It may sound over-dramatic to say a podcast changed my life but I can’t really think of another way of phrasing how the Joe Rogan podcast has influenced me. Though, when I say “changed my life” I don’t mean listening to a particular episode suddenly enlightened me to the mysteries of the universe. Rather, listening to the conversations between the host and the guests that have come on over the years has introduced me to a massive range of thinkers, writers, interests and ideas that I otherwise would have been oblivious to. I guess you could describe it as an intellectual gateway drug. It nudged my life course in small ways that had a positive impact in the long run.

I don’t remember the first time exactly I listened to an episode of the JRE but it was roughly in 2012/2013. More than likely I was looking up an MMA (mixed martial arts) clip on Youtube and happened to stumble across one of Joe’s conversations with an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter, who appear regularly on the show. From then on I followed the show via Youtube and mainly watched it for Joe’s insight and analysis into all things combat sports. Over time I came across guests who weren’t connected to combat sports in any way but came on to discuss other subjects or simply to chat. Some of the most popular episodes just feature Rogan joking around with his friends. Once I started listening to these other conversations I began to truly appreciate how special the podcast was.

The man himself, Mr Joe Rogan, is quite the unique individual. If he wasn’t who he was then it’s likely the podcast would be just be another obscure voice on the internet. He’s a comedian, UFC commentator, actor, a former TV host, a BJJ and Taekwondo black belt and avid hunter, so quite the resume. This diverse background of experiences gives Rogan a huge amount to draw on, allowing him to talk on a subject for extended periods of time and the fact he’s funny helps a lot too. His observational style of humour takes seemingly ordinary things or aspects of life we take for granted and unpacks how bizarre they can be.

While Rogan’s unusual variety of pursuits and interests is a major part of why the podcast has such a large following, its success ultimately comes down to his personality and outlook. In particular what I find most appealing is his openness to ideas and enthusiasm he has for his passions as well as life in general.

As a result of his open-mindedness Rogan has had a huge number of different guests from all walks of life on the show. This includes athletes, comedians, journalists, astronauts, professors, actors, scientists, soldiers and a range of other characters. This range means the tone of the show can vary from serious to light-hearted and silly. While the guests tend to correlate with Joe’s interests such as MMA, comedy and hunting, there is almost certainly a conversation that everyone could find to enjoy. This ability to facilitate so many different viewpoints and dialogues illustrates Joe’s eagerness to learn as much as possible and acts as a safeguard preventing the podcast turning into an echo chamber. Rogan is one of the few figures in the cultural wars I would deem as “neutral”- as in has no axe to grind and isn’t actively trying to push an agenda. The Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson summed it up by saying to Rogan, “People don’t look at you and think ‘holier-than thou preacher’, that isn’t what they think. They think ‘tough guy’ who’s trying to figure things out.”

On top of his willingness to explore new ideas, Rogan’s enthusiasm is electrifying. I could listen to him talk about boxing legends and wolves all day. It’s rare that this level of articulation and passion combine and is enough to hold anyone’s attention. It’s refreshing to see this kind of enthusiasm when many cultural figures (and especially comedians) seem to advertise a type of sneering nihilism. After listening to Rogan talk about his latest hunting trip, how a certain UFC fighter came back to win a fight or even just a funny story, I feel energised. It’s not just Rogan’s zeal for his hobbies and interests that is uplifting; his positive attitude toward life is also massively inspiring and has led to him becoming a role model. In short, listening to Rogan’s podcast makes me want to find a challenge.

The podcast has also undoubtedly broadened my perspective on a number of issues. One example of where it completely changed my outlook is on the topic of hunting. Prior to listening to the podcast I had little to no knowledge of it. If anything I likely had a somewhat negative view of the enterprise based primarily on what I saw from TV (Bubba and Zeke shootin critters from the pick-up truck after downin some beers). On top of that, hunting is frequently made out to be synonymous with trophy hunting, but then I started listening to Rogan describe his hunting experiences and how it was an incredibly difficult but rewarding endeavour. Going out into the wilderness for days at a time to track and shoot a wild, sometimes very dangerous animal, is no easy feat. Following this I started to listen to the professional hunters Rogan would invite onto the show, such as Steven Rinella, Adam Greentree and Cameron Hanes. It became obvious very quickly that these were intelligent professionals who were extremely skilled in what they did. They are also vocal conservationists with an in-depth knowledge of the ecosystems they hunt in (here is professional hunter and regular JRE guest Steven Rinella discussing hunting and conservation). After listening to these conversations not only did my view of hunting and hunters change, but it actually got me interested in giving it a try.

One of my favourite aspects of the podcast, and the reason I got into it in the first place, is the focus and analysis of combat sports, particularly MMA. Rogan’s knowledge and insight into combat sports is unparalleled and he is essentially a human encyclopaedia on the history of MMA, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. Furthermore the podcast has been the perfect venue for some of the best fighters and coaches in the business to discuss their technique, training methodologies, mindset, their opinions on the “fight game” and thoughts on fighting generally. One of my favourite such conversations features grappling coach and Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend John Danaher. Here he breaks down BJJ to its most basic elements and discusses his distinct grappling strategy which he has taught to numerous world champions. It’s rare that you find this kind of long-form in-depth exchange on a complicated subject, never mind a niche one like BJJ. If you’re interested in MMA or combat sport in general then you’ve probably already heard of the Joe Rogan podcast; if not, you need to check it out.

Moreover, especially in the last two to three years, Rogan has invited some very highbrow intellectual guests who have been largely ignored or marginalised by other media outlets. This includes a number of professors who have been involved in controversies regarding freedom of speech and have criticised the current state of universities. You wouldn’t think that some of the most fascinating and thought-provoking discussions available in popular culture today would be hosted by a self-described “meathead” cage-fighting commentator – and yet here we are. If you think this is an exaggeration then the following comparison will highlight my point. Here is Rogan’s conversation with the previously mentioned Jordan Peterson, one of his most popular guests to date. Watch half an hour of this episode and then watch this interview Professor Peterson did with Channel Four’s Cathy Newman. Ask yourself which conversation you thought was more productive.

In my opinion this dichotomy showcases the reason that TV broadcasting and even other forms of traditional media are gradually fading into irrelevance. Outlets like the Joe Rogan Experience (and several others I could recommend) are fulfilling the people’s hunger for real dialogue and debate. And even if you’re not interested in any of that, it’s the best source for fight commentary and Big-Foot conspiracy theories.

What more could you want?

 

Here are some of my favourite episodes: