Joe Rogan is known for diving deep into intense conversations on his podcast. And this time, Gaza was on his mind. The narrow strip of land lies between Israel and the Mediterranean Sea and shares a small border with Egypt on its southern side. And during an intense discussion with conservationist Paul Rosolie, Rogan’s usual humor gave way to somber reflection.

The podcast host, a master of pulling listeners into deep and often unsettling conversations, was left awestruck at the resilience of people living in war zones. For most, it’s unthinkable. But for the people of Gaza, it’s a terrifying reality they’ve had to adapt to and the weight of it was unmistakable during Rogan and Rosolie’s conversation.

Joe Rogan left questioning humanity’s resilience as he reflected on Gaza’s current situation  

During the JRE episode no. 2209 with Paul Rosolie, Joe Rogan’s words took on a sobering tone, reflecting the brutal reality faced by those in conflict-torn regions. Rosolie started off the discussion by stating, “I don’t know how people live continuously in areas where there’s warzones. Like I know my friend Matt Gutman from ABC News, like he works there and I’ve seen him running through the streets and doing that hard-hitting stuff but there’s also just people getting their groceries. And they’re like yeah man this happens every day”

The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) quickly responded with air strikes and ground operations in Gaza. Since then, over two million Gazans, a staggering 85% of the population, have fled their homes, leaving behind a shattered landscape.

With the conflict now extending to a year, Rogan stated, “Human beings are very adaptable unfortunately. Well, fortunately because that’s why we’re still here but unfortunately we get accustomed to some pretty horrific conditions and that’s what people are accustomed to.”

For the UFC color commentator and podcaster, Gaza serves as a stark example of this human adaptability. He further stated, “…imagine living in Gaza, imagine you were living in a place where literally a year ago today, it was fine, it was normal. And then now it’s rubble and there’s tens of thousands of people dead.”

Humans can get used to almost anything, even living in the shadow of war. But should they have to? Rogan’s conversation with Rosolie is a grounding reminder of the reality that some people live with unimaginable trauma as their daily backdrop. In a previous episode of the JRE, Joe Rogan also talked about what it’s like to be ‘sheltered’ from such harsh realities.

Rogan addresses the reality of being detached from the “world” of conflict 

On the JRE episode no. 2046, Joe Rogan and his guest, Brian Redban talked about the Israel and Palestine conflict. Despite sitting thousands of miles away from the heart of the conflict, Rogan acknowledged a harsh truth: privilege.

The host of the JRE shared, “…we just don’t think about that world because we’re not in that world, we’re comedians, so we’re hanging out at the comedy club. We’re doing podcasts. That’s our world…” As he put it, he and Redban are comedians. Their world revolves around laughter and lighthearted banter, far from the devastation that others face daily. But the contrast didn’t sit well with Rogan. His self-awareness cuts through the conversation as he admitted that most people, himself included, don’t think about these conflicts until they hit the headlines.

It’s only when the news filters in, and the death toll climbs, that reality starts to sink in. And for Rogan, it’s terrifying. “…it scares the sh*t out of me,” he confessed, noting that the ongoing violence is enough to make anyone question the fragility of peace.

As such, Rogan’s recent conversation with Paul Rosolie brought this into sharp focus. While their reflections on the Gaza conflict painted a vivid picture of human resilience amidst devastation, yet, the contrast between our world of comfort and Gaza’s harsh reality lingers.