The Joe Rogan Experience #2406 – Russell Crowe Date: November 5, 2025
Guest: Russell Crowe
Host: Joe Rogan

Episode Overview

In this expansive and candid conversation, Joe Rogan welcomes acclaimed actor Russell Crowe to discuss his latest film "Nuremberg," his thoughts on the psychology of evil, nuanced histories, Australia’s relationship with gambling, invasive species, and balancing creativity with a grounded life. The two also delve into broader subjects including addiction, social media, the responsibilities of media, politics, and the importance of nature.

Tone: Insightful, reflective, and relaxed, with frequent humor and camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Nuremberg Movie & The Nature of Evil

Timestamps: 00:19–04:07, 140:13–154:25

• Russell's new film "Nuremberg" — inspired by newly unearthed footage of the post-WWII trials, some unseen since 1946.
• Depicting real evil through human lenses:
  • The psychiatric perspective — not all Nazis were insane; rather, many were rational men enticed through incremental steps into darkness.

    "He realized that every single one of these people was... as normal. Well, there was a couple that were pretty out there, but, you know, for the most part, he was dealing with rational men." – Crowe (02:18)

  • The danger of incremental moral decline ("boiling frog" analogy).
• Unpopularity of uncomfortable truths:
  • The desire at the time was to paint Nazis as outliers; the truth was more disturbing — ordinary people’s gradual loss of empathy.
• Crowe on playing Hermann Göring:
  • Five years of research, focusing on nuance, not caricature.
  • Göring’s background: WWI ace, patriot, later addiction to prescription drugs, and transformation over time.
  • The book "Blitzed" (Norman Ohler) revealed the extensive drug-fueled nature of the Nazi regime (143:28):

    “When Göring was arrested, he had something like 40,000 pills on him ... a habit of 40 to 50 a day...” – Crowe (140:31)

• Emotional toll of portraying monsters:

  “It’s not comfortable ... but that pain’s part of the gig.” – Crowe (146:15)

Notable Quote:

"Charm is one of the greatest weapons of evil." – Crowe (153:17)

2. Dehumanization and Political Polarization

Timestamps: 04:07–05:56, 160:02–163:06

• Discussion of humanity’s predisposition to tribalism; modern two-party systems heighten this, diminishing nuance in political and social discourse.
• Crowe contrasts American and Australian perspectives, noting Australians’ outward gaze and international competitive focus, versus Americans' insular sports culture.
• The polarization’s effect on cooperation, communication, and empathy.

Notable Quotes:

"[Dividing] all of us into two camps is kind of nuts. It’s nuts, you know?" – Crowe (04:22)
"As we go on, that reduction of opinion just keeps happening..." – Crowe (90:20)

3. Sports, Gambling, and Social Consequences

Timestamps: 06:39–44:44, 160:51–166:28

• Crowe explains cricket, rugby union vs. rugby league, and Australian attitudes toward sport.
• Discusses owning a major rugby league team (South Sydney Rabbitohs).
• The rise of legal gambling and its normalization:
  • Concerns over match officiating, referee bias, and potential corruption.
  • The role of media in promoting gambling culture.
  • Crowe’s personal and familial wariness toward gambling following a near-miss in Reno and a family history of gambling addiction:

    "One act kept that family in, you know ... poor for another two generations." – Crowe on his great-grandfather (23:26)

  • Discussion on whether gambling is genetic or environmental.
• Both men express a desire for personal responsibility but advocate for better education and safeguards due to the ease and addictiveness of gambling apps for young people.

Memorable Moment:

• Crowe orchestrates an epic Vegas trip with Tom Cruise, winning big at blackjack as a team (27:00):

  “Tom Cruise told me this: if the first chair and the last chair make the calls ... the math comes your way.” – Crowe (27:00)

4. Addictive Technologies: Social Media and Dopamine Loops

Timestamps: 44:23–48:22

• Both Crowe and Rogan recognize the addictive quality of modern apps, social media, and gambling.
• Crowe reflects on unwitting TikTok scrolling and the manipulative power of algorithms.
• Discussion on misinformation, bots, and the dangerous sway of media manipulation.

Notable Quote:

"If you run bots and stuff like that, you should be put in prison. That’s not the way it should be." – Crowe (69:33)

5. Creativity, Recovery, and the Importance of Nature

Timestamps: 48:22–61:00, 129:11–133:39

• Crowe details a “crazy year” (five movies, one after another), feeling “empty.”
• Looks forward to returning home to his remote Australian property, “the Panacea,” to recharge with nature, family, and “the rhythm of the bush.”
• Discusses his long-term project of ecological restoration — clearing invasive species and replanting endemic trees to revive the landscape.

