The indomitable popularity of Joe Rogan

‘Nobody has stronger opinions about Joe Rogan than people who have never listened to Joe Rogan,’ is Edward Snowden’s view but I am the exception that proves the rule because the more I listen to him the more I profess my love for him. At points in the past year, the Joe Rogan podcast has been all that’s prevented me hurling myself out of the window with Elizabeth Day’s latest book. If you feel isolated and lonely in the post-lockdown world you might find yourself – among the legions of truck drivers stuck in cabs and Amazon workers waiting for robots to replace them – falling for him too.

The Joe Rogan Experience, as the podcast the comedian started with friends in 2009 is now called, begins with a cry of ‘hello freak bitches’ before launching into hour long conversations in which Quentin Tarantino talks about his film career, Bret Weinstein explores the political climate that led to him getting kicked out of Evergreen, Alex Jones performs his conspiracy theory greatest hits, Annie Jacobsen explains Operation Paperclip, Leah Rimini details her escape from Scientology or Tim Dillon – controversially for a comedian – makes jokes.