Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Joe Rogan
Discover the career path of Joe Rogan, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Joe Rogan is an American podcaster, comedian, UFC color commentator, actor, and former television host, best known for hosting 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast. The podcast features conversations with a wide range of guests, discussing topics like current events, comedy, politics, science, philosophy, and martial arts. 'The Joe Rogan Experience' has gained immense popularity, becoming one of the most listened to podcasts globally and the most streamed on Spotify since 2020. Rogan's career spans across various entertainment mediums, contributing to his widespread recognition and influence.
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 Stitches comedy club in Boston.
1988: Comedy Career Begins
In 1988, Joe Rogan started his comedy career in the Boston area, marking his initial foray into the world of stand-up comedy.
1990: Move to New York City
In 1990, Joe Rogan moved to New York City to pursue comedy full-time, marking a significant step in his career.
1994: Relocation to Los Angeles and Television Spot
In 1994, Joe Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and had his first national television spot on the MTV comedy show Half-Hour Comedy Hour, leading to further opportunities in television.
1994: Relocation to Los Angeles
In 1994, Joe Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and signed an exclusive developmental deal with Disney, which furthered his career in the entertainment industry.
1995: Starring in NewsRadio
From 1995, Joe Rogan starred in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio as Joe Garrelli, an electrician and handyman at the show's fictional news radio station.
1996: Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In 1996, Joe Rogan began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie in Los Angeles, California.
February 7, 1997: First UFC Show
On February 7, 1997, Joe Rogan's first show with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) took place at UFC 12: Judgement Day in Dothan, Alabama, where he worked as a backstage and post-fight interviewer.
1997: Joins UFC as Interviewer and Commentator
In 1997, Joe Rogan began working for the UFC as an interviewer and color commentator, marking the start of his long association with the mixed martial arts organization.
December 1999: Records First Comedy Album
In December 1999, Joe Rogan recorded his first stand-up comedy album at the Comedy Connection at Faneuil Hall in Boston.
1999: End of NewsRadio
In 1999, Joe Rogan's time starring in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio came to an end.
August 2000: Release of 'I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day...'
In August 2000, Joe Rogan released his first stand-up comedy album, "I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day...", which received national exposure.
2000: First Comedy Special Release
In 2000, Joe Rogan released his first comedy special, titled "I'm Gonna Be Dead Someday...", showcasing his stand-up comedy work.
2001: Accepts Offer to Host Fear Factor
In 2001, Joe Rogan accepted an offer from NBC to host the American edition of Fear Factor, which interrupted the development of his television show.
2001: Hosting Fear Factor
In 2001, Joe Rogan started hosting the game show Fear Factor, which increased his mainstream popularity.
2001: UFC Acquisition by Zuffa
In 2001, after the UFC was taken over by Zuffa, Joe Rogan befriended its new president, Dana White, marking a turning point in his UFC career.
December 2002: Emcees Hollywood Spectacular
In December 2002, Joe Rogan was the emcee for the 2002 Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular, a Christmas parade in Hollywood.
2002: Accepts UFC Commentator Job
In 2002, Joe Rogan accepted a job as a color commentator for the UFC after initially declining, starting as a free gig in exchange for 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.
August 2003: Starts Hosting The Man Show
In August 2003, Joe Rogan officially started hosting The Man Show on Comedy Central for its fifth season.
2004: The Man Show Ends
In 2004, disagreements over content led to the end of The Man Show, with Joe Rogan leaving the show.
May 2005: Signs with Endeavor Talent Agency
In May 2005, Joe Rogan signed a deal with the Endeavor Talent Agency, marking a significant move in his career management.
September 2006: Recording of 'Shiny Happy Jihad'
In September 2006, Joe Rogan recorded his comedy special, "Shiny Happy Jihad", at Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco.
2006: Fear Factor Ends
In 2006, Joe Rogan's role as host of Fear Factor ended after an initial run of six seasons, allowing him to refocus on other career aspects.
2006: End of Fear Factor Hosting
In 2006, Joe Rogan's tenure as the host of Fear Factor came to an end after six seasons.
