Marc Maron Podcast - Archive

For the final episode of WTF, Marc travels to Washington, DC for another conversation with the most significant guest in the show’s history. Former President Barack Obama welcomes Marc into his office to speak about the legacy of the podcast, the need for human connection, and the reason for optimism in the face of challenging times. Also, President Obama grants Marc’s specific request to help bring some closure to the past sixteen years of WTF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Only one episode of WTF remains after this one and it will not be recorded in the garage. So with this being the final WTF episode taking place in Marc’s sacred space, it’s only appropriate that he close things out himself, directly addressing everyone who’s been on this ride with him for the past sixteen years. This show started with Marc on a microphone, first in a radio studio, then at the Cat Ranch in Highland Park, as well as many remote locations all over the world, before winding up in

Matt Groening discovered the things that helped shape his artistic sensibility when he was 12 years old: psychedelia, the Grateful Dead, Catch-22, and of course cartooning. Matt explains to Marc how the road to creating The Simpsons started in Portland, Oregon and had stops in New York City, Los Angeles, the Licorice Pizza record store, the LA Reader and the office of James L. Brooks. They also talk about The Simpsons becoming a breeding ground for comedy writing talent and Matt reveals, for the first time, who was the real inspiration

Despite having close relationships with innumerable people in the entertainment industry, Mark Flanagan is aware that a lot of people don’t know much about him, even his first name. They just know him as Flanagan, owner and programmer of the LA nightclub Largo. Flanny talks with Marc about his family’s escape from Northern Ireland during The Troubles and his obsession with music that brought him to Largo in the early ‘90s, eventually owning the club where he could showcase the people he most admired in music and comedy. Hosted on Acast.

Judd Apatow was an early fan of WTF and a perennial supporter of the show throughout its run. So when he asked Marc if he could be a guest one more time for an episode where he plays his favorite moments, of course the answer was yes. And because Marc’s general practice is to never listen to the episodes, he is hearing most of these clips for the first time and reacting to them accordingly. It’s a unique look at the history of the show, curated by a self-described “comedy nerd”

When WTF started in 2009, Never Not Funny was already there. Jimmy Pardo has been in the podcast game for almost 20 years and was a direct inspiration for Marc back when he wanted to start one of his own. Jimmy and Marc talk about being there in the early days of the medium, how they each learned how to make podcasting work as a business, why Jimmy held onto some bitterness through the years, and how they’ve each come to let go of the things that used to bother them.

Whether Christopher Guest is creating characters, writing scripted comedy or doing long form improv, it’s all music to him. Christopher talks with Marc about his musical background, jazz clubs, the British comedy revue Beyond the Fringe, the National Lampoon, Lily Tomlin and other building blocks that paved the way for his work on This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and more. They also talk about Christopher’s longtime collaborations with Michael McKean and Eugene Levy, as well as his daily routine involving guitars, newspapers and

Tracy Letts and Marc have remained friends since meeting each other when Tracy was first on the show in 2018. Now, with Marc wrapping up the podcast, Tracy returns to the garage for a talk about the importance of art, self-expression, and taking inspiration where you can get it. Tracy also investigates Marc’s reasoning for ending the show and he recounts his experience being back home in Oklahoma while making Sterlin Harjo’s new show, The Lowdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Lee Curtis has a career in show business spanning nearly 50 years, but she’s currently having the most creatively fulfilling time of her life. Not only is she just a few years removed from winning an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once and then an Emmy for The Bear, she’s also putting her energy into production and development, whether it’s Freakier Friday or the upcoming Patricia Cornwell crime drama Scarpetta or the new film The Lost Bus. Jamie Lee and Marc talk about her very hazy memories of youth,

Tom Scharpling is celebrating the 25th year of his beloved comedy playground, The Best Show, which was one of the foundational inspirations for WTF back when it launched in 2009. Since then, Tom became a fan of WTF, a frequent guest, and a personal friend of Marc’s. Tom and Marc meet up for one final garage chat, reflecting on their respective achievements and looking toward the future of podcasting, as well as their places in it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Hamill gets that you probably know more about Star Wars than he does and he’s ok with that. In fact, he’s so ok with where he’s at in his career, he’s really not worried about what comes next. Mark talks with Marc about his early days on soap operas, the faith he had in Star Wars being a big hit while they were making it, the casting troubles he came up against in Hollywood that made him seek work on Broadway, and the voiceover acting that changed his career. They

Some of Spike Lee’s most indelible hallmarks, including a story set in New York City, a morality struggle, and a lead performance by Denzel Washington, are on display in his new film Highest 2 Lowest. Spike and Marc talk about this latest undertaking, as well as Spike’s affinity for being a teacher, his documentary work, Marc’s love of Bamboozled, the ever-evolving nature of New York, and of course Spike’s famous double dolly shots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite his two previous appearances on WTF, Tim Heidecker was not someone Marc felt truly comfortable around. In fact, Marc was intimidated by Tim. But as they’ve gotten older and connected over common interests, both Tim and Marc can now fully enjoy each other’s company. Meeting in the garage one more time, they talk about their shared pursuit of playing more live music on stage, their insecurities that crop up when making movies, and their lamentations about the regression of comedy and why they are compelled to take swings at the

