know, you can ride a dragon," right? Or, you know, Elon’s like, "I want to go to Mars." Somebody tells you, "Look at that big mountain of water; you can fly on that," and you’re like, "I’m in! Sign me up!"

I mean, I feel like that’s snowboarding. Snowboarding is chiller; you’re not taking your life in your hands. But when you’re going as fast as you can on a snowboard down a mountain, you’re like, "Man, I am [__] surfing a mountain right now." It is cool; it’s the apex of life. I feel like that when I jump on an anaconda. I’m like, "I am going to die." When I’m on a snowboard—I don’t snowboard, but I ski—when I ski, I’m like, "Don’t get hurt, don’t get hurt, don’t get hurt." I’ve just been injured so many times in my life.

The last time I skied, I wiped out pretty hard. Skiing, I don’t like that your legs feel like they’re going to tie into a knot. I don’t like being attached to that board, either, because when you hit ice and fall forward, that face smack is coming right at you. I know a dude who got [__] up on a snowboard that way; the snowboard went up, and he landed headfirst and just got knocked out cold. His friends had to find him.

Somehow, I’ve taught all my friends how to snowboard, and I’ve never had anybody get hurt too badly. It’s always like, you know, the crazy Bunny Hill to whatever. My friend Shane Dorian, whom I was just talking about, destroyed his knee snowboarding. He slammed into a tree, tore it apart, and had to get reconstructive surgery. Think about that guy's whole life; it’s riding waves—Shane Dorian, yeah, he’s an awesome surfer, a big wave surfer. As soon as he got his knee reconstructed, he went right back to snowboarding.

I mean, dude, it’s the thing you love. It’s the thing you love. I mean, you can’t help it. No matter how many dung beetles fly up my ass, I just keep going back to the jungle. I understand, but I don’t get it. I do understand; it’s just that my brain didn’t go down that path. But I get the path. I could have gone down that path; I see it. I see the lure of the big wave, and I see the lure of the jungle.

I think you do a lot of things obsessively. I think that when you get interested in something—whether it’s elk hunting or archery or whatever—you go 100%. So you kind of get that same hit from it. These guys have just attached themselves to something that’s insane. I think it’s in everything. I think everything is like that. There are things that human beings find complicated and challenging; we gravitate towards those things because we get these rewards of accomplishment.

I think these rewards of accomplishment are built into our system of what it is to be a human being and what our purpose is on Earth. I think you can live your whole life and not find a thing that you find challenging and rewarding, and I think that’s a tragedy. I think you’re living a boring ass life. There’s a lot of people—the great Thoreau quote—most men live lives of silent desperation, and that’s real. Most people don’t have a thing that they do that excites them and is difficult and challenging and rewarding. That’s not a good life; it’s a safe life.

That’s what people want; they want a safe life. People want to retire; they want to go off into the sunset. It’s all [__]. Do you want a life filled with challenges and rewards? You want to learn about yourself along the way. You want to make mistakes because that’s how you grow. You want to do challenging things because that’s how you find out how far you can push yourself. You want to learn more because it elevates your capacity to understand things; it’s part of being alive.

=> 02:12:50

Don't settle for a life of silent desperation; embrace challenges, push your limits, and discover what truly excites you.

I think that's a tragedy because I believe you're living a boring ass life. There’s a lot of pain in that; as the great quote goes, most men live lives of silent desperation. That's real. Most people don't have a thing that excites them, and it’s difficult and challenging yet rewarding. This is not a good life; it’s a safe life. People want a safe life; they want to retire and go off into the sunset.

But do you want a life filled with challenges and rewards? Do you want to learn about yourself along the way? You want to make mistakes because that's how you grow. You want to do challenging things because that's how you find out how far you can push yourself. You want to learn more because it elevates your capacity to understand things. It’s part of being human; it’s a fascinating thing. The important part about it is that it’s elective. You don’t have to do it. You can get a very plain, boring job that’s not challenging or intriguing and just exist.

You could exist on bad food, consume bad information, watch television all day, and never challenge your mind. You could just dull yourself with alcohol and slowly rot until your body gives out. I think a lot of people clip their own wings, thinking, “That’s not me,” or “I don’t have access to that.” They don’t realize that the difference between them and someone like Goggins or Magnus is just obsession. It’s just about going out and doing it.

A lot of times, it’s about getting on a path. Think about Goggins: when he first started, what if he never decided to get fit? What if he stayed that 300-pound dude just drinking milkshakes all day? He was big and fat and couldn’t even run 100 yards. That’s who he was when he first started working out. Then, a switch flipped, and he got on a path and stayed on that path. He wasn’t on that path his whole life, and then all of a sudden, he became the biggest psycho of all time on that path.

You have to either have a traumatic event that wakes you up or some sort of boundless innate optimism that makes you think it’s possible. There are a whole bunch of different things that can happen to people. I think near-death experiences, the loss of a loved one, or maybe a realization that sometimes people just wake up and say, “I can’t do this anymore,” can trigger change. Whatever they’re doing that’s boring or soul-sucking leads them to a point where they go, “I can’t do this anymore.”

Sometimes it’s like an alcoholic hitting rock bottom: “I’m not drinking anymore; I’m done.” My friend Dave experienced this. He never went to rehab or anything. He crashed his car, got arrested because he ran away from the scene of the accident while drunk driving, and he said, “I’m never drinking again.” He never drank again until the day he died. He just reached his limit one day. He didn’t go to Alcoholics Anonymous; he was told he had to go, but he said, “No, I don’t. I’m just not drinking anymore. I’m done.”

He just had to reach that point where he was like, “This can’t be me anymore.” You just disgust yourself. There are many different ways to get to that realization. Sometimes you get to it through inspiration, sometimes through desperation, and sometimes just through intrigue. You might walk into a Jiu-Jitsu gym, having never done a martial art in your whole life, take a lesson, and think, “Oh my God, this is so fun!” Then, five years later, you’re a Jiu-Jitsu wizard and you’re obsessed with it. You train every day and embark on this new path as a human being because you found something that excited you.

It could be big wave surfing, playing chess, or anything else. There’s probably a thing out there that resonates with you; you just haven’t found it yet. Then there’s the challenge of getting outside of your comfort zone, which people don’t like to do. That’s where people struggle because they’ve never had any experience with it and don’t understand the reward of doing it.

But the people who do it all the time—whether it’s David Goggins, Joo, or anyone you see as a fitness influencer—stay on the path. The key is just that every day is a new challenge. You don’t want to do it every day; if you’re a guy who runs marathons, there’s no way you want to run every day. But if you want to run a sub-three-hour marathon, you’ve got to run every day and check your progress.

=> 02:16:28

Step outside your comfort zone and discover the rewarding path that leads to a life filled with meaning.

Many people struggle with the idea of getting outside of their comfort zone. This struggle often stems from a lack of experience and an inability to understand the reward of doing it. However, those who consistently push their limits, like David Goggins or various fitness influencers, remain committed to their paths. The key is to recognize that every day is a new challenge. For instance, if you're a marathon runner, you may not want to run every day, but if your goal is to run a sub three-hour marathon, then daily training becomes essential. This commitment includes monitoring your heart rate and ensuring proper nutrition, which can be incredibly challenging.

As people achieve small milestones, like completing a 5K, they often find themselves motivated to tackle bigger goals, such as a half marathon, and before they know it, they become serious runners. This transformation is common, and many express a desire to pursue adventurous paths, such as working in the jungle. When I hear people say, "I always wanted to do this," I encourage them to take action. Yet, the reality is that not everyone can make such a leap. Many individuals have families, mortgages, and responsibilities that prevent them from pursuing their dreams. For example, a father of four in Ohio may not be able to quit his job in Columbus to become a jungle keeper, but he can still take steps toward his passion.

Reflecting on my own journey, I began this path at the age of 17. At that age, you are often naive and full of energy, which can lead to a sense of confidence and intelligence that drives you to make bold choices. I found immense fulfillment in saving the rainforest, which provided my life with meaning. This sense of purpose is something many people lack, even those in seemingly good jobs. They often fill their lives with material possessions or engage in risky behaviors to compensate for this absence of meaning.

