Joe Rogan Experience #2458 - Matt McCusker
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
People use lights on tables to light up faces, avoiding shadows to look better. Flashlight under chin for scary stories creates shadows. Men using filters on pictures look like cartoons in person. Netflix promotes specials with filtered pictures, making comedians look pretty; fans say they look horrible or old after shows.
Joe Rogan is 58, almost 60. Guest just turned 40. Guest aged immediately after having kids due to lack of sleep. Creatine recommended: start with 5g, work up to 20g/day, check butthole seal as high doses cause diarrhea. Guest does 10g morning and night to avoid gut issues. Diarrhea speeds digestion but dysentery (constant diarrhea) prevents nutrient absorption, leading to starvation.
Kale smoothies with garlic and apples clear guts like hosing rain gutters. Green drinks cause big dumps. Guest got hemorrhoids from vegan month due to massive turds twice daily. Fiber pushes out unprocessed food, keeps clean. Carnivore diet argues no fiber needed; body absorbs all meat. Microbiome needs fiber for good germs benefiting brain. Guest eats kimchi and sauerkraut for balance. Tried carnivore: felt good first 5 days, up to 17 days but stopped pooping, felt unhealthy without vegetables. No fiber means rabbit pellets; carnivores say meat absorbs fully, no need for plants to push it out.
Old myth: every man dies with pound of undigested meat in stomach, like John Wayne with 50 pounds of beef jerky in butthole. Actually from beer, pasta, bread. John Wayne filmed The Conqueror (1956, Genghis Khan movie) near Nevada nuclear tests; whole crew got cancer.
Past generations ignored dangers: nuclear bombs, asbestos. Guest's family worked with asbestos in 90s barn demolition. Baby powder (talc-based) has small cancer risk from genital use and possible asbestos contamination; talc mined near asbestos. Data mixed, absolute risk low. Guest used baby powder for masturbation (triggers arousal smell); also used for pool cues before gloves (nylon-like). LED lights said to crush mitochondria.
Too much negative news causes overwhelm, hard to wind down. News addictive via outrage; algorithms feed it, possibly tracking facial expressions, eye movement, audio via phone. Tape over camera as experiment. Epstein files dark, too many names, goes high up. Prince Andrew arrested (first in 500 years?); likely pedophile, would get targeted in jail despite protective custody. Royal family stripped titles, banished him stepwise after seeing real evidence.
Paris prosecutors opened two new Epstein-linked investigations. Jean-Luc Brunel (co-conspirator) died in custody at 76; probe reopened. Epstein's cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione, ex-cop awaiting trial on four murders (drug dealers), hulking (tank top photo). 18 days before death (July 23, 2019), Epstein found in fetal position, unresponsive, not breathing, eyes opening/shutting, orange fabric noose around neck. Officials called it suicide attempt; Bill Barr viewed it as indicative of state of mind.
Epstein claimed Tartaglione tried to kill him, felt threatened after prior statements. Tartaglione disputed, said he banged door, did nothing, tried to revive Epstein. Epstein moved to different floor/cell. No camera footage (lost/missing/faulty). Tartaglione's lawyer: Epstein's claim false; Epstein left suicide note, offered money to kill him (not in prison records). Epstein told officers Tartaglione extorted money, threatened beatings over child sex charges, ongoing week. Tartaglione claimed Epstein tried paying him to kill himself.
Jail officer Thomas charged with falsifying logs (dropped): after July 23, Epstein on suicide watch, 15-min logs required. Only one entry at 2:15 a.m.; at 2:30 a.m., "Inmate sitting on bed trying to remember what happened." Later, Epstein sat on bed edge, leaned forward as if to fall head-first; told to stop, gave thumbs up. Body resists intentional head-first falls; would flail or paralyze.
Guys die all the time in street fights when they get knocked out and fall, hitting their head on concrete. Before leaving Philly a year ago, a guy walking his dog off leash argued with another man who told him to leash it. The man punched him, he hit his head, and died. Matt's brother went on an online date with the deceased's fiancée (he was married) about a year and a half later. > Bummer of a date. If Matt were her, he'd think she dodged a bullet—husband died from a punch during a dog walk.
