The Joe Rogan Experience

#2406 - Russell Crowe

November 5, 2025

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  • Russell Crowe's film "Nuremberg" uses an interesting device to disarm the audience before confronting them with the heavy subject matter of the Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring's trial, including never-before-seen Holocaust footage. 
  • The discussion highlighted the psychological finding that the major Nazi figures in the trial were often rational men, suggesting horrific acts stem from incremental dehumanization rather than universal madness. 
  • Crowe and Rogan explored the cultural differences in sports consumption, noting that Australians grow up looking outward at international competition (like cricket), whereas Americans tend to look inward at domestic sports like American football. 
  • The constant visual documentation of modern warfare, starting around Vietnam, fundamentally changes societal understanding and expectation of conflict compared to earlier wars. 
  • The proliferation of easily accessible information via modern technology has not eliminated the human tendency to resort to war, suggesting technology alone is insufficient to solve deep-seated conflicts. 
  • The historical banning of cannabis in the US was heavily influenced by economic competition from the hemp industry, driven by media moguls like William Randolph Hearst, rather than purely health concerns. 
  • Introducing non-native species, whether plants like gorse or animals like wolves, often leads to severe ecological imbalance and unforeseen negative consequences in new environments. 
  • Portraying complex historical figures like Hermann Göring requires actors to delve into nuance, exploring their base motivations, including their wartime heroism and subsequent drug addiction, rather than relying on simple caricature. 
  • The structure of modern politics, particularly in the US, is often designed to perpetuate unresolved issues for campaigning purposes, and the US healthcare system's high costs represent a massive societal failure compared to other developed nations. 

Segments

Nuremberg Film & Trial Footage
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(00:00:19)
  • Key Takeaway: The film “Nuremberg” utilizes previously unseen Holocaust footage from 1946 to make the dry subject matter of the court case accessible.
  • Summary: Russell Crowe’s film about Hermann Göring premieres on November 7th in the US. The director gained access to historical footage, some of which had never been publicly shown since 1946. The film employs a device to amuse the audience with interpersonal dynamics before locking them into the courtroom drama to deliver the core subject matter.
Psychology of Nazi Perpetrators
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(00:01:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Psychiatrist Dr. Kelley’s unpopular take was that all human beings are capable of horrific acts, realizing the major Nazis he interviewed were mostly rational men.
  • Summary: The psychiatrist’s findings suggested that the Nazi perpetrators were not simply ‘crazy’ but rational men, which contradicted the War Department’s desired narrative. This realization highlights how horrific events can escalate through small, incremental changes, often referred to as the ‘boiling of the frog’ phenomenon. The ability to dehumanize others is identified as one of humanity’s most dangerous psychological traits.
US vs. Australian Worldview
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(00:04:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Australians and New Zealanders grow up looking outward at global events, contrasting with Americans who generally grow up looking inward due to the dominance of domestic sports leagues.
  • Summary: The two-party political system in the US is described as a corporate-financed ruse that forces a ‘with us or against us’ mentality, limiting nuanced discussion. Australian sports culture, featuring international representation as the pinnacle (e.g., rugby, cricket), fosters a broader global perspective compared to US sports like American football, which are primarily domestic.
Cricket vs. Baseball Nuances
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(00:06:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Baseball and cricket fans share a love for minutiae and statistics, yet the sports rarely cross over in popularity between the US and cricket-dominant nations.
  • Summary: Cricket is significantly larger worldwide, driven by massive populations in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. A ‘six’ in cricket is equivalent to a home run, scoring six runs if the ball clears the boundary without bouncing. The traditional Test match format lasts five days, featuring structured breaks for tea and lunch, contrasting sharply with the compact, continuous action of American sports.
Rugby League vs. Union
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(00:12:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Rugby League, originating in Northern England, features a defined period of offense and defense, making it structurally easier for American football fans to understand than Rugby Union.
  • Summary: Rugby Union involves 15 players per side with constant recompeting for the ball after tackles via rucks, mauls, and lineouts. Crowe owns the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL (Rugby League), which he finds easy to explain to Americans due to its defined offensive/defensive structure. A major frustration for Americans watching Rugby League is the high degree of referee interpretation compared to the NFL’s perceived across-the-board fairness.
Gambling Addiction and Personal History
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(00:15:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Crowe’s aversion to gambling stems from a personal experience in Reno where he lost his winnings and subsequently learned his great-grandfather gambled away his family’s house.
  • Summary: Crowe experienced severe physical shaking after nearly running out of gas returning to LA from Reno with minimal cash following a roulette loss. He believes a genetic predisposition for gambling exists, which he must actively work against, contrasting with his disciplined approach to acting and business ventures. He notes that while he avoids casual gambling, activities like acting and buying a sports team are inherently high-risk gambles.