People chase after wealth, yet those who reach a certain income level can still feel inadequate when comparing themselves to others, like Jeff Bezos. I have never understood why someone would not simply enjoy their success and use it to help others, such as friends or neighbors in need. As someone who grew up poor, I can relate to the initial fear of not being able to maintain financial stability. It's common for individuals to become increasingly anxious about money as they earn more, often leading to changes in their behavior and attitudes.

However, when you engage in something you genuinely enjoy, like podcasting, earning money becomes a bonus rather than the primary motivation. The joy of talking to interesting people, such as someone living in the Amazon, becomes the focus of your work. This passion allows you to continue pursuing your interests without the overwhelming pressure of financial concerns.

=> 02:19:55

Do what you love and the money will follow, but don't get lost in the hype of quick cash schemes.

People often like change in how they talk about things, and they frequently change their opinions. They tend to avoid taking risks, wanting to keep that gravy train rolling. However, if you are doing something you enjoy, like podcasting, it can be a different story. For instance, when someone starts making money in podcasting, they might think, "Oh, this is great! I can make money doing a thing that I love to do." The thought of stopping doesn't even cross their mind. They might say, "Why would I stop doing it? I also can keep making a lot of money."

In this context, the enjoyment of the work becomes paramount. One might think, "I would like to talk to this interesting dude who lives in the Amazon. Oh, this is my job! I get to talk to Paul. Why would I stop? I mean, I would do this for free, but I'm not going to."

However, it's important to acknowledge that not everyone has the same experience. Even a normal person who makes their first 5 million might feel the pressure of financial responsibilities. They might think, "I need more because I have a mortgage, and what if my kids go to college?" Additionally, concerns about inflation can make money feel less valuable.

People also worry about investments; for example, "What if you invest in this hedge fund and it goes under? Or what if you're an idiot and invest in NFTs or Bitcoin?" There are stories of individuals losing significant amounts of money in cryptocurrencies, leading to the realization that what seems like free money can often be a mirage.

The conversation shifts to NFTs, which were once a hot topic. "What was that about?" someone might ask. There were instances where NFTs sold for millions of dollars. One person might share, "I know a dude who got rich selling NFTs." However, the market eventually dropped, leading to a decline in value.

Many people approached others with the idea of getting into the NFT market, and one might reflect, "I almost got caught up by the NFT people." There have been multiple occasions where individuals were asked to engage with NFTs or cryptocurrencies, but they felt lost, thinking, "I don't even know what it is. How am I going to endorse something I don't understand?"

Even when someone tries to explain NFTs, it can be confusing. For example, one might say, "Jamie tried to explain it to me six or seven times, but I still didn't get it. I have the same thing you have on my phone, so what does it mean that I don't own it?"

The conversation then turns to specific examples like the Bored Ape Yacht Club, which was a popular NFT collection. People were paying substantial amounts for what seemed like a cartoon picture of a monkey, leading to disbelief about the value. "What are you paying money for? This is crazy!"

The discussion continues with a mention of digital art and how some NFTs make sense in that context. "That thing is a digital piece of art," someone might explain, contrasting it with the cartoon images. The conversation wraps up with a mention of prices, noting that one sold for close to a million dollars, illustrating the wild fluctuations in the NFT market.

=> 02:23:51

Owning digital art is like having a screenshot of a car; you can admire it, but it doesn't mean you truly own it.

The discussion revolves around the concept of digital art and its distinction from traditional art forms. One participant notes, "that's like a digital piece of art; that's a completely different thing," emphasizing the need to plug it in to appreciate it fully. They mention a gift from an artist named Bee, who regularly showcases digital art in a gallery setting, where visitors can view giant digital artworks. This leads to a conversation about the value of certain digital assets, particularly NFTs (non-fungible tokens).

The conversation shifts to the pricing of these digital assets, with one participant stating, "those numbers at the bottom right there are showing that would be, I think, it's ether." They explain that 111 ether would equate to approximately $300,000, noting that it was sold for $769,000, indicating a significant value. However, they draw a comparison between owning a digital asset and owning a physical object, saying, "you own a car, but me having a picture of your car on my phone doesn't mean I own your car."

The discussion continues with an analogy involving the Mona Lisa. One participant argues, "I can look at the Mona Lisa on my phone all day long; I don't own it," highlighting the difference between experiencing art digitally versus owning the original piece. They acknowledge that while the experience of viewing the artwork on a phone may be similar, the physical Mona Lisa holds intrinsic value due to its history and the artist's mastery.

The conversation then touches on the concept of ownership and value in the digital realm. One participant argues, "there's no real value in that NFT; it's fake," suggesting that the experience of ownership is not equivalent to having a physical item. They share their personal experience with investing in NFTs, stating, "I didn't waste any 'cause I was getting stuff when it was... I bought it at the right time."

The dialogue transitions to the topic of sports cards, which are considered valuable due to their physical nature and unique characteristics, such as serial numbers. One participant explains, "the real ones you're also getting like a little piece of history," using the example of an Arrowhead found at a friend's ranch. They describe these artifacts as "little windows into a time in history," emphasizing the craftsmanship involved in creating such items.

The conversation concludes with a reflection on the challenges of creating fire and the skills required for survival in nature. One participant shares their experience, stating, "this is such a process," highlighting the effort involved in starting a fire. They express the joy of being in the jungle, where "no matter how rich you are, you're out in the jungle," emphasizing the shared human experience of struggling with basic survival skills.

=> 02:27:12

Surviving in the jungle teaches you that comfort is overrated; it's all about creativity and resilience when the elements challenge you.

To make a simple longbow, you need to be accurate with it, which means you have to have enough arrows to practice with. Fire is the same thing; every time I try to show someone how to make fire, it's like, this is such a process. Just to get fire started is quite the task. However, it’s so much fun being out in the jungle because, no matter who you are—no matter how rich you are or how hot your [__] is—when you’re out in the jungle, you’re [__] with the dung beetles.

You can bring a fire starter, which is that stuff they sell in bricks or cords. You cut off a little piece of it, and then you have a flint and a piece of steel. You knock the two of them together, like this. The steel rods, the ferro rod, exactly! You light that stuff, which is soaked in chemicals, and it will keep fire for a long time. You can use it to start fires. Usually, we just have a lighter with us, but there have been times when that’s the problem.

The only real way, especially in the rainy season, is that the wood is soaked through. If this was a stick, it’s soaked through and through; it’s not going to burn. You have to be very creative. For instance, you might put some diesel fuel in a tuna can and make a fire over that, letting it burn for a little bit to dry everything out. Even then, it’s not a very enthusiastic fire; it’s like, I guess I’ll burn if you need me to.

Imagine trying to cook a pot of beans when it’s your last pot of beans and all the food you have left. Oh my God, it’s a pain in the ass! Things just don’t want to burn. But when it rains, we’re happy. We never bring a little Bunsen burner or those little camp stoves. Honestly, that’s a great idea for expeditions, but what we do is bring these big propane tanks and just throw them on the boat. If you can’t bring that, then nothing.

What we have at the camping stores here are those little ones that go in your backpack, but they just don’t sell those where we go. You can’t bring a propane tank on a plane, either. If you go to REI and buy one of those little camp stoves, you can’t bring that on the plane.

Is there a place where you could receive packages? Yes, we can probably get it shipped to Lima and then have it shipped down. Right now, we have a system that works, but to me, this may be me being like a you know, like a ly, but when we’re out on expeditions, I want everyone’s [__] off. People say, Oh, I have this new device; I can get network anywhere, and I’m like, turn it off.

The thing about this is it helps you boil water—jet boils, what they call them. It’s this little thing with a little tank that lasts for days. You just cook it up when you want to cook food; you turn it on, and you have a little thing with you and freeze-dried food. That’s what a lot of these guys pack when they go 30 miles deep into the woods. You can even make coffee if you want to.

