Prepare to embark on an intellectual journey like no other! The Joe Rogan Experience podcast has become the ultimate hub for brilliant minds across the globe. With a guest list that includes scientists, astronomers, rocket scientists, professors, neurologists, and doctors, it’s a virtual treasure trove of insights and ideas, akin to a college education distilled into captivating conversations.
The show has welcomed Harvard and Oxford University professors, Mensa alumni, and even billionaires, making it a haven for intellectual exploration. In this article, we’re about to unveil the 33 sharpest intellects to ever grace Joe Rogan’s podcast, and their insights are nothing short of mind-blowing. Let’s dive into a world where brilliance knows no bounds!
Also see: The 11 Hottest Women on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
Honorable Mention:
Garret Reisman, Brian Keating, Mike Baker, Gad Saad, Oliver Stone, Tulsi Gabbard, Rick Strassman, Tony Hinchcliffe, Robert Malone, Steven Koonin, Peter McCullough, Sanjay Gupta, Quentin Tarantino, Avi Loeb, Tim Dillon
#33: Gary Vaynerchuk
On JRE episode: #910
Gary Vaynerchuk, better known as just Gary Vee, is a serial entrepreneur, social media expert and life advice aficionado. On his social media profiles, he has a huge audience, because he offers inspirational, practical life advice that is both engaging and actionable.
He’s big on happiness, kindness, humility, giving back to others, hard work “hustle”, and taking risks.
He makes the list of the smartest people because of his ability to forecast future technology trends and his outside the box thinking. He’s very good at communicating ideas in a simple way for people to understand, often times spontaneously and has a sharp, quick mind.
#32: Patrick Bet-David
On JRE episode: #1711, #2016
Entrepreneur and Valuetainment host Patrick Bet-David has made a noteworthy appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast. During the episode, he covered a spectrum of topics, including the military-industrial complex, drug legalization, and the contrasting political dynamics of Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s presidencies.
#31: Dr. Rhonda Patrick
On JRE episodes #459, #502, #568, #672, #773, #901, #1054, #1178, #1474, #1701
Dr. Patrick is one of Rogan’s top experts in diet, nutrition, and general health. She expresses a deep understanding of cellular health and what you can do to have more energy in your life. She is great at taking complex health topics and breaking them down into easy, actionable things you can do.
Completing her graduate research at St. Jude’s Hospital, she studied mitochondrial metabolism and cancer. Her website FoundMyFitness is a great resource to learn about how you can improve your health and increase your life expectancy.
#30: Peter Schiff
On JRE episodes: #445, #1002, #1145, #1508
Schiff is a genius, particularly when it comes to money, investing and the economy. He is the CEO of Euro Pacific Capital Inc. and is a financial commentator. He’s a big fan of investing in gold and thinks it will hold it’s value if the U.S. dollar were to collapse anytime soon.
On JRE podcast #1508, he talks about the downsides to socialism, the economic impact of the coronavirus, and the student loan crisis. He is a must listen if you are interested in personal finance and understanding how the U.S. economy works.
#29: Bret Weinstein
On JRE Episodes: #970, #1006, #1055, #1081, #1494, #1671, #1705, #1919
The younger brother of Eric Weinstein, Bret is a biologist and professor. Also like his brother, he is super smart about a wide range of topics, focusing more on biology and political issues. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
In one JRE podcast, #1081, Bret’s wife Heather Heying, an evolutionary biologist, did the podcast with him. And another must watch, #1006, Rogan has Weinstein and Jordan Peterson on to discuss government programs, Hitler, and racism.
#28: Tim Ferriss
On JRE episodes: #137, #285, #320
Tim Ferriss, an early bird of the Joe Rogan podcast, is an ivy-league Princeton graduate. He is difficult to pin down, both in career and geographical location. A man of many things, but he best fits as a lifestyle coach.
He’s an author, startup investor, entrepreneur, professional traveler and podcaster. His famous book, 4-Hour Work Week, can help you design the life you’ve always dreamed of, by creating personal freedom from money and being pinned down to a single geographical location.
Some of his best books are:
- 4-Hour Work Week
- Tribe of Mentors
- Tools of Titans
- 4-Hour Body
- 4-Hour Chef
***Also see: The 30 Funniest People on Joe Rogan’s Podcast Ranked
#27: Paul Stamets
On JRE episode: #1035, #1385
Stamets is a mycologist (the study of mushrooms), both for health and psychedelic reasons. He is an alumnus of Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
He’s received several awards, including the Bioneers Award, Award for Contributions to Amateur Mycology, and Invention Ambassador award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Although Rogan was particularly interested in the psychedelic properties of mushrooms, he became more aware of the cellular health reasons for loving mushrooms, thanks to having Stamets as a guest on the podcast.
