Episode 1846: Andrew Schulz

Overview

In episode 1846, Joe Rogan and comedian Andrew Schulz discuss and enthusiastically praise Matt Walsh’s controversial documentary “What Is a Woman?” The uncritical promotion of this widely-criticized anti-trans film to Rogan’s massive audience represents a significant platform for harmful rhetoric during a period of intensifying attacks on transgender rights in the United States.

The Problem: Promoting Anti-Trans Documentary

Matt Walsh’s “What Is a Woman?”

Released by The Daily Wire on June 1, 2022—deliberately timed to coincide with the start of Pride Month—“What Is a Woman?” is a documentary that has been widely characterized as anti-trans and transphobic by LGBTQ advocacy organizations and mainstream media outlets.

According to NBC News, the documentary used deceptive recruitment practices:

“Three people who appeared in the viral documentary ‘What Is a Woman?’ told NBC News that the producers misrepresented how it would portray transgender topics.”

The Advocate reported that Walsh created a fake organization called the “Gender Unity Project” to lure transgender activists into participating in the film under false pretenses. Transgender activist Eli Erlick and public figures Kataluna Enriquez and Fallon Fox all corroborated accounts of being deceived about the film’s true nature.

Rogan’s Uncritical Endorsement

During the episode, Rogan praised Walsh’s approach, saying according to Sportskeeda:

“All he’s doing with these people is asking questions. He’s not making assumptions, he’s not being confrontational.”

This framing is misleading. Walsh’s “just asking questions” approach is a common rhetorical tactic used to spread misinformation while maintaining plausible deniability. The documentary doesn’t genuinely seek understanding—it was explicitly created, in Walsh’s own words, “in opposition to gender ideology.”

Why This Matters

Timing and Context

This episode aired in July 2022, during a year that saw:

• Record numbers of anti-trans bills introduced in state legislatures
• Increasing violence and harassment against transgender people
• Coordinated attacks on gender-affirming healthcare for youth
• Rising suicide rates among transgender adolescents facing discrimination

By platforming and praising anti-trans content during this vulnerable moment, Rogan contributed to a hostile cultural environment for an already marginalized community.

The Scale of Rogan’s Platform

The Joe Rogan Experience reaches tens of millions of listeners. When Rogan endorses content like “What Is a Woman?” without critical examination, he:

1. Legitimizes anti-trans rhetoric to audiences who may not be familiar with transgender issues
2. Amplifies harmful narratives that contribute to discrimination and violence
3. Provides cover for bad-faith actors like Matt Walsh who use “civility” as camouflage for bigotry

Real-World Harm

Research consistently shows that negative media portrayals and political rhetoric contribute to:

• Increased discrimination and violence against transgender people
• Higher rates of mental health crises and suicide attempts
• Reduced access to healthcare and legal protections
• Family rejection and homelessness among transgender youth

According to the Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, with transgender and nonbinary youth at highest risk.

Expert Perspectives

Medical Consensus on Gender-Affirming Care

Major medical organizations support gender-affirming care for transgender youth, contrary to the narrative promoted in “What Is a Woman?”:

• American Academy of Pediatrics: Supports gender-affirming care as evidence-based and medically necessary
• American Medical Association: Opposes legislation restricting access to gender-affirming care
• Endocrine Society: Published clinical practice guidelines for transgender healthcare
• American Psychiatric Association: Recognizes that being transgender is not a mental disorder

Deceptive “Just Asking Questions” Rhetoric

Dr. Jules Gill-Peterson, associate professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and author of “Histories of the Transgender Child,” has written about the harm of bad-faith “gender critical” rhetoric:

“The ‘just asking questions’ framing creates a false equivalence between scientific consensus and political attacks. It’s designed to make discrimination seem reasonable.”

Conclusion

Episode 1846 represents a failure of journalistic responsibility. By uncritically promoting Matt Walsh’s deceptive anti-trans documentary, Rogan provided a massive platform for harmful rhetoric during a critical moment for transgender rights in America.

The “just asking questions” defense doesn’t hold water when the documentary in question:

• Used deceptive practices to interview subjects
• Was explicitly created to oppose transgender rights
• Contradicts established medical consensus
• Contributes to a climate of discrimination and violence

Rogan’s audience deserved better than an uncritical endorsement of anti-trans propaganda disguised as documentary filmmaking.

Sources

• NBC News: “‘What is a Woman?’: 3 say they were tricked into participating”
• The Advocate: “Three Who Were in Matt Walsh’s Anti-Trans Film Say They Were Deceived”
• Rolling Stone: “What Is a Woman?: Transphobic Doc Promoting on Social Media”
• The Trevor Project: 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Policy Statement on Transgender Youth