🎬 Episode Moments

Joe Rogan Experience #2368 - Michael Button

JRE
August 20, 2025
57 Moments

🎯 All Moments (57)

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The London Hammer Debunked: Not an Ancient Anomaly

Joe and Michael discuss the London Hammer, an object often cited as an out-of-place artifact, and read a scientific explanation that debunks its extreme antiquity, clarifying its more recent origin through radiocarbon dating and geological analysis.

archaeology knowledge
2:18:02
Duration: 1:49

Gobekli Tepe: The Archaeological Miss of the Century

Joe Rogan and Michael Button continue their discussion on the Long Caves' modern carvings and the broader issue of historical alteration. They then shift to the shocking story of Gobekli Tepe, an ancient site missed by American archaeologists in the 1960s who dismissed it as a medieval cemetery, only for a sheep herder to rediscover its significance later, highlighting a major oversight in mainstream archaeology.

archaeology controversy
1:53:11
Duration: 2:08

Beyond the Physical: Transdimensional Beings & Earth's Cosmic Address

Joe Rogan and Michael Button speculate on the future of advanced intelligence, suggesting that beings might evolve beyond the need for physical bodies or realms, potentially becoming transdimensional. They also discuss Earth's precarious position in the cosmos, being a 'shooting gallery' constantly pelted by objects, and marvel at humanity's rapid adaptation to technological advancements, questioning where this trajectory will lead.

future of humanity knowledge
1:39:37
Duration: 1:50

AI's Limitations and Satellite Lifespan

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the short lifespan of satellites, with Sputnik lasting only three months and modern ones expected for about 25 years. They then pivot to the limitations of AI, its reliance on outdated data, the existence of 'information blockades,' and the ease with which users can 'trick' AI, raising concerns about echo chambers and the potential for misuse.

artificial intelligence knowledge
1:31:12
Duration: 1:59

The Moon's Peculiar Perfection & Satellite Lifespan

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the perplexing 'perfection' of the Moon's size and distance, which allows for perfect solar eclipses, and its role in stabilizing Earth's atmosphere. They also touch on the surprisingly short lifespan of satellites, with most burning up in the atmosphere or lasting only about 25 years.

astronomy knowledge
1:30:36
Duration: 0:36

The Enigmatic Long Caves of China: Modern Carvings?

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the mysterious Long Caves in China, discovered by farmers in 1992, comprising 24 identical caves over 2,000 years old. They delve into the debate over the cave's carvings, with Michael's research suggesting they were modern additions, not original to the ancient structure, highlighting the baffling lack of information about their true builders or purpose.

ancient mysteries knowledge
1:50:05
Duration: 1:29

Egypt's Submerged Underground Wonders

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss ancient accounts of Egypt's underground wonders, including explorer Flinders Petrie's writings on the Hawara Labyrinth, which he described as far more spectacular than surface structures. They highlight the mystery of these vast, now-submerged underground constructions, questioning their purpose and the immense effort required to build them.

ancient egypt knowledge
1:44:51
Duration: 2:12

The Max Planck Quote: Why Scientific Progress Can Be So Slow

Joe and Michael discuss the famous Max Planck quote about science advancing "one funeral at a time," reflecting on the inherent resistance within academia to new ideas and the difficulty for established experts to admit past errors, leading to slow paradigm shifts.

philosophy of science knowledge
2:29:04
Duration: 0:38

Is the Government "Muddying the Waters" on UFO Disclosure?

Joe and Michael discuss the strategic drip-feeding of UFO information by the government, speculating on efforts to "muddy the waters" and "prime people for disclosure," referencing a Hal Puthoff assessment that full disclosure would be more negative than positive for society.

ufos controversy
2:46:10
Duration: 2:17

From Zero to Joe Rogan: My Wild YouTube Journey

Michael Button shares how he started his YouTube channel less than a year ago, how it quickly grew, and how he ended up on the Joe Rogan Experience.

Content Creation story
0:20
Duration: 0:34

Why I Questioned Mainstream Ancient History

Michael Button explains how his academic study of ancient history led him to question the conventional timeline and macro perspective of human civilization, particularly after new discoveries.

Ancient History story
1:13
Duration: 0:55

Why Our Definition of Civilization is Too Narrow

Michael Button argues that the conventional definition of "civilization" is too narrow, being solely based on ancient Mesopotamia, and limits our understanding of how diverse and sophisticated human cultures could have flourished in different ways and environments throughout history.

