Joe Rogan has had quite a few guests on his JRE podcast that have struggled with alcohol and drugs.
Rogan himself, enjoys taking psychedelic drugs, smoking marijuana, and drinking whiskey on the podcast. However, he really admires people that have made the necessary steps to get clean and improve their lives.
Rogan has mentioned that he’s never done cocaine or heroin, partly out of fear that he might like it too much, and that he has seen the damage it has done to people and friends.
He mentioned that he was fortunate that when he used to do construction with his father, he witnessed a guy who was really cool but just couldn’t stop using cocaine. That particular guy had a really big impact on him, with Rogan saying that he just didn’t want to become a loser.
Now, Rogan participates in an event called Sober October every year, where he gets a group of friends together and they all abstain from drugs, alcohol, and marijuana, and combine that with exercise in a weight loss competition.
Let’s take a look at the JRE guests who have struggled with addictions like alcohol, drugs, women, or gambling, and have now found sobriety. Although these people can be healthy, happy, and successful, relapse is often a part of addiction. I know this from my own experience with alcoholism.
#1 – Matt Rife
On JRE episode: #2033
Rife, a fast-rising comedian in popularity, has been sober for a couple of years. Although they didn’t go into it much during the JRE podcast episode, he has openly indicated being sober on social media.
Also see: The 30 Funniest Episodes, Guests on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
#2 – Robert Kennedy Jr.
On JRE episode: #1999
Robert Kennedy Jr, the nephew of John F. Kennedy and son of Robert Kennedy, has been sober for a long time. You wouldn’t expect someone from the Kennedy family who is running to be president of the United States to be a former addict, but he has openly talked his struggles and overcoming them on podcasts.
#3 – Demi Lovato
On JRE episode: #1625
Lovato has been to treatment several times in her battles with alcoholism and other addictions. However, she has made tremendous strides in working through her issues with depression, bi-polar syndrome, and multiple relapses. On the JRE podcast she discussed with Rogan her relapses and being “California sober.”
#4 – Tim Dillon
On JRE episodes: #1251, #1390, #1457, #1525, #1544, #1555, #1610, #1677, #1752, #1860, #2019
Having got sober at age 25, Tim Dillon is well over ten years sober. On JRE #2019, Dillon went in depth on his alcohol addiction with Rogan, explaining just how crazy things got. It’s amazing how much different his life could have been but instead he is now a world-famous comedian, all thanks to sobriety.
#5 – Steve-O
On JRE episodes: #717, #960, #1900
Stephen Glover, known as Steve-O, is a professional stuntman, actor, and comedian. He’s best known for his hysterical stunts and pranks he pulled on the Jackass series.
On his guest appearances on Rogan’s podcast, he talked in depth about his struggles with addiction – alcohol and drugs. In and out of rehabs for a number of years, Steve-O has now been sober for over 10 years. Also, he got off cigarettes and nicotine too. His journey has been a remarkable turnaround.
#6 – Theo Von
On JRE episodes: #925, #1118, #1141, #1255, #1731, #1847, #1994
Von is a recurring JRE podcast guest and good friend of Joe Rogan. He’s a stand-up comedian, podcast host, and actor. He told Rogan that he partly attributes the reason he got sober to one morning when he was supposed to be on the radio show Opie with Jim Norton at 6:30am.
He had been partying all night, but when he got to the show, he was still high on cocaine and could barely talk. It so happened that the other guest on the show that morning was Darryl Strawberry, who was already sober 10+ years.
After the incident, Theo decided to join a 12-step program and told Rogan, “so far it’s helping me out.” One thing for sure, he has been a lot more successful after he got sober. He looks healthier and hosts a podcast – This Past Weekend.
#7 – Tyson Fury
On JRE MMA Show: #47
Fury is a professional boxer and has won 2 world championships in the heavyweight division. His fights with Deonte Wilder helped put the heavyweight boxing division back on the map, after low TV viewership since the Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis days.
Also see: The Top 20 Athletes Ever on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
In Fury’s fights with Wilder, the first one was a draw and Wilder kept the championship belt, and the second fight was won by Fury, thus transferring the belt to him. The third went to Fury again, defending his belt.
On his podcast episode, Fury talked in depth about his depression, drugs, drinking, and women.
“I didn’t care about boxing, I didn’t care about living, I just wanted to die and I was going to have a good time doing it while I was doing it.”
-Tyson Fury
#8 – James Hetfield
On JRE episode: #887
Hetfield is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Metallica. He’s won 9 Grammy awards and released a ton of albums and hit songs, including:
- Master of Puppets
- Nothing Else Matters
- Enter Sandman
- One
- Unforgiven
Hetfield said on Rogan’s podcast, “Rehab really worked for me.” Joe asked him, “How hard was it for you to get sober?” Hetfield responded that fear was a big motivating factor for him, especially the fear of losing his family. Now, he has been sober from alcohol and drugs since 2001.
