The Joe Rogan Experience #2446 – Greg Fitzsimmons

Date: January 31, 2026
Host: Joe Rogan
Guest: Greg Fitzsimmons
Producer: Jamie

Overview

This episode features comedian Greg Fitzsimmons returning to The Joe Rogan Experience for an in-depth conversation themed around media manipulation, free speech, the state of comedy, conspiracy theories, and bizarre life stories. True to form, Joe and Greg are joined by Jamie for fact-checks and contributions, and the tone oscillates between critical analysis, irreverent comedy, nostalgia, and moments of genuine awe or outrage at the world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Digital Age: News, Social Media & Censorship

• Both lament the addictive doom-scrolling habit and how social media exposes us to the world's chaos far beyond our brains' evolutionary design ("We're only supposed to be exposed to like 200 people in our life" – Greg Fitzsimmons, 00:57).
• Discussion of Dunbar’s number and the psychological burden of seeing global strife every day.
• Stories about censorship and squatting laws in the UK; the concept of whistleblowers and why anonymity online is vital; referencing the Steven Donziger case as an example of punishing whistleblowers (07:28–08:44).
• The duo critiques big tech's opaque rules about content moderation (e.g., TikTok allegedly limiting words like "Epstein"), and the broader implications for free speech, especially around sensitive topics (03:18–04:56).
• Rogan pushes the idea that hate speech should be countered with more speech and reason, not censorship:

  "You don't counter hate speech with censorship. You counter it with better speech." (07:03)

2. Media Bias & Institutional Trust

• Conversation on how traditional broadcast media also selectively reports and censors information, not just new tech companies.
• Examples of news report manipulation, such as photo alteration (MSNBC's airbrushing of a shooting suspect, 22:06–23:08).
• Fitzsimmons voices concern about journalists’ constrained access to places like the Pentagon, only being allowed to publish government-approved stories (10:29–10:51).

3. Crime, Corruption, and the Human Condition

• Reflections on the cyclical nature of crime and systemic corruption:

  "Back in the days of Serpico...it was literally like the entire force was in on it." (14:10)

• Nostalgic (and darkly comedic) looks at Las Vegas's mob roots, including using atomic bomb tests as tourist attractions—"bomb parties" (15:44–16:35).
• Morbid local lore: bodies turning up in Lake Mead (18:22–19:07), stories of mob dumping grounds, and attempts to recover evidence from city parks being stymied by officialdom.

4. Jewish Identity, History, and Family

• Greg shares anecdotes about comedian Ari Shaffir's family, acceptance within Jewish families, and an emotional detour on Holocaust survival:

  "Ari's dad survived the Holocaust. Ari's dad has a tattoo." (24:12–24:20)

• Discussion on the openness of Jewish communities and resilience.

5. German History, Porn, and Psychological Theories

• Wild riffs on why German society, so buttoned-up, produced some of the strangest adult content, per their own observations from pre-Internet and early Internet days (25:54–27:04).

6. Dogs, Cleanliness, and Human Quirks

• Tangents about hotel cleanliness, dog behaviors, and how dogs interpret and react to human emotions through scent.
• Anecdotes about obsessive hygiene and the reality that “there’s fecal matter all over your cell phone” (28:05).

7. The Strange History of Palm Beach & Exclusion

• Greg recounts stories about the racially exclusionary roots of Palm Beach, possibly involving the forced removal and burning of African American laborers’ homes (33:01–41:05).
• Touches on anti-Semitism and club policies barring Jews, even as recently as the 2000s (34:46–36:04).

8. Conspiracies, Space, and the Moon Landing

• A massive deep-dive into moon landing skepticism:

  "If there's one conspiracy that I think is the most unlikely, the most preposterous in the public eyes, but might be true, it's that we didn't go to the moon." (69:03)

• Dissection of the evidence for and against, including Apollo footage oddities, the Van Allen belt, and the story of the Netherlands' fake moon rock (61:38–65:07).
• Quoting Neil Armstrong’s "cryptic" anniversary speech and the possible layers of truth it alludes to (66:02–67:42).

