🎯 All Moments (75)
Click any moment to jump to that point in the video
Joe Rogan's 'Mad Genius' Float Tank Builder
Joe Rogan shares a personal story about the 'mad genius' who built his float tank, describing its unusual appearance and the builder's eccentric beliefs.
The Underrated Benefits of Float Tanks for Thinking and Relaxation
Joe Rogan and Palmer Luckey discuss the profound benefits of float tanks, highlighting how they can enhance thinking, provide deep relaxation, and eliminate distractions for improved mental processing.
Can Robots Master Anime Fighting Moves? The Triple Punch Theory
Palmer Luckey recounts a ridiculous 'triple punch' move from the anime 'Fist of the North Star' and ponders whether a robot, with its unique mechanics and control, could actually execute such a move, which would be impossible for a human.
Why Target the Department of Defense for Efficiency?
Palmer Luckey explains his strategic focus on the Department of Defense for driving efficiency, arguing that its trillion-dollar annual budget makes it a concentrated target where an individual can make a significant impact, unlike diffuse issues like charity graft.
Alexander Hamilton: The 'Least Favorite Founding Father' and Early Media Intervention
Palmer discusses the historical roots of government intervention in media, tracing it back to the US's founding. He provocatively names Alexander Hamilton his 'least favorite founding father,' not only for his support of central banking but also for his anti-immigrant views, connecting him to early instances of government interfering with public discourse.
Trump's Economic 'Magic Wand': Exceeding 3% GDP Growth
Palmer recounts Trump's campaign promise of over 3% GDP growth, contrasting it with Obama's dismissal of a 'magic wand' for such economic expansion. He highlights Trump's eventual achievement of growth far exceeding 3%, arguing that Trump's appeal was his willingness to challenge the economic status quo pushed by the establishment.
Who's Really Accountable? The American People's Role in Government Oversight
Palmer Luckey argues that while the democratic process allows for government accountability, the real problem lies with the American people not holding officials accountable for their actions, particularly regarding past misadventures and lies.
Anduril's Strategy: Designing Weapons for Mass Production in Existing Factories
Palmer explains Anduril's innovative approach to defense manufacturing, focusing on designing weapons like the Barracuda cruise missile (90% fewer parts, 10 common tools) that can be mass-produced in existing American automotive plants. This strategy addresses the critical need for rapid, scalable production in wartime, contrasting with traditional specialized factories that are too slow to meet demand.
Coding and Gaming in a Float Tank: The Ultimate Immersion
Palmer Luckey describes his friend's ambitious project to create a float computing rig with waterproof peripherals and a VR headset for programming while floating. He also expresses his interest in using it for immersive VR gaming.
Palmer Luckey's Dream: Full VR Immersion in a Float Tank
Palmer Luckey reveals his long-standing dream of combining advanced haptic feedback or neural interfaces with float tanks to achieve complete immersion in virtual reality, a vision that began with his work at Oculus.
VR Gaming: The Unexpected Full-Body Workout
Palmer Luckey explains how VR games like Beat Saber and boxing games debunk the myth of inactive gaming, demonstrating that they provide significant caloric expenditure and coordination training, often surpassing traditional motion games.
Robot Sparring Partners: Precision, Safety, and Unmatched Control
Palmer Luckey and Joe Rogan discuss the potential of robots as sparring partners, highlighting their ability to pull punches with extreme precision, use ranging sensors to stop millimeters away, and offer a safer, more controlled training environment than human partners.
Palmer Luckey's Terminator Theory: Skynet's Hope for Humanity
Palmer Luckey proposes a 'head cannon theory' for why Skynet designed Terminators in humanoid form, suggesting it might indicate a lingering hope or connection to humanity within the AI, rather than pure deception.
NASA's Walked-Back Bio-Signs Discovery on Asteroid
Joe Rogan and Palmer Luckey discuss a recent NASA release regarding strong bio-signs compatible with life found on an asteroid, noting that the initial optimistic reports were quickly walked back by the agency.
