Johnny Knoxville

Date: 2026-01-15 | Duration: 2h 29m

Episode Overview

Johnny Knoxville joins Joe Rogan to promote the Fear Factor reboot and to share stories from a lifetime of orchestrated pain. The episode opens with Knoxville recounting how stuntmen on Men in Black 2 would line up outside Gene LaBelle's trailer to be choked unconscious and receive a commemorative patch — including one Irish stuntman who slapped LaBelle across the face first and got dropped on his head afterward. Knoxville walks through some of his most outrageous stunts: wearing a bulletproof vest for a Hustler magazine shoot when Playmates were shooting at him with handguns, nearly pointing a live pistol at his friends while picking up magazines from the ground, and the famous magic trick with a bull — which the first bull failed by just plowing him into the ground, forcing them to bring in a second bull to get the airborne shot they needed. Joe discusses his own Fear Factor hosting experience and how he would psyche out contestants before terrifying stunts — telling them the fear on the other side will feel completely different, a feeling of accomplishment that they can overcome — and how that psychological coaching carried over from his martial arts competition background. The conversation also covers Knoxville's serious back problems (two herniated discs in the lower spine), steroid facet joint injections that didn't work, Joe recommending the reverse hyper machine designed by Louie Simmons. Knoxville's dad's prank tradition (blank guns in the office) and the ventriloquist act Otto and George round out a characteristically chaotic episode.

About Johnny Knoxville

Johnny Knoxville is a multi-talented stunt performer, actor, and co-creator of the groundbreaking “Jackass” franchise, which revolutionized the world of reality television and comedy. Known for his fearless antics and outrageous pranks, Knoxville has pushed the boundaries of stunt performance, earning a dedicated fanbase and numerous accolades, including multiple MTV Video Music Awards. Beyond his work in “Jackass,” he has showcased his acting chops in films like “The Ringer” and “Bad Grandpa,” and currently hosts “Fear Factor: House of Fear,” where he continues to challenge contestants with terrifying stunts. Knoxville's unique blend of humor, risk-taking, and charisma makes him a captivating figure and a staple in the entertainment industry.

Key Moments

– Gene LaBelle's Choke-Out Patch Tradition
– Gene LaBelle vs. Milo Savage: First MMA Fight
– Bulletproof Vest Shooting Stunt for Hustler
– Bull Magic Trick: Two Bulls to Get the Shot
– Fear Factor Reboot Premiere
– Joe's Pre-Stunt Psychological Coaching
– Knoxville's Herniated Discs and Failed Injections
– Reverse Hyper Machine and Louie Simmons
– Knoxville's Dad's Blank Gun Office Prank Tradition
0:00:25 – Gene LaBelle on Men in Black 2: Stuntmen Lined Up to Be Choked for Patches
0:00:48 – Irish Stuntman Slapped LaBelle First — Got Dropped Straight to the Ground
0:01:29 – LaBelle vs. Milo Savage: Greased Up With Loaded Gloves, LaBelle Still Won
0:09:58 – Bulletproof Vest Shoot: Hustlers Fell Out and He Pointed Gun at Friends
0:24:26 – Back Problems: Two Herniated Discs, Steroid Injections Didn't Work
0:44:45 – Joe's Pre-Stunt Speech: The Fear on the Other Side Is a Feeling of Triumph
1:04:59 – Knoxville's Dad's Prank: Blank Guns, New Employees, Running Into the Streets
1:19:46 – Magic Trick With a Bull: First Bull Just Stomped Him, Had to Get a Second Bull
2:29:26 – Fear Factor Premieres Tonight — Hope Nobody Gets Hurt

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:01 Joe Rogan podcast, checking out. The Joe Rogan Experience. Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day. Yeah, yeah, he said, fuck you all bad. He choked him asleep. I would pay for it to say that. How did you meet Judo, Gene LaBelle? I met him first on Men and Black 2. Starting point is 00:00:25 He was a stunt man. Oh, okay. And the stunt people would, the stunt people would line up outside his trailer so they so he would choke them out and he would give you that little he would give you a patch afterwards you've been choked out by judo jean labelle oh god he had all those cartoonish patches he like gave you a bunch of those he's a character man Starting point is 00:00:48 he uh one guy i saw one uh the stuntman right before jean choked him out he goes one second this irish dude and he turned around and he slapped jean in the face and jean's like And then after Gene choked him, they were standing up, Gene just dropped them straight to the ground for slapping them. Ooh. You can get hurt like that. Starting point is 00:01:14 Yeah, well, that's what you get for slapping Gene LaBelle. Yeah, don't slap him a kiss. Kiss him in the cheek before he chokes you out. Don't slap him. He had one of the very first ever mixed martial arts fights. Oh, yeah, it was that he fought. Milo Savage. Yes. Starting point is 00:01:29 And didn't Milo Savage grease himself up? beforehand. Oh, yeah. But also, Gene was wearing a ghee, which kind of negates most of the the grease. Yeah. Because you're wearing this, like, very frictiony ghee. So he grabbed him. And where it was, I guess the rumor was Milo Savage's gloves were loaded? I don't know. I would do that, though, if I was Milo Savage. Oh, yeah. I would have some kind of weapon against Gene LaBelle. Well, most people that have never grappled a guy like that, they don't have any idea. I'll helpless you actually are until like you think i'll be able to push him away from me i'll be able Starting point is 00:0...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2439?

Johnny Knoxville was the guest on JRE #2439. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2439?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2439 with Johnny Knoxville, topics include Gene LaBelle's Choke-Out Patch Tradition, Gene LaBelle vs. Milo Savage: First MMA Fight, Bulletproof Vest Shooting Stunt for Hustler, and Bull Magic Trick: Two Bulls to Get the Shot.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #2439?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #2439 with Johnny Knoxville is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.