Joe Rogan Reveals Regret Over ‘Worst Podcast Episode’ with Controversial Guest
Joe Rogan Labels Archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass as His "Worst Podcast Guest"
[Image: Joe Rogan and Dr. Zahi Hawass during the podcast]
Joe Rogan, host of The Joe Rogan Experience, recently called his May 13 episode with archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass the “worst podcast” in his 16-year history. Hawass, Egypt’s former Minister of Antiquities, sparked backlash for dismissing questions, interrupting Rogan, and repeatedly directing listeners to “read my book” instead of engaging in dialogue.
Clash Over Ancient Mysteries
The episode focused on Egyptology, including recent claims of massive underground structures beneath the Giza pyramids. Satellite images from Italian researchers suggested vertical shafts stretching 2,000 feet below the Khafre pyramid. However, Hawass dismissed the findings as “bulls***,” despite the team using tomographic radar to map hidden chambers.
“He’s this closed-minded gatekeeper of Egypt’s knowledge,” Rogan told NFL star Aaron Rodgers in a later episode. Rodgers noted Hawass’s refusal to acknowledge the evidence, even when Rogan highlighted how the same technology accurately mapped the Tomb of Osiris—a site Hawass himself explored in 2008.
[Image: Satellite imagery of alleged underground shafts at Giza]
Friction and Deflection
Listeners criticized Hawass for evading answers. When Rogan asked about pyramid construction tools or hieroglyphics, Hawass redirected him to his book. “Are there photos online?” Rogan pressed. “Yes, in my book,” Hawass replied, cutting off further discussion. Critics on social media called the dynamic “frustrating” and “unbearable.”
The tension peaked over the underground structures. Rogan questioned why Hawass dismissed the scans without reviewing the technology. “I investigated it—it’s wrong,” Hawass asserted, offering no details. He frequently pivoted to his achievements, declaring, “This is all what I discovered.”
Beef With Graham Hancock
Rogan admitted he invited Hawass due to his feud with Graham Hancock, a controversial historian suggesting alternative theories about ancient civilizations. The pair have clashed since 2015, when Hawass stormed out of a debate, insulting Hancock and his wife over the Orion Correlation Theory (linking Giza’s pyramids to Orion’s Belt). Hancock accused Hawass of fearing scrutiny, calling him a “thug.”
[Image: Graham Hancock and Dr. Zahi Hawass during a heated debate]
Despite Rogan’s hope for reconciliation, Hawass’s combative style dominated. “Zahi wants to do this. We’re friends now,” Rogan said, referencing a shaky truce. Yet the episode highlighted their unresolved tensions and Hawass’s resistance to new theories.
Mixed Reactions
While Rogan called the episode “the worst,” some fans found it revealing. “It showed how academia silences alternate ideas,” one viewer noted. Others criticized Hawass’s “arrogance,” with comments like, “He couldn’t let Joe finish a sentence.”
The debate underscores broader conflicts between traditional Egyptology and fringe theories. As Rogan summed up: “It might’ve been a good episode to expose closed-mindedness.”
[Image: The Tomb of Osiris, a site at the center of the debate]
Final Word: Whether showcasing stubbornness or gatekeeping, Rogan’s episode with Hawass has reignited conversations about who controls the narrative of ancient history—and why.