Regina King’s depth and range as an actor won her dozens of awards and allows her to choose projects best suited for her. Regina and Marc talk about her early sitcom days on 227, her breakthrough performances in films like Boyz n the Hood and Jerry Maguire, her acclaimed turns in If Beale Street Could Talk and Shirley, her work as a director, and her latest role in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. Regina also explains why she launched a brand of wine to honor her son. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jeremy Allen White played such a believable Bruce Springsteen in the movie Deliver Me From Nowhere that Marc, who was also in the film, can recall times on the set when Bruce couldn’t tell the difference between recordings of himself and recordings of Jeremy. But for Jeremy, that’s all part of the process of finding his focus, something he’s tried to do since he was a kid taking dance classes and playing sports. Jeremy and Marc also talk about Shameless, The Bear, The Iron Claw, panic attacks, and getting your life

In a world of influencers and content creators, Peter Conheim represents an age of culture jamming and social disruption. Influenced by bands like Can and art collectives like The Residents, Peter talks with Marc about embracing the idea of doing art anonymously, which included his time with the experimental band Negativland. Peter also explains his fascination with audio production and editing, his passion for film curation and remastering, and his work on the new Devo documentary.Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast.

The last time Ben Stiller was on WTF, it was more than 15 years ago and it was a really big deal for an upstart podcast done out of a small garage to have a global movie star and film director as a guest. Now Ben and Marc reflect on the passage of time, Ben's choices of projects since 2010, and the responsibility he feels as one of the people at the helm of Severance. They also talk about Owen Wilson, Ben's latest Oscar bit, the state of comedy movies, and the documentary

After recently releasing her memoir, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You, and finishing her eighth studio album, the upcoming Neon Grey Midnight Green, Neko Case is drawing a lot of conclusions. She tells Marc that animals and nature are more consistent and reliable than people, that she’s at peace with knowing her parents didn’t want her, and that she’s more comfortable choosing her own family. Neko and Marc also talk about her songwriting process, her pro wrestler great-aunt, and The New Pornographers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

Bowen Yang never thinks he’s ready for any of the opportunities he gets, including being a guest on WTF for this episode. After a discussion on who gets more nervous before interviews, Marc or the guest, Bowen explains where this lifelong anxiety and insecurity comes from, and a lot of it is rooted in the gay conversion therapy he had to undergo as a teen. They also talk about the vibe of Saturday Night Live during this second Trump administration and the pressures that come with being the gay Asian SNL

Multi-time WTF guest and veteran of standup comedy specials Jim Gaffigan is the perfect person to talk with Marc right after a screening of Marc’s new HBO special, Marc Maron: Panicked. They examine the work that goes into the building of a standup special, how they both evolved as live performers since their early days, and the uncertain future of the live comedy special. This conversation was recorded at The 92nd Street Y, New York, as part of their Craig Newmark Civic Life Series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

Questlove was drumming for his dad’s band by the time he was 12. Since then, he founded a prolific hip-hop band with his high school classmate, became a chronicler of popular music history, came into his own as a documentary filmmaker, and more. So why does he still feel insecure about being an artist? Questlove talks with Marc about the origins of The Roots, the decision to become a late night house band, winning an Oscar right after the infamous slap, and why he had an underlying motivation for making his

To an outsider, it seems like quite a leap to go from Nora Lum, classical and jazz trumpet player from Queens, to Awkwafina, rapper, comedian and global movie star. But for Nora, it all feels like a direct extension of the life lived by an artist mother she hardly knew. She talks with Marc about rebuilding the memories of her mom, who died when Nora was only four years old. They also compare notes on Queens apartment living, their mutual aversion to joy, and their feelings about being part of an

As one of the members of the last generation who grew up without the internet, Ari Aster’s movies all deal with the ways our minds are shaped and influenced by forces outside of ourselves. Ari talks with Marc about how he uses the genre trappings of horror, farcical comedy and the American Western to explore themes of trauma, nostalgia, anxiety and humanity in his films Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau is Afraid and his latest one, Eddington. They also talk about his poet mom, his jazz drummer dad, and why Albert Brooks is

It’s about time Jackson Galaxy and Marc met each other. Listeners have recommended Jackson to Marc as a cat behavior expert who can offer helpful advice about Marc’s ongoing cat problems. But it turns out they have a lot more in common than just cats: Youthful rock and roll aspirations, addictive personalities, sober living, and an interest in animal welfare. Jackson tells Marc how he found a new direction in his life that turned him into a cat expert and Marc gets some tips on how to deal with his cat’s aggressive

For anyone who knew Sarah Sherman’s act before she got hired for Saturday Night Live, her new gig might have come as a surprise. Rooted in the Chicago DIY scene, she performed as Sarah Squirm, with a unique ability to make her audiences do just that. But Sarah tells Marc that despite all the meat and viscera in her act, she was always a straight-up comedy person at heart, growing up on Long Island with an affinity for Fran Drescher and a love of Three Amigos. They talk about her show Helltrap

