One of the great innovations of the past 20-odd years is the ability for anybody to go and create audio or video content and speak their mind unfiltered to the unwashed masses of not only the United States but the world.

I have been involved in podcasting for the past 12 years or so and currently post one after it runs on the radio station my show airs on in Ann Arbor, Michigan — WAAM Radio 1600 A.M. & 92.7 F.M. — which I post here at RedState each week. The method has become so much easier in the time since I started it is not an overstatement to say that just about anyone can do it.

So much so that, according to some stats I came across earlier this week, almost 144 million or 41 percent of all Americans listen to podcasts each month and that number has been rising steadily since 2012.

So, as you might guess, I'm incredibly interested in the business of podcasting and how it is doing and also watching and listening to those who I believe do it well. That includes the number one podcaster currently on Spotify — which is also the largest podcasting platform in the world — the one and only Mr. Joe Rogan.

I caught an interesting story about Rogan on a sports page regarding his deal with Spotify expiring next year.

Joe Rogan started his podcast on a small scale, and over time, it has evolved into a huge phenomenon. People admire Rogan for his straightforward approach to discussing anything and everything, whether it’s controversial or not. The prime reason for Rogan’s success in the entertainment sector is the guests that he invites from diverse backgrounds. Rogan doesn’t stop with only pop culture guests but rather invites prominent farmers, businessmen, and even politicians to his podcasts.

It’s hardly unexpected that Rogan has once again claimed the number͏-one position on the charts. This week’s data just came out and Rogan has ousted his competitors, including prominent NFL player Travis Kelce. Kelce alongside his brother runs the podcast ‘New Heights’ where they talk about sports. Their podcast was ranked second in this week’s Spotify list.

Now, I'm not one of these noobs who didn't have any idea who Travis Kelce was before he started dating Taylor Swift. 

Kelce is a damn fine football player for the world-champion Kansas City Chiefs and was well known not only in Kansas City but in NFL circles before he hooked up with Swift. Yet I think we have to be honest that the only reason his show is number two behind Rogan's podcast is that the aura of his relationship with one of the top pop stars in the world has people checking in to see what he thinks. 

That is all fine and dandy, and if the NFL is going to take advantage of the exposure, why not Travis?

Yet Rogan, who's nearing the end of a $200 million deal with Spotify, is sitting in a pretty strong position to take his show elsewhere and could command a much higher amount of money.

I wrote last month here at RedState that Elon Musk might jump into the fray and offer Rogan a boatload of money to go to X (formerly known as Twitter) to bring his show there. Could Elon Musk Be Wooing Joe Rogan Away From Spotify to X (Twitter) for a Billion Dollars?

Elon Musk, the tech mogul and billionaire, has made multiple appearances on the show. And fans have found every single one of them more entertaining than the last. However, his recent appearance on the JRE episode no. #2054 was also streamed on Twitter/X despite the exclusivity contract with Spotify. This has led to Musk receiving an interesting proposition from another notable figure in the podcast world. And he has quoted Jay-Z as the reason behind the plan by stating, “Joe Rogan is a business, man.”

Now, you might think that Rogan is a little bit too controversial in that since he has been on Spotify, he's had boycotts instituted by people like Neil Young (who I was stunned was still alive) and was hammered for going after CNN for what he felt was mischaracterizing the drug he was taking after he contracted COVID in 2021.

Obviously, the reason Spotify didn't cut him loose and Joe was able to keep on chugging was because he was making money for the platform. In fact, in the turbocharged woke era, Rogan has not only been able to survive but surpass his previous achievements and beat his future expectations with his show.

Since Elon Musk bought X (Twitter), he has been slowly changing the platform into more of a multimedia outlet, and Rogan might be a perfect fit.

Rogan might seem like an unlikely candidate to have the most listened-to podcast in the world, yet I think the formula that he has makes it clear why he's the success that he is.

Joe has an incredibly curious mind and can speak to people in showbiz or some random farmer who has come across his radar in a way similar to the way Johnny Carson used to. 

Carson had the number one late-night show for 30 years because he was comfortable with people from all walks of life, and those watching on the other side of the TV enjoyed the way that he interacted with his guests. They probably also learned something and would laugh at the way Carson maneuvered an interview.

Rogan's background is a stand-up comedian, and his curiosity for those things that interest him is a similar combination to what the late Tonight Show host had but fast forward to the modern-day era of podcasting.

Obviously, it is a winning combination that millions of people enjoy and listen to each week.

With 2024 just around the corner, the Joe Rogan sweepstakes is about to begin and the eyes of podcasters and listeners will be watching with interest to see where Joe Rogan lands.

Millions will be tuning in, no matter where he ends up.