Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Gala Games: gala.games/lex - Indeed: indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit - BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off - MasterClass: masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off 0:32 - Animal Farm 3:34 - Emma Goldman 6:39 - Albert Camus 8:09 - How to be a hero in Nazi Germany 15:15 - Camus on Existentialism vs Nihilism 21:17 - Cynicism is a lie 26:24 - Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union 46:43 - Lex and Michael argue: can most people think on their own? 58:21 - How Lex and Michael use Twitter 1:07:43 - Life is beautiful 1:10:46 - Returning to Ukraine 1:12:39 - Michael is now an underwear model 1:16:45 - The Anarchist Handbook 1:18:32 - Tolstoy was an anarchist 1:31:14 - Anarchy debate between Lex and Michael 2:00:22 - Why Michael doesn't vote 2:17:37 - Austin and New York 2:26:13 - Alex Jones
That’s what I was gunna say, I want to see him try to go full lex tho. That would be awesome to have malice host the show even tho he pretty much does without realizing it
Absolutely Riveting. Conversation on human capacity for good, evil, banality, and cruelty. ""That mediocre person with a little bit of power ... " The courage to be weird, heroism with and without martyrdom.. I will hit you up payday Lex. Thank you Thank you ❤️🙏
I've watched lots of interviews with Michael, and no one quite tempers the troll side of him like Lex does. As a result, his brilliance really shines in these conversations without his obnoxious side overwhelming the conversation. These conversations are the best of Michael and in some ways also the best of Lex, great stuff!
Lex also isn't afraid to play along. Just check out the costumes. He is indeed a great foil for Malice, bringing out the best in him. I wouldn't call it tempering, and I absolutely love Michael's trolling, but there is definitely something fantastic about the way these guys interact.
Lex brought out a side of Michael I have never seen - his discussion about his grandfather and what his Russian family endured during WW2 - soul crushing.
Holy crap I hope you could get some water and relieve yourself! Please next time you don't need to comment it on youtube, it's dangerous take care not to burn alive :O
When Michael dressed in the white suit, black shirt getup a while back, that was peak humor Now there's Lex playing into the joke as well.... I can't even....😆😂🤣
Wow, really uplifting stuff from Micheal, usually I love him for his humour and amazing sense of humour but this conversation I found him to be absolutely inspiring and so helpful...Incredible!
I grew up with this guy, his dad immigrated from Yugoslavia and ended up owning a few shrimping boats. Their whole family wore nothing but track suits. Even their cousins came over from Yugoslavia in the early 90’s wore nothing but track suits. It was the funniest shit.
The bit about Russia and Ukraine was heart breaking. I’m Ukrainian and Polish. My great grandfather died in Ukraine when a bomb went off on some railroad tracks. So my grandpa and his little sister came to America. He died from a heart attack before I turned 5, and it’s one of my biggest regrets that I could never speak to him about his life.
Don't worry, if he made it to America, he made it much further than he thought he would at the time. Be happy you were able to meet him at all. Polish here, this Michael guy being from Lwów is 110km from where my family is from/still are. Was a little too close to home at the beginning of this episode, had to turn it off
I'm Polish-Ukrainian, too! Funnily enough part of my Polish side is also from Lvov like Michael, but when it was still part of Poland. When Michael started choking up talking about what his family must have been dealing with during WWII really got to me. I remember when my mother first started explaining to me my heritage and why I don't have grandparents like the other kids and all that. Learning about the horrors that your family has been through when you're a kid is hard, but so necessary. But it's frustrating too, because then you see very clearly the complete ignorance of so many people with regards to history and politics. I love America, I love being an American, but holy shit you can literally tell some people here that half your family was arrested and killed for criticizing the communist party and they'll just look at you like, "Yeah, and what about it?" People here are so spoiled here that they don't even know how good they have it.
This intro from Michael has saved my soul so many times. Every time I feel hopeless, I watch it again and I can't really explain this, but it makes life tolerable, even joyful sometimes. Thank you!
Agreed. Cynicism is the soul-rot that caused my depression. Malice (ironic name 🙃) is, to me, a beacon. Through him, I see a way back from the enveloping blackness of despair. Antidepressants have also helped 😁. I can do nothing but stand in gobsmacked astonishment, and respect what a paragon he remains after *years* of abusive criticism. 👏👊 These two, where it counts, are beautiful people.
@@RenameUranus2Caelus well done man. I hope you're still making progress. These two stoics are wonderful polarities, and Malice has something properly understood.
@@RenameUranus2Caelus Logic is the light in the darkness and will lead you away from despair, but only if you faithfully reckon (reason properly and honestly) with this one true God.
