The Rogansphere, that interconnected web of comedians orbiting Joe Rogan’s influential platform, has experienced an unprecedented collapse in 2025. What was once considered the pinnacle of comedy success has devolved into a laughingstock, with major figures like Andrew Schulz, Tony Hinchcliffe, Bert Kreischer, Brendan Schaub, and Joe Rogan himself suffering irreparable damage to their reputations.
According to sources, the shift has been dramatic and undeniable. These comedians haven’t just lost credibility as entertainers—they’ve lost respect as people. The phenomenon comedian Nick Mullen described as being ‘Brendan Schaubified’ has infected the entire circle, where audiences now hate-watch their content rather than genuinely enjoying it. When their names come up in conversation, positive associations have vanished entirely.
Even fellow comedians have abandoned the pretense of respect. At Skankfest in New Orleans, Nick Mullen recounted telling Tony Hinchcliffe that he and his comedy cohorts had ruined Austin, Texas. The conversation perfectly illustrated the problem: Hinchcliffe was completely oblivious to the criticism, praising Austin as the “greatest place on earth” while Mullen tried explaining how LA transplants had destroyed what made the city special.
This obliviousness encapsulates why the backlash has intensified—these comedians genuinely believe they’re elevating comedy while platforming mediocre talent, dismissing all criticism as jealousy.
Andrew Schulz exemplifies the grifter mentality that has eroded credibility across the board. He accepted money from the Saudi Arabian government for a censored comedy set, proclaimed himself a “political journalist” in the New York Times despite demonstrating profound ignorance about politics, and relentlessly promoted Donald Trump.
Even his co-host Charlamagne tha God had to intervene when Schulz praised Trump’s AI video depicting the president dumping sewage on protesters. Schulz’s two-faced approach—simultaneously courting the rap community and Trump supporters—has left his reputation in tatters, with his podcast subreddit resembling a snark page rather than a fan community.
Brendan Schaub’s trajectory represents the endgame of this phenomenon. Five months after relocating to Austin, he’s faded into irrelevance, finally allowed at Rogan’s Mothership comedy club only because he’s become too insignificant to matter. His denial of ever being banned contradicts both his own previous admissions and Rogan’s statements, showcasing the delusion permeating this comedy circle.
Joe Rogan himself bears ultimate responsibility for this collective downfall. His attachment to the declining “alpha guru Manosphere” has tainted everyone in his orbit. When guests mention the “Rogansphere,” he visibly recoils, playing dumb like Hinchcliffe rather than addressing legitimate criticism. His recent obsession with AI—including the claim that Jesus could return as artificial intelligence—reveals a mind disconnected from reality, likely influenced by sponsorship deals rather than genuine belief.
The 2025 collapse wasn’t sudden but inevitable. These comedians achieved success far beyond their talent levels through association rather than merit. Their financial success, built on appealing to the ‘lowest mouth breathing section of society,’ never correlated with actual comedic ability.
Only those who worship at the altar of MMA and Kill Tony still treat them as innovators. Everyone else watches the ecosystem rot from within, as mainstream culture has finally caught up to what critics have long recognized: the emperor has no clothes, and neither do his friends.