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. He is best known for hosting 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' a highly influential podcast where he engages in wide-ranging conversations with guests on topics like current events, comedy, politics, science, and martial arts. His podcast boasts a large audience and significant cultural impact.
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, launching his comedy career.
1988: Comedy Career Begins
In 1988, Joe Rogan started his career in comedy in the Boston area, marking a key moment in his early professional life.
1990: Moves 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: Interest in Jiu-Jitsu
In 1994, Joe Rogan became interested in jiu-jitsu after watching Royce Gracie fight at UFC 2: No Way Out.
1994: Relocation to Los Angeles and Disney Deal
In 1994, Joe Rogan moved to Los Angeles and signed an exclusive developmental deal with Disney, opening new avenues in his career.
1994: Relocates to Los Angeles
In 1994, Joe Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and had his first national television spot, leading to a deal with Disney.
1995: Stars in NewsRadio
In 1995, Joe Rogan began starring in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio as Joe Garrelli, an electrician and handyman.
1996: Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In 1996, Joe Rogan began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie at his school in Hollywood, California.
February 7, 1997: First UFC Show
On February 7, 1997, Joe Rogan's first show with the Ultimate Fighting Championship took place at UFC 12: Judgement Day in Dothan, Alabama, marking his debut as a backstage interviewer.
1997: Joins UFC as Interviewer and Commentator
In 1997, Joe Rogan began working for the UFC as an interviewer and color commentator, marking his entry into the world of mixed martial arts.
December 1999: Records First Stand-up Album
In December 1999, Joe Rogan recorded his first stand-up comedy album at the Comedy Connection in Boston.
1999: Continues in NewsRadio
In 1999, Joe Rogan continued to star in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, maintaining his role as Joe Garrelli.
August 2000: Releases First Comedy Album
In August 2000, Joe Rogan released his first stand-up comedy album, "I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day...", gaining exposure on The Howard Stern Show.
2000: First Comedy Special Release
In 2000, Joe Rogan released his first comedy special, "I'm Gonna Be Dead Someday...", a significant milestone in his comedy career.
2001: Hosts Fear Factor
In 2001, Joe Rogan accepted an offer from NBC to host the American edition of Fear Factor, increasing his national exposure.
2001: Hosts Fear Factor
In 2001, Joe Rogan began hosting the game show Fear Factor, gaining mainstream recognition.
2001: UFC Acquired by Zuffa
In 2001, after Zuffa acquired the UFC, Joe Rogan attended some events and befriended Dana White, who later offered him a job as a color commentator.
December 2002: Emcees Hollywood Christmas Parade
In December 2002, Joe Rogan was the emcee for the 2002 Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular, a Christmas parade in Hollywood.
2002: Joins UFC as Color Commentator
In 2002, Dana White hired Joe Rogan to work for free as a color commentator for UFC in exchange for prime event tickets, eventually leading to a paid position.
February 2003: Co-Hosts The Man Show
In February 2003, Joe Rogan became the new co-host of The Man Show on Comedy Central, following the departure of Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla.
August 2003: Starts Hosting The Man Show
In August 2003, Joe Rogan began hosting The Man Show on Comedy Central with Doug Stanhope.
2004: The Man Show Ends
In 2004, Joe Rogan's involvement with The Man Show ended after disagreements over content with Comedy Central.
May 2005: Signs Deal with Endeavor Talent Agency
In May 2005, Joe Rogan signed a deal with the Endeavor Talent Agency.
September 2006: Recorded 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 Ends
In 2006, Fear Factor's initial run concluded after six seasons, marking the end of Joe Rogan's hosting role on the show.
2006: Leaves Fear Factor
In 2006, Joe Rogan left his hosting role on Fear Factor, concluding a significant chapter in his television career.
April 2007: Shiny Happy Jihad Released
In April 2007, Comedy Central Records released Joe Rogan's fourth comedy special, Shiny Happy Jihad.
2007: Joe Rogan: Live Premieres on Showtime
In 2007, Joe Rogan: Live, Joe Rogan's second stand-up comedy special, 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, produced by Ashton Kutcher.
December 2009: Launches Podcast
In December 2009, Joe Rogan launched a free podcast with Brian Redban, initially a live weekly broadcast on Ustream.
2009: The Joe Rogan Experience Launched
In 2009, Joe Rogan launched The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which became a cornerstone of his career.
August 2010: Podcast Named "The Joe Rogan Experience"
By August 2010, Joe Rogan's podcast was named "The Joe Rogan Experience" and entered the list of Top 100 podcasts on iTunes.
2010: Presents DMT Documentary
In 2010, Joe Rogan was the presenter in the documentary "DMT: The Spirit Molecule."
2011: Resumes Hosting Fear Factor, Appears in Zookeeper
In 2011, Joe Rogan resumed his role as the host of "Fear Factor" for its seventh and final season. He also played his first major film character, Gale, in the comedy film "Zookeeper" in 2011.
2011: Podcast Picked up by SiriusXM
In 2011, The Joe Rogan Experience was picked up by SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
December 2012: Releases Comedy Special
In December 2012, Joe Rogan released his sixth comedy special, "Live from the Tabernacle", exclusively as a download on his website for $5.
2012: Appearance in Here Comes the Boom
In 2012, Joe Rogan played himself in "Here Comes the Boom", an action-comedy film starring Kevin James.
2013: Hosts "Joe Rogan Questions Everything"
In 2013, Joe Rogan hosted the television show "Joe Rogan Questions Everything" on the SyFy network, which covered topics discussed on his podcasts.
January 2015: Podcast Reaches 11 Million Monthly Downloads
By January 2015, Joe Rogan's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience", reached over 11 million monthly downloads.
2015: Podcast Achieves Global Popularity
By 2015, The Joe Rogan Experience had become one of the most popular podcasts globally, receiving millions of plays per episode.
2016: Worked with Mike Goldberg until the end of the year
Joe Rogan worked alongside Mike Goldberg as a color commentator for the UFC until the end of 2016.
May 19, 2020: Signs Deal with Spotify
On May 19, 2020, Joe Rogan announced a multiyear licensing deal with Spotify worth an estimated $200 million.
September 1, 2020: Podcast Available on Spotify
Starting September 1, 2020, "The Joe Rogan Experience" became available on Spotify as part of the licensing deal.
2020: Spotify Exclusive Deal
In 2020, Spotify acquired exclusive distribution rights to The Joe Rogan Experience for $200 million, marking a major shift in the podcast's distribution.
January 2021: Podcast Exclusive to Spotify
From January 2021, "The Joe Rogan Experience" became exclusive to Spotify, 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: Rogan Declines Rumble Offer
In early 2022, Joe Rogan declined an offer from Rumble to switch from Spotify for $100 million.
March 2023: Comedy Mothership Opens
In March 2023, Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership comedy club opened in Austin, Texas.
February 2024: Rogan's Podcast Controversy over AIDS
In February 2024, Joe Rogan made controversial statements on his podcast with Bret Weinstein regarding party drugs and AIDS, referencing AIDS denialist Peter Duesberg. This led to criticism from the American Foundation for AIDS Research for "disseminating false information".
December 2024: Podcast Top 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: Spotify Deal Renewed
In 2024, Joe Rogan renewed his deal with Spotify for an estimated $250 million, though the podcast will no longer be exclusive to the platform.
January 10, 2025: Publishes Interview with Mark Zuckerberg
On January 10, 2025, Joe Rogan published an interview with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, where Zuckerberg alleged that the Biden administration had pressured Facebook to remove content related to the COVID-19 vaccine.