Over the years the Joe Rogan podcast has been saturated with tough, motivational guys. So who are the most motivational people to ever appear on the JRE podcast? Let’s compile a list just to answer that very question.
This is a list of men who you’d want to have your back in a street fight. They separate the men from the boys. The type of men who eat dirt, chop wood and throw rocks. Men that would drive Ford Bronco’s, like Rogan himself.
Men that wouldn’t scream if they saw a cockroach in the kitchen (Bert Kreischer would). Praise Odin.
Also see: The 15 Hottest Women on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
Honorable Mention
Adam Greentree, CT Fletcher, Dakota Meyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dan Crenshaw, Diamond Dallas Page, Evander Holyfield, Henry Rollins, James Wilks, Joe De Sena, Mike Baker, Pavel Tsatsouline, Rob Kearney, Robert Oberst, Tait Fletcher, Tony Hawk, Trevor Thompson
#13: Ronnie Coleman
On JRE episode: #1489
Coleman won Mr. Olympia a staggering 8 times in a row, from 1998 – 2005. And he finished runner-up in 2006. Now, he battles his body in a different way with back issues and numerous surgeries. On the JRE podcast, Coleman told Joe that he first got into bodybuilding just to get a free gym membership.
“I always said you look like a dude they invented in a Marvel comic book to kill the Hulk.”
-Joe Rogan on Ronnie Coleman
Before Coleman got huge, he went to Grambling State University and played middle linebacker on the football team. Also, he excelled in the classroom – graduating cum laude which is top 25% in his class.
#12: Jake “The Snake” Roberts
On JRE episode: #1205
Standing at 6’6” and weighing 250 pounds, the former pro wrestler used to step into the ring with Andre The Giant at 7’4” and 520 pounds. Often overlooked, wrestlers must be extremely tough to take the kind of beating that they do on a daily basis.
And big kudos to Roberts, who has faced opponents much strong than Andre The Giant – addiction, cancer, and pneumonia. In 2012, the wrestler entered a rehabilitation program from alcohol and drugs, and is now sober. And in 2014, he overcame muscular cancer and double pneumonia in two separate battles.
Roberts was nicknamed “The Snake” because he used to bring pythons, and even king cobras into the ring to use as part of his entertainment act. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020.
Listen to this crazy story from Rogan’s podcast – how Jake used to chauffeur Andre The Giant around while Andre would drink an unfathomable amount of beer.
#11: Steve-O
On JRE episodes: #717, #960, #1900
Steve-O makes the list because of the remarkable transition that he’s made in his life. From immature addict, and Jackass stuntman – to mature, sober, animal advocate. He even gave up smoking cigarettes after smoking for 17 years.
Steve-O, almost lost his life to addiction like friend and fellow Jackass stuntman Ryan Dunn. Now he has been sober for over 10+ years and talked about his sobriety on the podcasts with Rogan.
Also, he makes the list because of the ridiculous pain tolerance he’s shown from all the Jackass stunts he’s done. Notable highlights to his Jackass career:
- Got arrested for stapling his scrotum to his leg.
- Pierced his cheek with a fish hook.
- Put a leech on his eyeball and kept it there
- Dangled raw meat from his butt to alligator
- Jumped into ocean from car driving over a bridge
Also see: 13 JRE Podcast Guests That Have Got Sober
#10: Jesse Ventura
On JRE episode: #858
Ventura, has seemingly been in lots of different controversies (defamation lawsuit against American Sniper – Chris Kyle, almost fighting on Opie & Anthony show, being friends with Fidel Castro).
“If this was back in my Navy SEAL days, right now you’d have your balls tore out and they’d be shoved down your throat…I’m civilized now, so he’s very lucky.” (On what he would have done to Jim Norton from Opie & Anthony).
Ventura is rough around the edges but is genuinely a good guy with a big heart and very loyal. He is extremely successful, which often gets overlooked. Take a look at his wide range of spectacular accomplishments:
- Former Navy SEAL
- Vietnam War Veteran
- Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (2004)
- Governor of Minnesota
- Starred in Predator and Running Man movies
And he and Joe have a funny thing in common. They both love wearing fanny packs!
