The Joe Rogan Experience

#2389 - Sal Vulcano

October 7, 2025

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  • Sal Vulcano's recent focus on health, including starting with a trainer and getting extensive blood work, is largely motivated by the life-changing responsibility of having a child. 
  • The conversation touched upon the difficulties of touring as a stand-up comic, emphasizing the necessity of traveling with friends to maintain morale and avoid depression. 
  • Both Joe Rogan and Sal Vulcano discussed the subjective nature of judging in combat sports, noting how controversial decisions can result in significant financial losses for lower-ranked UFC fighters. 
  • A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the theory that modern art, including artists like Jackson Pollock, was promoted by the CIA as a cultural weapon during the Cold War to compete with Russian artists. 
  • The speakers shared personal anecdotes illustrating the intense focus required for activities like archery, contrasting it with the seemingly effortless mastery achieved by exceptionally talented individuals in various fields, such as pool player Mike Massey (implied by context of switching hands) or the story of Sal Vulcano's disastrous opening act for Imagine Dragons. 
  • Sal Vulcano recounted a traumatic childhood experience where his stepmother was severely injured by a deflected puck during his first ice skating tryout. 
  • The conversation shifted to the extreme physical nature of professional hockey, noting that players historically endured severe facial injuries before protective masks became common. 
  • The latter part of the discussion focused on unexplained phenomena, including Sal's personal experience of feeling his hand squeezed while asleep and anecdotal stories of hauntings at The Comedy Store. 
  • The historical medical practice of bloodletting, including the use of leeches, was a significant factor in the death of George Washington, who was suffering from a common cold. 
  • Sal Vulcano detailed extreme commitment to his comedy bit involving photorealistic tattoos of Jaden Smith on his thigh, which he revealed publicly and subsequently updated. 

Segments

Guest Return and Time Flies
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(00:00:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano last appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience in June of the previous year while promoting his special.
  • Summary: Sal Vulcano notes that his last appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience was in June of the previous year to promote his special. The hosts acknowledge how quickly time has passed since that visit. Vulcano mentions he has had a child since his last appearance.
Health Motivation After Fatherhood
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(00:00:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Having children fundamentally changes one’s motivation for longevity and health, prompting proactive measures like hiring a trainer and undergoing extensive testing.
  • Summary: The presence of children significantly alters priorities, making individuals prioritize being healthy for as long as possible. Sal Vulcano recently started working with a trainer four weeks prior and underwent comprehensive blood work and scans as a result. This new focus contrasts with previous behaviors that might have been less health-conscious.
Dietary Habits and Gluttony
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(00:01:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano admits to being a glutton who eats large quantities of food, including large steaks and multiple appetizers at dinner, but balances this with intermittent fasting.
  • Summary: Vulcano’s Instagram algorithm is heavily populated with content about foods he knows he shouldn’t eat, such as sandwiches and pizza, though he claims he doesn’t struggle to avoid them. He eats the whole egg, including the yolk, because he keeps chickens for fresh eggs. He manages his high caloric intake through exercise and strategic intermittent fasting, rather than strict daily portion control.
Touring Schedule and Work Balance
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(00:03:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano is currently on an extensive stand-up tour running through 2026, which required him to take a hiatus from his podcasts after wrapping Season 12 of Impractical Jokers.
  • Summary: Vulcano is touring until 2026, having taken a short break after the birth of his baby and finishing production on Season 12 of his show. He paused his podcasts because the workload of touring, filming, and producing another show became unsustainable. He is now refocusing on his tour and a new podcast project.
Benefits of Touring with Friends
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(00:04:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Touring comedians should always bring friends along because traveling solo can quickly become depressing, especially when local openers are not enjoyable company.
  • Summary: Traveling with buddies makes the road feel like a vacation where one still gets to work, preventing the experience from becoming depressing. If traveling alone, the lack of enjoyable company in the hotel or at the club can be detrimental. Joe Rogan occupies his time on the road by working out and playing pool.