9. Comedy Culture: Now, Then, and What’s Next

• Warm, unvarnished nostalgia for Boston’s '80s and '90s comedy scene, open mics (e.g., Stitches' "Comedy Hell"), and the importance of developing local talent (124:00–128:45).
• Discussion of current scene:
  • Rise of influencer comics and the dilution of artistic standards (112:22).
  • The Mothership’s (Joe’s club) unique pay structure and commitment to nurturing new acts.
  • Festival culture: Skank Fest compared to the old Montreal Comedy Festival.
• The recurring problem of authenticity in comedy:

  "I like comics that don’t have a plan B....Go make some room for the freaks, will ya?" (112:20)

10. AI, Deepfakes & Information Manipulation

• Recent leaps in AI-generated images and video; concerns over deepfakes and AI voice reproduction, especially when used for manipulation or fraud.
• Sarah Silverman’s lawsuit against OpenAI for voice mimicry and copyright (94:05–95:29).
• Fitzsimmons:

  "Imagine in three years what it’s gonna be like [in elections]." (97:10)

11. Psychedelics, Mental Health, and Tech Therapy Risks

• Psilocybin normalization, clinical ketamine therapy, and the dangers/benefits of AI therapy bots.
• Cautionary tales about GPT-fueled suicide and the weaponization of data:

  "There’s people now that are using ChatGPT to do therapy. Meanwhile, you want to put your... Might tell you to kill yourself like that." (155:29–155:33)

12. Legendary Anecdotes: Greg's Alaska Fentanyl Prank (78:03–85:19)

Timestamps: 78:03–85:19
A classic comic’s story: Greg, on an Alaskan gig, is pranked by a local guide and a police officer into thinking he’s being busted for fentanyl. After convincing acting, the duo revealed it was all a setup to attend his show, and the resulting camaraderie spirals into onstage heckling and appletini-soaked adventures.

"I had tears coming out. I was laughing so fu— I was like, I did not think Alaska had it in it to pull this shit." (82:23)

13. Comedy Festival Stories, Podcasting, and Skank Fest

• The changing landscape of festivals, with Skank Fest described as a new sort of “get-canceled-to-get-famous” proving ground, full of freewheeling energy and wild audience/comic antics (132:28–134:12).
• Nods to legendary and new podcasts, the legacy of open mics, and tales of their Boston roots.

14. Pop Culture & Iconic Figures

• Stories about Andy Kaufman (and Bob Zmuda prank), Jim Carrey, Mel Brooks, and method acting’s psychological cost.
• The myth that Alex Jones is Bill Hicks as a foray into conspiracy culture.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You don’t counter hate speech with censorship. You counter it with better speech.” – Joe Rogan (07:03)
• "The world's on fire." – Greg Gutfeld (00:25)
• "All those dudes in like the ancient times that had the big wigs — that was to cover up the hair loss from syphilis, dude...That's why rich people are big wigs." – Joe Rogan (41:51)
• “If there's one conspiracy...that's the most unlikely...but might be true, it's that we didn't go to the moon.” – Joe Rogan (69:03)
• "I like comics that don't have a plan B. These are people that...have no other options." – Greg Fitzsimmons (112:20)
• [On Skank Fest] "Now it’s about, how do I get canceled? That’s how you get famous. And this is a festival that is trying to help you get canceled." – Greg Fitzsimmons (132:28)
• "Imagine in three years what it’s gonna be like [with AI and deepfakes in elections]." – Joe Rogan (97:10)
• [On dogs] "They say that a dog can smell a cheeseburger. They don't just smell the cheeseburger. They smell every individual ingredient." – Joe Rogan (29:51)
• “I don't want people that...I don't even want high school graduates at my shows.” – Greg Fitzsimmons (121:39)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Social Media, Doomscrolling, and Brain Overload: 00:29–01:14
• Squatting Law in England Story: 01:21–02:35
• Censorship & "Epstein" on Social/DMs: 03:18–05:03
• Steven Donziger & Whistleblowers Effect: 07:28–08:44
• Alaska Fentanyl Prank Story: 78:03–85:19
• Moon Landing Skepticism: 57:01–70:28
• Legend of Palm Beach Racial Cleansing: 33:01–41:05
• MSNBC AI-Editing Photo Example: 22:06–23:08
• Discussion: Developing Comics, Open Mics, and Clubs: 108:26–115:14
• AI & Deepfakes' Impact on Media and Society: 94:05–99:10
• Skank Fest, Comedy Fest Evolution: 132:28–134:12

Final Thoughts

The episode combines sharp-eyed skepticism on media, history, and authority with the camaraderie, wild stories, and laughs you'd expect from two veteran comics. Expect a rotating mix of informed commentary, unpredictably funny or sobering anecdotes, and Joe's hallmark deep-dives into the "weird" – all delivered with affection, candor, and irreverence.

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For more:

• Greg Fitzsimmons tour dates: gregfitzsimmons.com
• His Podcasts: 'Sunday Papers' and 'Fitzdog Radio'

End remarks:
"You're at the Mothership this weekend. I'm very excited about that." (158:54)

This summary omits sponsorships, intros, and other non-content sections for clarity and focus.