- The conversation is between Lex Friedman and Michael Malice
- They discuss various topics including wildlife, tattoos, dictators, and humor
- Michael Malice talks about his pet peacock mantis shrimp and its unique characteristics
- He also mentions his interest in obscure subjects and his dislike for Monty Python and Big Lebowski
- They touch on the importance of humor and making people laugh
- They end the conversation with a joke about finishing a race.

- The speaker discusses the sense of humor in North Korea and the Soviet Union, despite their difficult situations
- They talk about different groups, such as African-Americans, Jewish Americans, and gay Americans, and their contributions to comedy
- The speaker shares their appreciation for comedian Norm Macdonald and a joke he tells about a man with a pumpkin head
- They also mention their admiration for comedian Neil Hamburger and his unique style of comedy
- The speaker expresses gratitude for their family, particularly their 6-year-old nephew who has a great sense of humor.

- The speaker is thankful for their family, particularly their nephew Lucas who has a great sense of humor.
- They share a story about Lucas pranking their grandmother by pretending someone was sick.
- The speaker took Lucas to a movie premiere at Mar-a-Lago and enjoyed watching him discover new things.
- They discuss the importance of having a sense of humor in their family and how it differs from American culture.
- The speaker talks about their relationship with their parents and the journey to find approval from them.
- They mention the formative nature of the relationship with one's parents and the lessons they learned from their father.
- The speaker expresses their love of learning and the importance of reading books.
- They discuss the skepticism and cynicism found on the internet and the importance of focusing on the good things in life.

- The speaker discusses various topics including commentary on a debate, coming out of the closet, and a graphic novel project.
- They reflect on their fears and loneliness in the past, but express gratitude for their current success and supportive friends.
- The speaker mentions their move to Austin, Texas and a failed attempt at Texas independence.
- They express gratitude for friendships and the impact of books, particularly historical writings.
- The speaker admires historians who can present data in an entertaining and readable way.

- The speaker discusses their favorite historians and authors, including Ron Chernow, William Shire, and Solzhenitsyn.
- They express their admiration for Ann Applebaum's history books but acknowledge controversy surrounding her.
- The speaker criticizes comparisons between Putin and Stalin, as well as comparisons between current events and the Holocaust.
- They share a personal experience of being criticized for not referring to George Soros as a Holocaust survivor.
- The speaker argues against protecting billionaires from criticism based on their identity and emphasizes the singular nature of the Holocaust.
- They discuss the thin veneer of civilization and the potential for humans to act in extreme and deranged ways.
- The speaker disagrees with the notion that humans are inherently good and highlights the tribal nature of human beings.
- They mention a sketch comedy show called "I Think You Should Leave" and the show "Hoarders" as examples of the thin veneer of normalcy and the potential for derangement.
- The speaker and the other person in the conversation have differing views on the inherent goodness of humans and nature.
- They debate whether humans are essentially civil and amiable or if goodness is more unusual than the norm.
- The speaker expresses their belief that there is much goodness in the world, citing examples in economics, art, and creation.
- They mention a sculptor named Jake Michael Singer and their appreciation for his work.

- The speaker receives a sculpture from a fan in Turkey named Jake
- The sculpture is called "Chance Murmur" and combines different references
- The speaker expresses gratitude for Jake's work and the joy it brings
- The speaker discusses the value of contemporary art and lists several galleries to explore
- The conversation shifts to discussing favorite comedians and the comedy scene in Austin
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding joy and appreciating small artisans
- The speaker mentions OnlyFans and makes a joke
- The discussion ends with gratitude for social media and its benefits.

- The speaker discusses the benefits of social media in allowing people to make connections and stay in touch.
- They mention the importance of exposing corporate dishonesty through platforms like Twitter.
- The speaker talks about anti-Semitism and how it differs from other forms of hate, citing historical examples of persecution.
- They propose the "ambassador program" as a way to combat bigotry by fostering personal connections with individuals from marginalized groups.
- The speaker criticizes the quote from Karl Marx about religion being the opium of the people, arguing that faith can have positive effects on individuals.
- They express disdain for internet atheism and sneering attitudes, emphasizing the importance of respect and blocking negative interactions on social media.
- The speaker briefly mentions a conversation about offensive realism in international relations and expresses their belief that the world is more similar to Brave New World than 1984.

