If you have not heard of the triple threat guy Joe Rogan, you are probably not a fan of either of these three things: standup comedy, great
podcasts, or the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Oh and also Fear Factor, the classic series that aired on NBC that Joe hosted between 2001 and 2006. Joe is prolific and doesn’t fail to deliver at all of these aspects of being in the public eye, yet still maintains a relatively low profile somehow. Let’s talk comedy first, and then you can read on if you’re still interested in his other endeavors.
Rogan’s first comedy release was an audio cd entitled “I’m Gonna Be Dead Someday” which apparently is kind of rare nowadays because the only new copies I found online were $50. Since then he’s had 5 comedy releases spanning from 2001-2012. Keep in mind this is between all the other things he’s been doing, and he also tours. Joe is a unique comic in that he always has an angle on something you wouldn’t hear other comedians take on a subject. This is most likely due to the difference in his life before being a comedian which mostly consisted of Martial Arts. In this interview he says between ages 15 and 21 that was his entire life, but then became nervous about what it would do to his head physically and mentally. He joked around in locker rooms, his friends told him he should be a comedian, and so he saw his way out of a life of head trauma. Also in this interview you will hear them talk about the Carlos Mencia stuff which is for another day. Back to Joe’s standup:
That was from his latest Digital download “Live From the Tabernacle”. You can get it from his website for $5! Sometimes Joe gets philosophical on stage:
***
“The Joe Rogan Experience” is a monster part of Joe’s career and of the Podcast community itself. Since August of 2010 The JRE has charted on iTunes Podcast charts every single month for almost everyday of those months and is still going strong. My guess is he will still be doing this podcast when he’s 102 and can’t do anything else (well with his fitness level he might live to be 150). His guest list is wide because it’s not really a themed podcast. For obvious reasons a lot of guests are comedians like re-ocurring guest Joey “Coco” Diaz and guys affiliated with MMA in some way, but there are others who are neither of those things. On the JRE episode posted on January 9th, 2013(#310) Neil deGrasse Tyson was the guest and had many interesting things to say.
The JRE is a podcast juggernaut and isn’t going anywhere. If you are interested in unscripted lengthy conversations with very interesting folks, then you want to check it out. You can also get a JRE mobile app.
***
Dana White hired Joe Rogan in 2002 to color commentate for the UFC, and is on camera saying that Joe was not even paid for the first fifteen times he did it. Joe is a big part of the growth of the sport and I think that’s what he was trying to accomplish by doing them for free. Now he does many weigh-ins, Insider videos, and post fight interviews in the octagon. He was there when GSP retired.
Joe Rogans new special airs on Comedy Central on November 21st at 12/11c!
Don’t forget to check out the local talent at RISE Comedy Playhouse!
-KJ Willy
Post Script
