History of Joe Rogan in Timeline

Share: FB Share X Share Reddit Share Reddit Share
Joe Rogan

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 11, 1967: Joe Rogan's Birth

On August 11, 1967, Joseph James Rogan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He is now 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, marking the end of his secondary education.

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.

1993: Initial Joke Thievery Claim

Since 1993, Joe Rogan had been making claims that comedian Carlos Mencia was stealing jokes, initiating a long-term dispute.

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, influencing his involvement with the UFC.

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

1998: Phil Hartman's Death

In 1998, Phil Hartman, a fellow cast member and friend of Joe Rogan's from NewsRadio, was murdered by his wife, deeply affecting Rogan.

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

2001: Hosting Fear Factor

In 2001, Joe Rogan started hosting the game show Fear Factor, which increased his mainstream popularity.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

2003: Living in Bell Canyon

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

2004: The Man Show Ends

In 2004, disagreements over content led to the end of The Man Show, with Joe Rogan leaving the show.

Loading Video...

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.

2005: Blog Entry Accusing Carlos Mencia

In 2005, Joe Rogan wrote a blog entry on his website accusing comedian Carlos Mencia of joke thievery, escalating a long-standing claim.

2005: Wesley Snipes Cage Fight Challenge

In 2005, Wesley Snipes challenged Joe Rogan to a cage fight, for which Rogan trained for five months before Snipes backed out.

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

February 2007: Confrontation with Carlos Mencia

In February 2007, Joe Rogan confronted Carlos Mencia on stage at The Comedy Store in Hollywood over joke thievery allegations.

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.

2008: Birth of First Daughter and Move to Colorado

In 2008, Joe Rogan and Jessica Ditzel had their first daughter and moved to Gold Hill, Colorado.

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.

Loading Video...

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.

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: Accusation of Joke Thievery

In 2010, Joe Rogan accused comedian Dane Cook of joke thievery, adding to his history of addressing such issues in the comedy world.

2010: Birth of Second Daughter

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

2010: Presenter in 'DMT: The Spirit Molecule'

In 2010, Joe Rogan was the presenter in the documentary 'DMT: The Spirit Molecule'.

Loading Video...

2011: Podcast Picked Up by SiriusXM Satellite Radio

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

2011: Endorsement of Ron Paul

In 2011, Joe Rogan endorsed Congressman Ron Paul and his presidential campaign during the Republican primaries.

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.

Loading Video...

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: Endorsement of Ron Paul

In 2012, Joe Rogan endorsed Ron Paul, indicating his political preferences during that time.

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

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 Relation 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, though he has never met them.

2019: Rogan's Self-Description as 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, and gun rights.

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: CNN's Description of Rogan

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: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders

In 2020, Joe Rogan endorsed Bernie Sanders, showcasing his political views at the time.

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.

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 do not need to be vaccinated, sparking criticism.

September 1, 2021: Tests 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 was 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.

January 2022: Open Letter from Scientists Regarding Misinformation

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' and asked Spotify to "establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform".

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

On January 24, 2022, Neil Young demanded that Spotify remove his music if they did not remove 'The Joe Rogan Experience' due to misinformation concerns.

February 4, 2022: Spotify Removes 70 Joe Rogan Episodes

On February 4, 2022, Spotify removed 70 episodes of Joe Rogan's podcast which pre-date the COVID-19 pandemic. Spotify stated that Joe Rogan selected the episodes to be removed following discussions about his history of using 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', partly due to perceived racist and insensitive language.

February 2022: Controversy over Racial Slur Usage

In February 2022, singer India Arie shared a compilation of Joe Rogan saying the racial slur "nigger" on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' on Instagram, leading to Rogan's apology and claims of a "political hit job".

April 2022: Comments on Transgender Athletes

In April 2022, Joe Rogan criticized transgender women competing in women's sports, specifically mentioning transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and martial artist Fallon Fox, expressing concerns about physical advantages. Rogan stated that Lia Thomas "might be the woke straw that breaks society's camel's back".

October 2022: Promotion of Litter Boxes in Schools Hoax

In October 2022, during an interview with Tulsi Gabbard, Joe Rogan shared the debunked conspiracy theory about public schools providing litter boxes for students who identify as cats. Rogan later admitted there was no proof, but falsely claimed there were discussions considering the idea.

2022: Comments on Ron DeSantis

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

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.

February 2023: Antisemitic Comments

In February 2023, Joe Rogan made comments on his podcast about Jewish people and money, which were widely criticized as antisemitic. Rogan's comment was in defense of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The Director of the Anti-Defamation League condemned Rogan's comment as reflecting "antisemitic tropes about Jews and money".

March 2023: Opening of Comedy Mothership Comedy Club

In March 2023, Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership comedy club opened in Austin, Texas.

February 2024: Promotion of Debunked AIDS Claims

During a February 2024 podcast with Bret Weinstein, Joe Rogan promoted the debunked claim that party drugs were a factor in AIDS and falsely claimed that the antiviral drug AZT killed people faster than AIDS itself. The American Foundation for AIDS Research criticized the podcast for spreading misinformation.

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 acknowledged writer Coleman Hughes knew more about the conflict.

April 2024: Lawsuit Filed Against Onnit

In April 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Onnit, alleging that its 'Alpha BRAIN' supplement performed no better than a placebo in a clinical study.

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.

November 2024: Criticism of the Russia-Ukraine war

In November 2024, Joe Rogan called the Russian invasion of Ukraine "100% wrong". He also criticized outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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.

2024: Support and Criticism of Donald Trump

In 2024, Joe Rogan supported Donald Trump but later criticized some of his policies, reflecting a nuanced perspective on Trump's political actions.

January 10, 2025: Interview with Mark Zuckerberg

On January 10, 2025, Joe Rogan interviewed CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during which Zuckerberg claimed that the Biden administration pressured Facebook to remove posts suggesting side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.

March 2025: Criticism of Trump's Feud with Canada

In March 2025, Joe Rogan criticized Trump's feud with Canada as "stupid".

April 2025: Criticism of Deportation Operations

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

April 2025: Comments on the Word "Retard"

In April 2025, Joe Rogan commented on the re-emergence of the disability slur "retard" into mainstream use, attributing it to the influence of podcasts and calling it a "cultural victory".

June 2025: Liver King's Arrest

In June 2025, fitness influencer Liver King was arrested after making violent threats against Joe Rogan on social media.

July 2025: Urging James Talarico to Run for President

In July 2025, Joe Rogan urged up-and-coming Texas Democrat James Talarico to run for President on his podcast.