Treason or Second Chance? The Spectrum of Government Accountability
Palmer Luckey provocatively contrasts the lenient consequences for corruption and waste in US government agencies with the severe punishments (imprisonment or death for treason) seen in other countries, suggesting the US could move towards stricter accountability without adopting extreme measures.
The USPS Monopoly: Why We Don't Allow Competition in Mail Delivery
Palmer Luckey argues for competition in government services, using the USPS monopoly on mail as an example. He questions why a government entity is granted a monopoly that a private company would never be allowed to have, especially given its inefficiencies.
The Joe Rogan Experience: Informing the Uninformed on Complex Issues
Palmer Luckey praises Joe Rogan's podcast for its significant role in educating busy individuals on complex issues and stories that mainstream media often overlooks, making crucial information accessible to a wider audience.
Why China's Luxury Cars Prioritize the Passenger: A Cultural Divide
Palmer reveals how China's advanced and affordable electric vehicles, including a 300 mph car, reflect a unique cultural preference where wealthy individuals prefer to be driven. This leads to vehicle designs, like a China-exclusive Tesla Model S, that prioritize extreme passenger comfort and legroom over driver feel, creating a stark contrast with Western luxury car markets.
The Economic & Military Threat of China's Cheap Cars
Palmer argues that US protectionist policies, not American disinterest, keep Chinese cars out of the market. He asserts that Americans would buy them due to their low cost, highlighting the vast price difference for basic cars ($3-4k in China vs. $17-18k in US). He stresses that the US needs to become competitive by lowering energy and resource costs, as even the Ford CEO was 'humbled' by Chinese manufacturing, posing a significant economic and military threat.
Why the US Can't Arm Ukraine: Manufacturing Shortfalls and Public Opinion
Palmer highlights the critical issue of US military readiness, explaining that the US cannot provide Ukraine with essential defensive weapons like Patriot missiles due to insufficient domestic production and high costs. He argues that the US must empower allies to fight for themselves, as the American public has lost its appetite for further foreign 'adventures' after decades in the Middle East.
Trump's 'Freak' Sleep Habits: Why He Looks Younger After Presidency
Joe and Palmer humorously discuss Donald Trump's unique ability to thrive on minimal sleep, noting how he looks younger after his presidency, unlike Obama. Palmer shares anecdotes about Trump's 'old man no sleep power' and connects it to genetic factors, leading to a relatable discussion about personal sleep needs.
Hillary's Shifting Stance: From 'Send Them Back' to Modern GOP
Joe and Palmer highlight the significant evolution of political stances by discussing how Hillary Clinton's 2008 views on border enforcement, including phrases like 'we have to send them back,' would now align her with 'hardline Republican' positions, demonstrating a dramatic shift in mainstream political discourse.
The Hidden History of Marriage Licenses: A Tool for Racial Control?
Palmer delves into the lesser-known history of state marriage licenses, arguing they are a recent invention primarily used to enforce racial segregation during the Civil Rights era. He contends that the state has no legitimate constitutional authority to regulate marriage at all, including gay marriage, which he views as a purely religious/cultural ceremony.
The Interspecies Communication X-Prize: Cracking Animal Languages with AI
Palmer Luckey reveals an upcoming X-Prize focused on interspecies communication, aiming to use modern AI advances to gather and analyze large amounts of data to decipher the vocabulary and grammar of animal species like whales and dolphins. This ambitious prize seeks to establish repeatable, verifiable, bidirectional communication between humans and other species.
Palmer Luckey's 'Pre-Radicalized' Meeting with John Podesta
Palmer recounts a 'hush-hush' meeting he attended with John Podesta (after Hillary Clinton unexpectedly bailed) in Silicon Valley, before her official presidential announcement. He describes himself as 'pre-radicalized' at the time, a reasonable computer kid, contrasting this with his later 'radicalization' after being fired for his support of Donald Trump.
Hillary's Obsession with the 55 MPH Speed Limit: A Political Relic?
Palmer recounts asking John Podesta about Hillary Clinton's consistent support for a 55 mph federal speed limit, even in 2008, despite her not having driven in 20 years. He found Podesta's evasive answer absurd, highlighting Hillary's attachment to a culturally outdated policy and suggesting it might have contributed to her past electoral losses.
