History of Joe Rogan in Timeline

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Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan is an American podcaster, UFC color commentator, comedian, actor, and former television host. He is best known for hosting 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' a highly influential podcast where he engages in discussions with guests on a wide array of topics including current events, comedy, politics, science, and philosophy. Rogan's podcast is recognized as one of the most popular and influential in the world, drawing a large audience and sparking public discourse.

August 11, 1967: Birth of Joseph James Rogan

On August 11, 1967, Joseph James Rogan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He is known as an American podcaster, UFC color commentator, comedian, actor, and former television host.

1985: High School Graduation

In 1985, Joe Rogan graduated from Newton South High School.

August 27, 1988: First Stand-Up Routine

On August 27, 1988, Joe Rogan performed his first stand-up routine at an open-mic night at a Stitches comedy club in Boston.

1988: Comedy Career Start

In 1988, Joe Rogan began his career in comedy in the Boston area.

1990: Move to New York City

In 1990, Joe Rogan moved to New York City to pursue comedy full-time.

1993: First Allegation of Joke Thievery

Since 1993, Joe Rogan had claimed that comedian Carlos Mencia had stolen jokes.

1994: Interest in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

In 1994, Joe Rogan became interested in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after watching Royce Gracie fight at UFC 2: No Way Out, leading to his involvement with the UFC.

1994: Relocation to Los Angeles and First TV Spot

In 1994, Joe Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and made his first national television appearance on MTV's Half-Hour Comedy Hour. Subsequently he accepted a development deal with the Disney network and secured a role in the Fox sitcom Hardball.

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1995: Starring in NewsRadio

From 1995, Joe Rogan starred in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio as Joe Garrelli.

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1996: Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

In 1996, Joe Rogan began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie at his school in Los Angeles, California.

February 7, 1997: First UFC Show

On February 7, 1997, Joe Rogan's first show for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) took place at UFC 12: Judgement Day in Dothan, Alabama, working as a backstage and post-fight interviewer.

1997: UFC Career

In 1997, Joe Rogan began working for the UFC as an interviewer and color commentator.

1998: Death of Phil Hartman

In 1998, Joe Rogan's NewsRadio cast member and friend Phil Hartman was murdered by his wife, affecting Rogan's ability to perform stand-up.

December 1999: Recording of First Comedy Album

In December 1999, Joe Rogan recorded his first stand-up comedy album at the Comedy Connection in Boston.

1999: End of NewsRadio

In 1999, Joe Rogan's role in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio came to an end.

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August 2000: Release of First Comedy Album

In August 2000, Joe Rogan's first stand-up comedy album, I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day..., was released and gained national exposure.

2000: First Comedy Special Release

In 2000, Joe Rogan released his first comedy special, I'm Gonna Be Dead Someday...

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2001: Hosting Fear Factor

From 2001, Joe Rogan hosted the game show Fear Factor.

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2001: Zuffa's Takeover of UFC

In 2001, after Zuffa took over the UFC, Joe Rogan attended some events and befriended Dana White.

December 2002: Emcee for Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular

In December 2002, Joe Rogan was the emcee for the 2002 Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular, a Christmas parade in Hollywood.

2002: Return to UFC as Color Commentator

In 2002, Joe Rogan returned to the UFC as a color commentator, initially working for free in exchange for prime event tickets.

February 2003: Co-host of The Man Show

In February 2003, Joe Rogan became the new co-host of The Man Show on Comedy Central.

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August 2003: Start of The Man Show

In August 2003, Joe Rogan began co-hosting The Man Show on Comedy Central for its fifth season.

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2003: Living in Bell Canyon

Since 2003, Joe Rogan lived on and off in Bell Canyon, California.

2004: End of The Man Show

In 2004, Joe Rogan's time as co-host of The Man Show on Comedy Central ended due to disagreements over content.

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May 2005: Signing with Endeavor Talent Agency

In May 2005, Joe Rogan signed a deal with the Endeavor Talent Agency.

