Spotify superstar Joe Rogan is a man’s man in the classic sense of the phrase.
The comedian loves hunting, eating red meat, and combat sports. He’s been part of the UFC revolution for more than 20 years, providing color commentary for some of the sport’s biggest matches.
He looks as wide as he is tall, and it’s all muscle, not fat. So why does he attract so many female listeners?
Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
A 2023 YouGov poll found that Rogan’s podcast fan base leans younger and male.
No surprise there given the show’s content, Rogan’s personal interests, and the crush of male guests. He also curses like the proverbial sailor sans apology.
Yet Variety’s announcement of Rogan’s Spotify contract extension included this nugget:
Per Edison Research’s Q3 2023 survey of most listened-to podcasts, “The Joe Rogan Experience” ranked No. 1 for the period. In addition, “JRE” was the No. 2 most listened-to podcast for women 13 and older in the U.S., according to Edison.
Number two. And it’s not for lack of female-centric podcasts or alternatives across the pop culture landscape. And that includes true crime podcasts, audio catnip for many women.
Turns out women love Rogan, too. But why?
Screenshot: Joe Rogan Experience
Rogan is unapologetically male at a time when pop culture suggests that’s off limits. So-called “toxic masculinity” must be called out and avoided at all costs.
That message got through to Rogan.
“It’s become a disparaged term, to be a man,” Rogan said in an undated clip from his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
“We are now around soft men and hard times. We’re in a time of ‘toxic masculinity’ where you can be toxically male,” he said in another talk on the subject. “And if you’re suppressing masculinity, you’re going to bring on hard times.”
He dug deeper into the phrase last year with “The Punisher” star Jon Bernthal.
There’s no term toxic femininity, right? But there’s toxic human beings, and some of them happen to be male and some of them happen to be female … but it’s not an indictment on male, you know, the male gender of the species. That’s crazy.
Rogan’s unabashedly male persona connects with his female flock.
It’s not unlike how women swoon over the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce courtship. The couple represents an old-school romance, the prettiest girl at the prom and the gridiron hero scoring touchdowns for his sweetie.
Podcaster Karol Markowicz noticed a recent viral moment when Kelce moved past a security guard to open a car door for his squeeze during a Big Apple date. The video swiftly got shared far and wide, with Markowicz noting how women swooned over his old-fashioned manners.
They’re playing out their gender roles to a T, sans apology. And so, too, is Rogan. Women reacted to Kelce’s Alpha Male move, much like they long for Rogan’s podcast brand.
Screenshot: Joe Rogan Experience
When Cancel Culture came calling Rogan stood his ground. He apologized for using the N-word in the past, although never against a person of color in a derogatory way and carried on his show and career. The press piled on, too, shaping everything Rogan did or said as “controversial” or “problematic.”
He ignored the attacks, understanding his fans didn’t believe the false narratives against him. Plus, he kept on challenging authority, promoting his professional and personal interests as if the woke mob never knocked on his door.
That’s courage in 21st-century America, and Rogan’s alpha male instincts served him well. Thus the new Spotify deal, reportedly worth up to $250 million.
Men appreciate Rogan as much for his content as his attitude toward their gender. He preaches discipline, much like Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, connecting with disaffected young males hungry for a father figure.
Alpha Males don’t wait for opportunities to knock on their door. They break the door down and make it happen.
Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images
Rogan is a mixed martial artist as well as a stand-up comic. That requires patience, discipline, and a dedication to one’s health that goes beyond what most people embrace.
F*** your motivation. You need discipline. Because motivation’s not there every day. I’m missing motivation most days … once I get going, I feel great … but it’s that beginning part that’s hard because your body wants to stay comfortable.
Young men in particular won’t find many Alpha Male role models in pop culture. James Bond had to ride behind his female partner on a motorcycle in the most recent 007 affair, “No Time to Die.” Iconic male figures like Mad Max and He-Man now play second fiddle to strong, empowered female characters.
Male politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hardly radiate Alpha Male energy. That leaves many men without a sense of purpose or identity. How many times must they see “the future is female” messages before they feel less than useful?
Rogan welcomes them with humor and tough love. That’s the Alpha Male approach, and it means the Spotify superstar will keep attracting both men and women to his signature showcase.
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Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at @HollywoodInToto.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.