Michael Malice: Totalitarianism and Anarchy | Lex Fridman Podcast  

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="0">0:00</a> - 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 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="32">0:32</a> - Animal Farm <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="214">3:34</a> - Emma Goldman <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="399">6:39</a> - Albert Camus <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="489">8:09</a> - How to be a hero in Nazi Germany <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="915">15:15</a> - Camus on Existentialism vs Nihilism <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1277">21:17</a> - Cynicism is a lie <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1584">26:24</a> - Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2803">46:43</a> - Lex and Michael argue: can most people think on their own? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3501">58:21</a> - How Lex and Michael use Twitter <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="67">1:07</a>:43 - Life is beautiful <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="70">1:10</a>:46 - Returning to Ukraine <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="72">1:12</a>:39 - Michael is now an underwear model <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="76">1:16</a>:45 - The Anarchist Handbook <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="78">1:18</a>:32 - Tolstoy was an anarchist <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="91">1:31</a>:14 - Anarchy debate between Lex and Michael <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="120">2:00</a>:22 - Why Michael doesn't vote <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="137">2:17</a>:37 - Austin and New York <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="146">2:26</a>:13 - Alex Jones

This is the best podcast intro ever.

I feel like I finally watched enough of Lex's podcasts that I unlocked new skins...

Lex and malice still make one of the best shows I've ever seen. Stay healthy, we need more like yall.

25 min in and I've only been listening to this. When I sat down and looked at the screen and seen their outfits I cracked up with a giddy happiness. Such deep conversation paired with the silliness of these two men is fantastic. And I'm not trying to cast disparaging comments on their heritage in that statement. Being deep, silly, and honoring their heritage was done quite brilliantly. Love it, love these two.

Michael's impression captures Lex's inflection so well, yet overall it's so distinctly Michael.

Lex: “It was a joke” Michael: “It was a failure” Lex: “There is no triumph without failure” Love you guys

These two gentlemen had one of the best conversations I have ever seen or heard. I like to try and hold any comments until the very end during either of these guys talks so I can really focus and think about what they are actually saying and let it sink in. I am now watching this for the third time in it’s entirety and just blown away with these two.

I love Lex’s ability to let things sit and be quiet without inserting courtesies mindlessly. Let the moment play out.

The beginning is fucking the best thing that ever has happened.

Michael: *crying* Lex: "You appear to have sprung a leak, here is an absorbent square of paper"

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 ❤️🙏

Most powerful thing I’ve seen in many years. Gilbert Allardyce, my 1st year history prof in 1968, brought me to the same mental and emotional place. I’ve been a student of history ever since. I’m 78 now, and have viewed the world through the same lens ever since. I’ve been accused of being callous, hard nosed, etc. But the fact is, through years of ups and downs, I’ve never come anywhere near the horrors others have endured. Arendt’s “Origins of Totalitarianism “ made it clear to me how fragile our cushy lives actually are. I see clearly how my country (🇨🇦) is careening into authoritarianism but I have no power to change it’s course. Malice offers the solace of small, personal acts of kindness and humanity. Lines like “…til human voices wake us and we drown”, and “slouching toward Bethlehem “ are more and more meaningful. Meanwhile, spring is on its way, and I consider it my duty to savour each moment.

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!

My ears are burning 💜 Big love boys x

Seeing Malice break down caught me completely off guard. He is always so happy.

The moment when Michael asks if he can swear and Lex goes, "Fuck Yes", is podcasting gold. Wow.

Michael: “can I curse?” Lex: “fuck yes.”

And I thought the outfit, where Michael was inversed Lex with white suite, couldn't be trumped xD

There is only one word that I can use to describe this excellent interview. “Grounding” 🤝

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!

Michael doing the intro.... I can already tell I'm going to enjoy this one.

“The fuckin robot made me cry.” I legitimately laughed out loud and scared my dog 😂😂

What a beautiful, inspiring conversation. Tears in my eyes and a smile on my face throughout. 💕

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!

“The robot made me cry.” Classic….

"...wtf the robot is the one that makes me cry" Couldn't contain myself with that one😂😂😂

One of the more amazing discussions I have seen between people of this age, possibly ever.

You two were made for each other. I love this.

I'm watching almost everything from Michael Malice lately.

"I've been walking around the house working on my lex impression. I've been leaking motor oil everywhere" lol!

Wish I could finish this... Lex has his moments that are special.

This is how you know Michael malice is a real human being. Love you bro. Powerful message!

I wish Lex to wear a full adidas tracksuit to his podcast.

Michael’s impression of Lex was perfect with the exception of one thing: He did not mention love once in the introduction.

Thank you for this very special conversation between friends-exchanging ideas and life. 🙏❤️

This entire conversation describes and explores my childhood experience. The banality of evil is so very very real.

That intro is too good!! “Michael is an Author, AnnaCast and simpleton.” -

I love Lex. He always looks like a robot trying to learn how to feel emotions. And those uniforms are crack up!