#9 – Jake “The Snake” Roberts
On JRE episode: #1205
Jake The Snake, is a former professional wrestler and went into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014. He used to wrestle 7’4” Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan in the ring.
On the podcast he talked with Rogan about his addiction and abusive upbringing, and that his birth was the result of a rape. He says being sober and being able to talk about things now has helped him deal with it. “I don’t have to go medicate with it now.”
In 2012, he lived with Diamond Dallas Page in the “Accountability Crib” for awhile to help get his life back on track. Jake said about the power of alcohol, “If you have that first drink, it’s on.”
#10 – Nikki Glaser
On JRE episodes: #1179, #1360, #1528
Nikki Glaser is a stand-up comedian, actress, and podcast host. Her comedy special Bangin’ premiered on Netflix and she’s been on the several late night shows including, Conan and The Tonight Show.
Also see: The 15 Hottest Women on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
On JRE podcast #1360, Glaser says the last time she had a drink of alcohol was December 9th, 2011. She attributes that to getting tired of the hangovers and blackouts that alcohol causes.
Glaser says that key for her to quit drinking was one particular book, The Easy Way to Stop Drinking by Allen Carr.
#11 – Rob Lowe
On JRE episode: #1522
Rob Lowe is an extremely successful actor, producer, and director. He has been on a ton of shows and movies including two massive hits, Tommy Boy and Parks and Recreation. He got sober at a young age and has been sober for over 30 years.
On JRE #1522, Lowe goes into his addiction and sobriety with Rogan. He describes the insanity of him picking up a drink again, saying “literally you can put a f***ing stopwatch on it…I assure you, you’ll read about them (me) in the paper…I’ve been in this game for 30 years and I’ve never seen it go any way other than that. Never.”
#12 – Kevin Ross
On JRE episodes: #864, #1417
Kevin Ross is an American kickboxer in the featherweight division and who’s nickname is “The Soul Assassin.” His website features his upcoming book called Soul.
On podcast #1417, Ross goes into his battle with addiction and how he overcame it to become a fighting champion, similar to Tyson Fury’s story.
#13 – Russell Brand
On JRE episodes: #1021, #1283, #1949
Russell Brand is a actor, comedian, author, and podcast host. He authored a book called Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions which takes you through the 12 steps through his words.
Brand has been on the JRE podcast twice and on episode #1283 he talks to Rogan about DMT. Although he is sober and doesn’t take any “mind-altering” substances, DMT is intriguing to him.
Brand got sober from drugs and alcohol in 2002 and has remained sober since. Now he focuses on being of service to the community and is an activist, vegan, and practices meditation.
#14 – Artie Lange
On JRE episodes: #618, #1376
Artie Lange is a stand-up comedian, actor, and podcast host. He used to hang out with his buddy Chris Farley, who passed away at age 33 from addiction. Lange landed a lucrative deal with MadTV but botched it do to a hiccup with cocaine.
Lange has made a remarkable recovery from addiction to heroin, cocaine, alcohol, gambling, and hookers. Although he hasn’t been sober that long, only nine months when he did podcast #1376, his transformation has been amazing.
On JRE episode #1376, Artie details what it’s like to kick heroin, partying with Chris Farley, and his sobriety. He says it best, “I loved being out of control…loved the risk.”
#15 – Steven Tyler
On JRE episode: #1116
Steven Tyler is the lead singer of the rock band Aerosmith and created some major hit songs including, “Dream On”, “Sweet Emotion”, and “Walk This Way”.
On the JRE podcast, Tyler explained to Rogan that when he’s not sober, bad s*** happens: “My kids don’t talk to me, I get a divorce, I get kicked out of my own band…”
Tyler has had long periods of sobriety (12 years before) and relapses in his life. It has been presumed that he has been sober this time around since 2010. You can tell by this podcast that he’s doing well and healthy.
#16 – Robert Downey Jr.
On JRE episode: #1411
Downey is a super successful actor and producer. His box office hits include Ironman, the Avengers series, and Tropic Thunder. Forbes listed him as Hollywood’s highest paid actor in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
After multiple arrests involving heroin, cocaine, and Valium, and losing a relationship to Sarah Jessica Parker, Downey realized it was clear he needed to get sober. He has been sober since 2003 and participates in a 12-step program, meditation, and yoga to help maintain sobriety.
#17 – Greg Fitzsimmons
On JRE episodes: #190, #260, #349, #382, #466, #542, #615, #658, #775, #841, #892, #902, #941, #1025, #1082, #1223, #1307, #1378, #1452, and many more
Fitzsimmons, a long-time friend of Joe Rogan, is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and radio host. He hosted The Greg Fitzsimmons Show on Howard Stern’s XM Radio channel – Howard 101 for a number of years, and has been a writer for Ellen DeGeneres, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bill Maher.
On episode #1082, Fitzsimmons and Rogan discuss how he got sober as young adult, just realizing that he can’t do it anymore. After trying a few AA meetings, and realizing he couldn’t relate, he got sober without 12-step programs. He credits therapy and Al-Anon for helping him.
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