Joe Rogan Experience #2490 - RZA
RZA joins Joe Rogan to discuss his upcoming film 'One Spoon of Chocolate,' while they explore topics ranging from martial arts philosophy and exercise routines to technology, mining in the Congo, and the future of cinema.
Summary
RZA visits the Joe Rogan podcast to promote his new film 'One Spoon of Chocolate,' produced by Quentin Tarantino and starring Shamik Moore and Paris Jackson, set for release May 1st. The conversation begins with discussions about exercise routines and the importance of physical movement for mental health, with both sharing their morning workout philosophies rooted in martial arts principles. RZA explains how martial arts training has influenced his mindset and creative process beyond just physical conditioning.
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on global mining practices, particularly cobalt extraction in the Congo. Rogan shows RZA disturbing footage of dangerous mining conditions where workers use basic tools to extract minerals essential for electronics like smartphones. This leads to discussions about conflict minerals, historical exploitation dating back to King Leopold's reign, and how modern technology depends on what amounts to slave labor. RZA reveals he had written lyrics about these issues before seeing the footage.
They explore various technology topics including Tesla's self-driving features, AR/VR technology, and the future of entertainment. RZA discusses his filmmaking approach, explaining his preference for theatrical releases over streaming and his use of anamorphic lenses. The conversation touches on artificial intelligence, with RZA suggesting the term should be changed from 'artificial' to something like 'assisted' intelligence.
Other topics include dietary choices (RZA's veganism), luxury goods like watches and diamonds, the difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds, and various philosophical discussions about authenticity, value, and human nature. Throughout, RZA provides insights into his creative process and how global issues influence his art.
Key Insights
- RZA explains that martial arts training develops mental discipline and control over emotional reactions, allowing practitioners to think multiple times before reacting rather than responding on first impulse
- The conversation reveals that cobalt mining in the Congo involves dangerous manual labor with basic tools, where workers live in extreme poverty while extracting minerals essential for modern electronics
- RZA argues that the term 'artificial intelligence' should be changed because 'artificial' has negative connotations, suggesting alternatives like 'assisted intelligence' or 'accumulated intelligence'
- RZA maintains that cinema should be experienced in theaters first, explaining that he uses anamorphic lenses and designs films specifically for the theatrical experience rather than home viewing
- The discussion reveals that lab-grown diamonds are molecularly identical to earth-mined diamonds but cost significantly less, yet many people prefer 'natural' diamonds despite the ethical issues with traditional mining
Topics
Transcript
[0:01] Joe Rogan podcast. Check it out. >> The Joe Rogan Experience. >> TRAIN BY DAY. JOE ROGAN PODCAST BY NIGHT. All day. >> We're up. [music] So, the guy that did your bar, uh, Flying Guillotine. >> Uhhuh. >> Is the same guy that did the Mothership. >> Oh, wow. >> Richard Weiss. Yeah. Richard. Yeah. Richard. The same designer architect >> who did your bar. I have a Flying Guillotine t-shirt that I wear sometimes. I did. I was trying to find it this morning. I couldn't [ __ ] find it. >> I wore mine yesterday. I went to the [0:32] Alamo Draft House and did a screening of of the film. And uh I said, "What…
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