Barack Obama Bids Farewell to Marc Maron’s Podcast

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Barack Obama joined Marc Maron for the finale of his podcast on Monday, marking the end of a 16-year journey and nearly 1,700 episodes.

The former president, who first appeared on Maron’s show “WTF with Marc Maron” a decade ago while he was still in office, returned for a final chat in Maron’s garage studio. Maron, a comedian and actor, had brought Obama to his Washington office for this concluding interview.

Obama opened the conversation by asking Maron how he felt about wrapping up a project that had defined much of his career.

“I feel, um, ready for a break, but also a bit anxious about what’s next,” Maron admitted, reflecting on the trust many people had placed in him over those years.

Maron joked about the similarities between running a podcast and being president. Obama chimed in, acknowledging the parallel.

As the episode progressed, the guest’s identity remained under wraps until the very end, creating anticipation among listeners. Obama was a strong contender to join Maron for this final conversation, especially after Maron noted in a previous interview that Obama would be the ideal partner for his last episode.

Maron explained his choice of guest in a straightforward introduction, highlighting how unique Obama is in relating not just to the finality of the episode but also to the challenges of the world today.

He sought Obama’s advice about transitioning from the high-pressure position he held for so long. Obama encouraged him to take a step back, reflect, and find satisfaction in the journey.

Shifting gears, Obama reassured Maron, “I think we’ll be fine,” acknowledging the core decency that has drawn listeners to Maron over the years.

Despite the heavy themes, Maron opted to avoid overly sentimental goodbyes during this episode, having saved that for the penultimate one. He expressed his gratitude, reflecting on the shared experiences with his audience, including goodbyes, loss, and even joy.

This episode featuring Obama was the 1,686th of the influential podcast, which began in 2009 as a casual outlet for Maron to connect with fellow comedians in his garage. Maron’s cats, often featured in the show, played a prominent role throughout its run. In his closing remarks, he paid homage to those who had passed on, saying, “Cat angels are everywhere.”

Opening with a fan-created rock theme and Maron’s iconic call to “Close the gate!”, the podcast became a significant platform for various artists and leaders, from writers to politicians, sharing personal stories and insights.

Maron had announced in June that he and his long-time collaborator Brendan McDonald decided to conclude the podcast, citing fatigue and a sense of fulfillment with their work as the reasons.

During the finale, Maron appeared thoughtful as he read a lighthearted, self-drafted document to officially relieve McDonald of his duty to listen and to get Obama to sign it.