Joe Rogan was born in 1967 in Newark, New Jersey, and began performing stand-up comedy in Boston in 1988. He moved to Los Angeles in 1994 and appeared in television roles including the NBC sitcom NewsRadio from 1995 to 1999.
Rogan launched The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2009 and has interviewed UAP figures such as David Grusch in 2023 and 2026 and Luis Elizondo in 2024, repeatedly noting that credible reports receive little mainstream coverage.
- Hosted The Joe Rogan Experience episode #2065 with David Grusch in November 2023 and episode #2560 in September 2026.
- Hosted episode #2194 with Luis Elizondo in 2024.
- Began stand-up career in 1988 after working various jobs in Boston.
- Served as UFC color commentator from 1997 to 2016.
- Hosted NBC's Fear Factor from 2001 to 2006 and again in 2011-2012.
- United StatesBorn and raised
- The Joe Rogan ExperienceHost since 2009
- UFCColor commentator 1997-2016
- NBCFear Factor host and NewsRadio actor
Background
Joe Rogan was born August 11, 1967, in Newark, New Jersey, and raised in the Boston area. He trained in taekwondo as a youth, winning four Massachusetts state championships and the U.S. Open grand championship at age 19. After graduating from Newton Upper South High School in 1985, he attended the University of Massachusetts Boston but left to pursue comedy.
Rogan performed his first stand-up set on August 27, 1988, at Stitches comedy club in Boston. He supported himself with jobs including teaching martial arts, delivering newspapers, driving a limousine, construction work, and assisting a private investigator. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1994 and gained a national television spot on MTV's Half-Hour Comedy Hour that year.
In 1995 Rogan joined the cast of the NBC sitcom NewsRadio as Joe Garrelli, appearing through 1999. He began working with the UFC in 1997 as a backstage interviewer and later color commentator alongside Mike Goldberg. Rogan hosted the NBC reality series Fear Factor from 2001 to 2006 and returned for its final season in 2011-2012.
Rogan released his first comedy special in 2000 and continued stand-up while expanding into podcasting. He launched The Joe Rogan Experience in December 2009 with co-host Brian Redban. The show grew into one of the world's most popular podcasts, moving to exclusive Spotify distribution in 2020.
Rogan began featuring UAP-related guests in the 2010s. Episodes included Bob Lazar in 2019, Ryan Graves in 2023, Luis Elizondo in 2024, and David Grusch in November 2023 and September 2026. In these discussions Rogan and guests examined government reports, witness accounts, and the lack of prominent mainstream coverage.
In the 2023 Grusch episode Rogan explored claims of recovered non-human craft and bodies. The 2026 follow-up covered additional details such as video of recovered bodies and alleged underwater structures. Rogan has consistently stated on air that credible UAP news merits front-page treatment rather than entertainment segments.
Rogan's platform reaches millions of listeners per episode. His interviews with military and intelligence veterans have contributed to wider public awareness of UAP topics. He has maintained a schedule of long-form conversations without endorsing specific claims beyond the guests' statements.
Throughout his career Rogan has balanced comedy specials, UFC work, and podcasting. He moved from California to Texas in later years while continuing daily episodes. His consistent focus on science, current events, and controversial topics has defined the show's format since 2009.
Where They Are Now
As of October 25, 2026, Joe Rogan continues to host The Joe Rogan Experience podcast with regular episodes. He released new stand-up material and maintains an active schedule of interviews including recent UAP discussions.
Last updated 25 October 2026