Comedy Genre Decline and Sandler
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(00:27:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Adult comedies are becoming difficult to finance in film, contrasting with stand-up comedy, which is reverting to a more confrontational, ‘say whatever is funny’ style.
  • Summary: Crowe praises Adam Sandler’s recent critical respect, noting that Sandler’s earlier, innocent comedies like Happy Gilmore are enjoyable entertainment. Crowe is working on a project that is fundamentally a comedy but is struggling to find distribution because adult comedies are currently out of favor in film. Stand-up comedians are pushing back against restrictions by embracing the confrontational style of 1990s comedy.
Burnout and Film Production Pace
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(00:43:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Crowe made five films between December and August, leading to severe mental exhaustion that he feels he is still recovering from, necessitating a long break in the Australian bush.
  • Summary: Crowe agreed to many independent films years ago, and their production schedules unexpectedly collapsed into a rapid succession, forcing him to move between sets with minimal downtime. He felt ’empty’ while filming the Highlander remake, playing Ramirez opposite Henry Cavill, who ruptured his Achilles, causing a production delay that served as an unexpected relief for Crowe’s burnout. He looks forward to recharging at his property, which he bought in 1996 specifically as a necessary sanctuary from his public persona.
Actor Burnout and Nuremberg Film
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(00:59:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Russell Crowe experienced burnout after filming five consecutive movies, including the disturbing historical drama ‘Nuremberg’.
  • Summary: The actor felt he went too hard, leading to mental fatigue requiring a break. The film ‘Nuremberg’ is noted as being great but very disturbing. The trial footage used in the film has reportedly never been released before.
War Documentation Evolution
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(01:00:42)
  • Key Takeaway: World War II marked the first time regular footage was available to cement the horrors of war into the public consciousness, contrasting with WWI’s blind experience.
  • Summary: The availability of regular footage, moving from WWI (where soldiers went in blind) to Vietnam (on television), helps cement the potential consequences of conflict in people’s minds. Seeing horrific things serves as a constant reminder of where conflict can lead.
Australian Military Culture
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(01:01:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Growing up in Australia during the Vietnam War era meant military service was a pervasive cultural expectation for young boys.
  • Summary: The constant presence of Vietnam footage on the nightly news, coupled with living veterans from WWI and WWII, created a cultural environment where boys expected to become soldiers. This environment included participation in army cadets where 13-year-olds were taught to use self-loading rifles.
Censorship of War Consequences
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(01:03:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Preventing photographers from documenting flag-draped coffins returning from war, as allegedly happened in the Iraq War, is an illegal attempt to suppress historical documentation.
  • Summary: The act of documenting the consequences of war, such as American service members returning in boxes, should not be legally prevented. Such suppression prevents the public from fully grasping the reality and cost of military action.
Purpose of Anzac Day
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(01:03:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Anzac Day serves not only to respect the dead but primarily as a reminder of the pointlessness of major global conflicts like WWI and WWII.
  • Summary: Anzac Day commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought together in both World Wars. The day should remind people that those who start and benefit from wars are rarely the ones mourning the dead.
Technology vs. War Mentality
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(01:04:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite possessing technology that allows for global knowledge access, humanity still views war as a viable solution, which is baffling.
  • Summary: Carrying devices that provide access to nearly all human knowledge should theoretically lead to greater understanding and celebration of differences. The continued reliance on war suggests a failure to evolve past primitive conflict resolution methods.
Social Media Divisiveness
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(01:06:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Social media algorithms pervert the potential for connection by accelerating divisive content, often driven by corporate interests seeking to suppress negative individual feedback.
  • Summary: Early social media platforms like Twitter offered a breath of fresh air for self-expression, but this quickly changed when individuals used them to voice negative experiences with large companies. Running bots to manipulate public understanding for profit should be illegal, as it leads to misinformation and societal fighting.
AI and Misinformation Spread
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(01:08:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Sophisticated methods like VPNs and AI, exemplified by China using ChatGPT to run accounts, make tracing the source of political misinformation nearly impossible.
  • Summary: Misinformation campaigns using AI bots argue specific points on topics like immigration to inflame public discourse with zero accountability for the originators. This results in people fighting at the family dinner table based on completely fabricated narratives.
Violence on Social Feeds
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(01:08:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Social media platforms, particularly Instagram, are increasingly flooded with real, graphic violence and accidents, which risks desensitizing users, especially younger ones.
  • Summary: The constant exposure to real-life horrific accidents and violence on platforms like Instagram is a growing problem. This exposure compounds existing desensitization from violent video games and films, impacting developing minds.