2005: Accusation against Carlos Mencia

In 2005, Joe Rogan wrote a blog entry accusing comedian Carlos Mencia of joke thievery.

2005: Wesley Snipes Cage Fight Challenge

In 2005, Wesley Snipes challenged Joe Rogan to a cage fight, but Snipes backed out after an IRS investigation.

September 2006: Recording of Comedy Special Shiny Happy Jihad

In September 2006, Joe Rogan recorded his fourth comedy special, Shiny Happy Jihad, at Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco.

2006: Fear Factor End

Fear Factor, hosted by Joe Rogan, ran for an initial six seasons from 2001 to 2006.

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2006: End of Fear Factor Hosting

In 2006, Joe Rogan's tenure as the host of Fear Factor came to an end.

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February 2007: Confrontation with Carlos Mencia

In February 2007, Joe Rogan confronted comedian Carlos Mencia on stage at The Comedy Store in Hollywood over allegations of joke thievery, which he had been claiming since 1993. This led to Rogan's expulsion from The Gersh Agency and a ban from The Comedy Store.

April 2007: Release of Comedy Special Shiny Happy Jihad

In April 2007, Comedy Central Records released Joe Rogan's fourth comedy special, Shiny Happy Jihad.

2007: Premiere of Second Stand-up Comedy Special

Joe Rogan's second stand-up comedy special, Joe Rogan: Live, which was filmed in Phoenix, Arizona in 2005, premiered on Showtime in 2007.

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2008: Birth of First Daughter and Move to Colorado

In 2008, Joe Rogan's first daughter was born and he moved to Gold Hill, Colorado, with his family.

January 2009: Hosting Game Show in My Head

In January 2009, Joe Rogan hosted the CBS show "Game Show in My Head", produced by Ashton Kutcher, for eight episodes. The show featured contestants convincing people to participate in bizarre situations for money. Rogan was intrigued by the idea and called it "a completely mindless form of entertainment".

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December 2009: Launch of The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast

In December 2009, Joe Rogan launched a free podcast with Brian Redban, initially a live weekly broadcast on Ustream where they discussed various topics.

2009: The Joe Rogan Experience Launch

In 2009, Joe Rogan launched The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

2009: Marriage to Jessica Ditzel

In 2009, Joe Rogan married Jessica Ditzel, a former cocktail waitress.

August 2010: Podcast Named The Joe Rogan Experience

By August 2010, the podcast was officially named "The Joe Rogan Experience" and began to gain traction, entering the Top 100 podcasts on iTunes.

2010: Accusation of Joke Thievery

In 2010, Joe Rogan accused comedian Dane Cook of joke thievery, marking a controversy within the comedy community.

2010: Presenter in DMT: The Spirit Molecule

In 2010, Joe Rogan was the presenter in the documentary "DMT: The Spirit Molecule", which explores the effects of the psychedelic drug DMT.

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2010: Birth of Second Daughter

In 2010, Joe Rogan's second daughter was born.

2011: The Joe Rogan Experience on SiriusXM

In 2011, "The Joe Rogan Experience" was picked up by SiriusXM Satellite Radio, expanding its reach to a wider audience.

2011: Endorsement of Ron Paul

In 2011, Joe Rogan endorsed Congressman Ron Paul and his presidential campaign during the Republican primaries, stating Paul was "the only guy who is saying anything that makes any sense whatsoever."

2011: Return to Fear Factor and Film Role

In 2011, Joe Rogan resumed hosting "Fear Factor" for its seventh and final season. He also played Gale in the film "Zookeeper" and worked on a book tentatively titled "Irresponsible Advice from a Man with No Credibility".

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December 2012: Release of Live from the Tabernacle

In December 2012, Joe Rogan released his sixth comedy special, "Live from the Tabernacle", exclusively as a download on his website for $5, following Louis C.K.'s distribution model.

2012: Endorsement of Ron Paul

In 2012, Joe Rogan endorsed Ron Paul.

2012: Appearance in Here Comes the Boom

In 2012, Joe Rogan played himself in the action-comedy film "Here Comes the Boom" starring Kevin James, adding another film appearance to his career.