Walking down the street with right of way, not rushing, a car pulled up and the driver threatened to shoot Matt in the face, saying "get the fuck out" and "I'll shoot you in your fucking face." > You never know who's unhinged. Could be divorce, just got fired, about to go to jail, best friend fucked his wife—life in shambles, barely hanging on, hating their job, exhausted. People talk shit to strangers without knowing who they are.
Dad's story (possibly old construction worker tale): Friend's mom at grocery store, both going for parking spot. Guy cursed her out. Her son, a biker just out of jail, knew the guy from the neighborhood—nobody saw him again. > You just can't be yelling at an old lady; you have no idea who you're dealing with. Just chill.
Creepier Epstein files detail: Ordered 330 gallons of sulfuric acid after indictment—dissolves bodies. Speculation it was for desalination system (sulfuric acid cleans it), but Jamie checked: Only ordered it once before, never that much. Lives near ocean—why not use ocean water? On an island, dumping bodies in water risks discovery; acid ensures no trace, especially in bulk.
Bahamas area has sharks. Florida has many, especially bull sharks. Swimming in Florida, friend unconcerned about sharks; Uber driver said it's shark season. Bull sharks responsible for early 1900s New Jersey murders inspiring Jaws—occurred in a river (they swim in freshwater), not as big as great whites. Very aggressive; in Florida Keys, fishing off piers, big fish get bitten in half by sharks—tons of videos.
In Turks and Caicos snorkeling with family (2- and 4-year-olds), guide said baby sharks present but won't bother. Matt checked: 5-6 ft sharks at bottom in 40 ft deep water, 50 ft away—refused to bring kids in.
Video from friend in Australia (Matt teases him about monsters there): Guys off dock throw fish scraps near shore, sharks swarm like piranhas, fighting for food—sharks accustomed, big enough to take legs off. Florida filled with monsters.
Dolphins in real life are huge and scary. Matt swam with them in Mexico—barely wanted to touch. Joe in Hawaii: Jump off boat, snorkel, see them swim under—wild.
Alligator Alcatraz (Guantanamo for detainees surrounded by alligator country like a cartoon moat) at Marco Island, Florida (opposite Miami, not Keys). Alligators everywhere—no standing body of water without them. Disney World flushes them out; one killed a kid years ago, snagging toddler seeing Cinderella. Everglades filled with alligators, pythons—half a million pythons estimated, invasive from pet trade and Hurricane Andrew blowing down a facility.
Snake Island in Brazil: Tectonic shift isolated it; snakes trapped with no predators, eat each other—one snake per meter, piled on top of each other.
Burmese pythons invasive in Everglades (tens of thousands to 300,000 across southern Florida, high density in Everglades National Park); exploded from few in 90s due to pet releases. Parakeets invasive locally from released pets; iguanas in Florida too—canned iguana meat sold in supermarkets (pizza place got in trouble serving it; people hunt and eat, YouTube stir-fried iguana). Iguanas massive, aggressive, charge in wild; in Turks and Caicos, island full of them running up on you. In Florida cold snaps (30s), they fall from trees like stoned, freeze, thaw out. Ancient cold-blooded species.
Alligators freeze in lakes, noses/eyes above water. Can go a year without eating.
If alligators/bears go months/years without eating, do humans need daily meals? We eat more than ever—historical people tiny (Civil War average man 130 pounds) due to food/protein scarcity. Hunter-gatherers one meal/day if lucky, burn 6,000 calories hunting, no preservation except drying meat into jerky. Mexico: Slice buffalo thin, hang on clothes hangers to dry.
Life pre-refrigeration sucked—no running water, shitting in ground holes, no ventilation/AC/vitamins. Turn of century diseases rampant. Texas settlers/Comanche toughest—brutal heat, dust, rattlesnakes at spring houses (Lonesome Dove); freezing cold unpredictable (recent: 80s to 30s to 20s to 70s). Worth it: Enough cold to appreciate warm, not suicidal like Montana/Wyoming 7-month winters or East Coast 3 sunless months.
Prefer hot/sunny over cold—jump in lake/pool. Flu season from low vitamin D/immune systems.
NYC doctor: Many patients undetectable vitamin D—no supplementing, winter clothes, never outside. Seattle: Tanning beds for natural dose. Vitamin D like hormone, essential. USDA recommends 5,000 IU; some hyperdose 30,000 IU daily. Matt took high dose for low levels—no side effects despite med sensitivity.
