Mark Maron to End His Influential Podcast “WTF”

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mark Maron, the comic and actor, announced on Monday that he is wrapping up his long-running podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, after nearly 16 years.

In a recent episode, he mentioned that the conclusion of his nearly 2,000 episodes will be released later this year.

“We’ve been at this for 16 years, and it’s been quite a ride,” Maron shared. “Now, it’s time. ‘WTF’ is coming to an end. We’ve made that choice. There will be a final episode sometime in the fall.”

At 61, Maron confessed that both he and his producer, Brendan McDonald, are feeling “tired” and “burned out,” although they take pride in their accomplishments.

Maron, who started the podcast in 2009, was already an established stand-up comic with prior experience in radio.

The early episodes often featured him discussing conflicts with fellow comedians, but soon it evolved into in-depth, thought-provoking interviews with a variety of cultural figures, creating a unique space in the podcasting landscape.

It became a pivotal platform for writers, actors, and musicians, especially notable when President Barack Obama appeared on the show in a memorable 2015 episode.

With a straightforward interview style, Maron encouraged his guests to share personal stories often left untold, frequently asking, “Who is your man?” to explore the significant influences in their lives and careers.

One standout moment was his 2010 emotional interview with Robin Williams, which gained renewed attention after Williams passed away in 2014. This episode is part of the Library of Congress National Record Registry.

Throughout the show’s run, Maron also continued his stand-up comedy and acted in three seasons of Netflix’s “Glow,” enhancing his acting portfolio.

The show’s guitar rock theme began with Maron’s enthusiastic shout of “Rock the Gates!” from his role in the film “Almost Famous.”

His solo episodes served as a space for personal reflection, where he opened up about his life, relationships, and struggles with drug addiction.

Maron paid a heartfelt tribute to his late girlfriend, director Lynn Shelton, in an episode following her death in 2020.

“Listeners of the podcast know me pretty well, and it’s all good. There’s a relationship there, but it’s genuine, and I strive to be as graceful as I can about it,” Maron had said in 2019.