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Odds to Be Joe Rogan’s First Guest on Spotify Podcast – Ari Shaffir Favored

JJ De La Torre

by JJ De La Torre in Entertainment

Updated Mar 19, 2021 · 10:33 AM PDT

joe rogan interviewing conor mcgregor
Conor McGregor, of Ireland, is interviewed by Joe Rogan after defeating Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 in Boston. McGregor won via 2nd round TKO. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
  • Joe Rogan signed an exclusive podcast licensing deal with Spotify on May 19th
  • The $100-million deal is one of the biggest contracts in podcast history
  • See the odds on who will be Rogan’s first guest for this new endeavor

Joe Rogan’s name has become almost synonymous with podcasting. Having launched The Joe Rogan Experience in 2009, this decade-long endeavor started long before podcasts were the sensation they are today.

On May 19th, Rogan announced that The Joe Rogan Experience is heading to streaming platform Spotify beginning on September 1st. As of January 2021, Spotify will be the only place you can listen to Rogan’s episodes.

After ten years of being available for listeners on various platforms, the Spotify deal marks the first exclusive deal for The Joe Rogan Experience. The high price tag on this deal, has fans and oddsmakers alike speculating on some of the specifics.

Odds on First Guest for Joe Rogan’s Spotify Podcast

Date Odds
Ari Shaffir +160
Elon Musk +700
Dr. Rhonda Patrick +950
Graham Hancock +950
Tim Ferriss +950
Bill Burr +1000
Mike Tyson +1000
Neil deGrasse Tyson +1500
Russell Brand +1500

Odds as of May 26.

While news of the Spotify deal continues to make the rounds, Rogan is still busy recording and releasing new episodes. His most recent guest was Kevin Hart in episode 1480, released on May 25th. It’s believed he will continue to release episodes as is right up until the Spotify date approaches.

Rogan’s guestlist is pretty impressive, boasting names like Edward Snowden, Guy Ritchie, and Robert Downey Jr. It seems the sky is the limit in terms of Rogan’s guest possibilities. Looking ahead to the launch of the future Spotify-era Joe Rogan Experience, it’s hard not to wonder what will change and what will stay the same.

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When you consider Spotify’s deep pockets and Rogan’s demonstrated ability to book guests, it seems most plausible to launch the new era with a big name such as Elon Musk or Mike Tyson.

That said, Rogan sells himself. His earliest episodes included lesser-known guests who still helped build the portfolio and Rogan’s overall brand. His first guest was comedian Brian Redban back in December 2009.  Redban isn’t exactly as well-known as Russell Brand, but it goes to show Rogan doesn’t need a big name to record an episode.

Unpacking the Guest List

Of the nine names in the odds for Rogan’s first guest on Spotify, all have appeared with Rogan before. Elon Musk has appeared twice, while biomedical doctor Dr. Rhonda Patrick has been a guest almost a dozen times. Mike Tyson has guested only once, but that isn’t to say he wouldn’t come back for seconds.

Of the nine potentials, Ari Shaffir is most interesting to see in the mix. Shaffir first appeared as a  guest back on episode three of Rogan’s podcast in 2010. He has since been featured more than 50 times, most recently on December 24, 2019.

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Shaffir and Rogan clearly have a great sense of camaraderie. There must be something about Shaffir as a guest than Rogan enjoys continually.

At this point, Shaffir’s presence must be equivalent to that of a comfort blanket. Given the new era for Rogan on Spotify, having something consistent from his earlier days would be a way to show guests he’s still the same Joe Rogan. For Rogan, himself, it would be a chance to keep a sense of normalcy in his changing world.

Pick: Ari Shaffir (+160)

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