Soft Tissue Injury Susceptibility
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(00:05:39)
  • Key Takeaway: In-depth blood work revealed Sal Vulcano is genetically very susceptible to soft tissue injury, potentially due to the ELN gene variant.
  • Summary: After starting a new fitness regimen, Vulcano received blood work indicating a high susceptibility to ligament and bruising injuries, which he jokingly translated as being a ‘bitch.’ The hosts used Perplexity to research biomarkers, finding that the elastin (ELN) gene variant is a supported marker for ligament weakness and increased injury risk. Vulcano subsequently injured himself during a medicine ball exercise, highlighting the need for slow progression in training.
Advice for Starting Exercise
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(00:06:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Beginners starting a workout routine should focus on bodyweight exercises performed moderately and avoid pushing to failure to prevent injury and ensure consistency.
  • Summary: When starting out, it is crucial to use bodyweight exercises and maintain a moderate intensity level. The goal for initial sessions should be to leave feeling fine, not exhausted or broken down. Building up slowly allows the body to adapt and prevents the inability to recover from an overly aggressive pace.
Combat Sports and Corrupt Decisions
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(00:13:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Subjective judging in combat sports like boxing and MMA is infuriating because it can unjustly cost fighters their win bonuses, which are crucial for athletes on low-tier contracts.
  • Summary: The discussion referenced the infamous Roy Jones Jr. Olympic loss as an example of blatant, biased judging in favor of a hometown athlete. For young UFC fighters on minimum contracts ($15k to show, $15k to win), a bad decision can mean losing $15,000 needed to cover management, gym, and nutrition costs. The common advice to ’not leave it in the judges’ hands’ is flawed when opponents cannot be knocked out.
Childhood Sports Humiliation
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(00:17:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano was the MVP of his 0-14 JV basketball team in 1990, an award he accepted despite scoring only 16 points all season, which now serves as a humbling comedy bit.
  • Summary: Vulcano preferred individual sports like martial arts over team sports due to his stubborn nature, but recounted a humiliating experience playing JV basketball. His team lost their first game 44-0, with the opposing parents chanting the score at his team afterward. Despite the team’s abysmal record, he received the MVP trophy at the end-of-season dinner.
Manifestation and Synchronicity
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(00:25:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano experienced strong synchronicity when he mentioned wanting to learn sailing to his wife, only to meet a man days later who teaches sailing.
  • Summary: Vulcano felt compelled to learn how to sail, and shortly after telling his wife, he encountered a father at his daughter’s music class who happened to teach sailing. This led to a discussion on manifestation, where they agreed that putting energy out there is a component of life, but it must be combined with concrete actions across multiple elements (like health) to achieve goals.
Oceanic Perspective and Fear
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(00:32:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Living near the ocean provides a centering effect during the day, but at night, the vast, uncontrollable nature of the water evokes existential fear regarding natural disasters like tsunamis.
  • Summary: Rogan described the Malibu ocean view as food for the soul during the day, explaining why wealthy people live on the water. At night, however, the water transforms into a ‘black monster,’ prompting thoughts about the immense, uncontrollable power of the ocean and the danger of tectonic shifts. A video of a massive tsunami wave cresting a high cliff in Russia illustrated this terrifying potential.
Claustrophobia and Genetic Memory
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(00:38:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Claustrophobia, experienced by Sal Vulcano in confined spaces like MRIs and stretchers, may be linked to genetic memory of ancestral dangers like snakes or spiders.
  • Summary: Vulcano described panic attacks in confined spaces, including a terrifying scuba diving experience where he struggled with breathing and maneuvering at depth. He questioned the difference between claustrophobia and general anxiety, suggesting that intense phobias might stem from genetic memory of ancestors dying from threats like snakes or spiders. The inability to see a person’s real face, as with masks or clown makeup, also triggers primal discomfort.
Celebrity Identity Clickbait
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(00:47:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Skepticism is high regarding online claims about celebrity identities, such as the rumor that Christian Bale is Banksy.