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2013: Hosting Joe Rogan Questions Everything

In 2013, Joe Rogan hosted the television show "Joe Rogan Questions Everything" on the SyFy network. The show, which aired for six episodes, explored topics from his podcasts with comedians, experts, and scientists.

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January 2015: Podcast Reaches 11 Million Monthly Downloads

By January 2015, "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast had reached over 11 million monthly downloads, demonstrating its growing popularity.

2015: Podcast Popularity

By 2015, The Joe Rogan Experience was one of the most popular podcasts in the world, regularly receiving millions of plays per episode.

2016: End of Collaboration with Mike Goldberg

In 2016, Joe Rogan's collaboration with Mike Goldberg as a commentator came to an end.

2018: Purchase of New Home in Bell Canyon

In 2018, Joe Rogan and his family purchased a new home in Bell Canyon, California, for almost $5 million.

October 2019: Revealed Relationship to My Chemical Romance Members

In October 2019, Joe Rogan 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.

2019: Self-Description as Socially Liberal

In 2019, Joe Rogan described himself as socially liberal, supporting various progressive causes and freedoms.

May 19, 2020: Licensing Deal with Spotify

On May 19, 2020, Joe Rogan announced a multiyear licensing deal with Spotify, estimated at $200 million, for "The Joe Rogan Experience", marking a significant milestone in podcasting.

September 1, 2020: The Joe Rogan Experience Available on Spotify

As of September 1, 2020, "The Joe Rogan Experience" became available on Spotify as part of the licensing deal.

2020: Described as Libertarian-Leaning

In 2020, CNN described Joe Rogan as "libertarian-leaning," providing insight into his political positioning.

2020: Move to Austin, Texas

In 2020, Joe Rogan and his family moved into a $14 million home on Lake Austin in Austin, Texas.

2020: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders

In 2020, Joe Rogan endorsed Bernie Sanders.

2020: Spotify Deal

In 2020, Spotify obtained exclusive distribution rights to The Joe Rogan Experience for $200 million.

January 2021: Podcast Exclusivity on Spotify

From January 2021, "The Joe Rogan Experience" became exclusive to the Spotify platform, including both audio and video versions.

April 2021: Controversial Remarks on COVID-19 Vaccines

In April 2021, Joe Rogan made contentious remarks about COVID-19 vaccines, claiming young, healthy people did not need them, sparking criticism and debate.

September 1, 2021: Testing Positive for COVID-19

On September 1, 2021, Joe Rogan tested positive for COVID-19 and began a treatment regimen including monoclonal antibodies, prednisone, azithromycin, NAD drip, a vitamin drip, and ivermectin.

September 3, 2021: Retested Negative for COVID-19

On September 3, 2021, Joe Rogan retested for COVID-19 and the results were negative.

2021: Onnit Sold to Unilever

In 2021, Onnit, the supplements and fitness company co-founded by Joe Rogan, was sold to Unilever, marking a significant business transaction.

January 2022: Open Letter from Scientists and Healthcare Workers

In January 2022, 270 scientists, physicians, professors, doctors, and healthcare workers wrote an open letter to Spotify expressing concern over "false and societally harmful assertions" on "The Joe Rogan Experience", particularly regarding COVID-19 misinformation.

January 24, 2022: Neil Young Demands Removal of Music From Spotify

On January 24, 2022, Neil Young demanded Spotify remove his music if they didn't remove The Joe Rogan Experience, citing misinformation concerns. He stated that "Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform".

February 4, 2022: Spotify Removes 70 Episodes Pre-Dating COVID-19

On February 4, 2022, Spotify removed 70 episodes of "The Joe Rogan Experience" which pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic. These episodes were selected by Rogan himself, after conversations with Spotify about his past racially insensitive language.

February 2022: Controversy over Racial Slur

In February 2022, India Arie shared a compilation of Joe Rogan saying a racial slur on "The Joe Rogan Experience", leading to an apology from Rogan and discussions about context and intent. This sparked a large debate involving other public figures, and accusations of a political 'hit job'.