Substance Use Education
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(01:17:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Societies must move at the pace of the slowest member, necessitating ongoing education about the proper, safe use of substances like alcohol, rather than only teaching through failure.
  • Summary: Alcohol is uniquely accepted as a dinner accompaniment despite the social costs, such as increased domestic violence linked to sporting events. Education on the proper use of substances, including marijuana and alcohol, should be continuous, not just reactive after a negative event like a car crash.
Alcohol vs. Gambling Addiction
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(01:15:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Alcohol and gambling are pervasive societal problems because they are completely accepted and normalized for adults, leading to overlooked damage.
  • Summary: The normalization of alcohol consumption means society often ignores the damage it causes, despite the speaker enjoying it as part of his cultural heritage. As one ages, learning personal capacity limits, like avoiding daytime drinking, becomes crucial for maintaining energy and focus.
Muff Liquor Company Investment
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(01:12:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Russell Crowe, Jimmy Carr, and Ed Sheeran invested in the Muff Liquor Company, founded by a lawyer from Muff, Ireland, who legitimized her grandfather’s potato moonshine operation.
  • Summary: The company, named after the town of Muff, produces potato-based gin and vodka, with the whiskey described as a light, peat-smoked ‘cowboy whiskey’ meant for laughing all night. The investment was secured because the name amused all three celebrities.
History of Marijuana Prohibition
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(01:24:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The prohibition of marijuana in the 1930s was primarily motivated by economic interests to protect the commodity of hemp from competing with Hearst’s paper mills.
  • Summary: William Randolph Hearst used his publications to spread propaganda linking the term ‘marijuana’ (a name applied to wild Mexican tobacco) to crimes committed by minorities. This manipulation successfully led Congress to ban the plant, effectively eliminating competition for wood-pulp paper.
Orson Welles’ Career Suppression
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(01:26:39)
  • Key Takeaway: William Randolph Hearst actively worked to suppress Orson Welles’ career after the release of ‘Citizen Kane’ due to the film’s unflattering portrayal.
  • Summary: Despite ‘Citizen Kane’ and the famous ‘War of the Worlds’ broadcast showcasing Welles’ genius, Hearst’s media power effectively stifled his subsequent career trajectory. This illustrates the immense, unchecked power media moguls held before the rise of independent media.
Media Consolidation and Independent Media
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(01:29:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The drastic consolidation of major media companies into only a few entities necessitates independent media to force corporate outlets to cover inconvenient truths.
  • Summary: As media ownership shrinks, the narrative control concentrates, but independent media fills the gap by gaining traction online. This forces mainstream outlets like The New York Times to eventually address topics that have entered the public zeitgeist.
Evolution of Media Consumption
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(01:30:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The shift from scheduled, linear television to on-demand content like podcasts reflects a consumer demand for control over when and how they consume media.
  • Summary: The model of waiting for a specific time to watch a show, like ‘Dallas’ or ‘The Sopranos,’ is obsolete; consumers now expect the ability to pause and resume content at will. TiVo was an early revolutionary technology that preceded the streaming era’s complete control over viewing schedules.
Australian Wildlife Threats
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(01:44:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Australia faces significant ecological threats from invasive species, including paralysis ticks, feral cats, and the southward march of the toxic cane toad.
  • Summary: Feral cats are decimating native bird populations like bush turkeys, and the introduction of the cane toad, intended to control a sugar cane pest, has resulted in an estimated 200 million toxic amphibians spreading across the continent. Furthermore, escaped deer from farms may introduce new diseases like Lyme disease, which is not historically endemic.
Invasive Species Ecological Damage
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(01:58:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Introduced plants like gorse in New Zealand and Lantana in Australia aggressively overtake native landscapes due to favorable conditions.
  • Summary: The introduction of gorse bush in New Zealand, intended for hedging, resulted in it taking over arable farmlands because the region has higher rainfall and sunshine than England, where it originated. Similarly, Lantana has overrun large sections of the Australian bush. The speakers noted that introduced weeds have choked out areas of property that were once accessible subtropical forest.
Kudzu’s Overwhelming Growth
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(01:59:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Kudzu, introduced to the US from Japan in 1876 at the New Orleans Exposition, was marketed ornamentally before becoming a massive invasive plant.
  • Summary: The plant Kudzu was identified as a highly invasive species that completely covers trees and structures. It was intentionally introduced to the United States in 1876 at the New Orleans Exposition. The vine was widely marketed in the Southeast as an ornamental plant before its destructive nature became apparent.
Apex Predator Reintroduction Balance
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(02:01:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone demonstrated that apex predators are crucial for ecosystem balance, significantly reducing overpopulated elk herds.