Optimal absorption:
- Fat-soluble: Take with dietary fat/meal containing fats.
- Pair with K2, magnesium (Dr. Rhonda Patrick: Magnesium aids absorption; someone improved only after adding it).
- Liposomal vitamin D (fatty paste on spoon) for better uptake.
Amino acids on empty stomach; forget podcast advice easily (e.g., Huberman on morning cortisol spike via exercise). Matt off caffeine—super sensitive, one cup at 2 PM keeps him up till midnight; body can't handle despite mental benefits. Tried nootropics like theanine (helps sleep/memory), acetylcholine alternatives.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient so pairing it with dietary fat maximizes its absorption in the gut. Take vitamin D supplements with a meal containing fats for optimal uptake.
Studies show you can boost serum levels by about 50%. Foods like fatty fish, avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds, or full fat yogurt provide these fats effectively. Supportive nutrients: Magnesium aids in converting vitamin D to its active form and transporting it in the body. Vitamin K2 works synergistically to direct calcium to bones, enhancing benefits for bone health. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil also improve absorption alongside fats. Vitamin D should be taken with magnesium, K2, and probably some fish oil. Eating it after breakfast provides fats.
Caffeine sensitivity varies; some can drink two double espressos and go to sleep. Drinking caffeine during the day eliminates dreams at night. Stopping weed causes wild crazy dreams as it blocks them. Caffeine completely neutralizes dreams even for long-term weed smokers. Anecdotal evidence suggests caffeine discourages divergent thinking (e.g., coming up with story ideas) and promotes convergent thinking (e.g., editing a task). People on caffeine report messed up ability to come up with new or novel ideas due to hyperfocus, like low-dose meth.
Friends dated girls on amphetamines; they hyperfocus on cleaning and organizing the house for 12 hours, listening to Slayer. Meth makes you feel like Superman and want to get things done. Crack makes you feel like a genius in your head, e.g., "Why have a refrigerator? Sell it and order out." It crashes every 30 minutes. Freebased cocaine (like Richard Pryor) preceded crack; smoking delivers superiorly to the brain, flooding with dopamine. Hunter Biden described smoking crack articulately on a Channel 5 show, almost romantically.
A baggie found at the White House might not be Hunter Biden's; many need pick-me-ups for 16-hour days, press, meetings. At a college real estate company buying apartment buildings, senior management bought and chomped Adderall for sales meetings. Journalists are on Adderall for productivity; some are open about it. Dave Portnoy took 30 milligrams, a lot. Tolerance builds; heavy users need more. Edibles: tolerance doesn't build for some (knocks out every time), others need 200 milligrams. Used 200 mg lollipops but got whacked gauging intake.
39 million Adderall prescriptions yearly in the US, but accounts for refills; actual users fewer, plus illegal sources. People get scripts and sell them, or buy cartel-pressed pills. Pill world riddled with fentanyl; fake Valium or Adderall kills. Local high school kid died taking fake Adderall with fentanyl from a friend to cram for studies. Advice to coke users: stop, as bar testing fails when hammered.
Coke makes you feel accomplished, best ever, hyped on projects, want to sell Bitcoin or go into business. Can't go on stage with coke; no feeling for the crowd. Alcohol makes too confident on stage, doesn't care if jokes flop. Adderall doesn't mix with comedy; too lasered in, bad for idea generation like caffeine on steroids. Some use it for writing books, but standup ideas pop naturally.
Write essays on a subject, extract bits, figure introductions, funniest parts, surrounding elements. Trick self by bullet-pointing material to memorize, mind wanders to funny ideas. Sitting to write standup rarely yields workable material; let ideas pop. Essays avoid writing in comedy form initially. Brutal process: from essay, craft non-clunky intros, identify funniest part; first time on stage sucks, improve by throwing into fire nightly. Use safe killer bits alongside new material.
Moving to new city post-hour special means all new material; exciting uncertainty nightly. Bombing good: feel terrible, motivates tightening material, leads to big leaps. Failure important; counters overconfidence or bad moods. Bomb clarifies, motivates writing when juggling shows. Told fighters: good loss (if not badly hurt) makes you analyze skipped road work, strength training, half-assing; reveals dedication levels.
