Joe Rogan has been left off the Golden Globes’ first-ever Best Podcast list of nominees, despite leading every major audio chart throughout 2025.
The Joe Rogan Experience has dominated Spotify for five straight years and currently sits at number one on both Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
His absence has raised eyebrows, given the Globes’ long-standing focus on high-profile names to bolster red-carpet star power.
His programme, The Joe Rogan Experience, was on the initial shortlist for the new Best Podcast category, but it did not make the final list of nominees.
The Joe Rogan Experience did not make the final list of nominees
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Actors Marlon Wayans and Skye P Marshall announced the nominations for the 83rd Golden Globes on Monday morning, unveiling 28 categories, including the newly created podcast award.
The ceremony airs on January 11 on CBS and Paramount+ in the USA, with Nikki Glaser returning as host.
The Globes had initially considered 25 eligible shows based on popularity metrics provided by Luminate, the organisation’s audio analytics partner.
While this data determined which programmes made the shortlist, the final nominees were ultimately chosen by more than 400 international media voters.
Ben Shapiro was also left out of the official list of nominees for the podcast category in the Golden Globes
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GB NEWSNotably, several major right-leaning commentators, including Mr Rogan, failed to secure nominations despite being shortlisted.
Ben Shapiro’s heavily promoted podcast did not make the final cut, even after he spent significant sums on billboards, advertising, and panel appearances
Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens were also dropped after appearing among contenders in October.
The six nominated programmes are Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess, and NPR’s Up First.
SmartLess is hosted by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes, while Call Her Daddy has grown into a major media brand under Ms Cooper
Reaction online to the nominations was immediate, with thousands taking to X to weigh in on Mr Rogan’s omission.
Some users celebrated the Globes’ decision. One post read: “Why tf would anyone think Joe Rogan would be nominated for a Golden Globe? Seriously please stfu” (sic).
A meme shared by a second user simply read: “That’s a shame.”
Megyn Kelly was dropped after appearing among contenders in October
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Others defended Mr Rogan, arguing that top-ranking shows had been ignored. Under a post listing the podcast nominees, one supporter claimed: “Joe Rogan clears all of this lmao.”
Another frustrated user wrote: “No Rogan, No Flagrant or Theo Von, who constantly rank where Amy, Mel Robbins are shows how stupid the golden globe podcast award is.” (sic)
Motivational broadcaster Mel Robbins, whose show has surged across global charts, reacted to her nomination saying: “When I launched this podcast just three years ago, I was in my fifties… To be nominated for this award is surreal… It is never too late to change your life.”
SiriusXM emerged as the biggest winner among distributors, holding deals with three nominated shows: Call Her Daddy, SmartLess, and The Mel Robbins Podcast. Amazon’s Wondery distributes Armchair Expert, while Spotify’s The Ringer produces Good Hang.
The Joe Rogan Experience, was on the initial shortlist for the new Best Podcast category, but it did not make the final list of nominees
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The final selection favoured personality-driven chat formats over news and politics. Liberal political show Pod Save America failed to make the shortlist, while true crime was completely shut out.
Popular series, including Crime Junkie, Morbid, and Rotten Mango, received no nominations.
The New York Times’ The Daily was understood to have withdrawn from consideration last month at the organisation’s own request.
The Golden Globes first announced plans for a podcast category in May, with president Helen Hoehne saying the shortlist reflected “the incredible depth, diversity and creativity thriving in the podcasting world today.”