I brought a guy who used to work at National Geographic on an expedition with me. It was a couple of local guys, me, my friend MOS, and him. We went up this river, and in hindsight, he thought we were messing with him. He was like, This can’t be what you guys do. He was shocked that we just had a [__] boat and tents. He mentioned the bugs, the sand, and the brutal sun beating down on us. He asked, Why don’t you have a [__] roof?

Do you become accustomed to the bug bites? Do you just deal with it, or does your body develop any kind of an antibody to it? For example, me and JJ get bitten, and we bleed, but we don’t get the elevated skin reaction. Your body doesn’t react to it anymore. I don’t even react to wasp bites or bullet ant bites anymore. I’m on number 11! Just the other day, I got bit by a bullet ant while trying to go to bed. I stood up to do something, and I felt it again—there it is again, bit me right in the foot. I just went to bed.

No way! It’s starting to lose its efficacy on me. I didn’t know that was the case because I saw those rights of passage things that they do. They take these guys, give them a glove, and fill their hand up with bullet ants.

=> 02:30:39

Pain is just a rite of passage for some, but for others, it's a wild game of roulette.

In discussing the effects of various insect bites, one individual mentioned that they have developed a kind of immunity to Sandfly bites. They shared that both they and their friend JJ get bitten and bleed, but they do not experience the elevated skin reaction that typically accompanies such bites. This led to a broader conversation about their experiences with other insect bites, including wasp bites and Bullet Ant bites.

The speaker noted, "I don't even react to Bullet Ant bites anymore," and humorously mentioned they are now on number 11 of these bites. They recounted a recent incident where they were bitten by a Bullet Ant while preparing for bed. "I just stood up and I know the feeling by now; you're just like, 'Oh, there it is again, bit me right in the foot.' I just went to bed." They expressed surprise at how their body seems to be losing its reaction to these bites, stating, "It's starting to lose its efficacy on me."

The conversation then shifted to the rites of passage involving Bullet Ants, where individuals undergo a painful experience as part of a cultural tradition. The speaker described how participants fill a glove with Bullet Ants, which sting them repeatedly as a form of initiation. "It's supposed to be some thing that they do that is like a religious experience," they explained. This rite is often paired with bonding activities, where a young man undergoes the experience and is later cared for by a female, encouraging pair bonding.

The speaker also mentioned a friend, Steve, who had a particularly painful experience with Bullet Ants. "He said it was like 12 hours of excruciating pain, and he said he could barely walk." The speaker's first experience with a Bullet Ant was similarly intense, describing how their lymph nodes swelled up, and they experienced horrible pain and a headache from just one bite.

They humorously recounted how they were challenged by others in the jungle, who teased them about being the only one working out. "They think I'm weird 'cause I'm in the sun with my shirt off doing push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups," they said. This led to a game of Bullet Ant roulette, where participants would take turns placing a Bullet Ant on their arms and then smashing their forearms together to see who would get stung. "It's super fun; it's a great drinking game," they remarked, although they admitted to taking the pain particularly badly.

The speaker concluded with a reflection on their understanding of fun, stating, "You and I have a different understanding of fun," and expressed a preference for avoiding such painful experiences in the future. They noted that the pain from a Bullet Ant sting can last for up to 12 hours and is rated four plus on the Schmidt sting pain index, the highest possible rating. This pain is caused by the venom affecting voltage-gated sodium channels, which has led to studies on using Bullet Ant venom as a potential biological insecticide.

=> 02:34:20

Some people are wired to handle pain differently; it's not just about toughness, it's about how your body perceives it.

It feels different when I see the wet paint sign. I go, "Really? I don't respect that guy's work. Get out of here!" I never voluntarily painted more than once; every other time was just part of my life.

When it comes to pain, I refer to the Schmidt Siding Pain Index, which rates pain on a scale. The highest possible rating can cause waves of pain for up to 12 hours after a single sting. This pain is being studied for use in biological insecticides because it paralyzes insects and causes pain in humans. It affects voltage-gated sodium channels and blocks synaptic transmission in the central nervous system.

I often wonder, "How many people die from bullet ant stings?" I don't know, but it feels like something that could kill you at the level where you have it as a glove. Given the intensity that my system felt from one sting, I think about those who have been stung multiple times. For instance, JJ said he didn't have shoes until he was 13 and grew up walking through the jungle. He experienced his first bullet ant sting when he was just two years old. Imagine that—being stung in the face by a wasp the size of a water pitcher as a soft, mushy baby.

Those who have grown up in the jungle, like JJ, are likely much more accustomed to this pain. When they put on the glove filled with bullet ants, even though it's horrific, they probably handle it better than someone like me. I would think twice before putting my hand in that glove without a hospital nearby, as it could be overwhelming to my system. The pain is intense; it’s not a joke. If I were to get bitten by a bullet ant right now, I might think, "Alright, let's continue with our day," but deep down, all I would want to do is stop living because it hurts everywhere.

So, is it that you just accept the pain and understand what it is, or is it that your pain threshold has lowered because you've done it so many times? Yes, it has to lower. At first, the pain is so bad that you walk around saying, "Wow, wow, wow." You realize that if you walk, you’re in pain; if you lay down, you're in more pain. There’s nothing you can do; you’re just stuck in it. Eventually, you think, "Man, God damn it," and decide to go do what you were going to do anyway, even if you're in a bad mood.

To a normal person, a wasp sting is painful, but now I feel like I can just catch a wasp and let it sting me. I see people running from a yellow jacket, and I think, "I'll just grab it with my hand." We were discussing this yesterday, and I genuinely believe that people must feel pain differently. It makes sense that some people just experience it differently.

I think this is similar to how people handle spicy food or cold water. Some individuals can tolerate these sensations better than others, and it seems like they’re not just being tougher; it’s not as hard for them. Perhaps their ancestry evolved around being in pain all the time.

For example, my childhood best friend, NL, often calls me to go surfing in Montauk. I tell him, "Bro, it's February! There’s going to be ice on the water!" But he insists that the swell is awesome and that we can wear wetsuits. One time, I tried it with him, and I vowed never to do it again.

When surfing, your hands are in a wetsuit, but you wear booties on your feet. However, every time a wave washes over you, it feels like ice cold water is flying down your back. Yes, the waves are incredible, but I don't care. You can't breathe properly; it’s like you’re out there for four hours, sitting on your board with your cold knees. I look at NL and think, "Either he’s way tougher than I am, or he’s just predisposed to not really care.

=> 02:38:01

Embrace the discomfort; it's where growth happens, even if it means freezing your ass off.

The conversation begins with a discussion about the challenges of surfing in February. One person expresses concern about the ice on the water, while the other insists that the swell is awesome and that they can wear wet suits. The speaker recounts a past experience of trying it once, stating, "I will never do it again." They clarify that while their hands are not in a wet suit, they do wear booties. However, they find it incredibly uncomfortable as every time a wave washes over them, it sends a chill down their back.

The speaker describes the experience of being in ice-cold water and acknowledges the incredible waves but emphasizes the difficulty of breathing. They compare this to doing a cold plunge, noting that in that situation, they are not moving or sitting on a board for hours, which adds to the discomfort. They reflect on their friend, Nol, wondering if he is either way tougher or simply doesn't care about the cold water. They consider the possibility that people can get acclimated to their environments, suggesting that Nol may have adjusted to the experience and the rush of riding waves.

The conversation shifts to the satisfaction of putting on a wet suit and braving the ocean. The speaker describes the contrast of being warm at home, drinking chicken noodle soup, and watching television while contemplating going out into the cold. They express disbelief at the idea of going out when it’s snowing and icy outside. They illustrate this by mentioning a friend who returns with icicles in his beard, admiring those who venture out in such conditions.

The speaker also reflects on their own routine, mentioning that waking up cold and doing a cold plunge is not as hard as it seems. They argue that it’s just three minutes, and they have developed a system to manage it. However, they express a strong disagreement with the notion that this is something they would want to do every day. They find it challenging and admit, "I just don't want to do it." Despite this, they push themselves to go through the motions, telling themselves to "shut the [__] up" and just get in.