Very intense, emotional, informative conversation. Another reminder how important and essential it is to preserve our freedoms and liberties. We seem to be living in a very pivotal moment and i hope we can preserve what the previous generations gave life and limb to protect.
I hope so....I moved south and brought my family last summer. I hope we can at least turn the ship a little bit, it's looking rough coming from a blue state. It's great now and you really appreciate the difference in freedom. I never thought it was that different but it's very noticable between the states.
“A unrelenting Anarchist and a cold Robot walk into a bar...” Turns out the punchline is something about them being wonderful friends and inspiring personalities; Truly, two good men worth looking up to.
Watch how Lex and his poetic self can be so quiet and accepting, allowing Michael his emotion, no self-consciousness or embarrassment. Two fellow countrymen who understand something profoundly incomprehensible to many of us. Thank you for allowing me into this conversation. 🙏
Watching this interview is a reminder of how much we need to keep one-on-one conversations. Everybody is in pain, everybody has the right to be happy. From a very different culture, this episode has opened my eyes to such a different perspective. Respect!
I've always liked Michael and enjoyed listening to him as a guest on various podcasts, even certain ones that I've went back and listened to again over the years, but listening to this podcast- I truly fell in love. I'm converted. and I will probably be listening to his podcast exclusively for the next week. What an amazing human being. We don't deserve it, but we certainly need more people like him in this world. 🙏
@@mabaker way too sad. Saw his video with valuetainment? Malice was being a smartass with the facial expressions of knowing it all. How do people love being a anarchist? This guy is confused trying to be "different" .
@@eeuphoria9077 yuuupppp I just watch him on other people’s podcasts’. He basically liberal from what I’ve seen. I’m sure he’s talked crazy anarchy shit elsewhere, but I don’t subscribe to it.
First time I read this I was 13 years old. I was at the grocery store with my mom and started reading it from the paperback rack they had. She had reservations, but agree to buy it for me. This was 1964. I did not understand much of anything at that time, but still couldn't put it down, and the desire to better understand what I had just read started me down an entirely different road than I was already on. It was a watershed book for me. I'm 72 now. Still don't think my understanding is a whole lot improved. This discussion with Lex and Michael, and your comment, have it back on my current "To Be Read" pile.
@@lahazard I’m glad that I could rekindle a memory of yours and contribute in some small way to your life experience. It really is a great book. My tip would be when you go back to read it again, as you are reading think about who the narrator is. If you do make it back to reread the book, let me know your thoughts. We can have a book club in the comment section! Have a great day.
Michael, the raw emotion that we saw when you discussed your grandfather was palpable. The Sophie's choice - my God - both of you gentlemen have achieved so much, so far - I wish you continuing growth, success and happiness in your life mission.
@@anthonyhardisky1471 you think? Have you listened to him much? If he was faking he's a decent actor. 😀 sometimes the words escaped him - it seemed real to me.
I was immobilized my cynicism for years. Like literally spent maybe 5 years in bed for weeks on end. The last few months I have found the new right and white pill and I have had a paradigm shift in my thinking(along with 3 yrs of therapy). I value reality and truth and am thriving and remembered how silly I am and the fun I have doing everything now. Both of you have had a contributory effect to my new view of life and this reality.
