History of Joe Rogan in Timeline

Joe Rogan is a multifaceted American personality renowned for his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. He is also a comedian, UFC color commentator, actor, and former television host. His podcast is known for its long-form interviews covering a wide range of topics, including current events, comedy, popular culture, politics, science, and philosophy. With a large and influential audience, Rogan's podcast has become a prominent platform for discussions and interviews with diverse guests. He is considered a major influencer in modern media and podcasting.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

August 11, 1967: Joe Rogan's birth

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

1985: Graduated High School

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: Started comedy career

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

1990: Moved to New York City

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

1993: Accusation of Carlos Mencia since 1993

Since 1993, Joe Rogan accused Carlos Mencia of joke thievery.

1994: Interested 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.

1994: Relocated to Los Angeles and appearance on MTV

In 1994, Joe Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and made his first national television spot on the MTV comedy show Half-Hour Comedy Hour. He also accepted a development deal with the Disney network and secured his first major acting role in the Fox sitcom Hardball as Frank Valente.

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1994: Relocated to Los Angeles and signed deal with Disney

In 1994, Joe Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and signed an exclusive developmental deal with Disney.

1995: Starred in NewsRadio

In 1995, Joe Rogan began starring 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 took place at UFC 12: Judgement Day in Dothan, Alabama, as a backstage and post-fight interviewer.

1997: Began working for the UFC

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

1998: Phil Hartman's Death

In 1998, Joe Rogan's fellow cast member Phil Hartman was murdered by his wife, affecting Rogan's ability to perform stand-up and causing him to cancel gigs.

December 1999: Recorded first stand-up comedy album

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

1999: Starred in NewsRadio until 1999

Joe Rogan starred in NewsRadio until 1999.

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August 2000: Release of "I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day..." album

In August 2000, Joe Rogan released his first stand-up comedy album, "I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day..." after recording it in December 1999.

2000: Released first comedy special

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

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2001: Hosted Fear Factor

In 2001, Joe Rogan accepted an offer from NBC to host the American edition of Fear Factor.

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2001: UFC takeover by Zuffa

In 2001, the UFC was taken over by Zuffa, and Rogan became friends with its new president 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: Hired as UFC color commentator

In 2002, Dana White hired Joe Rogan as a color commentator for the UFC.

February 2003: Became 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: Began hosting The Man Show season five

In August 2003, Joe Rogan started hosting the fifth season of The Man Show on Comedy Central with Doug Stanhope.

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2003: Living in Bell Canyon

In 2003, Joe Rogan began living on and off in Bell Canyon, California.

2004: The Man Show ended

In 2004, Joe Rogan's show The Man Show ended due to disagreements with Comedy Central and the show's producers.

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May 2005: Signed deal with Endeavor Talent Agency

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

2005: Accusation of Carlos Mencia

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

2005: Wesley Snipes challenged to a cage fight

In 2005, actor Wesley Snipes challenged Joe Rogan to a cage fight, but Snipes backed out.

September 2006: Recorded Shiny Happy Jihad

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

2006: Fear Factor ran for six seasons

Fear Factor, which was hosted by Joe Rogan, ran for six seasons until 2006.

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2006: Left Fear Factor

In 2006, Joe Rogan left the show Fear Factor.

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February 2007: Confronted Carlos Mencia on stage

In February 2007, Joe Rogan confronted Carlos Mencia on stage at The Comedy Store in Hollywood, leading to consequences with his talent agency and venue.

April 2007: Release of Shiny Happy Jihad

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

2007: Premiered stand-up comedy special

In 2007, Joe Rogan's second stand-up comedy special, Joe Rogan: Live, premiered on Showtime, having been filmed in Phoenix, Arizona, in July 2005.

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2008: Birth of Daughter and Move to Colorado

In 2008, Joe Rogan and Jessica Ditzel had a daughter. They also moved to Gold Hill, Colorado, before returning to Southern California four months later due to Ditzel's pregnancy.

January 2009: Hosted Game Show in My Head

In January 2009, Joe Rogan hosted the short-lived CBS show Game Show in My Head.

