For years, I was deep into podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience, The Fighter and The Kid, Theo Von’s This Past Weekend, and The King and The Sting. It was a comfortable space—casual, humorous, and seemingly open-minded. But then something shifted, notably during COVID. Joe Rogan and his peers took a hard right turn into conspiracy theories, misinformation, and associating with questionable figures like Alex Jones. At some point, even friendship doesn’t justify platforming toxic, harmful ideas.
Realizing this toxicity forced me to reconsider what I was consuming. I became podcastless, holding onto only a few trusted shows like Morning Somewhere, The Regulation Podcast, Tell ‘Em Steve Dave, and Good Morning Gustavo. Thankfully, that’s when I rediscovered G4 and Attack of the Show!, leading me straight to Will Neff, whose humor instantly resonated with me. Soon after, I discovered Ludwig, then Hasan Piker—a content creator I’d heard described as “extreme” and even a “terrorist sympathizer.”
Initially hesitant, I found myself surprised and genuinely impressed by Hasan’s thoughtful, measured approach. Yes, he’s unapologetically radical—but on issues where radical thinking makes sense, like universal healthcare, taxing the ultra-wealthy, and basic human dignity. Hasan routinely provides concise and accurate analyses on complex issues, such as workers’ rights, climate change, and income inequality. His consistent correctness on these vital issues made it easier to trust and value his commentary.
Around the same time, I also encountered Destiny, another content creator whose quick wit and debate skills I admired at first but soon saw had a darker, problematic side. Destiny has often made inflammatory statements, dismissing legitimate social movements and frequently engaging in harmful rhetoric. He has downplayed serious issues like police brutality and has been dismissive toward marginalized communities. This abrasive approach ultimately overshadowed any initial respect I had for his debate skills.
My journey became clearer as I discovered Hasan and Destiny’s history. This revelation solidified my respect for Hasan while diminishing my view of Destiny. Now, Hasan, alongside Will Neff and QTCinderella on their podcast Fear&, has become essential listening. I’ve also added The Majority Report with Sam Seder and Kyle Kulinski’s Secular Talk to my regular rotation.
Though I occasionally check in on Rogan, it’s mostly through Podcast Cringe, a channel that expertly dismantles the misinformation and questionable views Rogan promotes. My hope is that others trapped in the “bro podcast” cycle—looking at you, Bobby Lee—might also break free and find better voices worth listening to, just as I did.