📒 *Key Ideas/Notes* 👇 ::: It is the job of writers to keep civilization from destroying itself. The family is the unit of society. A totalitarian regime (such as the one in North Korea) goes after this family unity, and your future generation will suffer for your sins. This is almost incomprehensible for western people. It is easy to be brave when it's only your skin in the game. But when you have a family, it can be hard to be courageous in a totalitarian state. Life is meaningless, but that means that it is _you_ who have the power to create your own meaning. Imagine being a parent and watching your kids without food and knowing they won't get the food. Pyongyang looks like a Russian city with Korean people. (Michael went there) Human beings are animals. Animals are capable of great degrees of empathy, but there's also cruelty. A mediocre person having power and standing between you and your daughter - in need of medicine - and abusing that power is far more common but darker and far more disturbing than a soldier who has orders to shoot people. The day-to-day activities of a totalitarian regime kill you slowly. Take the leap of faith out of mediocrity. A lot of people are not capable of that. Loving getting a bad meal at a restaurant. Pacifism is something really easy to make fun of, but people underestimate how powerful it is. Joy is easier to obtain than love. Turning the other cheek is underrated. Do you want to turn the other cheek? Or stand on the ground firmly? It can be more lucrative trying to find the middle ground. Sometimes, when you are kind to someone, that someone might find you less attractive. Humans are weird. Anarchism is not a location, is a relationship. As technology improves and its wealth increases, which is a function of free enterprise, you will have more choice even within a monopoly. The anarchist view is that the Government is like a subscription service. Anarchism can be summed up in the following sentence: _You do not speak for me. Everything else is application._ War is the state of its worst. We teach children in school that war is the last resort. The media punches this whole thing back, takes the concept of war, and makes it sound like a commonality. Politicians have done more evil in the war on drugs than did the people that are supposed to be the criminals. *Animal Farm* by Gorge Orwell is one of Lex’s favorite books. An allegory (Lex thinks) about the Soviet Union and the Russian Revolution of 1917. Animals overthrow the humans and become as bad or worse than the humans. *_Question_* If we lived on this farm, which animal would you most rather be? The bigs? Horses? Donkey Benjamin? The Raven Moses? The humans? Mr. Jones? The dogs or the sheep? Michael Malice’s answer: _the pigs, he’d be a cop._ The book works for most totalitarian dictatorships, not only for the Soviet Union. *Relevant Mentions* [[Emma Goldman]] [[Albert Camus]] [[George Orwell]] [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] [[Kim Il-sung]] [[Kim Jong-il]] [[Kim Jong-un]] [[Martin Luther King]] [[Leo Tolstoy]] [[Gandhi]] [[Jeff Bezos]] [[Alexander Berkman]] [[Johann Most]] [[Noam Chomsky]] [[Herbert Spencer]] [[Randolph Bourne]] *_Books, essays, papers, videos_* ::: Reflections on the Guillotine written in 1957 by Albert Camus Five Chimneys: A Woman Survivor’s True Story of Auschwitz Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Anarchist Handbook by Michael Malice Video: Nicolae Ceausescu - Last Speech, Trial and Execution - History Channel (ENG subtitled) The War on Small Business: How the Government Used the Pandemic to Crush the Backbone of America Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard unfinished work "The State" by Randolph Bourne --- "War is the health of the state. *Philosophies, concepts, misc* ::: Existentialism Anarchism The Peter Principle Absurdism Machiavelism Game Theory The Prisoner’s Dilemma Anarcho-communism Progressive-economics Decentralization Blue Pill Politics *Quotes* “Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it.” “Rather be naive than a cynic, because the cynic is a hopeless man who projects his hopelessness to the world at large.” “Better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven.” _END_ *Disclaimer* Thank you for reading! *Please note that these are some quick notes I took out of Lex’s video, scattered and lack full context. You should watch the full video for additional golden nuggets and the extended version of each idea. Lex, if you are reading this, thank you for helping me upgrade my world views. I really appreciate what you do. You inspired me to take a more systemic approach while working on _my RU-vid channel_ and on my personal research as well. Link to my work: --- ru-vid.com Currently trying to combine and produce more videos on mental models, productivity, less confusion, and futuristic scenarios. Thank you and have a great day ahead! Robert
Great podcast! I love that Malice highlights how Goldman-Camus-Orwell were "leftists" that spoke out about totalitarianism amidst their own, this is way undercommunicated today IMO.
There is a difference between The Left and Liberalism Huge difference The Left means the Left Hand Path- they have their roots in Satanism Liberals were Thomas Jefferson and such. One is Evil One is Good Period
If you want to dive deeper I recommend the book The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It's a firsthand account of Aleksandr's time spent as prisoner in a Soviet Gulag.
@guts94 if you haven’t already, read “ *Execution by Hunger* ” by Miron Dolot. Also, look up *NKVD prisoner massacres* of June 1941. The NKVD (Soviet Gestapo) literally boiled people alive in cauldrons and committed unspeakable acts of torture, which is rarely talked about. But I guess since, circumstantially, Stalin was an “ally”, it’s ok to dismiss that & wear his uniforms as a joke on a podcast.
I have some training in first aid, and taking care of injured and or disabled people. One of the concepts to be aware of is “level of consciousness”. I’ve noticed a very wide range of LOC, amongst people who are not considered injured or disabled as well. It seems to be a concept that applies to the bigger picture of human behavior beyond first aid.
Worked for 38 years as an RN, mostly in behavioral health, and I have always understand the concept in terms of brain health when it comes to a physical illness, but have not thought of it in the way you mention. I can think back and see where such an understanding of it in this way would have been extremely helpful. It still can now when I begin to get agitated with someone. It may not be the case for them, but at least I can respond by considering it before I react. Thank you.