  • Summary: The speakers express doubt about sensationalized online news, citing a specific article suggesting Christian Bale is the anonymous artist Banksy. They note that actors reaching the highest levels of fame often become ‘weird, exceptional humans’ capable of anything. The Banksy identity rumor was later clarified as an April Fool’s joke.
Banksy Mystery and Art Doc
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(00:49:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The enduring anonymity of Banksy in the modern age is considered remarkable, prompting a discussion about the documentary ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’.
  • Summary: The mystery surrounding Banksy’s identity is viewed as amazing, especially given current surveillance capabilities. The documentary ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ follows an artist initially thought to be Banksy, though he is ultimately revealed not to be him. The speakers speculate that Banksy’s continued secrecy likely requires a brilliant individual or a small, loyal group.
CIA and Modern Art Theory
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(00:56:53)
  • Key Takeaway: A theory suggests the CIA promoted abstract modern art, like Jackson Pollock’s work, during the Cold War to demonstrate American cultural freedom over Soviet classical art.
  • Summary: The conversation explores the theory that modern art was weaponized by the CIA to counter Russian artistic superiority during the Cold War. This movement was championed to showcase American intellectual freedom, contrasting with the ideological constraints of Soviet art. The effectiveness of this strategy is highlighted by the fact that art pieces now considered ’nonsense’ command millions of dollars.
Art Collecting and Personal Taste
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(01:03:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Personal art collecting preferences range from photorealistic Native American portraits to vibrant, funky contemporary pieces, reflecting individual aesthetic values.
  • Summary: The speakers contrast their collecting habits, noting one prefers photorealistic art like Greg Overton’s Native American portraits for their powerful connection to real history. Another prefers the vibrant, less literal style of artists like Jordy Kerwick, who creates funky sculptures and paintings. The studio environment is seen as a showcase, distinct from the more personal aesthetic of a private home.
Archery Skill and Mental Focus
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(01:09:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Achieving consistent accuracy in archery, especially with traditional bows, requires years of dedicated practice to eliminate minute flaws that become magnified over distance.
  • Summary: The skill level of historical archers is contrasted with modern, high-tech archery, which relies on precise sighting systems. Consistent accuracy demands intense, daily practice to overcome small variations in form that significantly impact the arrow’s landing point at long ranges. The act of drawing a bow requires total mental focus, effectively clearing the mind of all external worries.
Left-Handed Advantage and Skill Transfer
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(01:19:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Left-handed individuals may develop superior adaptability because they constantly navigate a right-handed world, and practicing a skill with the non-dominant side can improve the dominant side’s ability.
  • Summary: The discussion suggests lefties might be ’exceptionally good’ because their brains must constantly adapt to a world designed for right-handers. Learning a skill, like a martial arts kick, with the non-dominant leg can paradoxically improve performance with the dominant leg. This concept is exemplified by professional pool player John Moore, who became world-class after learning to play left-handed following an injury.
Sal Vulcano’s Wild Performance Stories
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(01:27:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano recounted two extreme, unscripted live performance experiences: singing poorly on stage for Imagine Dragons and acting as a goalie while New Jersey Devils players took slapshots at him.
  • Summary: As part of a stunt for the show, Sal Vulcano was forced to perform five original songs on guitar and vocals for 15,000 people before Imagine Dragons, resulting in boos and being hit with objects. In a separate incident, he and a friend played goalie during a New Jersey Devils intermission while professional players took hard slapshots at them. These chaotic events highlight unique opportunities afforded by his involvement with the show.
Hockey Tryout Injury Story
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(01:37:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano’s stepmother sustained a severe, bloody facial injury requiring stitches after being hit by a deflected slap shot during his first ice hockey tryout.
  • Summary: Sal’s family drove three hours to watch his first time on ice skates, despite his prior roller hockey experience not transferring well. A puck deflected into the stands, striking his stepmom directly in the face. The severity of the injury required an ambulance and stitches, highlighting the danger of deflected shots even in amateur settings.
Hockey Slap Shot Speed
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(01:38:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The speed of a professional hockey slap shot is so fast that a person has only a split second to react, often resulting in an instinctual wince rather than a block.
