#2498 - Brendan Schaub

The world of professional mixed martial arts (MMA) continues to raise pressing questions about fighter pay, health, sustainability, and fight integrity amid an evolving landscape of elite talent and complex business realities.

Joshua Vann's Extraordinary Talent and Future Trajectory

At just 24 years old, Joshua Vann is establishing himself as one of the UFC's most exciting rising stars. Both Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub marvel at his elite striking abilities, with Rogan suggesting that Vann's boxing is “up there” with Ilia Topuria, arguably among the very best in the UFC. Schaub notes the challenge of being a knockout artist in the flyweight division, but Vann’s precision and sharp counters stand out. Vann’s performance against the grappling specialist Tyra showcased his complete MMA arsenal: not only did he excel on the feet, but he also proved difficult to submit, demonstrating sophisticated grappling defense and overall well-roundedness. As Schaub points out, even if Vann were to lose a prospective rematch with the highly regarded champion Alexandre Pantoja, Vann’s youth means he is poised for a long stretch of dominance, potentially leading the division for years.

Strickland's Upset Victory Over Chimaev and Its Significance

Sean Strickland’s recent victory over the highly favored Hamzat Chimaev is a testament to his resilience and tactical savvy. Despite carrying a significant shoulder injury sustained in a motorcycle accident—an injury obvious in his limited arm movement—Strickland managed to outlast Chimaev with superior cardio and awkward yet effective striking, especially in the later rounds. Rogan and Schaub both emphasize Strickland’s underdog narrative; growing up disadvantaged in America, repeatedly underestimated, Strickland defied the odds by defeating not just Chimaev but also elite fighters like Israel Adesanya, one of the best strikers of all time, and famed grapplers in his division. Each time, he entered as the underdog. This toughness, blue-collar ethic, and ability to thrive in “deep water” rounds build a compelling Hall of Fame case and an inspiring story for fans.

Weight Cuts' Impact on Fighter Performance and Health

The discussion highlights how perilous weight cutting remains in MMA. Chimaev, for example, cut from over 230 pounds down to 185—a process so taxing that his body nearly shut down just 24 hours before the bout, requiring medical intervention. Rogan calls this practice “the dumbest thing we do in the sport,” arguing that fighters who rapidly dehydrate and cut muscle mass cannot hope to recover fully in the brief window before competition; instead, they typically compete at only about 70% capacity. Schaub argues that such drastic cuts might diminish an athlete’s potential, suggesting Chimaev could perform far better at 205 pounds, fully healthy, instead of being “a 70% version of himself." This issue is further complicated when organizations, pressured by the volume of fight cards demanded by broadcast deals, push young or underprepared fighters into the spotlight, affecting both performance and fighter safety.

Fighter Compensation Disparities and Revenue Sharing Concerns

While the UFC is valued at $7.7 billion, largely because of lucrative broadcasting arrangements, current estimates place fighter compensation at just 18% of total revenue. The remainder goes primarily to executives and shareholders. Schaub and Rogan discuss the fairness of this arrangement; Rogan argues that fighters are not just the product, but bear enormous, lifelong risks—neurological damage, cognitive decline, and memory issues—making them fundamentally different from athletes in other sports. Brendan Schaub suggests that, ideally, fighters and their managers would demand a larger share—potentially 30%—especially during times when major deals are inked. Yet, both acknowledge the entrenched challenges, including the business model’s focus on maximizing content over fighter development, which ...

Brendan Schaub and Joe Rogan discuss the evolving landscape of automotive culture, with a focus on Porsche’s market transformation, the world of custom engine swaps, the enduring appeal of air-cooled and manual sports cars, and the vibrant American muscle and truck scene. Their conversation reflects both nostalgia for accessible performance and excitement for tuning culture.

