Hey, Joe
It has been more challenging this summer to write my weekly essays. This has not been a function of writer’s block, but more a function of “sharer’s block.” The things that have been on my mind have been either too personal, too half-baked or too mundane to share.
Something happened in the last couple of days that revealed a part of this challenge for what it is. In an interview hosted by podcaster Lex Fridman, on Thursday Joe Rogan said he preferred Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is running as an independent, for president. This created an online swell of criticism for Rogan, prompting him to post the following statement to his X (formerly Twitter) account: “For the record, this isn’t an endorsement. This is me saying that I like RFKjr as a person, and I really appreciate the way he discusses things with civility and intelligence. I think we could use more of that in this world.” He further went on to say “I’m not the guy to get political information from.”
Politics is one of those areas that has been on my mind, but I’ve been reluctant to write about, and Rogan’s experience of the last few days is exactly why. It’s a sensitive, polarized environment.
Writing my weekly essay is a way for me to make sense of the world - and to “show my work.” I think that interviewing guests on his podcast serves a similar purpose for Rogan. I appreciate this, and was one of his earliest listeners back in 2009.
He’s prolific. I don’t know how many hours of interviews he has published in total (or even last week), but I simply can’t keep up with them all. Nor am I interested in hearing the views of all of his guests. This volume of content activates the law of averages - anyone who speaks with a microphone in front of their face long enough will say things they wish they could revise, or “unsay.” It’s bound to happen - perhaps even more so with Rogan, who sometimes drinks alcohol or smokes cannabis during interviews.
I respect him more than I actually like him. It’s not that I dislike him…I just don’t share enough of his views to feel a strong affinity for him personally. But he’s a creator - he does the hard work of writing and delivering stand-up comedy, he produces hours and hours of interviews for his podcast. He maintains an open-mindedness that is rare to see in other media personalities. He exudes a “live and let live” ethos that I think makes the world a better place.
My only beef with him is the way that he handled COVID-19. Expressing his personal opinions, and platforming discredited scientists who basically debated the proper treatment protocols in real time was irresponsible. It contributed to confusion and poor decision-making by lots of human beings during a time of high ambiguity. I won’t hazard as a guess as to how many people this might have affected, but it is a non-trivial number.
On balance, I think Rogan and his podcast are a positive force for greater understanding and acceptance in the world. He holds plenty of views that I don’t share - but I never get the sense that he’s trying to convince anyone to think the way that he thinks. That’s quite a needle to thread.
Sunday Supper
It’s that time of year - the time when big entree salads are so satisfying and fresh. This classic Grilled Chicken Niçoise is perfect. This Basil & Tomato Fried Rice is an interesting way to deploy all of those fresh tomatoes and basil. And this Blueberry, Almond and Lemon Cake would make for a great finish.
Sunday Music
This Sunday let’s listen to some dudes with three names. This concert by Jimmie Dale Gilmore is great. And this song by Billie Joe Shaver is an anthem I play any time I need some encouragement. No three-name roster would be complete without the inimitable Stevie Ray Vaughn. Enjoy!
If you know anyone who might like this essay, please share it with them.
Have a great week ahead! Offer support to others. Make good use of this day. And let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,