Hillary's Biofuel Flip-Flop: A Lesson in Political Manipulation
Palmer recounts his second question to John Podesta about Hillary Clinton's past condemnation of ethanol blending mandates as 'astonishingly anti-consumer.' He pressed for a clear answer on whether she'd support corn subsidies for Iowa votes, but Podesta's evasive 'no position' answer struck Palmer as manipulative, given the tech audience's views on biofuels.
Hamilton's Anti-Immigrant Stance & First Amendment Opposition
Palmer Luckey discusses how the musical Hamilton misrepresented Alexander Hamilton's views on immigration and reveals Hamilton's surprising opposition to the First Amendment, believing the government should criminalize critical speech. He contrasts this with Benjamin Franklin's defense of free expression.
Palmer Luckey's Childhood Fascination Led to Weapons Manufacturing
Palmer Luckey explains how his childhood fascination with building tools, identifying with characters like Q from James Bond or Billy from Power Rangers, directly led him to found a virtual reality company and later a defense technology company. He ponders whether his career path was a matter of free will or simply enacting childhood programming.
The Remarkable Intelligence of Alex the African Grey Parrot
Palmer Luckey shares the story of Alex, a uniquely intelligent African Grey parrot known for its extensive vocabulary, understanding of grammar, and the ability to ask existential questions like 'what's happening and where am I going?' before its death. He uses Alex as an example to speculate on the potential for genetically modifying birds for human-level conversation.
Uplift Theory: Are Humans a Product of Accelerated Evolution?
Palmer Luckey and Joe Rogan explore the 'uplift' theory, suggesting that if humans can genetically engineer animals to be more intelligent, it makes the idea of accelerated human evolution by a superior intelligence more plausible. Palmer connects this to the religious concept of man being created in God's image, arguing that our desire to create in our own image mirrors a creator's intent.
The Evolutionary Drive for Novelty and Innovation
Joe Rogan and Palmer Luckey discuss the human drive to constantly seek 'better versions' and 'novelty' in everything, from sports to technology. Palmer explains this as an evolutionarily advantageous trait, arguing that societies fostering novelty build stronger cultures, while those that become stagnant decline, connecting it to historical examples.
Is Nostalgia Fascist? A New Theory
Palmer Luckey discusses a recent "cutting edge theory" that claims nostalgia is fascist, arguing that believing in a better past is seen as promoting a backward societal movement.
The Zero Interest Rate Phenomenon (ZIRP) and Corporate Inefficiency
Palmer Luckey explains how the 'Zero Interest Rate Phenomenon' (ZIRP) over the last 15 years led to companies being able to borrow money for free, fostering gross inefficiency, hiring based on social ideals, and a lack of accountability, as long as stock prices rose.
Simulation Theory vs. Spirituality: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
Palmer Luckey explores the striking similarities between simulation theory and traditional religious beliefs, suggesting that the modern concept of living in a simulation created by a higher being is essentially a repackaged form of ancient spiritual ideas.
Eagle Eye's Advanced Ballistic Ear Protection with Directional Hearing
Palmer Luckey details the innovative ballistic ear protection integrated into the Eagle Eye helmet, which uses a phased array of microphones for steerable amplification and directional sound cancellation, allowing users to focus on specific sounds or voices in a combat environment.
Modular Mission Shields: Protecting Troops from Laser Energy Weapons
Palmer Luckey explains the modular 'mission shields' for the Eagle Eye AR glasses, which can be swapped for different protections, including specialized filters against laser energy weapons designed by adversaries like China to blind human troops, ensuring adaptability against evolving threats.
The Moral Imperative: Why Ethical People Should Work on Weapons Tech
Palmer Luckey argues that smart, ethical individuals have a moral responsibility to work on weapons technology, rather than outsourcing it to less competent or ethical people, because weapons are a necessary part of global security and their development shouldn't be abdicated.
