About this episode
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker talk with writer Adrian Nathan West about his New York Times piece on Craig Jones, exploring how trolling, politics, and culture collide in modern Jiu-Jitsu. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • The NYT Article — https://nyti.ms/3Y1N6oz • Nate West’s Website — https://anathanwest.com • The Baffler — https://thebaffler.com ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com Jesse Walker — https://roughhandsbjj.com Adrian Nathan West — https://anathanwest.com ⸻ 🧠Topics Discussed: • Why Craig Jones is a uniquely effective internet troll • Gordon Ryan’s influence on young grapplers • How Jiu-Jitsu intersects with politics • The importance of fact-checking in modern media • The future of independent journalism • Whether trolling can actually shift culture in BJJ ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome & Introductions 02:00 — How the NYT Article Came Together 06:30 — Craig Jones’ Online Persona 12:45 — Gordon Ryan’s Political Influence 18:00 — Why Athletes Shape Public Opinion 25:10 — Left, Right, and Populism in BJJ 32:00 — Fact-Checking for the NYT 38:30 — The Rise of Independent Media 45:20 — AI’s Impact on Journalism 53:00 — Should We All Be Trolls? 57:20 — Where to Find Nate’s Work