Joe Rogan Says This Guest Was His Worst

After hosting over 1,800 guests on The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan has finally named his least favorite: Dr. Zahi Hawass, the former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities.

In a recent episode featuring Aaron Rodgers, Rogan opened up about his disappointing experience with Hawass, calling him “a close-minded fellow who’s been in charge of gatekeeping all the knowledge.” Rogan’s comments came during a wide-ranging discussion with Rodgers that touched on everything from Elon Musk and P-Diddy to COVID-19 and ancient Egypt.

“That might have been the worst podcast I’ve ever done,” Rogan admitted, though he added, “maybe a good one too.”

The episode with Hawass, which ran for nearly two hours, centered on the history of the Egyptian pyramids. Many viewers noted that Rogan seemed visibly disinterested throughout the conversation. 

When Rodgers asked whether Rogan would consider visiting Egypt with Hawass as his guide, Rogan shrugged off the idea. “Yeah, meh, mmm,” he said, adding, “If I’m going, I’m going with Graham Hancock.”

Hawass and Hancock have a famously rocky history, clashing publicly in 2015 over debates about ancient Egypt’s past. However, the two have since reconciled, with Hancock even sharing a photo last year showing the pair enjoying a dinner in Cairo.

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Despite the supposed patch-up, Rogan’s episode with Hawass didn’t leave a good impression. He accused the archaeologist of refusing to “entertain” alternative theories about Egypt’s history and implied Hawass was too rigid in his thinking.

For Rogan’s loyal listeners, the revelation adds an interesting footnote to his ever-expanding podcast history. While he’s known for hosting guests with a wide range of views, from comedians to athletes to conspiracy theorists, it’s clear that Hawass left a lasting mark... for all the wrong reasons.