When it comes to conservative podcasts, everyone knows about The Joe Rogan Experience. But what is lesser known is how its popular host goes about gathering guests to feature on his show.
The August 2 edition of the podcast revealed the steps Rogan takes to book a guest on the show, which has 17.1 million subscribers. He shared the information with Norman Ohler, the author and screenwriter he was interviewing that day. Apparently, Rogan pays little heed to popularity ratings when considering who to invite into his studio.
Instead, the 56-year-old host just contacts people who he thinks will bring in an interesting conversation. Launched in 2009, the podcast has featured countless prominent, controversial, and popular guests including Elon Musk and Dr. Jordan Peterson.
Rogan told Ohler that he is not “feverishly checking” what potential guests or content is “good” or “bad,” disregarding details about the retention of his audience. He emphasized that his listeners hearing an episode to the end is “up to them.” The host added that his responsibility is merely to “have an interesting conversation” with his guests, adding that he books them “based on my interests.”
Rogan also noted that he does not employ a publicist to “examine trends” about a potential guest’s popularity. The show, he explained, began with him “having fun” and has not become such a hit based on his own efforts, but rather support from his audience.
During the episode, Ohler commended The Joe Rogan Experience as a “space” where people can come and engage in “free thought” and “free communication.” The two were acknowledging the changed landscape of media and information since the COVID-19 pandemic, which left people more scrupulous about their sources.
Amid the wide range of opinions and misrepresentations of fact surrounding the pandemic, Rogan became the center of controversy for promoting unpopular hesitation about the COVID vaccines. Following an interview with anti-vaccine Dr. Robert Malone in 2022, musician Neil Young demanded his music be removed from Spotify, which did not end its deal with Rogan based on controversial content.
But the stint did not impede the podcast’s success. Last year, Rogan’s show ranked as the most listened to in the entire world, and the host himself had obtained high popularity ratings.