  • Summary: The speakers reflect on the difficulty of reacting to the velocity of a slap shot, comparing it to the speed of shots taken by professional teams like the Devils. They note that nets are installed behind goals because pucks deflecting into the stands have historically caused serious injuries, even fatalities.
Hockey Player Scars and Masks
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(01:39:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Early professional hockey players accumulated numerous facial scars from pucks and sticks, with the first recorded use of a protective mask occurring in 1929.
  • Summary: The conversation references a famous photo illustrating the cumulative scars on a player’s face from years of taking pucks to the face. The first player noted to have worn a mask did so in 1929, suggesting that for decades, players accepted severe facial trauma as part of the sport. The discussion emphasizes that even with masks, high-velocity impacts can still cause significant damage, like a broken nose.
Hockey’s Unique Fighting Rule
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(01:40:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Ice hockey remains the only major sport where fighting is explicitly allowed to this day, despite growing awareness of CTE and other safety concerns.
  • Summary: Hockey is characterized as a ‘hard man sport’ where fighting is an accepted, integral part of the game, even as other sports face increased scrutiny over head trauma. The speakers note that the league has not voted to eliminate fighting, suggesting a cultural resistance to change this aspect of the sport.
Skating Fitness and Skill
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(01:41:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Playing hockey demands elite cardiovascular fitness due to the constant, fast-paced movement required while balancing on thin metal blades.
  • Summary: Hockey is described as an incredibly fast sport requiring players to be in excellent shape because they are constantly moving and sprinting on skates. Sal mentions that the years he played roller hockey daily kept him in the best shape of his life, utilizing the skill for transportation, even skating at speeds up to 30 miles per hour down hills.
Body Maintenance Analogy
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(01:45:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The human body requires constant maintenance, similar to a house, and neglecting fitness leads to a state of disrepair, making it difficult to regain momentum.
  • Summary: Sal compares the body to a house where ‘shit breaks all the time,’ requiring constant attention like fixing a broken AC unit. If the body is put into a state of disrepair, it becomes hard to restart fitness routines, emphasizing that momentum is the most crucial factor in maintaining healthy patterns.
Unfinished Ghost Story Retold
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(01:50:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano was compelled to retell a story about a physical sensation he experienced while sleeping because listeners of his previous appearance noted he had left it unfinished.
  • Summary: The previous podcast appearance resulted in numerous complaints that Sal started a story about a potential ghost encounter but never finished it. The experience involved Sal sleeping alone, wrapped up like a burrito with a CPAP machine, when he felt a distinct, tightening pressure squeeze his hand for several seconds before it released.
Hauntings at The Comedy Store
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(01:59:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The Comedy Store, formerly Ciro’s nightclub, has a history of mob activity, illegal abortions, and numerous reported paranormal events, including physical interactions.
  • Summary: The venue’s history as a mob hangout, potentially involving murders and illegal abortions, contributes to its haunted reputation. Employees and comics have reported seeing apparitions, hearing wailing, and experiencing physical pranks like chairs moving themselves. One comic allegedly had his ankle grabbed and dragged off stage while sleeping there.
Real Estate Death Disclosure Laws
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(02:05:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Only three US states—Alaska, California, and South Dakota—legally require sellers to disclose deaths unrelated to the property’s condition, with South Dakota imposing a one-year time limit.
  • Summary: The speakers discuss the legal requirement for disclosing deaths in a property, noting that many states, like Texas and Florida, do not require disclosure unless the death relates to the property’s condition. California requires disclosure for three years, while South Dakota only requires it for 12 months, leading to the conclusion that only a few states acknowledge the impact of past violent events on property value.
AI, Drones, and Societal Anxiety
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(02:12:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The rapid advancement of Chinese drone technology, exemplified by complex synchronized light shows, suggests a potential technological gap that influences US government secrecy regarding unidentified aerial phenomena.
