Podcaster Joe Rogan says his show was not nominated for a new Golden Globes award because he refused to pay the required $500 entry fee. The host of The Joe Rogan Experience made his reasons public on a recent episode, stating he did not want to be part of the process. The first-ever Golden Globe for Best Podcast was awarded on January 11, 2026, to Amy Poehler for her show Good Hang.
The situation has started a conversation about how awards shows operate and who gets to decide what art is considered the “best.” While some fans were surprised Rogan’s popular podcast was not on the nominee list, he claims it was his own choice.
The $500 Golden Globes Submission Fee Explained
For the 2026 Golden Globes, shows and individuals had to pay money to be considered for nomination. According to the awards’ rules, each person submitted for award consideration needed to pay an entry fee of $250. Each film, TV show, podcast, or other production had to pay a separate fee of $500.
There is an additional cost. If a production wanted to make its work available on the official Golden Globes Screening Platform for voters, a $5,000 “administration fee” was required. The rules note that low-budget productions, defined as those with costs under $2 million, can contact the Globes organization to ask about different fee options.
These fees are common for many major award shows, which use the money to run the complex nomination and voting process. The Golden Globes added the Best Podcast category for the 2026 ceremony.
Joe Rogan’s Refusal and Reaction to the Fee
On the January 29, 2026 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan explained the situation to his guest, comedian Bert Kreischer. He said he was among a group of top podcasters asked to submit for the new award but chose not to when he learned about the fee.
โThey asked me to submit to be nominated for the Golden Globes and you had to pay $500. And the $500 is like for paperwork or whatever. I said, โNo.โโ
Rogan expressed a strong dislike for the awards process in general. He questioned the authority of the voting body, which is made up of entertainment journalists from around the world.
โI donโt want to be a part of that. I donโt care. Youโre just a group of people that just decide, all of a sudden, that youโre going to give an award out? โI get a trophyโ? F*** off!โ
Instead, he pointed to his own show’s success, noting it has been the number one podcast on Spotify for five straight years and also tops other charts. โI already won. You canโt tell me I didnโt win. Iโve been number one for six years in a row,โ he said.
The Inaugural Best Podcast Category and Winner
The first Golden Globe for Best Podcast featured a mix of popular interview and news shows. The six nominees were:
- Good Hang with Amy Poehler
- SmartLess (hosted by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes)
- Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
- Call Her Daddy with Alex Cooper
- The Mel Robbins Podcast
- NPRโs Up First
The award was presented by Snoop Dogg during the January 11 ceremony and went to Amy Poehler. Her podcast, Good Hang, launched in March 2025, making it the newest show among the nominees.
Rogan commented on Poehler’s win, suggesting it followed a pattern in the entertainment industry.
โI just know that Amy Poehler won and a lot of people are upset. โSheโs had a podcast for six months and she won. Great, you gave it to a famous person.โ Which, you know, in that world thatโs what they do.โ
He also said he had not listened to her podcast but assumed, โIโm sure itโs good. It won. Iโm sure someone must love it.โ
Other Podcasters and Reactions to the Nominations
Joe Rogan was not the only prominent podcaster to skip the submission process. Representatives for Megyn Kelly said she also declined to formally submit her show, The Megyn Kelly Show, for consideration. Kelly had previously criticized the awards system, calling it “rigged”.
Some commentators who support Rogan had claimed his lack of a nomination was a deliberate snub. Figures like Bill Maher said it was “glaring” that Rogan was not nominated given the podcast’s popularity. However, Rogan’s own statements make it clear his absence was due to his refusal to participate, not a decision by the voting body.
The Golden Globes voting system has changed in recent years. Following controversy and criticism in 2021, the old Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was dissolved. Voting is now done by a larger, more diverse group of about 300 international entertainment journalists. These voters must follow strict rules, including a code of conduct and a ban on accepting gifts from studios or publicists.
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The Broader Debate Over Awards and Recognition
This incident highlights a long-standing debate about the value and meaning of awards in the arts. On one side, institutions like the Golden Globes represent traditional, industry-sanctioned recognition. On the other, creators like Rogan measure success through direct audience support, downloads, and chart positions.
Rogan’s stance rejects the idea that a small group can declare one piece of work objectively “the best.”
โAwards for art are crazy. Like โThis is the best.โ To who? To a group of people that we deem the gatekeepers of all thatโs appropriate?โ
For award shows, submission fees are a practical necessity to fund the administration of reviewing thousands of entries, managing screening platforms, and running the voting process. However, these fees can create a barrier to entry, potentially favoring well-funded studios and networks over independent creators, even with accommodations for low-budget projects.
Also Read: Who Is the Main Antagonist in Wonder Man? The DODC and New MCU Threat Explained
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