February 2022: Spotify Removes Episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience

In February 2022, Spotify removed 113 episodes of "The Joe Rogan Experience" due to concerns over racist and insensitive language, marking a significant controversy.

April 2022: Rogan's comments on transgender women in sports

In April 2022, Joe Rogan commented on transgender women competing in women's sports, singling out transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Rogan stated that Thomas "might be the woke straw that breaks society's camel's back".

October 2022: Rogan Shares Litter Box Hoax

In October 2022, Joe Rogan shared the widely discredited litter boxes in schools hoax while interviewing Tulsi Gabbard, claiming public schools were providing litter boxes to students who dress up as cats.

2022: Comment on Ron DeSantis

In 2022, Joe Rogan said Republican Ron DeSantis would be "a good president", adding another layer to his political commentary.

2022: Rumble's Offer to Rogan

In early 2022, Rumble offered Joe Rogan $100 million to switch platforms from Spotify, but Rogan declined the offer.

February 2023: Rogan's Comments on Jewish People and Money

In February 2023, Joe Rogan stated on his podcast that the "idea that Jewish people are not into money is ridiculous", defending Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The Anti-Defamation League condemned the comment as reflecting "antisemitic tropes about Jews and money".

March 2023: Opening of Comedy Mothership

In March 2023, Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership comedy club opened in Austin, Texas, marking a new venture in the comedy scene.

February 2024: Rogan Promotes Debunked AIDS Claims

In February 2024, during a podcast with Bret Weinstein, Joe Rogan promoted the debunked claim that party drugs were "a very important factor in AIDS" and falsely claimed that the antiviral drug AZT killed people "quicker" than AIDS itself.

March 2024: Description of Israel's Actions as Genocide

In March 2024, Joe Rogan described Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as a "genocide". Later in March, he said he appreciated Coleman Hughes' perspective after Hughes disputed the allegations.

April 2024: Lawsuit Filed Against Onnit

In April 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Onnit, alleging that its 'Alpha BRAIN' supplement was ineffective and surrounded by misleading advertising.

November 4, 2024: Endorsement of Donald Trump

On November 4, 2024, Joe Rogan endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump for the 2024 United States presidential election, citing Elon Musk's compelling arguments.

November 2024: Comments on Putin and the Invasion of Ukraine

In November 2024, Joe Rogan said the Russian invasion of Ukraine was "100% wrong." He also criticized both President Biden and Zelenskyy, leading to criticism from Wladimir Klitschko.

December 2024: The Joe Rogan Experience Top Podcast on Spotify for Fifth Year

In December 2024, Spotify confirmed that "The Joe Rogan Experience" was the top podcast on its platform for a fifth consecutive year, highlighting its continued success and popularity.

2024: Spotify Deal Renewal

In 2024, Joe Rogan renewed his deal with Spotify for an estimated $250 million, but will no longer be exclusive to them.

2024: Support for Donald Trump

In 2024, Joe Rogan supported Donald Trump.

January 10, 2025: Joe Rogan Interview with Mark Zuckerberg

On January 10, 2025, Joe Rogan interviewed CEO Mark Zuckerberg. During the interview, Zuckerberg claimed the Biden administration pressured Facebook to remove posts about COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

March 2025: Criticism of Trump's Feud with Canada

In March 2025, Joe Rogan criticized Trump's feud with Canada as "stupid", pointing out the negative reception during sporting events.

April 2025: Criticism of Deportation Operations

By April 2025, Joe Rogan referred to the Trump administration's operation to deport immigrants to El Salvador as "horrific."

April 2025: Rogan Comments on Disability Slur

In April 2025, Joe Rogan controversially stated that the re-emergence of the disability slur "retard" is "one of the greatest cultural victories that I think is spurred on, probably, by podcasts".

2025: Criticism of Trump's Policies

Following Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration, Joe Rogan voiced criticism of some of his policies.