Boston local headliners did 45-minute hammered samurai sword acts for 15 years; timing/pacing crushed nightly but never added new material. Buddy saw 80s Boston headliner (via Fitz Simmons) phoning in same dated act, barely getting response; opened suitcase with act like office worker. Early paid gigs: moose lodges for $50, opening wacko 30-year headliners giving career talks, comedy magicians. Opened for Screech (RIP) talking floppy disc porn in 2000s; killed in clubs post-sitcom.
Skippy from Family Ties (Michael J. Fox) headlined clubs after Hollywood failed. Late Screech at Delaware bar (2012, post-2009 college grad): audience yelled "Screech," made him mad. Owner screwed lady (first-time comic) into hosting 20 minutes from notebook, bombed horribly. Screech bragged $8 grand pay, didn't care. Girlfriends opening for headliner comics torture audiences; doesn't help them, makes furious. Comedy couples help write acts, often to hook up with headliner.
Can't book partner as opener then say "next time"; must say no, leads to breakup. Send to open mics instead of sold-out shows. Kill Tony: first-timers at Madison Square Garden (16,000 sold out), filmed for millions on YouTube/Netflix; like filming 1-minute special. Some interviewees post-set seemed dangerous, needed screening. Open mic nights lunatic asylums.
Robert William Apparaya: ex-lawyer blew fuse, all marijuana act, walked hours from downtown flop house to Comedy Store open mics. Rain solution: plastic grocery bags tucked inside clothing (clothes outside, body dry); sweaty but warm. Last up nightly, nervous, avoided touch, mumbled. Philly Helium open mic after 6-month break: toxic vibe, everyone hating each other, charged on adrenaline.
They're on the outside wanting to pursue the dream of standing on stage with a microphone like a regular person with no training. Matt watched open mic nights from Long Island at midnight; it was crazy seeing someone who definitely shouldn't be doing comedy try it for the first time. He could only watch so long before getting anxiety and shutting it off.
At open mics, when you do a showcase and invite friends or family, they're shocked: "What the fuck are you doing? Who are these people?" Matt brought friends the first time he went on stage because he didn't want to do it alone. Joe was the opposite and didn't want anyone to see him for a long time.
Matt has a big family and did a show at Raven Lounge in Philly, a tiny blackbox theater above a bar fitting 25 people. He invited his family; 17 out of 25 audience members were his relatives, including his aunt in front staring at him while he bombed. They watched him choke, making it worse.
Comedy classes get people to try standup, though few legit comics teach them. At Helium, taking the class entered you in a contest; winning got you the hosting gig. Matt took time off standup, then took the class to fast-track hosting. He won the contest, then Philly's Funniest, earning a hosting gig at the improv theater across the street for $35/hour with no healthcare.
Hosting his comedy class, he told students: "Never take a comedy class ever again. This is dumb, but we'll run it as an open mic." He had them do five minutes each.
One sketchy class promised: "I'm about to blow up. I'm taking you guys with me." The teacher boasted about deals in development.
Matt got blacklisted from Helium for having a comedy class (a fake one for money). He told the owner, who said chill and allowed open mic, but got booted for a month after being spotted. The owner was out for blood.
There was talk that headlining Cap City meant a 3-month ban from their club. Matt offered to tweet about friends at their club: "There's plenty of comedians and audience for everybody."
Comedy classes feed more people to clubs. Matt got banned as a young guy for hosting one for money.
He took Helium's class to game the system against beginners, having years of experience.
Matt reflects on early acquaintances thought to make it: "This guy's a celebrity, he's got it," but they faded. Some started talented but showed up late, on their own time, magnetic personalities but couldn't commit.
Some bomb every time for years and persist; others quit after one bad set. Lack of self-awareness prevents improvement; distorted perception of how people see them.
When audience is silent, it's clear: "Damn, I suck. Change something."
Starting standup is like running a marathon blindfolded through trees. For a special, you realize you need an hour of material, not just five minutes nightly with no plan.
Guys in cities like New York have killer 15 minutes but struggle with an hour: can't sustain energy, need pacing with hills and valleys, structured material.
Matt wasn't doing standup, focused on podcast with Shane. Shane got him a headline spot at Helium behind his back. After months off (maybe a year), he headlined sporadically: hour, two months off, repeat. Recorded audio, listened, took notes—insane way to restart.