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December 2009: Launch of Podcast

In December 2009, Joe Rogan and Brian Redban launched a free podcast, recorded on December 24 as a live weekly broadcast on Ustream, with Rogan and Redban "sitting in front of laptops bullshitting".

2009: Launched The Joe Rogan Experience

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 named 'The Joe Rogan Experience' and entered the list of Top 100 podcasts on iTunes.

2010: Birth of Second Daughter

In 2010, Joe Rogan and Jessica Ditzel welcomed their second daughter.

2010: Accusation of Joke Thievery

In 2010, Joe Rogan publicly accused comedian Dane Cook of stealing jokes, sparking 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'.

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2011: Resumes Fear Factor Hosting and Acts in Zookeeper

In 2011, Joe Rogan resumed hosting Fear Factor for its seventh and final season, stating he "would hate to see somebody else do it". Also in 2011, Rogan took on his first major film role as Gale in the comedy movie Zookeeper. He was also working on a book titled 'Irresponsible Advice from a Man with No Credibility'.

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2011: The Joe Rogan Experience picked up by SiriusXM

In 2011, The Joe Rogan Experience podcast was picked up by SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

December 2012: Release of Comedy Special

In December 2012, Joe Rogan released his sixth comedy special, 'Live from the Tabernacle', as a direct download on his website for $5.00, following the example set by Louis C.K.

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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.

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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 aired for six episodes and covered topics from his podcasts, like Bigfoot and UFOs, with comedians, experts, and scientists. SyFy produced the show without a pilot, giving Rogan creative control.

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January 2015: Podcast Downloads Reach 11 Million

By January 2015, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast reached over 11 million monthly downloads.

2015: The Joe Rogan Experience gained popularity

By 2015, The Joe Rogan Experience became one of the most popular podcasts in the world.

2016: Worked alongside Mike Goldberg

Until the end of 2016, Joe Rogan worked alongside Mike Goldberg as a UFC color commentator.

2018: Purchase of New Home

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

October 2019: Revealed Relation to My Chemical Romance Members

In October 2019, Joe Rogan revealed that he is a first cousin once removed of Gerard Way and Mikey Way, members of My Chemical Romance, although he has never met them.

2019: Self-Described Socially Liberal

In 2019, Joe Rogan described himself as socially liberal, supporting same-sex marriage, gay rights, women's rights, recreational drug use, universal health care, universal basic income, gun rights, and the Second Amendment. He is also a strong supporter of freedom of speech.

May 19, 2020: Licensing Deal with Spotify

On May 19, 2020, Joe Rogan announced a multiyear licensing deal with Spotify, estimated at $200 million, making it one of the largest licensing agreements in the podcast business.

September 1, 2020: The Joe Rogan Experience on Spotify

Starting September 1, 2020, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' became available on Spotify, with both audio and video.

2020: Described as Libertarian-Leaning

In 2020, CNN described Joe Rogan as "libertarian-leaning".

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: Endorsed Bernie Sanders

In 2020, Joe Rogan endorsed Bernie Sanders.

2020: Spotify obtained exclusive distribution rights to The Joe Rogan Experience

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

January 2021: The Joe Rogan Experience Exclusive to Spotify

From January 2021, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' became exclusive to the Spotify platform, with video no longer streamed on YouTube, only clips.

April 2021: Contentious Remarks About COVID-19 Vaccines

In April 2021, Joe Rogan made contentious remarks about COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that young, healthy people don't need to be vaccinated. His views were criticized by Anthony Fauci and White House officials, leading Rogan to acknowledge "some legitimate science" behind Fauci's view.

September 1, 2021: Rogan Tests Positive for COVID-19

On September 1, 2021, Joe Rogan tested positive for COVID-19. He announced he had begun a treatment regimen including monoclonal antibodies, prednisone, azithromycin, NAD drip, a vitamin drip, and ivermectin. His use of ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, drew criticism.

September 3, 2021: Rogan Tests Negative for COVID-19

On September 3, 2021, Joe Rogan tested negative for COVID-19, following his treatment regimen.

