Joe Rogan believes he was "tricked" into making his incredibly successful podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
The comedian and actor has spoken out about how the series first began while interviewing author and screenwriter Norman Ohler in the latest installment released on Thursday. In it the 56-year-old documented how the show, which now boasts 17.1 million subscribers, "just happened" back in December 2009.
Despite being the long-serving host, Rogan said he didn't feel "responsible" for the podcast and its domination of the listening charts.
He said it just started as him "having fun" with friends and morphed into what it is today thanks to listeners' support.
As Rogan and Ohler discussed the media, the host suggested people are "far more skeptical" about what they read, "particularly after the pandemic."
He continued: "I think the pandemic shook things up to a point where it's much more difficult to pass off propaganda today than it was even just four years ago."
Ohler replied: "That's why I was quite excited to come on this podcast, this experience—I think you have actually created a space where free thought is possible, free communication.
"I think it's quite an important artwork. It's not so easy to create your own media that has a global reach."
Thanking his guest, Rogan explained: "I think it made itself…I do not think I'm really responsible for this thing.
"I think this thing wanted to be made and it did in a very sneaky way. Originally it was jut me having fun with my friends, a webcam, me and Brian [Redban], then Eddie Bravo. We'd come over and just talk, have a good time."
He said that was the point at which it got "enough downloads" that he could get in contact with the likes of British writer Graham Hancock and Anthony Bourdain about appearing.
Rogan said: "Then it became much, much bigger…I genuinely believe it tricked me into making it."
When asked about the point when he realized it had become "big," he remembered it was a "gradual" process before recalling a night in 2011 or 2012.
He had been performing on stage and asked the audience whether they had listened to the podcast at which point over 3,000 people cheered.
Rogan's interview with Ohler has received more than 783,200 views and 15,000 likes since its release on YouTube.
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