In this conversation between Lex Friedman and Michael Malice, they discuss various topics including wildlife, tattoos, dictators, and humor. Michael Malice talks about his pet peacock mantis shrimp and his interest in obscure subjects. They touch on the importance of humor and making people laugh, and share jokes about finishing a race. They discuss the sense of humor in North Korea and the Soviet Union, as well as the contributions of different groups to comedy. They express admiration for comedians Norm Macdonald and Neil Hamburger. The speaker also expresses gratitude for their family, particularly their 6-year-old nephew with a great sense of humor. They discuss their relationship with their parents and the importance of reading books. They reflect on fears and loneliness in the past but express gratitude for current success and supportive friends. They mention their move to Austin, Texas and express admiration for historians who present data in an entertaining way. They criticize comparisons between Putin and Stalin and discuss the thin veneer of civilization. They debate whether humans are inherently good or if goodness is more unusual. They discuss the value of contemporary art and favorite comedians. They mention the benefits of social media and propose the "ambassador program" to combat bigotry. They criticize Karl Marx's quote about religion and express disdain for internet atheism. They briefly mention a conversation about offensive realism in international relations.

- The influence of China in America is more through soft power than military power, such as through infiltration of universities and TikTok.
- American popular culture plays a significant role in American hegemony, as it spreads ideas and values to other countries.
- The viral spread of ideas and culture is a more powerful tool than military power.
- American culture is popular in Europe, not solely due to military bases but also because of the export of music, TV shows, and movies.
- Social media can be used as a tool for influence and propaganda.
- COVID-19 showed that persuasion and influence were more effective in controlling the population than authoritarianism.
- The interviewee has unique art pieces in their house, including an Ibis mummy and an original Patrick Nagel painting.
- They discuss the importance of living life to the fullest and enjoying the privileges others may not have had.
- The interviewer and interviewee discuss Albert Camus' novels, with the interviewee not liking "The Plague" but finding "Animal Farm" more effective in its symbolism.
- The interviewee shares insights on conducting good interviews and the importance of making people feel seen and heard.

- The speaker discusses how having an interest or hobby can take over one's brain and become a private, enjoyable aspect of life.
- They try to ask unique questions to people they interview to avoid discussing topics they are tired of talking about.
- The speaker mentions their fascination with people who are passionate about unusual things and dislikes hierarchies in different interest groups.
- They talk about their preference for various scents in shaving soaps and recommend different companies.
- The speaker shares a makeup term called "touching pan" and discusses the joy of using up a product.
- They credit a friend for introducing them to wet shaving and express gratitude while jokingly saying "fuck you" to them.
- The speaker concludes by advising to focus on personal growth rather than setting unrealistic standards and to find joy in simple things.

- The speaker encourages setting realistic goals and focusing on improvement rather than perfection.
- They emphasize the importance of having metrics to track progress and gain a sense of accomplishment.
- They discuss the fear of making mistakes and the need to be strong enough to handle challenges.
- The speaker shares their thoughts on depression and the importance of distinguishing between low points and irrational depression.
- They discuss their fear of increasing authoritarianism but express acceptance of death and satisfaction with their achievements.
- The speaker talks about experiences of betrayal and the importance of not letting it affect future interactions.
- They value loyalty and trust but acknowledge the difficulty of finding trustworthy people in public positions.
- The speaker reflects on experiences of heartbreak and love, and expresses gratitude for the beauty in life and the friendship of the person they are speaking with.

- China's influence in America is primarily through soft power, such as infiltrating universities and platforms like TikTok.
- American popular culture plays a significant role in spreading ideas and values globally.
- The viral spread of ideas and culture is more powerful than military power.
- American culture is popular in Europe due to the export of music, TV shows, and movies.
- Social media can be used as a tool for influence and propaganda.
- COVID-19 showed the effectiveness of persuasion and influence in controlling populations.
- The interviewee discusses their unique art pieces and the importance of enjoying privileges.
- They share insights on conducting good interviews and making people feel seen and heard.
- The interviewee discusses their fascination with passionate people and their dislike of hierarchies in interest groups.
- They talk about their preference for scents in shaving soaps and recommend different companies.
- The speaker shares a makeup term and discusses the joy of using up a product.
- They encourage focusing on personal growth, setting realistic goals, and finding joy in simple things.
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of metrics, handling challenges, and distinguishing between low points and irrational depression.
- They reflect on experiences of betrayal, value loyalty and trust, and express gratitude for the beauty in life and friendship.