Jena Friedman shares a lot of Marc’s concerns about doing politically relevant comedy during historically scary times. She felt the risk of it first-hand during a recent border crossing from Canada. Jena talks with Marc about how her comedy always stemmed from an activist impulse, how this benefitted her when she became a field producer for The Daily Show, and how that experience was invaluable when she was hired to work on Borat 2, for which she received an Oscar nomination.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leanne Morgan was a late bloomer in comedy but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t in her heart for a long time. Despite a life in Tennessee filled with tobacco farms and door-to-door jewelry sales, a trip to The Comedy Store in the early ‘90s left Leanne with no doubt as to what she wanted to do with her life. Leanne talks with Marc about her several false starts in show business and how she was worried she would have to give up the comedy dream until social media and Netflix changed

Dustin Chafin's path to comedy went from a Texas trailer park to a Mormon conversion before winding up in New York where he almost met a tragic end. That's also where he met Marc and a young Nate Bargatze, who got his first stage time thanks to Dustin, a break that Nate did not forget. Dustin and Marc catch up on each other's lives after a nearly 20 year gap. Plus, Marc talks with AEW's Darby Allin who just got back from the tippy top of the world, having climbed Mount Everest.

Alexander Skarsgård decided acting wasn't for him at age 13 and he went in a completely different direction with his life. But after time in the Swedish Navy and a false start at university in England, he couldn't fight the pull of acting. Alexander talks with Marc about his career-making roles in Generation Kill and True Blood, the difficulty of making The Northman, the ease of making Big Little Lies, and why he loves doing offbeat comedy, whether it's something goofy like Zoolander, pitch black like Succession, or sci-fi satire like

Chad Kassem was a Louisiana kid running afoul of the law, caught in a spiral of substance abuse and arrests. Thankfully, as he puts it, music is a hell of a natural drug. In his 20s, Chad became obsessed with audio and his new mission was to save the world from bad sounding records. Chad talks with Marc about how he started Acoustic Sounds, which serves as a mastering lab, a pressing plant, a record label and more, all in pursuit of making records that sound better than the originals. Chad

Mariska Hargitay says the new documentary she made began as a search for the mother she never knew. But as she pursued it, she wound up coming to a new understanding of her own truth. Mariska and Marc talk about My Mom Jayne, the HBO doc about her mother Jayne Mansfield, who died in a car accident when Mariska was only three. Mariska explains why she kept her mother’s story at arm’s length through most of her life, even as she carved her own path of success in Hollywood, and how

Many years after a life-changing one-on-one conversation between Rich Aronovitch and Marc in Queens, New York, Rich and Marc are sitting down once again. This time they’re talking about Rich’s new comedy special, his family’s immigrant journey that landed them in New Orleans, Rich’s first experience on the stage under the name Smooth Daddy Johnson, and why Rich went to jail for letting the air out of a police officer’s tires. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Klepper and his Daily Show colleagues find themselves in the position of calling fascism out for what it is while also still finding comedy in an increasingly unstable world. But one way Jordan deals with the firehose of information is by going out into the field, like he did for his most recent special report, MAGA: The Next Generation. Jordan and Marc talk about his findings, but they get into his upbringing in Kalamazoo, his transition from math major to improv comic, and the understanding of show business he learned

Megan Stalter sees her comedic persona as a representation of both supreme confidence and a nervous breakdown simultaneously. It’s a demeanor that served her well, whether on the improv stages in Chicago or on her breakout Instagram videos or as the scene-stealing Kayla on Hacks or in her own Netflix series Too Much. Megan and Marc talk about how her comedy chops took shape, her upbringing in the Pentecostal Church, and her identity as both queer and Christian.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cristin Milioti’s portrayal of the ruthless Sofia Falcone in The Penguin might seem like a departure for her. But Cristin tells Marc her goal has always been to avoid being pigeonholed. Also, the tone of The Penguin is so theatrical and operatic that Cristin fit right in as someone who, in her words, was saved by theater kids in high school. They also talk about her run on Broadway in Once, the fear she had while making The Wolf of Wall Street, and the heartbreak of having an entire two-season series,

Perhaps a reason there’s always tension between Mike Birbiglia and Marc is they have a lot in common. That’s also probably the reason that, despite this tension, Mike has made multiple trips to the garage. This time, Mike and Marc talk about the job of making people laugh about things that make them sad or angry, the benefits and risks of centering your comedy around your personal life, and how they’ve both made peace with their doctor dads, with Mike dealing with it in his new Netflix special, The Good Life.