The conversation then turns to a discussion about the Garmin Phoenix 8 watch, which the speaker mentions shuts off when submerged in cold water. They compare it to the older Phoenix 7, which they find more reliable in cold conditions. The speaker expresses frustration that the new model has a dive feature but fails to operate properly in cold water. They mention that the watch shuts off after just five seconds in the cold, which raises concerns about its functionality, especially for divers who need to track their time underwater.

In conclusion, the speaker urges listeners to Google the issue with the Phoenix 8 shutting off in cold water, emphasizing that this is a widespread problem. They express disappointment in Garmin for releasing a product with such a significant flaw, especially given the importance of having a reliable watch in cold water conditions.

=> 02:41:49

Don't let a watch's cold shoulder ruin your dive; tech should keep up with adventure, not freeze in the moment.

Water is something that everybody notices. If I'm in the water for 5 seconds, my watch shuts off. Damn! Apparently, they are going to fix that; they think it's a software issue. They better fix it now. The crazy thing is that they have a dive feature on this watch. So, if you're swimming and diving in cold water, it’s going to shut off. That could be problematic if you're down there, wondering, “How much time do I have left on this tank?” You can't have your watch turned off in that situation, right? If you get down to depths below 40°, it’s probably going to shut off. I don’t even know what temperature it shuts off at, but people have tested it in cold water. They’ve taken a glass of cold water and dropped the watch in; it shuts off. Not good, Garmin! It’s just not good that you released this thing without checking it. How did you not check for cold plunges when you have a dive function on the watch?

Interestingly, they think they could fix it with software, which I hope is true. That would be good, but the seven works. That’s what doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never had a problem with the seven. I put the seven on in the sauna and in cold water, and I’ve never had a problem with it. Well, I’m like that watch is cold Kryptonite. The message boards say it’s a software issue, and you can fix it by putting it in beta, if you know how to do that. However, the beta disables the dive function. There’s some talk of another workaround, like maybe shutting off the touch screen; that might help. But the problem is, you have a watch that everybody is used to cold plunging with, jumping in the ocean, and doing stuff in, and then the new one doesn’t let you do it. You can’t release that. You have to fix that before selling it. You didn’t have to sell it yesterday; it just came out in September. I ordered one, and it took a while to get here. I was all excited, and then on the first cold plunge, I thought, “What in the [__]?”

That’s a wolf tooth! Yeah, nice! I forget who gave me that one. I have a lot of [__] here, man, from cool stuff that people have given me. But having things like that—like a watch that does GPS—this watch has maps on it, shows your elevation, and you can get a lot of information off of these things. You can track waypoints on them, and I always use a thing called OnX Hunt as well. OnX Hunt is a software app where you download maps for specific regions, and you can hit the track function. No, it doesn’t? I bet it can; I just don’t know how to do it. I don’t do it; it’s on your phone. I just do it on my phone. I use this mostly for elevation. You can use GPS on it, but it will drain your battery a lot quicker. If I don’t use the GPS function, this thing will go 30 plus days without charging.

Yeah, and it monitors your heart rate, doing all kinds of different []. It’s a flashlight; it’s built-in! Yeah, look at that! A built-in flashlight! It’s nuts! So, if you’re out in the woods and you don’t have a flashlight, it’s an LED flashlight that lasts for [] ever because it’s LED and doesn’t draw a lot of power. These [] things are incredible. But this new one? Yeah, you guys [] up.

Do you bring an inReach or anything? Well, I mean, because we also do tourism, we bring a SAT phone. But now, dude, with Starlink, at our base at The Treehouse and at our research station, we have two different Starlinks. We have better internet there than I have in the Hudson Valley in New York! Dude, isn’t that incredible? It is! It’s absolutely incredible! It’s amazing how small it is too. You can also take it and put it on a boat if you need to.

So, I finally—like Lex broke me down on this—I finally started a YouTube channel. I’m going to start bringing people on all kinds of [] because now I can just stream it from there. Right? [] TV crew, you can have it! I’m going to take people on the roof of your car as you’re driving around in the jungle. Yeah, well, hopefully, there are no roads. But I want to take people; I could literally put it on my backpack. I could put it on your backpack. You could probably literally have it flat on the top of your pack and walk around, at least catch some signal. Or, you know, for the boat—if we go, we’re going to be going 4 hours up River, and we know that there’s an invasion. We’re going with the police to check out these loggers; there’s going to be some [__] action going down. Throw the Starlink on the boat, and I could live stream that!

=> 02:45:27

Imagine live streaming a wild expedition to catch a 21-foot anaconda while exploring ancient civilizations in the Amazon. Adventure just got a digital upgrade.

It's like I'm going to start bringing people on all kinds of adventures, because now I can just stream it from there, right? TV crew, you can have it! I'm going to take people on the roof of your car as you're driving around in the jungle. Yeah, well, hopefully, there's no roads, but I want to take people with me. I could literally put on your backpack; I could put it on my backpack. You could probably have it flat on the top of your pack and walk around, at least catch some signal.

For example, if we go look, we're going to be going four hours up the river, and we know that there's an invasion. We're going with the police to check out these loggers, and there's going to be some action going down. Throw the Starlink on the boat; I could live stream that and take people with me. Whoa!

A few weeks ago, I sent you that picture of the huge anaconda, the one with the blue eyes. We've been working slowly on breaking the 20-foot mark. That one was 19-something, and so we've been working more and more on the Anaconda project. My guys, you know, when you have your people with elk hunting, where they go, "Dude, I saw an elk that..." like, you trust my guys. They went, "We found one that's over 7 meters," and they haven't caught it yet. You're talking over 21 feet! So we've broken 19, and we're going to be going out for that.

Imagine bringing people along because after our first show, the comments were hysterical. People were going, "This guy's foolish," and it was absolutely hysterical. People were just commenting about everything we talked about. Oh, that's funny! The internet was just like, "Great show!" I know, I know, but all they have to do is go to your page. Some of them were really funny; I laughed at a lot of the comments. They were like, "Oh, I'll take that; never happened for 300, Alex!" It's like, okay, great.

Well, people always want to say that, but now it's like, now we can live stream this and go jump on a snake with a head this big. So we're putting together an expedition to do this now, and it's going to be fun. In these areas that you go to, have they ever done any of those liar explorations where they fly drones over to try to map out if there were some ancient structures in these areas?

Yeah, so we talk to the local people, and they find the Terra Preta and the pottery in the areas that it is. Usually, the places that it is, and we kind of talked about this with Graham Hancock. I always want to say Graham Watkins. I think that on the Amazon proper, there were a lot of civilizations out in the tributaries. Where I am, it's very rare to come across those ancient civilizations.

So those people, the uncontacted tribes out in the tributaries, they're probably living the way they've been living for thousands and thousands of years. My book publisher, it was so funny. I got kind of like, I was writing something, and I said something about these Stone Age Warriors. What this guy must have seen as these Stone Age Warriors came and murdered him with arrows. They were like, "How dare you call them Stone Age Warriors?" I went, "What? They don't even have stones!"

So first of all, right? They're really stick age. Did I just get woked for so dumb? Is Stone Age a bad thing to say? But I mean, it's not very often that you come into that problem because we wouldn't call most normal people Stone Age people. The Native Americans were essentially Stone Age. Well, he uses it in "Empire of the Summer Moon." He goes, "Well, these Stone Age Warriors," and I was like, "Well, these are pretty much Stone Age people."

So I wrote it, and I basically got told, "Hey, don't say that." God, how weird is that? Yeah, I also lost a book deal because I retweeted that Elon Musk liked our Treehouse. I had an amazing meeting with, like, all the people. This lady was like, you know, like the devil wears Prada, like Meryl Streep. She was the big head honcho, one of the major publishers. They were like, "Dude, your next book is going to kill!"

She had like 20 other people on this Zoom call. We had like an hour-long thing; we talked about you. She was like, "And how close are you with Joe Rogan?" and I was like, "We're bros." Then they were like, "Well, you know..." It was going really good, and I'm thinking, "Liberals!" I was thinking I was going to get a life-changing amount of money. I was thinking I was going to get like a million-dollar book deal, and that got confirmed through a bunch of...