Also see: 8 Navy SEALs That Appeared on the JRE Podcast
#9: Andy Stumpf
On JRE episode: #720, #1047, #1247, #1445, #1771, #1885, #1996
Stumpf is a retired Navy SEAL officer, who was shot in the hip by an Iraqi insurgent with an AK-47. He set two world records for jumping, raising money for the Navy SEAL foundation:
- Jumping out of an airplane at 36,500 feet
- Flying over 18 miles in a wingsuit
In the Navy SEALs he also served as a head instructor, leading 13 other instructors and 600 students through 2nd Phase BUD/S training.
The U.S. Men’s Water Polo team thought it would be a good idea to do one day of Navy SEAL training. Unfortunately, Andy Stumpf was their instructor for the day. Many members of the team are seen laughing and giggling at the beginning. It didn’t take but a few minutes of training with Stumpf for them to become humorless.
Also see: Andy Stumpf’s Amazing Life: From Navy SEAL to Business Leader
#8: Steven Rinella
On JRE Episodes: #176, #312, #348, #442, #540, #709, #879, #971, #1204, #1341, #1559, #1716, #1912
If you were being attacked by a grizzly bear, Rinella would be the #1 guy in the world that you would want having your back. Check out this video of Rinella getting charged by one.
Rinella took Joe Rogan on his first hunt in 2012. Rogan had wanted to go hunting for awhile because he knew there was a huge disconnect between the meat he was eating and where it came from.
Rinella is a superior outdoorsman, arguably one of the best hunters on the planet. He’s also a conservationist, and deeply cares about animals and the environment. He hosts the show MeatEater on Netflix and has written several books, including:
- Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter
- The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game
- American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon
Check out this funny but scary video of Rinella getting hit in the butt by a charging moose.
Also see: Who All Does Joe Rogan Hunt With?
#7: Forrest Galante
On JRE episodes: #1240, #1403, #1927
Galante (Instagram) is a wildlife biologist, television host, conservationist, and extinct animal searcher. On his show, Extinct or Alive on Animal Planet channel, he risks his life trying to find animals that were thought to be extinct. Usually, he has to trek through extremely dangerous terrain and horrid conditions to find the animals.
*The yellow caiman, was thought to be extinct. But Galante explained that nobody had been back there (deep Colombia), because of hostile rebels. Forrest got back there and found one.
Galante described to Rogan about having a “close call” with a semi-tranquilized lion. Also, he’s made efforts to find a Thylacine (the Tasmanian tiger) and is part of the de-extinction efforts to bring the animal back to life.
#6: Cameron Hanes
On JRE Episodes: #450, #567, #759, #815, #944, #957, #1013, #1074, #1112, #1365, #1542, #1730, #1819, #1997
Hanes is a backcountry bowhunter that Joe Rogan has called the best on the planet. A true stud and training partner with David Goggins, Hanes prefers hill running over flat terrain and averages 22 miles every day.
He isn’t the biggest guy, standing about 5’9”, but pound for pound he’s a complete animal. His lifestyle motto is called “Lift Run Shoot”, where he explains that the brutal workouts he endures are to be a better bowhunter, which provides food for his family – literally.
Bowhunting on his level, requires extreme skill, agility, stealth, and fitness. And apparently, motivational guys like to hang out together. Check out this amazing video for motivation with Cameron Hanes and David Goggins.
Hanes has written a few books, including:
#5: Glenn Villeneuve
On JRE episode: #1395
Glenn Villeneuve is one of the most fascinating JRE podcast guests of all time and his appearance on #1395 is a must-watch. Some time ago, he decided to move to remote Northern Alaska (Brooks Range) and start from scratch, saying “Northern Alaska is the most wild place left in this America.” He built his own cabin, chops his own wood, hunts his own food, and lives off the land.
He got started by parking his van and hiking 60 miles to remote wilderness where there are no roads, just hiking and wild wilderness.
