With 2700 episodes in the bank, and a vast audience tuning into every episode, the Joe Rogan Experience is possibly the biggest podcast on the planet.
Unsurprisingly, there are many people angling to be guests on the podcast, so what does it take to win a coveted spot?
We examined 50 Joe Rogan Experience episodes and found some fascinating insights into the kinds of guests welcomed onto the popular podcast.
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How to get on Joe Rogan podcast: Understanding what type of guests he accepts
Checking the show notes, we found guests are most often described as podcast hosts or co-hosts, comics or comedians or authors (sometimes, all three.) To put some numbers on that, we found that 62% of Joe Rogan’s guests are podcast hosts with over 93k listeners on average, 46% are comics and 46% are authors.
Standout guests on JRE often build massive credibility in their fields and are frequently recommended by past guests, which increases their chances of being invited.
They also have diverse specialties. At the time of writing, the most recent episodes include scientists, intelligence (CIA, UAPs, counter terrorism), philosophy, entrepreneurs, music and investigative journalism and the occasional megastar actor (Adam Sandler and Russell Crowe.) However, being a celebrity alone is not enough to secure a spot, as Joe Rogan prefers guests with compelling stories or expertise.
You’ll probably have more luck becoming a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience if you can claim similar titles, or you’re a podcast host, and your show draws in a lot of listeners.
How to become a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast
Qualify yourself - are you a good fit?
What's your claim to fame?
Do you have a fascinating view point or an interesting career? Are you a standup comedian? Do you host a podcast with a massive audience? Do you have a large following on Twitter, (sorry, X?)
Can you have a conversation lasting several hours? Not everyone can talk for hours at a time. The Joe Rogan Experience is a long form podcast and episodes are rarely under 2 hours. Many go past the three-hour mark. In fact, episode #2171’s discussion with Eric Weinstein and Terrence Howard lasted 4 hours, 3 minutes and 25 seconds.
Joe Rogan has a diverse range of interests, reflected in his choice of podcast guests. For example:
- Martial Arts is a recurring theme. Joe Rogan is a former taekwondo champion and holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, there’s a whole subset of 160+ MMA episodes slotted in between the show’s regular episodes.
- Space exploration and science are well-represented, with in-depth conversations on a variety of these subjects in many episodes.
- Hunting - many guests over the years have been hunters, guides and hunting show hosts.
- Politics and political commentary. For example, recent guests include Tulsi Gabbard (former United States Representative), Tucker Carlson (described as “the leading voice in American Politics) and Konstantin Kisin (political commentator and author of “An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the West.)
Rogan’s guests come from a wide range of backgrounds, including scientists, authors, comedians, athletes, and public figures. Rogan's team likely screens potential guests by reviewing their previous media appearances.
Be relevant
For those hoping to land a coveted spot on the Joe Rogan Experience, building a strong online presence is essential. Potential guests should focus on creating engaging content across social media channels like Twitter and YouTube, showcasing their expertise and unique perspective.
Joe Rogan and his team often discover interesting personalities through their digital footprint, so being active and authentic online can significantly increase your chances of being noticed and invited onto the podcast.
Sharing your ideas, participating in thought-provoking discussions, and demonstrating hard work and dedication in your field will help you stand out to both Joe and his massive audience. By consistently producing valuable content and engaging with your followers, you not only grow your own platform but also become a more attractive guest for high-profile shows like the Joe Rogan Experience.
Remember, it’s not just about having followers—it’s about offering something unique and being prepared to contribute to the kind of open dialogue that defines the podcast.
Have a unique perspective
Joe Rogan chooses guests with controversial opinions and unconventional perspectives.
The podcast encourages candid, thought-provoking conversations and Rogan’s willingness to air different perspectives has sparked both praise and criticism.
So, consider how your ideas and personal anecdotes can enhance (and maybe provoke) the discussion.
Pitch the show? Probably not!
Joe Rogan has been one of the biggest podcasters in the world for a long time. Cold emailing and traditional publicist pitches are generally ineffective for securing a guest spot on shows as big as JRE.
His email address is not freely available on the internet and his social media accounts are likely managed by a team, not by Rogan himself. That’s why it’s necessary to get yourself noticed. You might think about sending a message on social media, but unless you’re someone like Elon Musk, it probably won’t even get opened.
You need to look for alternative routes.
Consider alternative options
If you want to expand your reach, there are so many other podcasts you could reach out to. Not only do podcast guest appearances boost your profile, they're great examples of your style and the value you bring to a show.
Here's how you do it:
Find suitable podcasts with Rephonic
Rephonic offers several routes towards finding suitable podcasts.
Search for podcasts on the Topic search bar and filter by audience demographics, audience size and active status.
Perhaps you already know the podcasts you want to target? In that case, use the Title search bar option to bring up all Rephonic’s information about each show, including whether they offer video content to attract viewers.
Another option is to search for podcasts that are somehow related to the Joe Rogan Experience. Use Rephonic's 3D graph tool or Related section to find podcasts with connections and listeners in common with Rogan's podcast.
Check their stats
Rephonic brings all a podcast's info and stats onto one page to help you qualify whether an interview on that podcast would suit your needs. You can also check if the podcast releases new episodes every week, which can help you time your outreach for maximum impact.
That information includes audience numbers, demographics, engagement, links to episodes, social media, ratings and reviews, and lots more.
Contact target shows
Pitch podcasts directly within Rephonic. First, connect your inbox so you can send emails from your own address. Then select the recipient, choose and edit a sequence with your pitch and automated follow-up, review everything, and send.
The best part is that replies come straight into Rephonic, so it is easy to keep track of every conversation.
Final thoughts
It’s difficult to become a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience. For potential guests, the path to a JRE appearance involves building a strong online presence, developing a unique perspective, and sharing your ideas with authenticity and passion.
Build up your guesting experience and you’ll have a better shot at the big shows. A spot with Joe Rogan might be out of reach for now, but keep working on it and you never know your luck.
Article credits
Written by Lyn McNamee, podcast-PR writer with years of experience transforming podcast insights into practical, results-focused playbooks.
Edited by Becca Butcher, marketing specialist who frequently analyzes Rephonic’s data across 3 million podcasts.
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