=> 02:49:12

Sometimes, your biggest opportunity can vanish in an instant due to the company you keep.

I lost a book deal because I retweeted that Elon Musk liked our Treehouse. It was quite a journey; I had an amazing meeting with a lady who was like the devil wears Prada, a big head honcho from one of the major publishers. During the meeting, which included about 20 other people on this Zoom call, we discussed my next book, and she confidently stated, “Your next book is going to kill.” I was feeling optimistic, thinking I was going to get a life-changing amount of money—around a million-dollar book deal. This was confirmed through various channels, and they were very impressed with Lex.

She even asked, “How close are you with Joe Rogan?” I replied, “We're Bros.” Everything was going well until that week when Elon tweeted about the Treehouse. Naturally, when one of the greatest inventors of our generation tweets about something you did, you share it. So, I shared it, and then the publisher got back to me, saying, “Not only are we not even—we're just not making an offer anymore.” They didn’t like the type of people I associated with. It wasn’t just me; it was him. They had vetted me, asking how close I was to Elon, and I explained, “Listen to me, he's the nicest guy in the world.”

They inquired if Elon would write a foreword for my book, and I thought, “I think I need like a more famous person to do that.” I mentioned Joe could do it, but I felt we needed someone really famous. It seemed that they were only interested in having famous people endorse my work. However, as soon as Elon’s name came into the mix, I was unaware of the backlash he faced. I didn’t know that Elon has people that hate him.

There’s a lot of propaganda that really works against him, especially after he took over Twitter. There was indeed real outrage when he took over, but I believe there was also manufactured outrage that was directed in a very specific manner. The narrative pushed was that he was promoting hate speech on X, which included accusations of anti-Semitism and racism. Yes, if you allow people to speak freely, you will encounter negative aspects, but you can also choose to ignore that.

The significant point was that he exposed the involvement of the FBI in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story. Journalists like Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and Barry Weiss examined the Twitter files and found that the government was pressuring social media companies to take down true stories, labeling them as Russian disinformation. This confirmation from Elon made him very dangerous to certain narratives.

As a result, the narrative shifted to portray Elon as a white supremacist. Additionally, he often tweets and retweets wacky things that turn out to be untrue, which contributes to a distorted perception of his value in our culture and society. Despite this, he is one of the greatest inventors the world has ever known and is involved in multiple industries, changing them in incredible ways.

For instance, what they have accomplished with SpaceX and space travel, where rockets can now land, is revolutionary. The advancements with Starlink are also noteworthy. If it weren't for Tesla and electric cars, do you really think there would be as many electric cars as there are today? It wouldn’t even be close. Governor Noem has stated that California has to be all electric by 2035, largely due to the push that Tesla has created in the market.

There’s a fascinating documentary from the early 2000s called “Who Killed the Electric Car?” I saw it in college, and it’s truly eye-opening. If it wasn’t for Elon and making Teslas awesome, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

=> 02:53:04

In a world of extremes, let's remember that innovation and progress often come from those who dare to challenge the status quo, regardless of their popularity.

Elon Musk is alive and he's involved in multiple different industries, changing them in incredible ways. For instance, what they've accomplished with space travel through SpaceX, where these rockets can now land, is remarkable. Additionally, the advancements made with Starlink are noteworthy. If it wasn't for Tesla and the push for electric cars, do you really think there would be as many electric cars on the road today? The numbers wouldn't even be close. We wouldn't have Governor Gavin Newsom stating that California must be all electric by 2035 if there weren't companies making electric vehicles like Tesla.

There's a documentary from the early 2000s titled "Who Killed the Electric Car?" which I found fascinating during my college years. If it weren't for Elon Musk making Teslas appealing, we wouldn't see the emergence of so many electric car companies today. He makes everything open source, which is commendable. However, my issue lies with those who take the stance of someone trying to save the butterflies and the monkeys, and then kick me out for not aligning with that view. It's akin to being a Nazi in their eyes, forcing me to pretend to dislike him to fit into their worldview.

This situation reminds me of Hollywood, where individuals become cautious about what they say once they start making money, fearing the repercussions of losing their status. You begin to realize there are real consequences, as you experienced. This is how people are coerced into conforming to a specific mindset, reinforcing it in themselves. They start adopting peculiar behaviors to gain acceptance, wanting to be seen as part of the group.

Living in the jungle, I hear about these dynamics but lack knowledge of the key players and the overall atmosphere. I thought it was cool when someone mentioned my "cool treehouse." If a historically relevant inventor acknowledges something I did as cool, that's great! However, it cost me a million bucks. This is the world we are living in, and it seems primarily the left is involved in this peculiar behavior. If Bernie Sanders had said "cool treehouse," and you retweeted it, everyone would have loved you, and the right wouldn't have attacked you. They wouldn't have cared, and you wouldn't have lost business opportunities.

I recently shared a clip where you were discussing me, and the comments were chaotic. I didn't realize you were such a polarizing figure, Joe. This reflects a distorted perception of who you are, shaped by people with limited information. They label you as an alt-right figure or some fringe right-wing person, which you are not. However, if they repeat it enough, those with low information will believe it.

This brings me to the current hysteria surrounding events in Israel. People are categorizing others as either good or bad. Elon is viewed as good if you like him, and bad if you don't. I just want to see everyone calm down and for the adults to take charge again. It sounds idealistic, but I remember back when I was in eighth grade during 9/11. Despite the corruption and chaos, things seemed more stable back then.

Reflecting on the Obama-Romney debate, where both candidates acknowledged their disagreements but maintained a level of respect, I feel that many people today are beginning to chill out. This is my perspective, and I hope it resonates with the rest of the world.

=> 02:56:40

We're at a turning point where people are waking up to the absurdity of division and realizing that real change happens when we focus on solutions, not arguments.

I think that sounds cute, but no, no, no, no, no. When I was a kid, let's just go back to when I was in eighth grade during 9/11. Somehow back then, it seemed like—sure, there was still corruption and a lot of [__] going around—but things have gotten more off the rails with this stuff. You know, remember the Obama-Romney debate where they were like, "Yo man, what's up? We disagree, but we agree; we're both gentlemen here"?

I think that what I've seen in the last few months or the last year is that a lot of people—and I'm really speaking from my perspective here—are starting to chill the [] out. Some people are waking up and realizing how stupid it is and how most of the problems we have are []. In terms of the issues we have with each other, if we’re not hysterical and we’re not doing all this crazy [], we can actually start focusing on how to fix things. For instance, how do we fix things in the Congo? How do we fix things in Africa? How do we address the issues in the Amazon? We need to pragmatically fix things so that the American food system is better and everyone benefits, and we should stop [] arguing over it.

It's important to realize that this is not a right-wing or a left-wing issue; it’s a human health issue. Arguing in such an unhealthy way is counterproductive. Also, there are real charitable organizations—like what you're doing—that are actually helping things. They are designed to help, not as some sort of front to cover money or serve as a tax shelter. While there is a lot of philanthropy that is good, there’s also a lot that isn’t really philanthropy; it’s just posturing and making money.

Now that I have an NGO, we looked up all the other NGOs, and I found that a lot of their CEOs are making $500,000 a year—big paychecks. That’s where it gets really weird. However, I think what we’ve done that’s very exciting is that we’re feeling this swell; we’re riding this wave right now. For example, I had this mom in Ohio message me saying, "I have two kids, I show them your Instagram, I love what we do, and we give you $5 a month." It’s amazing how $5 a month from enough people can save the whole [__] Amazon.

Not to mention, people like Dax to Silva from Lightspeed reach out and say, "Look man, I want to fund your whole Ranger team." It’s incredible! I’m surrounded by all these amazing people who want to do good. I was also approached by the folks at Vivo Barefoot—shout out to Vivo Barefoot! They reached out to me because they care so much about their shoes, how people wear them, where they’re used, and the materials. I just read Ivon Chouinard's book, Let My People Go Surfing, and he worships rivers and mountains.