  "Sometimes I go and visit trees that I like, areas that I like ... It thrills me." – Crowe (131:47, 133:25)

• Talks about intergenerational hope to inspire his sons to continue the conservation work.

6. Invasive Species and Environmental Fallout

Timestamps: 105:02–126:59

• The catastrophic consequences of introduced species:
  • Cane toads: From hundreds introduced in the 1930s to 200 million, now an intractable ecological problem.

    "It was only a couple hundred. … Now … 200 million." – Crowe (118:44)

  • Feral cats, foxes, ticks, and invasive plants such as lantana.
  • The futility of using biological solutions to solve past missteps.
• Parallels drawn with North American ecological issues — deer, wolves, chronic wasting disease, and rewilding debates.

7. Addiction, Alcohol, and Drugs – Moderation and Social Costs

Timestamps: 76:38–83:50, 167:44–169:17

• Lively comparison of alcohol’s social effects with gambling and drugs.
  • Crowe supports responsible drinking but abhors societal denial of alcohol’s true social cost, especially linked to domestic violence post sporting events.
  • Both call for early, honest education on drugs and alcohol, not just reactionary punishment.

Notable Quote:

“We always have to remember that we gotta move at the pace of the slowest member of our community.” – Crowe (79:05)

8. The Changing Film and Media Landscape

Timestamps: 91:35–105:02

• Crowe lists his recent and upcoming projects: “Nuremberg,” “Bear Country,” “Billion Dollar Spy,” and more.
• Talks about the timing overlap of indie movies and production realities.
• Reflection on the shift from traditional TV to streaming, increased global opportunities, and Australia’s disproportionate contribution to film and acting.
• Personal anecdotes with fellow actors and comedians (Jimmy Carr, Joey Diaz, Tom Cruise, Adam Sandler).
• The decline of adult comedies in film and the rise in stand-up as a countercultural force.

9. Historical Revisionism and The Power of Narrative

Timestamps: 83:50–90:54, 154:25–156:28

• Propaganda, especially around marijuana’s criminalization — how commercial interests, like William Randolph Hearst, shaped American perceptions.
• The suppression of nuanced histories (e.g., regarding Gaddafi’s Libya, Hitler’s real military record, the actual process of social decay into fascism).
• The dangers inherent in only demonizing “monsters,” without acknowledging their humanity:

  “It's very dangerous and quite stupid” not to show that even the worst people can have relatable human sides. – Crowe (152:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On incremental evil:

  “It’s not the gigantic jumps we have to worry about, it’s the little incremental changes … how did we get to here?” – Crowe (03:45)

• On national identity and sport:

  "When you're growing up in Australia, you grow up looking out ... by and large, Americans grow up looking in." – Crowe (05:32)

• On gambling:

  “Everything else that I do in my life is gambling. Becoming an actor, massive gamble. … But the idea that you're just giving money away to a system where it's not fair ... that drives me a little crazy." – Crowe (24:22)

• On performance and character:

  "Nuance is coming up a lot today ... there's a lot more to Göring than just 'bad man, Nazi'." – Crowe (135:48)

• On creative burnout:

  “I kind of feel like I broke my brain ... I'll be in the bush ... and hopefully all of those things that I emptied out will fill up again.” – Crowe (45:00)

• On environmental activism:

  "This is going to be stuff that happens way after I'm dead. But that process ... I hope will excite my kids to carry on." – Crowe (131:47)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• "Nuremberg" and the psychology of evil – 00:19–04:07, 140:13–154:25
• Incremental dehumanization & modern polarization – 03:43–05:56, 160:02–163:06
• Cricket, rugby, and sports culture – 06:39–16:44
• Gambling stories, addiction, and normalization – 17:41–44:44, 160:51–166:28
• Addiction, alcohol, drugs, social costs – 76:38–83:50, 167:44–169:17
• Invasive species and environment – 105:02–126:59
• Creative life, burnout, and seeking balance – 45:00–61:00, 129:11–133:39
• Film industry changes and anecdotes – 91:35–105:02
• Media manipulation and misinformation – 44:23–48:22, 69:33–71:48, 175:03–179:28
• Healthcare, pharma, and American issues – 175:03–179:28
• Societal education and responsibility – 79:48–80:19, 80:45–83:42
• Nature's power to heal – 129:11–133:39, 130:32–130:47

Conclusion

This episode, rich with stories, reflections, and cross-cultural insights, is a testament to Russell Crowe’s depth as an artist and thinker. He advocates for empathy and nuance, both in history and contemporary society, while Rogan’s probing questions draw out the personal undercurrents in Crowe’s work and worldview. It’s a wide-ranging, thought-provoking discussion about evil, balance, addiction, ecology, and the outer and inner journeys of life.