The Joe Rogan Experience

Sure Joe is a comic and sure he can state at times incorrect information, while stating that he is a moron and isn't qualified to give information, this is why he has qualified professionals on and has Jamie google A LOT of what he states to be true. He is BY FAR the GOAT interviewer, he plays dumb at times so that the audience can get the information from that perspective, when it is clear that he is intelligent and does know A LOT because he is insightful and questions things that should be, as we all should do. You don't need to be a genius to watch listen to this podcast thanks to Joe asking questions in a way that allows the audience from all walks of life to enjoy.

This is hands down the best interview show that has ever existed, and for a number of reasons.

The first is that it's not edited, the talks go on as long as they take, and everyone is given an honest exchange without editing to make a point.

But, it goes further than just that, Joe Rogan will sit down and talk to anyone, and I mean ANYONE, including media pariahs and people that will clearly speak four feet above his head. It doesn't matter who they are, he's sitting down and talking to them.

And the thing is that he gets into the conversations, after three or four hours it's not uncommon to see him beg guests to stay just a little while longer because he's gotten into the conversation and that just draws you in further.

You get to hear a range of topics, politics, science, arts and entertainment, conspiracy theories, sports, martial arts, comedy, literally anything and everything that can be debated and discussed eventually makes it's way onto the show, so much so that, when you tune in, you never know who the next guest is going to be and discussed as the conversations meander and spin their way through the show at the whims of interests.

It's not the best in any category, but it's the only show with absolutely every category.

This redefines the term variety show

Legendary status. Will go down in history as a Legend

I've been listening to the JRE since the very first episodes with the snowflakes.

The reason for listening to podcasts (instead of, say, your whenever o'clock news, or mockumentaries, or ad-riddled TV content, or sound-byte yelling matches that last less than 5 minutes by design) for me is threefold (and here I'm using JRE as an excellent example, but there are other podcasts I can recommend for the same reasons)

1) Variety of content. For the stated goal of personal interest, the host has had an incredible range of guests, from mountain climbers to rocket scientists to hulking mma beasts to brainiacs, all with multiply contradicting points of view from which the listener learns a great deal as they get untangled during the podcast, from a variety of angles

2) Clear intellect. Jordan Peterson crystallized this for me in a recent JRE podcast of his, but essentially clear intellect can be described as truthful intent, transparency in communicated thought, or just a certain "vibe" that you get from someone. Clear intellect from the host allows for the guests to open up and talk freely, rather than clam up and try to defend something, and it allows for limitlessly deeper discussion

3) Uncensored for content and unedited for time. Pretty self explanatory. The lack of censorship should go without saying, but in today's world its kinda crazy that there's still rampant censorship "out there". But even more important for me is the lack of editing for time. Some podcasts have gone on for 3+ hours, and 2 hours seems the sweet spot. If you can enjoy a feature length film, why not a discussion between a professional conversationalist and a professional something-else about a variety of topics no less interesting than a film plot?

Bonus: portability. The audio-only nature (although many podcasts including JRE have a video portion that is sometimes useful) allows you to listen at ease during your commute, heads down coding sessions, whatever.

Joe talks with subject matter experts the way you and I would. Casual questioning to understand the issue rather than trying to support at a preconceived conclusion.

The vast majority of these types of shows succumb to the mainstream media intent to create conflict simply for entertainment, and to perpetuate the opinion tribalism that gets them ratings and gets us nowhere.

Joe's show doesn't. Of course he offers his own opinions and will combat opposing ones. As we all should--have an opinion, but examine counter-arguments with genuine intent to understand. Not to reject out of hand.

The end game should be to acquire non-propagandist information, induce self-reflection and practice empathy. Those happen here most times.

So why a 9 and not a 10? Because none of us are infallible.