I truly believe we are on the cusp of saving a lot of endangered species. I witness miracles every day as we draw up this map to protect the Amazon. When you’re one-third of the way there, you feel like, "We’re going to do it!" However, I got really scared when I got woke; Elon Musk was so weird. I felt like we all had to just take down the barriers. It’s funny how innocuous things can lead to "wrong think" or "wrong speak." Who am I allowed to like? None of it makes any sense.

=> 03:00:17

In a world where polarization reigns, the real power lies in respectful conversations that challenge our beliefs without tearing us apart.

In today's society, there seems to be a growing polarization among people, particularly regarding opinions on various topics. Many individuals worship rivers and mountains, and as they began to create new ideas and movements, I feel we are on the cusp of significant change. I genuinely believe that we still can save a lot of the endangered species. Every day, I witness living miracles as we draw up plans to protect the Amazon. At times, it feels like we are on the verge of achieving something great.

However, I must admit that I felt a sense of fear when I became aware of how polarized our society has become. For instance, when I got "woked" about Elon Musk, I found it strange that people were so divided over him. It made me question, who am I allowed to like? The entire situation seems nonsensical. It’s essential to recognize that the pressure many individuals feel is not coming from a large group; rather, it often stems from the commenters on Instagram. Unfortunately, the reality is that most people who comment online tend to be unhappy and lack a nuanced understanding of the issues at hand.

If we were to analyze the comments across the internet, I would venture to say that the ratio of positive to negative comments is likely at least 50/50. I might be jaded, but when I look at comments on platforms like Lex Fridman's podcast, the overwhelming sentiment is positive, with people expressing gratitude for the important conversations being held.

Interestingly, I often receive comments that I resemble the lead singer of System of a Down, which I take as a compliment. Serj Tankian is a hero, and I admire his work. However, the polarization in our society is troubling. Many individuals seem to thrive on conflict, attacking others to gain validation from their peers. This behavior often stems from a lack of understanding and nuance, which is prevalent among those who engage in such negativity.

Despite this, I believe we are witnessing a shift. It seems that we may have reached a peak of polarization, and now, it's starting to come back. Those who frequently attack others are being exposed for who they truly are—damaged human beings. It raises the question: why would someone expend their energy getting angry over trivial matters, like a retweet about a treehouse?

I recently observed a conversation that highlighted the importance of respectful discourse. Two individuals were discussing the topic of raising the minimum wage. One person, who identified as a Republican, was passionately expressing his views against the change. However, my other friend responded with respect, stating, I 100% disagree with you, but asked for an explanation of his perspective. This led to an enriching conversation where they debated their ideas without hostility.

This exchange was refreshing, as it demonstrated that people can completely disagree and still engage in meaningful dialogue. The discussion revolved around the complexities of minimum wage laws, particularly how they affect businesses operating on tight margins. It’s crucial for individuals to detach themselves from their ideas and engage in discussions without taking offense.

Ultimately, the challenge lies in the fact that many men, and women too, struggle with this detachment. For men, it often becomes a dick-swinging thing, where they find it difficult not to be attached to their ideas. This attachment can hinder productive conversations and prevent us from finding common ground.

=> 03:03:49

You are not your ideas; they are just thoughts that come and go. Embrace change and be open to being proven wrong.

In today's society, there are businesses that operate at the margins; they're very close to going under all the time. These businesses often rely on cheap unskilled labor, which can come from young kids, high school students, and people getting their first jobs. This is how they manage to operate. However, when you say, "no, you have to pay a living wage to everybody who works there," it becomes a significant financial burden for the business owner.

The point is that people can completely disagree with one another, and that’s perfectly fine. I love it when people can express their differing opinions without attaching themselves too strongly to their ideas. This is often a challenge, especially for men. Many men have a hard time detaching from their beliefs; it becomes a sort of "dick swinging thing." They feel that if they have espoused an idea, that idea becomes a part of them. Consequently, they may resort to lying or using half-truths to support their arguments, leading to bad faith arguments. This is something you see frequently on podcasts, where individuals make disingenuous claims about political issues. When that happens, I think, "Oh God, now I'm never going to listen to you again," because I recognize that gross behavior.

We live in an age where such disingenuousness is unnecessary. You don’t have to pretend to be right about something just to win an argument. An intelligent person debating honestly would be happy to be proven wrong. For example, if I tell my friends, "there's absolutely no way you can lift that [ __ ] thing," and they do it, I would respond with, "I was wrong!" and feel excited about their achievement.

It's crucial for people to understand that you are not your ideas. I emphasize this point often. Ideas come and go; sometimes you agree with them, and sometimes you don’t. Life experiences or conversations can change your perspective. You might find yourself saying, "I used to think this, but I don't think this anymore, and here's why." It’s important to be aware that your ideas can capture you, leading you to become overly concerned with how others perceive you.

This phenomenon is quite common; people want to be seen in a specific light, so they echo the sentiments of those who are accepted in their circles. This is where accents and speech patterns, like "uptalk," come into play. When we build these social infrastructures, we often mimic the language and behaviors of those around us to fit in. For instance, if Paul is a great guy who goes to the Amazon and explores the rainforest, he might adopt certain speech patterns to signal that he is part of that group.

These tribal behaviors extend beyond social interactions; we attach them to everything, including religion, technology, health, and ideologies. If you can’t trust someone because they retweet Elon Musk, you might think, "don’t you know he’s the devil?" Similarly, if someone associates with Joe Rogan, they might be labeled negatively. People develop rigid beliefs akin to religious laws, such as "you can't eat pork," or "it's Sunday, why are the lights on?"

When individuals lack a traditional religious framework, they often treat social issues with the same fervor and intensity that religious individuals might reserve for their beliefs. Whether it’s about trans kids or environmental issues, these topics can become a substitute for religion. The human mind seems to require some form of divine structure—something larger than logic or ourselves. People will apply this need wherever they see fit, sometimes even joining cults that offer a sense of belonging and purpose, such as those centered around yoga or other communal activities.

=> 03:07:31

When social issues become your religion, logic fades and groupthink takes over, leading to chaos and moral confusion.

Religion plays a significant role in people's lives, often influencing how they engage with social issues. Individuals may treat these issues with the same fervor and fever pitch that others reserve for their religious beliefs. For instance, those who are Evangelical Christians or even snake handlers exhibit a passionate commitment to their faith. Similarly, if someone is deeply invested in a cause—be it trans kids or environmental issues—that cause can take on a religious significance. This phenomenon occurs because, without traditional religion, the human mind seeks some form of divine structure, something that transcends logic and unites us all.

People often find themselves drawn into groups or movements that resemble cults, where shared beliefs and practices create a sense of community. However, this can lead to casualties, as seen in the case of Kevin Hart, who was unable to host the Oscars due to the backlash surrounding his past comments. While some may argue that Hart should have been allowed to participate, the Oscars themselves are often viewed as a gross contest for art. Although they celebrate great work and can help sell movies, the underlying competition can be distasteful.

The situation surrounding Chris Rock and Will Smith at the Oscars exemplifies this moral ambiguity. After Smith slapped Rock on stage, he later won an Academy Award and received a standing ovation, highlighting a lack of ethical structure among the attendees. This reaction can be likened to group hypnosis, where individuals are hesitant to intervene in a situation that they perceive as complex or sensitive, particularly when it involves race. The audience's applause for Smith after the incident revealed a disconnect between their actions and the judgment of the broader public, who found the situation outrageous.

In the aftermath of the slap, Rock maintained his professionalism, continuing with his set despite the awkwardness. His performance was understandably affected, as he had just experienced a shocking incident. However, this moment ultimately allowed Rock to reclaim his identity as a comedian, shedding the constraints of being in the "club" of Hollywood. He returned to his roots, reminiscent of his earlier work in Bring the Pain.

In a related incident, Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage, prompting a swift and violent response from security. The assailant, a troubled individual, was severely beaten, resulting in multiple injuries, including a dislocated arm. This incident underscored significant lapses in security at events, leading to the firing of those responsible. Such moments can be surreal, leaving witnesses questioning their own memories of the events.

