The world’s most-listened-to podcaster just delivered what might be the most effective product demonstration Samsung could hope for—and it happened completely organically during a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.
During a November conversation with longtime collaborator Brian Redban, Joe Rogan pulled out Redban’s Samsung fold and proceeded to speak about its design and functionality with the kind of unscripted enthusiasm that advertising agencies dream about capturing.
“This ladies and gentlemen is the new samsung fold and i swear to god when you’re holding it in your hand it feels like a regular phone,” Rogan told his audience, before demonstrating the device’s signature feature. The transformation clearly impressed him: “It’s so thin yeah if you compare it to my iphone it doesn’t feel any different it feels smaller it actually feels smaller.”
What followed was a detailed walkthrough that hit every marketing touchpoint Samsung could want. Rogan praised the device’s compact profile when closed, noting it was “the perfect size for texting where your thumb goes across easy like easy one hand hold.” Then came the payoff moment as he unfolded it:
“Decadence right now you have a little ipad ipad with you yeah now you’re answering emails you’re watching youtube videos.”
The timing of this endorsement is particularly noteworthy. Rogan mentioned that “supposedly that’s what apple’s doing next is they’re bringing out a foldable next year,” positioning Samsung as the innovator while Apple plays catch-up. His observation that “they always do that though right they wait until everybody gets it right” subtly reinforced Samsung’s role as the technology pioneer willing to take risks.
This isn’t Rogan‘s first moment with Samsung devices. Years ago, he spent considerable airtime exploring the features of a Galaxy Note model, leading some listeners to wonder whether he had a sponsorship deal with the Korean manufacturer. The pattern has repeated itself enough times that it’s become a running joke among long-time viewers who remember similar moments from earlier episodes.
What makes Rogan’s shout outs so valuable is their apparent authenticity. Rogan doesn’t sound like an advertisement read. There’s no scripted language or awkward transitions. He simply shares his genuine excitement about a piece of technology he finds impressive which resonates far more powerfully with audiences increasingly skeptical of traditional influencer marketing.
The podcaster has built an empire partly on this perceived authenticity even as the lines between genuine recommendation and commercial partnership have grown increasingly blurred across his various endorsements. From high-end fitness equipment to specialized health products, Rogan‘s platform has become a launching pad for numerous brands seeking access to his devoted audience.
However there are signs Rogan’s influence is fading.
November 11th shoutout didn’t really make a dent in the US market. The worldwide trends chart shows similar trends.
Whether Samsung is compensating Rogan for these moments of enthusiasm or simply benefiting from his genuine interest in their technology remains unclear. What’s undeniable is that several minutes of unprompted praise from one of the world’s most influential media figures represents marketing gold—the kind of organic endorsement that traditional advertising budgets struggle to replicate.
For Samsung, having Rogan declare their foldable phone “so sexy” and demonstrate its features to millions of listeners provides invaluable third-party validation especially as they compete against Apple’s dominant position in the premium smartphone market.