Ancient History knowledge
11:09
Duration: 1:14

400,000 Year Error? Kolomela Structure Challenges Human Intelligence Timeline

This moment highlights how the discovery of the Kolomela structure, dating back 476,000 years, challenges mainstream anthropological views on human behavioral modernity and intelligence, suggesting a significant error in current understanding.

Ancient History controversy
43:18
Duration: 0:38

Neanderthals Weren't Stupid: Challenging the Homo Sapiens Narrative

This segment challenges the long-held belief that Homo sapiens were the only intelligent human species, pointing out growing evidence that Neanderthals possessed language, tools, and society, were just as intelligent, and even interbred with non-African humans. This questions the 'cognitive revolution' concept.

Human Evolution controversy
47:52
Duration: 1:27

500,000 Years of Intelligence: Making Graham Hancock's Theories Plausible

The speaker argues that if human intelligence potentially stretches back 500,000 years (as suggested by structures like Kolomela), then the idea of sophisticated civilizations existing 12,000 years ago and being wiped out by a cataclysm (as Graham Hancock proposes) becomes highly plausible and far less outrageous than often portrayed.

Ancient Civilizations knowledge
53:40
Duration: 0:59

Da Vinci's Sacred Geometry & Historical Outliers

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the concept of sacred geometry, exemplified by Leonardo da Vinci's 'Flower of Life' drawing, and the broader idea of historical 'outliers' – individuals with advanced knowledge or abilities that appear seemingly out of nowhere, prompting questions about humanity's limited understanding of its own ancient history.

ancient history knowledge
1:27:07
Duration: 0:38

The Fragility of Modern Data Storage

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the precarious nature of modern data storage, highlighting how a catastrophic event like a massive solar flare could wipe out digital information, leaving future generations with no understanding of our civilization's knowledge, much like ancient myths are all that remain from some past societies.

technology knowledge
1:28:04
Duration: 1:30

AI: The Next Civilizational Leap & Ancient Tech

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the current advent of AI as potentially the biggest civilizational change since ancient times, like the building of the pyramids. They speculate on the possibility that ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, might have also achieved advanced technology, but perhaps in a way that couldn't be weaponized, leading to its preservation or less destructive impact.

artificial intelligence knowledge
1:33:32
Duration: 1:53

The Curan Hypothesis: Ancient Non-Human Civilizations?

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the undeniable evidence of advanced technology in ancient Egypt, such as perfectly smooth granite boxes, suggesting capabilities beyond what's traditionally attributed to them. This leads to the 'Curan hypothesis,' which posits the existence of a non-human, advanced industrial civilization on Earth 100 million years ago, leaving no trace due to the immense time span.

ancient civilizations knowledge
1:35:25
Duration: 1:30

Interdimensional Beings & the Curan Hypothesis

Joe Rogan and Michael Button delve deeper into the Curan hypothesis, exploring the idea that advanced non-human civilizations could have existed millions of years ago, leaving no trace. They extend this speculation to the future, questioning if quantum computing and AI could lead to the emergence of transdimensional beings that observe us, and whether advanced intelligence might eventually transcend the need for physical bodies or realms.

ancient civilizations knowledge
1:36:55
Duration: 2:42

AI & The Hidden History of Egypt's Underground Structures

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the potential for future AI and superintelligence to help uncover lost human history by identifying prime excavation sites. They then introduce Ben from Uncharted X and his recent video revealing massive underground structures in Egypt, potentially larger than the Giza plateau, suggesting a hidden, unexplored past.

ancient history knowledge
1:41:27
Duration: 1:46

The "Cognitive Revolution" Theory and the Sapiens Book

Michael Button discusses the mainstream academic idea of a "cognitive revolution" around 50-60,000 years ago, suggesting that only Homo sapiens achieved behavioral modernity. He references Yuval Noah Harari's popular book "Sapiens" as a prime example of how this consensus view has been widely disseminated, despite new evidence like the Columbo structure.

