I’m probably the very last person you might pick
to assess the power and meaning of Joe Rogan.
While we both do long podcasts, we’re quite dif-While we both do long podcasts, we’re quite dif-
ferent in terms of origins (journalist vs. comic), ferent in terms of origins (journalist vs. comic), ferent in terms of origins (journalist vs. comic),
tone (persistently tough vs. indefatigably curi-tone (persistently tough vs. indefatigably curi-
ous), and content (just the facts vs. just asking ous), and content (just the facts vs. just asking ous), and content (just the facts vs. just asking
questions—including to obvious charlatans). questions—including to obvious charlatans).
But that’s really the point of podcasting, part of But that’s really the point of podcasting, part of
a fresh and new media landscape where there’s a fresh and new media landscape where there’s
no question that Rogan has pioneered and no question that Rogan has pioneered and
plowed the fields like no other. To say he is big is plowed the fields like no other. To say he is big is
an understatement: his an understatement: his Joe Rogan ExperienceJoe Rogan Experience
video podcast averages 11 million people, with video podcast averages 11 million people, with
a huge and loyal fan base that skews heavily a huge and loyal fan base that skews heavily
young and male. That’s earned him a fortune, young and male. That’s earned him a fortune,
including the $200 million he garnered from including the $200 million he garnered from
Spotify to be exclusive to the platform. He Spotify to be exclusive to the platform. He
certainly delivers with big interviews from Elon certainly delivers with big interviews from Elon
Musk to Dave Chappelle, ranging across the Musk to Dave Chappelle, ranging across the
ideological spectrum, which is a critical talent in ideological spectrum, which is a critical talent in
these partisan times. But he’s also gotten into these partisan times. But he’s also gotten into
a lot of trouble this year for resurfaced racial a lot of trouble this year for resurfaced racial
slurs he made—and apologized for—and being slurs he made—and apologized for—and being
a place where COVID deniers get a very easy a place where COVID deniers get a very easy
ride. It’s complicated, of course, but there’s no ride. It’s complicated, of course, but there’s no
question that Rogan’s success is pretty simple: question that Rogan’s success is pretty simple:
the former the former Fear FactorFear Factor host has become the host has become the
nation’s earworm. nation’s earworm.
Swisher is a journalist and the host of the New Swisher is a journalist and the host of the New
York York TimesTimes podcast podcast SwaySway
56 Time June 6/June 13, 2022
Ketanji
Brown
Jackson
Breaking down barriers
BY CORY BOOKERJoe Rogan
Powerful podcasterPowerful podcaster
B Y K A R A S W I S H E RB Y K A R A S W I S H E R
With grit and grace, and holding
more trial-court experience than
any current Supreme Court Justice,
Ketanji Brown Jackson demonstrated
to America that she was prepared,
poised, and would ultimately
persevere through insults and
attacks.
Her magnificent triumph during
her hearings, earning her bipartisan
support, evoked for millions a
moment of invincible joy.REDUX; JACKSON: THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUXROGAN: DAMON WINTER—THE NEW YORK TIMES/