Interview
Michael Malice: Thanksgiving Pirate Special | Lex Fridman Podcast #402
- Michael Malice, author of Dear Reader, The New Right, The Anarchist Handbook, and The White Pill, and host of the Pirate and Ocean-Going podcast, discusses a range of topics during this Thanksgiving-special episode of the Lex Friedman Podcast.
- Malice describes his fascination with the peacock mantis shrimp, calling it a "god's mistake" due to its 7-color vision, bullet-speed punch, and "thumb-splitter" spear capabilities.
- He kept a mantis shrimp as a pet for one night before it died due to an inability to molt correctly; he still retains a pair of its molting punching appendages.
- Malice jokes about getting multiple face tattoos, specifically suggesting a portrait of Kim Jong-il (referencing his book on North Korea) on his arm or shoulders to create symmetry when flexing.
- He notes that 90% of conversations about his North Korea book devolve into unsolicited quizzes about the country, with Dennis Rodman mentioned in 100% of those instances.
- Malice attributes his dark sense of humor to an Eastern European upbringing and Soviet literature, arguing that humor about dark subjects provides a "vacation" for the audience and requires skill to execute.
- He asserts that people with marginalized identities (African Americans, Jewish Americans, gay Americans, and those under Soviet rule) disproportionately contribute to comedy because they lack something to lose and use laughter to cope with absurdity.
- Malice cites Norm MacDonald as his favorite comedian of all time, praising his ability to make the audience feel like he is "winking at them" and his unique wordplay, such as the "Chairman of the Board" joke on Conan O'Brien.
- He expresses deep affection for Roseanne Barr, describing her as a "force of nature" despite her small stature, and notes that making her laugh feels like a "mitzvah."
- Malice lists his nephew Lucas as a primary source of joy, recalling a prank where the six-year-old lied about Michael being in the hospital to get his grandmother's attention.
- He criticizes the internet's pervasive cynicism, viewing it as a "giving up" mentality that overlooks the beauty and value of good art, books, and movies despite the existence of mediocre content.
- Malice announces he is finalizing a graphic novel adaptation of his 20-year-old screenplay about the 80s band Rubber Rodeo, originally inspired by Harvey Pekar's American Splendor.
- He declares his "made it" status as an immigrant to be owning Margaret Thatcher's bookcases, signifying financial independence from traditional employment.
- Malice identifies Austin, Texas, as a place where he feels less isolated than New York, citing a robust network of long-term friends despite the city's relative size.
- He praises historian Serhii Ploh for his objective yet emotional account of the Russia-Ukraine war, contrasting Ploh's rigor with the ideological bias he perceives in much contemporary historical writing.
- Malice strongly opposes comparisons between Vladimir Putin and Joseph Stalin or the current Israel-Gaza conflict and the Holocaust, arguing such analogies are morally disingenuous and cheapen the singular nature of the Holocaust.
- He rejects the Marxist quote that religion is the "opium of the people," arguing that many religious individuals become objectively better, more moral human beings through their faith.
- Malice proposes the "ambassador program" as the most effective method to combat antisemitism and bigotry, suggesting that direct personal relationships with members of targeted groups dismantle stereotypes.
- He challenges John Mearsheimer's "offensive realism" theory, arguing that soft power (culture, TikTok, university infiltration) is currently a more dominant force in global influence than military power.
- Malice reveals his obsession with wet shaving, maintaining a rotating cycle of 67 different artisan soaps with an additional 86 candidates in his queue to test for scent and lather quality.
- He lists specific soap brands he enjoys, including AION Skin Care (formerly Grooming Department), Barrister and Man, and Phoenix Shaving, noting scents like "Midnight Stag" (garage) and "Finding Scotty" (Swedish fish).
- Malice offers advice on happiness centered on incremental improvement, suggesting individuals focus on becoming "better" at controllable metrics (writing, running, time management) rather than aiming for greatness.
- He states he is not afraid of death, feeling he has already left the world a better place through his work and by saving lives, and distinguishes between situational sadness and irrational depression.
- Malice discusses the pain of betrayal, noting that while he has been betrayed frequently due to his upbringing, he chooses to view loyalty as a high value and sympathizes with, but does not empathize with, those who betray.
- He concludes by thanking Lex Friedman for their friendship and expressing gratitude for the beauty of life, even in small details like a plastic bag dancing in the wind.