Michael Malice is a political thinker, podcaster, author, and anarchist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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TRANSCRIPT:
https://lexfridman.com/michael-malice-7-transcript

EPISODE LINKS:
Michael's Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelmalice
Michael's Community: https://malice.locals.com
Michael's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MichaelMaliceofficial
Michael's Website: http://michaelmalice.com/about
Your Welcome podcast: https://bit.ly/30q8oz1
Jake Michael Singer (sculptor): https://instagram.com/jakemichaelsinger
Books:
The White Pill: http://whitepillbook.com
The Anarchist Handbook: https://amzn.to/3yUb2f0
The New Right: https://amzn.to/34gxLo3
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Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41

OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
1:28 - Beauty and mantis shrimp
6:02 - Parrots, Pirates, and Monty Python
12:14 - Humor and absurdity
19:35 - Thanksgiving
48:15 - Unboxing the mystery box
1:04:13 - Karl Marx and religion
1:12:30 - Art
1:16:44 - Books
1:29:21 - How to be happy
1:31:31 - Depression
1:32:35 - Fear
1:34:01 - Betrayal

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Yeah, and that's actually not life-sized.

You not answering that question is pretty funny.

The following is a conversation with Michael Malice, anarchist and author of Dear Reader, The New Right, The Anarchist Handbook, The White Pill, and he is the host of the podcast, you're welcome.

This is a Thanksgiving special of the pirate and ocean-going variety.

So once again, let me say thank you for listening today and for being part of this wild journey with me.

To support it, please check out our sponsors in the description.

And now, dear friends, here's Michael Malice.

There's something in that box of exquisite beauty, both literally and in

Given the kind of human being you are, I'm terrified at what you find beautiful.

Like for me, the most beautiful wildlife are what I call God's mistakes.

Because my friend came up with that term where she's like, you know, God made these disgusting animals just threw in the bottom of the ocean.

Yeah, you commented on Twitter about some creature, like a rainbow type creature.

So it has, I think, 8 legs, 6 arms, 2 punching claws or spearing claws, depending on the genus, 2 eyes, 2 antennae, 2 ear flaps, I don't know what they do, and its punch can be as strong as a bullet.

And the other type with the spears, divers call them thumb splitters, because if you stick your finger near it, it'll cut your thumb down to the bone.

All night, I would hear it banging on the PVC pipe, and I gotta tell you, they have the best eyesight of any animal, because they see in like 7 different ways.

And when you make eye contact with this thing, it's just absolutely terrifying.

Well, when you have a species that's that unique and that much of an outlier, you know, growing up, reading these books, watching these shows, I found this stuff so much more fascinating than space, which is dead.

So to be able to have this specimen in your house and just observe its behavior is just an amazing thing.

I didn't have, I guess, the right minerals in the mix.

I still have a pair of its punching appendages from when it molted.

animal in your life do you miss the most that has been in your life that you think about?

I've never had cats or dogs growing up or anything like that, which, you know, I, oh God.

My problem is, if I like something, I will go down a rabbit hole.

Yeah, so I know if I got 1 tattoo, I already know my first 5 are gonna be, okay?

So I can't do it, because then once I get those 5, it's gonna be 100, and I'm already too old to be the tattoo guy.

Would it go on your ass cheeks, or where would you put

If I got your face, it would definitely be on my, oh, right here.

If you had multiple faces, would you put like?

Shoulders, different faces on different shoulders.

If you had to get a dictator, who would you get?

plugging, it's just like I have a personal connection

We would be asking why him, And he'd be like, well, I wrote a book about it.

Okay, here's what, that would be a bad, no, that's not what happens.

When you write a book about North, hey, nice to meet you, what is it you do?

I'm an author, what kind of books do you write?