Joe had four or five months off; felt weird. Houston clubs reopened spaced out with masks; he did one weekend then stopped, paranoid about infecting someone fatally.
Matt had first kid March 2020, right after hospital paranoid in grocery store. Joe glad he could be at birth; others died alone without visitors.
Second kid still had restrictions; nurse didn't care about masks. New parents exhausted, immune systems crushed from no sleep.
Early pandemic (March 2020 next six months), Matt's wife feared bringing it home. Joe worried until friends/family got it and recovered; he never got it despite exposure, including sex with coughing wife: "Let's find out."
Death rate seemed 0.00001%; much propaganda. Joe tested everyone daily at studio (guests, employees, security), separated until results, nurse with masks.
Health department raided after rat-out; required mask bag, sanitizer, 6-foot signs. Accused of no distancing after seeing hugs outside—dystopian.
Parents' reactions varied: Matt's wanted him inside; Joe's terrified until vaccinated, older and nervous like Neil Young, Howard Stern—1% death risk feels real when old, back hurts, swollen feet.
Matt's parents (nearing 70) didn't care, grew up hard: not worried about a cough.
Matt got COVID after talking much; rocked him first day fearing death, but recovered. Wife got it two days later; switched kid care. Kid never got it despite proximity. Kids burn through it; Joe's one had runny nose, other sick couple days.
Matt unhealthy then, no vitamins; Joe on vitamins, never got it.
New parents always exhausted. Joe takes naps now, unlike coffee days.
Matt naps only before early mornings after late sets (home 12:30 AM, up 6 AM) to avoid deficit over productivity. Sleepy podcasting infuriates him.
Travel: Matt arrives early, naps. Vegas 10 PM show brutal; arrived, napped, woke 9 PM feeling like a bug.
Joe's trick: On landing, drop bags at hotel, straight to gym, sweat hard (push-ups etc.)—resets system post-plane microwaving/X-ray feeling.
In Denver recently, 30-minute workout at altitude altered him. Lived at 8,500 feet above Boulder (Boulder 5,500-5,700 feet); descending gave super endurance. Philly gym post-altitude: "Feel like I could run through a wall."
Athletes train high (Big Bear, Colorado Springs Olympic center) for red blood cells; EPO mimics it. Air thinner, less oxygen, body adapts.
Matt restarted all-out 100-meter sprints to combat age creep, test limits. Fingertips numb initially; now fixed because you grow new veins.
Matt describes improved circulation from sprinting: he can now sprint without numbness in hands, which used to feel pins and needles. He runs early morning at a track near his house, feeling amazing all day. Routine: today two 300s, two 200s, supposed to do four 150s but stopped after two, done in 15-20 minutes starting at 6:00 AM. Feels like walking on air afterward.
Joe mentions a recent study on explosive exercise like sprinting, lacking in older people, beneficial for health and mobility.
Matt notes sprinting secretes growth hormone, creating new and wider veins and capillaries. Heart pounds at 180 beats per minute, forcing blood through, clearing it out.
Jelly Roll lost 300 pounds in three years without Ozempic: stopped eating sugar, took testosterone replacement, started walking. Last podcast, ran 6.2 miles day before. With Cam Haynes deer hunting in South Texas, ran 6.2 miles on hills; before podcast ran 2.6 miles on treadmill while talking and laughing. Did sauna afterward. Ate clean, no sugar, worked out. Feels awesome.
Concern about career persona changing with weight loss, but has amazing voice. Weight fluctuation can change voice: significant loss makes it higher pitched, lighter, clearer due to reduced fat around larynx, throat, chest, decreasing pressure on vocal cords, improving breathing and resonance.
Opera singers often fat; thin handsome ones exist but stereotype is fat lady with Viking helmet or big jolly guys. Weight loss aids singing: more cardio, heart beats slower, more oxygen.
Matt's songwriting and voice remain strong. Comedy concern: getting too in shape might alienate fans, though not stopping him; avoids tank tops or t-shirts on stage showing jacked physique. Rich Vos worked out on stage in tank top, Kid Rock style.
Kid Rock's house looks like White House outside, 25,000 sq ft inside with two bedrooms, huge hot tub room, mining cavern room, pickleball every morning at 7 AM. RFK Jr. (70) works out in jeans on StairMaster, push-ups, air bike in sauna, cold plunge. They drink raw milk in hot tub.