Seth Meyers doesn’t get out to LA very often, but when he does he’s able to visit longtime friends, go on other late night shows, and head over to the garage to talk with Marc. This time they get into how Late Night is helping Seth process what’s going on in the world even has he helps viewer do the same. They also talk about SNL 50, including Seth’s interaction with Keith Richards and why Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell are the greatest. Then they spend the rest of the time

Josh Homme manifested an 18-year-old dream to perform a Queens of the Stone Age concert in the Catacombs of Paris. Josh tells Marc why it was such a meaningful undertaking two years after he survived a bout with cancer. They also talk about his collaborations and friendship with Iggy Pop, the 2015 terrorist attack during an Eagles of Death Metal concert, and the difference between giving up and giving in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Mulaney has been through a lot since the last time he was on the show, so it’s nice he can identify the present as, in his words, a happy time that he can appreciate. John offers Marc his reflections on the first run of his Netflix talk show Everybody’s Live, reflections on his sobriety five years after everything fell apart, and reflections on the history of WTF, a show he was listening to right from the beginning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Frank is one of Hollywood’s most prolific screenwriters but he still has perpetual anxiety about his job security. Scott and Marc talk about the impulse that keeps him grinding away, whether he’s working on original screenplays, rewrites, or his limited series like Godless, The Queen’s Gambit and his new Netflix show Department Q. They also talk about Scott’s mentors, his influences, and the construction of his most well known screenplays, like Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Minority Report, and Logan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Kroll was one of the first dozen guests on WTF and in the nearly sixteen years of his life since then, loved ones have been lost, babies have been welcomed to the world, and Nick can now see things about himself that he couldn’t identify before. Nick and Marc talk about those changes, as well as the artwork of his wife Lily Kwong, the trip to Italy he made for his new movie I Don’t Understand You, and the fulfillment of creating eight seasons of Big Mouth. Hosted on Acast.

Peter Wolf didn’t want to write the typical rock and roll memoir filled with lurid tales and score settling. Instead he wanted to write a collection of short stories that stem from his serendipitous encounters with everyone from Marilyn Monroe to David Lynch. Peter tells Marc how he wrestled with his own memories to write the book, how he drew from his friendships with Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, and how he got right with the topics he wanted to avoid, namely his time with The J. Geils

Sarah Silverman and Marc go back more than 30 years and although they know a lot about each other from the past, they can both acknowledge that they haven’t stopped growing and learning and changing right up to the present. Sarah and Marc talk about making peace with the signs of aging, including hearing loss, and how an embrace of closure helped her deal with the loss of her father and stepmother, which is the center of her new Netflix special, PostMortem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carol Leifer has been a standup comic for almost 50 years, but the knowledge she can impart from her lifetime of experience isn’t limited to the standup stage. That’s why Carol co-wrote the new book How to Write a Funny Speech, applying the building blocks of comedy to weddings, graduations and anywhere else one might speak in public. Carol and Marc talk about how to be funny at a memorial, her experience writing for the recent Oscars, and how she’s tapped into the current zeitgeist thanks to her teenage son. Hosted

When Bridget Everett was growing up in Kansas, the question “How are you feeling?” was not often asked. That’s part of the reason why Bridget embraced singing and making music as her primary way to connect with people. She tells Marc how this led to the development of her live cabaret shows which got her noticed by Michael Patrick King, Amy Schumer, and eventually HBO. They also talk about how Bridget’s acclaimed and beloved show Somebody Somewhere taught her how to face grief and live with it. Hosted on Acast. See

Singer-songwriter Samantha Crain wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to make music again after a car accident left her without the ability to play instruments or physically write songs. Samantha talks with Marc about her recovery and how her physical improvement coincided with the evolution of her artistic confidence. Samantha also explains her family’s storied history of powerlifting, the influence of Jason Molina, and why she feels it’s important to write and perform songs in the Choctaw language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While he was once known for all manner of comedy involving animals, both alive and dead, Tom Green’s relationship with the animal kingdom is now much more traditional, as he spends some of his time doing farm work on a remote plot of unspoiled land in Canada. Tom talks with Marc about why he made the big change in his life, which is documented in the new Prime Video series Tom Green Country. They also talk about their respective pioneer work in the early days of streaming video and podcasting. Hosted

David Harbour and Marc met in the garage seven years ago at the height of Stranger Things and the beginning of a new phase in David’s career. Now with the Marvel movie Thunderbolts coming out, David and Marc have both had surprising success in their careers, which leaves them both searching for things they can’t quite pin down. They’ll try to help each other out, while also discussing meditation, mortality, and the future of art and entertainment in a world of shorter attention spans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

David Cronenberg starts making each new film of his as though he’s making a movie for the first time. Marc sees connective tissue through all of David’s work, consisting of “the meat, the machine, mutations of desire, and pain.” David and Marc explore these ideas in specific films, including Scanners, The Brood, The Fly, Naked Lunch, Crash, Cosmopolis, and Maps to the Stars, as well as David’s latest film The Shrouds, which he considers to be a discussion with his audience about grief. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Kirson was a guest on WTF six years ago, when she talked with Marc about her start in comedy and her personal background. This time, she came back just to hang out and have some laughs. And for Marc at this exact moment in time, it was much needed and greatly appreciated. They talk about Jessica’s new special, I’m the Man, their experiences with crying, the never-ending fight against embarrassment, the many similarities from their New Jersey upbringings, and whatever else they’re thinking about during the hour. Hosted on Acast.