  • Summary: The reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park helped solve ecological problems caused by elk overpopulation, which had become detrimental to the herd’s health. The elk population dropped by over 40% following the reintroduction, illustrating the necessary role of apex predators. However, relocating wolves with a history of preying on cattle directly into ranching areas creates immediate conflict.
Australian Introduced Fauna Issues
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(02:04:10)
  • Key Takeaway: New Zealand and Australia struggle with overpopulation of introduced game animals, like stags and wild horses (Brumbies), requiring population control measures.
  • Summary: New Zealand introduced European game animals to create hunting refuges, leading to stag overpopulation requiring culling via helicopter. Australia faces a similar issue with wild horses, or Brumbies, whose population is destroying the ecosystem in areas like the Snowy Mountains. The need to protect native animals like wombats and platypuses necessitates difficult decisions regarding the culling of these introduced species.
Rewilding and Temperate Rainforests
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(02:07:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Restoring land to temperate rainforest, as exemplified by Merlin Hanbury Tennyson, yields benefits like PTSD recovery for former soldiers.
  • Summary: Merlin Hanbury Tennyson is actively turning a block of land back into temperate rainforest by removing non-native animals. This process allows native trees, such as oaks, to regenerate because they are no longer eaten by non-native species. The land is now being used as a natural environment for PTSD recovery among former soldiers.
Actor’s Approach to Character Selection
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(02:13:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Russell Crowe prioritizes playing characters that offer fresh ground and significant challenges, such as Hermann Göring, over pursuing specific roles or public perception.
  • Summary: Crowe chooses roles based on character and practicality, selecting parts he hasn’t played before, even if they are dangerous or heavy. The decision to play Hermann Göring was driven by the challenge of portraying such a complex figure. The excitement of the job comes from tackling roles that present a significant, almost intimidating, challenge.
Hermann Göring’s Nuanced History
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(02:15:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Hermann Göring was a decorated WWI flying ace and war hero before becoming a key Nazi figure, and his later actions were heavily influenced by drug addiction.
  • Summary: Göring was a top student in military school, finished WWI as a decorated pilot with 22 kills, and commanded the Red Baron Squadron, making him a genuine war hero. His descent into Nazism was influenced by post-WWI German politics, but his later effectiveness was severely hampered by a massive addiction to pills, sometimes consuming 40 to 50 a day. The book ‘Blitzed’ by Norman Ohler details the drug use throughout the Nazi movement, including methamphetamine use by troops and opiates by Hitler.
The Process of Playing Evil Characters
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(02:25:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Actors must process the intense mental weight of playing horrific characters, accepting the pain as part of the relentless, 24/7 job process.
  • Summary: Playing a character like Göring is uncomfortable, but the pain is accepted as part of the job, which requires continuous processing even after filming stops. Filmmaking is described as a train journey where one cannot simply pull over until the destination is reached. Showing the human side of a monster, like Göring’s love for dogs, is crucial for understanding how evil operates, often utilizing charm as a weapon.
Göring’s Mountaineering Past
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(02:28:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Hermann Göring was an accomplished mountaineer in his youth, completing difficult traverses in the Austrian Alps, indicating a strong, determined mentality.
  • Summary: Göring was the first person to complete certain traverses in the Austrian Alps, suggesting a mentality requiring immense focus and determination. This mountaineering background provided insight into his character beyond his later political role. To connect with his fellow actors playing Nazis, Crowe taught them a German mountain song, ‘Mussiden,’ which shares a melody with Elvis Presley’s ‘Wooden Heart.’
US vs. Australian Political/Societal Differences
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(02:38:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The US often operates with a self-centered worldview due to limited international travel, contrasting with Australia’s different political climate and perspective.
  • Summary: Many Americans rarely leave the US, relying on others for their view of the world until they travel abroad, where they encounter different ways of living. Australian politics currently benefits from a Prime Minister focused on improving citizens’ lives, despite facing petty political attacks, such as criticism over a Joy Division t-shirt. The US political system is criticized for intentionally leaving problems unsolved to fuel partisan campaigning.
Healthcare and Societal Priorities
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(02:47:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The primary burden on the US healthcare system is obesity, yet the system allows the proliferation of unhealthy food while charging exorbitant prices for necessary medication.
  • Summary: While cigarettes were heavily regulated, the biggest strain on healthcare is obesity, yet unhealthy food production systems are allowed to continue unchecked. A drug costing $50 a month in Australia costs $2,500 in the US, leading to hundreds of thousands of bankruptcies annually due to medical bills. The speakers argue that ensuring citizens’ health should be a fundamental principle for elected representatives.