Porsche's Market Evolution and Pricing Challenges

Porsche Pricing Has Become Exclusive, With Base Models and GT3 RS Variants Pricing Out Traditional Enthusiasts Who Previously Accessed the Brand At Lower Entry Points

Schaub reflects that fifteen years ago, he was able to buy a base Porsche 911 for about $80,000—a car attainable for successful enthusiasts. Today, base 911s are much more expensive, and Porsche’s market position now mirrors Ferrari’s former exclusivity. Rogan agrees, recalling when Porsche was considered the affordable supercar—still daily-drivable yet accessible to more buyers than traditional exotics. Both note Porsche’s shift from being a brand with attainable entry points to one that now prices out many who previously would have aspired to own one.

Desirability of Limited Models Like GT3 RS Creates Allocation Systems, Markups, and Challenges Ownership for Average Collectors, Changing Brand Accessibility

Schaub and Rogan highlight that highly desirable models like the GT3 RS are even harder to access, with significant markups and allocation systems restricting who can buy them. Schaub mentions markups as high as $150,000 over sticker and notes that the process of acquiring one is now so challenging that the average car collector is essentially blocked out. These trends have shifted Porsche from a brand for car enthusiasts of various means to an ultra-exclusive status symbol, fundamentally altering access for future generations of fans.

Custom Engine Swaps and Performance Modifications

LS Engine Swaps in Porsche 911s: A Controversial yet Popular Modification for Dramatic Performance Gains, With Vehicles Like Gunther Works' Twin-Turbo Slant Nose Models Producing Over 1,000 Horsepower and Crushing GT3 RS Models in Rolling Races

Schaub expresses enthusiasm for LS swaps in Porsche 911s, praising the sound and unique character it lends to the platform. Rogan points out the controversy among purists, calling it “heretical,” but also notes how impressive the results are—remarking on the American muscle sound emanating from a lightweight European chassis. They discuss specialty builders like Gunther Works, whose twin-turbo slant nose models make over 1,000 horsepower. In rolling races, such massively modified Porsches easily outperform even GT3 RS models, with Rogan describing one such race where the tuned car “buried” the GT3 RS. These vehicles, at around 2,400 pounds and with full carbon fiber construction, are drastically lighter and more powerful than most factory models.

High-Horsepower Cars Face Overheating, Reliability, and Tuning Challenges

Despite the allure of massive power figures, Schaub cautions that running 1,000-plus horsepower street cars—especially trucks and muscle cars turned race machines—leads to constant overheating and reliability issues. He gives personal accounts of running his TRX pickup with a 1,400-horsepower twin-turbo Hellcat swap, only to find himself stranded roadside with overheating engines or unable to find compatible fuel. Rogan adds that aftermarket tuning often requires complex software and ECU solutions, and newer vehicles sometimes have locked ECUs that make high performance modifications even more expensive and technologically challenging.

Air-cooled Porsches and Manual Transmission Driving Experience

Air-cooled 911s With Manual Transmission (250-300 Hp) Offer More Engaging Drives Than Modern High-Horsepower Cars

Both hosts agree that, as they get older, simple pleasures trump horsepower wars. For them, an old air-cooled Porsche 911 with a manual gearbox and just 250 horsepower can provide more enjoyment than an overwhelmed, modern high-performance car. Rogan contends that the satisfaction of shifting gears and feeling engaged with the car eclipses the thrill of sheer speed.

Older Porsche Models' Hydraulic Steering Offers Unique Driver-Machine Connection

They discuss how older Porsches with hydraulic steering enhance the tactile driving experience, connecting the driver directly with the road in a way that modern, insulated cars often do not. The focus, they argue, should be on driving enjoyment rather than outright performance numbers, especially since most drivers ...

Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub discuss the profound impact of social media on mental health, how digital platforms manipulate popularity, the dangers of centralized digital systems, the addictive nature of apps, and the evolution of news consumption in the digital age.

Tiktok's Influence on Mental Health and Information Consumption

Rogan criticizes TikTok and other social media platforms for psychological harm, arguing that algorithms promote sensational and often violent content designed purely to boost user engagement. He shares that his own Instagram algorithm feeds him videos of fights and chaotic scenes, reflecting a trend toward content that maximizes [restricted term] hits rather than user wellbeing. Brendan Schaub adds that users are now commonly addicted to dramatic or violent clips, which constitutes a growing concern.

