It reminds me a lot of Malcolm Gladwell. I have mixed feelings about MG but there has been a fair bit of controversy [1] over his true nature as a journalist while he projects and speaks as a scientist or intellectual.

[1]: https://www.thecrimson.com/column/behavioral-economist/artic...

He's also been a paid spokesperson for big tobacco without making that relationship clear while he is speaking.

Totally agree, that's why I love it. I guess it comes if you prefer a depth-first or breadth-first path in learning.

The good thing about Rogan is that he doesn't pretend to be more than that.

Exactly. I have zero issues with that, and the fact that Joe Rogan is aware of it helps a ton.

I like listening to all the various guests he invites, like doctors or even professional archers. I like hearing them talk about their stuff deep enough where I, as a person who knows not much at all about their specialty topics, can learn something. But it would become not that interesting to me if every single guest of his would dive so deep, I would not be able to understand anything without reading a tons of pre-req material.

It is a really difficult thing to balance, between going too in-depth and being too surface-level. And, I feel like, that's why Joe is so popular, as he nails it very well.

For the topics that I want to dive very deep into, I can just listen to specialized podcasts on those topics. But as a general "seeing tons of cool stuff and learning about basics of really diverse topics I would never see otherwise", Joe's podcast is great. Plus, Joe manages to open up people, to the point where they get really candid and, for the lack of a better word in my mind, human. Even the people who hold very opposing views to those of Joe's.

That's a great term. Sounds like a lot of YouTube channels and podcasts.

Maybe I'm stupid but could someone enlighten me as to what "intellectual tourism" might mean? Is that like, a normal person pretending to be intellectual, or is it like browsing Wikipedia with no specific purpose except for the brain snacks? I can't even tell if that's an insult to Joe Rogan or not.

Agree with the other poster, not an insult at all. Think pop-science books or discussing Mayan art over beers.

I'd personally be thrilled if more people were intellectual tourists. In my professional technical life, I'd far rather talk to people with a superficial understanding than people who's mental model is part TV-hackers, part magic.

I don't think it's meant to be an insult. The way I interpret it, "intellectual tourism" means looking at / listening to "intellectual" topics, but only in a cursory manner with little deep conversation.

Have you ever seen that episode of The Office where the boss comes back from vacation to Jamaica? I see it as that but for wanting to sound smart and intellectual.