Sam Sheridan

Date: 2012-06-19 | Duration: 1h 53m

Category: Combat Sports, Nature & Outdoors

Episode Overview

Sam Sheridan joins Joe Rogan for a wide-ranging conversation that touches on combat sports, survival, nature, and societal issues. They begin by discussing the nuances of MMA commentary, praising Mike Goldberg’s skill in keeping live events engaging, and sharing a humorous anecdote about Sheridan’s brief acting stint in the film *Warrior*. The conversation then shifts to Brazil’s passionate UFC fanbase and the vibrant culture surrounding martial arts there, highlighting the infectious energy of Brazilian fight crowds and the country’s deep connection to jiu-jitsu. Sheridan recounts his personal adventures in the Amazon and Alaska, offering vivid stories about hunting elk and exploring remote jungle areas. He reflects on the primal human connection to nature and survival skills, drawing parallels between ancient hunter-gatherer instincts and modern obsessions like fantasy football and competitive sports. The discussion also delves into the mental toughness required in fighting, illustrated by examples like Travis Lutter’s extreme weight cut and Jon Jones’s evolving composure in the cage. Later, the conversation broadens to include reflections on wildlife encounters in Africa, the intelligence of elephants, and the challenges of urban living and law enforcement priorities in America. Sheridan and Rogan critique societal restrictions, such as the policing of home gardens, and discuss the flaws in the criminal justice system, including wrongful incarcerations and the complexities of the death penalty. Throughout, Sheridan’s storytelling weaves together themes of resilience, human nature, and the tension between civilization and the wild.

About Sam Sheridan

Sam Sheridan is a writer, entrepreneur, and former combat sports enthusiast, best known for his exploration of the human experience through the lens of physicality and resilience. He gained prominence with his books, including "A Fighter's Heart," which recounts his journey into the world of mixed martial arts and the profound lessons learned from fighters and trainers alike. Sheridan’s unique blend of storytelling and firsthand experience, coupled with his deep understanding of the mind-body connection, makes him a captivating figure in discussions about personal growth, discipline, and the challenges of life. His appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience sheds light on his insights into fighting, philosophy, and the pursuit of mastery in any field.

Key Moments

– Mixed Martial Arts
– MMA Commentary
– Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
– Hunting and Wildlife
– Elephant Behavior
– Visual Effects in Film
– Mental Toughness in Sports
– Addiction and Obsession
– Population and Urbanization
– Legal System and Justice
– Prison System
– False Credentials in MMA
– Animal Intelligence
– Fantasy Sports
– Persistence Hunting
– Sports Psychology
– Environmental Influence on Behavior
– Wildlife Conservation
– Technology and Society
– Comedy and Performance Anxiety
0:00:00 – Introduction to Sam Sheridan and MMA commentary
0:01:11 – Challenges of live MMA commentary
0:02:03 – Ultimate Fighter fights and Brazilian fan passion
0:06:12 – Connection between human reward systems and hunting
0:06:44 – Sam Sheridan's upcoming hunting trip to Alaska
0:08:26 – Amazon jungle exploration and indigenous tribes
0:10:35 – Ancient civilizations discovered in the Amazon
0:12:06 – Discussion on natural human lifestyle versus modern life
0:13:48 – Addiction as a form of obsessive focus linked to hunter-gatherer traits
0:14:22 – Persistence hunting and human endurance
0:15:49 – Mental side of fighters and weigh-in observations
0:16:17 – Example of Travis Lutter's extreme weight cut failure
0:17:40 – Impact of injuries on Anderson Silva's fight performance
0:19:06 – Jon Jones' evolving confidence in fights
0:20:02 – Mayhem Miller's nervousness before fight with Bisping
0:22:01 – Parallels between fighting, pool, and comedy performance anxiety
0:23:02 – The crushing defeat in martial arts and its psychological impact
0:24:02 – Positive coaching methods versus negative commands
0:25:22 – Discussion on CGI porn and animation technology
0:26:10 – Critique of CGI lions in 'I Am Legend'
0:30:45 – Sam Sheridan's experience witnessing a lion kill in Africa
0:32:06 – Elephant charge and survival story in Africa
0:34:18 – Elephants painting and animal intelligence
0:37:29 – Elephant mental health issues in captivity
0:38:03 – Perspective on global water access and wealth disparity
0:39:04 – Urbanization and the future of cities
0:40:17 – Woman's garden destroyed by authorities in Tulsa
0:41:49 – High unsolved murder rate in California
0:42:27 – Discussion on death penalty and judicial system flaws
0:44:15 – Guilt by association in criminal law
0:45:24 – Encounter with a fraudulent MMA fighter involved in murder
0:47:17 – Man jailed without trial for breaking door to help mother
0:48:04 – Criticism of legal and prison system inefficiencies

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day. All day. All day. My friend, writer extraordinaire Sam Sheridan, also star of the movie Warrior. Are you going to do some more acting? I would, sure. I need the money, man. I didn't know you were in it. I played Joe Rogan's wannabe. I tried to be Joe Rogan and I failed. Starting point is 00:00:21 Were you like the Mike Goldberg character and Brian was the Joe Rogan character? I think Brian was more the color guy and I was the – Play-by-play. No, no, no. The more – like I was the more expert guy. Yeah, that would be – well, it depends on what sport. In MMA, we kind of do it – it's kind of wacky the way we do it. Like a lot of times if it was boxing or in um Starting point is 00:00:45 you know other sports the play-by-play guy would also sort of be like an expert right you know and you guys i mean i love what goldberg does i think he does you know it's it's a tough job man that's not easy everybody's very hard everybody who throws it's like just try it it's very hard i did it once and i was terrible at it yeah he's he's really good at what he does he's just so good and he makes it look so easy that people forget how difficult it is. It seems easy, but it's not at all. I mean, that guy Starting point is 00:01:11 has to keep the show running for a live event for six hours and he does it on a regular basis all the time. My job is so much easier than Goldberg's. All I have to do is go, he's got to get his arm out of there. Look at him. He's going to get into triangles. Starting point is 00:01:26 Fuck, he's fucked. If you don't say anything for a minute, it's fine. Yeah, yeah. If he doesn't say anything for a minute, it's like he's getting fired. You know what I mean? It's terrible. I think they'd probably all, the people at home, too, would all be happy if we just say nothing for one minute. Starting point is 00:01:38 Just one minute. Just shut the fuck up for one minute. I've got to say, watchi...

More Episodes

Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #230?

Sam Sheridan was the guest on JRE #230. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #230?

On Joe Rogan Experience #230 with Sam Sheridan, topics include Mixed Martial Arts, MMA Commentary, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Hunting and Wildlife.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #230?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #230 with Sam Sheridan is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.