Joe Rogan might be known today as one of the most influential voices in modern media, but behind the success of The Joe Rogan Experience is a complicated family history that still stirs up emotion—especially from those he’s left behind.
While his name has become synonymous with viral interviews, hot takes, and headline-making podcast moments, some of his relatives have a very different story to tell.
A Father’s Legacy Under Fire
Rogan hasn’t been shy about speaking on his childhood—particularly when it comes to his father. In past podcast episodes, he described his dad, Joseph Rogan Sr., as a violent and unstable man.
“He was psychotic,” Rogan once said, recalling memories of bar fights and his father’s aggressive karate background.
Rogan believed if he had stayed around his dad, it would’ve turned him into “a f***ing psychopath.”
But those claims didn’t sit well with his family—especially not with his half-sister, Rosa Rogan Lunelli.
Rosa, who says she has never even met Joe, strongly denies his depiction of their father.
In a recent conversation with the Daily Mail, she expressed her frustration over Joe’s public statements.
“Our family adamantly denies those claims,” she said, also pointing out that since their lawyers sent Rogan a letter in 2022 warning against defamatory remarks, he’s gone quiet on the subject.
Political Pride and Personal Disappointment
Despite the family drama, Rosa still feels a sense of admiration for her half-brother—at least professionally.
She says she was proud when Rogan interviewed Donald Trump in a three-hour sit-down just before the 2024 election.
As a vocal Trump supporter, Rosa viewed the interview as a pivotal moment that gave the former president a crucial edge.
“Our family supports Trump and his agenda,” Rosa shared. “Joe’s podcast gave him a platform that no one else had.
It really shaped the way people thought about the campaign.” For her, it was a proud moment—despite the personal distance.
From Turbulent Childhood to a Cross-Country Escape
Rogan’s early years were anything but stable. Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1967, his parents divorced when he was just five.
After that, his mother moved with him to San Francisco, where she would later remarry.
Rogan has often painted that move as a total cultural shift—from the rough edges of an Italian-Jersey upbringing to the free-spirited vibe of 1970s Haight-Ashbury.
In his words: “I went from living around Italian New Jersey psychopaths to San Francisco, peace and love.”
His new stepfather was a self-proclaimed hippie and computer programmer, while their neighbors were an openly gay couple his mom hung out with. It was a total lifestyle 180.
Finding Purpose in Martial Arts
The family eventually moved again, this time to Newton, Massachusetts.
As a teenager struggling to find his footing in a new school, Rogan turned to martial arts to build confidence.
He’s credited the discipline with completely changing his life.
“I was terrified of being a loser,” he once said. “Martial arts gave me confidence, showed me who I could become.”
That love for combat sports would eventually land him one of his earliest big breaks: a job as a UFC commentator.
How a Random VHS Tape Changed Everything
In 2002, Rogan—then juggling stand-up gigs and hosting Fear Factor—was discovered in a roundabout way by UFC president Dana White.
White happened to pop in a random VHS tape during a move and saw Rogan talking about Fear Factor.
What caught his attention, though, was how passionately Rogan spoke about UFC. That sealed the deal.
Rogan started calling fights for free—literally, his first 13 commentating gigs were unpaid.
But he quickly became a fan favorite for his energy, deep knowledge of martial arts, and ability to explain complex techniques to everyday viewers.
From Viral Knockouts to Podcast King
While Rogan gained traction in UFC circles, it was The Joe Rogan Experience that launched him into the stratosphere.
Launched in 2009, the podcast grew fast, landing deals with SiriusXM and, eventually, Spotify—where Rogan signed a record-breaking $200 million contract in 2020.
With millions of followers across platforms, Rogan has hosted an eclectic mix of guests—from Elon Musk to North Korean defector Yeonmi Park.
But his success has also brought controversy. He’s questioned the moon landing, flirted with conspiracy theories, and was widely criticized during the COVID-19 pandemic for airing anti-vaccine perspectives.
From Sanders to Trump: A Political Evolution
Back in 2019, Rogan seemed to lean left, even endorsing Bernie Sanders. But by 2024, his stance had clearly shifted.
He welcomed Donald Trump to the podcast just before the election—a move seen as hugely impactful.
Trump even acknowledged Rogan’s influence during a campaign stop, proudly saying, “Joe Rogan just endorsed me. Isn’t that great?”
Rogan was later spotted as a guest of honor at Trump’s inauguration alongside his wife Jessica Ditzel, whom he married in 2009.
Cracks in the Support: Rogan Questions Migration Policy
Despite his alignment with Trump during the campaign, Rogan made headlines recently when he criticized one of the former president’s key policies—mass migration enforcement.
On a recent episode, he expressed concern that innocent people could be unfairly deported.
“You gotta be scared that people who aren’t criminals are getting swept up and sent to El Salvador prisons,” he warned.
It was a rare moment of tension between Rogan’s rising influence and the political movement his own family supports.
A Family Still Waiting to Reconnect
Back in Kearny, New Jersey—a small town where Trump flags still wave and the NYC skyline looms in the distance—Rogan’s father, now in his 80s, continues to wear his Steelers gear and lives mostly under the radar. But when it comes to Joe, the pain hasn’t gone away.
“I’d sit down with him,” Joseph Sr. said in 2022. “He needs to hear my side. He never asked.
He doesn’t know how much it hurt.”
Despite the fame, the money, and the influence, one thing remains unresolved: the story of a son and father who haven’t spoken in decades.