April 2007: Release of 'Shiny Happy Jihad'
In April 2007, Comedy Central Records released Joe Rogan's fourth comedy special, "Shiny Happy Jihad."
2007: Premiere of 'Joe Rogan: Live'
In 2007, Joe Rogan's second stand-up comedy special, "Joe Rogan: Live", which was filmed in Phoenix, Arizona in July 2005, premiered on Showtime.
January 2009: Hosts Game Show in My Head
In January 2009, Joe Rogan hosted the short-lived CBS show Game Show in My Head, which aired for eight episodes.
December 2009: Launch of Free Podcast
In December 2009, Joe Rogan launched a free podcast with Brian Redban, recorded on December 24, intended as a weekly live broadcast on Ustream.
2009: Launch of The Joe Rogan Experience
In 2009, Joe Rogan launched The Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast that would later become extremely popular.
August 2010: Podcast Named 'The Joe Rogan Experience'
By August 2010, the podcast was named 'The Joe Rogan Experience' and entered the list of Top 100 podcasts on iTunes.
2010: Presenter in 'DMT: The Spirit Molecule'
In 2010, Joe Rogan was the presenter in the documentary 'DMT: The Spirit Molecule'.
2011: Podcast Picked Up by SiriusXM Satellite Radio
In 2011, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast was picked up by SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
2011: Resumed hosting Fear Factor and film role in Zookeeper
In 2011, Joe Rogan resumed his role as the host of Fear Factor for its seventh and final season. Also in 2011, Rogan played his first major film character, Gale, in the comedy film Zookeeper and worked on his book.
December 2012: Release of Comedy Special '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.
2012: Acting Role in 'Here Comes the Boom'
In 2012, Joe Rogan played himself in 'Here Comes the Boom', an action-comedy film starring Kevin James.
2013: Hosting 'Joe Rogan Questions Everything' on SyFy
In 2013, Joe Rogan hosted the television show 'Joe Rogan Questions Everything' on the SyFy network, which aired for six episodes and covered topics discussed on his podcasts.
January 2015: Podcast Downloads Reach 11 Million Monthly
By January 2015, Joe Rogan's podcast reached over 11 million monthly downloads.
2015: The Joe Rogan Experience's Popularity
By 2015, The Joe Rogan Experience was one of the most popular podcasts in the world, gaining millions of plays per episode.
2016: Commentating with Mike Goldberg Ends
In 2016, Joe Rogan's time working alongside Mike Goldberg as a UFC commentator came to an end.
May 19, 2020: Licensing Deal with Spotify
On May 19, 2020, Joe Rogan announced he signed a multiyear licensing deal with Spotify for The Joe Rogan Experience, estimated at $200 million.
September 1, 2020: 'The Joe Rogan Experience' on Spotify
Starting September 1, 2020, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' became available on Spotify.
2020: Spotify Acquisition of The Joe Rogan Experience
In 2020, Spotify obtained exclusive distribution rights to The Joe Rogan Experience for $200 million, significantly increasing Rogan's audience.
2020: Spotify's Most Streamed Podcast
In 2020, The Joe Rogan Experience became the most streamed podcast on Spotify.
January 2021: 'The Joe Rogan Experience' Exclusive to Spotify
From January 2021, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' became exclusive to the Spotify platform, with both audio and video content.
2021: Onnit Sold to Unilever
In 2021, Onnit, the supplements and fitness company co-founded by Joe Rogan, was sold to Unilever.
2022: Rumble's Offer to Rogan
In early 2022, the video platform Rumble offered Joe Rogan $100 million to switch from Spotify, which Rogan declined.
March 2023: Opening of Comedy Mothership Comedy Club
In March 2023, Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership comedy club opened in Austin, Texas.
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.
2024: Renewal of Spotify Deal
In 2024, Joe Rogan renewed his deal with Spotify for an estimated $250 million, but the deal was no longer exclusive.
January 10, 2025: Interview with Mark Zuckerberg
On January 10, 2025, Joe Rogan interviewed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during which Zuckerberg claimed that the Biden administration pressured Facebook to remove posts suggesting side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.
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