After 16 years and nearly 1,700 episodes, Marc Maron has finally ended his famous podcast, “WTF With Marc Maron,” with one last guest — Barack Obama.
Obama, who first appeared on the show a decade ago while he was still president, helped Maron “lock the gates” one last time. This time, instead of recording in Maron’s garage in Los Angeles, the interview took place in Obama’s Washington office.
The final episode surprised fans when it dropped Monday. Many had guessed Obama might be the final guest, especially since Maron once said Obama would be his dream final interview.
Obama Turns the Tables
At the start, Obama took the lead and asked Maron how he felt about ending such a long journey.
“How are you feeling about this whole thing? Moving on from something that’s been a big part of your life?” Obama asked.
Maron replied, “I feel okay. I think I’m ready for the break, but it’s scary. For 16 years, people have relied on me every week.”
He then laughed, comparing his podcasting job to the presidency.
“I think it’s pretty similar,” Obama joked.
A Simple and Honest Goodbye
Before the show began, Maron kept his introduction short and real.
“It became clear that the guest we needed was someone who could help make sense of this ending — and where we go from here,” he said.
During their chat, Maron asked Obama for advice about what to do next in life after such a long chapter.
Obama told him, “You’ve still got more chapters ahead. Don’t rush. Take time to look back and be proud.”
The conversation turned to the world’s current state, and then Obama brought it back to Maron’s goodbye.
“I think we’ll be okay,” Obama said. “You’ve built a loyal audience because there’s a kindness in your talks — it shows who we are.”
End of an Era for “WTF With Marc Maron”
Maron avoided getting too emotional on this episode. He had already thanked his fans in the second-to-last one, saying,
“I’m grateful to have been part of your lives. We’ve been through a lot — breakups, losses, cats, the world.”
Episode No. 1,686 marked the end of one of the most famous podcasts ever made. Maron started “WTF With Marc Maron” back in 2009 in his garage, jokingly called The Cat Ranch. In the early days, he mostly talked to comedians about their struggles. Over time, the show grew huge, featuring stars like Robin Williams, Paul McCartney, and even Obama.
Saying Goodbye the Marc Maron Way
Cats were always a big part of the podcast. So Maron ended the final show by remembering his late pets.
“Cat angels everywhere,” he said softly.
The show’s intro — a fan-made rock tune that begins with Maron shouting, “Lock the gates!” from his movie Almost Famous — became part of podcast history.
Over the years, Maron’s casual and honest style made the podcast a safe space for deep, real conversations. He often ended each chat by asking guests, “Are we good?” — which also became the title of his new documentary.
A Legendary Sign-Off
Maron announced earlier this year that he and producer Brendan McDonald were ending the show simply because they felt done and proud. No drama — just closure.
As he wrapped up his final chat with Obama, Maron smiled and joked about signing a fake legal paper freeing McDonald “from having to listen to me talk anymore.”
After 16 years, Marc Maron’s podcast ends where it started — with honesty, humor, and heart. And with Obama by his side, it was the perfect goodbye.
