Did Donald Trump “legitimize” podcasting when he went on Joe Rogan during the campaign last summer?
Yes—according to Adam Friedland, whom the media are saying could be the next Rogan for the left, on the most recent episode of Semafor’s “Mixed Media” podcast. “Thank you Mr. President,” he added, in a sarcastic tone.
A few months ago, the name liberals were tossing about as the next potential Rogan was California-based video gamer Hassan Piker. He found his congregation of disaffected youth on Twitch—a gaming platform that allows players to talk as they play.
Friedland, on the other hand, didn’t even need to try. He simply started a crudely named Youtube show—called Cum Town—with his buddy in New York City and organically grew thanks to the help of fans resharing compilation videos.
Now, he’s evolved into a solo operation–spewing out videos under the title: The Adam Friedland Show. If you asked him two years ago whether his operation would be as big as it’s gotten, he would’ve said no.
“I think it’s the first time I’ve tried anything in my life. I’m 38 and I think I started trying at 35,” Friedland said.
One of his aims is to bring conversation—a friend-speaking-to-a-friend style—to his listeners, whom he admits are almost entirely male. Which brings me to my next question: as the media stakes out “the next Rogan” what if we looked for a woman?
Friedland also shared some advice on social media: get off it.
Friedland: I think that people are weird nowadays. I think the phone has made people so weird.
Semafor: How do you feel like the show is going to make people less weird?
Friedland: Well, I’m working with President Xi to take social media. That’s the only thing I can think that could fix any of this crap… We need China to take away the phone, and then everything is going to be all right.
Semafor: What are you seeing on your TikTok feed? What’s on there?
Friedland: I don’t look at TikTok.
Semafor: You don’t look at Tiktok?
Friedland: What am I, 12?
Ashley Elizabeth Miller 
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