Marc Maron, widely recognized for his role in shaping the modern celebrity podcast scene, has announced plans to step away from his acclaimed show, marking the end of an era. After a sixteen-year run, the comedian‘s decision to conclude the ‘WTF with Marc Maron’ podcast this fall has drawn attention from fans and the entertainment industry, as he shares his reasons for departing from the regular interview format.
A pioneer of the celebrity interview podcast genre bows out
Marc Maron, known not just for his standup and acting in projects like ‘To Leslie’ and voicing Snake in ‘The Bad Guys’ animated franchise, first launched his podcast in September 2009. Over the course of more than a decade, ‘WTF with Marc Maron’ established itself with its honest and often revealing interviews. Notable guests have included prominent figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Keith Richards, and even Barack Obama. The decision to wind down ‘WTF’ comes at a pivotal time when podcasting has fully entered the media mainstream, a transformation to which Maron contributed significantly.
While a few podcasters preceded Maron, his approach—marked by deep introspection, occasional vulnerability, and candid discussions—stood out. He transformed his home garage in Highland Park, California, into a destination for stars and world leaders alike. Maron confirmed through Deadline that the regular twice-weekly format will cease this fall, capping an influential chapter in both his life and in podcasting history.
“Sixteen years we’ve been doing this, and we’ve decided that we had a great run. Now, basically, it’s time, folks. It’s time. ‘WTF’ is coming to an end. It’s our decision. We’ll have our final episode sometime in the fall.”
—Marc Maron, Podcast Host
The evolution and milestones of ‘WTF with Marc Maron’
Since its inception, ‘WTF’ has become a cultural institution. Gathering over 1.1 billion downloads, listens, and impressions, as well as creating 1,645 regular episodes and more than 300 special episodes for premium listeners, the podcast has consistently drawn global audiences. Maron’s unique ability to connect with interviewees led to landmark moments, including a historic visit from President Barack Obama in June 2015. That episode broke all previous download records for its host platform, Libsyn, as Obama discussed critical topics such as race relations and gun violence in Maron’s garage studio.
‘WTF’ was also pivotal in featuring key cultural conversations, such as Todd Glass’s 2012 coming out, and in-depth interviews with the late Robin Williams, whose 2010 appearance was later selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2022. The show has also welcomed comedy legends like Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, longtime Saturday Night Live boss Lorne Michaels, and musicians such as Sir Paul McCartney. Maron’s openness about needing closure from guests like Michaels, stemming from an unresolved encounter in the 1990s, revealed his commitment to honesty and personal growth in public.
Marc Maron and his producer Brendan McDonald received recognition with the inaugural Governors Award by the Podcast Academy for Excellence in Audio at The Ambies in 2021, reflecting the industry’s acknowledgment of their impact.
Maron discusses the decision to step away from ‘WTF’
In recent episodes, Maron has elaborated on why now feels like the right time to conclude this chapter.
“It really comes down to the fact that we’ve put up a new show every Monday and Thursday for almost sixteen years and we’re tired. We’re burnt out. And we are utterly satisfied with the work we’ve done. We’ve done great work. This doesn’t mean I’m never going to do something like this again. Doesn’t mean I’ll never have talks like I do here, or some kind of podcast at some point in time. But for now, we’re just wrapping things up. It’s okay. It’s okay to end things. It’s okay to try to start some other chapter in your life.”
—Marc Maron, Podcast Host
Maron also emphasized the importance of ending the podcast by choice, staying true to his ethos of creative independence.
“It’s nice to be able to end things on our terms. We’ve always had that power to do that and that’s what we’re going to do. We started the show on our terms, we grew it on our terms, and we’ll end it on our terms.”
—Marc Maron, Podcast Host
Marc Maron’s journey through comedy, TV, and film
Long before podcasting, Maron was a mainstay in the comedy scene, building a career through standup specials and regular appearances on late-night television. He took over as the host of Comedy Central’s ‘Short Attention Span Theater’, stepping into the role once filled by Jon Stewart. Over the years, he became the most frequent stand-up performer to visit ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’, making 44 appearances, and often joined Dave Letterman on the ‘Late Show’ as a guest.
His on-screen resume spans hosting duties on the ‘Marc Maron Show’, political co-hosting gigs with Air America Media such as ‘Morning Sedition’ and ‘Breakroom Live’, and a brief stint as the host of VH1’s ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’. Maron’s acting credits are just as diverse; he has appeared in feature films including ‘Joker’, ‘Almost Famous’, ‘The Order’, ‘Sleepwalk with Me’, and ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’. Television also welcomed him with roles in ‘Reservation Dogs’, ‘GLOW’, ‘Maron’, and ‘Roadies’.
Recently, Maron took on roles in projects like Michael Morris’s ‘To Leslie’ and DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Bad Guys’ franchise, voicing Mr. Snake alongside actors like Sam Rockwell, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkwafina.
Upcoming ventures: Where audiences can see Maron next
Marc Maron continues to pursue an ambitious acting career following the conclusion of his podcast. He will appear in ‘In Memoriam,’ directed by Rob Burnett, sharing the screen with Judy Greer, Sharon Stone, and Regina Hall. Additionally, he is set to play producer Chuck Plotkin in Scott Cooper’s ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’, a biopic focused on Bruce Springsteen, nicknamed ‘The Boss’, and featuring Jeremy Allen White.
On television, viewers will see Maron alongside Owen Wilson in the Apple TV+ comedy series ‘Stick’, premiering June 4, 2025. This show will offer Maron fans a blend of his comedic timing and acting range as he branches into new territory.
Selected filmography and television appearances of Marc Maron
Marc Maron has cultivated an extensive body of work across stage, film, and television. His main credits include:
1. ‘Short Attention Span Theater’ (1993)
2. ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’ (1994)
3. ‘Girls’ (2015)
4. ‘Almost Famous’ (2000)
5. ‘Sleepwalk with Me’ (2012)
6. ‘Maron’ (2013)
7. ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’ (2016)
8. ‘Roadies’ (2016)
9. ‘GLOW’ (2017)
10. ‘Joker’ (2019)
11. ‘Reservation Dogs’ (2021)
12. ‘The Bad Guys’ (2022)
13. ‘To Leslie’ (2022)
14. ‘The Order’ (2024)
15. ‘Stick’ (2025)
16. ‘The Bad Guys 2’ (2025)
Looking ahead at Maron’s legacy and impact
The news of Marc Maron ending WTF podcast after sixteen years positions the series among the most influential platforms in podcasting history. Maron’s impact reaches beyond his high-profile guests and candid interviews; he set a new bar for personal storytelling and meaningful conversations in the medium. As he prepares to air his final episodes, podcasting, comedy, and media insiders alike are left considering the imprint Maron has made and anticipating what creative directions he may pursue next.
