Joe Rogan
Joseph James Rogan (born August 11, 1967) is an American UFC color commentator, podcaster, comedian, actor, and former television host. He hosts The Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast in which he discusses current events, comedy, politics, philosophy, science, martial arts, and hobbies with a variety of guests.
Joe Rogan
- Podcaster
- color commentator
- comedian
- actor
- television host
1988–present
3 (1 adopted)[1]
- Gerard Way (first cousin once removed)
- Mikey Way (first cousin once removed)
- Stand-up
- podcast
- television
- film
Rogan was born in Newark, New Jersey, and began his career in comedy in 1988 in the Boston area. After relocating to Los Angeles in 1994, he signed an exclusive developmental deal with Disney and appeared as an actor on several television shows, including Hardball and NewsRadio. In 1997, he started working for the UFC as an interviewer and color commentator. He released his first comedy special, I'm Gonna Be Dead Someday..., in 2000 and hosted the game show Fear Factor from 2001 to 2006.
After leaving Fear Factor, Rogan focused on his stand-up career and hosted more comedy specials. He launched The Joe Rogan Experience in 2009; by 2015, it was one of the most popular podcasts in the world, regularly receiving millions of plays per episode. Spotify obtained exclusive distribution rights to The Joe Rogan Experience in 2020 for US$200 million.[2] Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the podcast has received criticism. Despite this, Rogan's audience grew significantly and in 2024, Rogan renewed his deal with Spotify for an estimated $250 million.[3]
Personal life
Rogan married Jessica Ditzel, a former cocktail waitress, in 2009.[7][89] They have two daughters, who were born in 2008 and 2010. Rogan is also the stepfather or adopted father of Ditzel's daughter from a previous relationship.[90][1] In 2008, they moved to Gold Hill, Colorado, but returned to Southern California four months later when Ditzel became pregnant.[91] They settled in Bell Canyon, California, where Rogan had lived on and off since 2003. In 2018, they purchased a new home in the area for almost $5 million.[92][93][94][95] In 2020, the family moved into a $14 million home on Lake Austin in Austin, Texas.[96]
Rogan became interested in jiu-jitsu after watching Royce Gracie fight at UFC 2: No Way Out in 1994.[34] In 1996, he began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie at his school in Hollywood, California.[15] He is a black belt under Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, a style of no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu,[97] and a black belt in gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Jean Jacques Machado.[98]
Rogan has vitiligo on his hands and feet.[7] He was raised Catholic, having attended Catholic school in first grade, but has since abandoned organized religion and has called himself an agnostic.[99] In October 2019, he revealed that he is a first cousin once removed of My Chemical Romance members Gerard Way and Mikey Way, although he has never met them.[100]
Views
Political positions
In 2020, CNN described Rogan as "libertarian-leaning".[101] He has described himself as socially liberal, saying that he supports same-sex marriage, gay rights, women's rights, recreational drug use, universal health care, and universal basic income, but also supports gun rights and the Second Amendment.[102][103] Rogan describes himself as a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and has criticized cancel culture and what he perceives to be suppression of those who hold right-wing views in the television and film industry.[104] He has also criticized what he describes as an American foreign policy of military adventurism.[105]
Rogan has said that Florida governor Ron DeSantis would be "a good president", adding that "what he's done for Florida has been admirable."[106] Rogan opposes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him "a fucking dictator" and called Canada "communist" while admitting that he has "zero understanding" of Canada's political system. Rogan also said that he liked Trudeau prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.[107] Rogan also called Russian President Vladimir Putin "evil".[108] In March 2024, he described Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as a "genocide".[109]
Drugs and spirituality
Rogan supports the legalized use of cannabis and believes it holds numerous benefits.[110][111] He hosted the documentary film The Union: The Business Behind Getting High and was featured in Marijuana: A Chronic History and The Culture High. He also supports the use of LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and DMT toward the exploration and enhancement of consciousness, as well as introspection. He was the presenter in the 2010 documentary DMT: The Spirit Molecule.[112]
Rogan has an interest in sensory deprivation and using an isolation tank. He has stated that his personal experiences with meditation in isolation tanks have helped him explore the nature of consciousness and improve his performance in various physical and mental activities and overall well-being.[113]
