The Joe Rogan Experience #2390 – Jack Carr (October 8, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this compelling new episode, Joe Rogan hosts bestselling author and former Navy SEAL Jack Carr on the release of his latest novel, “Cry Havoc.” The conversation revolves around Carr’s meticulous process of writing a Vietnam War-era thriller, the complexities and horrors of that conflict, cultural and generational shifts, the future of media and AI, the nuts and bolts of adapting novels for the screen, and the enduring power of human creativity.

Key themes include the authenticity Carr brings to representing the Vietnam era, the changing landscape of publishing and Hollywood, the impact of technology on truth and art, and the importance of literature, discipline, and adaptability in an era of rapid change.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jack Carr’s New Novel: “Cry Havoc”

• Era & Setting: The novel is set in 1968 Vietnam, the bloodiest year of the war. Carr emphasizes the importance of accuracy and authenticity when depicting this volatile era.

  • “I wanted someone who lived through that era to know that I put in the effort. And any sentence had to be written through the lens of 1968 without the benefit of 50 plus years of hindsight.” — Jack Carr [02:19]

• Research Methods:

  • Used a 1969 dictionary to ensure period-specific language.
  • Immersed himself in contemporaneous music, maps, news, documentaries, and even period watches.
  • Avoided modern Google searches to maintain 'era-appropriate' perspective.

• Writing Challenges:

  • The burden of writing through the eyes of someone in 1968, not knowing outcomes or possessing hindsight.
  • Humanizing the war via fiction to foster empathy, rather than just recounting statistics.

2. The Vietnam War as American Identity

• Rogan and Carr reflect on how Vietnam shaped the American psyche, contrasting it with WWII’s narrative.
  • “World War II was what we think America is. Vietnam is what America really is.” — Joe Rogan [04:05]
• The role of governmental deception (Gulf of Tonkin), the media’s newfound influence on public opinion, and the cultural scars it left.
  • Discussed the media's shift from information provider to active policy influencer during the Vietnam War.

3. The Power and Decline of Reading

• Both discuss how reading, especially fiction, develops empathy and critical thinking, which is now under threat due to smartphones and the internet.
  • “If kids today put the phone down and just read...that is a superpower. They will get out there and crush, leave everyone else in the dust.” — Jack Carr [22:37]
• Carr laments entering publishing and Hollywood at a time when readership is historically low and AI is encroaching on creative professions.

4. AI, Creativity, and the Future of Art

• Dialogue extends to AI’s ability to mimic human art and voice, raising uneasy questions about authenticity.
  • "AI's not a cover band...it can accomplish a task that human beings can't." — Joe Rogan [16:03]
  • Carr suggests maybe labeling genuine human-created books as “No AI Used.”
• Rogan expresses concern and weird amazement at AI-generated music and voices—seeing them both as awe-inspiring and a real threat to creative industries.

5. Adapting Books to Film and TV

• Carr shares the evolution of his television adaptations, particularly the challenges of maintaining creative integrity.
  • Success with Amazon (for “The Terminal List” and “Dark Wolf”) has earned him more freedom in subsequent projects.
• Praise for actors like Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch for deep investment in their roles and veterans’ stories.

6. Vehicles, Watches, and the Value of the Vintage

• The discussion detours into their shared love for vintage Land Cruisers, watches, and other analog artifacts as “time machines.”
• Deep exploration of the symbolism behind the watches characters wear in Carr’s books—signifying era, status, and personal narrative.

7. Hollywood Anecdotes and Physical Risk

• Admiration (and astonishment) for actors doing their own stunts—especially Tom Cruise’s borderline insane commitment to authenticity.

8. Discipline, Writing, and Life Balance

• Carr discusses the competing demands of writing, family, and fitness.
• Insights into the often unhealthy habits of writers (Stephen King’s coke era, using nicotine, Adderall, or nootropics).

9. Audiobooks & Modern Consumption

• Dramatic increase in audiobook consumption, attributed partly to the influence of podcasts.
• “Ray Porter is incredible...he can do all those voices and accents in the audiobooks.” — Carr [69:38]

10. Policy, Politics, and the American Present

• The conversation touches on current political events, societal polarization, and the dangers of tribalism, referencing the (fictional) assassination of Charlie Kirk and societal reactions to it.
• Rogan points out the failures of mainstream media and the rise of independent platforms as symptoms of declining institutional trust.

11. Security, Self-Sufficiency & Modern Paranoia

• Carr recounts unnerving security incidents at his remote Utah home, reflecting on the instincts of caution and how technology intersects with vulnerability.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “World War II was what we think America is. Vietnam is what America really is.” — Joe Rogan [04:05]

• "I wanted someone who lived through that era to know that I put in the effort...Any sentence had to be written through the lens of 1968 without the benefit of 50 plus years of hindsight.” — Jack Carr [02:19]

• “If you read, work out, do some MMA, BJJ, but read...you will leave everyone else in the dust.” — Jack Carr [22:37]

• "AI is not a cover band. AI is a lot smarter than us. That's the problem." — Joe Rogan [16:03]

• "Hope so. Put the Books on like, hey, this is made by an actual human. No AI was used." — Jack Carr [20:30]

• "That's the important of reading in general and the beacon of reading...the drop-off in reading that has occurred." — Jack Carr [11:55]

• "You did it the right way though...you did it on Amazon. They gave you creative freedom." — Joe Rogan [24:14]

• "Those guys, and girls, take a fraking beating...it's horrible." — Jack Carr on stunt performers [32:42]

• "It’s weird how watches and vehicles are time machines—they tell stories about a person, what era they belong to.” — Jack Carr [47:00]

• "Books, music, all this—maybe it’s going to be more valuable if it’s made by an actual human being, not by AI." — Joe Rogan [19:10]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:21 – Carr introduces the book and its Vietnam War setting.
• 02:19 – Carr explains his research, writing through the eyes of 1968.
• 04:05 – Rogan’s insight on WWII vs. Vietnam in the American identity.
• 12:16 – Discussion on the drop in reading, rise of smartphones and AI.
• 16:03 – Musings on AI’s creative abilities and dangers.
• 26:27 – Deep-dive into adapting "True Believer" for Amazon, creative risks.
• 47:00 – Vehicle and watch talk as extensions of personality and storytelling.
• 69:38 – Rise of audiobooks and Ray Porter’s narration skill.
• 86:06 – Discussion of "Bohemian Grove," "evil," and cultural rituals.
• 98:05 – Fictionalized government corruption in military and intelligence.
• 122:38 – Immigration, political manipulation, and culture war cynicism.
• 137:36 – Hunting, self-sufficiency, Alaska anecdotes.
• 157:12 – Carr’s personal security incidents and modern paranoia.
• 158:23 – Carr on pitching his new series as a Vietnam thriller.

Tone and Style

The episode is a combination of reflective, irreverent, and deeply earnest. Jack Carr is measured, methodical, and passionate about authenticity, while Joe Rogan acts as both a skeptic and enthusiast, pushing for hard questions and broadening every topic into societal implications.

Takeaways for New Listeners

• Jack Carr brings an obsessive commitment to authenticity in his historical thrillers—a trait shaped by real military experience.
• The Vietnam War is a prism through which Carr and Rogan scrutinize American politics, culture, and values, highlighting the lasting trauma and misinformation it generated.
• Reading fiction (and reading at all) is seen as both an antidote to technological distraction and a vehicle for empathy.
• Both express unease—and some awe—at the encroachment of AI on creative arts, but hold out hope that true human art will have enduring value.
• The conversation often teeters between the nostalgia for purposeful analog tools and the inevitability of digital transformation.
• There’s a running motif of discipline—whether in writing, training, or living—contrasted with broader societal trends toward comfort and convenience.

Final Note:
Jack Carr’s “Cry Havoc” is more than a Vietnam thriller; it’s a reflection on the intersection of history, war, and storytelling—and this wide-ranging, often philosophical discussion with Rogan is ideal for anyone interested in where we’ve been and where we’re headed as thinkers, creators, and citizens.