If only people wept when they defied Logic (when they turned their backs on the one true God) like they do when they are decimated for it. Did Isaiah not warn the Jewish people to stop worshipping the one true God (Logic) mindlessly and like the Canaanites worshipped their false Gods (with religious ceremonies rather than proper logical reasoning)? Why his people didn’t listen to their prophet and the one true God is astonishing, and they paid dearly for it. If we hope to prevent future suffering then consciousness (at all levels) needs to stop thinking it’s the victim and it needs to realize it is the convict who defies Logic, breaking universal law, and that we bring the suffering onto ourselves and other parts of the one field of consciousness with our incoherence.
I find it interesting that Michael Malice is making a serious, intellectually honest argument that NPC's exist. And, having worked in a customer facing industry, I have to say its hard for me to disagree with him on that point.
I have always thought this unironically and non-judgmentally. I come at it statistically. The Christian idea that all aremade in the image of God is nice, but for many people there's just nothing there. Biodiversity. Not everyone is built with a sense of humor or inner monologue or personality. Similar to MM's right/left wing test: are some people better than others?
@@notbob8252 Which is part of his point when he says not to engage or converse with certain people. It's a waste of time, you will get nothing out of it/them
@@speabody originally no but we let mentally ill people vote and after the conversation I just had with someone 5 minutes ago in my real life like face-to-face I think that sometimes is it is a waste of time to engage people who just don't care kind of why people make fun of Boomers
@@notbob8252 Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you saying, here, that if an idea could not possibly get through a given person's skull to marinate, this person is likely an NPC? That sounds to me like they're just closed to some ideas while open to others. Just because someone doesn't see the logic in your point/argument, doesn't mean they're intellectually bankrupt. It just means they're intellectually non-present with your idea (possibly some trigger-word closed their ears, they're having a bad day, any number of ideas that can impact the flow of words and ideas)
The first half of the podcast reminded me of an old quote, "Its easy to be a communist in Paris." We think of these loft ideals and what socialism and communism should be, but its never that. It always arrives at authoritarianism and crushes the people it was built to elevate.
Communism is stateless. What the USSR and the CCP have done is state capitalism. Socialism is democratic or it isn't socialism. All these authoritarians do is besmirch the concept of workers owning the means of production.
During the cynicism is a lie section, I recall this: "The only real revolution is in the enlightenment of the mind and the improvement of character, the only real emancipation is individual, and the only real revolutionaries are philosophers and saints."
Logic is the one true God and leads a mind away from oppressors (emancipation aka “out of Egypt”) and towards enlightenment. It’s true that philosophers are the real revolutionaries (the people who make tangible progress) and that every true saint must love wisdom (aka they must be a philosopher to one degree or another). It’s also true that the true philosopher is devoted to reckoning faithfully with Logic, the one true God. Those who would call “the source of order, reasoning, knowledge and all that is logical (existing and/or rational)” nonexistent, like those who say God doesn’t exist do, are fools. “Nothing” is not a real God like Logic is and “non-existence” will be no ones salvation. Logic is the one true God and gives a very real and rational kind of salvation to all who “faithfully reckon” (honestly and properly reason) with it. Know Hashem through Hashem. Know the source of proof through the source of proof.
Thank you, I needed this perspective. My current situation is the most difficult I've ever had to deal with in my life, and I've had many obstacles to overcome. It's good to be reminded that things could be much MUCH worse for me. It certainly heaven compared to what could be.
The Moment I Saw Lex in the commie uniform absolutely lost it, never even bothered to look how far in I was, I just knew that it was an impossibility that I had reached the two-minute mark. But I definitely feel you, you know damn near instantly that this is going to be GOLD.
lex says at 48:55 -"think about it"? I know what he means. Once a General Contractor I worked for was not paying their subcontractors via legal documents and language barrier. I saw them laugh about putting a very new small business (usually a husband and wife) out of business. These were the most vulnerable people in our society. I had only worked there for about 90 days and I saw my boss and the other founder laughing over this for the last time. With zero thought, I grabbed my purse, walked in there, put my badge down on his desk and said: "nope, I will not be a part of this shit", and walked out. It was not until I reached my car did I realized the poor situation I put myself in, I needed a job! It worked out, I knew it would! I like that it was without thought that drove me to such an action with no care of the outcome. It was a gut reaction. Cool, very cool. I love Lex. Let me tell you, old person to young person: people will mistake your kindness for everything but what it is for as long as you live.
I am an enormous fan of both Lex and Michael, so I was so excited to watch this podcast. Thank-you for giving us this wonderful gift. I found the moments where Michael was struggling to talk about the experiences his Russian Jewish relatives suffered through, the emotion he was struggling to control - it tore at my heart. Long-form podcasting, its genuine, real, honest and unfiltered. Thank-you for letting us into your lives in such a personal way, I genuinely have great admiration, appreciation and respect for you both, for this. Not to mention the highly fascinating conversation between you both that I am lucky to have been able to listen to.
