When Ben Lamm sat down with Joe Rogan for a nearly three-hour conversation, listeners got an unprecedented look behind the scenes of one of science’s most ambitious undertakings. The CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, the man who recently achieved the world’s first successful de-extinction by bringing dire wolves back to life, revealed himself to be remarkably humble, health-conscious, and driven by curiosity rather than ego.
From Skeptic to Believer
One of the most fascinating revelations from the Rogan interview was how Lamm initially reacted to the de-extinction concept. When Harvard geneticist George Church first mentioned his mammoth research, Lamm’s response was brutally honest: “I literally thought that the smartest man I’ve ever met and been on the phone with was a joke.”
This skepticism wasn’t born of cynicism but of the sheer audacity of the proposition. “I stayed up all night just Googling George and there was this weird mammoth through line,” Lamm explained. “Whether he was in 60 Minutes or Stephen Colbert, whatever he is in, there was this weird mammoth through line where he was just obsessed with these mammoths and everyone wanted him to do this.”
That all-night research session transformed Lamm from skeptic to true believer, ultimately leading to the partnership that would create Colossal Biosciences and achieve the impossible: bringing an extinct species back to life.
The Health Transformation
Perhaps the most personal part of the interview revealed Lamm’s dramatic health transformation following a traumatic experience during the early COVID pandemic. After losing a colleague to a sudden cardiac event and becoming severely ill himself, Lamm completely restructured his approach to health and wellness.
“I got super, super sick, and I now rarely drink. I rarely have caffeine. I’ve tried to cut out stuff. I exercise regularly,” Lamm told Rogan. His daily routine now includes dry saunas, cold plunges, red light therapy, and regular weight training. “I feel incredible,” he said, demonstrating how personal transformation can fuel professional excellence.
Rogan, himself a wellness enthusiast, connected with this aspect of Lamm’s journey. “It’s not even a vanity thing. Don’t do it because you want big muscles. Preserve your tissue. Preserve your bone mass,” Rogan emphasized, highlighting how health optimization supports the demanding work of breakthrough science.
The Curiosity-Driven Approach
Throughout the interview, Lamm consistently returned to curiosity as his primary driver. “I’m just a weirdly curious person,” he repeated multiple times, explaining how this trait led him through successful technology companies and ultimately to de-extinction science.
This curiosity extends beyond business to genuine fascination with the natural world. When discussing extinct megafauna like giant beavers from the Pleistocene, Lamm’s enthusiasm was infectious. “A giant beaver sounds amazing and stupid at the same time,” he laughed, showing the playful side that balances his serious scientific mission.
The conversation revealed how this curiosity shapes Colossal’s approach to research. Rather than following predetermined paths, Lamm and his team pursue interesting questions wherever they lead. This approach has resulted in not just the dire wolf achievement, but also breakthrough work with critically endangered red wolves and other conservation applications.
Building Teams of Genius
One of Lamm’s most revealing comments about leadership came when discussing his business philosophy: “My job is to hire much smarter people than me.” This humble approach has attracted world-class scientists including co-founder George Church, whom Lamm describes with obvious admiration as “six foot seven with narcolepsy” and “the absolute best, he’s a genius.”
The interview showed how Lamm navigates the challenge of leading brilliant scientists while not being a scientist himself. His background in software and team building provides the framework for organizing complex research projects, while his curiosity and business acumen ensure the work remains focused on achievable goals.
The Indigenous Connection
During the interview, Lamm shared a particularly moving story about his work with the MHA Nation and how it led to the dire wolf project. While giving a report on bison genetics to Tribal Chairman Mark Fox, Lamm was shown a picture of a white wolf. “You know, that’s the great wolf,” Fox told him, sharing ancestral knowledge about what may have been a dire wolf.
This moment exemplifies Lamm’s approach to incorporating diverse perspectives and knowledge systems into Colossal’s work. The successful de-extinction project has deep cultural significance for indigenous communities, as reflected in Chairman Fox’s statement: “The de-extinction of the dire wolf is more than a biological revival. Its birth symbolizes a reawakening—a return of an ancient spirit to the world.”
The Science Behind the Magic
Lamm’s description of the dire wolf de-extinction process revealed both the technical complexity and the almost magical nature of the achievement. Starting with just 15% of the genome from a 13,000-year-old tooth, his team managed to complete the genetic picture using a 72,000-year-old skull found in a riverbed.
“We got permission from the museum to very carefully drill into the underside of the skull and remove the petrous bone to see if we could get DNA, and we got really lucky,” Lamm explained. The petrous bone, he noted, is “insanely dense” and serves as excellent DNA storage, “better than teeth, better than anything.”
The technical achievement represents years of work by dozens of scientists, but Lamm’s ability to explain it in accessible terms demonstrates his talent for making complex science understandable to broad audiences.
Dealing with Critics
The interview also touched on how Lamm handles criticism of de-extinction work. Initially, he explained, critics dismissed Colossal as “tech bros wanting to see cool animals” with insufficient scientific credentials. “And then we’re like, oh, well, as an entrepreneur, my job is to hire much smarter people than me.”
Rather than becoming defensive, Lamm used criticism as motivation to build credibility through results. The successful dire wolf de-extinction has largely silenced early critics, with media coverage being “largely celebratory” and featuring supportive voices from the scientific community.
The Bigger Picture
What emerged most clearly from the Rogan interview was Lamm’s genuine passion for the work itself. “I love it. I’m working more hours than I’ve ever worked in my life and I’ve been fortunate before this business. And I will just tell you, I just love it. Every day I wake up, it’s awesome,” he told Rogan.
This passion is infectious and helps explain how Lamm has attracted high-profile supporters ranging from Peter Jackson to George R.R. Martin. As Martin put it: “I get the luxury to write about magic, but Ben and Colossal have created magic by bringing these majestic beasts back to our world.”
Looking Forward
The interview concluded with Rogan expressing his desire to see the dire wolves in person, and Lamm promising to “keep you up to date on the fun stuff.” This exchange captured the accessibility and authenticity that makes Lamm an effective leader in communicating complex science to the public.
As Colossal moves forward with plans to reintroduce woolly mammoths by 2028 and pursue other de-extinction projects, the Joe Rogan interview revealed the personal qualities that drive Ben Lamm’s extraordinary professional achievements: curiosity, humility, health consciousness, and an infectious passion for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
In an era of polished corporate communications, Lamm’s candid conversation with Rogan offered a refreshing look at a CEO who remains grounded despite achieving the seemingly impossible. His ability to balance scientific rigor with genuine enthusiasm, technical expertise with cultural sensitivity, and business success with conservation impact makes him a uniquely compelling leader in the biotechnology space.