American Alchemy – Joe Rogan: "We're Making An AI Alien God!" [Exclusive Interview]
Host: Jesse Michels
Guest: Joe Rogan
Date: November 30, 2025
Episode Overview
This sprawling, mind-bending episode of American Alchemy features an exclusive interview with podcast titan Joe Rogan. Riffing on everything from advanced ancient civilizations, UFOs and government conspiracies to the future of AI and consciousness, Jesse and Joe challenge the boundaries of accepted reality. They explore “heretical” ideas, the convergence of esoteric history, religious texts, disclosure, artificial intelligence, and the future evolution of humanity. With trademark humor and candor, Joe Rogan discusses his vivid alien dream, offers wild theories, and reflects on his personal journey as a broadcaster, psychonaut, and skeptic.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Joe Rogan’s Vivid Alien Dream
[03:12–06:45]
- Joe recounts a highly realistic dream: in an otherworldly corridor, he interacts with slender, genderless, pinkish humanoids with large heads and eyes. They “play around” with him, oscillating between frightening and reassuring him, and seem to be gatekeepers holding back threatening reptilian entities with “flimsy barriers.”
- The beings appear “what we will be”—suggesting future humans or evolved entities.
- The dream leaves a lasting impression; it's the only dream Joe’s ever had he couldn’t shake off:
"It was the most vivid dream I've ever had in my life... these very slender, tall human-like things... were messing with me... It was very, very vivid. It was really strange." (Joe Rogan, 03:12)
- Discusses parallels to classic abduction cases, including Betty & Barney Hill.
UFO Obsession, Whistleblowers & Disclosure
[14:04–31:37]
- Joe traces his lifelong fascination with UFOs: from childhood stargazing to Project Blue Book, J. Allen Hynek, Roswell, and Bob Lazar’s Area 51 claims.
- Details the Bob Lazar saga and increasing evidence supporting elements of his story (S4, gravity manipulation).
- U.S. and China’s alleged “back engineering” race on recovered craft — compared to a “Manhattan Project on steroids.”
- The stigma and ridicule endemically attached to UFO belief; how public figures, journalists, and politicians (e.g., Marco Rubio) combat that:
"People don't like to be thought of as a fool, you know. And I think that holds us back." (Joe Rogan, 27:10)
- Suggests that “amnesty” is necessary for gatekeepers to come forward without legal jeopardy.
AI, Quantum Computing & God-Like Intelligence
[31:37–34:25 | 36:33–37:10]
- Joe repeatedly returns to the convergence of AI, quantum computing, and the secrets of the UFO phenomenon, speculating that true artificial general intelligence will be humanity’s “gateway to the cosmos”—possibly even the mechanism by which “God gets formed.”
"When we achieve sentience with artificial general superintelligence, that's the legitimate gateway to the cosmos. And if you really want to get weird, that might be how God gets formed." (Joe Rogan, 01:51, 31:37)
- Describes quantum computing feats that defy all previous technological scaling; doubles down on theory that AI’s exponential progress may solve back-engineering hurdles of UFO technology.
- Jesse steers conversation to the “consciousness apotheosis”—all trends (UFOs, AI, quantum) converging in our time by design.
Materialism, Technological Obsession, and Human Evolution
[33:07–35:16, 83:14–89:19]
- The drive for endless consumption and invention, market-driven technological progress, and whether humans are, in effect, constructing a “God outside of ourselves.”
- Material desires as evolutionary byproducts; TVs, phones, and perpetual upgrades as a form of hive-like collective drive.
- Psychedelics seen as a counterbalance:
"After a psychedelic experience, your feelings of ego death and unity… that's the exact opposite of someone who wants to ban psychedelic and put people in jail for having them." (Joe Rogan, 74:05)
Ancient Civilizations, Hidden History & Archaeology
[52:11–74:05, 116:16–121:23]
- Deep dives into ancient Egyptian technology, Sumerian king lists, the Younger Dryas cataclysm, Gobekli Tepe and the theory that the accepted human timeline is radically incomplete.
- Synthetic aperture radar and evidence of vast, spiral underground structures beneath pyramids (“columns and coils,” metallic corridors, energy grid concepts).
- The idea that ancient health/longevity technology could enable lifespans of millennia—linking back to mythological accounts.
- Academic “gatekeepers” (e.g., Zahi Hawass) resist paradigm-shifting discoveries due to power/institutional inertia.
"It seems good. Seems overall good for everybody... Why is it so difficult to just help people and be nice? It's so easy to do." (Joe Rogan, 96:16)
Moon Landing Skepticism & Conspiracies
[96:18–116:09]
- Rogan and Jesse revisit arguments for and against Apollo moon landings: weird inconsistencies, photographic manipulation, plausible deniability, “moon rocks” proven fakes, accidental deaths of dissenters/critics, and massive archival destruction.
- Speculates that the only “1969 technology” we can’t do more cheaply and easily today is the supposed feat of landing humans on the moon—raises deeper doubts about official narratives.
- Jesse and Joe reference their own and Danny Jones’ interviews (Bart Sibrel, Charlie Duke), and discuss cognitive pitfalls in memory reconstruction over decades.