The year before, Villeneuve left 2 months food, a jug of oil, some flour, and rice and beans in a 50 gallon drum. Other supplies he left: wall tent, rifle, fishing equipment. At one point he ran out of food and had only flour left! And at one point he hadn’t seen another human being for 4.5 months.
He’s spent a lot of time around dangerous predators. Wolves, bears, and wolverines inhabited the same area. He tracked wolves and stole kills from them for survival.
“My rifle is my constant companion.”
Glenn Villeneuve
Check out this crazy story of Villeneuve fighting off a wolfpack at his camp, which he explained on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
To see more of Glenn Villeneuve, check out Life Below Zero, a documentary show that highlights the day to day life of living in remote Alaska.
#4: Alex Honnold
On JRE episodes: #319, #1189, #1626
The famous rock-climber had the world clinging to their sofas in Free Solo, where he free climbed El Capitan at Yosemite National Park.
Climbing with no ropes or safety net, Honnold’s achievement is widely considered one of the most extraordinary athletic performances of all time.
Also see: The Top 20 Athletes to Appear on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
On the JRE podcast, Honnold told Rogan that he once climbed 300 feet up a wall and then realized he had forgotten his chalk. Wow! He has said that he feels fear, but the key is to stay focused, calm, and collected while climbing. It’s scary to think that a one second slip or mistake would cause an instantaneous death!
#3: Mike Tyson
On JRE Episode: #1227, #1532, #1805
Kevin Hart described Tyson as a “pit-bull with no leash.” Often, he would fight guys much taller and bigger than him in the heavyweight division. He is absolutely the most ferocious and explosive boxer of all time.
Be sure to watch this hilarious story of how Mike Tyson decided to buy some tigers, which he explained on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
What is most admirable about Tyson is the extreme strides he has made to turn his life around – from his younger, reckless self and into someone who makes a positive impact in the world and genuinely cares for other people.
“He’s just got an intensity that you rarely see from any fighter. The fury that burns inside of him, you can’t manufacture that. You either have that or you don’t.”
-Joe Rogan on Mike Tyson:
#2: David Goggins
On JRE Episodes: #1080, #1212, #1906
A former Navy SEAL, Goggins is a complete beast. He is a beast of beasts. His story wasn’t always that way. At one point he was very overweight and weighed over 300 pounds:
Goggins broke the world record for most pull-ups in 24 hours, doing 4030 pull-ups in 17 hours, later broken by Truett Hanes (Cameron Hanes son).
Also see: Who is Truett Hanes? A Superstar in The Making
Goggins runs ultra-marathons, including the MOAB 240, a 5-day race composed of running 240.3 miles. One year, he ventured off course 7.5 miles and had to back track 7.5 more miles, yet still battled back for a top 10 finish.
“If you’re in a fight you have to attack. You have to keep attacking. The enemy has to know that he is not going to give up. You have to break the soul of whatever the f*** is in front of you.”
-David Goggins
He wrote a bestselling book, Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, which I’ve read and CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH. Seriously, the book changed my life.
#1: Jocko Willink
On JRE Episodes: #729, #962, #1391, #1492, #1740
Jocko is an alpha male leader and someone you better have on your side if you’re going to battle. A retired Navy SEAL commander of SEAL Team 3’s Task Unit Bruiser, Jocko now runs his own podcast, Jocko Podcast.
Jocko is the co-founder of Echelon Front, a company that facilitates workshops and delivers intense leadership training and team-building exercises, based of his combat experience.
He authored a #1 New York Times bestselling book called Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win, which I have read and highly recommend.
Jocko has extensive and significant combat experience and has led many tactical operations in Iraq, many under heavy gunfire and violence. Without a doubt, he has quite a few enemy casualties attributed to him.
Check out this video of him competing against Jeff Monson, a professional grappler and former UFC fighter. Although Monson is much bigger, Jocko still holds his own.
Also see: The Top JRE Podcasts on Space, Aliens, and The Universe
*****
Thanks for reading!