Watched a few of his shows, and I don't see what all the fuss is about?
I don't dislike the guy, but any episode that approaches anything even remotely 'deep', usually revolves around the 'guest' (and not the 'host') and nine times out of ten, Rogan usually 'parrots' the opinions of his guests.
Yet the hype around Rogan is that he"s this controversial, revelatory figure. He comes across as a bit of a (try-hard) stoner?
I think that's exactly the appeal. That the show is almost entirely about the guests, unlike other shows that are almost all about the host where the guests don't really matter.
shareHe keeps an open mind, he questions everything, and he lets his guests speak and not try to over talk them.He actually behaves like a decent host and makes it about the guests he invites on! He even invites people from all backgrounds onto his show.
shareRogan should not be opening his mind so much that his brain falls out. What other reason is there for Rogan suggesting that the Apollo program moon landings were faked?
shareThere is a lot of truth to that statement. Rogan himself said "I will believe anything someone tells me for at least thirty seconds" which is kind of ridiculous. I understand giving something a chance and mulling it over but some stuff is way out there.
I could see someone believing its fake, because of the propaganda and cold war tensions of the time. There is good reason to "fake it if you hadnt made it". Im not saying thats what I believe, I simply understand how someone can believe it.
But for instance, "flat-earthers" I wouldnt even mull that one over for thirty seconds xD
I dont agree with everything Rogan says or does, but he does leave it open. All views, backgrounds, different people, are allowed on his show and invited. That alone is worthy of respect, considering how divisive everything has become. Theres been some really interesting shows he's done!
No one who is reasonable would think Apollo was faked. The ones who do (or claim to) are the kind of people who have no idea what radiation is, have never used a film camera, are unable to search for anything on the internet and do not understand how a rocket or computer works.
Personally I don't think Rogan thought Apollo was faked. I think he says outrageous things for attention and believes his audience is stupid.
There are a few clips of the show that I enjoy. Usually it's the interviews with other comedians.
shareIt's basically him and his guest sitting down and having a conversation. That's the appeal, plain and simple. The simplicity is what makes it good. Might not be for everyone. His greatest asset is that he listens to his guest. He allows his guests to speak without talking over them.
Howard Stern (the GOAT of radio) while asking great questions loves to CONSTANTLY talk over his guests. He constantly talks over his guest which can be maddening at times. I still love Howard, but this is his biggest flaw.
The many, many actors who have podcasts love to ask questions and then find a way to make it about them.
As far as the "controversy." Look if you're really listening to what Joe Rogan, or Aaron Rodgers, or insert random celebrities name has to say about getting a vaccine then you are a Bozo.
The problem is however if you dont have a background education in the topic it just becomes a platform to spew misinformation. im not taking sides on the covid things, multiple other guest just come spread their objective lies, woo woo and alternative reality. Which is fine but you need a host who can challenge them with facts.
If not it just becomes a platform of nonsense. Giving the false impression that the topic is just a difference of opinion and both sides are equal. When they are not.
I see it the same as bringing on a flat earther with their half truths, lies and misinformation. But having a a host who lacks to knowledge in cosmology to even call them out on basic things they get wrong.
I see him routinely challenge and disagree with his guests. I have to agree that he’s given credibility to some obvious bull shit. I took a long leave of absence when he was endorsing the idea that the Apollo moon landings were staged.
shareOr when Rogan thought Chris Cuomo was really lifting 100LB dumbbells with one arm in that quick awkward curl position xD
Sometimes Rogan says or does things I dont agree with, but as a whole the guy is great and an excellent host. He'll invite anybody on! With all the division and echo chambers these days, we need this openness.
Sometimes I take breaks from him too when he glorifies drug and alcohol use.
OH he does for sure, but often he doesn't have the knowledge to do it properly, the guest counters, and the guest looks like he has a smart and logical rebuttal to Rogans challenge, when in fact Rogan just isn't knowledgable on the topic and can't properly explain why what the guest is saying is junk.
Not saying talk shows can't be done right by hosts with the deep knowledge, or willingness to actually do lots of research before their guests come on and make it a discussion/ debate not just a platform for misinformation. like King or others. It seems Rogans lack of deep insight and possible weed smoking makes him too receptive to "far out" theories that no sober logical person would be
I know there are flat earths who could crush me in a debate. Just because they know more of the proper cosmological and physics terminology, they just twist and distort them. I find this is kinda what happens on Rogans show.
Rogan brought the long interview format to YouTube, he's an interesting guy himself with plenty of stories from his youth, Hollywood, and stand up career. Plus he's brought so many of his stand up friends on the show it's must view YouTube. Rogan did it for over 10 years, gained a huge audience and has now cashed in with a 100 million dollar contract with Spotify. Rogan won the battle and the war.
Now, there are other long format interview YouTubers who are jockeying to take over Rogan's empty spot. Lex Fridman seems to be in the lead right now.
He sucks. I don't know why anyone listens to this garbage
shareWhats your favorite podcaster or host?
shareStern. I don't do podcasts. That word turns me off
shareI dont normally listen to Howard Stern, but I did see the one where he had Coolio on and they sung Gangsta's Paradise together and it was interesting. Also I listened to the one where he asked Robert Downey about Scorseses remarks of "Superhero movies are not real cinema".
Maybe I would need to listen to more Stern, but from what I heard and saw it seems like any podcaster or radio host type of listening. Just people talking about interesting subjects. It seems to boil down to who you like according to personality, humor, or intelligence.
I liked Dick Cavett as a host https://youtu.be/6gzkB6sY2hk
Conan O-Brien is great! https://youtu.be/LLR0jg7Xu9M
but podcaster wise, theres three people I have listened to on a great level. But I dont think you'd be interested in any links to those.
The appeal for me is the long-form conversations and the interesting variety of guests.
It makes these shows the antidote to vapid talk shows. 10 minutes, all celebrities, product shilling, curated by publicists... forget it; don't need that.
A long conversation allows them to cover a lot of bases, be funny, get serious and "real" with each other, and more genuinely connect. It also allows deeper insights into the guests minds.
The guests are also great. I skip the full conversations with the MMA guys, but I love that he's talking to comedians, politicians, actors, writers, philosophers, teachers, and scientists. My favourite episodes are (off the top of my head) Cornell West, Sir Roger Penrose, and Chuck Palahniuk. On a regular talk show, Cornell West gets 20 minutes (tops) and that's on something like Real Time. On a regular talk show, Palahniuk wouldn't be able to share the CRAZY stuff he shares. On a regular talk show, Roger Penrose wouldn't be there at all.
Rogan himself isn't the point of the show - to me - he's just the host. I like him as a host because he's curious and that leads him to asking a lot of good questions. Yes, he mostly agrees (although I have seen him disagree, quiet vehemently).
So, for me, that's why I like the show. It gives interesting people time to get deep. Not all of the shows are "hits" for me, but listening to Roger Penrose talk about consciousness blows my mind; I can't keep up with his brainpower. It's astounding.