Rogan contrasts the American experience with the Chinese version of TikTok, where the algorithm instead surfaces traditional culture such as dance, martial arts, and science projects. Notably, in China, TikTok enforces a shutdown for minors after 10 p.m., highlighting a stark difference in content priorities and usage restrictions compared to the West.

Paid Engagement and Artificial Influencer Growth

Both Rogan and Schaub note the rise of "astroturfing" on social media—a practice where companies or individuals inflate metrics like downloads, views, and follower counts using fake accounts or bots. Rogan explains that one can buy followers and comments to create a veneer of legitimacy, and that some influencers have millions of subscribers but only a handful of real engagement in comments. This disconnect, he says, is a red flag for inauthentic popularity. This manipulation is not just limited to numbers. Sometimes, AI-driven engagement schemes involve automated accounts that mimic human behavior by commenting and interacting, creating a deeper illusion of popularity and influence. Rogan observes that more sophisticated bots evade detection by adjusting to platforms’ attempts to eliminate them, and that even platforms like Instagram and YouTube regularly purge millions of bots, though new, smarter ones quickly take their place.

Moreover, Rogan and his guests note that in places like Singapore, people can run AI-based programs controlling numerous cell phones and social media accounts that interact across platforms, making it very difficult to distinguish between genuine and artificial engagement. This ecosystem perpetuates a false sense of fame, potentially misleading sponsors and fans, and making it challenging for audiences to discern legitimate popularity.

Centralized Digital Currency Systems and Social Credit Scoring

While not directly discussed in the conversation, Rogan’s broader themes touch on topics like social credit and digital currency, as they highlight the increase in centralized control in digital life. He suggests that combining digital currency, social credit, and centralized systems—as seen in China’s linkage of social credit to banking and property rights—could set a precedent for comprehensive digital surveillance and control, with the possibility of granular restrictions such as "15-minute city" policies in Western democracies.

Addiction Mechanisms in Social Media Design

Rogan and Schaub emphasize that addiction to social media is rampant, driven by algorithms that leverage psychological mechanisms similar to gambling’s variable rewards. Platforms consciously design their feeds for maximum engagement and prolonged screen time, often at the expense of users' mental health. Rogan argues that this addiction is unlike other substances: social media is now integrated into calendar management, communicat ...

The podcast conversations between Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub explore complex issues of government overreach, political control, digital surveillance, industry power, and the public’s growing skepticism toward official narratives and policy directions.

Assassination Attempts on Political Figures and Public Skepticism

Joe Rogan highlights that there have been three legitimate assassination attempts on Donald Trump, yet these events remain in the news only briefly before being dismissed from public attention. Rogan references a survey indicating that about 30% of Americans believe one or more of these attempts were staged, with over half either thinking they were faked or unsure of their authenticity. Only 38% of Americans believe all three attempts were genuine, demonstrating a high level of public skepticism.

The Butler, Pennsylvania shooting is discussed in detail. Rogan explains how this incident featured a bullet visibly whizzing past Trump’s face in photos and tragically resulted in a firefighter’s death, with the fatal bullet intended for Trump. Despite the clear physical evidence and deadly consequences, conspiracy theorists persist in their claims that the event was staged, which Rogan strongly criticizes as ignorant of the realities of firearms and risk.

The conversation moves to theories about the motives and orchestration of such attacks. Rogan mentions Congressman Tim Burchette’s suggestion that the Butler shooting could be linked to MK-Ultra-style mind control operations, referencing historical covert government experiments and speculating that these practices may have only become more sophisticated. Schaub echoes this sentiment, noting the suspicious lack of personal and digital traces for the assailant and referencing alleged ties to BlackRock.

Other incidents, such as the individual who rushed the stage at the Correspondents’ Dinner, are also cited as subjects of conspiracy theories, highlighting a trend where many Americans are unwilling to accept mainstream explanations for major political events.