Comedian Liza Treyger is frequently mystified by human behavior. Why are people so mean when leaving internet comments? Why do adults continuously repeat the patterns of children? Why are friendships so hard to maintain later in life? She asks these questions as a sociology major but also as a comic, and was recently able to explore these ideas in her first Netflix special. Liza and Marc talk about these issues, as well as Liza’s path to comedy, which included many crash courses she didn’t anticipate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

Jillian Bell’s history of anxiety goes back to when she was a baby and would hold her breath until she passed out. But she didn’t let panic attacks stand in the way of her dream to get hired at SNL or her desire to become a working comedic actor. And as Jillian tells Marc, she definitely wasn’t going to let anything stop her from becoming a director, which she did with her first film, Summer of 69. They also talk about the great experience they shared while making Lynn Shelton’s Sword

As a writer and director, Ryan Coogler is drawn to stories about identity. He made Fruitvale Station to confront his own thoughts and fears about being a Black man in America. He made Creed as an extension of the dynamic he has with his dad. He made Black Panther while conscious of the impact it would have on a global community. Ryan and Marc talk about these films as well as Ryan's latest movie Sinners, which also explores Ryan's preferred topic of identity, but this time through the lens of Delta Blues, doppelgangers,

By all accounts, Gavin Matts has carved a successful path for himself as a comedian, actor and writer at the young age of 30. But he can’t shake the feeling that he came into show business at the tail end and he’s mourning the possibilities that no longer seem as attainable as they once were. Gavin and Marc talk about the changes in the world of comedy, the struggles of local comedy clubs, and the rise of arena shows. Gavin also explains how he was influenced by the pace of comedians

Peter Weller knows that most people think of him as RoboCop. But he also knows that when they approach him to talk about RoboCop, it’s his opportunity to talk to them about art, jazz, theater and many other areas that are not merely hobbies for him, but actual artistic pursuits. Peter tells Marc why he got his Ph.D. in Italian Renaissance Art History and how his jazz trumpet playing in college stuck with him his whole life, leading him to a friendship with Miles Davis. They also talk about the necessity

When Lynne Margulies was 25 years old, she met Andy Kaufman on the set of the film My Breakfast with Blassie. Two years later, just shortly before he died, Andy made Lynne promise she would keep his work alive. With the release of the new documentary Thank You Very Much, Lynne talks with Marc about fulfilling that promise over the decades by showcasing Andy’s comedy and also allowing the myths about him to persist. They also talk about Andy’s inspirations and why professional wrestling was a foundational part of his personality.

Delroy Lindo can take pride in many accomplishments - his family, his career, his educational - while being aware that he’s still in the process of finding himself. Delroy and Marc, despite their differences, find it easy to relate to each other over that lifelong journey of self-discovery, which for Delroy included the decision to go back to school later in life after his film career already took off. He also explains to Marc how acting saved his life, from the Christmas pageant he was in at age five all the

Some comedians think of comedy as a higher calling, but Modi Rosenfeld knows exactly where the call came from. He points to a story of two comedians in the Talmud, men who gave cheer to those who were depressed and who made peace between those who were at war. Modi and Marc talk about this lofty purpose and how comedy is rooted in not only Jewish scripture but in the patter of the Yiddish language. Modi also explains how doing comedy shows on Zoom during Covid changed the entire trajectory of

Nick Thune is a comic Marc is always happy to welcome back on the show. But this time, it’s very fortunate that Nick is able to join Marc in the garage at all because there was a time in which he spiraled into alcoholism and almost didn’t survive. With a new comedy special released and his sobriety holding strong, Nick tells Marc what happened since the last time they talked, how he struggled with daily blackouts, hospital stays, and the dissolution of his marriage, and how he was helped into rehab

Unlike many comedian guests on WTF, Chris Fleming had a lot of support and encouragement from his family when it came to pursuing a career in comedy. In fact, it was his mother who got him started at open mics. Chris talks with Marc about how he embraces being both inclusive and avant-garde, building a loyal audience but also being accessible to newcomers, and using the stage to create characters, like his popular suburban mother Gayle, while also giving plenty of space to telling jokes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

Jane Marie’s early life in Michigan didn’t necessarily put her on the glide path to the future world of podcasting, but an internship at This American Life gave her a crash course in the type of journalism that allowed her to create The Dream podcast. Jane talks with Marc about the subject matter of The Dream’s past seasons, including pyramid schemes, the wellness industry, and life coaching, and why these topics are truly representative of modern day America.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Mike Elias wanted to learn the guitar, his dad told him he had to teach himself. Mike took that rule and ran with it for the rest of his life, teaching himself everything from sewing to metal fabrication to fashion design, which he deployed when he founded Ship John Leather and Canvas in Portland, Oregon, and created one of the most sought after garments in the world, the Wills Jacket. Mike tells Marc about growing up oyster fishing and hunting in New Jersey, why he wound up making clothing, and

