Video summary
The discussion begins with an exploration of how fame alters social interactions, specifically regarding dating and trust. The host clarifies that while he is not a celebrity in the traditional sense, his status as a "niche degenerate internet micro-fame" figure still creates significant barriers to normal human behavior. He cites Joe Rogan's influence on comedians at events like *The Mother Ship* bar as an example of how high-status individuals warp reality; people around them struggle to act naturally because they are either overly excited or trying too hard to maintain composure in the presence of a famous person. This distortion makes it difficult for ordinary individuals, referred to as "Joe," to discern genuine intentions from contrived behavior, leading to skepticism about whether others want something specific rather than simply wanting to interact normally. Despite these challenges, the host notes that his current level of fame is manageable and even pleasant at times, with people greeting him frequently on the street or in gyms without requiring security. However, he acknowledges a natural progression where this situation becomes increasingly difficult over time, citing Andrew Huberman as an example of someone who has reached a point where they require two bodyguards outside lecture theaters—a reality that sounds unenjoyable to the host. He draws parallels between this constriction and themes found in Sleep Token's music about feeling trapped by one's own success, describing it as a "champagne problem" for those with too much fame. While he is fortunate not yet needing security or dealing with severe backlash like some friends have experienced, he recognizes that the trajectory of increasing difficulty cannot be easily stopped once started. Regarding dating specifically, the host asserts that his level of fame does not lead to more frequent invitations on dates; in fact, it likely reduces them due to social awkwardness and self-consciousness among potential partners. He observes a metacognitive hesitation where people fear appearing "beggy" or desperate if they ask someone famous out after an event like a pickle ball party, worrying that the invitation will be rejected because of their status rather than genuine interest. This dynamic suggests that fame can create invisible walls in social settings, making it harder for others to initiate contact without feeling intimidated by the perceived gap between themselves and the public figure. The conversation then shifts to physical traits shared with Carter Vasquez, specifically prominent brow ridges which both men possess. The host explains via a DNA test result that he possesses more Neanderthal DNA than 99% of people, though his specific percentage remains unknown because his test only looked at allele pairs rather than providing the full breakdown found by companies like Ancestry.com or 23andMe. He speculates that Carter likely shares this high percentage as well and offers a biological explanation for why men typically have larger brow ridges: they serve as protective structures in fights, similar to how bigger knuckles act as weapons. This leads to a humorous exchange about whether their lineage consists of ancestors who were frequently punched in the head but survived, with the host jokingly expressing reluctance to be part of such a violent genetic history while acknowledging his ability to take hits. The segment concludes with a promotional discussion for Element electrolyte drinks, which the host has used daily for three years as part of his morning routine alongside cold water and orange salt. He describes the product's benefits in reducing muscle cramps, optimizing brain health, regulating appetite, and curbing cravings without artificial ingredients or sugar. The advertisement highlights their risk-free policy with a no-questions-asked refund option available indefinitely if customers are unsatisfied. Viewers interested in trying all eight flavors can obtain a free sample pack by visiting the provided link or heading to drinklnt.com/modern wisdom, emphasizing that this electrolyte mix plays a critical role in his daily health regimen and overall well-being.
Read the full video transcript
How is dating being famous or a public
figure? Is it harder to trust people's
intentions? Do you get asked out more
often? Uh, I mean, look, I'm not famous.
Uh, I do think it's important to put
that caveat in there that it's like
niche degenerate
internet micro fame. Um, but whatever
level I've managed to get
to, it certainly kind of gets in the way
of
people behaving normally around you,
which is not great. Um,
because so for instance, I saw this with
Rogan, right? If Rogan walks into a
room, let's say we're in the mother ship
or whatever, and you're downstairs in
Mitsies, which is the bar attached to
the mother ship, and sometimes they
close that off, and just the comedians
and their friends and family are in
there. And if he walks into the room,
there's this distortion field that
follows him around where people are just
most people are unable to behave
normally. And it's wild to see what just
very very very high levels of fame and
status have this odd warping effect on
the way that people are able to show up
and just be normal. And what that means
is that if you're Joe, everybody must
seem weird to you. Everybody must seem
like they're being a little bit
contrived or um obfiscatory or uh um
disingenuous in some way. And maybe some
maybe many of them are. And then some of
them are just looking at you going like,
"Holy [ __ ] it's Joe Rogan. Holy [ __ ]
it's Joe Rogan. Holy [ __ ] it's Joe
Rogan." And they're trying to hold it
together and you don't know which one's
which. And you know, in whatever
microniche equivalent it is for me, uh I
guess that that might be the same thing
that status and fame can be warping. And
yeah, it it is a little bit harder to
trust people's intentions. Not
necessarily because you're skeptical,
but because people in many ways just
struggle to show up in a a normal manner
that there's things that they could get
from you or they have a a preconceived
idea about the way that you want people
to behave or or whatever. And uh again,
I I'm fortunate. Whatever period I'm in
now is the perfect level of fame. People
say hello once every 15 minutes on the
street. If I'm in a gym, there'll be,
you know, 10 or 20 guys that'll come up
and give me a fist bump and and let me
get back to my training session. It's
it's really nice. And everyone's got
cool stuff to say, and I don't need
[ __ ] security or anything like that.