AI Boxing Opponents: Pro Boxers Using VR for Training
Joe Rogan and Palmer Luckey discuss the cutting-edge application of VR and AI in boxing, revealing that professional boxers are already using this technology to train against emulated opponents, potentially mimicking legendary fighters.
China's 'Boiling the Frog' Strategy for Taiwan: Blockade Over Invasion?
Palmer discusses the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, referencing Anduril's 'China 27' policy. He suggests a full-scale invasion is less probable initially, instead predicting a 'boiling the frog' strategy, such as a blockade, to gradually exert control and pressure Taiwan without provoking a direct military conflict with Taiwan or the US.
From 'World Police' to 'World's Gun Store': A New US Foreign Policy
Palmer advocates for the US to shift from being the 'World Police' to the 'World's Gun Store,' providing allies like Taiwan with affordable, readily available weapons without micromanagement. He criticizes the US for being $20 billion behind on arms deliveries to Taiwan, hindering their ability to deter threats like a Chinese blockade, and argues for empowering allies to defend themselves.
Unpacking the Dead Internet Theory and Bot Infiltration
Palmer Luckey and Joe Rogan discuss the alarming prevalence of bots in online comments and delve into the 'Dead Internet Theory,' which posits that the internet is increasingly dominated by robotic and astroturfed content, serving as a stage for propaganda rather than genuine human interaction. They cite Elon Musk's claim of 80% bots on Twitter and suspicious Wikipedia edits from Arlington, VA.
Starbucks vs. Mountain Dew: Ideology Over Business
Palmer Luckey uses the analogy of 'Starbucks vs. Mountain Dew' to describe a shift in Silicon Valley and other industries, where corporate employees prioritize social aims and ideological change over making profits or serving existing customers, even at the expense of the business's success.
Palmer Luckey: The 'True Trump OG' from 2009
Palmer Luckey reveals his surprising history as an early Trump supporter, having written a letter to Donald Trump at age 15 in 2009/2010, urging him to run for president. He explains his desire for a businessman in office and contrasts his early support with later perceptions, noting Trump's consistent anti-trade rhetoric since the 1980s.
The 'Bud Light Dilemma' and Chasing Mythical Audiences in Gaming
Palmer Luckey criticizes companies for alienating their core customer base by chasing "mythical audiences" based on social ideals rather than actual market demand, drawing parallels between the Bud Light controversy and the gaming industry.
Manufacturing as a Weapon: China's Plan to Cripple US Warfighting Capacity
Palmer explains how US manufacturing capacity was key to winning WWII, converting civilian factories to military production. He argues that China's aim in outcompeting the American automotive industry isn't just economic, but also a strategic move to destroy the US's industrial base, preventing it from fighting a war by eliminating its ability to rapidly convert to military production, a core aspect of China's civil-military fusion.
China's 'Ghost Fleet': How Civilian Ships Are Built for War
Palmer reveals China's massive naval shipbuilding capacity—300 times that of the US for aircraft carriers—and its strategy of requiring commercial vessels to be built to military standards. This creates a 'ghost fleet' of civilian ships designed to be pressed into service, for example, to transport tanks for a Taiwan invasion, showcasing China's integrated civil-military fusion.
Hillary's Syria No-Fly Zone: A 'Red Line' for World War
Palmer explains why Hillary Clinton's stance on enforcing a no-fly zone in Syria was a critical 'red line' for him. He argues that such a policy would effectively be an announcement of war against Russia, given it would mean shooting down Russian aircraft in non-US airspace. He contrasts this with Trump's non-interventionist rhetoric, challenging the narrative that Trump was the 'warmonger.'
The Revolution of AI Fighter Jets: Expendable Tactics and No Human Limits
Palmer Luckey details how AI-powered fighter jets (like Anduril's FQ44) are set to revolutionize air combat. These cheaper, expendable drones can perform high-risk, even suicidal, maneuvers that human pilots would never attempt, allowing for tactical trades that prioritize mission success over pilot survival, fundamentally changing warfare.
