Rogan, Trump & the Manosphere

If ten years ago, you'd told me the host of Fear Factor and the host of The Apprentice would sit down for a three-hour podcast episode.

And that they'd be discussing the latter’s former presidency and current political run –

I’d have told you to check yourself in.

Today, not much surprises me – not even the fact that this is, indeed, a legitimate headline.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and commentator, comedian and most famously, podcaster Joe Rogan sat down for a chat in a highly anticipated episode of JRE last Friday.

They talked about everything from the biggest mistake of Trump's White House tenure and the UFC, to whether extraterrestrial life exists.

The real headline, though? This wasn’t just a chat. It was a full-on performance aimed squarely at Rogan’s audience of millions.

This collaboration is not a random occurrence – in fact, it's one we should have expected.

The two public figures are leading voices of the 'anti-woke' movement that exists among young men who feel under-represented by traditional media.

The play is as obvious as it is smart: When you’re trying to woo the modern male voter, you meet him in his own territory. And for Rogan’s listeners, that territory is a land of unfiltered ideas. A place where 'heterodox' thoughts are as valuable as currency, and the anti-woke finance bro feels right at home.

This is the Manosphere – and those who reside within it are gaining some serious cultural power.

The numbers are enough to make any brand salivate. Rogan pulls in about 14.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, plus another 17.5 million on YouTube.

But JRE isn’t just a podcast anymore. It’s a cultural movement that’s managed to capture the hearts and earbuds of men across the US and beyond.

Why?

Because Rogan isn’t talking at his audience; he’s talking with them.

Here, authenticity isn’t optional; it’s the whole selling point. And that, my friends, is how you build trust.

What’s really at work here is a level of relatability that traditional media just can’t buy. There’s something about a guy cracking open a beer on air, talking candidly about aliens and Brazilian jiujitsu, that feels, well, real.

Add in a rejection of mainstream narratives, and you’ve got a ready-made formula for making listeners feel like they’ve stumbled on some sort of intellectual VIP club.

Rogan’s brand isn’t just 'unfiltered.' It’s a direct middle finger to what fans see as a corporate, overly-politicised media landscape.

Rogan, and others in this space, have capitalised on this by leaning into a kind of 'free-thinker' identity. One that is suspicious of anything that feels forced or, dare I say it, 'woke.'

And it’s not just Joe—he’s part of a whole ecosystem of voices dubbed 'anti-woke.' And while the term’s a bit tired, the audience isn’t.

This flavour of manosphere punditry is wildly appealing to men who find freedom in content that’s unbound by the standard social rules.

These platforms aren’t just playing host to ideas—they’re actively creating identities.

It’s why the manosphere is as much a 'brand' as any Nike or Patagonia. To listen to Rogan is to belong to a culture where defiance is the unofficial badges of honour.

Rogan’s space isn’t just for everyone; it’s basically a gentlemen’s club. Watching JRE or tuning into Patriot Jock Hour is a lifestyle choice for these audiences—a nod to shared values.

And here’s the thing: community within the manosphere thrives on a particular brand of exclusivity.

You’re either in or you’re out. And that 'us vs. them' dynamic is marketing gold.

Thanks to the phenomenon of social media echo chambers, the manosphere doesn’t just attract audiences; it locks them in.

Every video, every 'like,' and every guest appearance pulls listeners deeper into a content universe that reinforces their beliefs.

The community effect is strong because these spaces validate perspectives often ignored or even ridiculed in the mainstream. And this creates a sense of belonging that’s very real.

It's a sense of belonging that comes from a shared worldview of cultural disillusionment.

The sphere includes almost every cancelled figure associated with the 'intellectual dark web,' to ever-controversial influencers like the Paul brothers. All share the same disdain for contemporary culture.

They're disillusioned with America's troubled health-care system and left-wing virtue signalling. Their beliefs are rooted in the idea that institutions like hospitals and governments are keeping the secrets of life away from you – keeping you sick to sell you the cure.

And it has created a behemoth industry for heterodoxy entrepreneurs – pushing ideas about the evils of seed oils, why masturbation is making men sick and weak, and how eating raw beef testicles will save plummeting T levels.

So, what this means for culture (and you, marketers)?

The cultural shift driven by the manosphere isn’t just about politics, health or even gender. It’s about reshaping how a whole demographic engages with the world.

It’s not too dramatic to say we’re watching a redefining of male identity right before our eyes. 'Men’s media' might have once been about sports and DIY. But today’s top hits are libertarian debates, carnivore diets and seed oils.

For marketers, this landscape presents a rare, slightly daunting opportunity.

It’s a market with influence, but also an unfiltered kind of authenticity that’s tough to replicate. If you’re not Rogan or a libertarian YouTube pundit, joining this world might feel like infiltrating a secret club, but it’s not impossible.

Brands that genuinely resonate here aren’t 'faking it' because the audience can smell inauthenticity a mile away. Instead, they’re leaning into themes of freedom of speech, curiosity, and anti-establishment vibes—but with an approach that respects the audience's independence.

So, where does that leave us?

Hate it or love it, the power of the manosphere is not just a trend; it’s a phenomenon. It’s a space where men go not just for news but for belonging, for a space that feels like it’s theirs.

As marketers, creators, and brands, the manosphere is an undeniable force, one that we need to engage with carefully.

-Sophie, Writer