ABC Radio host Josh Szeps has defended Joe Rogan once again after the American podcaster was mocked by The Drum host Ellen Fanning.
In episode of the the ABC talk show that aired earlier this month, Fanning called Rogan a ‘conspiracy theorist’ and a ‘cage-fighting guy who does no research’ while grilling Szeps over his decision to appear on the comedian’s podcast.
Speaking to The Australian on Monday about the contentious interview, Szeps doubled down on his defense of Rogan.
‘Tens of millions of people listen to him!’ ABC Radio host Josh Szeps (pictured) defended Joe Rogan again after the podcaster was mocked by The Drum’s Elle Fanning this month
‘He’s a polarising figure because he’s not a newscaster, and he interviews dissident figures,’ said Szeps, who is friends with Rogan even though they disagree on certain issues.
‘But he also interviews people who represent the orthodox view. Tens of millions listen to him. Are we going to win the hearts and minds of people by not talking to him?’
Szeps explained he was on Rogan’s show to represent ‘the orthodox view when it comes to the safety of vaccines’, adding that he ‘stood his ground’ against him during their heated discussion.
The 44-year-old has appeared on Rogan’s podcast seven times over the years.
Triggered? Fanning (pictured) called Rogan a ‘conspiracy theorist’ and a ‘cage fighting guy who does no research’ while grilling Szeps over his decision to appear on Rogan’s podcast
Szeps was grilled by Fanning on The Drum earlier this month, with the ABC hosts disagreeing on how much research Rogan should be expected to do for his twice-weekly three-hour podcasts.
Fanning mocked Rogan, 54, before complaining about his popularity and some of the controversial guests that have appeared on his podcast.
‘Here’s this guy with all this money from Spotify and he says, “This is going to be intellectual jousting about Marxism and the history of the world and, y’know, I’m just a cage fighting guy,” but he does no research!’ she said incredulously.
‘He says this is going to be an intellectual jousting exercise, that’s what you’re gonna see, he’s going to have the stogy [cigar] in his mouth, he’s going to be all this kind of razzle dazzle,’ she continued as she waved her arms around in the air.
‘And at the same time, he kind of has all these edgy people on and he doesn’t bother to do any research about them.’
Szeps responded: ‘How much research would you have to do to have a three-hour conversation, twice a week, with people all over the political spectrum?’
Fanning shot back: ‘If you gave me a hundred million bucks, I’d probably hire some pretty fine producers!’
Rant: Fanning also said that Rogan (pictured) has ‘a head full of alternative facts’ and was negatively influencing his listeners by spreading ‘misinformation’
She continued to complain about Rogan during the interview, repeatedly claiming he ‘doesn’t do any research’ and adding that ‘sometimes he’s stoned’.
Rogan, an advocate for the legalisation of certain drugs, often smokes marijuana while recording his podcast and famously once got high with Elon Musk.
Fanning also said Rogan has ‘a head full of alternative facts’ and was negatively influencing his listeners by spreading ‘misinformation’.
Szeps continued to defend Rogan, as did AFR columnist Jennifer Hewitt, who was also appearing on The Drum as a panellist that night.
‘He’s not trying to be journalist or a gatekeeper or profess to have the answers,’ Hewitt said.
‘First of all, I’ll point out that you can do an awful lot of research and get in vicious disagreements about all sorts of things,’ she continued.
Controversy: ‘He’s a polarising figure because he’s not a newscaster, and he interviews dissident figures,’ Szeps (pictured) told The Australian when asked about Rogan
Last month, Szeps praised Rogan in an interview with Mediaweek and claimed his podcast has far more reach than a mainstream show like NBC’s The Today Show.
He went on to call Rogan a ‘ferociously curious, very engaged, highly disciplined puppy dog’.
‘He and I disagree about a lot, but I would rather engage with deeply enthusiastic, deeply curious people who I think are mistaken about many things, than only ever hear from people whose opinions I already understand,’ he added.
The Joe Rogan Experience is currently the world’s most popular podcast.
In 2020, it moved exclusive to Spotify in a deal worth $100million, making Rogan the world’s highest paid podcaster.
Szeps has appeared on Rogan’s show multiple times over the years, and the pair have socialised off camera too.
His most recent appearance made global headlines when they got into a debate about vaccine mandates and potential side effects.
Winners are grinners! The Joe Rogan Experience is currently the world’s most popular podcast. In 2020, it moved exclusive to Spotify in a deal worth $100million, making Rogan the world’s highest paid podcaster
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk