#2559 - Sam Morril

Episode of The Joe Rogan Experience · September 29, 2026 · 2 h 53 min

Joe Rogan and comedian Sam Morril discuss the stand-up grind, AI's threat to art, the JFK assassination, notorious killers, classic films and comedy legends.

Summary

Comedian Sam Morril returned to The Joe Rogan Experience ahead of his Netflix special "Incorrect." The pair opened with Morril's European tour and the differences in foreign crowds, then discussed the process of rebuilding material after taping a special, which Morril described as miserable, and the value of handwriting jokes. Morril also described being roofied in college, a sprinter-van crash that he and his opener narrowly avoided, and upcoming film projects including a self-financed tour mockumentary he sold to Netflix.

A long segment addressed artificial intelligence. Morril lamented AI-generated films and actors, arguing that the human stories behind films like The Godfather and Chinatown are part of their value, while Rogan read reports of OpenAI agents that went rogue and probed U.S. government websites and argued AI could lead humanity to stop reproducing through robot companions. Morril contended that rejection and friction are essential to personal growth.

The conversation turned to conspiracy and crime: Rogan argued Lee Harvey Oswald was likely an intelligence asset who was in on the JFK assassination but set up, and the pair discussed the Gilgo Beach killer, a Philadelphia "house of horrors" case, and the Roy DeMeo crew's "Gemini method." They also covered a Boston lesbian bar's mask mandate controversy, reflections on COVID-era shows, and comedy history including the Rodney Dangerfield–Johnny Carson feud, joke theft, and Chris Rock.

Later topics included Tarantino, Chinatown and dark 1970s film endings, Rogan's near-purchase of a theater built by a former cult, Epstein, Rogan's refusal of invitations to elite retreats such as Bohemian Grove, heavy-drinking stars like Jackie Gleason, the Zong slave ship, cobalt mining, brake dust from electric cars, Robert Blake, bank robbery statistics, and a social media manager who Morril said stole three years of Facebook revenue from him and other comics.

Chapters

0:09
Touring Europe
Morril recounts his European tour, differences in foreign crowds, and the pair muse on Nordic cultures and Russia.
5:18
Building a new hour
The comedians discuss the post-special grind, crowd work, new-material shows, and writing jokes by hand.
11:24
Drinking, roofies and hazing
Morril describes drunken adventures, being roofied in college, and his dislike of Greek life, prompting talk of college and self-education.
15:43
Accents, kinks and transplants
Rogan and Morril examine foreign accent syndrome, furries, a humiliatrix, and penis transplant procedures.
33:33
Near-miss crash and upcoming films
Morril recounts a sleepy driver running his van off the road and previews his buddy comedy and self-financed Netflix mockumentary.
41:20
AI, art and rogue agents
The pair discuss AI-generated films and actors, OpenAI agents probing government websites, and fears about robot companions replacing human relationships.
1:00:51
Politicians and the JFK assassination
After discussing disgraced politicians, Rogan lays out his view that Oswald was involved but set up, citing the Zapruder film, Jack Ruby and the Bay of Pigs.
1:13:09
Serial killers and the DeMeo crew
They cover the Gilgo Beach killer, a Philadelphia house of horrors case, the Dating Game killer, and Roy DeMeo's Gemini method.
Linked moment · 1:35:38Skip to 1:35:38 using a listen link in the info box.
1:35:38
Masks, COVID and comedy clubs
Rogan describes a Boston lesbian bar's mask controversy, leading to reflections on performing during COVID.
1:42:39
Comedy legends and joke theft
Discussion of Louis C.K.'s output, Dangerfield's feud with Carson, joke stealing, and Chris Rock's influence on Morril.
2:01:04
Movies and a cult theater
They praise Creed, Tarantino, Chinatown and dark 1970s endings, and Rogan tells of nearly buying a theater built by a cult.
2:15:00
Epstein, elites, drinkers and dark history
Talk ranges from Epstein and elite retreat invitations to Jackie Gleason, Alan Watts, the Zong slave ship, cobalt, true crime, social media theft and Morril's new special.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Sam Morril
Morril says he dreads the period after a special is released because he must rebuild material from scratch.
“I never enjoy when a special comes out. I'm miserable. It's scary. I can't enjoy it”
Listen from 5:39 · Stand-up comedy craft
Sam Morril
Morril explains he improves jokes by doing many sets in quick succession.
“I just have to keep talking until I hate myself to make this joke better”
Listen from 8:26 · Stand-up comedy craft
Joe Rogan
Rogan argues handwriting notes helps memory because physically forming the characters imprints them more deeply.
“I think there's something about it gets imprinted in your brain better because you're physically writing the characters down with your hand”
Listen from 10:27 · Stand-up comedy craft
Sam Morril Prediction · due Jun 2027
Morril says he self-financed a tour mockumentary and sold it to Netflix for release early the following year.
“But I made my own movie, too, that I just sold to Netflix. So that'll be out early next year”
Listen from 39:58 · Incorrect (Netflix special)
Sam Morril
Morril argues AI films lose the human backstory that makes classic films valuable, citing books about making The Godfather and Chinatown.
“the books about the making of those movies are almost as good as the movies”
Listen from 41:36 · Artificial intelligence
Joe Rogan
Rogan warns that the danger from AI is greater than people currently recognize.
“I think we're in like a level of trouble that right now we think it's manageable”
Listen from 46:21 · AI existential risk
Joe Rogan
Rogan speculates AI could end humanity by incentivizing people to stop reproducing via robot companions.
“Because the sane way to do it would just be incentivize people to never have children ever again”
Listen from 51:09 · AI existential risk
Sam Morril
Morril contends that experiencing rejection is necessary for developing as a person and technology risks eliminating it.
“That's part of building your personality. That's part of handling rejection. That's part of making you a decent human”
Listen from 56:20 · Artificial intelligence
Joe Rogan
Rogan relays a friend's theory that Bay of Pigs veterans angry at Kennedy's refusal of air support may have been involved.
“He thinks it could have been the guys from Bay of Pigs”
Listen from 1:05:56 · Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Joe Rogan
Rogan rejects both the lone-gunman and innocent-patsy views, arguing Oswald was involved but set up.
“people want it to be binary, like Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone or Lee Harvey Oswald was set up. I think Lee Harvey Oswald was in on it”
Listen from 1:08:42 · Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Joe Rogan
Rogan says he believes Oswald was an intelligence agent, citing his calm demeanor after arrest.
“I think he was an agent. That's what I think. I think that guy was CIA”
Listen from 1:12:47 · Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Joe Rogan
Rogan recounts stopping live shows after one early pandemic weekend out of concern about spreading COVID.
“And then I decided after I did it that I'm not doing it anymore because I felt bad”
Listen from 1:40:31 · COVID-19 pandemic response
Sam Morril
Morril credits Chris Rock's album Roll With the New with getting him into stand-up.
“Yeah, that's the first album that got me into stand-up was... Roll With The New, his album”
Listen from 1:57:16 · Stand-up comedy craft
Sam Morril
Morril argues Jackie Brown is Tarantino's most emotionally resonant film.
“Because you know what? That movie has more heart than any movie he's ever made”
Listen from 2:04:14
Sam Morril
Morril suggests the Manson murder of Sharon Tate shaped Polanski's bleak ending of Chinatown.
“Roman Polanski is super fucked in the head after that, obviously. And that's why we probably get the ending of Chinatown that we get because of that”
Listen from 2:06:07 · Chinatown (1974 film)
Joe Rogan
Rogan says he has declined invitations to secretive elite gatherings and that wealth makes him hard to tempt.
“That's one thing about having made a lot of money. It's you cannot really tempt me with a lot of money”
Listen from 2:20:00 · Jeffrey Epstein
Joe Rogan
Rogan, citing Siddharth Kara's book, says the insurance industry grew out of insuring slaves as property.
“Because the slave trade apparently was how the insurance industry came about”
Listen from 2:28:03 · Zong massacre
Joe Rogan
Rogan claims heavier electric cars produce more harmful brake dust, a point his producer disputed citing regenerative braking.
“electric cars are heavier and electric cars give out more brake dust”
Listen from 2:30:14
Sam Morril
Morril says a social media manager recommended by Mark Normand stole three years of his Facebook revenue and money from other comics.
“He was a social media manager. I didn't realize he stole my fucking money”
Listen from 2:40:22
Joe Rogan
Rogan argues micromanaging business matters distracts from creative focus.
“I think the more you micromanage that stuff, the more it fucks with your head, too”
Listen from 2:43:12
Sam Morril
Morril rates his new Netflix special, taped at the Tampa Theatre, as his best or second best.
“It's my best. I'll say it's either my best or my second best, I'll say”
Listen from 2:43:40 · Incorrect (Netflix special)