W. Kamau Bell and Marc are similar comedians in that neither of them will ignore the current political environment in their acts. Kamau and Marc talk about how that’s shaping up today versus how it was during the first Trump administration and what they each feel about the balance between civic responsibility and entertainment. They also talk about Kamau’s decision to play the Kennedy Center despite the Trump takeover, his five year break from comedy, and what happened after he released his documentary about Bill Cosby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

Prolific singer-songwriter Will Oldham has been able to maintain what Marc calls “a haunting and elated tone” over the course of his career, whether in his collaborations with other artists or under the name Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Will talks with Marc about how his music stems from the example of his artist mother, records checked out of the library, and his Kentucky roots. They also talk about his recent album The Purple Bird as well as Will’s acting career, which launched when he was a teenager and John Sayles cast him

Don Johnson’s life took him far from where he thought it was going growing up in Missouri and Kansas. But at this point, he’s confident that nearly everything he knows in life he learned from the women in it. Don talks with Marc about his wild days in San Francisco and LA, how he handled his sudden fame from Miami Vice, his friendship with Hunter S. Thompson, his career all the way up through his current show Doctor Odyssey, and his hard-fought journey toward enlightenment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

When Chris Hayes was last on the show almost ten years ago, it was a much different world. Barack Obama had just recently been in the garage and Donald Trump had just declared his candidacy for President. Making sense of that changing world is what Chris does nightly on MSNBC, but he’s also written a new book about our changing brains. Chris and Marc talk about that book, The Sirens’ Call, and our rapidly evolving relationships with attention, information, media and our phones.Click here to submit a question for an upcoming

As someone from a working class Ohio family, Carrie Coon didn’t think much about acting as a plausible career path. But her post-college work in regional theater led her to Steppenwolf in Chicago, which in turn led her to Broadway, and ultimately to a Hollywood career. Carrie and Marc talk about her first movie being being a baptism by David Fincher’s unique fire, meeting her husband Tracy Letts, learning that acting is not pretending, and spending six months in Thailand for the new season of The White Lotus.Click here to submit

Mo Amer was new to America when he was nine years old and his brother took him to see his first standup show. From that point on, he knew what he wanted to do with his life. Then at age 17, he took advice that helped him map out his entire career. Mo talks with Marc about his love for Houston, its diversity, and its comedy scene. He also explains how he’s honoring his family and his Palestinian heritage in his Netflix series Mo and why the show had to be

Brady Corbet spent years in front of the camera until he resigned from the job of actor. The new career he took up, that of filmmaker, has led to ten Oscar nominations for his newest movie The Brutalist. Brady talks with Marc about what made him devote eight years of his life to this epic exploration of the male ego. They also talk about the economics of being an independent filmmaker, the balance between being a collaborator and an auteur, and Brady's conflicted feelings about the creative process. Hosted on Acast.

James Mangold writes and directs films across multiple genres, but the one style he uses as a prism for so much of his work is the American Western. James and Marc talk about how A Complete Unknown fits into the Western mold and why the placement of the camera was of utmost importance in telling this specific story about Bob Dylan. James also explains his directorial strategy and how it factored into the making of his films like Heavy, Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma and Ford v Ferrari.  Hosted on

Ariana Grande can link one song to her entire life as a performer, from her childhood days singing for her grandpa to her life as a global pop superstar to her performance as Galinda in Wicked. That song is Over the Rainbow. Ariana talks with Marc about the constant presence of music in her life, how she developed her songwriting process, why she sought out a vocal coach for Wicked, how she protects her mental health in an emotionally demanding business, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Demi Moore has been a searcher since she was a kid, with intense interest throughout her life in things like spiritualism, psychology and, of course, acting. Demi talks with Marc about how she never stopped searching for herself, from her difficult upbringing through her entry into Hollywood and even during the peak of her global fame, and how this journey of self-discovery dovetailed with her Oscar-nominated performance as Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ke Huy Quan’s remarkable Hollywood story continues to add more storybook chapters. From coming to America as a refugee to his global stardom as a child actor to leaving acting behind for several decades to a comeback that earned him an Oscar. Now he follows that up with his name above the title of a new action comedy, Love Hurts. Ke tells Marc how all of these memories play out for him and how the vivid recent ones illuminate older memories such as fleeing Vietnam, reuniting with his family in LA,

Noah Wyle spent 11 seasons in a fictional medical environment on the show ER. So what made him want to return to a trauma ward setting for his new series The Pitt? Noah tells Marc the reason, which had a lot to do with what he heard from real doctors, as well as why it’s meaningful for him, as a third generation Los Angeleno, to shoot the show in LA. They also talk about Noah’s compulsion to amass memorabilia and arcane collections and whether it counts as hoarding. Hosted on Acast.

A lot of people know Erin Brockovich’s story thanks to the movie based on her legal work in a groundwater contamination case. But the story that really guided her life is one central to her Kansas roots: The Wizard of Oz. Recorded while the worst of the LA wildfires were still raging, Erin talked with Marc about the lessons she took not just from fantasy stories but from the reality of communities that turned hopelessness into action and from the clarity that can emerge in moments of crisis. Hosted on Acast.