=> 03:10:57

Comedy is meant to challenge norms and provoke thought, not conform to a fragile narrative; when we stop laughing, we stop living.

All these things happened when somebody tackled Rush Chappelle on stage. They took him out, and I want to clarify if my memory is accurate because I saw a video. I don't remember who tackled the guy or whatever else, but did they like dislocate his arm? Oh, they beat the [__] out of him. They beat the [__] out of this guy! Once they got him, they beat the [__] out of him. I'm sure they broke his arm. I'm pretty sure he had multiple injuries. He had a knife; I mean, he was a crazy homeless person. There were terrible lapses in security, and whoever the security guys are, they got fired. The whole thing was a [__] mess. The guy ran onto the stage.

Sometimes, I do this thing where I don't believe my own memory. Like, I'll see something amazing, and I won't fully process it. Yeah, look at his arm! It was out of the [__]. They broke it; they probably cured him and snapped it. Look at his face; he looks like he went through a whole five-round fight. They beat the [__] out of him, and he's alive, you know? I mean, you go after Chappelle with a knife—[__] man! He didn't have the knife in his hands, but he had a knife on him, like some big [__] knife. Dude, that's also terrifying.

It's terrifying that there are people who are so out of their [__] mind. And it's again the same kind of thing: he's transphobic, he's transphobic. You know, jokes are transphobia. Words are violence? No, that's not violence; Chappelle is right. But that's how nuts we are! The guy can't listen to his special, right? They didn't listen; they don't care. That's the thing—no one's listening. They're not listening to me; they're not listening to El; they're not listening. They just have these things, and they're like religious dogma. They lock down on those things and say, "Dave Chappelle's a transphobe; we got to take him out."

Dave Chappelle is a living saint. He's an untouchable, amazing person. However, he makes jokes about things that are real in our culture, and that's a real thing in our culture. If you say there's a thing that you can't make fun of, that thing's [__]. If there's ever a thing you can't make fun of, that thing is [__].

I had to take care of somebody recently; actually, I wanted to tell you this. I was taking care of someone who had life-saving surgery, and I was helping them recuperate. It was like, you know, when you have a brush with death, you see your mortality, and things are down. When we caught our breath, I thought, let me just do something. I put on a clip of you. It was you, Sigura, and Chappelle. We were watching you guys do various bits of comedy on YouTube, and you made this person laugh so hard that they had to stop watching it because they were going to bust a stitch. It was the best medicine I've ever seen.

You were telling a [__] crazy story about waking up in a hotel, and everyone was cramming down the exit because the hotel was on fire. That was great! Then it was Sigura doing a bit about when disabilities are funny. He said, "Not all disabilities are funny, but sometimes they're funny," and he did like a ten-minute piece on that. We were just crying; it was such a great transmission of comedy.

The thing is, comedy is comedy, and to try to say it's normal speech is ridiculous because it's not your opinions; it's things that are funny about these things. When someone says something inappropriate, you should never say that. That's Louis CK's whole act—saying the wrong thing. You're not supposed to say that, so he's going to say it, and it's hilarious. But it's also really well-written and funny. This is not like if you sat him down and asked him his opinion on people and life; he would give you a different version. This is just an art form.

It's just like a movie; when you go to a Quentin Tarantino movie, none of those people really died. Okay? This is just art; it's just something being created. But that's the sense where I feel like it's coming back. Look at the [__] that Chappelle's pulling. Look at the [__] that you're pulling. People are saying stuff again. Most people are realizing that you don't have to give in to this because it's a small, very vocal minority of people. Most people are tired of it.

Most people miss the old days; you don't get a good comedy movie anymore. You don't get Superbad anymore. They can't make that movie anymore. Tropic Thunder? You can't make that movie!

=> 03:14:29

Art reflects life, but sometimes we forget that it's just a performance. It's time to bring back the raw, unfiltered storytelling that made us feel alive.

In a recent discussion, I asked him his opinion on people and life. He responded by saying that he would give you a different version. He emphasized that this is just an art form, comparing it to a movie, specifically mentioning a Quentin Tarantino movie where none of the characters really die. He noted, "this is just art; it’s just like something’s creating something."

He feels that this perspective is making a comeback. He pointed out the impact that Chappelle is having, as well as the influence of others, stating that "people are saying stuff again." He believes that people are realizing that they don't have to give in to a small, very vocal minority. Most people, he argues, are tired of the current state of comedy and miss the old style of humor. He lamented that you don't get a good comedy movie anymore, citing examples like Superbad and Tropic Thunder, which he believes could not be made today.

When he asked Robert Downey Jr. about this, he replied, "oh you could, you could, but you can't." He expressed frustration, saying, "we [__] ourselves by listening to these mental patients." He thinks that a comeback is on the horizon, suggesting that it usually swings back. He reflected on movies from the 70s, noting how they were brutal compared to the sanitized films of today. He mentioned that Tarantino is one of the few filmmakers who has managed to maintain that edge, as he is "sort of grandfathered in."

He recounted a scene from Inglourious Basterds that made him cringe, where the Bear Jew comes out of the cave, and the Nazi soldier is on his knees. He described how the scene was filmed without cutting away, making it feel very real. He contrasted this with modern films like John Wick, where the violence feels less impactful due to its frequency. He reminisced about the authenticity of car chases in older films, recalling Steve McQueen in Bullitt and the intense car chase in The Streets of San Francisco.

He also mentioned a movie featuring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, where Hopkins fights a bear. He described the experience of watching it as "blown out of your seat" because of how close Hopkins was to the real bear. He humorously noted the absurdity of the situation, asking, "how does he live in this?"

He then shifted the conversation to The Revenant, expressing his frustration with the CGI bear, stating, "that cartoon bear" didn’t resonate with him. He acknowledged that the film was based on a true story, where the real person crawled for 20 miles. His main takeaway from the movie was the cold water depicted throughout. He pointed out that the actual incident did not take place in the same environment as shown in the film, which was filmed in British Columbia.

He concluded by discussing the differences between the filming locations and the real-life events, emphasizing that the Great Plains setting of the story was not accurately represented in the dense forests of Canada.

=> 03:18:23

Movies often twist reality, but the true story behind them is what makes them fascinating.

The discussion begins with a reference to the rainforest, noting that "they just put it up there." The speaker speculates about the filming locations of The Revenant, suggesting that it was filmed in the rainforest of British Columbia (BC). They compare BC to Seattle, emphasizing that BC has a lot of dense forested areas. The speaker is confident that the real incident depicted in the film did not occur in such an environment, asserting, "I'm positive of that." They mention that while waterfall scenes were filmed in Montana, the film's setting is described on Wikipedia as taking place in the Great Plains.

The speaker questions where the forest scenes were filmed, reiterating their belief that it was in Canada, specifically BC, due to its density compared to the Great Plains. They illustrate the contrast by describing a scene where a character crawls across the plains after being attacked by a bear, stating, "this guy got torn apart by a bear and crawled." They mention that initial plans were to film the final scenes in Canada, but due to warm weather, the production moved to Argentina, where there was snow on the ground for the ending.

The conversation shifts to the scenes involving attacks by Native Americans, with the speaker expressing uncertainty about whether those scenes were filmed in BC. Regardless, they emphasize that the forest depicted is "very dense," which they argue is not historically accurate. They acknowledge that "you got to do a little bit of that," suggesting that filmmakers often take creative liberties. The speaker continues to reflect on the historical accuracy of films, noting that "every movie is [__]."

They mention Alberta, describing it as "crazy thick," and question the truth behind historical movies, referencing Ford vs. Ferrari and expressing skepticism about its accuracy. The speaker describes the spectacular scenery of Bow Valley in the Canadian Rockies, west of Calgary, as beautiful but not representative of the real environment where the events of the film occurred. They ponder how different the film would feel if it had been set on the plains during an attack by Plains Indians, noting the presence of bears in that area.