Trump on Obama saying aliens real: Obama gave classified information, not supposed to; Trump might declassify to get him out of trouble. Trump: doesn't know if real, never talks about it, many believe.
Obama shouldn't say aliens real if classified, implies it's real data. Started 2017 with New York Times article on pilots' experiences: crafts no heat signature, ridiculous speeds over ocean, then UAP legitimized.
Joe interviewed Bob Lazar 2019, known 6-7 years, dined with him and Andrew Schulz at Fogo de Chão in LA. Lazar consistent, reasonable, brilliant scientist, not liar. Never saw aliens, reverse-engineered crafts at Area 51.
Sport model UFO on desk replica by Designs by Perry (element 115 desk lamp). Worked at Los Alamos Labs, propulsion expert, built jet engine Honda. Contacted for job matching capabilities, flown from outside Mandalay Bay (confirmed now, unknown 1989 whistleblow).
Shown craft in hangar with American flag sticker, assumed U.S. No welds, seams, 3D printed, sized for 3-foot beings, no controls. Central generator with element 115 triangle: bombard with radiation under dome for field enabling movement. Demo: silent, blue glowing light, instantaneous travel, turns sideways using gravity beam projectors creating void.
Worked months; wife had affair with flight instructor due to secrecy (11 PM work calls). Phones tapped, suspended for instability. Took wife and friends to see flights Wednesdays (least traffic). Caught twice, threatened with gun, told of affair.
Went public via George Knapp (Las Vegas reporter), initially blacked out face, then showed face for safety: house broken into (car doors/trunk/hood open, locked), tire shot out highway.
Discredited: denied Los Alamos work, but 1985 employee roster and newspaper article confirm physicist there with jet Honda. Still around today.
Trump's statement implies classified alien data real. Speculation: Space Force for WMD like Middle East, spy on China. Other countries (Russia, China) retrieved crashes; one immovable in Korea, building built around it.
Government agenda since 2017 drop; pilots' stories credible. Likely military reverse-engineering, shared spying.
Discussion of a massive structure in South Korea rumored to house a giant UFO too large to move, so a building was constructed around it. The building resembles a UFO with an antenna on top, measuring 270 feet in diameter. Eric Berles insisted on aliens but admitted no definitive proof. A US congressman claimed a classified UFO facility is hiding in plain sight there. Speculation about heavy guarding, but only a gate is visible.
Reference to a video of someone planning to investigate sites in Korea, including an underground one. Concerns about deep fakes complicating truth, especially with upcoming elections, fake Epstein photos and videos, and fabricated statements or associations.
Stephen Colbert's show aired a Talarico interview on YouTube instead of CBS due to two versions of events: one claiming government censorship involving Trump; the other citing FCC equal time rules requiring airtime for opponents like Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Colbert stated every script is approved by CBS lawyers, but guidance was for equal time compliance. He was called backstage for notes on language, noted a talk show exception to the rule never enforced in late-night history back to the 1960s. Colbert not mad at network, ending show soon. CBS lawyers cited risk triggering rule for other candidates.
Talarico (Democrat) is a former school teacher running against Colin Allred and Jasmine Crockett (both Democrats). Motivated by a troubled student improving with counseling, then regressing after budget cuts ended it, leading to expulsion. Talarico aims to fix such issues. Faced backlash from influencer alleging he called Allred a "mediocre black man" in private (denied); Allred responded calling for votes to Crockett. Confusion with Epstein-related names like Tagle or cop killer.
Talarico, a mild-mannered religious white guy, opposes Ten Commandments in schools to avoid pushing people from Christianity and imposing one religion on Buddhists, Muslims, Mormons, Hindus, etc. Can summarize as "just be nice." Accusations amplified in politics; saying "mediocre guy" about a black opponent gets spun racially.
Matt worked as intern therapist at inner-city Philly charter school, pulling kids from class for sessions, involving families. Funded via interns due to budget constraints. Heartbreaking stories from troubled kids. Rewarding but intense, no strict guidance.
Entered program amid slow podcast growth, inspired by Jordan Peterson's warnings. Worse than described: focused on race, gender, oppression instead of clinical approaches. All-female dominated, emotional outbursts, crying in class. Shortcut to therapy without science. Case discussions derailed into politics, e.g., shocked by Vietnam vet's crude views on women from Philly life. Emphasis on politics over helping clients like homeless or vets; "brownie points" via performative offense.