Lex is not a robot. He's a slow-moving monolith that is so good and making his guests look inward before asking the big questions. Awesome show. A poem for Michael. {Let Goodness Rein} I breathe in the good like my life-force depends on it In a world covered in concrete and hate Good is like a defiant flower rising from the cracks of our many prisons The eye is cut by a world full of right angles Nature is not natural And love is built on a series of well thought out conditions Each new acquaintance is critiqued beyond acceptability and promptly publicly berated for our pride’s personal amusement The echo of our anger is a language in song That only the ‘One True Choir’ can understand Every space is concurred by the socially righteous Policed and purified in their own image Where good is a clever insult or Good is our neighbor’s suffering because the empty soul cries out for their pain Good is the destruction of the things we hate Even if we only hate them because we hated ourselves first In a world searching for the meaning of pain Not Life Good is the spaces between the raindrops that are easily forgotten L E Crane

Your exchange is what's been missing in my life. I've known this depth before, and lost it. Thanks for giving it back to me again.

Thumbnail made me spit out my drink. First few second had me rolling, this is going to be a great one. Thanks for this gem guys.

This is like dunccan trussell on joe rogan.

I know very little about Michael, but his humanity shone through here. Well worth the time to watch (as always)..

this is such a fantastic dynamic, I absolutely love you two bantering

I laughed,... when Michael laughed. I cried,.. when Michael cried. And I empathised with Lex,... when he did neither. .

Lex really pulls off the uniform, great look on him. Michael looks like a a supervillain in a bond movie.

Woooooooooow. Wonderful honorable podcast. Thank you.

Watched this podcast after seeing several other Lex/Michael conversations and I will be forever grateful to them both for my newfound education of totalitarianism and communism, and for the empathy and understanding I've gained as a result of their honesty and love. Thankyou.

Michael being so emotional on WW2 theme and his family on that time got me too. Thanks for honesty.

Any podcast with Lex and Michael is one I 100% want to listen to

I will never tire of this episode. Best opening ever.

This was so fantastic. Thank you.

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.

This is the greatest thing I've ever seen. I love both Michael Fridman and Lex Malice.

Great show. Two champions of conversation that matters.

Thank you both for your honesty.Lex I find your conversations well worth the time and attention they require.

This was probably the best podcast I've seen in a very long time.

Profound. I was feeling a little depressed but hearing malice talk about how he hates cynicism and there's hope ,made my day a lil brighter

Best podcasts ever? At least in the top ten. God bless.

This is an amazing episode,thank you Lex and Michael.

"He is one of my closest friends; we've never met." As someone who grew up on the forums this statement hit so hard.

Malice: "Can I curse?" Fridman: "... Fuck yes"

Haven't watched this one in awhile. Its one of those you learn something new each time

So many great things to learn with these podcasts

You two always have the most human conversations and that’s why I love them.

Lex: that was a joke michael Michael: it was a failed joke lmaoooo

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 love watching the episodes with michael back to back, you guys rock together

From a guy who rarely laughs, that intro fuckin’ got me 😂

Thank you Michael and Lex, for "soldiering" through some pretty tough moments in this podcast. It had depth, beauty, meaning, eternity.

One of the best interviews. Love you both.

I love how playful you two are. It's obvious you are both having fun which makes it fun to listen to. Thank you!

Oh jesus, the first 5 seconds and I'm dying of laughter.

"the fucking robot is the one that gets me to cry wtf is going on" thats exactly how i felt at the end of terminator 2 when i was 10 years old.

Awesome conversation - happy, sad, informative, inspiring!! ❤❤

Thank you both - always incredibly thought provoking! Sending appreciation, admiration, peace and love. ☮🥰

Had to pause 15 seconds into this just to regain my composure

Maybe it's just me but seeing Malice in tears talking about his grandma makes his words freakin' sobering.

THIS is why some of these interviews have to be watched not just listened to

I pass up every intro of lex's but I'm glad I seen this one.

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.

“Thank God, this isn’t your life.” - Michael. That would be a great name for a book on totalitarianism.

thank you so much for this conversation it gives real hope

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. 🙏

I've learned so much from Michael Malice. He's keeping white pilled.

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. 🙏

I love your conversations/podcasts. Stay safe.

This episode looks like young Lex Friedman interviewing old future Lex Friedman

I've never seen Michael this emotional. This was raw.

37 minutes in and this is not the podcast I expected. This is incredible on another level. Thank you guys

That was a spot on impression at the beginning. Deserved more recognition

Camus’ The Plague is one of my favorite books of all time. Dark, but utterly uplifting and inspiring as the story unfolds.

“It is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners” <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="438">7:18</a> Wow.

This started out funny, then it got sad. Talk about emotional whiplash.

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

Lovely conversation. So invigorating. Great cap off with the Kerouac quote.

Gotta admit, Michael is definitely one of my favorite of the repeat guests. Intro was spot on 😭

This was easily the most intellectually stimulating, as well as entertaining, interviews I’ve listened to in long, long time. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

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.