The conversation takes a darker turn as the speaker discusses the extinction of bears in California, mentioning that the state flag features a big old brown bear. They remark on how all brown bears were killed off, recalling that there is a known date for the last brown bear killed in California and the last black bear killed in Manhattan. They share a story about a town named after the last person killed by a brown bear in California, Le Nice, and mention the individual’s name, Steven LC.

The speaker then shifts to a more graphic topic, recalling a video where a bear attacked a man, resulting in severe facial injuries. They describe the video as "bad" and note that the man had his face stitched back together, remarking, "they didn't do a bad job." They reflect on the early days of the Internet, recalling how graphic content was more accessible, and mention trying to explain this to their mother.

As the conversation continues, they discuss the evolution of online platforms like Reddit and 4chan. The speaker notes that Reddit has become very leftwing and censored, while 4chan remains a space where "people can just say the wildest things" without censorship. They express a desire to find unfiltered content, stating, "I want to see people eating, you know who got eaten.

=> 03:21:57

The wildest things happen when you let curiosity lead the way.

If you've ever been on Reddit, you should go. Should I go? Yes, you should! There are people like that out there. The search has become much more Reddit-like. Reddit is very left-wing and has become very censored; things get pulled down off of it. On the other hand, 4chan is still buck wild. 4chan is where all that QAnon craziness came from, and there are a lot of nutty people out there. That's where the political frogs, like Pepe the Frog, that they use for memes originated. It's all part of internet culture, with shitposters—people who are anonymously posting so they can just say the wildest things without any censorship.

What I want is the gods of Google. I want that thing where you can search for something like "people getting eaten by bears." You know how in Grizzly Man they don't show you the footage or play the audio? I want that! If I want to see it, I want to be able to see it. I think Werner Herzog destroyed that audio, which is unfortunate. But also, his mind was like, it's kind of funny, right? Because he thought it would be too damaging. You don't want to hear it; you don't want other people to hear it. I wouldn't want people to hear me screaming in agony as I died. But your whole film is about how stupid it is that this guy lives in the Grizzly Maze in a tent surrounded by bears. It's inevitable that one of them is going to eat him. So, there would kind of be a comedic punchline to hear him say, "Bro, the movie is a comedy!"

It is a comedy! When he's like, "Bad bear," and he touches it, the bear turns around like, what the [__] did you just do? The whole thing is absurd. He was so nutty; he was like Tiger King times 100. But there's also a moment where he transcends, and he's in the grass with a fox on his tent, and you're like, dude, this is kind of cool. That fox relationship was cool. Foxes can become your friends, which is weird. They are cool! You don't even have to have lived there a long time; if you hang out with them long enough, they'll hang out with you.

I found a fox den a few years ago. The mom was out, and there were all these baby foxes, or pups, sitting outside the hole. I would creep up on them, get into position, and watch them come out. They are the cutest little things in the world! They were all just standing around, and I thought, I want to raise a fox so bad. People have done it; I know they have pet foxes. Oh, I know! I wanted to do it so badly, but I had to go to the jungle in like a week. I was like, man, if I wasn't going, I would have to feed those little [__] and they want to kill things all the time. It would be like having a really wild dog—like having a coyote for a pet, I would imagine.

Coyotes are really clever and beautiful. I don't even need to have coyotes as pets; they're everywhere, even behind the Hudson Valley. They're all over the place! Yeah, everywhere! They're in Manhattan. I don't believe that; it's 100% true! Really? Yeah, in Central Park! There have been multiple coyote sightings, and they've had them in the Bronx. Coyotes are in every city in America, at least in the U.S. It's a huge testament to how stealthy an animal can be.

Look at that—Central Park! They're all over the country, and that's basically in the last hundred years. Oh, it's a coyote! I think it's less than that; I think it's from the 1950s on that they've spread across the entire country. There's a great book called Coyote America. I have it on my list; I'm dying to read it! Coyotes have been seen in Central Park and other parts of New York City since the 1930s. The number of sightings has increased in recent years, especially in 2019. They're incredibly adaptive; I mean, that's just unbelievable! They adapt and expand their range, so whenever you kill one, the females have more pups, and they expand their range. That's why they're everywhere now.

In the jungle, I was working with this British filmmaker. He came out of the jungle one day with a white face and said, "I saw something." I was like, if you say Bigfoot, I'm going to... He goes, "No, I saw a white-tailed deer." I said, "You didn't see a white-tailed deer; we have red Brocket deer and great Brocket deer. You didn't see a...

=> 03:25:32

The world is still full of unexplored mysteries, especially in the depths of the rainforest where 50% of life remains hidden from our eyes.

Coyote sightings have been reported in Central Park and other parts of New York City since the 1930s. Interestingly, the number of sightings has increased in recent years, especially in 2019. Coyotes are incredibly adaptive creatures, which is quite unbelievable. They are known for their ability to adapt and expand their range; whenever one is killed, the females tend to have more pups, leading to an expansion of their territory. This adaptability is why they are now found everywhere.

During my time in the jungle, I was working with a British filmmaker who came out one day looking pale. He exclaimed, "I saw something!" I immediately thought he was going to say he saw Bigfoot, but he clarified, "No, I saw a white-tailed deer." I responded, "You didn't see a white-tailed deer; we have red Brocket deer and great Brocket deer here!" I pressed him further, insisting he had been out there too long. Long story short, it turns out there is a vestigial population of white-tailed deer that inhabit the Western Amazon. He was genuinely shocked, as if he had seen a giraffe in the jungle, which is quite ridiculous.

He was a real wildlife enthusiast, and I could relate to his disbelief. If I were to see a leopard in New Jersey, I would think I was either losing my mind or witnessing something extraordinary. He returned, confused, saying, "I don't know what to do; I saw something." I asked if he managed to capture a photo, but he replied that he raised his camera, and it ran off. He insisted, "I swear to God," but I remained skeptical, insisting he must have seen a white-tailed deer.

Speaking of wildlife, have you seen the Jaguar sightings in Arizona? I did see the camera trap photo, and it was super cool! We are currently working on new DNA packages that allow us to take water samples and test for various animal DNA present in the water. This could lead to significant discoveries. Bigfoot is either about to be found or go extinct, and I believe the latter is more likely.

When it comes to cryptids, I find the giant sloth and the thylacine to be the only ones worth discussing. I entertain the giant sloth theory because many people in the deep, dense jungles of the Amazon claim to have seen them. I have a theory about their whereabouts that I can't wait to share once this podcast ends. There are still unexplored places on this planet, and despite our belief that we have discovered everything, I can assure you that there are areas where no one has ventured.

After returning from expeditions where we traveled for an entire week by land, I realized how vast our planet truly is. It’s easy to deceive ourselves into thinking we’ve explored everything, especially when you can fly from one place to another in a matter of hours. However, if you fly over the Amazon in a Cessna, you will see a winding golden river cutting through a vast expanse of dense jungle. The next river may be 110 miles away, and much of that jungle remains unexplored.

Moreover, 50% of the life in the rainforest exists in a 3D environment. When you are on the ground, you are under 160 feet of canopy, similar to being at the bottom of the ocean. Very few people can climb such tall trees, and thus scientists have had limited access to the rainforest canopy, where a significant portion of rainforest life exists. It’s amusing when people claim that everything has been explored; I could take them to places right now where no one has been, and they haven't even flown over yet. There is so much we don’t know about our planet.

I appreciate everything you do, and I’m glad you’re out there making life more interesting. For those interested in supporting our efforts, Jungle Keepers is growing, and we are protecting more rainforest than ever. You can visit JungleKeepers.com, where we are crossing over 100,000 acres of protected land. The more people who come in to help, the better we can protect the Amazon rainforest and alleviate feelings of guilt about it.

Additionally, I am taking people out to Africa with experts at Buffalo Clove, where they can participate in frontline work with endangered rhinos. It's incredible work being done to prevent the extinction of these animals. You can find more information on JungleKeepers.com and on my Instagram. We are doing truly miraculous things, much of which has been made possible thanks to your support, Joe. Thank you for having me; it’s been a pleasure.

Goodbye, everyone!