Joe Rogan Experience #2553 - Andrew Hubermsan

What happened in this episode?

Joe Rogan speaks with neuroscientist and health communicator Andrew Huberman about psychiatric drugs, psychedelic-assisted therapy, stress regulation, and emerging medical technologies. Huberman discusses the stalled US regulatory pathway for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, saying the latest push failed over placebo-control concerns and allegations of sexual impropriety by one or two therapists involved in administration; he argues future approval would require tighter safeguards given patient vulnerability during dosing.

They also examine ibogaine treatment programmes, with Huberman saying he is aware of two deaths connected to clinics and suggesting prior fentanyl use may have been a factor, while stressing that adverse events must be addressed if treatments are to be legalised. In a personal account, Huberman says his friend and Stanford colleague Nolan Williams—known for work accelerating transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression and involved in ibogaine studies—died by suicide, which he frames as evidence that expertise and achievement do not necessarily protect against mental-health crises.

The conversation shifts to medicine and technology: Huberman describes observing an awake brain-tumour surgery by UCSF neurosurgeon Eddie Chang and explains how machine learning is being used to decode speech intention in paralysed patients. Rogan and Huberman also discuss whole-body MRI screening, with Huberman describing backlash from neurosurgical circles and defending patient choice amid concerns about overdiagnosis. The episode touches on patient safety and cites a widely repeated estimate that medical error may be associated with about 251,000 deaths a year in the US, alongside broader discussion of addiction vulnerability, learning and neuroplasticity, and the role of “hard things” such as training and cold exposure in stress resilience.

What are the key points?

• Huberman says recent FDA progress on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy stalled over placebo concerns and alleged therapist misconduct.
• He says he is aware of two deaths linked to ibogaine clinics and suggests prior fentanyl use may have contributed.
• Huberman states that Stanford psychiatrist Nolan Williams died by suicide and argues knowledge alone does not protect against crisis.
• He describes attending an awake craniotomy by UCSF neurosurgeon Eddie Chang and says the surgery was filmed with patient consent.
• Huberman says he was criticised by neurosurgeons after promoting whole-body MRI scans as a tool as costs fall.
• The episode cites a widely repeated estimate that medical error may be associated with roughly 251,000 US deaths annually.

Who is speaking?

Named speakers identified in Egleze's source-linked moments from this episode.

• Andrew Huberman

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

Joe Rogan Experience

Published

14 September 2026

Duration

2h 39m

Original episode

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