Human Evolution knowledge
41:41
Duration: 1:17

The Mystery of Ancient Underground Cities

Joe Rogan and Michael Button explore the mystery of ancient underground construction, particularly in Turkey, where the massive Derinkuyu underground city could house 20,000 people and livestock 85 meters deep. They question the official explanation of protection from invading armies, suggesting it was more likely a refuge from cataclysms, and highlight the inexplicable lack of construction debris.

ancient mysteries knowledge
1:47:03
Duration: 0:56

Cataclysmic Impacts & Lost Civilizations

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the Tonguska impact as an example of frequent cosmic events. They highlight the theory that cataclysmic impacts occur roughly every 100,000 years, leading to speculation about advanced civilizations from millions of years ago that could have been wiped out without a trace, aligning with the Curan hypothesis.

ancient civilizations knowledge
2:04:56
Duration: 1:13

Dr. Cultipin's Theory: 12 Million-Year-Old Cart Ruts & Lost Civilizations

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss Dr. Cultipin's theory on ancient cart ruts, which he attributes to a forgotten civilization that drove heavy vehicles across the Mediterranean region 12 to 14 million years ago. This radical perspective challenges mainstream archaeology and suggests a much deeper, hidden history of Earth and its past civilizations, possibly involving non-human entities.

ancient history knowledge
2:08:00
Duration: 2:29

Is This Egyptian Artifact a Part of an Ancient Machine?

Joe and Michael explore the perplexing Egyptian schist disc, an ancient artifact that strikingly resembles a modern machine part, like a turbine or fan. They discuss its mysterious function and how it challenges conventional understanding of ancient technology.

ancient history knowledge
2:20:09
Duration: 1:11

The Ego Problem in Academia: Why New Ideas Are Attacked

The speakers criticize academic gatekeeping and the ego-driven resistance to new ideas in history and archaeology. They argue that established academics often fight against new evidence that challenges their long-held beliefs and careers, exemplified by the attacks on figures like Graham Hancock.

Academia controversy
52:20
Duration: 1:20

The Great Pyramid: A 'Gigantic F*** You' to Conventional History?

Joe Rogan expresses excitement about potential discoveries under the Great Pyramid, suggesting that if scans revealing complex structures and advanced technology (like a power plant) are accurate, it would be a massive refutation of conventional historical understanding, highlighting how much more advanced ancient civilizations might have been.

Ancient Egypt controversy
55:34
Duration: 1:00

Unexplained Precision: The Mystery of Ancient Egyptian Vases and Statues

The speakers discuss perfectly symmetrical ancient statues and incredibly hard granite vases from early Egyptian dynasties, which defy current understanding of ancient manufacturing techniques. They suggest these artifacts point to a lost, highly advanced technology or a different path of technological development than our own.

Ancient Technology knowledge
1:05:29
Duration: 1:49

Cataclysmic Impacts: How Earth Erases Ancient Civilizations

The speakers explain how Earth is regularly hit by cataclysmic impacts and other natural disasters (super volcanoes, pole shifts, glaciers, sea-level rise) that can wipe out sophisticated populations and completely erase the physical record of their existence, making it hard to find evidence of ancient civilizations.

Earth History knowledge
1:11:59
Duration: 1:10

The Clovis First Controversy: How Academic Ego Stifles Discovery

The speakers discuss the 'Clovis First' controversy as a prime example of academic fear and ego-driven attacks. They highlight how researchers were 'destroyed' for challenging the established timeline of human presence in North America, only to be later proven correct, illustrating how academics protect their identities rather than embracing new evidence.

Academia controversy
1:14:46
Duration: 1:33

The Antikythera Mechanism: Proof of a 'Species with Amnesia'?

The speakers discuss the Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,000-year-old ancient Greek 'computer' that demonstrates an astonishing level of technological sophistication far beyond its time, suggesting a lost history of advanced engineering. They highlight how such technology didn't re-emerge until centuries later, reinforcing the idea of 'a species with amnesia' and that 'things just keep getting older.'

Ancient Technology knowledge
1:20:29
Duration: 2:14

Scans Reveal Non-Human Anatomy of Peruvian Tridactyl Mummies

Joe and Michael discuss Jesse Michaels' investigation into the controversial tridactyl mummies found in Peru, highlighting how scans reveal fully intact bone structures with non-human features like three fingers, three toes, and an extra joint in their digits, suggesting they are not human.

unexplained phenomena knowledge
2:29:58
Duration: 3:39

Is the Reshat Structure Atlantis? Flood Myths & Indigenous Knowledge

Joe Rogan and Michael Button explore the compelling evidence for the Reshat structure in Mauritania being Plato's lost city of Atlantis, noting its geographical alignment with Plato's descriptions (mountains to the north, river to the south, concentric rings, and evidence of being washed over by water). They emphasize the prevalence of flood myths across ancient cultures as further support for catastrophic historical events.

ancient mysteries knowledge
2:00:05
Duration: 2:06

The Arrogance of Academia: Why We Don't Know Everything About the Past

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the arrogance of some academics who claim definitive knowledge of ancient history, arguing that it's impossible to know absolute truth about events hundreds of thousands of years ago, and more possibilities should be considered.

