The Guardian  Media

Riding the Rightwing Algorithm to Success: Is Karl Stefanovic Australia’s Joe Rogan?

Australian TV veteran Karl Stefanovic launched an independent podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, which surged to No. 2 on Apple Podcasts overall and topped the news category within four weeks. The series quickly amassed over 50,000 YouTube subscribers and its right‑wing episodes routinely pull close to 300,000 views on YouTube and TikTok. A live interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sparked a flood of anti‑government and extremist comments, highlighting the platform’s appeal to a far‑right audience. Stefanovic’s shift mirrors the Joe Rogan model, pairing casual interview style with controversial guests.