Episode 1926: Matt McCusker & Shane Gillis

Climate Misinformation from Comedians

While Joe Rogan’s conversations with comedians are often lighthearted entertainment, episode 1926 with Matt McCusker and Shane Gillis ventured into problematic territory when discussing climate science. The episode, which aired January 14, 2023, featured these stand-up comedians and co-hosts of “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” in what should have been a harmless comedy conversation, but instead included the spread of demonstrably false information about climate change.

The Volcano CO2 Myth

During the episode, a claim was made that volcanoes release “more CO2 than everything human beings have ever done.” This statement is not just slightly inaccurate—it’s wrong by a factor of approximately 100.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), NASA, and NOAA:

• Human CO2 emissions: More than 35 billion metric tons per year (reaching 40 billion in recent years)
• Volcanic CO2 emissions: Approximately 0.3-0.4 billion metric tons per year

As USGS scientist Terry Gerlach has documented, human carbon dioxide emissions are more than 90 times greater than global volcanic carbon dioxide emissions. To put this in perspective, humans emit as much CO2 in just 2-5 days as all the world’s volcanoes emit in an entire year.

This volcanic CO2 myth is a well-known piece of climate misinformation that has been repeatedly debunked by climate scientists. When comedians repeat such claims on platforms reaching millions, it undermines public understanding of the climate crisis.

Comedy Doesn’t Excuse Misinformation

While Shane Gillis has found mainstream success with his 2023 Netflix special “Beautiful Dogs,” and both guests are professional comedians rather than scientists or policy experts, the casual spreading of climate misinformation to Rogan’s massive audience has real consequences. Climate change is not a matter of opinion or comedy—it’s a scientific reality with serious implications for humanity’s future.

The episode also included:

• Unsubstantiated conspiracy speculation (suggesting The Rock might be an FBI informant)
• Pseudoscientific discussions about prehistoric humans without proper scientific context
• Crude and potentially offensive language throughout

The Pattern Continues

This episode exemplifies a recurring problem with The Joe Rogan Experience: even when hosting comedians for what should be entertainment-focused conversations, the show frequently veers into spreading misinformation on serious topics. The informal, “just asking questions” format makes it easy to present false claims as equally valid alternatives to scientific consensus.

When millions of listeners hear that volcanoes produce more CO2 than humans—without any correction or fact-checking—it contributes to public confusion about climate change and potentially influences voting patterns and policy support. Comedy podcasts have a responsibility not to spread harmful misinformation, even in jest.

Sources

• NOAA Climate.gov: Which emits more carbon dioxide: volcanoes or human activities?
• USGS: Volcano Watch — Which produces more CO2, volcanic or human activity?
• NASA Science: What do volcanoes have to do with climate change?
• Scientific American: Are Volcanoes or Humans Harder on the Atmosphere?
• Science/AAAS: Volcano CO2 Emissions No Match for Human Activity