Academia controversy
6:19
Duration: 0:57

The Cataclysm Theory: Why Ancient Civilizations Might Be Older Than We Think

Michael Button explains how studying the Late Bronze Age Collapse, caused by a small climate shift, led him to wonder if even more advanced ancient civilizations could have been wiped out by severe prehistoric climate events or natural disasters, leaving no trace.

Ancient History knowledge
3:57
Duration: 1:49

The Raw Power of Tsunamis & Cosmic Impacts

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the immense power of natural disasters, exemplified by a shocking video of a tsunami reaching the top of a cliff where a man and his dog were standing. They highlight how such events, even 'small' ones like the Tonguska impact, can cause widespread devastation and completely wipe cultures clean from the Earth, leaving no trace, and how frequently Earth is hit by cosmic objects.

natural disasters knowledge
2:02:11
Duration: 2:45

Gobekli Tepe's Olive Tree Controversy & Atlantis Theories

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the controversy surrounding Gobekli Tepe, where mainstream archaeologists are criticized for damaging the site by planting olive trees over ruins, despite warnings. They defend YouTuber Jimmy Brighton (Uncharted X) for exposing this, highlighting the 'gatekeeping' of ancient history and Brighton's compelling arguments linking the Reshat structure to Plato's description of Atlantis.

ancient mysteries controversy
1:55:19
Duration: 4:46

300 Million-Year-Old Wheel & Fossilized Cart Ruts

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss a baffling "300 million-year-old wheel" and "fossilized cart ruts" found in Turkey and Malta, some submerged under the sea. These tracks, spanning vast areas, defy conventional explanations and are considered man-made, suggesting the existence of ancient, unknown vehicles and possibly highly advanced civilizations from millions of years ago.

ancient mysteries knowledge
2:06:09
Duration: 1:51

The Discovery That Blew Up The Human Timeline

Michael Button discusses the Jebel Irhoud discovery in Morocco (315,000-year-old Homo sapiens remains) and how it challenges the conventional understanding that nothing significant happened for vast stretches of human history before the Neolithic Revolution.

Human Evolution knowledge
3:02
Duration: 0:55

The Chilling Varginha UFO Incident: Eyewitness Accounts of a Non-Human Entity

Joe and Michael recount the compelling Varginha UFO incident from Brazil in 1996, detailing eyewitness accounts of a crashed UFO and a three-fingered, three-toed creature that smelled of sulfur, which allegedly led to the death of a soldier who handled it.

ufos story
2:39:23
Duration: 3:56

Metallic 'Tic-Tac' Object Found Under Giza

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss remarkable satellite scan findings beneath Giza, revealing underground structures potentially larger than the Giza plateau. The central mystery is a freestanding, 40-meter long, metallic, tic-tac-shaped object found 50-60 meters below ground in a huge corridor, suggesting a highly advanced, unknown ancient construction.

ancient mysteries knowledge
1:43:13
Duration: 1:38

Why Academics Attack Graham Hancock: The Social Stunting of Mainstream Archaeology

Joe Rogan and Michael Button criticize the dogmatic and often arrogant behavior of mainstream archaeologists and Egyptologists, particularly their dismissive and personal attacks on alternative historians like Graham Hancock, hindering open intellectual discourse.

academia controversy
2:23:30
Duration: 3:07

The 6,000 Year Gap: Did a Cataclysm Reset Civilization?

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the puzzling 6,000-year gap between the advanced Gobekli Tepe (12,000 years ago) and the emergence of civilization in ancient Sumer (6,000 years ago), suggesting that a cataclysm could explain why humanity had to "reimagine" civilization after a long period of barbarism.

Ancient Civilizations knowledge
12:23
Duration: 0:54

The Unexplained Mystery of Agriculture's Simultaneous Invention

Michael Button questions why agriculture, a "vital invention," appeared almost simultaneously in multiple global locations around 12,000 years ago, despite anatomically modern humans existing for hundreds of thousands of years. He challenges the climate-based explanation by asking why similar warm periods in the past didn't trigger agriculture.

Ancient History knowledge
13:20
Duration: 2:23

The Great Pyramid: Was It Ever Really a Tomb?

Joe Rogan and Michael Button question the widely accepted belief that the Great Pyramid of Giza was a tomb, pointing out the lack of definitive evidence like a body or sarcophagus. They suggest that later pharaohs might have simply used pre-existing structures for burial, rather than building them.