90% of the time, 90, they will then start telling me everything they know about North Korea.

And it's like, I don't need, this isn't a quiz, and it's a very poorly understood country, I don't expect you to know anything.

And half what you're saying is not accurate either.

How often do they bring up Dennis Rodman?

But I don't understand why, I guess people feel the need to like, all right, now we're talking about this subject, I just gotta drop whatever I can talk about, it's usually a small amount.

And there's this thing in the culture which I hate, that everyone have to have an opinion on everything.

And it's like, it's okay to be like, yeah, I don't know anything about that, tell me more.

There's lots of things I don't know anything about.

Yeah, And that's actually not life-sized.

To be fair, I only tried to watch Big Lebowski after it's been part of the culture for many years to the point where every single line has been quoted incessantly by the most annoying frat bros ever.

So I kind of have been poisoned to be able to appreciate it.

So maybe if I'd seen it when it came out, before it became a thing, I would have enjoyed it.

Is that how you feel about Schindler's List?

Well, it's so much easier for me to stare

I didn't think you'd be the 1 making Holocaust jokes today.

no trouble making eye contact with you when you're wearing shades.

Yeah, oh, you're seeing yourself in them?

Well, I find Mighty Python, I find absurdity funny.

When people come at me, and maybe this is an Eastern European thing, when they're like, how can you find this very dark subject funny?

It's like, well, the humor, first of all, the humor is that you're making fun of something that's dark.

So already it's absurd, it's completely inappropriate.

Second, just psychologically, Joan Rivers said that Winston Churchill said, I don't know if it's true, that when you make people laugh, you're giving them a little vacation.

And I was just thinking about this the other day, how when I die, if I want my funeral to be a roast, it doesn't help me that everyone's sad.

If I brought people happiness or joy in life, whatever, I wanna keep doing that in death.

I know you can't help it, but tell stories how it made you laugh, make fun of me, make me the punching bag, even literally take me out of that coffin and make me a pinata, I don't care.

So I think, and I don't understand, well, I do understand, but it's sad for me when people are like, you know, this isn't funny, that isn't funny.

The way I look at humor is the way, it's like a chef, right?

It's pretty easy to make bacon taste good, but some of these really obscure ingredients to make it palatable, that takes skill.

So if you're dealing with a subject that is very emotional or intense and you can make people laugh, then that takes skill and that's the relief for them.

What's the difference, you wanna hear 1 of my jokes?

Because that's the only kind I accept today.

What's the difference between Leo Thomas and Hitler?

Why does it take pirates forever to get through the alphabet?

Oh, I thought it was going to be an R joke.

By the way, the thing that is very heartbreaking about the North Korean situation is that they have a great sense of humor.

It would be a lot easier if these were like robots or drones.

They have big personalities, big sense of humor, and that made it much harder to leave and interact with these people, because I mean, there's nothing more human and universal than laughter, and laughter is free.

You're saying there's humor even amongst the people that have most

Especially, I mean, again, we're from the Soviet Union.

Like, there's, I mean, Russian humor is a thing, because there's nothing you can, If you can't have food or nice things, at least you can have joy and make each other laugh.

It's been, what, 2012, so it's been 11 years since I've been there, and she's still there, and everyone I've seen is still there.

They just recently electrified the border, so you can't even, even the few people who are escaping can't do it anymore.

But that's interesting that they still have a sense of humor.

I attribute the Soviet Union for having that because of the really deep education system.

Like you got to read a lot of literature.

And because of that, you get to kind of learn about the cruelty, the injustices, the absurdity of the world.

As long as the writing is not about the current regime.

Yeah, but I think if you look at like African-Americans, Jewish Americans, gay Americans, they are all disproportionate in terms of attributing to comedy.

It's not because these groups have some kind of, you know, magic to them.

It's that when you are on the outside looking in, A, you're gonna have different perspective than the people who are in the middle of the bell curve.

But also, when you don't have anything to lose, at the very least, you can make each other laugh and find happiness that way.

So, that is something that I think is an important thing to recognize.

What makes you giggle like in the most joyful of ways?

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Michael Malice: Thanksgiving Pirate Special | Lex Fridman Podcast #402