You said, "Honestly, why do you trust anyone?" You are correct in what you said and raise a very good point. In thinking about my wording, the meaning of the word '"trust" is not literally intended, but rather a 'gut feeling' about Rogan's rise and dominance in the podcast sphere and the narrative he seems to espouse. You are right about the word, 'trust' because it has to be earned... and that requires it to be on a personal level, in which IMHO all 5-senses are at work. Trust should never be an ambivalent decision. It takes time. I've actually commented on this very thing over the many years using an IFF approach.. Since public figures like Joe Rogan are strangers, trust is really an impossibility.

In terms of a stranger, which Joe Rogan is, and as you inferred, we don't know him nor should ever trust anyone [i.e. public figure]. Having been in the military, I've learned from it, and always liked using the IFF (identify friend or foe) approach. I like for example using it on the telephone. Obviously, a stranger is never a friend. We may listen to a stranger frequently, but have no way of knowing them personally. Therefore, trust is not earned.