Ancient Egypt controversy
26:56
Duration: 0:55

The 300 Million Year Old Wheel and Cart Ruts: Challenging Human Timeline

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the mysterious petrified cart ruts and a fossilized wheel found in a mine, with evidence suggesting they are hundreds of millions of years old. This challenges conventional timelines of human civilization and technology.

ancient history knowledge
2:11:28
Duration: 0:20

Supervolcanoes & Bottlenecks: Earth's History of Lost Civilizations

This segment discusses how natural catastrophes like the Toba volcano caused population bottlenecks, leading to the idea that advanced civilizations could have risen and fallen without leaving much trace, similar to the Younger Dryas event.

Natural Catastrophes knowledge
43:56
Duration: 1:16

Why We Can't Find Ancient Civilizations: The Preservation Problem

The speakers discuss the extreme difficulty of preserving evidence of ancient civilizations over vast periods, especially if they built with perishable materials, citing examples like the Amazon and Chernobyl to illustrate how quickly nature reclaims structures. This supports the idea that many civilizations could have existed and vanished without a trace.

Lost Civilizations knowledge
46:05
Duration: 1:29

The Unexplained Ancient Underground Cities of Turkey & China

Joe Rogan and Michael Button delve into the inexplicable mysteries of ancient underground structures. They discuss the massive Derinkuyu city in Turkey, capable of housing 20,000 people, with no known builders or evidence of stone removal. They also highlight the Long Caves in China, discovered by farmers in 1992, with 24 precisely identical caves of unknown origin, purpose, and construction methods, baffling experts with no historical records or tools found.

ancient mysteries knowledge
1:47:59
Duration: 2:06

Uncontacted Tribes vs. Space Travel: The Paradox of Human Advancement

Joe Rogan and Michael Button highlight the paradox of human advancement, noting that uncontacted tribes living subsistence lifestyles exist simultaneously with space exploration. They use this to argue that finding only primitive tools in ancient sites doesn't mean advanced cultures didn't exist elsewhere or leave no trace.

Human Behavior knowledge
21:56
Duration: 1:24

Why Ancient Egypt Baffles Conventional History

Joe Rogan and Michael Button discuss the perplexing uniqueness of Ancient Egypt, particularly the Great Pyramid, which had no comparable structures elsewhere in the world at 2500 BC. They argue that conventional history offers no adequate explanation for its advanced capabilities and tends to dismiss alternative theories.

Ancient Egypt knowledge
23:20
Duration: 0:50

The "Preservation Problem": Why We Don't Find Evidence of Ancient Civilizations

Michael Button explains the "preservation problem," arguing that even a modern city like Manhattan would leave almost no trace after 100,000 years due to material degradation. This highlights why evidence of ancient, advanced civilizations might simply not have survived, challenging the assumption that absence of evidence is evidence of absence.

Archaeology knowledge
15:46
Duration: 2:41

The 476,000-Year-Old Columbo Structure: Challenging Human History

Michael Button highlights the Columbo structure, a 476,000-year-old wooden construction found in Zambia, which demonstrates advanced building techniques and predates Homo sapiens. This discovery radically challenges the long-held belief that humans were nomadic hunter-gatherers until the Neolithic Revolution and only settled down 12,000 years ago.

Archaeology knowledge
38:16
Duration: 2:17

The Shocking Truth: Only 9 Homo Sapiens Sites from 200,000 Years of History

Michael Button reveals the astonishing fact that only nine Homo sapiens archaeological sites exist from over 200,000 years of human history, highlighting the extreme limitations of our understanding and the danger of extrapolating an entire species' past from such scarce evidence.

Archaeology knowledge
19:44
Duration: 0:36

Gobekli Tepe: The Ultimate Proof of Advanced Ancient Civilizations

Michael Button explains why Gobekli Tepe, a 12,000-year-old megalithic site, is the "smoking gun" that proves sophisticated human culture existed far earlier than traditionally believed, challenging the definition of "hunter-gatherers" and the timeline of civilization.

Ancient Civilizations knowledge
7:58
Duration: 2:02

The Green Sahara Theory: A New Origin for Ancient Egypt?

Michael Button proposes a theory that ancient Egypt's civilization may have originated from advanced cultures that flourished in a green Sahara Desert for 9,000 years. He suggests that rapid desertification forced these populations to migrate to the Nile, bringing their knowledge and skills, thus explaining Egypt's sudden emergence.

Ancient Egypt knowledge
28:27
Duration: 2:41