During episode #2508 of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan sat down with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, and the conversation eventually turned to birth control, where Rogan offered a mix of historical reflection and personal concern about hormonal contraception.
Reflecting on the s3xual revolution of the 1970s, Rogan pointed to how dramatically the birth control pill changed reproductive risk. “Because before, you know, women were in a situation where every time they had s3x, they could get pregnant,” he said.
He then shifted into cautionary territory, arguing that long-term hormonal contraception may have bigger effects than commonly acknowledged.
“But then you’ve got this pill that’s messing with their hormones that we found out now that women that have been on it for long periods of time, they make poor choices in terms of mates and it does a lot of weird stuff. I mean, we’re learning a lot of weird stuff,” he said.
Rogan also referenced a personal tragedy involving a teenager who passed away after combining birth control with smoking. He raised the case of a friend’s daughter, just 17 years old, who passed away after combining the pill with cigarettes.
Information pulled up during the episode confirmed what Rogan was circling: “Smoking while taking oral contraceptives that contain estrogen significantly increases the risk of severe cardiovascular events like heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. The risk is particularly high for women over 35.”
The discussion did not remain limited to health risks. Rogan also spoke about religion and its social function, particularly Christianity. Responding to Eszterhas’ own conversion story, he said, “If you live your life by the teachings of Jesus Christ, you will be a better person,” adding, “It is a great framework to live your life.”
He expanded on this idea by describing his observations of church communities.
“I always talk about the parking lot of church is like the best place on earth because, you know, everybody lets you go. Everybody lets everybody go in front of them. Everyone’s kind. It works. That’s what’s crazy. Like the teachings of Jesus do work. Like if you follow them, you will be a better person,” he said.
