Top 10 Joe Rogan Guests That Broke the Internet

A three hour talk with Kanye West is sure to break the internet, no matter who is conducting it. This was one of the most highly anticipated episodes in JRE history, given Kanye’s unpredictable nature and his then-ongoing presidential campaign, which many considered a joke. It did not disappoint. The two discussed topics like Ye’s mental health, his vision for the future, and his creative genius as a musician and producer. The episode quickly went viral, accumulating millions of views and spawning tons of memes about Kanye’s long-winded and often rambling monologues. It also remains one of the most polarizing episodes in the show’s history, with some praising Ye’s unfiltered opinions and others criticizing them as incoherent nonsense.

Released in January 2020, the episode with Robert Downey Jr. came at the height of his powers, with “Endgame” having just finished its theatrical run. This was quite a muted episode of JRE, absent of the typical “flair” that Rogan’s interviews are known for. The two discussed things like Downey’s career, his troubled past, and the cultural influence of the MCU. They also debated the controversy behind “Tropic Thunder” and the character of Kirk Lazarus, which became the most famous segment of the conversation. Despite the more traditional topics and short length, the episode was enormously popular. Such is the magnetic power of Robert Downey Jr. Especially post “Endgame” Robert Downey Jr.

The nice thing about JRE is that it spans cultural divides - fans of celebrities come for Kanye and RDJ, while other, shall we say, conspiracy-minded people flock to Bob Lazar and Jeremy Corbell. Corbell is a filmmaker and Lazar a prominent conspiracy theorist, and together they created the Netflix documentary “Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers.” This episode is a drug for those who believe in UFOs, with Lazar waxing poetic about alien technology, exotic elements, shadowy government organizations, and Area 51. It’s like if Steven Spielberg wrote a podcast script. And like most great stories, the episode became a cultural phenomenon, spawning tons of media interest and fueling debates on UFOs and government secrecy.

The pseudoarchaeologist Graham Hancock has been a mainstay on “Rogan” for years, attracting popularity for his outlandish and controversial ideas. But it was time for Hancock to meet his maker. In came professional archaeologist Flint Dibble, who was brought on to counter Hancock’s opinions and flawed approach to science. The result was podcast gold. This quickly became one of the most popular episodes of the show, attracting acclaim for its interesting content, the antagonistic relationship between Dibble and Hancock, and the appearance of Dibble, whom many likened to Indiana Jones. It didn’t really matter what side you took - we all just came for the spectacle.

This Democratic politician was all the rage in the late 2010s, especially among younger voters who were drawn to his progressive policies. Joe Rogan was also a fan, resulting in Sanders’ internet-breaking appearance on the show in August 2019. The two touched on a number of important topics close to the heart of many Americans, including healthcare reform, income inequality, and climate change, and the popularity of Rogan’s show helped his message reach a wider audience. The episode quickly went viral, with many praising Sanders for his authentic and unfiltered conversation, in contrast to the more traditional media soundbites. The Bernie campaign even promoted Rogan’s endorsement, highlighting his growing influence in political discourse.

If this isn’t the most popular episode of JRE, it’s most certainly the wildest. The controversial conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was joined by Eddie Bravo, and what resulted was nearly five hours of screaming, yelling, and chest-puffing. Jones made a range of extreme claims focusing on all sorts of gonzo conspiracy theories, and both Rogan and Bravo often challenged his beliefs, sending Jones into a fury. The episode gained massive traction due to Jones’ over-the-top personality and chaotic energy, with many clips going viral and spawning memes. For many, this is what “The Joe Rogan Experience” is all about.

The Meta founder has appeared twice on “Rogan,” both times generating widespread interest from the public. That said, the 2025 appearance is the more popular one, having come at a time of intense cultural uncertainty. Donald Trump had just won the presidency, and it seemed that cultural values were shifting. Zuckerberg leaned into these shifts, explaining that Meta will be scaling back content moderation efforts, emphasizing free speech, and discouraging censorship. He also expressed some controversial observations about the workplace, explaining that corporate America was lacking a “masculine energy.” The episode was enormously popular and generated a huge cultural discussion, with Zuckerberg’s comments drawing a fierce reaction. Many listeners also doubted his authenticity and criticized his apparent backpedalling in the wake of Trump’s win.

And speaking of divisive figures, how about that Edward Snowden? The famous whistleblower was piped in from Russia, which is where he has lived since going public in 2013. And his name was enough to cause plenty of eyeballs to pop. Edward Snowden!? We’re in. He and Rogan touched on all the stuff you’d expect, like mass surveillance, media manipulation, individual privacy, and how the decision to leak classified information has personally impacted Snowden. Unsurprisingly, the episode quickly became one of the most-watched episodes in the history of JRE, with Snowden’s insights resonating with many listeners and once again fueling debates about government overreach.

When did “The Joe Rogan Experience” explode in popularity and become a household name? A case could certainly be made for September 6, 2018. This is when Elon Musk appeared and blew everyone away with a wide array of interesting topics, like the future of AI, Neuralink, automation, and the colonization of Mars. Also flamethrowers. And who can forget the infamous marijuana moment, which quickly went viral and became a huge meme. It also caused real world ramifications, with Tesla stock temporarily dropping in the wake of the controversy. This is easily one of the most popular episodes in the show’s history, doing huge numbers on YouTube, spawning memes, and cementing JRE as a cultural phenomenon.

Love it or hate it, there’s no other guest that even comes close in terms of popularity. The Donald Trump episode didn’t just break the internet - it shattered it into a million pieces. As of February 2025, it is the second most viewed episode on YouTube, despite only being three months old, and it’s only a matter of time before it claims the top spot. This episode was so huge and influential that people were saying it swayed the election in Trump’s favor. We don’t know if we’d go that far, but the fact that people are thinking it speaks to how far JRE has come and what a dominant force it is in the current cultural landscape.

Did we miss any huge guests? Let us know in the comments below!