The Joe Rogan Experience #2371 – Fedor Gorst

Release Date: August 27, 2025
Host: Joe Rogan
Guest: Fedor Gorst (World Champion Pool Player)

Overview

This episode spotlights the world of professional pool through the lens of current world number one, Fedor Gorst. Joe Rogan and Fedor dive into the ever-evolving competitive landscape, training regimes, the mental gymnastics of playing under pressure, the sport’s global growth, generational shifts in pool’s culture, and the role of money and gambling at the highest level. They also discuss the sport’s surging popularity in Asia, equipment innovations, and what it takes to maintain champion status.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Fedor’s Hectic Schedule and Recent Tournaments

• Fedor narrowly missed a back-to-back US Open title and recently lost in the World Championships final in Saudi Arabia.
  • [00:41] “Dude, you came that close to being two year in a row US Open champion. That close.” — Joe Rogan
  • Fedor discusses playing four tournaments back-to-back over a month and being on the road constantly.
  • [00:46] “How’s it go? I mean, I feel super tired because my schedule has been hectic lately.” — Fedor Gorst

Evolving Standards and Difficulty in Modern Pool

• Rogan asserts that today’s elite are the best ever, due to tighter equipment and competitive standards.
  • [02:55] “The pockets are four inches… it’s really tight conditions and I think there’s better players now than I’ve ever seen in my life.” — Joe Rogan
• Fedor agrees and explains how rules and breaking formats keep evolving.
  • [03:28] “The game changed even in the last three years, I think… we changed the breaking formats.” — Fedor

Social Media, Filmmaking, and Pool’s Modern Visibility

• Gorst is followed everywhere by a filmmaker for content and notes the sport is booming on social media.
  • [05:08] “Pool is booming on social media… I do my own social media. I have a filmmaker…” — Fedor
• Both praise Matchroom and WNT for growing the game globally with improved broadcasts and online content.
  • [04:46] “They are elevating the game for sure. And they are the reason why pool is where it’s at today…” — Fedor

Pool Culture, Nationality, and Politics

• Fedor faced challenges due to his Russian nationality, including bans and rule changes post-2018 and post-war, but eventually became eligible to represent the USA in the Mosconi Cup.
  • [14:41] “Cool thing about America is that it’s a nation of immigrants.” — Joe Rogan
  • Fedor shares how he received both support and criticism as an immigrant player and the complexities of identity in international pool.

The Psychology, Pressure, and Process of Elite Play

• Discussing intense competitive pressure, Fedor details the emotional and physical strain and his methods for maintaining performance:
  • [17:19] “Your bridge is shaking sometimes. Your backhand is shaking sometimes. And you just gotta manage it.” — Fedor
  • [18:22] “How do you not like watching someone play perfect? That’s crazy.” — Joe Rogan
• Both examine how modern players’ methodical styles are sometimes criticized as “robotic,” but perfection and repeatability reign supreme.
• Pool’s mental game: visualization, managing nerves, pre-shot routines, and handling negative thoughts.
  • [85:43] “I do a lot of breathing…to calm myself down.” — Fedor
  • [89:16] “My biggest demon in my head is, I’m just scared to miss the ball… So my thing is just telling to my brain that I have to stay positive: No, I’m gonna make this ball.” — Fedor

Equipment Innovations: Cues, Shafts, Breaks, and Jump Shots

• Deep dive into cue technology (carbon fiber vs. wood, shaft taper, balance), break technique evolution, and the explosion of jump cues.
  • [71:09] “You put it in the brain computer after X amount of months of playing with that cue. And you know what it does.” — Joe Rogan
  • [82:57] “You jumped out so many times during this U.S. Open…” — Joe Rogan
  • [83:19] “It’s what gets actually new people to watch it because it’s exciting…It’s amazing trick shot.” — Fedor
• Gorst previews his own forthcoming jump cue line.

Gambling: From Pool Halls to Global Streams

• Examining the role of gambling culture and how televised high-stakes matches and marathon sessions are now mainstream.
  • [29:37] “That’s the part of the game that has always been the most romantic, the gambling part…that’s not the case anymore.” — Joe Rogan
  • [30:41] “My gambling days are over and now I’m a tournament player.” — Fedor

Health, Longevity, and Routine in Professional Pool

• Fedor shares routines for injury prevention: stretching, resistance bands, cold plunges, and avoiding weightlifting which “ruins touch.”
  • [34:46] “I do have the cold plunge at home… Sauna and all the good stuff.” — Fedor

Pool’s Global Growth and Social Change

• Explosive boom in Vietnam and China, casino-style pool venues, and the hybridization of pool with technology (projectors, AR games).
  • [97:58] “Vietnam right now is probably the most pool playing country in the world.” — Fedor
  • [98:12] Fedor recounts 2,000 pool rooms in Hanoi alone and his large Vietnamese online following.
• Debate about whether similar cultural shifts could happen in America, given differences in bar-centric culture.

Gender, Inclusivity, and Youth Development

• Discussing regulation of breaking power relative to gender and age, open tournament formats, the role of speed/radar guns as proposed innovations.

