On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan sat down with reproductive epidemiologist Dr. Shanna Swan to discuss endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their potential impact on human health.
During the conversation, the discussion turned to glyphosate, government regulation, and Rogan’s previous conversations with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about efforts to restrict the herbicide.
Rogan introduced the topic by drawing a parallel between the difficulty of eliminating plastic-related chemicals and the ongoing debate over glyphosate in modern agriculture.
“So like, you’re aware of glyphosate, I’m sure,” he said, shifting the conversation toward farming practices. He argued that attempts to remove the chemical from large-scale agriculture have faced significant resistance because of how widely it is used.
“They were trying to eliminate glyphosate from industrial agriculture,” Rogan said. “But the president passed an executive order blocking it because some enormous percent, 90-something percent, of our food production relies on glyphosate.”
He framed the issue as a difficult trade-off between food production efficiency and potential health risks.
“So the idea is we need poison so that we can make food, which is so crazy,” he said. Rogan also pointed out that other countries have explored different agricultural approaches. “All these other countries don’t use glyphosate and feed their population. So how are they doing it, and what do we need to do to get back on that track?”
Rogan then referenced his previous interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., noting that the topic had been a major concern during their discussions.
“I had RFK Jr. in here to discuss it,” he said. According to Rogan, Kennedy had been deeply frustrated by regulatory setbacks. “He was very crestfallen when he was explaining that there was an executive order passed and that he was working very hard to try to eliminate glyphosate.”
Rogan reiterated Kennedy’s stance on the chemical, describing it as a central issue in their earlier conversations.
“Glyphosate is toxic. It’s terrible. It’s completely awful for your body,” he said, summarizing the concerns that had been raised. Despite those concerns, he emphasized that the herbicide remains widely used across industrial farming.
On a lesser-known application of glyphosate, Rogan discussed how it can be used after harvest rather than strictly as a weed killer.
“Especially when it comes to things like wheat, they’re using it after they harvest the wheat to dry it out quicker so it doesn’t grow mold,” he said. “That’s why they’re using glyphosate. It’s not even as a pesticide, it’s being used as a desiccator.”
He added that some observers have speculated about possible links between agricultural practices and dietary sensitivities.
“That’s why so many people theorize it is why so many people in this country have a problem with bread,” he said, referencing a commonly discussed but debated hypothesis.
Rogan also touched on emerging alternatives to chemical herbicides, including new technologies designed to control weeds without traditional pesticides. However, he emphasized that cost remains a major barrier for farmers already operating on tight margins.
“They have some non-toxic solutions,” he said. “One of them is this new device, machines that go over the crops and zap all the non-essential plants with a laser beam.”
Even so, he suggested that widespread adoption may be difficult.
“Farmers are already barely making money,” Rogan said. “So if you now require them to spend a huge amount of money on some gigantic weed-zapping laser that has to cover who knows how many acres, that’s a big ask.”
Toward the end of the segment, Rogan discussed the relationship between industry influence and government regulation. He expressed concern that economic interests can sometimes outweigh public health considerations.
“It seems like industry controls the federal government more than the health and safety concerns of the people,” he said. “That’s very disturbing, but not too surprising when you consider a lot of the other things that are allowed in this country that aren’t allowed in other countries.”
