The fans aren’t happy with Joe Rogan’s choice of his latest guest. The UFC color commentator and host of the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) has built his empire on unfiltered conversations, deep-dive discussions, and an ever-changing lineup of guests. But sometimes, even a winning formula stumbles.

In a recent post on Reddit, a fan shared an image of Mike Baker’s X post which read, “Ladies & gentlemen, for your listening pleasure; just finished another sit down w the most excellent Mr.Rogan. I used all my big grown-up words. We talked JFK, Gaza, Ukraine, wolves, cannibalism, government waste & of course, my 20th wedding anniversary.”

A packed agenda, right? But for many listeners, the problem isn’t what Baker talks about—it’s how he talks about it. The intelligence expert turned podcast regular’s appearances on the show stretch all the way back to 2014.

For some fans, he brings a fascinating glimpse into the world of espionage. After all his accomplishments read like a movie script. According to his official bio on the Portman Square Group website, “With almost four decades of operational experience focused on intelligence collection, investigations, and security support, Mike appears regularly on a variety of networks as a subject matter expert on intelligence matters and world events.”

But according to a growing number of avid JRE listeners, he’s a master of saying a lot while revealing nothing. And it seems the latter group is growing louder. As such, the disgruntled fans didn’t hold back in their reactions, and here’s a look at what the netizens had to say.

Fans “unite” over their frustration at Mike Baker’s repeated appearances on Joe Rogan’s podcast

The fans on Reddit pointed out that Mike Baker shares too much about his personal life, including details that add little value to the conversation. One recurring complaint is how often he brings up his kids and family life in ways that feel forced or unnecessary.

“When I see Mike Baker, this comment is the first thing that enters my mind. The funniest thing is that I thought “omg no one gives a f— about what your kids are up to” before I ever saw anyone else comment on it, it’s what unites all the JRE listeners lol”

Others just sound exhausted. According to information on the JREPodcast.com website, Baker made 2 appearances in 2024 and 3 in 2023. This begs the question, have the fans simply heard everything he has to say?

“What did we do to deserve this?”

One particular grievance that keeps surfacing is how Baker structures his discussions. According to this fan, his way of speaking often lacks depth, meandering around significant issues without providing concrete insights. An accurate description or hyperbole? What do you think?

“I think neither love nor hate is an apt description for how I feel about Mike Baker episodes. Really I don’t feel anything because I can never remember what was discussed. He has this uncanny ability to talk for hours without saying anything.”

But amidst the backlash against Mike Baker, long-time listeners of Joe Rogan’s podcast brought up the ‘good old days’ of the show. A lot of JRE fans remember and miss the days when episodes were dominated by the likes of Eddie Bravo, Joey Diaz, and other high-energy, unpredictable guests.

“I miss the days when Eddie Brah and Joey Diaz were the regulars.”

Some were blunter in their approach as they simply highlighted how Mike Baker might be an expert in intelligence, but when it comes to holding the audience’s attention, many believe he’s losing the battle.

“I think the value of this friendship being public is no longer worth the effort of recording it”

In the end, Joe Rogan’s podcast has long thrived on its ability to keep listeners engaged, entertained, and, at times, even outraged. But with Mike Baker’s repeated appearances, frustration is mounting. While Rogan has never been one to bow to public pressure, this backlash raises some interesting questions. How much does audience opinion really shape The Joe Rogan Experience? Will he take note and shake up his guest lineup, or will fans have to endure another round of Baker’s carefully worded, yet oddly empty, intelligence talk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!