Tensions escalated; challenged classmate saying she'd never call cops on a black person, even if beating a woman. Chaos ensued. Shane Gillis SNL trouble exposed Matt's podcast byline, leading student council motion to expel for making environment "unsafe." Defended in hour-long board meeting (recorded), gray area on ethics code. COVID hushed it; finished online. Academia incompatible with podcasting; expected geniuses but found unread people showing Netflix docs like 13th Amendment in class for $60k tuition.
Graduates carry ideology to corporations, businesses, therapy. "Activism therapy" proposed to motivate via politics. Groupthink punished dissent; heart-pounding conflicts. Goldmine for standup material. Later offered PhD for money. Reveals many "kooky doctors." Higher education not as smart as assumed.
Matt expresses shock at realizing doctors aren't the smartest and higher education is insane; anyone could become a doctor, especially in subjects like anthropology. Professors can't challenge theses on anything.
Peter Boghossian, James Lindsay, and Helen Pluckrose created fake academic papers like one on heteronormativity in dog parks and gay experiences with dogs, and fat bodybuilding, which were peer-reviewed and celebrated, aligning with critical race theory.
These papers start with seemingly legit premises then make huge leaps in reasoning, similar to white supremacy pamphlets that sound reasonable initially but devolve into groupthink. This is scary as these people become therapists working with kids and vulnerable individuals.
In a 97% Black inner-city high school in Philly, colleagues asked how students would feel about his podcast; students don't care, they have bigger issues like fighting for survival.
Training emphasized leading with race: as a white therapist with a Black client, ask how they feel about the racial difference. Matt found this weird, especially in a classroom studying how to talk to Black people; just talk normally and address race if it arises.
Students doing field placements were in affluent Main Line areas, not inner-city; those kids don't want social justice lectures. Leading with "I'm white, how do you feel?" to a Black eighth grader would be creepy.
Academics think you're obligated to discuss race upfront, but kids see you're white and are happy someone shows interest and kindness. Building rapport by helping with homework works better.
Much of psychology and therapy is seen as horseshit; few people get better. It helps those in bad places by providing someone to talk to, offering perspective, rationality, and tasks, but it's not a science.
Varies by individual and 40 million modalities: CBT is most scientific and rigorous; Jungian involves drawing mandalas from dreams; or just being kind to someone who's never had it.
Study showed untrained people as therapists got similar results. It's a skill and hard job, but depends on therapist-patient fit.
Therapy school required students to attend therapy; Matt thought he'd impress but got picked apart, realizing issues he didn't know. Therapists provide outside worldviews from family systems.
Skills like acceptance commitment therapy teach mindfulness and thought monitoring. But lifelong therapy leads to performing; get in, get out. It's expensive; insurance covers if in-network and diagnosed with mental disorder (e.g., bipolar, adjustment disorder), no prescription needed.
Psychiatrists incentivized to prescribe; friend offered antidepressants first meeting despite just being unhappy/sad.
Robert Sapolsky argues brains differ, criminals have bad genes, no punishment needed, just rehabilitation; free will is illusion.
Free will is real, affected by genes, circumstances, past; inspiration, pep talks, motivational videos prove will exists. Jelly Roll's transformation from 500 lb to 200 lb via walking shows hardcore will.
Determinism argument reduces will to brain isotopes or genes activating; behavior can change genes. Both perspectives valid: environment shapes (e.g., gang-ridden chaos unlikely produces vegan poet), but determinism fails for pedophiles, serial killers, rapists—fry them, not rehabilitate.
Woke academia calls pedophiles "minor attracted persons," not evil; insane, especially for parents.
Sapolsky found disproportionate motorcycle crash victims had toxoplasmosis (cat parasite). Alters behavior: reckless, erratic moods, aggressive. High in successful soccer teams, developing countries (soccer way out of poverty).
Rewires rodents' sexual reward system; mice/rats aroused by cat piss, lose fear, get eaten, parasite reproduces in cat gut. Pregnant women avoid cat litter.
High in rural areas, outdoor cats; 50% in France from wild cats. Cats track litter box feces/piss on counters; dogs better as they go outside.
