Daniel Negreanu doesn’t hold back at the poker table. And he doesn’t hold back on his X account.
There’s plenty of poker on there, but if you only know him as a poker player, you might be surprised to see how open he is on pretty much everything else.
And his new project focuses squarely on the ‘everything else’.
The Mania Podcast features Daniel and wife Amanda talking about life, love, and everything in between. As Daniel told us in an interview earlier this week, “It’s not a poker podcast.”
Mania Podcast Episode 1
Episode 1, which dropped this week, takes a deep dive into Amanda’s journey pre- and post-being diagnosed as bipolar and the impact that had on their relationship.
One illuminating and ultimately hilarious conversation touches on their use of and attitude towards drugs, with Daniel admitting that while he’s in favor of legalization, he’s “scared” of hallucinogens.
That discussion starts at 17:55, and you can watch it and the rest of Episode 1 below. There’s a transcript of the conversation underneath the video.
One question: Why should you care if it’s not about poker?
Well, if you’re interested in knowing more about the person behind the player, it’s fascinating. Daniel is a polarizing figure in the poker world, but he’s not scared of putting himself out there, and there’s a lot to be admired about that.
If you want to know what makes him and Amanda tick, individually and as a unit, it’s an illuminating start to a potentially fascinating project.
Daniel & Amanda on drugs, alcohol and Joe Rogan
Daniel: I was like 38, and we were at Stapes’ place, and I remember you guys made hash brownies or something.
Amanda: We did, yeah.
Daniel: I had like four or six of them and I’m like, I don’t feel anything, then all of a sudden he was playing a video game and he missed, and I started laughing, and I looked at them out the window and they were smoking a joint, and I started laughing hysterically, and then I fell asleep, so it was like not for me.
Amanda: It’s not really for me, either.
Daniel: But one of the drinks you got for me, you know, had like THC in it.
Amanda: It had THC and some sort of mushroom…
Daniel: It affects everyone differently. For me, it just makes me do…
Amanda: It makes you stare at me like you’re really listening to me, but you’re not hearing me.
Daniel: I’m hearing, man, I’m just hearing in a different space; it’s all like connected.
Amanda: That’s why I want to do actual hallucinogens with you.
Daniel: I’m scared of that shit.
Amanda: Don’t be scared.
Amanda Negreanu opens up on her journey after her bipolar diagnosis.
Daniel: I’m not, here’s the thing. I’m all for legalizing it because it’s got the benefits, especially for people who’ve gone to war, PTSD, all those aspects… but I’m like, I’m happy, I like the way I view things… I like control, like I know alcohol because I started out drinking alcohol…
Amanda: You’re were f*****g crazy out of control on alcohol.
Daniel: Yeah, I know what I’m doing.
Amanda: No, you don’t, no, you don’t.
Daniel: Listen, I know what I’m doing. I know what it’s going to do to me.
Amanda: You act ridiculous
Daniel: I’m not going to like do it and then be like, oh my god, I need to chop my dick off or something.
Amanda: No, stop. You’re not going to do that on drugs.
Daniel: I don’t know; I’ve never done it.
Amanda: Are you crazy? You’re on alcohol, you can black out, and you forget the things you do. You’ve forgotten some things you’ve done on alcohol, believe me. But on drugs, say, like MDMA or mushrooms, you don’t forget, it’s not something you forget, you’re very aware, you’re just high and it does open your mind up – you’re a little more creative.
Daniel: I’m all for it. I just don’t really, you know, I’m good.
Amanda: But Joe Rogan does it, so now you’ll want to do it, Mr. Fanboy.
You can watch the Mania Podcast on Daniel Negreanu’s YouTube channel, with a new episode dropping every week.