#26: Peter Attia
On JRE episodes: #1108, #1735, #1961
Peter Attia, a notable figure in the field of health and longevity, has made multiple appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast. During these episodes, he has explored a diverse array of subjects, including strategies for achieving a longer and healthier life through approaches like diet, fasting, and exercise. Furthermore, Attia has engaged in insightful conversations about the challenges plaguing the healthcare system and the soaring costs of healthcare in the United States.
#25: Ben Shapiro
On JRE episodes: #993, #1276, #1512, #1732
If there was one word to describe Ben Shapiro it would be sharp. The guy is extremely intelligent and intellectual, and is a conservative political commentator. A Jewish man, Shapiro became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist at age 17.
Say what you want about his conservative political stances, you do not want to get into an opposing debate with him because he will demolish you. He has a law degree from Harvard and graduated cum laude.
#24: MrBeast
On JRE episode: #1788
MrBeast, famous for his philanthropic stunts and engaging content on YouTube, provided a comprehensive account of his journey to becoming the world’s preeminent YouTuber. During his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast, he not only shared insights into his creative process for conceiving unique video ideas but also contemplated the future of content creation within the virtual reality realm, offering a visionary perspective on the subject.
#23: Bill Maher
On JRE episode: #1413, #1804, #2029
Bill Maher is basically the opposite of conservative Ben Shapiro. He is a liberal media personality and has a successful HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher. Maher went to ivy league school Cornell University and double majored in English and history.
Maher is not a fan of organized religion and Christianity and calls it highly destructive. He’s also against the concept of marriage, the U.S. getting into wars, and political hypocrisy.
***Also see: 13 Joe Rogan Podcast Guests That Got Sober
#22: Coffeezilla
On JRE episode: #1951
Coffeezilla is a highly astute YouTuber who garnered fame for his expertise in exposing scammers and fraudulent activities involving prominent individuals. During his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast, he shared the fascinating stories of how he uncovered Logan Paul’s cryptocurrency scam and unveiled Sam Bankman-Fried’s involvement in a crypto ponzi scheme, providing Joe Rogan and his audience with a detailed account of these significant events.
#21: Graham Hancock
On JRE episodes: #142, #360, #417, #551, #725, #872, #961, #1284, #1543, #1897
An expert on ancient civilizations, you can seriously nerd out on JRE #1284 when Hancock talks about lost cities in the Amazon and how the pyramids may have been built.
His research has led him to believe that large civilizations were formed much earlier than previously thought, maybe even 130,000 years ago.
Hancock is one of Rogan’s favorite podcast guests and his go to guy, along with Randall Carlson, to talk about ancient human history and archaeology. Hancock has written several awesome books including, Magicians of the Gods, The Message of the Sphinx, and Fingerprints of the Gods.
#20: Boyan Slat
On JRE episodes: #1104, #1402
A former aerospace engineering student, Slat now works on cleaning the pollution out of our oceans. He is the inventor and founder of The Ocean Cleanup, a project that builds massive garbage traps to be placed in the ocean.
He’s also tackling the ocean pollution problem at it’s source, using The Interceptor device to prevent rivers from dumping garbage into the ocean. According to him, 80% of ocean’s trash is created by about 1000 rivers, mostly in Southeast Asia.
#19: Andrew Huberman
On JRE episodes: #1513, #1683, #1958
Andrew Huberman is a renowned neuroscientist and professor at Stanford University known for his expertise in the fields of neurobiology, behavior, and the brain’s role in various aspects of human life.
During his appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast, Huberman shared invaluable insights into topics ranging from sleep optimization, diet, and nutrition, to the science behind fear and its impact on our daily lives. His ability to convey complex neuroscientific concepts in an engaging and relatable manner makes for highly informative and enlightening episodes on the JRE podcast.
#18: Bob Lazar
On JRE episode: #1315
Some people look at Bob Lazar as just a UFO and alien conspiracy theorist. One listen to his podcasts with Joe Rogan and you can see how intelligent Bob really is.
With a background in engineering, he is very accomplished in pyrotechnics and rocket building. He even successfully attached a jet engine to a car in his garage.
Lazar claims to have worked on an alien spacecraft in Area 51 and to have been hired by the government to reverse engineer the spacecraft.