Um but that's going to keep getting more
difficult uh over time.
And I don't know what the optimal level
of fame is. I know that to use an
example from earlier, I know Huberman,
he needs security outside of the lecture
theaters that he's uh speaking at. I
think he's teaching undergrads this year
or next year at Stanford and he needs
two security guys. Uh that's that
doesn't sound fun. That sounds kind of
[ __ ] Um, so but you can't switch the
tap off
and you can't slow down the sort of
roller coaster that keeps going up. And
again, that's why to fly the flag for
Sleep Token again, that's why the Sleep
Token song resonated with me. Uh, you
know, he's talking about the stage being
a prison and sort of how he's getting
bitter in the lens. He needs to sort of
he's feeling constrained and constricted
by this uh reality that he's made for
himself. And again, champagne problem.
Oh, boohoo. Poor poor person that's got
too much fame. Uh, but I've seen, you
know, firsthand from some friends uh the
prices that they need to pay to to deal
with this stuff and it it it's [ __ ]
rough. So, uh, unlike I'm pretty sure
Naval turned up to the episode in a
Whimo, no security, no nothing. So, uh,
maybe he's got the optimal level of
fame. What's his thing about you want
everybody to know your name and no one
to know your face? Uh, perhaps that's
the the level that he's got, too.
Anyway, uh the dating
thing, do I get asked out more often?
Definitely not. Uh I think there is uh a
sense that
you must have lots going on. Um even
this happens with friends.
Like how many times would someone if you
were at a an event, a pickle ball party
or something else, how many times would
people invite you to go and do something
afterward? But I think there's this
metacognitive I don't want to be the
person that says to the person other
people want to say things to do you want
to come to this thing after because that
seems beggy and that seems like people
just get in their own heads and I'm sure
that it's the same for for girls too. So
um yeah I don't know I'm uh I'm not I'm
not paying too much time trying to uh
pay attention to that.
Carter
Valasa, as a fellow giant brow bone hav,
I was wondering if you know where it
comes from genetically. I took a DNA
test and it turns out I have more
Neanderthal DNA than 99% of people. I
heard you mention you had done one, so I
was curious if you know what your
Neanderthal percentage
is. I do have a prominent brow. Thank
you for reminding everyone about this.
Let me see. How can I So, the problem
Oh, there we go. There we go. For the
people that are just listening, I'm kind
of using my forehead as a uh solar
panel. Someone actually said put a
petition on a petition on the podcast to
make Chris's forehead into a solar
panel. Um, someone else said that
watching me and Mike Israel talk was
like seeing two alien head races meeting
for the first time. It's very charming.
Uh, and we did need to actually change
the lighting setup previously because
the it had a grid on the big key light
that I've got here had had a grid on it
and it was just forming a perfect
um sort of reflective surface in the
middle of my for all of that is to say
uh the DNA test that I did just looked
at pairs of alals. It wasn't a 23 and me
or or an ancestry.com. So, I actually
don't know that number. I think I know
everything else about my my genetics
except for that. Um, and whether I'm
mostly Irish or French or something. Uh,
so I should do that. I would hazard a
guess that I do also share in a high
percentage of Neanderthal
DNA. What I do know about the brow ridge
for men is that the reason it seems men
have got bigger brow ridges than women
is that it would be protective if you're
in a fight. Same reason, bigger
knuckles, bigger hands. These are your
weapons. This is your defense. So I
don't know if you're suggesting that I
like you am a high percentile
Neanderthal
uh
descendant. Does that mean Carter Velasa
that me and you are the descendants of
men that were punched in the head a lot
but survived? I'm not sure if that is
the lineage that I want to be a part of.
Uh but alas, here I am. Please don't
punch me in the head, but uh apparently
I can take it. So, I might find that out
and uh come and tell you soon. In other
news, you've probably heard me talk
about Element before, and that's
because, frankly, I'm dependent on it.
For the last 3 years, I've started my
morning every single day the same way
with Element in a cold glass of water.
Element is a tasty electrolyte drink mix
with everything that you need and
nothing that you don't. Each grab-and-go
stick pack contains a science-backed
electrolyte ratio of sodium, potassium,
and magnesium with no coloring, no
sugar, no artificial ingredients, or any
other junk. It plays a critical role in
reducing muscle cramps and fatigue while
optimizing brain health, regulating
appetite, and curbing cravings. There,
orange salt in a cold glass of water is
gorgeous. It's It's a beautiful salty,
sweet orangey nectar, and it's how I've
started my day every single day for as
long as I can remember. And I genuinely
feel the difference when I take it
versus when I don't. Best of all,
they've got a no questions asked refund
policy with an unlimited duration. So,
you can buy it totally risk-f free. If
you don't like it, you don't even need
to return the box. That's how confident
they are that you'll love it. Right now,
you can get a free sample pack of all
eight flavors with any purchase by going
to the link in the description below or
heading to
drinklnt.com/modern wisdom. That's
drinklnt.com/modern wisdom. Would you
look at that clip is already over, but
if you want more, don't be sad. The full
episode is available right
here. Cool.