Prize Money, Gambling, and the Spectacle

• The effect of Saudi prize pools, increasing purses, and speculation about what the sport could look like with boxing-style money.
  • [51:21] “First place $250,000…25 million would be better.” — Rogan

Doping, Scandal, and Integrity

• Doping bans and match-fixing scandals: Fedor explains their impacts and how they remain unique to lower-paying environments, while also touching on gambling and the risk of corruption.

Lifestyle of a Champion: Sacrifice, Obsession, and Family Balance

• Grueling travel schedules, personal relationships, and the often obsessive demands of practice.
  • [61:02] “To get really good at pool, you kind of have to be a piece of ****.” — Joe Rogan (summarizing the total commitment and focus needed)
  • [64:41] “It’s driving me crazy. But I just can’t stop.” — Fedor

Generational Shift: Old School vs. New School

• Compared the gambling-oriented, hard-living, barroom pool of the past to the new generation’s disciplined, health-focused approach.
  • [43:04] “It used to be just a game played at the bar. Now it’s a sport.” — Fedor

Mindset, Visualization, and Mental Training

• Both agree the “most mental” game in sports is pool, and discuss pre-shot routines, focus cues, and beating the fear of missing.
  • [92:38] “Visualization is really big for us. For example, you’re never going to win the tournament without believing that you can actually win it.” — Fedor
  • [94:43] “When you’re really playing pool, the world goes away… That’s what I like about archery and that’s what I like about pool. They have the same quality…” — Joe

Notable Quotes About the Game

• [03:00] “I’ve never seen better players than play today. And I think you’re the best today. So in my book that makes you the best of all time.” — Joe Rogan
• [02:03] “The Filipinos put kicking on the map, right?” — Joe Rogan
• [75:28] “You almost don’t get no feedback [from carbon fiber queues].” — Fedor
• [94:43] “When you’re on that table…the world goes away.” — Joe

Fun Moments & Notable Exchanges

• Stories about undercover disguises and makeup in pool halls ([07:00]), and connection to CIA special effects and comedy parodies.
• Rogan defending Gorst’s “robotic” style—[17:44] “Those people are assholes. Those people are assholes if they think your style is boring.”
• A long tangent on Russian gangster rap and pre-match hype-up music ([109:29]).
• Playfully exposing pronunciation disputes over Fedor’s name:
  • [138:45] “Some people say Fedor, some people say Fedora, but in Russian, is it Fyodor?” — Joe
  • [138:54] "Fyodor." — Fedor
• Rogan joking about how much pool content might bore non-pool listeners ([96:32]).

The Fedor Gorst–Joshua Filler Showdown? (The Next Big Thing)

• Mass interest in a potential high-stakes match, negotiations for multi-discipline contests, and what draws online vs. in-person crowds.
• [79:33] “Half a million’s a lot.” — Rogan on the proposed stakes
• [138:08] “Let’s set up that filler match.” — Fedor
• [138:10] “Yeah, man, I’ll do commentary. How about that? Get Matchroom involved…” — Joe

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps (MM:SS) | |-------------|-----------------------| | History of Efren Reyes, Filipino Pool, and Legendary Shots | 00:12–02:22 | | Gorst’s 2025 Schedule, Modern Pool Conditions | 00:41–03:42 | | Rule/Etiquette Evolution: Breaks, Social Media, Broadcast | 03:42–06:07 | | Nationality, Political Impact on Pro Pool | 12:15–15:08; 34:00–34:46 | | Pool’s Mental Challenges, Mindset | 17:09–22:24; 84:00–94:43 | | Prize Money, Gambling Culture | 29:37–32:13; 51:00–55:36 | | Training, Back Health, Routine | 32:31–34:46 | | Innovation in Cues and Equipment | 69:35–77:24 | | Rise of Pool in Asia, Especially Vietnam/China | 97:39–101:47 | | High-Stakes Matches, Negotiations, Joshua Filler | 78:29–81:42; 124:31–132:44 | | Pool as a Sport, New Generation | 43:04–44:27; 132:44–137:02 | | Fedor’s Pre-Shot Routine, Mental Rehearsal | 85:43–89:16 | | Name Pronunciation, Language, Fame | 138:45–116:07 |

Memorable Quotes

• Joe Rogan:

  • “If you’re the best player in the world today, you’re the best player of all time.” [01:20]
  • “When you’re really playing pool, the world goes away. That’s what I like about archery and that’s what I like about pool. They have the same quality...” [94:43]
  • “Pool is like an art form that only the people that practice it can appreciate.” [46:07]

• Fedor Gorst:

  • “It’s really tough to be dominant in our sport. Almost impossible.” [65:04]
  • “Visualization is really big for us…you’re never going to win the tournament without believing that you can actually win it.” [92:38]
  • “I just can’t stop. I just can’t stop.” [64:42]

Final Thoughts

This episode is an in-depth, passionate exploration of professional pool from both an insider and a lifelong fan’s perspective. Fedor Gorst stands as a representative of pool's new era: disciplined, cosmopolitan, hyper-competitive, and attuned to both social media and global change. Rogan provides both admiration and context, ensuring even non-pool listeners come away appreciating the sport’s complexity and allure.

If you’re already deep into the game, it’s a goldmine. If you’re pool-curious, you’ll finish with new respect for what it takes to stand atop the world’s green baize.