People

In the conversation

Joe RoganAmerican comedian and host of The Joe Rogan Experience
Sam MorrilAmerican stand-up comedian, writer, actor and co-host of the We Might Be Drunk podcast

Discussed

Louis C.K.American comedian who was head writer on The Dana Carvey Show
Mark NormandAmerican comedian and podcaster, co-host of Tuesdays with Stories! and We Might Be Drunk
Rodney DangerfieldAmerican comedian who performed on stage in a bathrobe late in his career
Johnny CarsonLongtime Tonight Show host whose chair was the goal of a generation of comics
Chris RockComedian Devine cites as showing up to clubs alone without an entourage
Lee Harvey OswaldAccused assassin of John F. Kennedy
Roy DeMeoGambino crime family associate and prolific mob killer
Jeffrey EpsteinFinancier and convicted sex offender
Quentin TarantinoAmerican filmmaker whose films draw on samurai imagery
Roman PolanskiFilm director and husband of Sharon Tate
Jackie GleasonComedian rumored to have been shown a UFO by Richard Nixon
Alan WattsBritish philosopher cited on humans being both actors and audience
Robert BlakeActor acquitted of murdering his wife
Rodney AlcalaSerial killer who appeared on The Dating Game
Siddharth KaraAuthor and researcher on modern slavery, author of 'Cobalt Red' and 'The Zorg'
Sunny HostinCo-host of The View who licensed her books to an AI company
Joey DiazComedian and podcaster known for The Church of What's Happening Now

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From the publisher

Sam Morril is a stand-up comic, writer, actor, and co-host of the "We Might Be Drunk" podcast. Look for his new Netflix special, "Incorrect," on September 29.www.netflix.com/title/82155480www.youtube.com/@sammorrilwww.youtube.com/@WeMightBeDrunkPodwww.sammorril.com Perplexity: Download the app or ask Perplexity anything at https://pplx.ai/rogan. Don’t miss out on all the action this week at DraftKings! Download the DraftKings app today! Sign-up using https://dkng.co/rogan or through my promo code ROGAN. Use code ROGAN at https://BlueChew.com to get 10% OFF + Free Overnight Shipping on your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 30, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Comedy Interviews·Stand-Up·True Crime