Ask any modern intellectual what podcasts they’re listening to, and The Joe Rogan Experience might be in their top five. The audio and video show, launched by the multi-hyphenate comedian and media personality in 2009, is lauded by listeners (around 16 million a month) for providing a thought-provoking forum for all sorts of ideas and conversations you definitely won’t find on any local TV stations.
With over 1,300 episodes recorded to date, Joe Rogan has proven himself a particularly insightful and prolific interviewer. But it’s his wide range of guests, from the worlds of science, sports, politics, technology and more, that really drives each podcast. And whoa, has this guy had some major players on his show, including some of the smartest minds of today. Being funny and entertaining is one thing, but when it comes to The Joe Rogan Experience, the best episodes combine the two with some serious scholarly discussions.
If you’re looking for a cheat sheet of where to start, scroll down for eight of the podcast’s smartest guests.