Uk Policy Direction and Government Censorship

Rogan notes a trend toward government censorship in the UK, where citizens face prosecution for anti-immigration posts on social media. Trials for such offenses have been moved from juries to judges, eliminating the safeguard of peer deliberation. Rogan argues that this change erodes public resistance to unjust prosecutions, especially when people vent frustration over personal tragedies and find themselves facing legal consequences without the empathy of a jury.

Additionally, Rogan points to UK legislation targeting smoking among future generations. A new law bans the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after a certain year, effectively phasing out direct cigarette sales for those cohorts when they reach adulthood while maintaining access for those born earlier.

Digital Surveillance Infrastructure and Government Control Mechanisms

The discussion turns to digital surveillance in America, focusing on a proposed federal law mandating that new vehicles (starting with the 2027 model year) be equipped with technology to monitor for impaired driving and, crucially, include a “kill switch” that can remotely shut down a vehicle’s engine if impairment is detected. Rogan and Schaub describe this as a Trojan horse: while marketed as a public safety feature, it potentially provides authorities with the power to immobilize vehicles for other reasons, such as online dissent.

The hosts note that similar technology is already in limited use—OnStar can disable stolen cars, Teslas are essentially internet-connected computers—but the proposed law would create a universal mandate, extending control to all new vehicles. This expansion of government control evokes concerns about broader trends in digital tracking and restriction.

Rogan extrapolates further, discussing the possibility of a framework that integrates digital currency, centralized control, and social credit systems. Drawing parallels to China, he envisions a future where dissenters could find their vehicles disabled, financial transactions blocked, and movement restricted, all through centralized digital management. The result, Rogan argues, would be a chilling effect on protest and pe ...

Brendan Schaub and Joe Rogan reflect on their personal approaches to sobriety, addiction, parenting, and teaching practical skills, offering insights into healthy self-management and fostering well-being in children.

Sobriety and Health Optimization Through Reduced Alcohol Consumption

Brendan Schaub celebrates nearly three years of sobriety, emphasizing the resulting improvements in his conditioning, mental clarity, health, and overall performance. He candidly admits that alcohol simply was not benefiting him and that he feels better than ever since quitting.

Joe Rogan discusses his journey with alcohol moderation, explaining that while he previously overindulged, he now limits himself to an occasional drink, such as a glass or two of wine with dinner or a drink with friends. He acknowledges that abstaining or moderating is healthier and credits awareness of past overconsumption for his improved choices.

Obsessive Personality Traits As Double-Edged Swords

Both Schaub and Rogan recognize their obsessive tendencies as driving forces behind their successes—Schaub’s in professional fighting and Rogan’s in business. Schaub humorously describes his “all in” mindset, such as acquiring a fleet of cars, and notes that he’s learned to better regulate these impulses as he matures.

Rogan notes that obsessive personalities can be a double-edged sword: while such focus leads to excellence in areas like sports or business, it also increases the risk of harmful addictions, such as gambling or substance abuse. He stresses the importance of channeling these tendencies into positive outlets—like fitness, car collecting, or skill development—as a mature strategy for addiction management rather than attempting to eliminate obsessive tendencies altogether.

Both agree that the ability to regulate addictive behaviors is crucial, as unchecked obsession can spiral into destructive habits. Rogan advocates for consciously replacing detrimental addictions with beneficial ones, turning obsession into a force for personal growth.

Parental Philosophy and Avoiding Youth Performance Pressure

Schaub, who coaches his son's teams, describes the parental pressures he witnesses in youth sports. He recounts intervening with overbearing parents whose identities are tied to their children’s athletic success, pointing out that this pressure often causes kids to quit sports they once loved. He emphasizes the unhealthy dynamics this creates, including children feeling their activities become jobs rather than sources of enjoyment.

Rogan shares stories from young actors and athletes, highlighting the negative psychological impacts when parents become financially or emotionally dependent on their children's success. Both hosts agree that children should be encouraged to pursue activities they genuinely enjoy, rathe ...