TIME Magazine Previously Made Opinion On Joe Rogan Very Clear
Joe Rogan is one of the top podcast hosts in the world. His show, the "Joe Rogan Experience," has been the top podcast on Spotify since signing a massive distribution deal with the platform in 2020.
Rogan is extremely popular, but he's also been a magnet for controversy, especially over the last few years. He's interviewed influencers, thought leaders, athletes and politicians on his show, and has shared views that some find offensive.
Rogan was recently profiled in a list of TIME's Most Influential People of 2025, but he was omitted from another list on the website than many fans felt he more than qualified for.
Rogan and the JRE were not included in TIME's recent list of the top 100 podcasts of all time. Rogan may be controversial and his podcast certainly isn't for everyone, but on sheer numbers alone it's impossible to deny his impact on the space and the medium.
As of July 24, the "Joe Rogan Experience" has over 20 million subscribers on YouTube and has pulled in over 6.1 billion views on the platform. It remains Spotify's top podcast despite the exclusive distribution deal ending in 2024.
TIME may not have included Rogan in its list of the greatest podcasts ever, but the publication did recently profile him for its influential people list.
"Never mind podcasting—Joe Rogan has changed broadcasting," said former "Dirty Jobs" host and television presenter Mike Rowe for TIME.
"His conversations have moved markets, influenced elections, and introduced millions of people to countless subjects they didn’t know they were interested in. He has defied our short attention spans and given his guests—for better and worse—enough time to reveal their true selves. In other words, by letting people talk, he’s changing the way we listen. And that is changing everything."
Rowe didn't attribute Rogan's success to any ideologies or political parties, but he seemed to mention the divide that exists between some portions of his fan base.
Rogan has been an eclectic and unique character for most of his career. As his podcast and media empire continue to grow, there seems to be no reason to expect that to change.