Joe Rogan Experience #1695 - Andrew Schulz

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Jiu-Jitsu and Martial Arts: Andrew Schulz recounted his first attempt to choke Joe Rogan, leading to a discussion on body types ideal for Jiu-Jitsu, the practical benefits of the sport for self-defense, and its contrast with other martial arts like boxing, Taekwondo, and Karate.
• Olympic Karate Controversy: A significant portion of the discussion revolved around a controversial gold medal award in Olympic Karate (Kumite) where a fighter who appeared to be knocked out won because his opponent was disqualified for excessive force. This sparked a debate on the rules of Olympic combat sports and the distinction between Kata and Kumite.
• New York City vs. Austin: Schulz humorously defended New York against Rogan's critiques by sharing a bizarre incident in Austin (a naked man in a thong with a knife breaking into their complex), contrasting it with perceived dangers in NYC.
• Andrew Cuomo Scandal and "Italian Culture" Defense: The hosts delved into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's sexual harassment allegations, particularly his controversial defense citing "Italian culture" and familial demonstrativeness.
• Joe Biden's Tactile Interactions: A light-hearted but critical discussion about President Biden's frequent touching and "sniffing" of children, debating whether it reflects cognitive decline or simply an outdated "old person" behavior.
• Epstein & Ghislaine Maxwell: Briefly touched upon the public's fleeting attention span regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, the involvement of figures like Leon Black, and Ghislaine Maxwell's role.
• California Politics & "Wokeness": Mentioned California's recall election of Governor Gavin Newsome and Caitlyn Jenner's gubernatorial bid, reflecting on the state's progressive policies and "woke" ideology.
• Comedy and Audience Behavior: Schulz shared insights on differing audience reactions in New York comedy clubs compared to other venues, highlighting how social dynamics (e.g., being with co-workers) can influence a crowd's willingness to laugh at certain types of jokes.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Schulz was genuinely surprised by the difficulty of successfully applying a chokehold to Rogan, highlighting the technical nature of Jiu-Jitsu.
• The absurdity of an Olympic combat sport awarding a gold medal to a fighter who was visibly knocked out, due to the opponent exceeding "acceptable" force.
• Schulz's vivid anecdote of a "shredded" naked man in a thong with a knife breaking into their Austin complex served as a memorable, comedic counterpoint to Rogan's New York "slander."
• Cuomo's detailed video defense, featuring numerous photos and a narrative about "Italian culture" and universal tactile greetings, was played and critically analyzed.
• A humorous, albeit provocative, exchange where Schulz jokingly suggested that children who "smell so good" (perhaps with perfume) are "asking to be sniffed," labeling himself a potential "victim blamer" in jest regarding Biden's actions.
• Schulz's insightful observation that audience behavior in comedy clubs is heavily influenced by social context, where people might act differently around co-workers than they would in a more private or familiar setting.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "I'll be honest I thought it would be easier cuz I've never tried to choke somebody." – Andrew Schulz on his attempt to choke Joe Rogan.
• "You could develop it... you got a good build for Jiu-Jitsu you're a tall guy you got long limbs." – Joe Rogan encouraging Schulz to pursue Jiu-Jitsu.
• "He's disqualified for hitting you too hard and and here's the thing was [expletive] up it like it's not like he was standing there he kind of leaned in to the kick like he bent over and the dude caught him so it's kind of on you a little bit too." – Joe Rogan criticizing the Olympic Karate decision.
• "It's the greatest excuse ever I'm not a pervert I'm Italian I'm napon this is this is our culture Joe this is our culture." – Andrew Schulz mockingly on Cuomo's defense.
• (From Cuomo's defense video) "I do it with everyone black and white young and old straight and lgbtq powerful people... Now I understand that there are generational or cultural perspectives that frankly I hadn't fully appreciated and I have learned from this." – Andrew Cuomo.
• "I don't like that you wouldn't let him sniff your kid that bothers me I'd let him sniff my kids... once you have kids you're like why you sniffing my kid your your father instincts would kick in." – Joe Rogan vs. Andrew Schulz on Biden's behavior.
• "Why would they smell like that... they want to be sniffed am I victim blamer maybe... but just for sniffing it's like it's the worst I mean if if that's the worst thing that happens to you you get sniffed yeah like you can get over a sniff you know." – Andrew Schulz.
• "It's not that we don't care it's that there's so many things to care about you can't care about everything." – Joe Rogan on public attention span.
• "I realized like these people would all act the exact same way as the people at my shows if they were in that environment this is just an unfamiliar environment for them they're at the comedy seller but they're there with their co-workers they might not want their co-workers to know that they find trans jokes funny or homophobic jokes funny or racist jokes funny." – Andrew Schulz on comedy club audiences.

Overall Themes

• Authenticity vs. Performance: This theme emerged in discussions about martial arts (practical application vs. Olympic scoring), political figures (Cuomo's curated defense vs. actual behavior), and comedy (comedian's true material vs. audience's public reaction).
• Evolving Social Norms: The podcast explored how cultural and generational differences impact perceptions of physical touch, public conduct, and humor, highlighting a tension between traditional behaviors and modern sensitivities.
• The Public Sphere & Media Scrutiny: The episode consistently examined how public figures navigate accusations and media attention, and how public opinion is shaped and shifts in response to various controversies (Cuomo, Biden, Epstein).
• The State of Modern Comedy: A significant underlying theme was the changing environment for stand-up comedy, where comedians and clubs must adapt to diverse audiences with varying levels of comfort and political correctness, challenging performers to find humor that transcends social filters.
• Information Overload & Desensitization: Rogan and Schulz reflected on the modern phenomenon of public desensitization to major scandals (like Epstein) due to the sheer volume of news and issues demanding attention.