#17: Randall Carlson
On JRE episodes: #501, #606, #725, #872, #961, #1772, #1897
Carlson is a renegade scholar and one of Rogan’s most interesting guests. He is an expert on geology, natural disasters, and cosmic tempo. He suggests that Earth’s disasters run on a cosmic tempo and he backs it up with science, explaining theories about why there is no human history prior to a few thousand years ago.
The first human skull was found about 150,000 years ago and Carlson theorizes that catastrophic disasters, exponentially more powerful than Hurricane Katrina, are responsible for history getting wiped out numerous times.
#16: Peter Zeihan
On JRE episode: #1921
Peter Zeihan, a geopolitics expert gaining increasing recognition, has risen to prominence through his YouTube channel. His knack for simplifying intricate geopolitical topics into easily digestible concepts for his audience has earned him a dedicated following. During his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast, he continued to employ this talent, making geopolitics accessible and engaging for the podcast’s listeners.
#15: Naval Ravikant
On JRE episode: #1309
The founder of startup fundraiser AngelList, Ravikant is a billionaire who was an early investor in Uber, Twitter, and Postmates. He graduated from Dartmouth college with a degree in computer science and another in economics.
After working for a few companies, he left for Silicon Valley where he began pursuing his passion for startup entrepreneurship. On Rogan’s podcast Naval talks about why socialism doesn’t work, how to get rich, meditation, and the meaning of life.
#14: Jordan Peterson
On JRE episodes: #877, #958, #1006, #1070, #1208, #1769
From Canada, Peterson is one of the most brilliant professors in the world. One thing is for sure, you do not want to get into a debate with him because he will tear you apart. He’s quick-witted, intellectual, and a deep-thinker on complex social issues.
Peterson steers away from being political correct and staunchly rejects “abiding by social norms” that he calls destructive. He released a book, 12 Rules For Life, which is adored by the young men that follow him.
Also see: What is Jordan Peterson’s IQ? His Exact Score and Percentile
#13: David Sinclair
On JRE episodes: #1234, #1349, #1670
Sinclair is an Australian biologist, who specializes in cellular health, longevity and fighting the aging process. His book Lifespan: Why We Age -and Why We Don’t Have To proposes that aging is a disease and is treatable.
On the podcasts, Sinclair talks about the keys to looking younger, what’s new in anti-aging science, and what the people who live the longest have in common.
#12: Sam Harris
On JRE episode: #192, #410, #543, #641, #804, #940, #1241
Harris has been on Rogan’s podcast quite a few times and is a neuroscientist, author, and philosopher. He has a philosophy degree from Stanford and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.
On the podcasts, Joe Rogan and Sam Harris talk about debunking the group thinking principles behind organized religion. Not a fan of religion and Christianity, Sam has authored a book called: Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion. And he hosts his own podcast, Waking Up.
#11: Sean Carroll
On JRE episodes: #1003, #1151, #1352
Carroll explains to Rogan what happened before the Big Bang Theory. He is a physics guru who specializes on Einstein’s theory of general relativity, theoretical physics, quantum mechanics, gravity, and the universe.
Carroll has a Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University, and got an undergraduate degree from Villanova. One thing he proposes is that the universe is time symmetric, meaning “time” is both forward and backward, it just appears to be moving forward in the dimension our senses are being used.
#10: Edward Snowden
On JRE episode: #1368, #1536
Snowden is a computer security expert (you can tell how smart he is by listening to the podcast), who leaked classified information to the public about secret government surveillance programs.
Snowden a genius nerd who is also an American whistleblower. He took brave and ethical actions to inform the public that the government is spying on our phones, computers and other devices, and storing that data for reasons other than national security.
On JRE podcast #1368, Rogan and Snowden have a truly mind blowing conversation and it will make you rethink how well your data protection and data security practices are, and how your cell phone is potentially spying on you at all times.
#9: Chris Hadfield
On JRE episode: #414
Hadfield, a retired astronaut, is credited as the first Canadian person to walk in space. He served as the commander for the International Space Station. He is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, where he was a fighter pilot and flew CF-18 Hornets.
In 2002, he received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, among many other honors he has received:
- Order of Ontario (1996)
- Officer of the Order of Canada (2014)
- Vanier Award (2001)
- Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
- Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
You may have seen Hadfield on the advertisements for MasterClass, online classes that you can take from an expert in a particular field, with his being Chris Hadfield Teaches Space Exploration.