Palmer Luckey's Alternative UAP Theories: Time Travel & Parallel Dimensions
Palmer Luckey shares his preferred theories for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), suggesting they are more likely to be related to time travelers, unknown Earth residents, bleed-throughs from parallel dimensions, or ancient civilizations, rather than conventional aliens from distant galaxies. He references Michael Crichton's novel 'Sphere' as an example of plausible, bizarre explanations.
The Revolutionary 3-in-1 Ballistic Plate, Battery, and Computer
Palmer Luckey unveils a groundbreaking innovation: a standard ballistic plate that also functions as a solid-state ceramic battery and onboard computer. This integration drastically reduces the weight soldiers carry (by about 10 pounds) by combining three critical systems into one, highlighting efficiency and multi-functionality.
Hillary vs. Trump on Gay Marriage: Who Was More Progressive?
Palmer contrasts Hillary Clinton and Obama's past opposition to gay marriage with Donald Trump's surprisingly progressive 'restaurant' analogy on the issue. He highlights the rapid shift in political and public stances, citing the Brendan Eich controversy, and provocatively suggests Hillary's past views would place her culturally to the right of Marjorie Taylor Green today.
AI Created in Man's Image: A Biblical Parallel
Palmer Luckey and Joe Rogan explore the idea that AI, like Skynet's Terminators, might see itself as a creation of man, drawing a chilling parallel to the biblical concept of God creating man in his own image.
Warner Brothers CEO's Bold Promise: Making Movies People Want
Palmer Luckey recounts the new Warner Brothers CEO's controversial speech, promising to shift focus from 'social justice pieces' to making profitable movies based on popular IPs like Batman and Harry Potter, sparking fury among employees but delighting fans and investors.
The UAP Verification Problem: Why One Sensor Isn't Enough
Palmer Luckey explains from a military perspective why verifying UAP sightings is so difficult: most incidents are captured by only one type of sensor (camera or radar), making it easy to attribute to error or spoofing. True verification requires multiple, distinct sensors.
Hellfire Missile vs. UAP: Verified Footage from Congress
Palmer Luckey discusses the controversial footage of a Hellfire missile striking a UAP, confirming his belief in its authenticity and revealing that it was introduced into a Congressional hearing by a member of the UAP committees.
Palmer Luckey's Dream: A Privately Funded X-Files Agent
Palmer Luckey shares his post-retirement dream of becoming a 'privately funded X-Files' agent, getting deputized by the government to investigate strange phenomena with his own plane, team, and equipment, free from government bureaucracy.
The Real Reason for UFO Non-Disclosure: Misappropriated Funds & Amnesty
Joe Rogan and Palmer Luckey discuss the theory from the documentary 'Age of Disclosure' that UFO non-disclosure is driven by legal implications surrounding misappropriated funds and unfair competitive advantages given to private companies. They explore the proposal of blanket amnesty as a path to truth.
The Human Body Is a Flawed Design for Fighting
Palmer Luckey asserts that the human body is 'inherently flawed' and 'not a good design for fighting,' suggesting that any combat machine designed from scratch would look nothing like a human due to its vulnerabilities and 'shitty mechanics.'
Secretary of the Army Axing Wasteful Programs & Embracing 3D Printing
Palmer Luckey highlights the progressive actions of the new Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, who is publicly exposing wasteful defense spending (like a $10 3D-printed part replacing an expensive one) and canceling "boondoggle" programs to save taxpayer money.
Fighting AI Legends: Palmer Luckey's Vision for Robot Training Opponents
Palmer Luckey shares a text message exchange with Logan Paul, revealing his vision for robots that can learn fighting styles from historical footage or even a user's own movements, offering perfectly tuned and progressively challenging sparring partners for combat athletes.
The "Doge Effect": How a Meme Gave Permission to Fight Government Waste
Palmer Luckey explains that the "Doge thing" (referring to a cultural shift) wasn't about specific techniques but rather gave people, even within government, "psychic permission" to openly acknowledge and address billions of dollars in waste in their departments, a sentiment that was absent just five years prior.