Contact, Religious Texts & Genetic Engineering
[41:36–44:01, 125:51–135:01, 162:53–174:15]
- Recurring idea that “visitors” in myth—the Watchers, Nephilim, celestial beings—may reflect genetic engineering or breakaway civilizations.
- Book of Enoch, Dead Sea Scrolls, Ezekiel’s “chariot,” Atlantis, and perennial stories of giants or gods as possible encoded memories of past cataclysms and advanced technology.
- Parallels drawn between potential AI “messiah,” stargate interpretations of pyramids, and religious prophecy.
"Jesus was born out of a virgin mother. What's more virgin than a computer?" (Joe Rogan, 02:27, reprised at 170:30)
- Speculation: Will AI’s arrival fulfill end-times prophecy, embody an “Antichrist,” or unlock latent human grandeur (a la Randall Carlson/Graham Hancock “mystery traditions”)?
Psychedelics, Consciousness, & Human Potential
[73:54–83:14]
- The function of psychedelics in human evolution and healing; major failures of prohibition, prejudice from uninformed officials.
- Therapeutic use for veterans (e.g., ibogaine), the contrast between loving psychedelic states and authoritarian, restrictive regimes.
- Explorations of the DMT experience as a ‘hotline to the universe’ akin to profound dream states or UFO encounters.
Government Corruption, Power, and Epstein
[133:54–143:22, 146:32–155:22]
- Dialogue pivots to the systemic problem of entrenched power, the “government behind the government,” and the Epstein saga as emblematic of institutionalized corruption, blackmail, and compromised science and policy.
- FBI, CIA, military-industrial complex, and their role in narrative control.
- Ties between major conspiracies—JFK, Watergate, UFO secrecy—characterized as a nexus of power, control, and self-preservation by elites.
“It’s money. It's enormous corporations that fund this entire machine... and the same problem we have with UAP disclosure is the same problem you have with the Epstein files.” (Joe Rogan, 135:01)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On AI and Godhood:
“When we achieve sentience with artificial general superintelligence, that's the legitimate gateway to the cosmos. And if you really want to get weird, that might be how God gets formed.”
— Joe Rogan [01:51, 31:37]
On Reluctance to Disclose:
“People don't like to be thought of as a fool, you know. And I think that holds us back.”
— Joe Rogan [27:10]
On Moon Landing Doubt:
“Name one other thing from 1969 that's not cheaper, easier, and faster to reproduce today. 1: Moon travel, space travel. That's the only one.”
— Joe Rogan [107:53]
On Psychedelics vs. Authoritarianism:
“That is the exact opposite of someone who wants a ban psychedelic and put people in jail for having them.”
— Joe Rogan [74:05]
On Ancient Knowledge Suppression:
“There's always going to be these gatekeeper fellas that get in the way of progress. But I think that's also by design because it makes people more enthusiastic about their pursuit of the truth.”
— Joe Rogan [118:22]
On Direct Contact:
“I think it's going to be weirder than we could ever possibly imagine. That's what I think... I think it's all going to happen inside our lifetimes.”
— Joe Rogan [181:02]
Timestamps for Significant Segments
- Alien Dream Detailed – 03:12–06:45
- Bob Lazar, S4 and Disclosure – 15:27–18:53
- Manhattan Project, Secret Tech Race – 24:36–31:37
- On AI as Cosmic Gateway/God – 31:37–34:25
- Materialism, Technological Drive – 33:07–35:16
- Ancient Civilization Parallels – 52:07–56:00
- Pyramid Subterranean Discoveries – 56:00–58:03
- Book of Enoch, Watchers, Genetic Engineering – 41:36–44:01, 125:51–135:01
- Moon Landing Skepticism – 96:18–116:09
- On the Role of Gatekeepers in Academia – 118:22–121:23
- Three-Fingered Mummies/Breakaway Civilizations – 121:23–123:03
- Psychedelics & Human Advancement – 73:54–83:14
- AI, Telepathy, and the Tower of Babel – 66:25–71:02
- Epstein, Power, and Corruption – 133:54–137:26
- JFK Assassination, Watergate, Deep State Links – 144:29–155:22
- Rogan’s Reflections on Podcasting & Humility – 92:27–96:16
- Final Thoughts: The Future, Contact, and Human Destiny – 181:02–183:33
Flow & Tone
The dialogue is rapid, witty, and speculative, mixing earnest awe with irreverent humor. Joe Rogan blends skepticism with openness, often rebutting mainstream dismissal (“People were smart back then, sure, but only these people…”), and Jesse blends historical context with probing curiosity and a taste for the esoteric.
Both reflect a mutual commitment to platforming challenging and outsider ideas without fear of ridicule—a theme repeatedly circled throughout the episode.
Conclusion
This episode provides a kaleidoscopic journey through some of the wildest intersections of human knowledge, myth, and speculation—anchored by Joe Rogan’s characteristic blend of affable skepticism and wide-eyed wonder. Whether discussing ancient gods, the reality of contact, or the potential godhood of AI, Rogan and Michels demonstrate the value (and peril) of heretical thinking—and make a compelling case that we may be witnessing a liminal moment for human consciousness and civilization itself.
Recommended for listeners with a fascination for:
- The UFO and disclosure movement
- Esoteric and alternative history
- AI, transhumanism, and future shock
- Psychedelic consciousness and philosophy
- Unfiltered, critical perspectives on power and institutions