#8: Lex Fridman
On JRE episodes: #1188, #1292, #1422, #1455, #1537, #1600, #1696, #1824, #1934
Fridman is a MIT research scientist who specializes in artificial intelligence, machine learning and automated driving vehicles. On his YouTube channel, he has interviews with other geniuses: Elon Musk, Eric Weinstein, Roger Penrose, Jack Dorsey and Richard Dawkins.
His LinkedIn profile states, “I’m particularly interested in understanding human behavior in the context of human-robot collaboration, and engineering learning-based methods that enrich that collaboration.”
He strives to make the world a safer placer by using robots and humans working together, particularly by reducing the number of automotive crashes.
***Also see: The Top 25 Best Friends of Joe Rogan
#7: Michio Kaku
On JRE episodes: #1828, #1980
You may recognize Michio Kaku from television, as he has been on quite a few television shows and documentaries discussing space exploration, Mars, and the universe. He came onto the JRE podcast to fascinate Rogan to talk about the UFC phenomenons, chat bots, quantum computing, and the ethics behind bringing back Neanderthals.
#6: Mark Zuckerberg
On JRE episode: #1863
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, appeared as a guest on the JRE podcast in episode #1863. During his interview with Rogan, he discussed Facebook’s contentious issues and moderation policies, along with engaging in profound conversations regarding the utilization of social media.
Additionally, Zuckerberg and the podcast host delved into their shared interest in jiu-jitsu.
#5: Eric Weinstein
On JRE episodes: #1022, #1203, #1320, #1453, #1628, #1945
Weinstein has a Ph.D. in math from Harvard University and is married to economist and fellow Harvard grad, Dr. Pia Malaney. Along with his brother, Bret, he coined the term “Intellectual Dark Web.”
On the podcast, Eric talks about theoretical physics, octonion numbers, and the current state of the dark web. Eric has a wide range of intellectual astuteness and is fluent in the economy, social issues, and even colonizing other planets.
He’s researched and proposed his own theories about our universe having 14 dimensions, and made bright predictions about what dark matter and energy are.
***Also see: Top 10 Joe Rogan Podcasts on Space, Aliens, and The Universe
#4: Neil deGrasse Tyson
On JRE episodes: #919, #1159, #1347, #1658, #1904
Tyson is an astrophysicist who seems to understand the cosmos better than anyone. He is particularly amazing at breaking down complex problems into a simple form for people to understand. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2004, and the Public Welfare Medal in 2015.
When he is a guest on the JRE podcast, it is a must listen to episode. He is Rogan’s go to guy for space talk, black holes, black matter, and the Big Bang.
Tyson made a sequel to Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, with his being: Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. It’s a mind-blowing watch. To catch more of Neil deGrasse Tyson check out his podcast, StarTalk Radio.
#3: Roger Penrose
On JRE episode: #1216
Penrose is an English mathematician, physicist, and philosopher of science. He has an extraordinary long list of awards and achievements, including the Order of Merit and Fellowship of the Royal Society.
He’s perhaps best known for his contributions to the progress of our understanding of the universe, and to Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Penrose worked closely with Stephen Hawking to create the Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems, which won the physics Wolf Prize in 1988. On the podcast, Penrose discusses black holes, the Big Bang and the possibility of alien life.
#2: Elon Musk
On JRE episodes: #1169, #1470, #1609
Musk, the owner and founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, is a brilliant human being. He is highly sufficient in computer programming, rocket science, and engineering, and spends his time working on difficult problems to save humanity.
His biggest task now is to colonize Mars, thereby building a contingency plan if something were to go wrong with Earth. The probability of long-term human survival goes up exponentially if we are living on two planets.
The serial entrepreneur is a billionaire and got rich from founding Zip2, X.com, and turning PayPal into what it is today. On the podcasts, Musk and Rogan talk about the serious implications of AI, automated cars, and sending humans to Mars, all while drinking whiskey and taking a few hits.
#1: Brian Cox
On JRE episodes: #610, #1233
Cox is a physicist and professor at the University of Manchester. Cox and Rogan talk deeply about space, black holes, dark matter, dark energy, wormholes, and time travel on the podcast. They are an absolute must listen.
A wow fact from Cox on episode #1233 is that there is 5 times as much dark matter as there is normal matter in the universe. He describes the percentages of matter in the universe:
- 5% normal matter
- 25% dark matter
- 70% dark energy
And we still have no clue what dark matter and dark energy are.
Cox has two extremely high accolades, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS) for his contributions towards the arts and sciences.
Also see: The Top 20 Athletes on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
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Thanks for reading!