2021: Onnit Sold to Unilever

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

January 2022: Open Letter from Scientists

In January 2022, 270 scientists, physicians, and healthcare workers wrote an open letter to Spotify, expressing concern over "false and societally harmful assertions" on 'The Joe Rogan Experience'. They asked Spotify to establish a policy to moderate misinformation, specifically regarding a controversial episode featuring Robert W. Malone.

January 24, 2022: Neil Young's Open Letter

On January 24, 2022, Neil Young posted an open letter demanding that Spotify remove his music if they didn't remove 'The Joe Rogan Experience', citing a responsibility to mitigate misinformation. Spotify subsequently removed Young's music.

February 4, 2022: Spotify Removes 70 Joe Rogan Episodes

On February 4, 2022, Spotify removed 70 episodes of Joe Rogan's podcast, all predating the COVID-19 pandemic, after discussions with Rogan about his past use of racially insensitive language.

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 in some episodes.

February 2022: Controversy Over Racial Slur

In February 2022, singer India Arie shared a compilation of Joe Rogan saying the racial slur "nigger" on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' on Instagram. Rogan apologized, describing his past language as "regretful and shameful", but also stated that the clips were taken out of context. This led to debate over a defamation attempt, with numerous UFC fighters defending Rogan.

April 2022: Remarks on Transgender Athletes

In April 2022, Joe Rogan made outspoken comments about transgender women competing in women's sports. He criticized transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and transgender martial arts artist Fallon Fox.

October 2022: Sharing of Litter Boxes in Schools Hoax

In October 2022, Joe Rogan shared the discredited litter boxes in schools hoax, claiming that schools were providing litter boxes to students who dress as cats. He later admitted there was no proof of this, but falsely claimed discussions were held on the topic.

2022: Comments on Ron DeSantis

In 2022, Joe Rogan stated that Republican Ron DeSantis would be "a good president".

2022: Rumble's Offer to Rogan

In early 2022, Rumble offered Joe Rogan $100 million to switch from Spotify to their platform, but Rogan declined.

February 2023: 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," comparing it to saying Italians aren't into pizza. His comments were in defense of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League condemned Rogan's 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.

February 2024: Promotion of Debunked Claims About AIDS

During a February 2024 podcast with Bret Weinstein, Joe Rogan promoted the debunked claim that party drugs such as poppers were a significant factor in AIDS, and falsely claimed that the antiviral drug AZT killed people faster than AIDS itself. They also praised AIDS denialist Peter Duesberg. The American Foundation for AIDS Research criticized the podcast for disseminating false information.

March 2024: Comments on Israel's Actions in Gaza

In March 2024, Joe Rogan described Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as a "genocide". Later that month, Rogan discussed the topic with writer Coleman Hughes, expressing appreciation for Hughes' counter perspective and acknowledging Hughes' greater knowledge on the subject.

April 2024: Lawsuit Filed Against Onnit

In April 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Onnit, alleging that its 'Alpha BRAIN' supplement was ineffective compared to a placebo and was advertised with "false, misleading and deceptive advertising".

November 4, 2024: Endorsement of Donald Trump

On November 4, 2024, the day before the 2024 United States presidential election, Joe Rogan endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump. He cited Elon Musk's compelling arguments in favor of Trump, stating he agreed with them every step of the way.

November 2024: Comments on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In November 2024, Joe Rogan stated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was "100% wrong." He criticized US President Joe Biden for allowing Ukraine to strike mainland Russia with US-supplied missiles. He also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leading to a response from Wladimir Klitschko.

December 2024: 'The Joe Rogan Experience' Top Podcast on Spotify

In December 2024, Spotify confirmed that 'The Joe Rogan Experience' was the top podcast on its platform for the fifth consecutive year.

2024: Renewed Spotify deal

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

2024: Supported Donald Trump

In 2024, Joe Rogan voiced his support for Donald Trump.

January 10, 2025: Interview with Mark Zuckerberg

On January 10, 2025, Joe Rogan interviewed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg alleged that the Biden administration had pressured Facebook to remove information on COVID-19 vaccine side effects.