Michael Malice just repeated incorrect things, I hate when people just repeat propaganda when making criticisms.... there are real and valid criticisms to make but it all the same fake liberal talking points all over again. Even Makhno and Arshinov didn't talk in this way about the Bolsheviks and they were betrayed and persecuted by them. The left in the USA is just liberal crap
@@vgkstone9692 liberals aren't left leaning lol, they are the furthest right you can find. it is funny that in the USA people think those are left leaning
Love the Satire outfits. I'm sorry about your childhood Lex, glad to see that you rose above it all and have one of the most informative, deep thinking podcasts out there. I am ashamed it took me so long to watch this. My heart breaks for the both of you. I had a rough life, although no where near what you guys have had to deal with, I empathize deeply with your trauma. You guys are inspirational.
This is unequivocally the best podcast that I've ever heard. There are zero instances of the authenticity of the interaction faltering within the long form medium. Malice, with his soul aflame, burning steadfast, even & warm throughout finds its subtle counterpart in Fridman as Lex allows himself to relax his noble insistence toward reverence though etiquette - permitting us an intimate glimpse into the rich vastness of their respective inner worlds.
Few things have brought me as much joy lately as Michael malice as the MIB speaking in Lex's dull staccato intro voice. Both of you, thanks for being you
Great talk Lex and Michael! I love to see disagreements discussed mixed with laughter and a real intention of understanding each other and if possible find common ground. Would be great if we could see more of that from our world "leaders"
For some reason I ran across your post before I listened to this episode. And listening to it through the filter of your words is profoundly jarring to the core of my beliefs. I see the resurrection of Stalin's deranged thoughts, Putin's now obliterating his legacy before us all, Biden's endless entanglement with the his own lost and desperate emptiness, Kamala's insulting immaturity all contrasted with the quiet wealth of the simple logic and hope found in your words. And I think I can finally hear an original truth I've not been able to see so clearly before. Thank you.
This is my favourite episode. An incredible discussion, genuine, thoughtful and moving. You give hope to those who think they might never get the chance to be a hero. Your level of appreciation for our gift of Life is Essential. Sharing it with, and motivating others (myself included) is what makes you heroic. Bless.
Just know that the chemical proportions listed are incorrect in a way not conducive to life requiring an intact body and limbs. On purpose. This was confirmed by a chemist friend of mine. I suspect this was done be certain agencies that don’t require imagination.
@@AwfulWaffle8474- I was inclined to think that same way prior to watching this interview. However…Was there anything about Michael Malice, besides his tongue and check name, that gave you the impression he is inclined toward violence to further his preferred system of governance? I’ll admit I’m extremely surprised that I agree with him on many points, especially since I have a very right wing streak. If I had to boil my political philosophy down to one line or two it would be simply ‘My burning desire to be left alone and my deep resolve to archive it peacefully if possible or by force if no other option exists.’ It’s really simple and I don’t think it’s asking much. It’s freedom from busy bodies. It’s something I’d die for. People just need to get out of each other’s business and stop trying to nanny every aspect of life. Mind your own Beezwax. That’s excellent policy. I liked hearing what both of these men had to say and I find their willingness to discuss such things in a pleasant way very refreshing.
I always thought Michael Malice was a psycho, only because he's an anarchist, but when I saw him cry I saw him through a different lens. A human lens. What an outstanding and beautiful human.
When Malice cried, I cried. That was one of the rawest podcast moments I've ever seen. This interview should be mandatory viewing in every high school classroom.
Absolutely love this episode. Michael seems to be approaching evil in much the way that I myself do, and is often seen as hyperbolic by the average person I interact with. Which is this absolute horror and deep caring about the way people behave. At one point when he talks about the truly dangerous people being those people who are utterly incompetent but due to whatever power structure have the ability to twist a knife, this is something I have been horrified at in my own life, in the way that the most useless unvirtuous people will take pleasure in some minor evil which when their pathology is scaled up would cause unimaginable suffering. I have described this horror I feel at the average man's capability for such evil to my friends as "seeing mini Hitlers everywhere". It is lovely to see these ideas articulated by someone else. The idea he further goes on to talk about by doing little acts of good is one that I have tried and further seek to implement in my own life as I am deeply concerned that my somewhat narcissistic and othered thinking outlined above is somewhat evil in of itself, let alone its impact upon behaviour given the right circumstances. It is amazing to see others who care so obviously deeply about ethics like this, thank you.
