Joe Rogan Experience Review Podcast

Episode: JRE 485 Week in Review: Josh Dubin, James McCann, Gable Steveson
Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Joe Rogan Experience Review Podcast team
Duration: ~45 minutes

Overview

This Week in Review episode offers a concise breakdown and analysis of three Joe Rogan Experience episodes from the first week of 2026:

• JRE 2432 with civil rights attorney Josh Dubin (criminal justice reform)
• JRE 2433 with Australian comedian James Donald Forbes McCann (comedy and politics)
• MMA Show 172 with Olympic wrestler and rising MMA star Gable Steveson (sports and ambition)

The Review podcast hosts provide episode highlights, key themes, online fan receptions, notable moments, and their personal takes, helping Rogan fans decide which episodes are worth their time.

JRE 2432: Josh Dubin

Topic: Criminal Justice Reform and Wrongful Convictions
Timestamps: 00:30–08:50

Key Discussion Points

• Systemic Issues in the US Justice System:
  Josh Dubin, executive director of the Pearl Mutter Center of Legal Justice, returns to cover wrongful convictions, prosecutorial corruption, and the complicated roots of marijuana criminalization.
  "We all know him if you're a longtime Rogan listener. He must have been on half a dozen times now." (00:36)

• Recent Cases:

  • $50 million defamation verdict.
  • Efforts to exonerate Nelson Cruise after 26 years in prison, despite evidence of another perpetrator.
  • Barbaric deportation practices for green card holders.
  • Challenges overturning convictions due to unaccredited DNA labs and coerced confessions.

• Highlights & Memorable Insights:

  • Origins of marijuana prohibition and corporate interests framing it as “cartel-like.”
  • Empathy in legal advocacy and personal strategies for mental health in such a taxing field.
  • Crimson portrayal of law enforcement’s focus: “...how law enforcement prioritizes convictions over truth, which is brutal and painful to listen to.” (07:55)

Online Fan Reception

• Reddit: Largely negative, with skepticism about Dubin’s advocacy—particularly referencing exonerated guests who re-offended.
  • "We all remember the Sheldon Johnsons who was later arrested for murder, who came on Rogan's show. I knew that would come back to bite him in the ass." (08:08)
  • Comments questioned his credibility and called the episode “preachy and unconvincing.”
• X (formerly Twitter): Mostly neutral to indifferent.
• Host's Take:
  • AI systems rated the episode 4/10.
  • "I give it a little bit higher, but I have a bit of a soft spot for Dubin." (09:32)
  • Recommended only for dedicated followers of justice reform discussions.

JRE 2433: James Donald Forbes McCann

Topic: Comedy, Politics, and Speculative Banter
Timestamps: 08:55–21:25

Key Discussion Points

• Introducing McCann:

  • Hilarious Australian comedian, author, and podcaster.
  • Close friend and protégé of Shane Gillis.
  • Shared anecdotes from his latest special, “Black Israelite.”

• Discussion Themes:

  • Differences between American and Australian political systems.
  • Voting quirks and stories, including instances of double-voting:
    "McCann recounted a story of someone voting twice, sparking laughs and election integrity, conversations on party politics..." (11:10)
  • Identity verification in elections, comedic takes on bureaucracy.
  • Geopolitical hypotheticals (e.g., surprise nuclear strikes), advanced weaponry, and wild “what ifs.”

• Memorable Moments:

  • Sharp banter about “primaries” in Australia versus the U.S.
  • McCann’s wit receives high praise:
    "I really like this guy. Good friends with Shane Gillis...Shane knows talent and has helped him get in a good position." (09:30)
  • Some jokes reportedly “went over Rogan’s head,” adding to the charm.

Online Fan Reception

• Reddit: Very positive—“gem,” “hilarious,” special is “unbelievably good.”
• X: Positive, with viral clips highlighting McCann’s delivery.
• Host’s Take:
  • AI systems rated the episode 8/10.
  • "This was my favorite episode of the week for sure." (14:02)
  • Highly recommended for comedy fans; described as a "must listen."

MMA Show 172: Gable Steveson

Topic: Olympic Wrestling to MMA Stardom
Timestamps: 21:30–33:35

Key Discussion Points

• Gable Steveson’s Background:

  • Olympic Gold Medalist, now transitioning to MMA—training with Jon Jones.
  • Brief stint with the Buffalo Bills (NFL).
  • Ambition to dominate the UFC heavyweight division.

• Discussion Highlights:

  • His mindset: embracing the “worst version of himself” in training to push limits.
  • Aspirations: break title defense records and revitalize the UFC heavyweight scene.
  • Training with Jon Jones to improve striking and "dirty boxing."
  • Wrestling backstory: named after Dan Gable, a wrestling legend.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "He's going to do some damage. Stevenson discussed his transition from wrestling to MMA, including training with Jon Jones. Who better to train with?" (22:15)
  • "His mindset of embracing the worst version of himself in training to achieve greatness..." (24:00)
  • "Aspirations to revitalize UFC heavyweights and become an all time great." (25:05)

Online Fan Reception

• Reddit: Mixed—excitement for Steveson’s potential; some skepticism towards Rogan’s tendency to overhype.
  • Reference to past legal controversies noted, but with skepticism:
    "You know, it's classic Rogan...there were references to, I guess, past sexual assault allegations. I don't know anything about this, just some things that were coming up." (26:12)
• X: Clips sparked hype but divided opinions.
• Host’s Take:
  • Rated 6/10 by AI systems.
  • "If you're an MMA fan and just because of where this guy's career will go, I would say this is a bit of a must watch..." (27:10)
  • Seen as a future star worth monitoring closely.

Overall Reflections and Ratings

Timestamps: 33:40–End

• The week showcased Rogan’s ability to blend serious societal discussions with pure entertainment and sports insight.
• January is seen as a recovery month, so a lighter content schedule suited listeners.
• Final Weekly Rating: 6/10 from AI systems and hosts; “Nothing to write home about, but there it is.” (35:40)

Final Send-off:
“Hope you enjoyed it…Happy New Year to everybody. We love you all. Looking forward to a great 2026 later.” (End)

Quick Episode Ratings

• Josh Dubin / Justice Reform: 4/10 — Heavy, preachy, best for dedicated fans.
• James Donald Forbes McCann / Comedy: 8/10 — Standout, a must-listen for humor and energy.
• Gable Steveson / MMA: 6/10 — Exciting MMA prospect, worth it for fight fans.

Best for You If:

• Long-time JRE listeners and criminal justice reform buffs: Dubin episode.
• Comedy fans or those new to McCann: Don’t skip 2433.
• Fight fans bracing for the next big thing: Steveson’s episode is worth it.