Stray cat slept by face, caused epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (adenovirus, types 8/11/37): red, painful, watery eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision, swollen eyelids. Stuck-shut eyelids mornings; eye drooped at night for 6 months post-clearance due to white blood cells. Eye doctor saw only in third world; practice shut down for cleaning. Like Ray Charles film opening.
Friend in 60s has facial shingles, swollen, fears blindness. Herpes zoster from varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox virus dormant in nerves); reactivates with age, weak immunity, stress, over 50.
Shingrix vaccine reduces risk; antivirals shorten if early.
Kids got staph (not MRSA) from swimming: giant bubble on hand.
MRSA antibiotic-resistant staph; common in jiu-jitsu. Ari had it unknowingly, limped thinking spider bite.
Forced son to celebrate Christmas with jiu-jitsu gift. Noticed bubble on knee with pus center, insisted on immediate hospital visit. Diagnosed as staph infection. Son complained about lack of warning signs at gyms.
Learned about staph from friend Tate Fletcher at airport. Tate spotted pimples on calf, suspected staph. Doctor confirmed, prescribed antibiotics immediately, swabbed for testing. Killed it quickly. Antibiotics cause tiredness and stomach issues. Some UFC fighters compete on antibiotics despite reduced endurance.
Gordon Ryan, greatest jiu-jitsu grappler of all time (belt displayed), retired at 30 due to repeated staph infections. Frequent antibiotics destroyed gut bacteria, causing inability to hold food down, constant vomiting. Hasn't competed in years, tried time off but can't train as it keeps returning.
Had eczema on legs and penis, mistaken for ringworm (perfect circle). Applied Lotrimin to penis, dried it out severely. Returned to urgent care multiple times, showed shriveled, chapped, red penis to several nurses, including a giant black male nurse. Finally saw dermatologist at Center City Dermatology (run by attractive doctor). Diagnosed not ringworm, prescribed corticosteroid cream that cleared it up.
Know people whose eczema cleared on carnivore diet.
Allergic to gluten for years; backsliding causes eczema flare-ups. Possible cause: glyphosate used to finish crops, explaining rise in gluten intolerance (rare in 1970s). Mom self-diagnosed gluten allergy in 1980s via book from nurse aunt, dismissed by others. In college, experienced food sticking in throat, gas, burping, stomach issues, racing thoughts, poor sleep—eliminating gluten cleared everything.
European gluten tolerable (no glyphosate). Blood test showed allergy to gliadin (wheat protein), moderate level. Friend Shane dismissed it: "Moderate, pussy. Have a pizza."
Gluten-free bread inferior; requires too many additives. Off gluten since 21; restaurant cross-contamination causes issues. More sunlight tolerance improves tolerance, possibly vitamin D boosting immune system (autoimmune issue). Doctors baffled.
Shift from sun avoidance to necessity for health. RFK Jr. flipping food pyramid to whole foods (vegetables, meat, fish) backed by evidence, aligns with historical eating. Backlash despite left's prior stance against preservatives/additives (banned in Europe/schools). Political tie to Trump makes it divisive; people resist admitting validity.
Especially critical for kids. Many worship science as dogma, ignoring compromises: financial/academic incentives, groupthink, pharma/pharma connections, Epstein ties. Statistics slippery; studies manipulable (pharma runs multiples, discards negatives, hides side effects).
Peer review rigged: pharma provides data summaries, not raw data. False studies like "one glass of wine daily healthy" funded by alcohol industry; resveratrol requires whole bottle equivalent. Alcohol aids relaxation, reduces cortisol/anxiety in coping with world—lesser evil for some, not claiming it's healthy.
Old food pyramid pushed cereal, bread, pasta as staples. French eat bread without obesity. Immigrants feel horrible after US food (e.g., hot dog causes vomiting).
Wexner deposition clip: Lawyer whispers, "I'll fuck kill you if you answer another question with more than five words." Seems joking but coaching; not allowed in depositions. Wexner gives short answers like "I had no idea" to theft accusations (ABC reported 5 years ago). Epstein stole money from him.
If no consequences (e.g., only Prince Andrew gets slap on wrist, protective custody), erodes faith in system. Andrew arrested unexpectedly, banished from estate.
Matt McCusker performing in Salt Lake City and Boise, Idaho this weekend.
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