Joe Rogan Experience #1291 — C.T. Fletcher Transcript

Transcript

0:00 Boom and we're live. What's up brother? How are you? Man, Joe Rogan, I am so happy to be here. I'm so happy to see you. Fuck. You've gone through a journey. Oh man, since the last time I seen you. Yesterday was one year from your heart transplant anniversary. Exactly. Wow. One year and Joe, if I told you it was easy, I'd be lying. You look great. I really appreciate that, though.

1:19 And after your heart operation, you have a heart transplant and you're running in a parking Did they warn you about doing that? I mean, that would have been it. Mr. Fletcher, do you want us to put in a pacemaker? The pacemaker saved me. Totally different. And it's not, you know, this is the irreversible. is it the final finalization of everything hits you like you know this is, you know this is it.

5:16 That was it, man. Wow. but it felt like I had been asleep for eight hours. okay, Mr. Fletcher, we have a heart for you yeah they call me like 240 in the So they put it in you. Oh, they are so good now, Joe, that, you know, I have a scar. So they took the old heart out. I had a seat how out Definitely. uh humbling humbling very big time big time how long did you have to stay in the hospital for um

9:37 You're just walking slowly? Well, I appreciate that, Jeff. When you come that close to dying, man, every day is just a blessing, man. I see I want to hug the head. a transplant and I after it was. normal things. maybe a city block. It was such a struggle. I am lifting again, but very lightly. My mind was like, go ahead. It's better than doing nothing.

12:54 And what are the side effects of this stuff? It gets less, less and less. When I go back this month, back up to Palo Alto where they and is this because you know super man of faith. And it wasn't good. That, you know, socked me. I don't know anything about it. And, you know, I don't know why, but I really have feelings like that. And I have no idea.

17:34 Like food or? Wow. the doctor's supposed because it was this one doctor he would come in a young guy and he would I'm blessed. I think I'm alive. And she was almost your age i go fuck it's too small yeah I mean, why, God, I was questioning, why did you do this to me? And I'm sorry. And the doctor, I asked the doctor, why? And I needed one bad, Joe.

21:38 it realized that it had to adapt to a large figure. But I'm going to give a little credit to God because that's just me, man. Jesus. Yeah Thank God He said, I have a habit of taking the least of the least, the lowest of the low, and making something out of it. That's good. Now, when you're I give everything I got. And, you know, I don't feel weird.

24:38 My body adapts. Really, yeah. I never expected to die young. up in the sky and be a brilliant burst Yeah, definitely. It would be a blessing, but I don't want to be around where I don't want to be a burden on anybody. Yeah, I know what you mean. is a jack dude really yeah you still look at the size of your arms man they're still huge Oh, yeah. on your driver's license in california you can't i don't know about other states, but in California, you can do it all online, you know, and through the DMV and get your dot on your driver's license.

28:37 It's – hell, I had a – I, younger, you know, when I first got my driver, I was 16 years old. And if I can got something that somebody else can use, definitely, most definitely take it. Yeah. Yeah, no bullshit. Yeah, I would imagine. sure that you do um the diet has to be on point have to take my medication uh they don't want me um to uh you know do too much strenuous activities um they had limited me i i wouldn't i was not able

30:53 and, you know, they all said, Wow. Yeah, well, that's that mentality that you have, you know. nobody fucks with me. It's super hard. And you realize just how your whole life you've lived for strength. I see things in such a different light after coming that close to dying. I stopped taking them many, many years. And I'd be arguing with people online and say, fuck, I'll take your goddamn drug test

34:52 still go back and forth and argue with people online oh no no not anymore you know i sure did All caps. I said, can you actually hear that? squinting and trying to look at it sideways and trying to see what the fuck i was reading it's Right now. Can't do it. So do you feel like you're like C.T. Fletcher 2.0? to i love this shit i ain't got time for hate yeah and for racism or a big i got time for none of that

37:39 If you're right and it's an Asian woman, I think that would be fantastic. Hopefully they're listening to the Joe Rogan podcast. Hmm. I mean, when I was a kid, it would be like Dr. Frankenstein. They've been doing it a long time. Yeah. I have no doubt. So the heart's coming. And how about for people who are amputees and things along those lines? Thank God there's people smarter than us.

40:32 and chambers intact. Look at that. It's on cnet.com. Yeah, I was out by that time. And... Doctor's there. Your wife's on. Yep. Doctor's there, your wife's there. Well, I mean, because you would be surprised at how many. you know stuff like that do you feel um sorry for those people now oh oh yeah most definitely now must be pretty pitiful I hate him.