Eagle Eye: The Future of Military AR/VR and X-Ray Vision
Palmer Luckey introduces the Eagle Eye system, a cutting-edge military AR/VR headset that provides a 'hive mind' view, fusing night and thermal vision, and even 'x-ray vision' through buildings, realizing science fiction concepts that have been envisioned for a century.
Palmer Luckey's Triumph: Fixing Microsoft's $22 Billion Military VR Failure
Palmer Luckey details how Microsoft's $22 billion military AR/VR program (IVAS) failed due to hardware issues and soldier complaints, and how he, as the 'world's best headmounted display designer,' eventually stepped in to take over and revitalize the project after initially being laughed at by Microsoft.
Private Companies for Tech, Government for Policy: Who Decides National Security?
Palmer Luckey draws a crucial distinction between the roles of the private sector and government in national security: private companies should develop the technology, but policy decisions (what to build, for whom, where) must remain firmly with the elected government to prevent a "corporatocracy."
The Cornfield Ads: Palmer Luckey's 'Red Line' for Hillary Clinton
Palmer concludes his story about the Podesta meeting, revealing that just three days after being told Hillary had 'no position' on corn subsidies, her first campaign ads ran, showing her in a cornfield promising to boost them. This blatant dishonesty, rather than any specific policy, became Palmer's 'red line' and convinced him he couldn't vote for someone so willing to manipulate.
The UK's Alarming Crackdown: 12,000 Arrests for Social Media Posts
Joe Rogan and Palmer Luckey express concern over the alarming trend in the UK, where thousands have been arrested for social media posts deemed "disturbing or offensive," highlighting a severe restriction on free speech and a move towards digital IDs.
The "Bacteria" Rule: Palmer Luckey's Childhood Forum Predicted UK Censorship
Palmer Luckey shares a personal anecdote from his early internet forum days about a British co-administrator ("Bacteria") who obsessively pushed for rules against offensive content. He connects this to current UK censorship, suggesting it reflects a genuine cultural desire among many British people to police speech.
Majority of UK Citizens Support Censorship & Arrests for Memes?
Palmer Luckey asserts his belief that the majority of people in the UK either don't care about or actively support arrests for "spicy memes" and offensive social media posts, suggesting a significant cultural difference from the US regarding free speech.
China's "Troublemaker" Culture: Why Most Don't Mind Censorship
Palmer Luckey explains that, contrary to Western assumptions, many Chinese citizens view discussions about past political issues like Tiananmen Square as "irrelevant" and those who raise them as "troublemakers." He highlights a cultural value difference where public protest is often seen as "ruining beautiful public space."
Fueling Cynicism: How Dictatorships Suppress Revolution
Palmer Luckey draws a parallel between the historical low support for the American Revolution and modern authoritarian regimes, arguing that the most effective way for governments like China or Russia to prevent dissent is to convince their populations that political change is "feudal" and to actively fuel cynicism.
The 50 Condoms of War: Russian Pilot's Brainwashing in Ukraine
Palmer shares a shocking anecdote about a Russian helicopter pilot who, brainwashed by propaganda, believed Ukrainians wanted liberation and packed 50 condoms for post-war celebrations. This illustrates the extreme effectiveness of media control and propaganda in shaping soldiers' beliefs, drawing parallels to US actions in the Middle East.
How Palmer Luckey Met His Hero John Carmack & Carmack Became Oculus CTO
Palmer Luckey shares the incredible story of how he, a young VR enthusiast posting on an internet forum, connected with his childhood hero John Carmack, leading to Carmack's glowing review of the Oculus Rift and eventually becoming the CTO of Oculus.
From Teen Inventor to Billion-Dollar Exit: The Oculus Origin Story
Palmer Luckey recounts his incredible journey of starting Oculus VR, from building prototypes as a teenager to launching the product at 19 and eventually selling the company to Facebook for billions.
The Varginha Incident: Alien Crash, Wounded Creature, and Mysterious Death
Joe Rogan recounts the bizarre and compelling Varginha, Brazil UFO incident where a whole town reportedly witnessed a crash, a police officer carried a wounded alien to a hospital, and subsequently died from a mysterious, antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection.