Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron has wrapped up his long-running show WTF With Marc Maron after 16 years and nearly 1,700 episodes, with former US President Barack Obama joining him as his final guest.
Obama, who famously appeared on Maron’s podcast a decade ago while still in office, helped close the show by interviewing Maron at his Washington office. It was a fitting full circle moment for the podcast that once brought global attention to the medium.
“How are you feeling about this whole thing — the transition, moving on from something that’s been such a defining part of your life?” Obama asked at the start.
“I feel OK,” Maron replied. “I’m ready for a break, but there’s also some fear — like, what do I do now? I’ve got a lot of people who’ve come to rely on me.”
Maron laughed as he compared ending his podcast to leaving the presidency. “I think it’s pretty similar,” Obama quipped.
The former president’s identity was kept secret until the episode was released on Monday, though many fans had correctly guessed it. In July, Maron had told Variety that Obama would be his ideal final guest.
“It became clear the guest had to be someone singular,” Maron said in his brief introduction. “Someone who could speak to the importance of this being our final episode — and how we move through a frightening world.”
Offering advice, Obama told Maron not to rush into his next chapter: “Take a beat. Take some satisfaction looking backward. You’ve still got a few chapters left.”
Reflecting on Maron’s legacy, Obama said, “Part of the reason you had such a big fan base is because there was a core decency to you and to the conversations you had. I think that speaks to who we are.”
Maron avoided overtly sentimental goodbyes during the episode, having shared an emotional farewell with listeners in the previous one. “I’m grateful to have been part of your lives,” he had said then. “We’ve been through a lot — breakups, death, cats, the world.”
The final episode, No. 1,686, marked the end of a pioneering podcast that began in 2009 in Maron’s Los Angeles garage — affectionately called The Cat Ranch. Over the years, WTF featured an array of cultural figures, including Robin Williams, Paul McCartney, and countless comedians and artists.
Maron signed off with a tribute to his beloved pets: “Cat angels everywhere.”
Earlier this year, Maron and longtime producer Brendan McDonald announced their decision to end the show, citing no specific reason other than exhaustion and satisfaction. As he wrapped up, Maron humorously read a mock legal document for Obama to sign, releasing McDonald “from the professional responsibility of listening to me talk.”