Sophie Buddle is living in LA and doing comedy all around the United States, but since she spent most of her life in Canada, she’s in a unique vantage point to give Marc the lowdown about the country to the north that he might one day call home. Sophie and Marc also talk about go bags, crisis management, work visas, crowd work, monologue writing, and tall poppy syndrome. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Burr is trying to put things to bed. Whether it’s the anger he’s held onto throughout his life, or the sadness from he’s uncovered from his childhood, or even his old tensions with Marc, Bill’s been working to move on from the past. Bill and Marc talk about reaching the age where it’s time to put up or shut up, staying calm during chaotic moments, and taking stock of losing many of their peers. They also discuss Bill’s upcoming Hulu special and his Broadway debut in Glengarry Glen Ross. Hosted

After evacuating her home and consoling family members who lost their house in the LA fires, comedian Mo Welch acknowledges that she’s visiting Marc’s garage while still somewhere on the trauma spectrum. But she’s not a stranger to that spectrum, nor to processing it, having just made a standup special that’s also a documentary about meeting her estranged father. Mo and Marc talk about her childhood instability and the comedy path that was her salvation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Gadd created the Netflix series Baby Reindeer as a way to work through traumatic events in his life that were hard to process. But it became equally difficult to process the runaway success of the show and the impact it had on his life. Richard talks with Marc about how his early days doing standup in the UK and writing stage shows for himself were underscored by a lack of boundaries and a feeling that something was missing inside of him. He also explains why his follow-up to Baby Reindeer

Mike Leigh’s films are known for their observant depictions of the working class, their tragicomic tones, and their improvisational construction. But there are some misconceptions about his work that Mike would like to clear up. He does so while talking with Marc about his life-changing introduction to foreign films, his method of collaboration with his actors, the difference between realism and naturalism, and some details about the making of Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake, Topsy-Turvy, Naked and his new film Hard Truths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adrien Brody does a lot of research for his roles, but his performance in the new movie The Brutalist was shaped largely by his family’s immigrant experience and it aligned with his desire to play characters who are outsiders. Adrien also talks with Marc about becoming the youngest winner of the Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist and how it was a little too much to take. But on the flip side, he explains why he revels in the joy and camaraderie of making Wes Anderson’s films. Hosted on Acast. See

Marc’s been answering listener questions on the Fulll Maron bonus feed for two and a half years. This is a collection of Marc’s answers from across the first 18 installments of the Ask Marc Anything bonus series. It’s like Marc is the guest and the listeners are interviewing him. He gets into questions about Adam Sandler, Taylor Swift, Jon Stewart, the lost David Fincher episode, other interview podcasts, Cheech & Chong, standup lingo, sandwiches, sobriety, relapsing, and more.Click here to watch the video Marc mentions in the episode, featuring John Montagna

Ron Livingston just came over to chat. While most people come to the garage with something to promote, Marc and Ron were happy to be two guys getting to know each other on the microphones with no other agenda. Although Marc already learned some things about Ron from his wife, Rosemarie Dewitt, Ron shared his own stories about growing up in Iowa, how the trajectory of his Swingers character was not far from the truth, how Office Space slowly became a beloved classic, and how Sex and the City burnished his

Marc presents a special compilation of mini-series created for The Full Maron feed on WTF+ called WTF Origins. In this series of recordings from the past year, Marc and WTF producer Brendan McDonald talk about pivotal moments that were important in the creation of WTF, including Marc's days at Luna Lounge in the '90s, The Marc Maron Show in Los Angeles, Break Room Live with Sam Seder, and the decisions made in the sink-or-swim early days of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Vilanch is best known for his time as the head writer of the Oscars, but he is actually a vestige of a fabled era of show business. Bruce talks with Marc about how he went from being a child actor to working at newspapers to writing jokes for Bette Midler. His skill at writing in other people’s voices led him to countless jobs as a joke-writer-for-hire, doing punch up for famous comedians like Lily Tomlin, George Carlin, Joan Rivers and others, as well as for many beloved and detested TV

Filmmaker Justin Kurzel is drawn to stories about outlaws and outsiders. Growing up in South Australia and living in Tasmania, he’s seen the fragile nature of small communities and the people who can prompt societal upheaval. Justin talks with Marc about his new and very relevant film The Order and why Justin was compelled to cast Marc as an assassinated radio host. They also talk about Justin’s other films, including one that the Prime Minister of Australia said shouldn’t be made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobbi Althoff’s podcast success story is much different than Marc’s podcast success story. In fact, the concept of a podcast is very different than when WTF got started. Bobbi explains how she grew up in a chaotic environment where money was hard to come by and, after becoming a mom in her early 20s, she found viral fame by sheer force of will, as well as a guest appearance by Drake. They also talk about the grind of the content creation machine, the mental health drain of social media, and fame