42:57 Miserable, just miserable. Well, it doesn't make sense, but a lot of people don't make sense. Yeah. That's it. We wouldn't be interchangeable. shit's just because there's no sun exactly their body developed it's like a solar panel for vitamin d they're like we got to figure out how to get fucking vitamin d this black multi-million size of population um civilizations in the amazon like 20 million people living in

46:31 Like, it's kind of funny that way, you know, because white racists, like they have to deal with the fact that only white people carry that Neanderthal shit in them. Well, they weren't smart enough to stick around for whatever reason. that was a totally distinct subspecies of human traveled traveled to tibet yeah and and neanderthals What a crazy animal we are.

48:00 And that's inside of us, you know. Wouldn't it be great? Well, I think the feeling that you got from this second chance on life, this beautiful feeling of appreciation and celebration of this existence, that's what we need to try to foster in people. I really think, and talking to guys like David Sinclair and all these anti-aging specialists, to your body when it ages. The deterioration that's caused by the aging process your body produces less hormones

50:39 There's no fear. um and and i i don't feel like it was the most peace most restful most i was i woke up laughing laughing. I was, yeah. I was have a worry. Because, I mean, I wouldn't mind visiting that place again, man. The essence of life, my body was, you know, gone. the big fear is to not be able to take care of yourself or move. I have that assurance is able to peek in, just peek into it.

55:30 stepfather who's a he's a hippie and there was no no church after that but i'm not an atheist You're just saying that. you we are strange little monkey people living on this fucking planet making things that alter i think a lot of people that uh have come that close to dying uh are a lot of them are going Oh, man. like, I was raised super religious in a super religious home by a,

58:15 Wow. Everything was a sin listening to rock and roll music whoa yeah oh yeah everything was a sin but faith and religion And, you know, a set of rules. Some would say that, like, you're a spiritual person. That's, like, a thing that gets thrown around today. Like, I'm not religious, but I'm a tremendous man of faith, but not religious. Yeah, some would say that you're a spiritual person.

59:18 There's something more to this than just tissue and bone and blood moving on this rock that's traveling through the universe there's something And it gives us all hope, and it gives us all this inspiration, this feeling. and the neurons and the synapses and it might or that might just be an antenna i mean consciousness You see them. surgery and flatlined three times during that surgery i also had an experience um that also

1:02:40 Although that was the way I was raised. If you don't believe like this, I mean, all Catholics, What about Jews? Mormons fucked up. lost. I don't believe that. And also, this was a guy that was fucking women in the church. Three times a week? Yeah. And I'm like, fuck, could you leave us at home? And there's my dad with his fucking T-shirt on. You know, Muslims attacking Christians and Christians attacking Muslims. And it's like in synagogues and Christians attacking Jews. they're worshiping yeah you know muslims attacking christians and christians attacking muslims and

1:06:47 in Sri Lanka in our society Yeah. I thought it was supposed to be love. mean there's so many issues right there's so many issues with uh with poverty with crime with all And I'm just a little guy from Compton. Jiu-Jitsu says a similar thing. yeah if you are not you should work towards becoming and scaring kids. thinking they just get away with it. they need a real cause something real to work towards instead of like looking for conflict

1:11:33 Oh, man. when you're in the gym same sort of struggle he does though you can't really lift the way you had him lift all the time. One time. And the minds are tough. That path always leads through the mind. Yeah path always leads through the mind, man. They get scattered and insecure and crazy, but through that struggle, you gain confidence and character.

1:14:00 People need to know that they did it. I don't. We'll do it slow. Because they put so much grunt got some of the meanest kicks I have ever seen from anybody. they wanted him to get some coaching on his uh spinning back kick there was like uh he's he I trained all day, every day. I don't think it's a bad word. i have a fucked up brain but it's fucked up in a good it's it as long as i know how to guide it

1:17:52 And a whole lot of them are in the UFC. Ain't that something? yeah out there listening you're not alone Trapped. you like making knives or fucking painting whatever the fuck you like to do if that's your thing and And that, you know, that's perfectly fine. You know what I mean? I gave a speech and I'm talking about obsession and being driven and all this.

1:21:20 I want to find a goal or something, but I don't know you. Yeah. Start there. Anything that you love, anything that you like, then start there, dude. What? You don't have a cause, a goal, or nothing that really excites you, that you really want to make a difference. getting regular shit done no you know but how about being the best fucking cog there is right

1:23:30 And sometimes it's the best possible state of mind. And then you just drop it and you like feel good about it and then other times like fuck that guy i'm gonna Yeah, and I think they got a whole field of psychologists and psychiatrists. Me too. And they're everyone they're dealing with is lying to them everyone they're dealing with is Imagine every day you're showing up and everyone's nuts.

1:26:23 It's all nice. Psychiatrists are just dealing with crazy fucks all day long And I was like, why, what is that feeling of nerves where you're scared? was reading a lot of psychology books and philosophy books a lot of samurai books and um but one thing Karate style, right? Yeah. It was paralyzing. It was paralyzing. I couldn't lift them. And I'm like, man, they're going to watch me do something.

1:29:32 It's a hard thing to overcome. especially a devastating loss this past weekend I left for and also to Joseph Valtellini, who's another world champion. Here it is. And then he continued to spin further. kick spinning back kick combination where he touched him he touched him with the front leg let this go and to do that to come up with yeah and he was in the

1:32:25 and he knows MMA, like, you're kind of fucked. And he's so long, too, and his timing and movement is so unpredictable, Look at his forehead. I know you know who I'm talking about. Yeah, Melvin is a motherfucker, man. But he's not the same anymore. He was a beast. I've had the privilege they have this One of my favorite interviews was Hoist Gracie. He said, I see guys now talking about the after party and meet me over here.

1:35:53 Good. Stylebender, did you see that fight? He's looking at him and goes, I was like, yes. He was also at the speech Oh, yeah. Kelvin, if you listen, I love you, man. mean maybe one day they could fight but john i think john's future is in heavyweight i really do I think Jon wants to go up there and take that heavyweight title. I mean, he's not a tall guy.

1:38:51 Wrestling ability With wrestling that john jones did john jones first fight in the UFC for a title, he's fighting He just smashed everybody. He's a freak, man. He definitely is. And I also think to be that good you gotta be he's fucking strong, man. But I credit that to osp i His forearm snapped. I'm a veteran myself, and I have a lot of PTSD. I never talked to my dad for more than five minutes at a time.

1:43:41 I can't imagine myself at 16 being gunfire, seeing dead guys all around me. to try to bring awareness I want to ask your opinion about something, Joe. Do you think a guy can be the commander-in-chief of our armed forces without ever having been a soldier himself? was the requirement with the south k army. They had him serve. Nixon never served. chief of the armed forces has to be has to be us have been a soldier they have a lot of five-star

1:47:35 Nixon did. FDR, Hoover, Coolidge, Harding. I think Trump had like eight deferments. He thinks his body is like a battery and thinks like if you work out, you use up your juice. Well that is Like Michael Bisping has a wasting. Marathon no, no. You ain't a fat fuck. know i'm saying i'm alive fuck you're alive Yeah, you have to have. but I'm signing up.

1:50:18 They got it right with human rights. Like, a lot of goofy people look back to, like, Ronald Reagan. No one I think it's an impossible job Not just please everybody, but the idea that one person is going to oversee every branch of government, the military, the economy, social issues, censorship, big tech, problems with the environment. even humanly possible i don't think a human i think that job should be there should be a council

1:52:00 I mean, it's too easy to just say, ah, that guy, you know, ah, that guy. knew what the fuck they were voting on it would help it would help if they had a real understanding They're concerned about what's going on in their family's life. Yeah, man. Good enough to keep me awake. Yeah. Because your body's always, like, recovering. I know you don't. I bet you think that it's not bullshit and overtraining is very real.

1:54:22 Wow. Iced tea is more than a rapper, though, right? Right, I see he's cool. eight, 10, 12 hours a day at the post office, went to the gym, put in another four to six hours for fucking 25 years. See if his piss ever looked like root beer. training he was one of the he did the shit like it was nothing yeah yeah he's fucking that guy kind of movements like power lifting movements like clean press that kind of yeah yeah that

1:57:36 And that if you want to have a long career in fitness and constantly be able to work out like deep into your 50s and 60s, he just thinks it's very detrimental for your body. All the people that give all the advice, the weightlifting advice online, anything myself i can't tell you how to overcome an obstacle if i never overcame any fucking thing I want to learn how to kick from that guy.

2:00:16 the people that criticize. Like, some people A gang of them. Got to be great talkers. them guys. I couldn't get a job as a It's very similar. They know what it takes to get strong. It doesn't seem wise. have been fighters yeah some of the best yeah i totally agree because they they know what the They've experienced that. they better have some actual real-world experience.

2:03:25 But a lot of good stuff comes out of Compton, man. Dr. Dre came from Compton. Well, I ain't a kid, but I'm just this old guy from Compton. Yeah. But a lot of good stuff comes out of Compton, man. Oh, yeah. Wow. through, I didn't volunteer the guy in Ireland, if it in Prague, the guy in Ireland. Very valuable and really hard to, I mean, it's hard to quantify.

2:05:58 And I think that's so crazy, Joe. Millions and millions of people. I don't give a fuck. The thing about exceptional people is they're self-critical. Joe, people come to me and in the line, they kind of tell me, a grown man, he starts crying. I've heard that give in because i kept the faith and kept going. I was going to do that anyway, Joe. and competing or doing something where you get positive feedback

2:10:13 And that fuels people. muhammad ali's life but that sometimes you don't find someone for a long time, Like you gave them fuel. I mean, it's one more piece of evidence that we need each other and that we have this sort of very strange, loose-fitted community of all human beings together. I'm drinking water. I don't want that. I don't want it. Don't look at me.

2:13:14 It's useless. At least your family. I didn't want him to see me. No, I'm reminded kid. So that still fucks with you. Oh, to come from, no, I'm reminded of it. I watched it. Yeah. not washing dishes i'm not cutting lawns i'm not digging ditches yeah i'm a different person now Of course you got faith. That's the easy part. Yeah. and then from that from learning how to do that

2:17:24 particularly martial arts I think there's so many people Yeah As long as you have, you have to have that desire, the will to change those circumstances. Yeah, I saw you. Dr. Dre, I call him Dre now. He was jacked at one point in time, right? he challenged me to try hiking up a hill, he got really big at one point in time. You know, he said his goal is to get down to 200 pounds,

2:20:48 325. so. 325. You know? Shoulders. I gotta walk all the way. That looks a little sharp to me, man. You look pretty young there, too. That's ridiculous. But it's kind of cool though because you have sort of, you've taken on this role as a guru. You can tell. Everything is right off the top of the head, man. When you start talking about pushing, when you start talking about pushing yourself,

2:24:46 I appreciate that, Joe. There's a lot of other people Expecting me to be at the gym opening up another one here pretty soon. you know because where i'm at now too i tell you i could make a lot more money but i you know So, yeah, I could make more money, but that's something that I choose to do. Joe Rogan. I've seen one seen it first Well, I was happy

2:27:03 That is so cool. so if you get fucked up, it's on funny. When they call me a motherfucker and I'm like, I've been calling me a motherfucker. It's so funny. Oh, that's that application? Yeah, the Cameo app. And for $25, I'll cuss them out. Oh, that's that app? Yeah, it's the Cameo app. Cuss them out, man. I don't mind. and veterans work out for free and the wednesday night working out for free and all that your heart

2:29:30 Yeah. That was a super honor. It is so gratifying. But if you don't love that. Shiny, pretty weights. But if, you know, there's enough people it too man i like seeing shit that's chipped up a little bit banged up that's me especially if you're gonna go put that's wow. that's mine too. That's 72. Nothing compared to what you got, I did see that. But he did everything to it.

2:33:19 No, no. But that fucker is. I just love old shit, man. Wow. I'm waiting there. doesn't seem the same even if they look good like a new corvette Yeah. Well, for a power lifter, though, it's almost like mandatory for you to have some sort of a muscle car. people how would anybody yeah you know wouldn't even know who the fuck i was you know and so i'm

2:37:04 And this 2.0 guy is so much more concerned about other people. I'm the baddest one. that it's not even funny, man. being completely retarded as a kid. The OG Ree Fletcher Heart Foundation, you know, I started a, Okay, his medical bills are taken care of, but what about how's his wife going to pay the mortgage? And that's started. because that woman,

2:40:15 I could walk out of here and drop dead. out a better person. Oh, man. It's crazy to see you a year later. Thank you, man. So this opportunity, the opportunity you gave me last time, opened up so many more doors, man. see you this new person on top of that still still have the passion. But now you're like this new enlightened C.T. Fletcher. I was so happy to see you.

2:42:39 Yeah. CTFletcher for everything. And we'll absolutely let everybody know where. and we'll get there for the grand opening I appreciate you, man.