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After an extraordinary 16-year run, comedian Marc Maron has announced the end of his trailblazing podcast "WTF with Marc Maron," marking the close of an era that helped shape the podcasting landscape. In a heartfelt revelation during a Monday episode featuring fellow comedian John Mulaney, Maron shared the news with his listeners, explaining that the decision to end the show was mutual between him and his long-time producer Brendan McDonald.
Maron, a pioneer in the medium, expressed a sense of peace and fulfillment about the decision. "We both realized together that we were done," he said. "There was no convincing or pushback or arguing. We were done, and it's OK for things to end." He added that the toll of producing over 1,600 episodes had led to creative exhaustion, saying, "We're burnt out. And we are utterly satisfied with the work we've done."
Since its humble debut on September 1, 2009, in a garage cluttered with junk, "WTF" evolved into one of the most influential interview podcasts, hosting an eclectic mix of guests, from rising comedians to titans like Barack Obama, Robin Williams, and Norm MacDonald. The show became known for its raw, emotionally honest conversations, often delving into the lives and minds of its guests in ways traditional interviews never could.
Maron's voice and perspective shaped the medium, especially during podcasting's formative years when the format was still finding its footing. "This was a show that started when there were no podcasts. And now, there is nothing but podcasts," he noted, underlining the cultural shift he helped ignite.
While the final episode is slated for this fall, Maron isn't disappearing from the scene. He teased the possibility of future projects, promising fans that his signature voice and deep-dive conversations may return in another form someday. "This doesn't mean I'm never going to do something like this again," he said. "But for now, we're just wrapping things up."
As he gears up for his final episodes, Maron plans to welcome a stream of memorable guests, giving the podcast the send-off it deserves. For loyal fans, the curtain call is bittersweet—but one thing is certain: Marc Maron didn't just ride the podcasting wave. He helped create it.