When Marc first met Andy Blitz during the rise of the alt-comedy scene in New York City, Andy still thought show business was magical. And why wouldn’t he? As he tells Marc, he was a kid who grew up in the rough East Village of the 1970s and found himself dealing with depression and panic attacks in college. Andy talks about how his days at Luna Lounge paved the way for his job as a writer and sketch performer on Conan, and how that in turn opened doors for writing on

Not too many guests come into the garage and tell Marc he changed their lives forever. In fact, Jesse Eisenberg might be the only one. Jesse and Marc go over that formative moment and what it says about both of them. Jesse also talks about being terrified as a child, growing into an adult who identifies with bleakness, and turning some of his life experiences into the new film A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed and stars in alongside Kieran Culkin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dwight Yoakam is a multi-platinum recording artist with many number one albums and singles, as well as multiple Grammy wins. But despite all his accomplishments as a musician, including his new album Brighter Days, Dwight is just as comfortable being a music historian. Dwight helps Marc chart the movement of country music to California, with Americana music of the mid-20th Century blending with rock and punk to create a unique sound that Dwight was a distinct part of. They talk all about The Byrds, Creedence, The Blasters and many more, in

Filmmaker Luca Guadagnino is attracted to the ways in which we’re all imperfect beings. That explains why a clash of personalities is central to so many of his movies, including A Bigger Splash, Suspiria and Challengers. Marc and Luca talk about those films as well as his new one, Queer, which is based on source material by someone who remains a fascination to both of them: William S. Burroughs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Furey’s path to comedy started with youth football. Once he realized he wasn’t great at football, he started selling drugs. Once he realized he wasn’t good at selling drugs, he started comedy. In between there were stories of border crossings, smuggling in Tijuana, gunpoint robberies in Stockton, Kansas overdoses and more. And then there were early standup gigs that, as both Steve and Marc confirm, could wind up being scarier than dealing drugs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Jeselnik is back in the garage more than 13 years since the last time he and Marc talked on the mics. With many career successes and some failures in the rearview, Anthony talks with Marc about where he sees himself in the landscape of comedy today, as he releases his latest Netflix special and while both of them spend a lot of time thinking about the current perception of standup comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosemarie DeWitt never really thought she would become an actor because she felt like no one was betting on her. In fact, later in life her father said, “I can’t believe that you’re successful.” Marc finds out what drove Rosemarie away from those low expectations and into a prominent career with credits like Rachel Getting Married, Mad Men, Little Fires Everywhere and the new film Out of My Mind. They also talk about why horror movies, like Smile 2, are fun to make and how the two of them share a

Cynthia Erivo has some tips for Marc on how to get more out of his time on set. For example, she always makes sure to get her steps in. So when you see her playing Elphaba in Wicked, she’s wearing her fitness watch under her witch costume. Cynthia and Marc share their thoughts about the vulnerability of singing, with Cynthia having studied the psychology of music before becoming an award-winning stage performer. They also compare notes on Aretha Franklin from their respective projects about the Queen of Soul.Click here to submit

Josh Brolin is a natural guest to return to the garage for a second chat because he and Marc relate on many levels. They both find themselves chasing addictions even when they’re sober. They’re both constantly looking for ways to connect with people. And they both just encountered an intense journey for emotional truth. Marc through his recent acting, Josh through the writing of his new memoir, From Under a Truck, which he calls the most humbling experience of his life. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc

Jessica Lange admits she’s always drawn to the darkness and madness of her characters, whether it’s Frances Farmer or Blanche DuBois or her most recent performance as The Great Lillian Hall, which dealt with the trifecta of grief, loss and loneliness. Jessica and Marc talk about how she enjoys plumbing the depths of emotion, but also enjoyed a life that’s taken her all over the world, a career that started in the palm of King Kong, and a body of work that includes Tootsie, All That Jazz, American Horror Story and

Robby Hoffman knows she comes in too hot. But that kind of in-your-face enthusiasm helped her go from being one of ten kids in a Hasidic Jewish family to a burgeoning standup comic and television writer. Robby tells Marc about the challenges of her upbringing, including the socially hazardous way she was publicly outed as a teen. They also talk about her love of Uniqlo, Egg McMuffins, and her writing breakthrough on the children’s show Odd Squad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mo Mandel would like you to enjoy his new comedy special, see him perform live and, if you’re a studio executive, greenlight one of his scripts. But Mo also wants to make sure he doesn’t become too successful, otherwise he’ll lose the sweet deal of essentially being a stay-at-home dad. Mo tells Marc about adapting to his OCD, giving up on self-improvement, and getting sober at the same time he was hosting a show called Barmageddon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Filmmaker Billy Corben got an early taste of show business as an aspiring child actor. That aborted career path eventually turned into a new vocation as a maker of documentary films, including celebrated projects like Cocaine Cowboys and The U. Billy and Marc talk about the persistent connection to Florida in Billy’s work and how his latest film, From Russia with Lev, is both a cautionary tale about the dangers of a Trump Administration and a meditation on the quintessential Florida Man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.