  • Summary: The discussion touches on the fear that China is significantly ahead in drone and electric vehicle technology, potentially explaining the advanced nature of observed UAPs. The government’s ambiguous response to the drone sightings is viewed as either a national security necessity or a psychological operation (psyop) to test public reaction. The conversation concludes with the acknowledgment that AI is progressing rapidly toward superintelligence, potentially by 2045-2049.
Machete Defense and Street Violence
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(02:07:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal purchased a machete for home defense while his wife was away, but realized the legal and logistical nightmare of using it against an intruder would necessitate moving.
  • Summary: Feeling vulnerable while alone, Sal ordered a machete, hiding it in the bed until his wife returned and discovered it. He concluded that using the weapon against an intruder, even successfully, would create a crime scene so severe that selling the house afterward would be impossible. This was followed by watching a video where a man calmly picked up his own severed hand after a street fight.
Machete Fight Aftermath
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(02:24:23)
  • Key Takeaway: A man calmly retrieved his severed hand after a machete fight at a gas station.
  • Summary: The speakers recounted a story where one participant in a machete fight lost a hand, which was then picked up by an associate. The injured man appeared composed while retrieving the hand, leading to speculation about shock or normalization of violence in his environment. The fight’s location was noted as a gas station, not a remote jungle setting.
George Washington’s Death
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(02:26:08)
  • Key Takeaway: George Washington died from complications following bloodletting treatments for a common cold.
  • Summary: George Washington caught a common cold and was subjected to bloodletting via leeches by his doctors, who extracted approximately 32 ounces of blood in total. This treatment, favored by Washington despite his wife’s concerns, likely caused fatal blood loss and infection. The doctors also administered a mixture of molasses, butter, and vinegar that caused him to convulse.
Historical Barbarism and PTSD
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(02:30:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Historical figures like Washington likely suffered from undiagnosed trauma equivalent to modern PTSD from witnessing battlefield horrors.
  • Summary: The discussion noted that Washington likely saw extreme violence during the Revolutionary War, including men being hacked to death, which today would be recognized as trauma. Furthermore, historical medical practices included crude prosthetics, such as Washington’s dentures made from lead molds, slave teeth, and horse teeth. Life in earlier times was significantly more barbaric, where violence over possessions like shoes was common.
Shark Attack on Diver
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(02:35:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Bull sharks bit off a spearfisherman’s decorative fins because they mistook the fish-scale pattern for actual fish.
  • Summary: A free-diver friend had custom fins painted with fish scales, which attracted bull sharks after he shot a fish. The sharks attacked and bit off both fins, mistaking them for prey due to the scale pattern. The diver was unharmed beyond the loss of his equipment.
Impractical Jokers Stunts
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(02:36:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano endured a 42-minute extreme haunted house challenge while simultaneously canceling his phone, internet, and cable services live.
  • Summary: To complete a challenge for Impractical Jokers, Sal was subjected to an intense, constantly changing haunted house environment for 42 minutes while on the phone with customer service. He brought a stun gun for self-defense, which worried the haunted house owner when observed on CCTV. This commitment to the bit extended to later touring where he was shocked live on stage while telling a story about Jaden Smith tattoos.
Jaden Smith Tattoos
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(02:44:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano has photorealistic tattoos of Jaden Smith on both thighs, one of which was done after meeting Smith at a movie premiere.
  • Summary: Sal revealed he has photorealistic tattoos of Jaden Smith on his body, which he got as part of a commitment to a bit for Impractical Jokers. He showed the first tattoo to Smith while Smith was dressed as Batman, leading to a security guard intervention. Following a subsequent public appearance where he was made to look like a ’number one Jaden fan,’ Sal immediately got the second tattoo done.
Sal Vulcano’s Tour Dates
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(02:48:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Sal Vulcano is currently touring, including stops at the Chicago Theater and the Beacon Theatre, with dates available on his website.
  • Summary: Sal Vulcano confirmed he is currently touring, with upcoming shows scheduled at venues like the Chicago Theater and the Beacon Theatre. He mentioned having about 50 to 60 dates booked for the tour. Information regarding his schedule can be found at savulcanocomedy.com.